Hitching a Ride Home with Santa!

Hello All,

Time for another installment of Josh in Tuk which I update all too rarely.

It has been very dark and very cold lately. Yesterday it was so cold that I picked up a lasagna that had just come out of the oven and did not even know it was hot because my hands were so cold from standing outside. Thats fun!!

But the time has come for me to exit this land of ice and snow (cold and dark), etc. etc. so venture to lands warmer and sunnier - well Nova Scotia is only so warm and so light at this time of year but it has more of both of those things than Tuk.

Spending a couple days in Inuvik will be good and then a few days in transit which will be not as good but the end result is great; and that is me at home.

I need to do my Christmas shopping, I have not even started yet, I have never been this late with my purchasing of presents; uh-oh!

I would say that I will update this blog again soon but who are we kidding, it will be weeks if not months before I update it again.

Have a good Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year.

In the words of the great Chevy Chase in a Christmas classic, "We're gonna have the hap hap happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tapdanced with Danny fucking Kaye."

I'll blog again in 2012!

j

(p.s. - this blogs title is funny because I live in the North-pole!)

Its Darrrrrrrk!

Hi All,

One of the super awesome things about being up here, or anywhere in the north for that matter, is the super awesome darkness. I didn't love it in Iceland and I am not loving it here. I am not having as much of an issue with it here because of my work schedule but in general I find the dark to be depressing. This is pretty ironic though because I consider myself a night-owl. Its just hard to be a night-owl all day long :)

The countdown is on until I go home for Christmas. I cannot wait to get home. Seems like so long since I have been home even though its only been since August-Septemer. Looking forward to seeing friends and family and also SUBWAY, my love.

The fan is going to Halifax for New Years which should be fun, have a nice meal, watch the fireworks, stay at the Westin, then a nice breakfast.

I wish that we were going down south this year at Christmas, its so cold up here that the south would be so nice. Maybe in the spring!!!

You may see me post on this blog more now that it is so cold, and so dark. For example it is now 10am its is dark out, it will be until noon. Then by 5pm it will be dark as night again. The temperature has actually warmed up for the last few days to -25, mmmmmm super nice! It has been -35 so ill take -25 over that any day.

Here are some photos for your enjoyment. :)

Darkness at 10am on Nov19th

Darkness at 10am on Nov19th

My Christmas Tree until I get home. Its a BLIK Olive
 tree with print out decorations taped to it :)

Hope you enjoyed this update!

Peace for now,

Josh

No longer MIA

Hello All,

I has been called to my attention that I "need to update my blog." I am unsure as to if the poster suggests this because it has been almost exactly 3 months since my last post or if it is because my last post includes some data which seems to be incorrect.

Nevertheless post I will.

The weather data seems to have lead me astray a tad. It has been consistently a few degrees either side of -10 for the last few weeks. The weather network assured me that this would not happen for some time. Those lying b@st@rds.

I am finding it crazy what a small world this is. So many people from the east coast all over the west. I found myself at a bbq and was introduced to a new person in town. She was like "are you josh of josh in tuk?" Indeed I am. She was from NS too. Oh how I miss NS.

Christmas break is coming and I will get to go back to NS. I cannot wait for that time. Looking forward to seeing friends and family.

The daylight is slow fading up here...time to break out the sadd light and the bob marley. He will make everything better.

Peace

Here are some awesome pictures of some awesome snow in awesome september the same awesome weekend it was awesomely 20 awesome degrees in NS. :) I sound bitter. (Sept 25th)

WEATHER

Hey All,

I stumbled on an interested section of Environment Canada where I found some historic leather data for here. I thought that I would share some with you all.

- It is around mid November before it gets below -10 regularly here

- January seems to be the coldest month

- -39 was the Coldest it got in Tuk in 2010

- The warm weather was about a week ahead this year (to welcome me), May 13 was -1.3 and snowy, I arrived May 16, and by May 21 it was +21.3 - it was just fine with me!!

Thats all for now.

Talk to you all again soon!

Josh

Mom Arrive Tomorrow!

Hey Everyone,

Tomorrow is a big day! Mom arrive in Tuk. I am anxious to see what she thinks about the place. She had a good flight to Edmonton and then tomorrow she flies from Edmonton to Inuvik and then onto Tuk.

The last week has been pretty good. We have gone boating and fishing and have spent lots of time outside.

Also, most of my orders have arrived so yay for Canada Post being back on the job!

The weather has been great up here, I hope the weather is great for while mom is here.

Mom is here for a week then we head down to Inuvik for a little less than a week. We are going to head to the arctic circle and to the Yukon border.

Well back to cleaning up the apartment for moms arrival.

Thats all for now!

Josh

Tuk Update

Hello everyone,

I have been a bit lax in my blog updates, I doooooo apologize. :)

The weather has been amazing up here. I cannot complain at all. All this week is high teens low twenties and next week too! Crazy that the western arctic is having nicer weather than NS. Sorry bout that folks at home.

