I liked to watch Ice Road Truckers while working out. Then came Ice Pilots.
Now, I would never complain about the weather. Especially, not having yard duty anymore!
Every time I go into a public place people complain, maybe it is the only mutually agreed upon topic of conversation, with politics putting people at odds. Watching this show, as these men and women dig these huge airplanes out of snowbanks, facing -40 temperatures, I shudder. You can spit and it'll freeze before it hits the ground!
Well, good old Rick Mercer visited these guys. He's a trooper, old Ricko. He has the funniest tweets, much of the time. Hitting 40 some of his humour is juvenile to this 50+ blogger, but some of it is funny. He will do anything, apparently. Bungie jumping in a wheel chair, with Rick Hansen, for example. But he features some fantastic Canadians doing what they love to do.Rick heads to Yellowknife, NWT to fly with the ice pilots of Buffalo Air. Buffalo Air is run by a quirky, amazing man. Tough as nails, as they say. The language on Ice Pilots is often bleeped.
But, I suppose, when they do what they do, in incredible circumstances, I cannot imagine the life.
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Cheez Whiz was selling for $29.39 at the Northern Store in Arctic Bay, Nunavut, this month, after the federal government began phasing out subsidies for hundreds of grocery products. A new program, called Nutrition North, will focus on making healthy and perishable food more affordable in the Arctic. (Submitted by Ron Elliott)
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Read more about the cost of groceries here!
Blame retailers for high Arctic food prices: Aglukkaq
Arctic communities choking on sky-high food pricesHow privatization will make food less affordable in the North
But back to Ice Pilots! They are well worth the viewing, just to give us some perspective.
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"Buffalo" Joe McBryan, President & Captain
Stubborn, unconventional and unpredictable, this northern aviator built his airline with the world's most unique fleet of WWII aircraft. Joe can ...
by IcePilotsNWT
5 comments:
Did you see last week's Ice Pilots? The truck driver stuck in the road was my father-in-law! :)
Megan, That a hoot! Thanks for telling me, I am amazed at the life in the north. Really glad to watch them and appreciate the work they do.
I spent 5 years in the arctic and ws fortunate enough to do lots of flying. Conditions were tough but these people knew what to do. When you're out every day you do get used to it in some way. And we did party a lot!!
I've heard about the partying, Red! My ex-late-father-in-law was RCMP up there in the 50s. Territory of 10,000 sq. miles. Lots of poker. He had a great card sense, memorized every card played, and lots of stories.
My wife is a pilot for fun but nothing fun about fighting ice and snow - can't imagine the pressure and stress to HAVE TO fly to make sure people get survival goods n' gear! Cheese Whiz for $30???? - what will I ever put on my pizza?
W.C.C.
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