You can’t get there from here.
Yesterday, when I got home for lunch, Leah greeted me with the news that Travis had an appointment at one at the Nursing Station, and if his check up was okay he had to leave on the afternoon’s plane for Iqaluit. Travis needed some dental work done under a General and a spot had opened up.
One of us, of course, would be going down with him.
Now when I say one of us would be going down that would be me, as there is only one of us that flys well. It is kind of like volunteering in the RCMP – "I need a volunteer… you, Kines". And as inconvenient as a three day trip would be, I would be able to get Hilary at the same time. And as I’m not sure I follow the logic of doing dental work on a child under a general anesthetic I would be much happier being there.
The check up went well and we were scheduled to leave at 8:00 pm. Leah’s little sister Sukiqpa would also be going down for the same thing, along with another of Leah’s sisters as an escort. Most of my afternoon at work was shot though as I had packing and some organizing to do, finding accommodations and that sort of thing. I did get back to the House late in the afternoon and when I returned home I found out that the plane had been canceled and we would be leaving today instead.
Now the airport is at Nanisivik, 30 kms away, and although the plane was due to arrive at 5:30, they wanted us there at 3:30. I guess that is to give us time to make it through security. ("Are you aware of the contents of your bag?" "Did you pack the bag yourself?" "Have you left the bag unattended?" "Any nail files, knives, scissors or other sharp objects in your carry on" — There, you’ve just gone through security at Nanisivik.) And speaking of carry ons, I was told that I’d have to check my laptop as luggage as they might not allow carry ons on the Hawker. Sorry, this isn’t a laptop, its my… purse, yeah my purse.
So we ended up at the airport promptly at 3:45, and quickly checked in, and settled in for the nearly two hour wait. Gary came with us to bring the truck and Leah back to town and we tried to entertain a tired and grumpy Travis until the plane arrived. Leah, Travis and I were in the truck when the plane arrived, and we said our goodbyes. In the terminal (Terminal 3 I believe) I told Gary that Leah was ready to go and that they could leave, and after a two hour wait you could imagine he didn’t waste any time in doing so.
He had no sooner walked out the door when the First Air station coordinator got up and announced "As you know, the plane has been canceled, we’ll call you with the new arrangements". As I know? Plane canceled? But it’s on the ground!! As it turned out the Hawker lost an engine about 100 kms out of the airport, and it will be on the ground here for several days.
So now we had to head back to Arctic Bay. Our ride!!!!! Its already left. Luckily Gary noticed a "Door ajar" light in the truck and had stopped at the end of the parking lot to check it out. Even luckier, he didn’t know that there is a loose connection in the truck somewhere and the "Door ajar" light is usually on. So I started off sprinting across the parking lot, just as he started off again. But he saw me and stopped. Unfortunately Travis thought his dad was abandoning him, and was soon running across the parking lot after me, screaming his lungs out.
So about three and a half hours out of our day, dental work that will no doubt have to be rescheduled to a later day, and no Hilary.
All is not lost, Hilary arrives on tomorrow’s plane at around 1:30, with a woman from Arctic Bay who is returning from Iqaluit.
Film at 11:00
Update: January 25th
This morning I called the airport to see when the plane would be coming in and was told it was running a couple hours late, and would be in at 5:05. At coffee, I figured I’d slip home and double check, just in case there were any changes.
I got one of the crew. "5:05? No we’re on the ground now." (Remember I’m a half hour drive away from the airport)
I told them my baby was on the plane, and they said there was no baby on board. I managed to get one of the local workers on the phone and found out that our escort never got on the plane. A call to Iqaluit confirmed that she, along with HIlary had missed the plane. She was told at the boarding house to be at the airport by 1:00 pm, which she was. Unfortunately it was the wrong information and the plane had already departed.
I guess Hilary will be here on tomorrow’s plane. In the mean time, one of Kautaq’s daughters went to see Hilary and emailed us a couple of photos. So…. here’s our girl.
Comments
8 responses
What a saga, stick with it.
Man, I got worn out reading that post. Good try Mr Mom. 😉
Goodness! My 40 minute bus ride to work no longer feels inconvenient.
What an ordeal!
Hey I finally got the Quicktime movies to work, by the way.
AND I came into the 21st century and got an iPod, so I’m waiting for your video podcasts now! 🙂
Awww! How cute! Hope she’ll arrive soon.
Yeah, she’s gorgeous, Clare. Although she does look as if she’s getting ready to punch someone’s lights out for missing the plane… ;^)
and I bet they don’t even give you the complimentary peanuts on those flights 😉
she’s adorable Clare.. so precious.
She’s beautiful! Worth every minute of the wait, I’d say!!