Okay, so that is an extreme exaggeration. The flight was not fun or exciting in the slightest. Everything for flights was set up to go to Pang on Feb 10th but a few days before Nunavut Housing was having a scheduling issue to get a trainer to Pang to help me get set up. I was asked if I wanted to stay home a little longer. Anxious about the decision I had made already and the potential of getting scared and backing out, I said I would like to come out now if that is possible. They said OKAY, but they would have to start my training in Kinngait (Which used to be Cape Dorset until Feb 2020). Packing was a challenge; I was allowed to bring 2 bags at 50lbs on the flight. Imagine trying to pack everything you need for a full move in two bags of luggage. The place they were giving me has a bed, furnishings, fridge, stove, laundry. It did not contain TV, dishes, pots, pans, bed sheets, or pillows as those things tend to disappear while units are empty. other items are removed due to carried over policies from COVID-19. Using Amazon, I was able to order a bunch of this stuff, but it wouldn’t arrive when I first got there. It was dated for almost a week later. At the post office you can set up a Flex shipping account which delivers your items to the post office to be picked up, by doing this I was able to get free shipping to Pangnirtung.
I repacked 3 times and had to remove and add stuff multiple times, but I managed to squeeze in some plastic dishes a small pot, a frying pan, and some utensils. Anyhow, when I checked in my bags, they got weighed and one bag was 49.8 lbs., and the other was 49.2 lbs. so I was pretty proud of the packing in the end.
My first flight was at 9:15 in the morning and according to my Itinerary I had to be there 2 hrs. before my flight. I had to leave my house in Indian Head Sk. at 6:20 to get to the airport in Regina at 7:15. My wonderful son got the pleasure of driving his balling Dad to the airport. He handled the situation much better than I did, but he was probably teary after I left. (Thanks Mom or Dad by the way for the crying gene). But I gave It to the daughter, so revenge is sweet. I got to the airport and checked everything in and sat down to patiently wait for my flight. I decided to try and be more outgoing since this is a by-myself trip and not talking to anyone wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun. So, I chatted with a couple and a younger lady heading to Mexico. They thought that I was crazy to be heading to Nunavut in the middle of winter. While I was talking with them there was an announcement that a flight from Regina to Calgary was canceled. I started to panic as I thought this was my flight and that my adventure had already hit a snag, but it was a different flight from mine that was supposed to leave 5 min after my flight, so we were still a go.
The whole flight time was listed as 23 hr. I know crazy right but that time I found out it was not all on the plane. My flight consisted of a flight from Regina to Calgary. Then Calgary to Ottawa (Yes, I had to go backwards to go forwards, so I spent 4 hrs. in flight time to end up in the same place but this is how the world works). In Ottawa I would have an overnight stay and then I would go From Ottawa to Iqaluit. Then Iqaluit to Kinngait. So, the overnight stay is included in the 23 hrs. of flight.
I got on the plane from Regina to Calgary. If anyone knows the Calgary airport it is one of the largest in Canada. I had 30 minutes in between my flight to get off the plane to get to my connecting flight. I will never understand flights for this They are the ones booking it so you would think that putting me at the very back seat of the plane might not be the smartest way to go. Anyhow the plane landed late, I got off the plane and proceeded to travel 2 terminals over as fast as I could with cramped legs. According to my fit bit it was an approximate 1 km walk. How many people here think I made it to my connecting flight?
To be continued
Leave a Reply