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June 26/04 - Return flights to Ottawa
UPDATE (Posted 3:45 pm EST)
(Posted 3:00 pm EST)
by phone from Pond Inlet
Geoff, Stephanie, and Zev
Hello everyone! We are at the Airport in Pond Inlet - our plane is on the tarmac, our bags are packed, we’re ready to go ... we will be flying to Iqaluit - where we will have a couple of hours - to shop, perhaps visit the legislature for Nunavut etc. Everyone is great - we’re happy and also feeling some sadness within as we contemplate the end of our journey. We know our friendships are strong and that we will carry them with us and all we have learned into the next steps of our lives.
We had a great day yesterday --- beginning with a lecture about being successful in our lives, integrating all we have learned, continuing with our education in college or university --- very meaningful and important encouragement for each of us.
We then spent the day participating in numerous activities ... we worked together on the One Tonne Challenge ... setting specific goals about WHAT and HOW we can help our environment.
We also did some shopping, visited galleries, attended the opening of a new health centre, and visited the cultural centre, where we witnessed traditional dancing and games, and tried some traditional foods ... arctic char and whale fat (way tough, tastes sort of like coconut, needs lots of chewing and is hard to swallow!).
“I am still in complete and utter amazement at how high - at least 8 feet - one of the Inuit participants jumped during the games” ... “an awesome and fun day - though I know the tears are also really close to the surface”.
Zev joined the Polar Bear swim team --- by taking a very quick cool SPLASH in the Arctic Ocean - way to go guy!
And last night we spent time putting on a talent show and chatting with each other - discussing our experiences, impressions, hopes.
So all is well ... see you soon ... thanks so much to all of our partners and sponsors .... for making this trip to the ‘Floe Edge’ possible. We look forward to giving you more updates and journal entries, as well as follow-up stories and media reports in the days ahead.
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Journal Entry (Posted Sunday 4:45 pm EST)
June 26, 2004 - POND INLET, NUNAVUT
For some today started with a Polar Bear dip in the Arctic Ocean! Another SOI tradition. After breakfast we did some final packing and then wandered down to the opening ceremonies of the new Health Center. Just when we were starting to feel like members of the community, it was time to go to the airport. We checked in our bags and then returned to the hotel for a quick lunch, and then back to the airport to board our flights… Or so we thought… After an hour of waiting around, taking photos, playing foot tage, and saying goodbye to our new friends we found out that our flight was delayed. Apparently, the plane was overloaded, so the decision was made to take some cargo to Arctic Bay first, and then return to pick us up at about 4:00pm. So here we in Pond Inlet. It looks like we'll be getting in late to Iqaluit but they're saying they will hold our connecting flight to Ottawa for us. Flexibility is the key! The journey continues…
I'd like to again take this opportunity to thank all of our PARTNERS that have helped make this expedition possible.
Our plane just landed!! Fingers crossed we're coming home. Although none of our group seems in a rush to leave this beautiful place!!
Stay tuned… Geoff
here are some images of the last couple of days ...
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