This past week was my Iceland Masters Graduation and I could not go because of just starting my new job. This made me a bit sad I would have liked to have gone to see everyone that made the trip and to get to Iceland again.

Last week we were in Inuvik for most of the week and it was really nice to get out of Tuk and see some different sites and get some things I cannot get here in Tuk!!

Up here in Tuk we have been this week we have been fishing and picnic-ing because the weather has been so great. I wish it would stay like this and not go to -40 Celsius - that will make me sad!!

Well that is all for now. I have posted some pictures in the post before this. This is of tonight. We went to the picnic spot and did some wading/swimming.

Hope everyone is well!

J

Wading in the Arctic Ocean

Tuk Bingo

Hey everyone,

Played my first Bingo last night here in Tuk. I have never playes bingo before so I just played on card per game. I think I could handle more than one card but good to only have had one to get used to it.

I won NOTHING. It was close twice but nothing.

It was a fin saturday night, my friends at home likely think I am a loser for playing bingo on a saturday night. But listen im in Tuk there are only so many things to do and I have played it with friends. So it got my out of the apartment.

Will be in Inuvik for a bit this week for work, I am looking forward to that big time!!!

Restaurant food, not good restaurant food, but food that I dont have to cook for myself. :)

Mom is coming here to visit, only like three weeks until she gets here!!!!

Thats all for now,

Josh

Home

Hey Everyone,

It is so nice to talk to people at home either through this blog or bbm or email or text message. It makes it easier to get through each day.

It is getting easier and easier to be up here. I have have a few great weekends. Spending much of the time outside. I even have a tan :)

Mom has decided to come up and visit me so that is something to look forward to. It will be quite an adventure for her. A long journey just to get up here. But we will have a great time. We will visit the community freezer, tour tuk and inuvik, and fish, hike, etc. I am also hoping she will cook for me :)

Then I am coming home!!! August 25th to Sept 9th - everyone clear your calendars :) We will have good times. And I am going to eat Subway 1 million times.

My purchases are still arriving, I would have thought that they would have all been here by now. But the best stuff is still to come - TV, Computer, Furniture. PLEASE COME SOON THINGS :)

Well thats all for now. Hope everyone is great and is enjoying their summers!

Josh

Q+A's

To Answer Karen's Questions:

There is no local bar. People drink at each others houses. It is technically a dry town so no drink sales are permitted. That being said, there are ways around that. So no Northern Exposure-type hangout. Yes I know that show - in re-runs :)

There is a clinic here that is open most of the time, they can do most everything but if it is something serious they fly you to Inuvik where there is a full service hospital. There is a doctor here most of the time.

Everyone that I have encountered speaks english, there are likely some that do not though.

There are weird things at the store yes, because the store is the only place to shop so they have things from bullets to movies,, electronics, furs, etc. The meet is all frozen, most things are to get up here and still be fresh-ish. The weirdest thing in the store so far is the hamburger it comes in a tube (a bit gross).

There is another store it is a hardware store - it doesn't have much hardware but lots or porn. Weird.

Most people live in a house here but I have an apartment above my work building. It is good apartment, lots of money $$$, and not perfect, not much option up here. I will like it very much when the days are -40 and I just have to go downstairs and not walk across town.

No air-conditioning - some days get to be mid to high 20's but you just need a fan for those few days a year :)

Northern Wildlife

Hey again,

I have seen lots of wildlife since I have been up here. Eagles, Owls, etc., and Little Muskrats that I shot a video of.

Enjoy :)

Josh

Tuk Beach Bonfire

Hey Everyone,

Here are some pictures I took while some of my coworkers and I had a bonfire or "picnic" as they call them up here.

We stayed out until about 10pm and as you can see from the pictures it was as bright as day. Welcome to the North.

This was my replacement for Apple Blossom, I had a great time, had some drinks, played some games, good chats with friends.

Josh

Post Questions!!

Hey Everyone,

If you have any questions about being up here, etc, post them in response to any of my blog posts and I will respond either in video or written!!

Hope you are enjoying the blog!

Josh

Week 2 in Tuk

Landing in Tuk

The link to the youtube post of my landing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKDCEOWTRg

Enjoy!

Josh

Long Weekend

Hey Everyone,

This is a long weekend, which would normally be a good thing, but being up here and not knowing anyone, and not having reliable net or satellite at all yet has made a long weekend even longer.

I find the mornings pretty hard. In being up here for even a week I realize that I like to have people around me.

I also miss home!

I am sure things will get better, as I get busy with work, and as I get things like my own internet and satellite. I guess when you have the creature comforts life gets a bit easier ?!?!?

Today my plan is to do some more ordering. I have ordered so much stuff in the last few days. But that isn't really even fun without having somebody to talk to things about. But I have been skyping lots with mom and nick and dad so that is making things a bit easier. Thank goodness for skype.

