What a Wow of a day.

Wow, up to 26 at the house yesterday.

WOW. Aimee had her last day at Jens Haven Memorial yesterday. At least we hope it is, I’m still not up on how the system works, but it does look like it will be.


On the down side for JHM, fourteen teachers and staff will be leaving this year, that’s a big lose of experience, hope the new generation can adjust quickly, I’m sure they can with help from the community.
Bye the bye, that’s a nice flag up on the wall eh?















Triple Wow, Australia’s ‘socceroos’ are into the final 16. Did it ugly IMO. But then I’m not a big follower of football. I always enjoy the game every four years, but that’s about it. I think I do know enough to predict that the Pommy referee of that game won’t see much more of this world cup, not from the pitch any way.
Against Italy Australia will have to ‘finish’ way better than they have to date. They seem to be able to get the ball into the scoring zone but then it shuts down. They look like a reasonable team of ‘journey men’ with no brilliance that some of the other teams have, though Kewell is close to being in that league. It will also be interesting to see who the Oz goalie is for the next game, I’m sure the starter yesterday would have had to seek refugee status some place if the result was a lose.
All that said, I did get an emotional and physical work out, have to up the training for the next one.

Reward offered.

Town Council of Nain has notices up around town offering a reward for the return, or information on where a bouts, of two flags. The flags, a Canadian and a Labrador, were taken from the flag pole attached to the council building.

No reward offered for the Newfoundland flag………Narh boy, just joking on that one. Though it is telling that no Provincial flag was up at the time.

Please, no jokes about Wally having them squirreled away some place.

Ice Creamy diversions

Like many I like a scoop of ice cream at times. I have noticed that over the last several years the choice of available brands of tubed ice cream had decreased to the stage of just one brand [the same brand] in three stores. To me this brand is of inferior quality, I know other brands are available in Labrador
so last week I took around a letter to two of the managers asking why we are treated differently.
To the managers credit I got very quick responses, verbally. The rational was one of freezer space, pricing, and in one case, had not thought to request any other brand. Both mentioned that other brands come in smaller sizes than the one that is in stock. Both managers said they would approach upper management to see if other brands could be brought in.

I understand storage may be an issue, though not one that could not be dealt with by rationalizing other stock.

By trying to rationalize the lack of choice by using pricing and size of containers is one I take offence at. Sending in the cheapest of anything in the interest of the consumer does not wash with me, and I’m sure many other consumers.
I did a quick take on some food items in both stores to prove my case, these items have been available all winter, and have been selling.

Northern Store:

Sea scallops $58.79 a KG, in .275 KG packets.
Shrimp $56.49 a KG, in .210 KG packets.
Cod Fillets $22.79 a KG, in .507 KG packets.
T Bone $28.79 a KG.
Chicken Breasts $17.39 a KG.

Big Land grocery:

Price per KG not marked on any items, just the total cost of any item.
$3.50 for two very small chicken thighs.
$8.77 for 3 small cod fillets.
$8.50 for a small wing steak.
$8.28 for a t bone.
$17.12 for packet of pork ribs.
Much of the frozen foods in Big Land are of very suspect quality, lot of items look very much like it is old stock and or has been partly thawed and re frozen.

I know conditions are worse in Somalia, Darfur and other places in the world. We are in Canada and part of the so called booming province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador’s resources contribute greatly to both governments coffers; all I’m hoping for is equitable treatment for the people of the coastal communities.

Upetydate: I just priced the Blarh brand of ice cream at "Big Land" grocery. $7.99 for 2 litres. $8.99 for 4 litres. So it's true, size does matter.

Mixed bag and on the streets.

It was a pleasant day weather wise yesterday, up to 17 or so, mainly sunny with a brisk west wind.
Did the usual shopping with Fran and Matthew. Then took a ride around town hoping to spot the black bear, no luck, or good luck, as only being on our bikes Matthew is a bit reluctant to get too close to where it was last seen, rightly so too. Then did a bit of gardening with Matthew ‘making something’ in the workshop.
On the streets was a different story. Couple of people complained about the fact that gas and oil had gone up [see yesterdays post] but before new supplies had arrived. We still have last years inventory, purchased at last years prices one would presume. After the price freeze is over we expect price to rise, or occasionally lower. This is not the first time that prices have gone up on the old stock. I wish people would put as much vigor into attaching the appropriate authorities as they do bitching about things on the streets.

