Ahmet Erkun

Joined December 2019 Message

In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 3, 2022, 12:45am · ⛅ 54 °F Altitude: 33 ft
  Qeqqata Camp Lloyd Brennan Pynt 66.957413, -50.96569566°57’27” N 50°57’57” W
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Day6
Hello Ultramarine
August 3 in Greenland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
Once our flight landed, we were whisked onto the transfer buses for a 30-minute ride to the dock … no immigration; no customs.

At the dock, a number of expedition team members were waiting for us with zodiacs. Donning life vests, we hopped into one of the boats and off we went on a 3-minute ride to embark Ultramarine … our home away from home for the next two weeks.Read more
MNtravellover
Interesting looking ship.
1wReply
Two to Travel
It’s a beautiful new expedition ship … purpose-built and in its first real season of use … thanks to COVID-19. Carries 199 pax … but we are only 120 on this trip.
1wReply
What a wonderful adventure! Thanks for sharing, Erin. [Diana]
6dReply
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 3, 2022, 12:20am · ⛅ 50 °F Altitude: 151 ft
  Qeqqata Kangerlussuaq Kangerlussuaq Airport 67.019, -50.693367°1’8” N 50°41’36” W
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Day6
Welcome to Greenland
August 3 in Greenland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Our first glimpse of Greenland on this trip is from the air.

Can you imagine this whole area covered in ice?
Judith Snider
Breathtaking!
1wReply
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 5:00pm · ⛅ 32 °F Altitude: Sealevel
  Davis Strait 64.731926, -64.80214764°43’55” N 64°48’8” W
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Day5
Ice-Choked Waters off Baffin
August 2 ⋅ ⛅ 32 °F
We’re heading up into the icy Arctic to explore the waters that Franklin and his men sailed … before disappearing forever, Don’t worry, we don’t plan to follow that far in their footsteps.

Some of the sea ice below looks like 10/10th coverage … meaning no breakup … meaning even an icebreaker would have trouble getting though.

Fingers crossed that our route has break-ups that will allow us to proceed with the itinerary “mostly” as planned.Read more
mohotravels
so much on on an expedition type trip.. always the unknown to keep it interesting.
1wReply
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 4:36pm · ⛅ 48 °F Altitude: 46 ft
  Nunavut Iqaluit Iqaluit Airport 63.756271, -68.5446763°45’23” N 68°32’41” W
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Day5
Our Second Bear
August 2 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
… and this one actually has the coloring of the polar bears we hope to see at some point during our expedition.

(And if we don’t see any bears this time, that’s OK too. After all, in 2009, we spent several days up close and personal with the bears in Churchill … Canada’s self-proclaimed “Polar Bear Capital” in the Province of Manitoba.)Read more
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 2:32pm · ⛅ 48 °F Altitude: 49 ft
  Nunavut Iqaluit Iqaluit Airport 63.755938, -68.54741763°45’21” N 68°32’51” W
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Day5
Feeding the Beast in Iqaluit
August 2 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
The beast, in this case, is the B737-400 that is our air chariot from Canada to Greenland.

We’ve dropped into the Iqaluit Airport on Baffin Island to switch crews, shop at the commissary (in other words, load catering items for the next leg of our flight), and get gas.

Passengers get to stay onboard for this short stop!Read more
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 8:12am · ⛅ 66 °F Altitude: 489 ft
  Ontario Ridgewood Spring Creek 43.693329, -79.65324443°41’36” N 79°39’12” W
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Day5
Onboard!
August 2 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Onboard our Canadian North charter flight to Greenland.

No idea when we will have internet again. See you when we see you.
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 8:01am · ⛅ 66 °F Altitude: 489 ft
  Ontario Ridgewood Spring Creek 43.693342, -79.65321143°41’36” N 79°39’12” W
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Day5
Temp Comparisons
August 2 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
… For where we are in Toronto now (Mississauga) … where we will embark the ship today (Kangerlussuaq) … and where we will end the expedition in two weeks (Resolute).
Sonia Gelman
(Resolute), my kind of weather.
1wReply
Two to Travel
Warmer than expected that’s for sure. Hoping for some cooling when we get into the ice. Having dinner on the ship as we sail down the fjord in Greenland.
1wReply
Sonia Gelman
We are hot in Denver, 95 degrees.
1wReply
Two to Travel
Glad we are not there.
1wReply
Sonia Gelman
Yes, you are in the right place!
1wReply
MNtravellover
95 degrees in MN today. I like your weather better!
1wReply
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 2, 2022, 6:00am · ⛅ 64 °F Altitude: 574 ft
  Ontario Ridgewood 43.6922, -79.65460243°41’32” N 79°39’17” W
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Day5
Our First Bear
August 2 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
… and we didn’t even have to fly to Greenland to see it 😀

All kidding aside, we’re at the Signature Terminal for our Canadian North charter flight to Kangerlussuaq. Boarding soon.
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 1, 2022, 5:00pm · ⛅ 82 °F Altitude: 486 ft
  Ontario Toronto county Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview 43.687, -79.587143°41’13” N 79°35’14” W
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Day4
Joined Our Expedition Group
August 1 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
After our breakfast date, we returned to the DoubleTree to collect our bags, called an Uber, and returned to YYZ. Well, not really to the airport … but to the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre. This is where we will be spending the night before we well and truly embark upon our Arctic adventure tomorrow.

Although it was just after noon when we arrived, our room was ready for us to check in. Dropping off our bags in the room was step one on our agenda. Then, we went off in search of the Quark ground team.

Check-in … with proof of our COVID-19 vaccinations and the negative PCR test results … ✔️.

Get our COVID-19 antigen tests … negative … ✔️.

Pick up our Quark parkas … which we will need when we arrive in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland tomorrow to join the ship … ✔️.

With all that done, we stopped in at Olio, the on-site restaurant that features Mediterranean cuisine. Tasty food, but service was really slow. No matter … it’s not like we were in any hurry.

Our bags are now re-balanced to meet the weight requirements for tomorrow’s flight. They sport the Quark tags we received at check-in. Once we turn them into the ground team tomorrow morning, we won’t see these bags again until we embark Ultramarine … the beauty of a charter flight!

Now for an easy evening and a bit of R&R!Read more
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In the Footsteps of Franklin
- Aug 1, 2022, 9:59am · ⛅ 72 °F Altitude: 325 ft
  Ontario Downtown Toronto Nathan Phillips Square 43.653264, -79.38166243°39’12” N 79°22’54” W
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Day4
Meeting a New Friend
August 1 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Moving day! Not going far … just to a hotel at YYZ.

But first, a breakfast date with Kadi, a “virtual friend” with whom we will be sailing on a voyage in January.

We enjoyed mimosas and delicious food at Eggspectation, not far from the DoubleTree. Conversation stopped just long enough for us to take bites of our food! That’s a good sign of a budding friendship. We’re looking forward to enjoying her company on the ship … and that of her husband as well. He was unable to join us today as he’s on a motorcycle trip in Alaska.Read more
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