Those were my arrival times. Actual vs Original. What's the difference? 3 extra days of managing to cope in what is now known as the worst blizzard in 30 years in Rankin Inlet. My source...the prairie edition of the Globe and Mail (Thursday January 24, 2008) read while heading on my toronto-bound flight. You couldn't trade those three days.
First, most folk would not believe you. Up to 70 kph winds and yet, at night, you could see the full moon. The resultant drifts and my shots don't due justice since I was leaving at the first break of good weather. The one in the Globe showed the snowy town named lettered on the airport building. I had that shot two weeks ago.
Second, the howl of the wind. Anything that was movable had moved in the previous four days of blowing. There were no garbage bags rolling down the street. There was the occassional person or group walking slowly along, with a certain destination in mind. Steady in their pace, they made it.
Third, the warmth. With Monday's break for about five hours, people had had enough. They wanted out for fresh surroundings, conversation and the fact that they had been holed up for four days. This allowed me an opportunity to have the Health Centre staff sign my Nunavut territory flag. This is a full sized flag that I had bought at the Ivulue store. I had hoped to take it in on my last two days at the centre. It never happened.
The blizzard did instead. So my Sunday 9 a.m. Calm Air flight was postponed to 4 p.m. Monday but the break early monday morning allowed everyone to head into the centre. My bags packed, I made my way there to thank them, personally, for their warmth and kindness over the past almost (at that time three weeks). I had my flag, some chocolates I had brought from home and also in tow was what was left of another couple of trays of muffins (minus what Joe and I had consumed on the weekend) with our tea.
Apparently, I'm the first to have brought in the territorial flag and have the staff sign it. Flag signing in a big thing in Rankin Inlet. They often send signed flags. They're small, easy to pack and mine will have a whole host of memories. Many sent their wishes along with their english and Inuktitut names. Everyone from the building maintenance guy to Marie. Marie is not the rad tech but is trained as a radiography worker.
She had flown out on Tuesday before the storm started with a relative and was to return Thursday so I would have been able to thank her on Friday. Never happened. Instead she was on the First Air flight that landed in the good weather window at noon. (remember the second flight was within fifty feet of landing and aborted). That was the only plane to land in Rankin airport until Wednesday morning when the airport, swimming in water, became a beehive of activity.
Maries' daughter also works at the centre and smiled ear to ear when she told me that Marie had gotten back. I asked if she was coming into work this afternoon or heading into the "Northern" for groceries. She wasn't sure, but said call her, which I did.
Now in Rankin Inlet there is one telephone exchange 645. You know the area code. so the important thing is those last four digits and that's how they say their phone number. That may change this summer as it is rumoured that cell phone service may be coming to town. So I called Marie and thanked her for her time and support and help during my time. I mentioned the flag and that my flight was at 4 p.m.
Its' now one thirty and time to head back to the barn to finish stowing my gear, have a shower and prepare for the journey home. The next thing Marie arrives through the staff entrance. Her husband brought her there on snow machine. She signs my flag. I head home to find out....I'm cancelled at 4 but rebooked for 5:45, The wind is now picking up and the snow is swirling. My Inkshuk still stands quiet and snow covered out my window. I fear Alice is right. I dont feel I'm flying today but what about Tuesday.
I turns out Alice should work part time for Environment Canada. She was right about Tuesday as well. It socked in worse than some of the other days. Again, the health centre was closed and the moon was bright overhead that night.
Wednesday morning I get up at six and start to repack for my trip home. Will it be today or not. I call airlines and make bookings. It's 8:35, the phone rings. You are leaving now, they want you at the airport NOW. What I said I don't know but I'm now in panic mode, not wanting to miss my plane but making sure I have all my stuff. The three second shower, cold water be damned. My ride is here. Room mate Joe has brought the truck and loads my carryon. I'm still trying to fit the last pieces into the suitcase.
I get the case sealed and struggle to the front porch. Joe takes it and I get my cold clothes on. I run to the truck still running and we rush the five minute jaunt to the airport. The main entrance is closed but there is activity on the other side of the drifts. We go down one road and then another and finally poke through an area with a narrow set of tracks that loooks quite used this morning. We have arrived. I rush in to find some of the staff of the centre heading out to Whale Cove on this flight which continues to Winipeg. Will I be among them? Almost a half hour later my fate is doomed. The flight is full. I'm again on the 4 p.m. Will the weather hold?
