local tranquillity, remote turmoil

Hopefully NASA management has the flight surgeons slated to appear next week... I'm mercifully out of that loop, here in Edmonton about to head to Resolute this morning. Today's hops: here to Yellowknife and then to Cambridge Bay on a cargo-convertible 737, then a Beechcraft over to Resolute. It is possible that I'd then catch an evening Twin Otter to Devon, but unlikely give a lack of charter aircraft available currently. I'm here with one other person in Edmonton, while seven others on my project are in Ottawa, all headed northward today.

My flights yesterday were uneventful... SeaTac airport's new center concourse is great in that one can now avoid going in and out of security between terminals. Arriving in Canada... I was hassled a bit.

First, since I'm here on business, I was automatically shunted to the Immigration office... where I was interrogated as to my past personal history, research plans, and made to show my US Social Security card (I had a passport...). I was told that there is a fugitive from New York State named Bryan Glass with a birthdate close to mine, so they had to verify that I wasn't the man the Mounties wanted. If I believe that... hm. Then I was sent to Customs, ostensibly because the 1.5L of Scotch and port I carried was just over the personal exemption. After waiting in line, the Customs agent scratched her head and decided to not bother charging me.

I was very happy to see my friends here -- we went to the Blue Chair Cafe on 76th Ave near handslive and purplejavatroll's house (which I saw before they pull it down later this year :). therealjae and mouseman came over -- Jennie even skipped some kind of political meeting to see me. And the presentation and food... even the pavlova... were far more than I'd expected from a place in a strip shopping area. And Edmonton still has a comfortable, welcoming feeling for me.

Crisis at home... patgreene had her backpack stolen at an amusement park, including her driver's license and house and car keys. I feel frustrated that I can't do anything to fix it from here...
( 2 photos )

gang's all here

Or at least my DAME team all made it here to Resolute, even if KM and HC lost some luggage. All nine of us, staying overnight at Ozzie's South Camp Inn (nicer than the Coop Hotel, Pascal is probably trying to smooth feathers). And all of our equipment is here, even the gravity meter. Just as I'd originally planned it in March. (satisfied nod) Even this year's helicopter is here, at Polar Shelf.

I had a team meeting tonight after I got in... we didn't go to Devon Island this evening because of fog there. If weather permits, we'll have 3 or 4 Twin Otter flights tomorrow to put everyone in. Weather here is 34F, overcast with drizzle.

Comms is still not up there, however, so once I leave here I will likely be unreachable for a couple of days.

( Today's hops and skips...(3 photos) )

Meanwhile, most of my friends at home are at a pool party, right now... mmm, warm. ;)