Harbour Air

Harbour Air rules.. really! 

I woke up at 5:30 this morning.. didn’t have to get up that early but I did.  I don’t like being tight for time.. I just spend it worrying.  I had a 7:30 flight to catch.  A float-plane.

Yup.. a float plane and at 5:30 in the morning on the coast of Vancouver, it is dark and dreary and thinking about riding in a tank of an aircraft, just isn’t all that inviting.  But it wasn’t raining… yet..that didn’t start until about 6, when Jackie got up… she was giving me a ride to the water airport in Seashelt, 30 k away. 

By the time we got on the road the wind was beginning to pick up, oh ya.. so was a bit of anxiety on my part. 

I mean.. I am going to Malaysia.  By myself.  For three years.  I am terribly happy about this, excited.  But really haven’t given it a whole lot of thought as my mind has been on the journey, not the destination.  Not thinking about what happens when I get there is maybe not a good thing.  Or maybe it is.. less time to worry. 

And my focus has been on my back.  My SOB of a back.  It is letting me down and I am not happy about it.  Besides.. it hurts.  And sometimes, it really hurts.  But, I think I will remember to take better care of it this time. 

No more NOT exercising because… well.. no excuses! 

Getting older can be a pain.. literally.  But then again, it can also be so good.  

So we get to the airport and I am trying to convince myself that it is ok to have Jackie drive me to the ferry.. that could work out.  Or even drive me to the airport itself… what would mom and dad say about that? As old as we are, living on their property means getting their approval… thankfully it’s not too difficult.

We get to the little sea terminal and I ‘run’ in… if walking very stiffly counts as running.. and say “how are you?” to the fellow at the counter..

“Better than you” he quips.  And I know the day is going to be better. 

I mean.. Harbour Air rules!  The guys there were fun and… well.. Canadian.  And the other passengers were nice.. and one guy was going to Yellowknife and not too happy about it.. the other was heading to Ottawa.  His teenage daughter had had a ‘melt down’ the night before and I told him that was a good thing.. good that she could talk with her parents about her problems.. good that she was having a melt down now.. when she should rather than bottling it up and expressing it inappropriately.  Just good.. and he told me about hot tubs that are wood fired and helped me with my luggage.  All good.

The flight was bumpy.. but that doesn’t bother me.  It is reassuring really.. it is a Beaver Aircraft.. it is Canada.. it is… very cool.  The landing was perfect.. we didn’t even bounce.  We used to bounce a lot when we landed in Hartley Bay when I was there in 2001/2002.  I guess they aimed their marketing skills at a different clientele.  I rather think if you are a pilot you needed to do ‘time’ up there to get a job in Seashelt. 

So.. it was great.  There was coffee.. life jackets, ear plugs.. the pilot showed us how to escape in case of an emergency.. and where the fire extinguisher was. They let me take on too much luggage: because they had the room today: because they are skilled professionals,.. flexible..

Yup.. Harbour Air Rules… and I am going to do that again!!

I am in the Vancouver Airport and all is well.. so far. 

And I am starting to think beyond the 14 hours to Shanghai.. and the 6 to Kuala Lumpur.   I am looking at funny hats that the kids could wear in the classroom if they are good.. or just because.  I am looking for puppets and checking out the bookstores.      

I’m not tight for time.  I’m not worried at all. 

Thanks Harbour Air.

Thank you Jackie.