I take a moment and realize I've been sweating so much my head is dripping. This is a reality game but no game. This same scene is being repeated for many at airports all over the area as I soon see. The emotions are all over the map. The airlines are taking names by hand since their computers are down due to the water. The lobby clears after the Calm Air flight leaves by Gate three. Townspeople go home. There 's less than a dozen people still here and most are ariline staff. Me and my luggage remain.
I find out that First Air has put a bigger plane on for their 1405 flight. A 737 that also carries over 20,000 pounds of cargo. I'm on the written list. They check my bag. Will my ticket be approved in time? I will then have a half hour to catch my flight on westjet in Winnipeg, I spend time on the phone and book it (again). Will I make it? Don't know, but it's worth the try. I call the centre and get a ride back so I can do the online check in since I will be airborne.
The day is sunny with the brightest blue sky imaginable. They all laugh that I haven't left yet. Someone asks did you come back already? I laugh. I send out emails to those at home telling them my fate so far. I do the web check in. Get the paperwork for tickets and all. The fax telling me I'm booked on First Air and it looks like a go...this time. I arrange another ride to the airport for 1 p.m. My baggage is checked, I only need my boarding pass.
I get to the airport to find the plane is late. NOT a good sign. It went to Thompson first then back to Winnipeg then is coming directly here. The goods and people have been building so they are trying to get the most moving and undo the backlog. There will be a half hour turn around. I'm now going to miss my connection in Winnipeg..if I get out. Back to the payphone, I call Westjet and proceed to uncheck in she puts me on hold. After 15 minutes and taking up one of the two phones here I hang up. I let that backlog clear and try again. Westjet people have been pleasant every time. At forty dollars each cancellation I would hope so.
I am now booked for 6 a.m. departure to Toronto thursday morning. I will check in on the web from the hotel, if and when. The lobby of this airpot is packed and the crowd growing. I meet people I've xrayed, staff from the restaurant, grocery store and health centre. In the space of an hour three 737's land. One heads off to Iqaluit having arrived from Yellowknife. At least, 6 fixed wing prop planes have arrived. Friends and family have been greeted and say goodbye as some meet on their way to their destination. Connie's sister arrives. She was to be here last thusday and be leaving today but, alas, that did not occur. Instead, she became houseguest/manager at the Four Points Sheraton across from the Winnipeg airport. She felt part of the staff there, she'd been so long.
Others hover and wait to see what's happening. The ground staff move crates and baggage and eventually two golden retievers, crated their names and photos and owner details printed on top, arrive into the waiting area warmth. Their owners are not happy since the dogs have been waiting on the ground by the plane for what seems like an eternity. Ironically, the next day at the Tim Hortons in Winnipeg airport, I meet the ground baggage handlers who loaded those dogs onto the plane five times before they finally got to Rankin (can dogs collect air miles and do you have to land to get the credits?).
The sun is starting to go down. An hour of daylight has been added on each end of the day since I got here. This is scarry I am starting to know too much. Airport staff lead group after group out onto the runway and into the various planes. They taxi and take off. It's almost 3:35. Some congestion in this hall has changed but it's still busy. Finally, they call our flight just as I am preparing to get Connies' sisters luggage off the belt. I say goodbye and exit Gate 1 across the snowy ground lugging my carryone. The sun is now lower and a four o'clock takeoff looks good. We might make it...We do!
From my window seat, I see the bay known as Hudson's, snow covered. It's dusk all the way to Thomson where we will have to deplane and go throught airport security. Going further south, the daylight remains the same for that hour and five minute flight...with one exception. I see trees. Yes, lakes and riverbeds and hills and roads and trees.
We land. Deplane and go through Airport Security. All our bags are removed from the plane and put through the scanner and reloaded. I get frisked and the laptop gets swapped and the camera gets swapped and the cases etc. I have to steady myself and raise each boot seperately while he "checks". Eventually I tell them you guys don't have anything here in Thompson to do, do you? Knowing the levels of terrorist activity that I seen in Rankin, I'm surprized the GRC aren't escorting me back to the plane in bracelets.
The next hour into Winnipeg is flawless and by 8 I'm into the hotel, have called home and ready to get some grub. I head to the desk, do my check in for the morning flight, get my paperwork and arrange a 4 .m. wake up call. I head to the bar. TSN and Rogers Sportsnet boast games. I watch the red and white junior game on SPORTSNET. I choose the beer battered fish and chips along with a Fort Garry Dark. My tired mind laughs when I think "How come the animal rights people haven't got after those people that batter fish?" The soup is good, the fish is superb, most of the fries I leave. The game continues and another Fort Garry Dark evaporates before me.
Returning to my room I look out my window. My familiar Inukshuk has been replaced by another concrete structure. A water park attached to the indoor pool. I close my eyes. My life has changed.
