Modes of Transport....

It was a pretty busy day.... and tonight I was excited... just after 5pm someone I met yesterday through work said she'd take me on the road to "Victor Bay" (remember that shot from air ---and the bay that was 'above' Arctic Bay?---with the Icebergs? well that's where I was heading!)... there seem to be 'roads' going all over the place here... I was excited!!! Like a kid... I put on my long johns, snow pants, coat, mitts and hat...and waited at the door.... just after 5pm Geela showed up with her ATV.. and off we went....

Along the way we talked a bit... and she pointed out different things... but it was BRUTALLY cold....! 

here's a shot of the iceberg in Victor Bay... it was HUGE!! (apparently the others have broken up and gone)

Here's a self portrait of me and Geela.... (as you can see in my post... my hat... the one I LOVED (with that awesome photo a few days ago in Cape Dorset)...well I've misplaced it... I had it this morning.. and well don't know WHERE it went between leaving this morning and coming back for lunch!...) I was lucky to have this 2nd hat...which is more of a 'fashion' hat--doesn't really much to stop the wind--but better than no hat! I hope I can find it tomorrow!

Victor Bay has almost a small 'tent' city...well city might be a stretch...but there are lots of tents and skidoos that have been left here by the hunters....and are awaiting more snow... and the ice to form so that they can be used again to go out and hunt!!   I'm sure its' really nice in the summer months too--but today was just plan COLD!

Just on top of the hill from town is this lake...where lots of the kids go to skate and play hockey--- I couldn't imagine taking off my warm shoes and putting on skates... or walking up the HUGE hill!  The kids looked like they were having lots of fun playing hockey tho!

Thanks Geela for taking me for a ride... even though it was brutally cold... I so appreciated the lift to see something new... hope you enjoyed your hot chocolate--- I sure did to warm up!

Oh the news I received just before this little 'trip' was that my flight that was due to leave tomorow was cancelled.  The weather today in Resolute Bay was bad--and with unpredictable weather in Nansivik-- that translates to cancelling the flight today. So that means tomorrow morning there will be no plane in the morning (because there is no plane in Resolute!--are you following?)... I was told that the next available flight is TUESDAY  because the Friday and Sunday flights are FULL.  I would be wait listed on Friday--can we say a potential $80 to get to the airport and back if I don't make the flight!? ahhhhh fun times I tell you! The other thing that might be a bit tricky is... a place to stay.. see there aren't many options in small communities...and well if I stayed until Tuesday morning---there is ONLY room at my current place until Monday... so that means potentially I could be 'homeless' in Arctic Bay....

Tonight after having dinner... I called the 1-800 number for the airline.... and talked to a helpful guy-- and he actually was able to book me on the Friday flight---because there was 'spots' and then booked me on a flight to head back to Pang on Saturday morning--- I'm not sure I remember what my house looks like at this point! 

This is all still 'weather' pending... sooooo I am hopeful..that the plane will land--and I will be on it.. and WILL be in Iqaluit on Friday afternoon!  and WILL be back in Pang on Saturday morning..(say it with me now.... hehehe)

In other good news... I just received an EMAIL from my friend Tara that is 'house' sitting for me...(and also picking up my mail) that I have TWO packages waiting for me at home in Pang.... that's the news from Arctic Bay!!! I'll keep you posted... about what else happens....

(and just on a side note... I don't tell you these things about my travelling... to 'complain' or be 'negative' I actually think it's quite fun to be travelling in the north.. and well experiencing those delays...that come along with that!)...

Taxi Rides in the Arctic...

You might think Taxi's are city things...but even in small remote places they are pretty important.  Pang hasn't had a taxi since the middle of the summer.. so my experience with the taxi system to date has been a flat rate of $6/ride (per person too)... it kind of makes sense because distances could be 'potentially' not that far... (kind of make me wish that toronto cabbies join this movement!)...

The taxi system in Arctic Bay--is different... the ride from the Nanisivik Airport (which use to be a hub for a mining town but has been shut down for awhile--but the airport is still there) to Arctic Bay is about a 30-45min drive... the cost of this trip? $40 Cash only!! (now you've heard how I've blogged about the flights being a bit sketchy getting in or getting out...right?)... Well that's $40 to the airport--if your plane doesn't land; that's $40 back to Arctic Bay (total trip $80) now if the weather is sketchy for a few days? Makes me wish that I had a taxi buisness here.....