Then while we were trying to enjoy the day in the yard our neighborhood was inundated with 20 or so youth, roaming around between several houses in the area, trying to get sorted as to what no good they were going to get up to for the rest of the day. I know a lot of them, from dysfunctional families usually; it’s unfortunate that they have not had a great start to life. It always puts me on high alert when they gather in such large groups, or pods as we are want to call them. I was especially alert as several of the males were sucking in tokes at a high rate. It’s no fun having a drug pick up joint next door to you.
Add to that the racket going on all day from about four loose male dogs hanging around a bitch on heat across the road. Added to the chorus were the dogs tied up in the area who wanted to get in on the action.

So a mixed bag, the good, the bad, the ugly. Oh for the days before ‘progress’ found this beautiful place.

Time to hit the woods.

Very un northern like yesterday. Day started off very normal with temperatures in the low teens. Then mid afternoon this front came in from west, warm winds, became very dry, and got up to 27.6 at the house. Then in the evening, out of no where, rain showers and a couple of heavy down pours, it reminded me of summer evenings back down under. Bring on more of those evenings I say, or should I be careful for what I wish for?
Thursday gas went up from 128.4 a liter to 143.3 a liter. Heating oil from 130.8 to 139.1. Alas with the heating oil you have to add the taxes and delivery charges.
I’m pessimistically optimistic that the increase in gas will curtail the idiot joy riders on their 4 wheelers, and in some cases cars. Seeing the authorities are incapable, or unwilling, to deal with things like public safety, not to mention public nuisance issues, perhaps gas gouging and government taxes may do the trick.
Not a lot of good happy news up this way of late, what with the Justice Minister getting involved with the latest case of alleged bad policing. Guess there is no sense of conveying happy news where there is none. Oh, I know there is lots of good things going on around town, sadly the bad news and thoughtless incidents are on the increase, no dought about it. Until this is dealt with in a pro active way by the majority, the negatives will continue eating away, making it very difficult to live a normal life. So it's time to hit the woods and clear the head.

Update on mv Northern ranger crane balls up.

I hope there is more to say on this, I always wanted to say ‘uppity date’.

Seems the ranger did not leave the dock until around 11.30 to midnight last night, some 8 hours + behind schedule.
Worse still was it took about 20 pallets of freight with it, freight that could not be unloaded due to crane breakdown.

I have sent e mails off to WST minister as well as the PC member for Lake Melville. Don’t see the point of sending one to our member, he never responds to written correspondence, and I here he is a lame duck anyway. Having said that, last time I criticized him in print he did contact me, only does verbal contact stuff does our member.

Mixed bag.

The mv Northern Ranger was in on time yesterday [12.30]. With the wind, and ice south of here, I thought it may be delayed.

She had a mixed bag of freight for the stores and residents. Not a lot of local passengers, I did notice at least six tourists.

She was also still at the dock 2 hours after schedule departure time, not sure the reason for that.

On the ice situation, it seems there are quite a lot of Icebergs around Makkovik area, some quite large. Tourism has a web sight up showing iceberg locations for tourists http://icebergfinder.com/iceberg-map.aspx I’m wondering why the Bergs around Makkovik are not listed on this sight. It could be that the Satellites are not asked to cover Northern Labrador; if that is so one must wonder why not. I have been trying to use contact info on the sight to ask those questions, but cant seem to get mail contact.

Normalized.

Jolted back to reality with temperatures normal, only 13 high yesterday.
Lots of people went off in boats; some were fishing along the shore.







Later in the day our granddaughter brought us a duck, all plucked and ready for the pot.

We went to the stores, down to dump to watch a black bear feeding.
Then I rode around town with grandson to try wear him out. I succeeded, but he recuperates quickly and had his grandmother on the go later in afternoon.

I'm a lonely little tuka-a-tuka

Took this shot yesterday afternoon, Fran calls these boats tuk-a-tuka’s. When a kid Fran used to go off with her grandparents in their trap boat with single cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. They do make a noise like she describes. I'm not sure what type of engine this boat has.

Back to reason for photo; when I first arrived in Nain back in 1978 the harbor was full of these trap boats, now there is one. Most of the boats back then just had a cover over the engine and maybe a little house up near bow. People used them to go to their summer fishing places from late July till September. Arctic char was the main fish then, with some salmon.