First, most folk would not believe you. Up to 70 kph winds and yet, at night, you could see the full moon. The resultant drifts and my shots don't due justice since I was leaving at the first break of good weather. The one in the Globe showed the snowy town named lettered on the airport building. I had that shot two weeks ago.
Second, the howl of the wind. Anything that was movable had moved in the previous four days of blowing. There were no garbage bags rolling down the street. There was the occassional person or group walking slowly along, with a certain destination in mind. Steady in their pace, they made it.
Third, the warmth. With Monday's break for about five hours, people had had enough. They wanted out for fresh surroundings, conversation and the fact that they had been holed up for four days. This allowed me an opportunity to have the Health Centre staff sign my Nunavut territory flag. This is a full sized flag that I had bought at the Ivulue store. I had hoped to take it in on my last two days at the centre. It never happened.
The blizzard did instead. So my Sunday 9 a.m. Calm Air flight was postponed to 4 p.m. Monday but the break early monday morning allowed everyone to head into the centre. My bags packed, I made my way there to thank them, personally, for their warmth and kindness over the past almost (at that time three weeks). I had my flag, some chocolates I had brought from home and also in tow was what was left of another couple of trays of muffins (minus what Joe and I had consumed on the weekend) with our tea.
Apparently, I'm the first to have brought in the territorial flag and have the staff sign it. Flag signing in a big thing in Rankin Inlet. They often send signed flags. They're small, easy to pack and mine will have a whole host of memories. Many sent their wishes along with their english and Inuktitut names. Everyone from the building maintenance guy to Marie. Marie is not the rad tech but is trained as a radiography worker.
She had flown out on Tuesday before the storm started with a relative and was to return Thursday so I would have been able to thank her on Friday. Never happened. Instead she was on the First Air flight that landed in the good weather window at noon. (remember the second flight was within fifty feet of landing and aborted). That was the only plane to land in Rankin airport until Wednesday morning when the airport, swimming in water, became a beehive of activity.
Maries' daughter also works at the centre and smiled ear to ear when she told me that Marie had gotten back. I asked if she was coming into work this afternoon or heading into the "Northern" for groceries. She wasn't sure, but said call her, which I did.
Now in Rankin Inlet there is one telephone exchange 645. You know the area code. so the important thing is those last four digits and that's how they say their phone number. That may change this summer as it is rumoured that cell phone service may be coming to town. So I called Marie and thanked her for her time and support and help during my time. I mentioned the flag and that my flight was at 4 p.m.
Its' now one thirty and time to head back to the barn to finish stowing my gear, have a shower and prepare for the journey home. The next thing Marie arrives through the staff entrance. Her husband brought her there on snow machine. She signs my flag. I head home to find out....I'm cancelled at 4 but rebooked for 5:45, The wind is now picking up and the snow is swirling. My Inkshuk still stands quiet and snow covered out my window. I fear Alice is right. I dont feel I'm flying today but what about Tuesday.
I turns out Alice should work part time for Environment Canada. She was right about Tuesday as well. It socked in worse than some of the other days. Again, the health centre was closed and the moon was bright overhead that night.
Wednesday morning I get up at six and start to repack for my trip home. Will it be today or not. I call airlines and make bookings. It's 8:35, the phone rings. You are leaving now, they want you at the airport NOW. What I said I don't know but I'm now in panic mode, not wanting to miss my plane but making sure I have all my stuff. The three second shower, cold water be damned. My ride is here. Room mate Joe has brought the truck and loads my carryon. I'm still trying to fit the last pieces into the suitcase.
I get the case sealed and struggle to the front porch. Joe takes it and I get my cold clothes on. I run to the truck still running and we rush the five minute jaunt to the airport. The main entrance is closed but there is activity on the other side of the drifts. We go down one road and then another and finally poke through an area with a narrow set of tracks that loooks quite used this morning. We have arrived. I rush in to find some of the staff of the centre heading out to Whale Cove on this flight which continues to Winipeg. Will I be among them? Almost a half hour later my fate is doomed. The flight is full. I'm again on the 4 p.m. Will the weather hold?
I take a moment and realize I've been sweating so much my head is dripping. This is a reality game but no game. This same scene is being repeated for many at airports all over the area as I soon see. The emotions are all over the map. The airlines are taking names by hand since their computers are down due to the water. The lobby clears after the Calm Air flight leaves by Gate three. Townspeople go home. There 's less than a dozen people still here and most are ariline staff. Me and my luggage remain.
