So we were out on the edge of town enjoying the aurora borealis when I became highly aware that it would be impossible to see polar bears approaching until they were within 50 feet of us. So I persuaded Peter that it was a good idea to return to the lights of town and the relative safety they offer. He set up his camera on a tripod between two buildings. I look forward to seeing the photos. A group of us sat up quite late (11:00) to kill off a couple of bottles of wine that I had bought in Churchill and did not want to carry back. It was a fun social activity.
The next and last day in Churchill started with a group breakfast at Gypsy's down the road from the hotel. They have great food reasonably priced. We walked back to the hotel to meet our bus which took us out to the Dog Sledding place. We were given a talk and saw a slide show on dog sledding. The owner, John Stetson, did the International Trans Antarctic trip with his dog team. It was a great morning. I managed to get onto a sled for each of 4 change-ups. It was another dream come true. Unfortunately there was not enough snow yet so we were on wheeled sleds instead of runners. The dogs are so beautiful and social. They loved all the attention from we tourists.
We were then bussed directly to the Churchill Airport where we got onto the plane and left nearly 1/2 an hour early. The flight was non-eventful... a very good thing in an old Dash-8. We arrived in Winnipeg at 2:30, were bussed over to the main airport and the Four Points Sheraton there. I checked on my flight reservation and hopped a city bus to the corner of Portage and Fort (one block before the infamous Portage & Main) and walked to my hotel about 3 blocks away.
I went to The Toad on Main Pub for supper and a beer then at 9:30 returned to my room where I collapsed. I was exhausted. Slept until 8:30. Had a latish breakfast, did a blog update, checked out and cabbed to the airport. Air Canada did, of course, have a slight schedule change on my flight which left 45 minutes later than it should have. This time the excuse (which I heard was legitimate... for a change) was severe weather in Calgary. I arrived in Ottawa's new International Airport at about 5:00.
Now I will be staying at my friend Wendy's house until Wednesday morning. My plans for the winter of Bahamian sailing have been cancelled so I must find an alternative. May stay in Ottawa until mid January. This means getting a job and a place to live. Darn!
Must go now.
Posted by gailene at October 31, 2003 09:48 PM