It’s sad to see the more traditional life style disappear, now it seems every body and his dog has a speed boat, not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s just that it represents a further erosion of a culture and way of life, more speed to get to less recourses to get to where???



It managed to get to PLUS 30.8 c here yesterday, put the old Hawaiian shirt on after work was done for the day, very appropriate for the temperature, bit out of place here sure.


Did I mention the roads are dusty and Council has not put dust suppressant down yet?

Oldie from Hopedale.

Group of Elders of Hopedale Labrador, says around 1900 on back of picture.

Heat hit out of blue.

Wow, got up to 24.9 at back of house yesterday. Only complaint I have is the dusty roads, council has not put down the dust suppressant yet. It was too hot even for the pesky bugs, until early evening that is. Great for my garden, I'm always impatient waiting for things to grow enough to harvest.
Pic is of some of last years lettuce in the side raised bed.

Yowza, hot or what?

Would not complain about it being up to 21 c at noon only for fact it is so dusty. Council has not gotten around to applying the dust suppressant yet, takes the fun out of hot days for many.

Garden is staring to show signs of life at least; can’t wait for the fresh lettuce, spinach, herbs, and the flowers will brighten up the front.

Can’t seem to get pictures to down load, so can’t show last years crop of lettuce, must be this heat.

Rummage

My new/first scanner arrived late last week; good thing the weather was not that great as I would have felt guilty about spending most of the weekend playing around with the thing if it was sunny and calm.
It is a Conoscan 4200F, does negs and slides too.
Fran helped with digging out all the old pictures, man there is a lot.
This one is one of my favorites, taken at the Okalakatiget Society opening and of their new [old boarding school] facility in 1985. Not all the members of the Moravian Church Brass Band [of the day] were present, but it added a unique touch to the day. The dog liked it so much that he joined up on the spot, all-be- it, as their leader.

Sea Highways.

This baby is up for sale soon, http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/tas/spirit/accom.htm any one interested?

Morning person.

I have long been a morning person, much to the consternation of my dear wife. She be the other way.

I find a sort of calm, with a dose of apprehension of what a new day will bring.
Maybe too it’s the fact that most of the evil little shits in the world are asleep at this time of day. What ever it is I am usually in a very good mood in the morn.

So I use the above to explain my rational in adding my two cents worth to the post over at NL-Outsidethebox regarding a possible use for the GBS [gravity based structure] once it has [in NL’s words] sucked all the oil out of the earth. NL has suggested that the GBS could be put in the middle of the Straight of Belle Isle and used as part of a fixed link.
I think the Inter model cable car would be the best option; it worked well for North West River for years. Maybe they could resurrect some of the parts that are still there near the old HBC store.

Picture courtesy of Chris Waynes who resides in the old dart.

Speaking of boats.

Left is the mv Bonavista on my first visit in 1978. Had some great trips on her in the early 80's. A bunk up in the bow was something to experience.
Also experienced a trip in first class, just below the bridge, much quieter for sure.

Other one is the mv Northern Ranger heading to dock in 2005. Had many trips on her, bring back Marine Atlantic IMHO.

Answer to comments and addition.

Peter said,
Yeah, that's great to see. Congratulations to all. I like the look of the service in the church too. Seems like some good things going on with the church, local elders in charge.


I am told that this was the first time the graduation class had a church service prior to the dinner dance. If it is not the first, then it has been many years since the last.
All I spoke to thought it a very good thought by grads, and added something a little special to the day. I’m not overly religious, but when I hear that Nain choir singing in Inuktitut I always get a little tight in the throat. Plus I like the church interior, plain and simple.


Brian, sounds like you're really counting down the days till the Ranger comes in. Twelve more sleeps. LOL! -Peter


If you could see the shelves in the stores you would be counting the days too. Aside from that, it is always nice to see the ‘first boat’ come steaming up to the dock, even if it just has coke, chips, ice cream and perhaps beer. It is the sign of new stock for the larder and perhaps new household items to come.
The first couple of years after my arrival the ‘Nain Brass Band’ used to still play on the boats arrival, this legacy of the Moravian Church was another nice event IMO. Alas the band has disbanded due to no new blood taking up the instruments.


In my post yesterday I forgot to mention that a wood pecker has been sighted around town as well.

