Travel-weather pemiting.

I was going to say something smarmy about Environment Canada and their weather forecast, but looking out there now I’ll put that on hold.
While we did not get the winds and snow predicted, more like rain I think, we are now getting some consistent wet white stuff. Not sure if its snow or rain or what. The temperatures have not been below -1 for two days, some may say so what?
What these conditions do at this time of year is put travel into the country on an unsafe level at worse and bloody hard work at best. You go into the woods at your own risk; these new larger snowmobiles are not easy to move when stuck down to the top of their hoods.
As far as traveling on the ice; with the unusual warm winter it makes it very unsafe in flat white conditions, like now. Unless you have tracked any open areas then it is best to play safe. Add to that the cut in the ice south of here [made by the ice breaking ore carrier] having not re frozen, the areas to travel to get wood, hunt etc are restricted for sure.
Then there is the hold up in air travel; no flights since Tuesday. Stephanie phone from Goose Bay at 5.45 this morning, her first words were “hi, what’s the weather like?” “Can’t see out cause its” dark was my reply. I did go to the front door to check best I could, no good news to report. People get antsy waiting to get home. You have to be near a phone all the time in case there is a ‘break in the weather’. The odd time the call does come you throw everything in your luggage, rush up to the airport never knowing if the flight will leave or not. Then if you do get away you are anxious all the way hoping you don’t have to turn back.
But then not as bad as living in Darfur or some place like that.

Speaking of air travel. An English airline is launching a year-round service between St. John's and the United Kingdom. Astraeus Airlines will fly from St. John's to Gatwick each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. To lure passengers Astreaus is offering a one way fare of $199.00. Not sure how long that will last.
Air Canada, after pulling out of direct St.John’s Heathrow flights last year, will re introduce them in April. Not sure of the scheduling or fares.
Bit strange when Canada's airline is out staged by an airline owed in Ice land and operated out of Great Britain.
The cheap fares look inviting, except for us who have to come up with the 900 plus bucks one way just to get to the cheapo fare.
Not sure of the connections to other parts Europe out of Gatwick. Maybe have to get to Heathrow for most. So while it looks good at first blush it may depend on where you are going and where you live to determine if it’s such a great deal.