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I'll be adding pages during my visit. You can skip ahead to the page you want to view. Links to subsequent pages are also at the bottom of each page.
Travel Page 1: Preparations
Travel page 2: Enroute!
Travel page 3: The Dog Island
Travel page 4: Arriving in Pangnirtung
Travel page 5: A Walk About Town
Travel page 6: On the Water
Travel page 7: On the Land
Travel page 8: Beautiful and Diverse
Travel Page 1, Preparations
On Thursday 8/23, I head out of Seattle to Pangnirtung (see the Pangnirtung notebook for a look at the distances involved). I'll arrive in Pang 3 flights and many hours later, at about 5 PM on Friday.
The original plan of many months ago was to bring back ONE puppy to add to my little team. As time went on and news of my trip spread, other mushers asked if I could bring back pups for them. The current count is SIX! My friend Wendy, who is picking me and the pups up at the airport, exclaimed tonight, "Every time I talk to you, you've added another puppy!"
And so the preparations are winding down .... I've consolidated my lists and most of the items -- for both people and dogs -- are strewn across the living room floor. Tiger the cat is overseeing the operations.
Part of the preparation involves shipping a grand total of 6 pups from Pang to the United States. Mark and Sue Hamilton will be meeting me in Ottawa to assist with the pups and to pick up theirs. The following morning, I'll fly from Ottawa to Vancouver. Four pups will travel in crates in the hold; the 5th will travel with me in the cabin.
To travel in the cabin, the pup must be able to fit in a carrier of specific dimensions ... here, I'm measuring a stuffed ferret to get an idea of the allowable size.
Another catch: the pup can't weigh more than 22 lbs -- so Donald has advised me that he has stopped feeding them! :-)
We decided to purchase a "Sherpa" carrier, a soft-sided carry-on designed for cats and small well-behaved dogs. In this picture, Uncle Tonka ponders the feasibility of putting a lively 8 week old puppy in the equivalent of a duffel bag ... for 5 hours.
Travel page 1
