Cast of Characters

Cast of Characters:
Me, the Boston Pobble: Indiana Jones wanna-be, city girl, carnie-at-heart; Lithus: helicopter pilot, partner in crime, best friend, husband;
Various: mechanics, employers, companies and locals we are lucky enough to meet along the way.

Friday, August 19, 2011

National Aviation Day

Who knew there was such a thing???? But I have to honor it; you know I do.

:)

So close to needing hike out clothes over the Mexican jungle

Mexico's a little more laid back in the cockpit

Manzanillo. *sigh* Me gusto Manzanillo.

The Galena Ducks


More serious in Alaska

Denali National Park air tours

Fires




John, the truck driver, because aviation is screwed without ground crew.



Good pilots, good friends.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Occupational Hazards

An occupational hazard is sharing your room with others. In Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, it was mosquitos. Although, in fairness, I didn't exactly share my room with them. More like slaughtered them with my killing towel to the best of my abilities.

Not Obvious: The sheer number of skeeter carcases (sp?) on this towel.

Still not obvious.

Skeeter blood smear.
But not all of the others need killing. Some fall into the capture and release category. Here in Coolin, Idaho, I'm not nearly as vicious. A coffee cup, a piece of paper, and a quick jog outside. But not before I snapped a picture.
******

Part of living on the road is getting to stay in hotels. Some hotels are noteworthy for their denizens and flophouse-y-ness. Some are noteworthy for their utter and complete mediocrity and un-noteworthiness. Some, though...Some are like the Hotel Davenport.

Lithus and I spent last Friday night there. We needed to get out of the bush, needed some elegance and sophistication; needed to remember that a world that includes chamber music, room service, and valet is indeed still our world.

It was everything we needed, wanted, and hoped it would be. The room was spacious. There was actual and for real art on the walls. The bed was hand-carved. The bathroom was marble. Even the toilet paper was lux.

Check out the bed:
What you can't tell from this picture is the fact that, at 5'2", I had to step on the bed rail in order to get onto this thing with any kind of grace. It's massively tall. (See the art on the wall? Actual paint.)

Another part of life on the road is just how often you forget where you are. You'd be surprised how many times Lithus and I look at each other and ask "Where are we again?" The only question we ask more often is "What day is it today?" ~ but that's for another post.

Forgetting where you are isn't all that bad, so long as one of us can remember in short order. And luckily, I have never peed anywhere inappropriate, as I have heard tell of other people who live on the road. However, sometimes, you happen to be in, I don't know, let's say Spokane. And you happen to be getting a little *ahem* amorous. This is not the best time to forget where you are. Because when you jump up out of bed for a quick second, you will forget that you haven't just gotten into bed but have had to ascend into bed and you will fall out. You will also catch yourself with your calf. There will be laughter and unsexy snorting. And the next morning, you will get into the (marble, extra-large) shower and notice this:


A week out, it will still look like this:


But you know what? Forgetting where we are is part of the life I love and the Hotel Davenport is oh so worth it (did you see the bed???????).

Should you ever be in Spokane, Washington, even for just a night, stay at the Davenport. Request a Davenport Deluxe King. Just remember where you are. ;)



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Logging in Idaho? Okay...

After an unexpected turn of events, we are in Coolin, Idaho, by way of Sandpoint. Lithus is logging. I'm writing. It's what we do. And Idaho is unexpectedly...well...cute.

Sandpoint:




The Sandpoint Sidewalk:





Sandpoint Statuary:




And Coolin...

This is not the view from our hotel


This is, however. See the gopher? :)

Lithus on "the talking rock." It's the only place on hotel property that has cell service.


Thursday, August 4, 2011

Road Necessities

This is a little different from other posts. After my knife post, I've gotten questions about what else should be carried when traveling. Honestly, I can't be of much help when it comes to the long weekend in Vegas with your girlfriends or a week at the beach with the family. Anyway, there a bazillion places to get those checklists. However, for people interested in what Lithus and I make sure we have at all times, here you go...

  • The aforementioned knife
  • 100% DEET. Seriously. Not bug spray. Military grade, 100% DEET.
  • Alcohol wipes. These are far more versitile than baby wipes. They can be used to freshen up; to disinfect a cut; to sterilize a blister. Oh, and hotel remote controls. Ewww...
  • Cash. Get into small enough towns and you'd be surprised how many places don't have ATMs.
  • A hat with a good brim. In rain, in sun, in cold, in heat. Love your hat.
  • Plastic ziploc bags. Gallon size. For storing spill-y things. For packing wet things. For covering your hands to scrape things off of other things.
  • A well-stocked "medicine cabinet." I use a make-up carry given to me for being in a dear friend's wedding. It's all where we need it when we need it. Personalize it. What does that mean? It means along with advil and tylenol, ours has migraine meds, motion sickness meds, and pepcid because it would really really suck for the two of us to be somewhere and not have those.
  • "Hike out" clothes. This is the outfit you put on when everything has gone to shit and you have to get out of wherever you are under the worst possible conditions. Long sleeve ~ but lightweight ~ shirt, comfortable jeans, boots that you have already broken in, your hat, and your knife.
  • A great, dressy outfit. Eventually, you will get back to civilization. You will get somewhere where you don't have to be dressed in bush clothes. This evening is completely worth hauling around clothes you won't wear every week.