First off, I have to say this was a blast! Still finding photos from it, but for a first time flying to a US con solo, it was fun. Even if I set things up such that I had to arrive late and duck out early.

Friday

My trip began, like FC last year, with an early alarm so I could get to the airport. Unlike that trip, though, I would be heading to the con on my own, rather than sharing the flight with other furs. It had been a year since then with no plane trips in between, and I was flying through YYZ’s larger Terminal 1 for the first time, so I wasn’t quite as knowledgeable as I would like about how the process would work.

Fortunately, despite the notice posted on the airport’s website, the process hadn’t changed from previous years. After collecting my boarding pass and bag tag, and stopping by the drop station to have my luggage weighed (but not collected), I was directed to customs. For US flights, we apparently deal with them before boarding the plane. After some short secondary screening (I was declaring some Coffee Crisp and Nestle Smarties, neither of which are available stateside), I dropped off my fursuit, went through CATSA and into the terminal.

With a window seat for the trip down and clear skies, I was surprised how far I could see up there! Though the plane left a bit late due to traffic, the flight was short (not DTW short, but still under two hours). By the time we were landing in Boston, I’d already found the hotel from the air. A short delay waiting for the luggage and a little bit of confusion finding the T’s ticket machine, and I was ready to get on the bus.

The trip from the airport to the hotel wasn’t too complicated: Silver Line to South Station, Red Line to Kendall/MIT, then a walk to the hotel in weather that was mild enough that I didn’t care. Somehow, though, I never had to pay the fare, so I saved my subway ticket for the trip home.

I arrived the Hyatt at noon, and after tracking down traysandor and getting the hotel to check my luggage, started to enjoy my first day at the con.

Activities I participated in and watched that afternoon:

• Watched the “Meet the GOH” panel
• Learned and joined a game of “Rampage” in the board game room. Apparently, the game has a different name now due to trademark infringement, but it was a fun game of smashing buildings down
• Checked into the hotel room, met elbi and the-kitsune-cavalier (another roommate) and ordered some supper delivered to the hotel
• Watched the Friday Night fursuit games and snapped a few pics, though they mostly didn’t come out
• Finally got some fursuiting in during the evening, in my white and somehow-too-small Donaldson jersey (eh, it was a freebie), including a trip to the dance floor where I ran into a suiting Gale (about the only time that worked out when I was also in suit)

By the time I called it a night, I was exhausted but having fun.

Saturday

As always seems to be the case when I go to cons, Saturday began early, because, uh, my body wakes me up at dawn. After a quick breakfast and some walking around, I suited up and walked around for photos.

Over the course of the excursion, I hit up:

• The “Meet the Chairty” (sic) panel with all the IRL police and rescue dogs
• The fursuit group photo, which didn’t involve a parade, instead opting to create a music video of all the suiters
• An impromptu parade that immediately followed the music video as everyone began to spill into the hall (and all the cameras). I was planning to hijack it into a fursuit walk outside, but that fell through, so instead I went into the snowy courtyard by the dealer’s den
• A spontaneous game of football in said courtyard, which was kinda awesome

By the time I got back inside, I was ready to desuit, and continued with photos, supper, and watching the dance competition. Following, I got back into suit, visited the photobooth, and made my way back downstairs for more antics until the evening wound down.

Sunday

Waking up early again and grabbing the buffet for breakfast, I spent the first few quiet hours catching up on Twitter and weather-related news, before we all got up, put on our suits, and made a trip outside to get photos with the hotel and skyline. We didn’t get too long to work with, because checkout time was noon, and I wanted to be packed and ready to go for my flight.

Once we got down and I put my luggage in storage, I got in some final board games, a lot more photos of other suiters, and took in the Masquerade and floor hockey events. By the time that was done, I figured it would be a good idea to say my goodbyes and make my way back to the airport.

The return trip was a bit longer, thanks to a partial closure on the Red Line, but I arrived at the terminal on time. Then passed out on the plane ride home because I was exhausted.

Conclusions

All in all, the con was fun. They didn’t hit 1000 attendees (965), so it was slightly smaller than FE, but it was great meeting new furs and old acquaintances for the first time. Would I go again? When the dollar improves, sure!