I find out that First Air has put a bigger plane on for their 1405 flight. A 737 that also carries over 20,000 pounds of cargo. I'm on the written list. They check my bag. Will my ticket be approved in time? I will then have a half hour to catch my flight on westjet in Winnipeg, I spend time on the phone and book it (again). Will I make it? Don't know, but it's worth the try. I call the centre and get a ride back so I can do the online check in since I will be airborne.
The day is sunny with the brightest blue sky imaginable. They all laugh that I haven't left yet. Someone asks did you come back already? I laugh. I send out emails to those at home telling them my fate so far. I do the web check in. Get the paperwork for tickets and all. The fax telling me I'm booked on First Air and it looks like a go...this time. I arrange another ride to the airport for 1 p.m. My baggage is checked, I only need my boarding pass.
I get to the airport to find the plane is late. NOT a good sign. It went to Thompson first then back to Winnipeg then is coming directly here. The goods and people have been building so they are trying to get the most moving and undo the backlog. There will be a half hour turn around. I'm now going to miss my connection in Winnipeg..if I get out. Back to the payphone, I call Westjet and proceed to uncheck in she puts me on hold. After 15 minutes and taking up one of the two phones here I hang up. I let that backlog clear and try again. Westjet people have been pleasant every time. At forty dollars each cancellation I would hope so.
I am now booked for 6 a.m. departure to Toronto thursday morning. I will check in on the web from the hotel, if and when. The lobby of this airpot is packed and the crowd growing. I meet people I've xrayed, staff from the restaurant, grocery store and health centre. In the space of an hour three 737's land. One heads off to Iqaluit having arrived from Yellowknife. At least, 6 fixed wing prop planes have arrived. Friends and family have been greeted and say goodbye as some meet on their way to their destination. Connie's sister arrives. She was to be here last thusday and be leaving today but, alas, that did not occur. Instead, she became houseguest/manager at the Four Points Sheraton across from the Winnipeg airport. She felt part of the staff there, she'd been so long.
Others hover and wait to see what's happening. The ground staff move crates and baggage and eventually two golden retievers, crated their names and photos and owner details printed on top, arrive into the waiting area warmth. Their owners are not happy since the dogs have been waiting on the ground by the plane for what seems like an eternity. Ironically, the next day at the Tim Hortons in Winnipeg airport, I meet the ground baggage handlers who loaded those dogs onto the plane five times before they finally got to Rankin (can dogs collect air miles and do you have to land to get the credits?).
The sun is starting to go down. An hour of daylight has been added on each end of the day since I got here. This is scarry I am starting to know too much. Airport staff lead group after group out onto the runway and into the various planes. They taxi and take off. It's almost 3:35. Some congestion in this hall has changed but it's still busy. Finally, they call our flight just as I am preparing to get Connies' sisters luggage off the belt. I say goodbye and exit Gate 1 across the snowy ground lugging my carryone. The sun is now lower and a four o'clock takeoff looks good. We might make it...We do!
From my window seat, I see the bay known as Hudson's, snow covered. It's dusk all the way to Thomson where we will have to deplane and go throught airport security. Going further south, the daylight remains the same for that hour and five minute flight...with one exception. I see trees. Yes, lakes and riverbeds and hills and roads and trees.
We land. Deplane and go through Airport Security. All our bags are removed from the plane and put through the scanner and reloaded. I get frisked and the laptop gets swapped and the camera gets swapped and the cases etc. I have to steady myself and raise each boot seperately while he "checks". Eventually I tell them you guys don't have anything here in Thompson to do, do you? Knowing the levels of terrorist activity that I seen in Rankin, I'm surprized the GRC aren't escorting me back to the plane in bracelets.
The next hour into Winnipeg is flawless and by 8 I'm into the hotel, have called home and ready to get some grub. I head to the desk, do my check in for the morning flight, get my paperwork and arrange a 4 .m. wake up call. I head to the bar. TSN and Rogers Sportsnet boast games. I watch the red and white junior game on SPORTSNET. I choose the beer battered fish and chips along with a Fort Garry Dark. My tired mind laughs when I think "How come the animal rights people haven't got after those people that batter fish?" The soup is good, the fish is superb, most of the fries I leave. The game continues and another Fort Garry Dark evaporates before me.
Returning to my room I look out my window. My familiar Inukshuk has been replaced by another concrete structure. A water park attached to the indoor pool. I close my eyes. My life has changed.
1 comment:
Hi Bob,
Welcome back to Niagara. Thank you so very much for the informative and colourful blog enteries. We have enjoyed your adventures, and felt like we were there with you. Great blog, we will miss it now you are home. KK
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