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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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  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 20

    We’re Home!

    August 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    … and we’re relaxing with a cup of tea and a stroopwafel warmed up by the steam rising from the cup. This Dutch delicacy is compliments of United. It was one of the two options when the beverage cart came around on our YYZ-DEN flight.

    Thus our adventure to the Canadian High Arctic is over. It wasn’t the expedition we set out for when we left the house on 29 July. But it is the one that we were dealt.

    So be it. You make the most of what you’re handed unless you want to make yourself miserable. Go with the flow always works best and that’s what we did.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 20

    La Casa Fiesta … Yumm!

    August 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Some of the best Mexican food we’ve found in Colorado is at La Casa Fiesta in Monument … not far from our house. The food is always good … the service is efficient without making us feel like they want us to eat and run.

    Usually, we combine a meal at this restaurant with ice cream from a place just down the road a bit. This time, we decided to try the tres leches cake. Hmmm … it’s going to be hard next time to decide between the yummy ice cream at Lolley’s and the yummy tres leches at La Casa Fiesta.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 20

    Private Shuttle to the Pikes Peak Lot

    August 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Really, we weren’t expecting a private bus ride to pick up our car from the parking lot. But that’s what we got.

    Considering all the travel horror stories the media have regaled us with this summer, we were expecting a mess. But no. The airport was quite deserted … our bags were all delivered to the carousel without delay … and the shuttle bus to the parking lot was seemingly waiting for us to show up before the driver closed the doors and engaged the gears.

    Even the freeway is flowing well as we head south. I think we’ll stop for lunch along the way to treat ourselves and celebrate a good travel day.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 20

    Hello Denver

    August 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    As UA463 waits for its assigned gate at DEN to be freed up, a quick note to acknowledge our early arrival in Colorado.

    Our flight was an uneventful one … comfortable with not only plenty of legroom, but just the two of us across three seats since no one showed up to claim the window seat in our row.

    Next up … claiming our bags and finding the shuttle for the off-airport parking lot where our CR-V awaits us.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 20

    Bye Bye Toronto

    August 17, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    A short but good night’s rest saw us up at 4:30a … in the lobby at 5:45a … on the airport shuttle at 5:55a. We had no time for breakfast — even if service had been available at that hour. After all, we did not know what kind of chaos might be awaiting us at YYZ.

    Turns out that it was all easy-peasy … aided by arriving at the airport early. Our passage through the the formalities — from baggage check-in, to security, to re-entry into the US thanks to the Customs and Border Patrol presence at YYZ — was all efficient. The re-entry could have been problematic as the line at the CBP kiosks snaked around and was several layers deep. We once again sent multiple thanks up to the Global Entry gods for easing our way.

    Twenty minutes after entering the airport, we were at our gate … with plenty of time to relax and munch on goodies in lieu of the breakfast we missed at the hotel.

    Boarding was called at 8:20a … also quick and easy thanks to the priority boarding perk that comes with our credit card. And here we are now … waiting for everyone to take their seats so we can begin winging our way to Denver.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 19

    Back @ the Sheraton

    August 16, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    We did indeed arrive at the Sheraton before 11:00p … about 10:45p, in fact. Quark reps were on hand to help us. They had already checked us in and had our keycards handy for distribution. Ten minutes after getting off the bus, we were in our room.

    With a 4:30a wake up call for the 5:55a shuttle to YYZ tomorrow morning, all we wanted was to fall into bed to grab as many winks as we could. Easier said than done. We are both too wired and need to relax first.

    Mui is playing around with the TV, trying to get it off the On Demand channel where it seems to be stuck. I am adding this last bit to today’s story and will do a bit of reading … something boring that might cause my eyelids to shutter themselves.

    One more travel day awaits us … hopefully, if all goes as planned, not nearly as long as today was.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 19

    Welcome to Canada

    August 16, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Thirty minutes after leaving Niagara Falls International Airport, we were getting off the bus at the Canadian border checkpoint … no stop at the US checkpoint.

