Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Into The Wild Blue Yonder

Yes, Troutbirder recently went soaring with the eagles! All of this was courtesy of neighbor Dick. The last time Dick had called to see if I wanted to go for a plane ride, I passed on the opportunity. That week I had experienced two emergency room visits due to a bike crash and an embedded fishing hook in my finger.

In addition, I had banged my knee into the trailer hitch on the pickup truck. "No thanks,' I had said. It just didn't seem to be my lucky week. This time, though, I jumped at the opportunity feeling a whole lot better about my prospects in general.










We soon headed off to the county airport where the flying club keeps it plane.


The pre-flight check list looked pretty detailed and intense. I kept a low profile thinking that something forgotten or faulty would be a lot more serious than when riding in a car. Another plane was practicing "touch and goes" as I waited.


Dick notified for take off, the runway was soon clear and we were heading into the setting sun. I felt the surge of power... then lift off.

"How fast are we going?" I asked. "A little over a hundred," is the reply. Hey... I knew I wasn’t riding with "Top Gun" Tom Cruise in the movie. We were high enough and going fast enough to suit my taste.


"Where would you like to like go? Maybe the river?" Dick asked. Looking at my watch and the angle of the sun, I changed the subject. "Er, well, ah.... flown much at night have you?" I queried. "Once or twice. It’s no problem," he replied quickly . He is a big kidder. "I’m working on expanding my boundaries," he added. I suggested some nearby sights.
We headed off to take a look at the newly completed bike trail.


Later we turned south and headed toward Cherry Grove. Passing over the Goethite Wildlife Management area, I recognized some of my favorite birding trails and Barons swimming holes.

Then it was over the "Big Woods" north of Mabel-Canton. I had recently gotten lost driving in that area. It didn't look so imposing from a thousand feet. Finally, we headed home into a beautiful sunset.

"Can you spot the airport yet?" I was asked. Hoping we weren't lost, I had to admit for most of the flight I didn't have a clue. I didn't even recognize the towns. From a birds eye view it all looks so different. "Oh there it is" he said, as he turned on the runway lights. Smooth as silk, we landed without hardly a bump. What fun. Tom Cruise. Who needs him???

15 comments:

  1. Great post, TB! When I go flying with my husband (and he's a good pilot) in his Cessna 182, I'm always much happier when I'm back on the ground. After a safe landing, my first words are always "Thank you, Jesus."

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  2. That looks like a lot of fun. But I can certainly understand your hesitance before - after a week of bad luck.

    I have only flown in super size jets. I think it would be awesome to get a look at the terrain from a closer perspective. Your photos are great.

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  3. I'm envious! I haven't flown in five years.... it's time.

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  4. Sounds like a magical evening. And yes, everything DOES look so different from that vantage point!

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  5. Were you singing "I'll Fly Away" to yourself? ;~)

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  6. The pictures look great and make me want to try that again. But the one time I did go up in a small plane, looking through the camera was a big mistake. Apparently that brings on even worse feelings of motion sickness, so I'll have to stay on the ground. How fun it would be to fly along the Mississippi, past Lake City, where my husband grew up.

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  7. Now THAT was wonderful!! I LOVE to fly and will go at the slightest suggestion. These small planes are so much fun too. It is such a great feeling to be up in the air. Everything looks so different and it give you a great perspective on things. Please tell Dick to pick me up too the next time you go. :)

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  8. I'd take the plane ride vs. the fish hook!

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  9. I'm not into flying but I envy those photos you took from high above. Sorry to hear about all your bangs and bruises.
    Marnie

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  10. What wonderful views from up there. I would LOVE to see my neighborhood from above, but alas, hubby is too chicken, and we always do EVERYTHING together, so here I sit..........

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  11. What memories flood in about flying - mostly good. And as a fishing guide for 35 years I have removed hundreds. If we meet remind me to show you how to remove them - almost painlessly.

    Great post.

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  12. Sweet! What a great opportunity to see familiar and well-loved places from a light plane at low altitude. I was sort of hypnotized into the ground looking at your pics and imagining cruising along...

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  13. How nice you had a birds-eye view of your walking and bicycle trails..such a different way of looking at things..
    My Dad used to take my friends and I for ride in his little fixed wing plane when I was at PSU. He would pretend he forgot how to land and ask them to read him the instructions that he kept on a piece of paper, in the plane, just for this purpose..always the jokster and the Irishman, most of my pals saw right thru him but one didn't and she never went up with him again.!!
    Glad you had a good time, sorry to hear about your er visits..and that hook...ouch!

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  14. What a fascinating tour of your part of the country! Thanks for sharing it with us. It's even easier to see from the air that you live in a lovely area.

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  15. Sounds like your pilot friend is very good. Thank goodness.
    The views from above are impressive. In an airliner, I like to look down and try to recognize the mountains, canyons, rivers and roads. Even better when you're flying low and near home.

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