Travelling North

I can hardly believe that I leave tomorrow for this expedition. It has been quite a busy time preparing for it, but I'm packed and ready!


Back in December when I was first notified that I received this fellowship, I immediately began researching travel. Since I love to travel, I am pretty comfortable with making arrangements online. Usually it is a fairly quick process. This trip, however, proved to be more difficult. There are very limited flights into Churchill, and the train arrives every two days. Because I knew I would be spending a lot of money on gear, I tried to stay within a certain budget for travel. After several days of scouring all options, my plans were in place.

I will fly from Memphis to Winnipeg Thursday morning. Thursday evening I will leave Winnipeg on a 36-hour train ride to Churchill. I am looking forward to the ride for time to rest (I've hardly slept this week, a combination of nerves and work to do!), prepare (I have a workbook to complete before I arrive. I still have a few activities to do in it.), and enjoy the beautiful scenery (I love to see new places!).

I've been reading the blogs of the team that is currently there and watching the weather forecast. The past few days have been brutally cold for them with wind chills at more than -50 degrees C!! Thankfully, it is warming up this weekend! When I arrive it should only be -20s! This is the weather page I've been checking.

My next post will be after I arrive in Churchill. I should have great pictures to share and lots of information about our research work. Feel free to post comments to the blog or send me an email....make sure to include some WARM thoughts!!