At one point in the ride I said to the driver (and other passenger).. "MAN this is beautiful... can we umm stop? so I can get some photos? I mean if it's ok with you? and the passenger?"...the guys laughed and the driver said... "sure I can have a smoke then!"

This is a photo of the lake that the water for the community is taken from.... on the other side of that rock.. is the ocean... pretty cool!

Here's a shot of the road AND the taxi... or should I say HUGE van... kind of brought me back to my summer camp days.. and the trips in the 'day off van'!

Polar Bears... and 5am wake ups!

When I arrived at Resolute Bay, this polar bear greeted me in the airport.  it's a pretty big 'bear... under 'glass' I guess to keep him safe--and people don't 'pet' him too much?! Unless maybe he comes alive in the dark...and needs to be kept in his glass cage!? who really knows... (i think it is to stop people from 'touching' him...!)

This is the sign that goes along with the 'bear... I like the way they use the term "caught"...hehehe don't u mean shot and killed? I'm guessing it was probably a 'trouble' bear--that the hunter had to go out and get...but not 100% sure... perhaps that's why its in glass bc maybe it is really alive--but really good at playing statues?

When I arrived at the hotel... I came across this 'little' bear... and of course said 'hello'... I think this is as close as I ever want to get to one of these guys!

The flights south from Resolute Bay... leave at 'crazy' times... it's a 6:30am departure... so they request we are there by 5am to load all the bags etc... (so that means I got up at 4:45am)---perhaps I should tell you that I did learn something new-- Resolute is in a different time zone!  (it's an hour 'behind' eastern time)...so 5am is really only 6am EST but still too DARN early.  I've never liked mornings; and well this didn't really help matters being at an airport so early!  So what did I do? take some photos of course... here I am with the bear again.... isn't he HUGE!?

(please don't judge the 'bed' head and glasses.. remember it was 5am!)

Here's some 'random' people chill'n waiting for the flight.... (the plane was FULL like all 18 seats were taken!)

It was the longest walk to the plane... and COLD... but I did it quickly... and was one of the 4th people on the plane-- I got a window seat-- which is always important to me... because then I have the opportunity to take photos!

Here is Arctic Bay... from the air! it was clear and not a cloud/fog in site... but you see the airport is in Nanisivik (an old mining town)...about a 30-40min drive away.  This airport is higher up...and is known for its trouble with fog issues.. so even though the weather was clear here-- everyone on the plane wasn't sure it would land!

This is one of the last photos I took from the air... see we flew into 'fog' that was all AROUND the airport.  The pilots made a first attempt; and well abandoned it.... but because there was enough fuel, and there were 7 people that wanted to get off in Nanisivik--and they flew over the night before...they decided to do a 2nd try.... I literally HELD my breath the whole time the plane circled (I thougth for sure I'd be heading the 3 hours back to Iqaluit)... but I was wrong... slowly we decended... I got a bit nervous at the end when I looked out my window and saw runway zooming by...and well it was under the WING not the PLANE... but with a quick turn.. and quick stop... we were on the ground... Pretty amazing.... I was glad I was here!!

...my next question is... I wonder what the weather holds later in the week (thrusday) when I'm scheduled to fly out!? That's the part of travelling that is kind of cool... the fact that I dont' really know if I'll get IN or if I'll get OUT of communities... people call me crazy.. but I just think it's part of the Adventure...except I could do without 5am mornings!!

Lessons # 143 in Northern Travel

You might not end up in your correct destination!

This morning, I thought at this time I'd be all comfy cozy at the B&B in Arctic Bay---but seems like the weather at the airport in Nanisivik denied me this. 

So you might ask? where did I end up? well Resolute Bay of course!    (you can look at the map if you need to figure out where that was--compared to where I should be)... but this is the furtherest north I've been in a long time.. so that's pretty darn cool!

Tomorrow I have to be at the airport at 5am... YES that's right... 5AM---for my flight that leaves at 6:30am...  There will be an attempt to land at Nanisivk again... let's cross our fingers-- but you never know... I might just have to fly up here again!

I'll probably update you all with some photos at some point.... but for right now this is all!

Funny Conversations

Sitting in the airport today a teenage girl from Cape Dorset said, "I really like your hair."

I smiled and said, "Thank you."

"So did you curl it this morning?" she asked.