    Being on the first bus to arrive at the border, the formalities were quick and easy. We even had time to use the facilities while the bus was being cleared. By 9:30p, as the other buses arrived and the queue at the checkpoint grew a bit longer, we were on our way to Toronto.

    The traffic is flowing smoothly. Our Quark rep has distributed bottles of water and snacks for what’s left of our ride. Google Girl — as a friend has named the Google Maps Navigation app — is giving our arrival time at the Sheraton YYZ as being around 11:00p. Earlier than we were anticipating. That’s a good thing!    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 19

    Welcome to IAG

    August 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    … IAG being Niagara Falls International Airport.

    After an uneventful 4-hour flight — with two beverage services and two boxed-meal services — we made a smooth landing at IAG. Being in the first row, we were first off the plane … after the “expensive-suite passengers” deplaned from the first class cabin.

    Customs and Border Control officers, who came on the plane to give us instructions, escorted us to the small building at the far end from where our aircraft was parked. Being fairly “spry” we made it to the building before most and quickly went through the immigration process. Then back to where the aircraft sat … the transfer buses to Toronto nearby.

    Our checked bags were cleared as a group before they were offloaded from the plane and brought to us where we waited near the buses.

    I’ve been using the hour or so it took for everyone to complete the formalities and find their seats on the bus to write this little bit. There is plenty of room between the three buses Quark has chartered to take us to Toronto. So we all have two seats to ourselves.

    It will be good to be able to spread out for the ride that we’ve been told will take somewhere between 2½ to 3 hours. It will depend on what we encounter at the Rainbow Bridge border checkpoint. The Quark rep on our bus said that it took them about 20 minutes to enter the US this morning. Fingers crossed we have a similarly fast experience, too.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 19

    Aboard NCR716 @ SFJ

    August 16, 2022 in Greenland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    We’re onboard the National Airlines charter plane … comfy in our first row seats … with plenty of legroom for what we’ve been told will be a flight exactly 4 hours in duration. Everyone else is in their seats as well. We are all ready to take off from SFJ (Kangerlussuaq Airport). Except that the headcount for the number of souls onboard is not jiving with the manifest. While that’s being worked out, I’m going to catch up on my writing.

    Our bus was the first to leave the pier for the 30-minute or so bumpy ride to the airport. Wouldn’t you know it, there was one more glitch in this last bit of our journey. Just as we were in sight of the airport, there was a loud bang. Suddenly, the bus grew quiet … I don’t mean the passengers but the vehicle itself. It felt like we were gliding. Never did find out what the problem was, but luckily we had enough forward momentum to roll up to near the terminal entrance. Last glitch 🤞🏻🤞🏻

    Anyway, we grabbed our checked bags from where they were lined up and went to the check-in counter. There were no signs to tell us where to go, but luckily one of the agents pointed us in the right direction. I’m grateful we were amongst the first to check in as the line behind us quickly grew with fellow-passengers.

    The airport is small … but busy. The seats in the waiting room were already taken by other passengers waiting for their flights to be called. Luckily the day was warm enough that Mui and I found a picnic table where we could while away the time and watch the planes land and take off.

    When the National Airlines plane landed, we made our way through the security checkpoint and pretty much straight into the boarding queue since there were no seats available. Luckily, the incoming Quark passengers — only 69 we were told — deplaned quickly straight onto the buses waiting to take them straight to the pier. It wasn’t a long standing-wait before we were called to board the aircraft.

    And that catches up the footprints for the day thus far. The Quark rep has worked out the manifest issues and the cabin door is now closed. Time to pay attention to the safety briefing that is about to start.    Read more

  • Two to TravelIn the Footsteps of Franklin
    Day 19

    Ashore in Kangerlussuaq Fjord

    August 16, 2022 in Greenland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F

    We were called down to the zodiacs by our groups. Fram was to be second.

    Mui and I headed down to the ready room soon after the first group was called so that we could put on our wet gear. Yes, if was calm outside … but why risk getting wet when it’s so easy to slip on rain pants. By the time our group was called, we were ready to get in line for the next zodiac.

    And now we’re sitting on the bus … waiting for it to fill up so we can head ashore. One or two more zodiacs should do it.    Read more

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