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In the Footsteps of FranklinIn the Footsteps of Franklin
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In the Footsteps of Franklin

July - August 2022
After eight years of being away from the polar regions, we will be scratching our "Ice Itch" with a Quark Expeditions voyage that will take us into the Canadian High Arctic. Read more

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  • Greenland
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Cruise ship, Nature, Wilderness
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  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    @ DEN … So Far So Good

    July 29, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Smooth start to our travel day … 🤞🏻the rest of our day remains uncomplicated as well.

    We left the house at 6:00a; arrived at the off-airport shuttle lot at 7:30a; were on the shuttle to DEN by 7:40a; at the terminal at 8:00a. Just as planned … no mishaps, no detours, no delays.

    Check in with Air Canada was easy peasy as we were the only passengers at the counter. Bags checked in, minutes later we were at the security checkpoint. Thank goodness for TSA Pre✔️… which is included with our Global Entry membership. While the regular lines to go through the checkpoint were long, we bypassed it all … kept our shoes on in the process and all electronics remained in our carry on bags.

    With everything going smoothly, we now had plenty of time on our hands. So, we decided to use our one-time United Airlines passes to spend time in the Club Lounge. Because one of the two lounges is undergoing renovation, we were directed to the “pop up lounge.” Fewer amenities, but we just wanted a “quiet place and comfortable seats.” So all’s good.

    There is a posted delay of 30 mins to our departure, which originated with the delayed arrival this morning of equipment to YYZ from the US … and then a “security issue.” The latter, as the app explains, could be due to a number of reasons, including additional time needed to screen passengers boarding the YYZ to DEN flight. In any event, if this is all we have to deal with today, I will call it a “good deal.”

    Now to do a bit of reading to while away the rest of our time before our flight is called.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    Welcome to Toronto

    July 29, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    On approach to YYZ we looped around for an aerial view of the downtown area of the city.

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    Travel Day Wraps Up With A Reunion

    July 29, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    A beautiful nighttime view of the Toronto skyline wraps up what turned out to be an easy travel day … and a delightful dinner reunion with friends at Terroni.

    Our flight from DEN landed at YYZ with just a 10 minute delay. The agent at the NEXUS kiosks, which we misunderstood as being open to Global Entry members, processed us into Canada regardless … this time only, he said. Our bags were already on the carousel when we got to baggage control … a miracle in and of itself from what we later heard. An Uber driver was available and picked us up at the Q Door on the ground floor within two minutes of placing our order. Yes, it took us 45 minutes or so to get to our hotel … but it could have taken us twice as long in the middle of Friday rush hour.

    We stayed in our room long enough to refresh ourselves. And then into another Uber for our dinner date at Terroni. I’ll protect the privacy of our friends and simply say that their choice of restaurant was perfect … the weather ideal for a rooftop meal … and the camaraderie exceptional.

    We have yet to see much of the city itself, but we’ll change that tomorrow. It’s time for a good night’s rest.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    A Meander Around Toronto

    July 30, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    An early wake up yesterday morning … followed by a long day of travel … followed by a late night after a dinner reunion in Toronto with our friends … followed by an early-ish wake up this morning for a required PCR test. The decision, thus, was to take it easy today. Hah!

    We started out with breakfast at the hotel — included in our room rate. Then, off we went to Union Station where SwitchHealth has a COVID-19 testing clinic. Our nasal cavities stirred for the first of two PCR tests required by Quark to embark Ultramarine on 2 August, we found ourselves heading towards the waterfront instead of returning to the hotel as planned.

    Long story short, we wandered and we wandered, stopping to take photos here and there. I had three walking routes that a new-friend who lives in Toronto had sent me. But the files were back in the hotel room. After all, we were supposed to be resting up this morning!

    By the time we returned to the hotel it was past noon and our feet were screaming for relief. No wonder! When I checked the health app on my phone, it was registering 15,851 steps.

    Our day is far from over. But first some rest … with our feet up!    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    Another Meander Around Toronto

    July 31, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    When I posted yesterday’s story shortly after noon, I wrote that we weren’t quite done with our day. We did, indeed, go out again. Nothing interesting to report from that outing. But I did do a whole bunch more walking to wrap up the day with 19,541 steps. Mui clocked another 4,000 or so steps on top of that by window-shopping at the Eaton Center.

    I mention our steps from yesterday because by that standard, we slacked off today. We only walked 18,992 steps during today’s meanders around Toronto 😉😊

    This time we took off prepared for a day of exploring the city. Mui and I selected one of the three routes new-friend Kadi had marked up for us … about 4.3 miles. We made some adjustments here and there and ended up walking about 8 miles!

    Where did we go on this long walk? Well, I could list them, but I’ll let the photos give you a flavor of what our day entailed.

    The temps were warmer today than they were yesterday. The sun out for longer periods. Luckily, there was plenty of shade and some light breezes to keep us from overheating.

    A late lunch at the Amsterdam Brewhouse overlooking the Inner Harbor was the perfect opportunity to rest up before we tackled the walk back to the hotel.

    Now to put up our feet and give them a well-earned break!    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    One Test Down …

    July 31, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    … one more to go.

    Got the results of the first of two PCR tests we need to join our Quark Expeditions group tomorrow and board Ultramarine on Tuesday.

    We took the test yesterday morning at 8:44a … at the SwitchHealth testing clinic at Union Station. The results were available in the SwitchHealth portal at 6:22p this evening.

    NEGATIVE! Never thought this word would come to mean so much to us!

    The next test will be done tomorrow. Don’t have to worry about where to go to get this test. Quark is handling the details!    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    Meeting a New Friend

    August 1, 2022 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

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin

    Joined Our Expedition Group

    August 1, 2022 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.

    Now for an easy evening and a bit of R&R!    Read more

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