September 29, 2022:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went downstairs for breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. After breakfast, I went up to my room. I went online for a few minutes. I went to Shopper’s Drug Mart and bought a chocolate bar. I then headed back to my hotel and finished packing.

 

            I went downstairs to check out. While waiting to check out, there was someone at the desk talking about extending their stay or booking an additional room for additional guests. The person at the desk said they’d be in my room! I mentioned that. When they were done, I quickly checked out.

 

            I waited outside and my taxi came on time. We headed out to the airport. Upon getting to the airport, I checked in to my flight. In addition to three round trips to Halifax, they seasonally have a direct flight to Toronto. I was on the direct flight. I photographed the inside of the main terminal.

 

 

            I then headed down the hall to the international terminal which isn’t used for its intended purpose much anymore with most international planes having a long range. I photographed some pictures on the wall of notable people including Captain Beverly Bass.

 

 

 

 

            I then took some photos in the international terminal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I made my way back to the domestic part of the terminal. I photographed a picture of a British Airways Concorde. I once saw a video of a Concorde landing in Gander so the only successful supersonic airliner has visited Gander.

 

 

            I then went back to the international terminal. I photographed a piano from “Come from Away”.

 

 

            I then photographed a sign for Come from Away.

 

 

            I photographed another sign that had a fake Newfoundland cod. One scene in come from away depicted locals swearing in the “plane people” to become honorary Newfoundlanders by performing several rituals. One ritual was to kiss a cod. During my time in Gander, no one offered to give me the chance to kiss a cod, but if I was, I might have done it!

 

 

            I then photographed another piece of the World Trade Center as well as some more signs about Gander’s roll following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

 

 

 

 

Many of the post-it notes were the flights that landed in Gander.

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed the tarmac outside. It was empty but one can easily imagine it being full of aircraft after the U.S. airspace was closed.

 

 

 

            I photographed a couple more signs.

 

 

 

            I photographed a couple posters showing the famous people who have passed through the airport including the late Queen Elizabeth 2.

 

 

 

            I then photographed a poster about the plane accidents that occurred at Gander. I don’t think any other airport I’ve been to have mentioned accidents no matter how many people survived.

 

 

 

 

            I photographed a poster on rare planes to see at Gander that included the Airbus A380 and the Ukrainian Mirya cargo plane. The Mirya was destroyed in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a second aircraft was under construction at the time and was 85% complete so hopefully they could salvage parts from the destroyed aircraft to finish the other one in the future.

 

 

            I then photographed more signs.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed what may be the oldest escalator in Canada. It wasn’t running when I was at the airport.

 

 

            I then photographed a few more signs.

 

 

 

 

 

            I went downstairs and photographed a sculpture that supposedly brings good luck to those who touch it.

 

 

            I then touched the sculpture. I then photographed a plaque about Queen Elizabeth 2 opening the terminal building on June 19, 1959.

 

 

            I then took another photo of the escalator I mentioned earlier looking up this time.

 

 

            I then took a picture of female pilot Amelia Earhart who was the first woman to fly many record breaking flights before she ultimately went missing. There were many searches for the site of her plane crash that have been unsuccessful. The most recent search was led by Robert Ballard; the man who found the Titanic.

 

 

            I then bought some lunch in the airport. After lunch, I bought a t-shirt at a store. I then went and cleared security without incident. Once I got to where the gate was I saw a Westjet Encore Bombardier Q400 boarding passengers. Westjet flies to Gander with the Q400 to Halifax much like Air Canada but only to Halifax and no seasonal flights elsewhere.

 

            I went online and worked on this report. My flight was delayed by 15-20 minutes. After awhile it was time to board. I photographed my plane which was an Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ705. It was similar to what I flew to Atlanta on during my 2015 Alabama Trip.

 

 

            In previous years Air Canada has used Embraer 175 jets on this flight.

 

            I had a window seat on the left hand side of the plane. I photographed the terminal from my seat.

 

 

 

            I heard that when the US airspace reopened, many of the plane people were sad to leave. The plane left 15 minutes late. I filmed the takeoff roll.  The plane took off and flew right over Gander. I could see my hotel and the North Atlantic Aviation Museum I visited the day before.

 

            I watched the inflight entertainment but 2/3 through my movie, all the screens on the plane got messed up and had to reboot which took several minutes to fix. When it was fixed, I had to fast forward through what I had seen. I was able to watch the end of my movie.

 

            At one point, we passed over a rail yard which I photographed.

 

 

            After awhile we were flying over downtown Toronto, I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            The plane circled around and came in from the west. As we landed, I filmed the landing. As we got off the runway, I photographed various planes as we taxied past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I was thinking the plane would park at one of the regular gates. However, we were parked at where turboprop planes and smaller jets park. We soon parked and eventually got off. I photographed the plane before heading into the terminal.

 

 

 

            I then went to the baggage claim to wait for my suitcase. It took several minutes for my suitcase to come. After 20 minutes the bags from my flight started coming up. I got my suitcase and phoned my mom to let her know I was home and got my suitcase.

 

            My mom had been at a nearby lot and told me to call her as it was a 2 minute drive to the terminal. I went out and she arrived. I then headed home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Aside from getting bad directions to Exporail and the Ocean’s lateness, I had fun on this trip. Montreal was good to visit though I wish I was able to ride an electric bus and not a hybrid.

 

            Exporail is once again a good place to visit. I wish it was easier to get to and that I could get into that one barn that’s not open to the public because of all the equipment inside that I could photograph.

 

            The loss of the balloon track in Halifax has degraded the Ocean. However, not to the point I would avoid taking the Ocean in the future.

 

            Lastly, Gander is a nice place to visit even though there is no rail service in Newfoundland. The last trains ran in the late 80s. If you haven’t seen the musical “Come from Away”, I recommend it. In addition, I have now been to every Canadian province except for Prince Edward Island plus the three territories

 

            As for me, I’m done traveling in 2022. It’s good to have multiple trips again. My first trip of 2023 will be once again returning to Quebec City for Carnival de Quebec. Until next time…

 

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