Shopping and Packing, Packing and Shopping

How does one pack for Winnipeg which is currently in the high 20s and Churchill which is in the mid-teens in the day and mid-tens in the morning and that we have been warned can turn cold with a fast change in wind direction?  Well, one packs eclectically, or as mom says - from Bikini to Parkas.  Thank God we get a checked bag and a generous carry on allowance for all legs of the trip.  I checked Westjet, Via and Calm Air and they all claim we can take 2 bags of up to 50 lbs total. 

Mike from CNSC sent us a packing list, one general and one for Spring travel (Winter was in there too but it was too traumatic so let's not discuss further).  First thing I did was buy a pack of those vacuum pack ziplock bags.  My parka went into one.  Suck out the air and it is surprisingly small.  That went into the bottom of the big bag.  Then more winter wear - a heavy fleece, a toque, mitts, heavy socks.  Into another suck and pack bag. 

Plus, there is a whole section of the list related to bugs.  Bring bug spray, antihistamine and calamine lotion for bites and a bug hat.  Hmm. I don't happen to have a bug hat and promptly forgot about that list item.  Then mom bought a netted bug hat at MEC yesterday and I knew if she had one and I didn't, and the bugs were bad, I was going to be even more miserable than if I had someone to commiserate with. And the bug hat was cheap and tiny so why not.  I went to Robinson's.  They have a whole array of bug hats.  Some just nets to go over hats and some with hats built in.  I got the cheapy-est one going - Coglin's net for 2 bucks which I can use with my Tilley.   When I asked for a bug hat,  the nice sales lady brought me a bug coat too.  She and another sales person had both travelled to Northern Ontario/Manitoba and said it is the height of bug season and I may really want mesh clothing.  It was cheap too so now I own a whole netted bug outfit. 

I think a belt would really brink it together as a fashion statement!

Even though I have everything and need nothing, I had to shop.  New hiking boots.

Keen is my new favourite shoe brand. 
 

And a few other things.  Memory card for my camera.  Snacks.  Rubber boots - yup those are on the list too.  The list has a bug section, a cold weather section, plus a rain gear section.  Rain coat, rain pants (miraculously, I not only have rain pants but, the true miracle, they fit me.)

On top of all of that time consuming shopping and packing, Chris has some relatives coming to town. Her nephew and his partner are going to be using my spare room while I am away.  They are super nice and I doubt they care much but I figured that least I could do was provide clean sheets and a semi-usable bathroom.  So today, besides packing, I have been changing bedding and wiping things down. 

Well, saying packing may be a wee dishonest.  Mostly I have just been creating piles.  I haven't actually put most of the piles into bags yet so let's all cross out fingers that everything fits and stays under the weight restrictions. 

Today we confirmed Westjet and booked our seats.  If you wait until 24 hours before, seat selection is free.  This way we can sit together without shelling out $21 each.  And I called the Malbourough Hotel to confirm our reservation.  All good.  They don't have a shuttle from the airport so we will have to cab it but they said it is only around $15.  We are still in the black when we calculate with our seat selection savings. 

Tomorrow we head to the airport at the crack of dawn so we have time to enjoy a tasty White Spot breakfast before we fly. Chris, as always is letting us take advantage by providing a ride to the airport at an unreasonable hour and also keeping the cats and tomato plants alive.  So, everything has to be ready by 6am-ish tomorrow morning.  No problem!  See you in Winnipeg.

Just some random trip planning updates.

CNSC:  I forgot to mention that when I first contacted CNSC to talk about Bird Camp, I spoke to Mike.  He described the Spring Wings and sent me some info about the Centre and a bird list for sightings from last year's Bird Camp.  The list is three pages long.  There are lots of birds I have seen and lots I haven't.  I am hoping for a ptarmigan.

He described the Centre. "The CNSC is an active research and education facility and, as such, lacks some of the amenities of a typical hotel.  You will, however, find our facility to be both welcoming and comfortable."  All the blogs I have read from previous visitors confirm the welcoming and comfortable info.  Everyone seems very happy with their time there.  (more stolen internet pictures)

Dining Hall

Bunk beds in communal room

Weather:  So, some of you may have heard rumours that Eastern Canada had a bit of a cold spell this winter.  In Victoria, we were battling our own winter demons in that the tulips didn't bloom until April so we may not have noticed the rest of the country. 

I was aware of the 'polar vortex' but since I was mostly warm, I didn't worry too much. Until the other day when I was listening to the CBC and they were talking about Winnipeg's frozen pipe problems.  The CBC people mentioned that the some residents of Winnipeg may not have thawed pipes until mid-June.  WAIT - WHAT? We are going to be there in early June.  Does this mean that it will still be cold enough in June to be frozen?  CBC: Winnipeg's frozen pipes woes drag on into spring
And if it is still so cold in Winnipeg that they can't flush their toilets, what is it going to be like in Churchill!?  This is not fitting in with my idyllic image of us romping through flower filled fields on a sunny spring day, communing with nature but not stepping on ground birds nests. 

Then I saw this Summer Outlook (CBC!? why are you doing this to me).  Are there even going to be any birds in Churchill in June? 

Cooler?  Cooler than what? 

Well, at least I am ready.  I bought the most ridiculous down coat in a winter clearance sale at The Patch.  So at least I will be warm.  I know, I know, Victorians are completely incapable of judging how to dress for real cold so even this may not be enough.

 

I apologize to the fake weasel who gave his life to keep the wind off my face

Mobility:  Mom was having some knee issues for the last couple of weeks but seems to be on the mend so that is good news.  And I got new orthotics and they are great.  I walked for hours this weekend and had no foot problems.  Also good news.  Bring on the tundra hikes!

 

Family:  Mom got hold of Uncle Paul and we are going to get to see him and his lovely wife, Gail.  I haven't heard if the cousins will be involved, but let's hope. 

 

Last note:  I hear that Air Canada has a new discount, tiny seated, carrier called Red (hmm, that can't be right, that is just begging for REDRUM and Red Rage comments but I digress, I will fact check eventually). They are bumping people who bought full price tickets for full size seats onto their new Red Rage line which CBC tells me has replaced two side-by-side seats with three seats.  

CBC: Air Canada customers angry over bumping to Rouge

Yay us for going with WestJet.  (fact checking complete - it is actually called Rouge, but I guess I am so bilingual that I automatically translated in my head.  I stand by my Red Rage statement though - Rouge Rage!)