Friday, December 5, 2014

Linda And Alex Have An Excellent Adventure

I don't travel.  I don't like to travel.  I dislike leaving my dogs so we usually drive and take them with us most places.  Alex flies a lot.  It's been several years since I have flown at all.  I always have found an excuse not to go.  I'm not afraid of flying.  I simply don't like flying.

We have made two trips via airlines in the last couple of months. 

One trip took us to Oklahoma City for my 92 year old Aunt's funeral.  Despite it being a sad event, we did enjoy visiting with my cousins and the trip was actually very enjoyable.

Our most recent trip took us to beautiful British Columbia where we spent several days at the Empress Hotel.  The hotel is glorious!  The people were delightful.  Canadians are lovely to look at and probably among the nicest people on the planet.  Even the custom's officer with his quick smile and "No worries!" comments was charming.

Canadian folks just seem to ooze charm, friendliness, and warmth.  I actually wonder if they might be aliens.  Adorable aliens, but aliens none the less.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  It was all great.  This is not a travel blog. 

We made the questionable decision to take a seaplane from Victoria to Seattle in order to accommodate our airline schedule.  I am not the adventurous type, (except when it comes to romance of course), but I overcame my hesitation and decided getting a seaplane ride would be the best way to get to our plane in time.  Never mind that I don't like to fly.  Never mind that I don't like heights.  Never mind that I don't even like water.  Yeah, it was one of those "what was I thinking?" moments.

We arrived at the terminal of Kenmore Air in Victoria about an hour before our scheduled flight.  They thoughtfully had coffee and bagels set out for passengers, many of them looking like daily commuters.  While Alex with his cast iron stomach opted to eat and drink, I sat and wished I could remember what a rosary was and how to pray on one. 

Several of the pilots walked into the terminal with their dark glasses and pilot gew gaws on their shoulders.  They looked cocky and about the same age as my 18 year old granddaughter.  Confidence inspiring for some I'm sure, but I began to feel a bit nauseous with nerves.  I watched the tiny seaplanes take off and wondered if I could still change my mind about this mode of transport.

Then she walked in.  She was a small woman, perhaps 30 years old, and gorgeous.  She wore tailored trousers, shiny boots, and a windbreaker jacket.  Her dark slightly curly hair was tied back in a ponytail.  There was something about her that stunned me.  Besides her obvious beauty, she radiated a quality of utter confidence and competence.  I sort of fell in love with her at first glance.

When our flight was called and we were told to gather outside the terminal and wait for our pilot, I was feeling a tiny bit shaky.  But then I saw her walk toward us.  She said good morning and introduced herself as "Anna".  She was leading our group of four people to a tiny plane.  Alex asked me when the pilot would come out, and I told him "Anna is the pilot".

Alex commented that she was probably just the person who helped with the luggage and such.  (Silly men.)  We got on the tiny plane and Anna told us to strap our seat belts and warned us not to get out of our seats during the flight.  Anna jumped into the pilot's seat and started the plane's engine and eased out onto the water.  She picked up speed and before long we were airborne in the smoothest take off  I have ever experienced.  We flew low enough to really see the channel islands. 

It was a beautiful flight.  I never experienced one second of trepidation.  I've never enjoyed a flight more! 

In fact, I've never enjoyed a flight at all before come to think of it.  All too soon, we were landing in the water in a totally smooth transition. 

Oh well done, Anna!  If I were a rich woman, I would hire Anna to take me everyplace! 


21 comments:

  1. So glad you had a wonderful flight. I dislike flying and even more so on those tiny planes. I've never had a bad experience except some turbulence,; I just like being able to comfortably put my feet on the ground, ha!

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  2. Oh, goody! I would have gone, too!

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  3. I stayed at The Empress for part of my honeymoon many moons ago! Stunning! It is on my bucket list to spend Christmas one year at the Banff Springs Hotel !!
    (we Canadians are not aliens - but I most certainly do appreciate your description of us here !!)

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  4. It's so wonderful to hear that Canadians are still so nice. You'd think they'd be bad-tempered and foul after living next door to us all these years. Sounds like a wonderful trip. I feel the same way about flying as you do, so your Anna gives me hope. Maybe we could just adopt her. Sending Christmas hugs your way. :)

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  5. You took the thoughts right out of my head, Jayne. Canadians have a well earned reputation for their kindness!

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  6. Oh you good looking smooth talking Canadian, you!

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  7. I have honestly never met a Canadian I didn't adore, Jayne!

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  8. Oh Astra, you wouldn't tell me if you were an alien, but you are so gorgeous you could mislead me at anytime and I'd forgive you!

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  9. The flight was the best adventure I've ever experienced, Suzicate! Just marvelous!

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  10. Who? Me or Bill? Sorry I called you clueless. I meant those other Americans.

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  11. I know you know I meant you, Dufus! Bill? Eh!

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  12. Nora, I had the glorious Nicky and her darling son, Max, as visitors a couple of years ago. They both seemed too perfect for human kind. I mean, nobody is really that beautiful, charming and intelligent, are they? Okay, we never let on about the alien business, but how else could it be explained!

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  13. Nancy/BLissed-Out GrandmaDecember 8, 2014 at 8:34 AM

    Wow, Linda, I wasn't expecting that outcome! It says a lot about the effectiveness of being confident, being pleasant, and of course being so beautiful that everyone falls in love with you! And then she delivers a great, smooth flight besides! Definitely worth hiring as your private pilot.

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  14. Wouldn't that be fine? Anna and her magical little plane taking me places! Hah!

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  15. Canadians are amazing! Except for the snow, I might even move to Canada!

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  16. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comDecember 8, 2014 at 8:37 PM

    I love airports, but flying these days isn't what it used to be. So glad you enjoyed your seaplane flight!

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  17. The Equestrian VagabondDecember 12, 2014 at 6:51 AM

    that whole story made me smile!

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  18. It's strange Fiona, but I think you get the "real" feeling of flying in a small plane. And for the first time ever, I hated to see the flight end!

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  19. The whole adventure made me smile, Merri!

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