airports – The Hermits' Rest

Why I Wish I Could Fly

I flew home today, on a plane, not a broom or anything. It was as pleasant as I could have hoped. The Hilton Head Island Airport is just about the best check-in experience possible. No crowds, nothing but pleasant staff, and a lovely terminal.

Even the carts and rollers your stuff goes through in security is new and shiny. Despite this, they’re building a new terminal. It’s such a convenience to fly from there.

My first flight was fun, since I sat next to a nice woman and we chatted about Hilton Head and dogs. We even walked to our connecting flights together. Much of the passengers on that flight cracked up because the SECOND the plane stopped a guy ran from way in the back so he could get out first. Thinking back on it, maybe he was claustrophobic or not good with flying, so I shouldn’t have been so judgmental.

We did giggle when we realized we were making our connection faster than him. It was like ending up at the stoplight next to the person who had zipped around a bunch of cars trying to get ahead.

Wait, why do I wish I could fly? I always have, actually, but that’s when I wanted to be Supergirl when I grew up. Now, however, I wish I could fly so that I could see the contours of the earth from up high.

On my second flight, I looked out the windows and enjoyed mountains and hills. Mostly, though, I enjoyed looking at creeks, rivers, lakes, and drainage patterns. Seeing all the places where rivers have changed course is so fascinating. Oxbow lakes are where bits of river get cut off. But there are also meanders, marshes, other fun formations.

A big lake and a cloud made by a big fire.

Fires are also interesting to see from above. The smoke goes so far!

I’d just love to be able to check out all the rivers, all the beautiful mountains, the clouds, the deserts…if only I could fly. Sigh. I’ll never have the ability to fly everywhere even in a plane, so until then, you’ll find me in a window seat watching the weather and the land.

Just Breathe. It Works.

Today could have been kind of frustrating if I were hell-bent on getting what I wanted to do done. But I took the attitude that I’d just do what I could and be satisfied.

I had to check out at 10 am, which left me fancy free until a 6 pm flight. I was fine with that, and headed over to the “business” area of the condo place, where I’d never been. It’s also where the kid area and very fancy gym were.

That would have been fine, except it was not great for internet connections. My personal hotspot was lukewarm at best, making my Friday friend chat iffy, and my work quite un-fun. I did get a lot done until some employee decided to teach one of the many local homeless people how to check email. ThT was kind of him, but loud.

I decided to go ahead and try my luck at the airport. Of course there was no shuttle, and when the taxi arrived, neither the bellmen nor the taxi driver wanted to open the door for me and my heavy bags and my turtles. Finally, the cab guy shoved my things in. When I went to get my knitting bag to sit with me, I slammed my knee into some hard object under the scuzzy seat cover, getting a bruise and a rip in my favorite non-ripped jeans.

Everyone on Facebook has informed me that ripped jeans are fashionable again. I never knew they weren’t. And I own some.

But, I took a deep breath and enjoyed the ride to the pretty airport. Since I was so early I enjoyed a really tasty veggie quesadilla at the Nacho Hippo restaurant. Honestly yummy and full of roasted things I like.

I then found a nice table with the right plugs, and tried to do some work to help a colleague. The internet continued to frustrate by going in and out and the software I was documenting was most snail-esque. I breathed a lot and only muttered a few curses.

When I couldn’t upload or find the URL for the PDF I’d tried to upload, it occurred to me that I’d already worked 6 hours and things would work way better at home tomorrow. I gave up and set to knitting and people watching. The border on my blanket is looking lovely. It’s simple but effective.

The people watching showed me I have completely missed out on a fashion trend. It’s some kind of jumpsuit or romper or something. It is skin-tight, like what a DC superhero would have worn in my prime comic-reading years.

Some are skin-tone, ranging from beige to dark brown. Others have wild patterns in them. All show, um, everything about the wearer, including raised scars, cellulite, etc. I find it incredibly unpleasant yet I keep looking at them.

She volunteered to wear this in an ad so I feel ok sharing. I didn’t take pictures of people in the airport.

Kudos to the folks who embrace the look at all sizes. I did note it was mostly popular with those who appeared to be under 30, and is often accessorized with Crocs. It makes my frayed jeans seem tame and old.

I was glad to get on the plane where I could see how my new phone camera does looking out plane windows. I got views of water and Charlotte, NC.

There were more of those outfits in that airport, along with the tannest and fittest whites woman I ever saw. I think she might have been a professional body builder. Still, I’d have preferred to not see every detail of her in her tights and cropped top. I’m getting old, folks.

Plane is leaving. I’ll upload and say bye to the eastern US. And breathe for a while.

Back in the Lower Elevations

I spent all day going from the Continental Divide down to near sea level. It’s a long way down, but now I’ve got bonus red blood cells to enjoy.

I’m glad I got to ride from Breckenridge to Denver in the daytime, because there are cool little towns, old mines, and many rocks (hence, Rocky Mountains). I want to visit every funky town and all the parks. Guess I’ll have to go back.

Once I got to the airport it was the usual lines, walks, and waits. I just tried to stay away from people. But, all was well, and eventually I got to Austin. Lesson: next time take a nonstop flight.

Thanks to my giant, inexpensive suitcase, in which one will find Lee’s smaller suitcase and all my yarn, etc., I got everything I purchased or made on my trip home with ease. I’m glad Ken and Cathy talked me into that. But wow, that’s a big suitcase.