I am going to go to the store and get some stuff then explore the town a bit and take some pictures. I will post some later.

Right now I am going to try to post the landing here in tuk. I'll see if it goes on here. If not I will have to explore some other route of posting.

Thats all for now,

Josh

Day 2

Hey All,

Things are starting to work out here. I got access to the net so that makes things soooo much better. Still not great access so it will be a few days until I post pictures or video. Maybe I will try to do so in the weekend.

Work is going well. Lots of reading which is good because I need to know why we do what we do in the office.

Ive been unpacking my boxes tonight. Lots of stuff but the apartment still feels bare. I am going to start ordering stuff on the weekend. TV, shelves, PS3, computer, etc etc. And I will put of the painting that I brought with me this weekend.

Today I went on a tour of the town. It took 5 minutes. :) I will explore this weekend. I will take pictures to post.

Tomorrow I get my office :)

Well im going to keep unpacking and watch some tv.

Later Peeps

Josh is IN Tuk!!

Hey all,

I got to Tuk today. It was a really cool flight in nice and clean and could see lots. Its difficult to tell right now what is land and what is water because it is all still ice. Soon I will be able to see it. I have been told that what is land is where there are roads and houses...the rest....water!

Flew in on the Twin Otter plane. Small. I have video of the take off and landing that I will post sometime in the near future.

Met my work peeps today. They are all great. It should be a good adventure.

It is VERY isolated here that will be a bit of a challenge.

Well, short post tonight, sorry. I am heading to bed.

I will post pics and some video soon!

Josh

Another Day in Inuvik

Hey Everybody,

Too tired to type today. I will post pictures tomorrow. And many a video of some of the flight to Tuk. Should be interesting.

Josh

First Day O' Work

Hey All,

Today was my first day of work. Lots of paper work and lots of reading pretty much summarized the day.

I went to the grocery store, which was quite and experience. I bought 6 dollar wheat thins, 8 dollar frosted flakes, 8 dollar milk (2l) and yoghurt, and apples. It came to 37$, worst part - I thought this was a good deal :) Things in Tuk are going to be so expensive. So, if anyone visits me you must bring 1) TP, 2) Cheese Whiz, 3) Milk?!?!? 4) Drinks :) (Not necessarily in that order)

Tomorrow another day at work in the Inuvik Office, then to try and get a bell cell phone card and perhaps bell satellite.

Wednesday onto Tuk!!!!! I am really looking forward to meeting everyone there and just getting to my place for now :)

Sorry no pictures today, too tired. I will take some of Inuvik tomorrow and post them.

Josh

I'm in Inuvik!

Hello All,

I made it to Inuvik today after a long few days. As most of you know I had the flu friday and saturday and I had to fly across the country on saturday as well (this made traveling quite interesting). Fortunately Air Canada was so kind as to upgrade me to executive class because they had over booked the flight so that made it a lot better.

Once I got to Edmonton I still felt sick so I went to the hotel and went to bed. I took lots of medicine and napped for a bit. When I got up I felt much better. So I called Uncle Kirk and Kirk, Kate, Thomas, and Adam and I went out to a late supper (especially late for me as in my head it was 3 hours ahead of when it was for everyone else). Had a great supper and great conversation. Then they dropped me back at the hotel with a nice care/sick package which was very much appreciated!!

Flew from Edmonton to Yellowknife to Norman Well (yes this is a place one can fly to) to Inuvik. Canadian North was a good airline - food was good, service was good, seats were okay.

Got to tuk, met my boss, went on a tour of the town, went to hotel, made skype calls, wrote on blog.....

Plans for the rest of today: supper (I feel like eating again :)), Survivor maybe

Plans for tomorrow: sign 1000 papers, meets lots of people.

Talk again soon,

Josh

Buffalo Airways Hanger

from Ice Pilots NWT ->

Inuvik Airport ->

Inuvik area ->
Between Norman Wells and Inuvik ->

Norman Well Airport ->

Yellowknife Airport ->
Yellowknife Area ->
Canadian North Drink Cup ->
Canadian North Tail ->

Boxes be Heavy!

Hey Everyone,

I sent my boxes to Tuk yesterday. They will arrive on the 19th of May hopefully!!

I was at the post office for an hour to send 15 boxes and it cost more than 2000$. Wow eh?

The post office in Port Williams is great! They were super helpful and super friendly. If you ever have to mail 15 boxes to Tuktoyaktuk Port Williams post office is the place to go.

See you in 3 weeks stuff! I hope you get there alright!

J

Welcome!

Hello all,

It is blog time again. I am moving to the Northwest Territories North of Inuvik to a village called Tuktoyaktuk or Tuk for short.

I am going to be doing a written blog/video blog for my journey, once I am there and then periodically from then on.

Hope you all enjoy!

Josh