Wildlife.

lot of some what unusual wildlife activity in the near vicinity to the town of late.
Five moose have been seen close by. One cow and yearling are close to town, some times in outer fringes of town. Another cow and two your ones have also been spotted.
Also close is a black bear, it has been seen harassing the yearling moose, mother moose sent it packing, bear was seen sliding down a snow bank at high rate of speed.
A beaver is in one of the water ways, not sure which one.
A European starling has been seen, not unusual for up here, but not all that common either.
Earlier this week some one sighted some kind of humming bird, right in centre of town.

Seems the humming bird, if that what it is, has been coming back last couple of years.
Black bears have been hanging around near town last several years. They have been up on Nain Hill last several years, some times as close as near the back of our houses. Some have also been hanging around across the harbor; last year some people were even feeding one with fish guts, wildlife officials advised that this was not such a smart idea.

Only 13 more sleeps till the first arrival of the passenger/freight boat mv Northern Ranger. The freight only boat may or may not get here first, I think it is the mv Astron this year, but stand to be corrected.

Change of pace, or taste.

I had some left over mashed potato with chopped onion, so decided to make up some zucchini potato cakes. This recipe made 4 cakes.

11/2 cups left over mashed potato with chopped onion.
1/2 medium zucchini, peeled, grated, with water pressed out of them.
1 egg whisked up.
1 teaspoon oregano
Fresh ground black pepper

I mixed all the ingredients up well, the mixture was a little moist, so I added 1/3 cup bran flakes to absorb some of the moister.

Made the mixture into 4 cakes about 3/4 inch thick.
Gently coat cakes in flour, I used some 12 grain flour, but any flour would do.

In medium fry pan heat cooking oil

Fry until brown, turn carefully and brown other side.

Place on paper towel placed in heat proof pan; keep warm until ready to serve.

I had this with shake n bake chicken and fresh asparagus, accompanied by a nice French red, a 2004 Chateau Arnaud Minervois to be precise.

Fran had baked spuds with her meal, so more cakes for me. Alas I was not so lucky with the wine, had to share it equally.

Grad 2006.

We were off to the Aimee’s grade 12 graduation last evening.

First was a ceremony at the Moravian church, thought this a nice touch.
The Nain choir gave a couple of fine renditions in Inuktitut, and a nice service by Johannes lamp.
The grads all in their finery made for a pleasant hour.


The graduation was well attended by teachers, family of grads mainly.
The meal was very good, and lots of it. The volunteer teachers, students and others did a fine job with the meal, decorating, serving and the like.




Thirteen made it this far, I think there was about 23 or so in Aimee’s kindergarten class. Not too bad I guess, though three of this year were carry overs from last year, and a couple moved to other communities.




We were very proud of our Granddaughter, who had her brother, and our Grandson, Brian as her escort.

Proud or wharh?

This is the 2006 grade 12 class of Jens Haven Memorial School, three days before their Graduation Dinner dance this Saturday.

Spring is here, sort of.

Took some pictures of the last of the ice that is ‘hanging in’ in last several says. With the temperatures up and the wind from the west most has been blown out or melted now. Also been doing some walking up in the hills.






Also been doing some walking up in the hills.

Weather is great for getting around, bugs are just too much of an annoyance when it warms up.

Attention: NL tourism brain trust.

I think I have come up with a great concept for a tourism marketing video for Northern Labrador. That’s if you do that sort of marketing of course. Any way, we would start off with a shot of the official Labrador flag, then fade, then zoom in to what has become the unofficial ‘spring flag’ of Northern Labrador.












Perhaps we could then switch to some shots of rugged mountains; this one is just a hill. Maybe we could have some one standing on the edge of all things, this bloke is just for concept, the real bloke would need to be disheveled, long hair, ruddy face like he has spent too many long hours in the pubs of some place.














Maybe finish off with a zooming in shot of some washing hanging on the line, have to be careful what we show though, would not want to upset any sensitive sensibilities would we.



I think this has potential, it's such a great idea perhaps it has been done some place before, you could get some technical ideas if it has.

The Day After.

Well looky here, bloody sun, some what, out the day after Victoria Day.
Same spot as foggy pic taken Sunday.

Interruptis Indeed.

Old Blork http://blork.typepad.com/ and his wife seem to be having a nice tour of Italy. Makes us stay at home bloggers look a bit banausic.

