Sunday, October 06, 2013

Greenland memories: Tasiilaq to Kulusuk by helicopter

The return to London started with a helicopter ride across the bay to the nearby community of Kulusuk which had enough flattish land for a runway.

We almost didn't make it as we woke to thick fog covering both Tasiilaq and Kulusuk, and for a time things looked grim. The check-in assistant at the heliport in Tasiilaq talked about people being stuck for days and days and the plane from Iceland to Kulusuk had to turn back.

There was plenty of time for lunch and we had planned on a take away pizza but it was closed so instead we raided the mini-super market for a picnic.

Early in the afternoon the fog began to clear:
It was enough for the heartening throb-throb of a helicopter engine to be heard and then first of many arrived.

There was a scramble for seats in which I lost out and got the middle one:
To be honest I was so pleased to be on my way and not having to sleep in an airport I didn't mind too much.
At Kulusuk there was another wait and we ended up arriving at Iceland about 7 hours late, which seemed like a bit of a result given how bad things had been in the morning.

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