Well, I feel like writing, even though I am not going any where for another month. Come one month though, I'll be a travelling machine! I'm actually really excited for March. It's going to be jam packed!
The first week of March I'll be in Whitehorse working for the Arctic Winter Games. I get to watch my volleyball girls play, without all the time consuming coaching which drained the life out of me this summer. Hopefully get to work the Arctic Sports venue as well - that's my favourite!
After Whitehorse, I come home for one day and then fly out to Fort Simpson and drive over to Jean Marie River for work. I'm excited for that. I've got real responsibility at work! I'll be running a workshop to help the community submit their traditional place names for recognition as Official Geographic Names to appear on federal maps. Fingers crossed on some moose meat too. I've been working on scheduling this trip since October, so I'm glad it's going to happen - means more work for me in the future!
On St. Patrick's Day I'll be doing the Frostbite 45 again. This time on my own; Jane and I did it together two years ago. Sadly I couldn't find anyone crazy enough to split it with me, so I'm going to attempt the whole 45km myself this year. I've been snooping around for more tips and going to get a couple more lessons prior to the event this year. Plus better clothes so I'm not soaked at the causeway.
The last weekend of March I'm going to go down to Calgary to get some skiing - possibly snowboarding? - in with Marcena! My old housemate, Ashley, lives there too and I've been trying to get her to join us. As of right now I have very low expectations of that happening, let alone her finding time to see me. I will keep hustling her! I only have a one way ticket booked for now. I have to take a break in service from work so that I can keep working through the summer (and not have to volunteer to do field work) and that requires a break. I've got the week leading up to Easter off and no clue what to do with it! I have had a few ideas - go visit Jane and Eric in Toronto with a side trip to St. Thomas to see my nana; go to Vancouver, never really been there; go to Newfoundland but the weather in April blows; or go somewhere with my dad like Chicago. Who knows.
That is just one month! I'll continue my brief summary of trips...
I obtained a free trip for two anywhere Canadian North flies to use by June, so I am taking my mother to Pang to see uncle Jeff et al. and so I can do some hiking. I don't plan on going into the park. I know, how can I say that! Easily. The ice won't be out of the fiord yet and there is equally nice hiking over to Kingnait or up the Kuulik. The benefits of having a mother from there who I'm dragging along with me is that she knows where to go. I'm super excited for it though. I wish I could go in August, when all the colours will be on the land... but I got it for free so I cannot complain.
Come June I'll hopefully be back at Ekahli Lake (see Jean Marie River take 2 and I love my job) for work. I'm hoping that I will be in and out of town with field work, but we'll see. I seem to have pretty bad luck at work of trips falling through.
Then in September, mum and I are going on another trip! To Russia! We just go our passports in the mail and now the planning begins.
Anyways, that's my rough plan for 2012 travelling. March is going to be hectic, but it'll all calm down come mid April. Regardless I'm excited now!
