Hello McFly?
Did I really think that this journey would go off without some sort of drama?
So poor little Tia was MIA for about 45 minutes.
We dropped her off at cargo like we were told to do by the travel agent, she was even there ahead of time. Because we thought better to be early than late. So we leave her there and go off to check in for our flight with Westjet from Toronto to Ottawa.
I haven't been on a plane in more than 10 years so that alone was causing stress. We wait as you do in the airport since you have to be there 2 hours before you board. Keep in mind the flight to Ottawa is less than an hour.
At 1:30 they call us to board, we get on and wait, and wait and wait some more. Around 2:15 (we were suppose to take off at 2) a Westjet employ come to us and asks do you have a white fluffy dog. My heart stopped. No. We are then told, we are having an issue locating your dog. EXCUSE ME?
5 minutes later she comes back and shows us a cell phone picture of a fluffy white dog. Are you sure this isn't your dog. Seriously, I know what my dog looks like.
Another 10 minutes goes by and she comes back again. We are still looking for her, did you want to go on to Ottawa or get off the plane. As if that is even a question.
So off the plane we get.
In the waiting area an employee keeps asking me stupid questions like where did you drop off your dog. I keep telling her at cargo and she looked at me like I had 6 heads. I don't understand she says why would you drop her off there. Because that was what the travel agent told me to do. After all what would I know about flying a dog? I had to rely on the information provided to me by someone who I assume is knowledgeable. Nope. Tia should have been checked in along with our baggage. Flying with a dog is considered excess/over sized baggage not cargo.
So two hours later, a food voucher for both Drew and I and a bump up to the plush seats, and ALL of us are on the plane and off to Ottawa.
taking Tia back into the right part of the airport.
But if I thought that the stress was over I was very wrong. I'm not sure if the pilot screwed up the take off but I felt like I was in a rocket, straight up and a crazy amount of thrust. Drew threw up. Even I who hasn't flown much but have never had an issue with it felt sick. And just when we were getting settled we were landing again.
Into the airport we go. I checked my facebook for a message from my old co-worker and friend Andrea and see that she has decided to drive out and pick us up. We had planned to have dinner with her but with the delay the plan kinda got derailed. Down to baggage we go and at the bottom of the escalator is a beautiful smiling face, oh Andrea you made the day so much better.
We then discover that they have misplaced one of my suitcases. UUUUgh. I leave our contact info and head off to the hotel. Be the time we get in a settled Drew and I are both exhausted. I felt bad for Andrea but she was completely understanding. After the stress of the day we both had the best sleep ever.
Feb 19
We aren't in Kansas anymore.
As I am actually writing this three weeks after it happened due to lack of internet access I might have skipped over a few details. But I do remember that the second part of the journey was much smoother.
In Ottawa or first plan to the north was boarded by a staircase on the tarmac.
First Air flights were much less dramatic. I made triple sure that Tia was on the plane and settled in.
About 30 minutes in they came around with breakfast, and for airplane food it was damn tasty. A breakfast burrito, muffin, fruit cup, apple juice and tea. Drew was still a little queasy so he just had his muffin and a juice.
The flight was smooth and peacefully and just when I was ready for a nap they brought us a huge warm oatmeal raisin cookie. On one of the blogs I follow I had read that it was important to always take all of the food they give you on northern flight because you never know when something unexpected might happen that may leave you stranded at an airport in the middle of nothing.
Landing in Iqaluit was a little bit surreal. This whole experience has been nothing but. The terminal here is bright yellow and you get out of the plane via stairs and back into the terminal the same way. With an hour long layover we had plenty of time to relax and people watch. One thing that was very apparent is the fact that I have now become a minority in regards to being a white person. I love how different people look here and I feel like a child with the wonder of it. Drew and I both took Tia out for a quick walk.
The airport here like most airports in the north is right in town, but far enough away that we didn't want to venture in alone.
Boarding time again, I wheel Tia to the cargo/over sized area and cross my fingers. Unlike the big airports there is no security here, at least not for flights going further north. We show our tickets and go back down the stairs to the tarmac and get onto a bus with about 6 other people on it. Yes a bus. I look at Drew, 'what's happening'? As the bus wheels away we head toward a very small plane. Maybe 20 seats. Off the bus and onto the tiny plan with four narrow steps. Drew and I sit across the aisle from each other and I sit beside a tiny women (an elder) with beautiful seal skin mittens. The plane is freezing because the doors have been opened to load passengers and cargo in the front section and tail of the plane. So I take my coat off but leave on my hat and mittens. Within minutes we are closed up and taxing off the the runway. About 15 minutes into the air, more food. This time a chicken breast wrap, macaroni salad, carrot sticks, a piece of cake and a drink. Not much to see on this flight, we aren't all that high in the air but it's just white. And the windows are small. It seems that the smaller the plane the better the experience. You could barely feel us taking off and no ear popping.
One more stop before we are in our new home, Clyde River. I later learned that Clyde has horrible blizzards and it's not such a fun place when that happens, since it means no planes can land. Back in the day Clyde was the best place for Arctic Fox and was really not meant to be a settlement. Landing here was like being on the moon. Very open with NOTHING around. It was clear and crisp and the sun was starting to come down (about 3pm). We were here from about 30 minutes while they unloaded the cargo and then back on with only 3 people. Drew, me and a nurse named Teresa who was also going to Pond. We chatted with her on the ride up and before we knew it we were here, but not before we were offered another snack.I have to say you certainly aren't going to starve flying First Air.
Our store manager Dave met us in the airport and then when off to load the truck with cargo for the store. It was dark by the time we got into the truck to drive to the house, so Dave said that he would take us around the next day to show us where everything was. At the house the guys from the store brought all of our bags in and then Dave told us that once we were settled to come over to the store to get some food. Bedtime came early and on waking up the next day we were greeted with an amazing view of the mountains.
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