Churchill,Manitoba,Canada

What can one say when in the subarctic tundra? "Beautiful day out, only 0 degrees" Ör maybe 'Lucky we got a few new inches of snow last night." For me, just being here is the thrill! I'm currently watching the sky hoping the light clouds move out and this is one of the rare nights when the northern lights shine. Hopefully they can be seen from my hotel window if they appear. And I use the word hotel loosely.I tried everything to find a way to see the lights and although you could walk a short distance for a great view, going out at night alone is discouraged, the bears roam. So the only solution that anyone came up with is that I could call a taxi if I see them appearing. Last time at the lodge I had a room facing the street, this time I requested a room facing the back, where bears roam at night from time to time. My guess is that I'll be up most of the night looking out the window for one stunning sight or the other.

I arrived easily this morning, none of the drama that was part of last year's arrival. We left Winnipeg at 6:30 and watched the incredible reds of the sunrise on the horizon. Spectacular sight! I am thinking I need s thesaurus when I write about this trip, I don't know enough adjectives to describe it! The Calm Air flight was nice, almost all seats were full, people anticipating the upcoming adventure, most for the first time. People were calm, I was one of the most excited. Not only because I knew what was to come, but because the kid in me takes over at some point in my adventures when the worried adult is no longer useful. I was talking to the flight attendant who told the cutest story. She never flies the early morning flights but she did this morning because of 2 passengers. Paul and Mary have been coming to Churchill every year for 20 years and they have been married 40. They became friends with Tanya when they always seemed to be on her flghts. Now they email her when their plans are made and she always flies with them. Ah, how wonderful that they have each other to share this passion with! I shouldn't complain, I do have Mr. Perlman in Winnipeg who says he likes seeing my pictures and hearing my stories on my return. Hmm...

We waited a bit to be picked up at the airport when we got here. But the wait was made up for when our driver, Mac from Grand Junction, agreed to drive us into town to look around. Well, as we drove in it turns out we ended up following the Olympic torch! He let us out and we followed the end of the run to the end at the city square. We didn't run, I more or less slipped and slided behind the torch. I was shocked to immediately see Shari, who I met last year here. She is the one who told me about the torch being in town so that is the reason I'm here. It was fun to meet up with her for a bit and then I went to the front of the crowd to get pictures of the torch and the festivities. A kindergarten teacher who is also the school choir teacher was the first to run with the torch. She gave a nice speech about the meaning of peace and the Oympics and then led the children's choir in some songs. While this was going on I saw people having their pictures taken wth a young man and the torch. I talked to him, he was selected to carry the torch because of all of the service he has done for his community. And then the big moment arrived, I had my picture taken holding an Olympic torch! I learned something new, there are several torches, it is the flame that is passed on. Never too old to learn something new. As I was savoring every moment of this small town's celebration, Mac came up and everyone was back on the bus waiting for me. Funny, they were all cold and wanting to go to the lodge to dress appropriately. Only then did I realize how cold and wet I was. It was too bad we had to leave then, because by the time I changed into my boots and walked (well, slipped and slided) back to the square, the native Inuit dancers and drummers were over. So sad I missed that, but I'd held an Olympic torch so I guess you can't have everything. Or so they say, but sitting in my little room in the lodge, watching the light oranges of the sunset under the clouds, watching the helicopters fly by to land and listening to the train whistles, I think just maybe I do have it al!

Tomorrow at 7:30 the real polar bear adventure begins!