Quilting at the Edge 2008 -Quilt Canada

Several ladies have been asking me just what I did and what did I see at Quilt Canada - Quilting at the Edge in St. Johns NFL.  So I thought, it is was time to begin updating my postings and give you a peek at what you all missed! 

This is a photo of "Roffus" - Coralee's Kitwanga 

mascott keeping an eye on the scenery on the drive down to Prince George in the afternoon.

We all road down with Dorothy. Dorothy and I were to board the plane in Prince George at 8:30 in the evening.  Coralee and "Roffus" would follow the next day as their flight would not leave until the following morning.  

It was great to be able to fly with Dorothy a "well seasoned" travelor as I have never flown any further than Vancouver, and needed the traveling pointers that Dorothy could pass on to me.  

 I really did not know what I was  to expect when flying the "Red Eye" ....now I know why they call it just that!

Our flight landed in Vancouver on time, around 

8:30. Our next leg of our flight would leave Vancouver at 11:30pm and we would land in Toronto at 6:45 am (Toronto time) the following morning!  

I knew I would be tired but thought that I would sleep on the flight from Vancouver to Toronto!

Okay I have to admit I didn't sleep all night at home! Excitement! and a little bit of apprehension was a major factor! 

I was soon to learn why they have coined the term "Red Eye Flights" and that they mean just that! 

I barely slept a wink this night either! by 6:30 am(Ontario time)  we were flying over the lakes of Northern Manitoba, and Ontario! At last something to see out of the window!

Our arrival in Toronto Int. Airport was on time. We only had about 45 min. to get off our plane, grab a quick cup of coffee from the Coffee vendor,and a egg muffin breakfast before we were to board our plane for the last leg to St. John's NFL!  (No we were not offered a opportunity to purchase a breakfast on board our flight)

Feeling a bit disoriented and "Extremely" tired I sure was glad that Dorothy could lead me about the Airport!

The next leg of our flight would be on a board a slightly smaller plane. I was really excited about watching out of the window of the plane as now it was day light and I could actually snap photos!  It was a  splendid flight.  The passenger in the seat beside me was a fellow from NFL heading home from the Oil Patch in Northern Alberta. He was looking forward to seeing his wife and kids and was very familiar with this leg of  our journey. 

                                                                                       

We saw hundreds of icebergs in the golf of St.                                                                                    Lawrence!

I was looking forward to snapping lots of photo's of our flight across "The Rock".  Alas that was not to be in the flight plan though! Just after we saw the first bit of shore line, the clouds quickly covered the landscape.  Soon the Captain announced due to sever winds we could expect a rough ride for the next 20 min. until we landed! Great! 

My face must have show my apprehension and yes ... fear.  The fellow passenger beside me in attempted to reassure me as to the flying skills of the NFL pilots. He went on to tell me .. that he has flown in during a down right blizzard, where the plane was bouncing 50 60 ft. and when the wheels hit the run way it was covered in snow! And the pilot handled the landing flawlessly! (okay ... I guess the point was it was only pouring rain outside and blowing a 45 knt. wind .. so all was well? lets face it a tale of previous nasty flights didn't do much to calm my fears ... did the Captain remember to bring his "rabbit foot " with him this time also? I was to ask myself.  Okay .. sure I crossed all my fingers, and toes, and my legs!)  

Now ... as a "very" green passenger, not sure if I really like this whole flying thing ... I will tell you I was astounded at how the pilot managed to "softly tap the tarmac" on landing! 

On our return flights back home Dorothy and I rated all the remaining landings according to this landing and none of the other landings were any were near as smooth as this one in St. Johns! 

Dorothy and I were now in NFL! it was 2:30 in the afternoon NFL time the following day! 

We had not had breakfast yet!  We quickly checked out a car, and checked into our room! 

 Then we were on the search for a cafe' that would serve us Breakfast! One was quickly found and after filling our tummies with eggs, toast, and coffee, we suddenly realized just how tired we were! 

 Not to be deterred we decided that we couldn't risk going back to the room and falling asleep as we might not wake up and get to the airport to pick-up Coralee and Roffus ! 

So off  to do a little exploring around St. Johns!

 We soon found a knititng shop!... and then our first quilt fabric shop.  

We did a quick drive past the University were we would be staying during the Quilt Conference. 

 Very tired, now we knew we had to go back to our motel room and just chill until 9:30pm when we would go to the airport and Pick up Coralee and Roffus!