Heading North from Winnipeg.

In about an hour, I’ll be leaving my comfortable hotel room here in Winnipeg to return my Avis car and head to the train station. VIA Rail train #693 will depart for Churchill, 1050 miles north-north-east, just after noon. It’s a two-night trip and we’ll arrive in Churchill at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, before sun-up.

A minute or two ago, I checked the weather up there: current temperature is 28 degrees, with the overnight low pedicted to be 25. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a brisk 21 degrees, with snow flurries. Not to worry. I am prepared with newly-purchased slightly-used cold-weather clothing. All that remains is a mental adjustment which, I earnestly hope, will come before Tuesday morning.

There have been several reports of polar bears in the area and, if I’m truly lucky, there might even be a display of the Northern Lights on one of the two nights I will be there.

An interesting note: As some of you know, much of my professional career was spent running an advertising agency in Honolulu which specialized in, among other areas, political campaigns. I will be staying at a bed and breakfast in Churchill and it turns out that the husband of the woman who runs the place is a candidate for the Churchill City Council … and the election will be held on Wednesday, my first full day there!

I have invited them to be my guests at dinner the following eveing. Let us hope we will be celebrating. Either way, I’m sure there will be plenty of liquid refreshment.

So … I’m off!