Volume: 3
Early release from the trip around Vancouver Island.
In Victoria, the School, crew and students didn't need me to help them shop, nor did they need me to help them power across the strait to Friday Harbor. Bruce, promoted to captain, herded the shoppers while I walked over to the seaplane terminal and bought a ticket to Roche Harbor, closer to my destination than any other option. The pilot of the plane only said, "Cool" upon seeing my pilot's certificate. Since I was his only passenger, he let me sit in the right seat and fly the short route, coaching me closely, his hands an inch from the controls. So, for the first time ever, I landed a seaplane. Of course, you don't land a seaplane. You sea it or lake it or some kind of water it.
At Roche Harbor, it took a few minutes to clear customs and climb on a bus that took me to Friday Harbor Airport. Granted a three day reprieve, I took my sweet time during my pre-flight routine and took off into the sky.