I have walked in many hills and mountains on three continents, never have I come across the view Blork describes in his May 22 post.

View from Signal Hill?

Well no, it's a view, from the hydro plant, of Nain yesterday.
Could have taken the same pic from dawn to dusk, today you would get camera soaked, though the fog has lifted about 20 feet.

Reason for the trip was; Grandson wanted me to go with him to see if we could spot the two moose that have been hanging around town for couple of weeks. He and his mom had watched the two interlopers for some time the evening before, they had come close to the edge of town, up near the dame and what was once a sandpit. Did not see the moose, or much else.
So Victoria Day has held to tradition with the lousy weather, raining today. No one up here could go camping any way, unless you wanted to trudge over the hills by foot. Ice is still covering most of the harbor, this "in" weather pattern will keep it there till an "out" pattern develops.

The second day of the story telling festival was cancelled due to a sad happening. A young married man committed suicide Saturday afternoon. Our thoughts go out to his family.

Victoria Day +1 part 2.

More scenes of participants and observers at story telling event yesterday. Plus one of kids doing what they do best on a nice day.

Victoria Day +1

So yesterday turned out to be a great day, around +8 with a breeze in off harbor.
The Inuktitut Story telling Festival went off well. It was held in two tents near the ball field. Many elders had lots to say, all was recorded for future TV shows and use in language retention programs, as well as historical archival. Some scenes of tea break above.
Festival will continue today but in the sports-plex, it is predicted that weather will not be as kind.

Victoria Day Weekend at 1230 hours on Saturday..

And what a beautiful day it turned out to be sure.

People heading off to the story telling festival I believe.

Good ol Victoria Day weekend.

So this is what 'Fog Depositing Ice' looks like, and we did not have to go to St.John's to see, feel it.

Pop Perspective.

Guess I should give the true consumer cost of pop, not that it is a big drain on our budget, not like some who seem to be addicted to the stuff, not to mention the ones who have a bar and a coke for breakfast, but I wont go into that further.

Cost of a can of coke today is $1.55, plus Enviro Levy of .08 cents, plus 15% HST = $1.88.
Cost of a can of Diet 7up is $1.59, add the Enviro tax and HST you get $1.92.

Looks like Big Sugar has their fingers in our pockets, hence our health, more than we realized.

Mister Frosty.

Minus one or so this morning, bit of a frost. The larger white snow patches in the picture are left overs from the winter.
Sure not conducive to planting my seedlings yet, and they are ready to go. May have to put portable heater in greenhouse for the nights, shame to waste all this nice sunshine we are getting.

Ichtyolite.............Inestimable

Checking my freezer the other day I noticed that our winter meat order was running a little low on some items. We have country food, but things in the fish line are low. We were expecting two visitors from away who have particular eating habits, so this caused me to check on some items in the frozen section of two stores yesterday.
Some nice looking Highliner frozen cod pieces caught my eye. Six pieces of fish at the Northern, enough for three good meals, with a price tag of $17.24. So up I go to the Bigland, again six pieces of fish, same Highliner brand, this time for $24.38. It could have been the fish pieces were larger than at Northern; alas there was no way to tell as the Bigland package did not have weight marked on it. Also noticed, Bigland package had that thawed and re frozen look about it, very common up here, you should see the chicken and beef section, not fit boy.

Will have to check out Haynes store, they do not stock as much, but it is usually of better quality.

I do not drink much pop, just the odd one for mix, but my wife has a coke a day. Fran opined yesterday that coke is over $1.50 at moment in most stores. It seems stores ran out of pop stock and are getting it flown in.

Intuitive

Well my intuition of change in weather pattern came quicker than expected, but it came. We are now socked in with fog, some light drizzle and about +3.
In Goose Bay last couple days it got up over 28, we managed couple days around 22.
The warm weather got people out cleaning up the winter debris around their houses, the ever present litter on roads etc. Place looks reasonable, except down near airstrip, that will get cleaned up once the annual spring clean up crew is hired on.

Had daughter and grandkids up for Mothers Day BBQ yesterday. Oldest grandchild, and her grandmother, were looking through some boxes of photos to use in her upcoming graduation dinner/dance. Not many kids from here have been snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, or cruising on the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater.

