The Gift of Flight

Earlier this summer I had the chance to spend the day with my dad working on the plane.  A typical work day on the plane emulates that of working on the boat, up early, limited breakfast, and just get there!!  After a few hours washing and waxing the plane and learning about the ins and outs of it, one of my dad's new acquaintances, Ted, stopped by to observe what we were doing.  He mentioned that he was going to take his plane up later in the afternoon, and I thought to myself, "well that's a good idea, better than washing it like we are!"  Shortly after that, he offered to take me up with him, and I replied "well, you'll never hear no from me to a question like that."

After a brief pre-flight check on the planes gear and structure, I slid into the open air cockpit of this two-seater yellow submarine with wings.  After a short taxi ride out to the tarmac, we announced our intentions to take-off and a brief flight-plan to the tower.  Having being cleared for take-off, we taxied down the runway, and some simple applied physics later, I was airborne again in my life, cruising up to an approximate altitude of 1100ft.  As I looked over the side of the plane, through the open cockpit, I was quite happy I had left my phone and wallet on the ground in the car.  Shortly thereafter, Ted inquires over the squelchy radio if I have flown before.  I responded affirmatively.  He said, "OK kid, prove it."..."10-4."   It was then that I slipped my feet on the controls and took the stick.  Here I was again, a kid from Grande Prairie, Alberta with roots all over North America, making waves in the skies.  I manoeuvred the little plane down the coastline of Lake Erie overlooking farmers fields and people enjoying the lake shores.  After about 20 minutes heading West, I banked North and back around East toward the airfield.  Much to my surprise, Ted was checking his blackberry as we motored along at now 1400ft, I had climbed a few hundred feet to smell the air.  Flying allows another perspective of the earth to be seen, there were many things that normally would not be able to be viewed from the ground.  I was able to see Niagara Falls, as well as the CN Tower way off in the distance.  We overshot the airfield on purpose to account for the wind and allow for a proper landing.  I handed the controls back to Ted for the landing; after all, his plane, his crash, his responsibility!  We landed softly on a grass landing strip and taxied back to the hangar.

Much like scuba diving, flying is a totally different world.  One that I hope everyone gets the chance to experience.  The photos which I have uploaded are from that day, and show the family plane, the yellow submarine with wings, as well as the local air plane museum, home to a Harvard and a Yale.

As always,

Happy Trails.

Mike

Michael Zulu

Padre

'77 Mooney

Yellow Submarine with wings

Homage

For those of you who may or may not already know, I thoroughly enjoy traveling, and writing about my travels.  My life has taken me all over the world so far in my first thirty years, and I can only imagine where my next thirty will take me.  Throughout those travels I have always kept a journal.  As an environmentalist, keeping a hardcopy journal opposes most of things I try to emulate (they are good to leave behind for others to read perhaps), but an electronic journal provides a solution to that!


I have started this blog for a couple reasons: to allow an avenue for those of you whom decide to follow any of my travels, but to also have a forum to become a good storyteller.  The name of my blog, Happy Trails, is one of homage.  My late grandfather, William Reale, maintained a post script in any of his letters of "Happy Trails".  This is something I have implemented into my  travel journals, and will continue with this blog.


Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the ride!


Happy Trails,


ML