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!!