Shaking my head I replied, "ummm nope that's just the way it is, I washed it this morning...and well when it dries it just goes like this--it's actually pretty messy today!  and really...it's not that curly.. I mean some peoples hair is REALLY curly you know? "

"Oh, it is curly..it looks really nice...I wish mine was like that.." replies the girl with the straight dark hair that's 3/4 of her way down her back.

I replied, "Well I like your hair, how long and straight it is.... wanna swap?" 

The response I got was...giggles from her and her two friends!

***here I thought my hair wasn't that curly but I guess it's not really straight either! And with my last hair cut happening the last week of May---it sure is getting longer!***

A walk on the Wild Side...

This morning I went for a walk along the beach.  I went with my roomie from the "little white house" in the arctic, and one of her collegues--we met last night when we had dinner together!  It was a great to get out and explore-- walk along the water.  It was a pretty nice day out.

We were accompanied by these three dogs... the other ladies gave them lots of loving...and I just watched... it was pretty fun to see them running around, fighting over bones... and just playing! 

It's always fun to see the stuff you see!!! this was pretty cool.... the tide was out.. so this little guy was still alive.. just waiting for the high tide so it can get some water lovin'...

So one of the reasons we were on this walk was to go check out the dead walrus carcus.... (so the following photos may be kind gross...) and well that was also the last place (on Thursday morning) that the Polar Bear had been spotted.... (hence our walk on the "wild" side)... but no polar bear for us.. just a really dead walrus... decomposing.. Amanda wanted to take the vertebrae but well there was still too much 'flesh' and stuff on it to do that! 

The dogs sure did enjoy their 'tasty' snack.... and apparently developed 'walrus' breath--pretty gross!

So last night Amanda and I stared at each other... and were both like.. "you are soooo familiar..." and we went through list of possible places we 'might' have seen each other... way back to 2000--- and back to North Bay... Nipissing University!  Yep she started her 1st year as I was in my 3rd year... and for the first semester we both lived in the same residence... It always amazes me how small the world really is...and you never know when you might meet someone from your past! 

..and some fun 'puppy' shots.... because they were pretty cute!!

...well that's all the adventure I am up for today!  (kind of glad we didn't run into that 'bear BUT think of the story it would have been)

Going 'Stir Crazy" in the "little white house" in the Arctic...

This morning, I got up but the plane was cancelled--it was really foggy and windy... so what does a girl do? she eats her breakfast-- oatmeal and an orange... has a bit of 'chit-chat' with the first lady that lived in the "little white house" one night before I arrived...(I would be the "lady in waiting")....after this chit chat...I went back to bed for 3 hours!-- I got up about noon.... had some lunch.. then headed to shopping.... how fun... to the northern!  Then talked to my mum on the phone for like an hour and a half (but been pretty darn BORED)... Last night there was some fear that our cable would go out.. and for a few moments it did... but have no fear we still have that!

I was starting to feel a bit 'stir crazy'... until the 'first lady' of the "little white house" suggested berry picking for some berries to add to the apple crisp for tonight's dinner... I was like.. sure I'll go.... here are some photos of that adventure....

Berries and the snow... look closely you will see them!

View of Cape Dorset...

...picking berries...

...a view of our 'berry' patch...

...CHEESE... man it was windy and COLD!

..yup its a good day!

Toonoo Sharkey was carving outside his house... he was working on a big Char... we talked for a few minutes... he works outside even in the winter!  He's been carving since he was about 10 years old...he comes for a family of carvers... it was pretty neat to stop and see him working in his shop!

..it's going to be a pretty awesome piece when it's finished...

..isn't this the best workshop ever? (well today was a bit cold)!

..better watch out... those construction areas can be might dangerous.... sometimes you might even get whistled at!? who would have thought it...

well that's all from the 'little white house' in the arctic... let's hope that the wind dies down and the plane will come in Sunday at 3:40pm...cross your fingers...and wish with me!

SNOWED in...what to do?

What do you do when it looks like this outside? (today I've been "weathered" in at Cape Dorset) I heard from a friend that the Iqaluit (where I was heading to) airport was closed bc of the storm at 2:30pm... I think perhaps a plane MIGHT try to come in tomorrow morning but if that doesn't happen I'm here in Cape Dorset til well Monday. (just the way it happens with travel sometimes...and you just have to be ok with it!)

So what do you do when it looks like this?....