While looking they came across some older pictures from my time up north of here in 1978. Could not last six or so weeks in a tent now me thinks. Then some of my time in Greece, Ireland and Great Britton in late 70’s early 80’s. Also some of trips to Montreal and Ottawa we made in middle 80’s. Looking at them it has made me more determined to purchase a scanner to get the better ones on disk, some are starting to fade as they tend to do.

On balance.

All things considered we are not too badly off here this spring. Seems our weather is way better than say foggy cold St. John’s, and our road conditions are drier and smoother than say Iqualuit in Nunavut.

Topic of conversation last several days is how spring sort of came out of no where. One day we were in that middle ground between winter and spring. It can be drawn out and mousey at times. This year within several days spring was just here. Butterflies a fluttering, bees a buzzing, giant mosquitoes annoying, little bugs a bugging, hawks a circling. You name it, it was all happening last couple days or so.
Our phlox went from dead little stumps in frozen soil to sprouting green leaves, with promise of future color, in just three days.
Robbins are almost knee capping people as they skim between buildings and trees, gathering for their nests. Maybe the low flying has to do with the hawk overhead.
People from all over are asking me if I have anything planted in our greenhouse yet. Bit too early yet is my reply. I have been caught out before with this early great run of weather, time will tell If my intuition is correct.

The down side is the dusty roads. The gravel dust is a major concern, especially for the young and old, as well as people with allergies. After being outdoors all day yesterday I had major grit in my eyes, nostrils and throat. The town council has dust abatement material, but the co ordination and timing of applying it always seems to be a problem.

So on balance things are not too bad, way worse places to be that’s for sure, wonder if the fog has cleared in sin jons arbor yit?

Bloke........not.

Bloke is Strine for male

I was exiting the Northern store here yesterday morning, little kid of about 5 comes barreling down from road on his bike, up the wheel chair ramp and to abrupt stop and says, hi!
Me, Hi bloke!
Little kid, I’m not a bloke!
Me, Oh! your not a bloke, then who are you?
Little kid, I’m Robert! in a very indignant tone.
Me, well hi Robert.
Made my week sure.

What a week it was, brought back to earth with a thud after brief hiatus south.
First we had call very early Monday morning from Daughter. The quadraplex across from her was on fire. We went down to offer any help we could, despite fire fighters efforts the building burnt to ground. No one hurt, two residents were able to get their possessions out with help from locals. One apartment was empty, fire looked to have started that end.

Next morning at 1 pm had another call, this time from across road, alerted to kids at my ski doo. Go out, kids gone but hose running from gas tank to gas can, I did get kids names though.

Several nights and early morns the pods of kids and youth running a little wild with drinking and who knows what else. I still don’t get it that school kids are allowed run wild at 2 and 3 AM on school days.
Then there is the adults doing the same crap in middle of the day, little wonder the young are confused and miss directed.

So the incident with the little bloke brightened things up a bit, not to mention the weather; that has been blinding sun and up to + 22 on Thursday. Have the gardens all turned over and airing, wont get too ahead of myself as the ice will go soon, then we will surely get the in winds off the Labrador.

Back home again

We arrived home on friday afternoon from Goose Bay, nice welcome, a 61/2 hour in total power outage. Pumped up the colman stove for a cup of tea, inconvenient but no big deal for us up here in the NL third world.

We spent 7 days with friends in the valley, I had 5 trips to the chiropractor for treatment on my back, and we both shopped for some large and small items for the house and grandkids, well one grand kid, the youngest.

Took a trip down the aptly named Mud Lake road to see ice movement and look for ducks and geese, saw plenty of both, no pics of them though, only these.

That's our host on the hunt.

What is left of ski doo trail to Mud Lake.

Sun set on way back to the valley.

Lots of activity at the Goose Bay airport on arrival and departure, both civilian and military. 2 AWAC’s were there both days, on Friday a F18 was there refueling, a couple of other air force planes landed and both regional airlines had planes coming and going at high rate.
Heard a rumor that the new commander of the base will be an army man, quite the change indeed. Sure hope something happens down there, shame to see all those reasonably new and refurbished buildings empty.

Had a great flight home, only five of us on a twinn Otter, plus the bottled water and pop in cabin with us, and the frozen chicken and other frozen goods in the baggage compartment. Clear all the way with good view of the ice and Labrador sea.