The most negative part of my trip was listening to a pilot expound on his beliefs about vaccines and other current news events. If I hadn’t just read a similar set of thoughts from someone else I know, I’d have thought he was making it up. But, no, it’s the narrative accepted by many in this country. I’m listening and learning, rather than name calling and labeling, hard as that may be. Maybe it’s good for me?

He also was not wearing his mask, the only person not eating that I saw not following the airport rule.

I’ll be listening a lot in the coming weeks and months, as all heck has broken loose in Milam County politics. I think listening is the best plan for an outsider like me. But hey, now I can vote here. Hmm.

Back with my sleeping companions. Yes. The lump is Carlton, glued to my feet.

Travel to the Rockies

I spent all day traveling, but it was pretty good. I always like plane travel. Since I don’t do it often, I find it fun. I go back to being a little kid when plane travel was glamorous.

I got a good bit of knitting done, and people watched happily at the Austin, Dallas, and Denver. On the flight to Denver I really enjoyed the women I sat with. We had conversations about elderly parents and wanting them to be safe and stay in their homes, about horses, and so much more. Such nice people. The one who had to put her parents in assisted living was so beautiful and caring.

This dude reflected my mood after waiting in baggage claim in Denver.

The only bad thing was that my shuttle was 4 hours after I arrived. I did a lot of walking around and knitting. I headed outside quite early, but the guy arrived early. I was the only passenger, so off we went. We talked the whole way.

Jim is a classical guitar player and teacher, whose politics and spiritual views are just like mine. So, even though I didn’t get to see much, because it was dark, I had an excellent trip to Breckenridge.

And yay, I have a new temporary home. It has a desk for my 6 am calls!

I got to the condo place at 8 pm Mountain time. That’s 9 Central, so I’m tired. Tomorrow the fun starts. My friend and her husband are going to drive me around!

I’m looking forward to the cool weather. It was 73 in Denver and 36 here in the mountains. That’s altitude!

I Did a Social Event! With Airplanes

What the heck? This sure came as a surprise. I realized there was a little airshow coming up this weekend, and that Lee had volunteered to help out with the Chamber of Commerce table. I hadn’t considered helping, but I didn’t want him to go be social all alone, since he hadn’t done it in over a year. So, off we went to the Cameron airport this morning, to celebrate the recently renovated runways and such.

This was Cameron’s “soft opening” for events, too. There were vendors, including my friend, Pamela, plus Manley the king of jams, and even wine. They were all in an excellent open hangar, so we felt breezes and fine wearing our masks.

Lee and Melanie managed to sell a whole bunch of the Chamber of Commerce raffle tickets, so they felt quite successful. It was a lot of chatting for Lee, but he did well. Now he’s exhausted, though.

Melanie and Lee are telling visitors what fun you can have in Cameron. I got to choose the giveaway winners. No cheating from me!

I mostly knitted and talked to my Master Naturalist friends. We got a little giddy when we realized we were all fully vaccinated and could actually stand near each other and talk. It was a small thing, but made us so happy. Sigh, maybe we can have real meetings again soon, if people keep being careful (like we were today).

I truly love this picture. We could not stop talking, and the dog could not stop jumping long enough to get a photo. But I sure was glad to see all these fully vaccinated friends.

Most of the action was outdoors, though, and it was so much fun to look at the 20-30 little planes that showed up. It was the most planes I ever saw at this little private airport. Lots of them were old and interesting, no doubt, and I’d explain more about them if I knew anything at all about private planes. I did ask our banker friend, Richard, who happens to be a private pilot (and has been a looooong time), so I knew that the one that did the tricks was a trainer plane from after WWII, and the cool green plane that blazed in from Georgetown was a Russian trainer.

One highlight of the day was cutting the ribbon to officially re-open the airport. All the local dignitaries were there, including the whole city council and mayor, plus the airport team, the engineer, and others. But the star of the show was Marion Travis, age 92. She was a pilot in her youth, and a true aviation pioneer. She is Cameron royalty (and a real hoot). She cut the ribbon.

There wasn’t much to the actual air show, since one of the trick planes had a mechanical problem, but the one that did fly had some tricks. It sure was fun watching that plane going upside down and making loops. I’m glad I was on the ground, though. I was told the pilot is a Southwest Airlines pilot for his day job.

I feel practically human, though really tired, after walking around looking at planes then walking around with Apache trying to figure out how he’s feeling (he was a bit weird yesterday, not cooperating and tossing his head a lot). But, hey, it was almost like a normal day from the olden times, other than all the masks people were wearing!

Suna let me eat the forbidden grass, but just for a few minutes.

Ooh, one more horse note. Apache has shed most of his winter coat over the last two days. It’s been most impressive brushing him out. Some bird will be able to make many nests from his fur. By the end of today, I suddenly realized I could see his patches on his skin again. I got down to his summer hair! He’s going to feel a LOT better now that it’s slowly warming up. More goodness to look forward to over the summer, I hope.

He must feel lighter after getting rid of so much hair. He lost this much yesterday, too.

It’s a Real Vacation

I’m off on my yearly trip to South Carolina, this year, with Anita. Lee has a house to close on, or had one, which explains why we are flying.

Anita was suspicious at lunch in the Austin airport.

The plane to Charlotte was very pleasant. I did not feel squished, and all aspects have gone smoothly. We even got some legit Carolina barbecue, recommended by my frequent flyer friend Mike Y.

Dig in! Captain Jack will not get me high tonight.

The best thing, though, is that I read a WHOLE book today. Ahhh. That means real vacation to me! I’ll review the book tomorrow once we get from our guest-night hotel and get to the condo we have for the week.