Pond Inlet NU

Pond inlet Aug 3^rd to 9^th 2011

Pond was the first community I saw an iceberg in. Evidently they drift into the bay and will eventually drift out. We had a vehicle so could travel a little ways out so I got lots of pix of it. I guess it was cool but it not like I got to climb on the damn thing or anything, so it may has well have been a picture.

Things I remember of this trip where numerous.

First, on the small flights you can book your seat all you want. Window?...sure. Until you climb on board and the stewardess tells you those magic words. “General seating, sit wherever you wish”. The sad part was in the airport there where these two scientists or explorers (or some damn thing). One who seemed like a typical arrogant Dutchman who was talking pictures of everything in sight, and needed to be smacked just for being him. Along with him was a big guy I labeled “fathead” by the end of the trip. Even before the called general seating they made a bee line and for some reason got let on the plane ahead of a lady with 2 kids.

By the time I got on the plane both Dutchman and fathead had grabbed window seats across from each other and were yelling across the aisle. Eventually some people had to move around to accommodate the mom and kids, and I made the mistake of sitting beside “fathead”. “Fathead of course had wide shoulders to match his girth, so for the next 2 hours I was super uncomfortable. Frankly the travel is the part of this job I am starting to hate.

When I got to the airport the gent running the Hotel picked me, “fathead”, “Dutchman” and some other dude up and took them to the shore to get on a ship, then he dropped me to pick up the “awesome mobile” (see older blog). Shame I forget his name but he reminded me of our Kitchener dispatcher. So I drove to the Sauniq hotel (part of the Inns north chain) and checked in. It’s a nice place and though by southern standards the food at their restaurant is a little pricey, it was really good homemade food.

After I got in my suite (which I later shared with a coworker) I headed to a site to look at an actual emergency. This led me to the Local GN office where when I inquired as to where the phone room was I got the best line I might have ever heard. “I’m sure I couldn’t help you with that”. That line was quickly shared and I even sent his pic to some coworkers so we could all “take a laugh” at his expense.

Later in the week I was joined by a coworker and being we had a vehicle and the weather was great the whole time we actually did a bit of touring. Again, the weather was awesome and the scenery there really is lovely. On one venture, we were going to bring some bones DG found back to Iqaluit for BKs seemingly odd collection obsession. But decided against it.

We even saw what appeared to be mounted up ground that may have been the remnants of old dwellings. Large circles of mounted up dirt and rocks that could be the base for tents or igloos. Very close to a river that runs into the ocean so it would have been a good place to live.

Work was work and that went as well as can be expected. Later in the trip we had to move out of our suite and into the “old old” hotel. Which is a trailer with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a common area. Not the cleanest place but at least we had our own bedrooms.

In conclusion, the weather and the people helped make Pond Inlet an okay place to be. I’m sure I’ll be back some day.

Mountains shaped like a boob:

Tommy Chong was at the hotel....far out

Clyde River NU

Clyde River Sept 27^th to Oct 1^st 2011

My experience in Clyde River had a strange start. Turns out a vehicle was left for me at the airport, but no one told me. So I got out my credit card, swiped it through the payphone and called the taxi number posted on the wall. A man answered. I “said taxi to the airport”. The person on the other end seemed to only speak Inuktitut. He rambled on. I said “is this the taxi”, only to listen to him ramble on again as if he was angry. I said “I guess I called the wrong number” and proceeded to hang up as he continued to talk. I took out my credit card again and literally swiped it over 20 times to get it to work and again called the number on the wall. This time a lady answered and said “taxi”. I said “taxi to the airport” to which she replied, “It’s already on its way”. Strange I thought, but sure enough this angry looking man came walking in a few minutes later and said “who needs a taxi”. I replied “I do” along with 2 other ladies. By the time I got my luggage in and sat down the 2 ladies where in the back seat.

I looked at the driver and said “the cultural center” to which he loudly replied “HUH?”. He started driving. Unbeknownst to me, the Cultural center is ¾ the way to town. As he is about to speed past I overhear one of the ladies say to the other, “that’s the cultural center, I stayed there before”. I told this to the driver who was obviously pissed that he had to stop, reverse 30 feet and go up the ramp. I think he grumbled the word “Piqqusilirivvik”, which is the official name of the place, though this building has no official sign on it. I guess I, being the person who has never been to this hamlet in my life, should have known that this was the cultural center. Why on earth would the local cab driver in a town that you could drive through literally in 5 or 6 minutes, know the English name of the building?

As a side note I found the name on the sign that was likely installed by the government, perhaps at its dedication. It says Piqqusilirivvik cultural center. The Nunavut Government committed $8,053,000 and the Canadian Government $24,161,000.

Sad that in my first 10 minutes in Clyde River I had to meet that guy. If only I had been told that there was a truck waiting, the biggest memory of this town for me wouldn’t be that.

The Piqqusilirivvik cultural center is an awesome building. I guess it should be for over 32 million dollars. I had a room to myself, which was great and access to a kitchen where I could cook real food. A lot of thought went into putting this place together. It has a huge open concept hall with huge laminated beams. Nice.

