DAY 12: GOING HOME


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At the morning briefing it wasn't all good news!  The first plane out of Edmonton had developed a mechanical problem and it hadn't left on time.  We stayed on the ship with even the real prospect of another night aboard!  We had to wait it out before we eventually got the news that it was on the air, but this was putting our schedule back.  We were now due to leave Pond Inlet at about 7.00 p.m. which meant a late arrival in Edmonton if everything worked out.  We were now due to land in Edmonton at around 1.30 a.m.  

A large glacier opposite Pond Inlet

Back in Pond Inlet

A tanker and Coast Guard ship Amundsen, which has a later significance
We made our landing with time to fill so we all looked around the town again.


Meeting up with a local

We also visited the Visitor Centre and Museum where we saw some of the animals we failed to see earlier. 
A Narwhal
Local dress
A general view in the museum
Some of the sea birds

We visited the COOP store and the Northern store.  There was a reasonable range of good and the shelves were well stocked.  Prices for the majority of items were very high.

Yes, $9.99
It is expensive to live in the Arctic

A view over Pond Inlet

First Air AR42

We eventually made our way to the airport where we crammed into a very small room to check in await developments.  It was so crowded that many stayed outside even though it was a bit cold, we didn't have the ship's jackets any more. Three planes finally arrived adding to two other on regular scheduled routes making five in all, probably a record for Pond Inlet who have few visitors on a normal basis.  The local staff seemed to be quite excited with all that was happening.

The baggage plane left first and then it was our turn to load and leave and we put down in Kugaaruk, previously Pelly Bay, to refuel. 

Kugaaruk Airport

Then it was off to Yellowknife.  After landing it was just a short while for the third plane to arrive and we now had the full load for Edmonton,  It was very well organised, a short walk on the tarmac between planes. A nice meal was provided on the last leg and we eventually arrived in Edmonton at about 1.30 a.m. where buses waited to take some to the main terminal and others direct to downtown Edmonton.  You could not fault the arrangements which has been made at such short notice.

So our adventure had come to a close.  WE  ahd hjope ddpo meet up with Andrew and Debbie that couldn't be arranged at short notice, we had no email connection on the ship. We flew the next morning to Calgary and Kamloops where we stayed a few days with Tim and Aileen and the boys and then to Comox via Vancouver, not that easy it turned out because of the smoke in the air from many forest fires which caused our booked plane to be cancelled but after a bit of work we did make it home.




Next Post: Epilogue

  

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