I finished another one of my knitting projects...this is the one that I was totally frustrated with about a week ago.. I didn't think I had enough wool--but I really did... and then while I was walking through the Co-op buying some things for dinner... I found little buttons so was able to complete it 100%... I think it's pretty darn cute! (and will come in handy--NO I'm not expecting anything that will FIT into something of this size! BUT I know 9 people right now that are pregnant...so well hopefully one of them will get to put this to use!) 

These are some photos from some other projects that I have recently completed... This was fun yarn to work with... it made the pattern all on it's own! I had these cute little buttons that were perfec to complete the whole look!!  I mailed it earlier this summer to my good friends Sarah and Adam for their little girl Emily...Can't wait til she grows up large enough to wear it.. and see the photos!

This is another sweater I knit for a co-worker who had a little boy the begining of the summer!  it was pretty cool....

...so I'm thinking maybe I should have brought more wool with me? Perhaps I'll have to pick some up tomorrow... let's hope a plane arrives or I'm here til Monday! :)

...Babies and Bulldogs and Chocolate Chip Cookies...

This afternoon I met Morena...(from the "babies and bulldogs" fame!) We had a great lunch lunch and enjoyed hot chocolate and awesome chocolate chip cookies! It was really nice to meet someone new..after looking at their blog and them looking at my blog.  It was nice to just sort of pick up and talk like we were old friends, yet we are quite new friends!  I also got to pick up my wonderful 'prize' awhile back from a P(l)ay it Forward contest that she had... and it was this-- a cookie jar with all the ingredients... I just need to ADD an egg and butter and vanilla! (how cool is that?!)    Thanks so much for lunch and the chatter!! I really enjoyed meeting you....and your family!

"little white house" in the Arctic...

When I arrived in Cape Dorset I had a friend that picked me up at the airport.... we went to the hotel I was staying in--- I got a bit of a shock... you see I was told...."oh we dont' have room....." the lady's voice trailed away because she was walking away from me.  My first thought was--Crap I don't have a room? am I going to have to sleep on the street? what do you mean I don't have a room?---I booked this like weeks ago.... (but instead of voicing any of these crazy thoughts.. what did I do?--- I just followed the lady into the hotel... where she was still talking at me...I found out then that THERE was a ROOM for me.. just not in the hotel... But I was sharing a house with another lady who arrived yesterday... So as quickly as that information given I was heading out of that hotel to the "little white house" (the lady couldn't remember the number). (thank goodness I had people I knew that picked me up at the airport.... one knew me by my name, Sarah... the other just "newbie in the north"--I suppose lots of people are following my adventures now! was kind of fun having someone greet me as 'newbie' but also kind of weird as well!) 

....just for future reference... the "little white house" is behind the health centre beside the high school that is currently being renovated....but definitely not the other white house--that would be the morgue... MY "little white house" for the my time in Cape Dorset is an AWESOME house...so clean and has been at my best guess recently (past 2 years) renovated... and the best part?----oh ya.. the bed.... the most comfy bed I've been in since forever ago....(even more comfy than my GN unit--shocking?!).... Last night I was a happy girl.... I got a GREAT night's SLEEP that even the construction guys starting work at some point this morning around 7ish didn't even wake me up....mmmm I LOVE sleep!!!

Is anyone else excited to have Grey's start tonight?? 2 hours... who will die? who will lie? will the both die? hmmmm I can't wait!!!!

UPDATED: to add photo of the "little white house" in the Arctic...

...and there was SNOW falling on my head!

I arrived in Cape Dorset today.... before it got too dark I wandered around (with all the people from the cruise ship)...

(you can see the snow coming from across the water!)

...at the look out!..

Yep--that's the SAME ship...I'm convinced it's stalking me--from Pang...then Kimmirut and now Cape Dorset!  (this shouldn't affect the rest of my travel-- they are heading to Kujjuaaq and then back to where they all call home!)

Oh ya.. the SNOW is here... AND it's COLD and there was ICE in what use to be puddles (see the above photo!)...

In other news from Cape Dorset...there was a Polar Bear around town lately-- they had to 'scare' it away from town last night and this morning... and the Bow Head whale hunt has started.  This year there are 3 tags (or license to kill 3 animals)...that have been given to hunt the Bow Heads... they have been split up into 3 communities across Nunavut.  Cape Dorset has one, Rankin Inlet and Kugaaruk have the other two tags!  It's a 'controlled' hunt that the whole community takes part in... I'm hoping that it is 'caught' while I am here... because that would be an amazing experience... I'll keep you posted!!