On day two I met another person who also soured my “Clyde” experience. I won’t go into the boring details but I was told “we never get any help when we go south” when I mentioned possibly taking the staff up on a promised drive. Damn that mystery truck. Between that and the crappy weather that started on day two, I decided to keep to myself for the most part.

On Friday it cleared up so go to take a few more pics. The hamlet is a small place, so other than driving through it, to get the work site (which I had trouble finding) or Northern store, I never bothered walking in town. The whole place is surrounded by mountains. Once it cleared up so you can see them, it is very lovely.

On the bright side, the ladies at the work site, one other Government worker and the school principal were nice enough to almost make up for the first 2 “people”.

Anyway, here are some pics. If I have a choice would I go back to Clyde River…umm, you figure it out.

Iglulik (or Igloolik) NU

Iglulik (or Igloolik) NU Sept 2 to 7^th 2011

I was in town to work over Labor Day weekend. Not that that mattered. When I’m up North to work…let’s getter done.

I remember a few things about this hamlet.

First I had to share a room with a co-worker. Better him that someone I didn’t know. They had satellite too, which gets better channels than my Iqaluit place and luckily we seem to have roughly the same taste. Must be an older (yah not old, older) guy thing. Discovery channel etc.

Secondly, a cruise ship of likely rich people came into town 1 evening. You must be rich to come on an Arctic cruise or at least have a bit too much money. Hey I’m no commie so do what you want with your dough, but haven’t you people heard of the Caribbean or Mediterranean?

Anyway the towns people all came out with tents set up and did something. By the time we realized it was happening it was mostly over. Not sure what the demo was. There were tents with handmade articles for sale etc. and I think perhaps some dancing. Man, every time something happens that maybe worth seeing, I miss it. I hope the cruise people left some of their mullah in town.

Thirdly, they have this environment building in town that looks like a space ship on a pedestal. We even got to go inside. It occupants say that its neat but it leaks and is really cold at times. I guess eventually the honeymoon phase of working there wears off and you are stuck in just another work place with a great view of the town.

The forth thing was the building that indicated it is either now or was at some time a radio station. I love the murals that end up on the sides of some of these places. Lots of smaller drawings seem to evolve into these cool murals. There are two awesome ones in Iqaluit but that’s another blog post. This one was pretty cool as well.

They are also building a huge new Catholic Church right across from the Hotel (and beside the “radio station”). Some of the newer structures up here are impressive. Very well done and modem looking and feeling. I’m sure this new building won’t disappoint when it’s done.

As mentioned before the people we meet walking always seem to have a hello for yah. Whether they know it or not, a hello and smile go a long way to make these trips easier. The people we worked with and at the hotel also where nice as well.

Though I’d prefer my own room, I wouldn’t mind going back to Igloolik.

Cape Dorset NU

Cape Dorset Sept. 21 2011. Weather was great when I arrived, but turned nasty the next day and consequently I was stuck an extra day.

It’s funny, one of the GN employees said to me that most communities are the similar; it’s usually things like your accommodations that give you your final impression. I say it’s a little more than that, at least for me.

For the most part the people always seem friendly. They almost are always the first with a hello. Little kids usually want to know your name and may ask what you are doing.
In this town my accommodations were top notch. I’ve stayed in a lot worse places even in southern Canada and the USA. Dorset Suites were nice and they are building an even better place right across the street.

I bought my 3rd Nuna carving here. It wasn't some huge bear or walrus but for what I paid it was a huge bargain and it helped a local kid get some spending money for his hard work.

However the weather turning kind of ruined the experience for me. I hate fall weather even in Ontario. It was cold, rainy and windy on day 2 and sorta stayed that way until I left. The day I was to fly out a thick fog rolled in, so my plane didn't.

I also had an unsolicited comment given to me at the site I was working at. I guess prejudice is everywhere. I won’t repeat the comment because as it is I don't blame the person for feeling that way. I too believe we should have never intruded on these peoples lives. I wonder if somewhere in the African jungle there is someone trying to teach English to a native so he can become “part of society”. Uggg.

Anyway that, and the crappy weather, sadly helped to form my impression of this tiny hamlet. If I have to come back, I hope it when they have more sun and it’s dry.

Awesome mobile - Pond Inlet NU

This is a truck we were rented in Pond Inlet NU, Aug 2011. 1983 Ford 4 wheel drive.....awesome!! (Still beats walking)

"Ice Burg, dead ahead"

Aug 2011 Iceburg in Pond Inlet NU

Air travel blues

Why is it when planes are full the biggest idiot on the plane (besides me) ends up sitting next to me.

Traveling to Iqaluit, I had some one who looked like a Hamilton Ticats Lineman sit next to me.

Then When I headed to Pond Inlet, I sat beside this FAT HEAD who rushed with his arswipe dutch buddy to get in front of even kids to get window seats in the "general seating" plane. Nice bald spot, fat head