Seaplane adventure

"Co-pilot"

I first saw the DeHavilland Beaver float planes in Alaska, taxiing up to the wharf in Juneau, unloading and loading passengers and taking off again, past the crowded cruise ships to view the glaciers. I didn't get the chance to do that, but our ride in the little Cherokee into Skagway whetted my appetite. So when we visited Seattle a week ago, and I saw rides in float planes available off of Lake Union, I just had to do it, taking off and landing on water.
Here's what it's like, about 1,000 feet up, a little over 100 knots airspeed,, including a video of the landing.  The airline, Kenmore Air, owns several of the classic Beavers--with radial engines, and Otters, with turbine engines, and provides air service up into the San Juan Islands and  other remote places in Washington State and Canada. It has its own magazine, Harbors, and terminals at Lake Union in north seattle and at Bowing field in south Seattle, plus shuttles to Seatac airport. What a life. http://clarkcoffee.blogspot.com/2012/06/flight-of-fancyto-skagway.html

Ready for takeoff

Pilot over Seattle

Looking down at the float, and Puget Sound

The Space Needle from a different view

One of the Otters getting ready

Alaska itinerary

At Seatac

May 14--Spend night at Four Points Sheraton, OKC airport. Leave car.
May 15, 2012, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, OKC-DFW 6 am; DFW-SEATAC, 7:50 am; SEATAC-JNU, 1 pm-2:25. Capital Inn Bed and Breakfast, Juneau

At Juneau

May 16--Adventure bound, 40 passenger boat, Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier tour, 7:30 am. Only five people aboard. Return 3 pm.

At Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord

May 17--FV Fairweather, catamaran Alaska Marine Ferry. Depart Juneau  8 am; arrive Sitka, 2:15 pm. Rent car, Otter's Cove Bed and Breakfast.
May 18--Explore Sitka

At Skagway "International" airport, with pilot of Piper Cherokee

May 19, Alaska Airlines 6 am, 21 minute flight to Juneau. Catch Air Excursions 7 am flight in four seat Piper Cherokee. Land at Skagway airpot 8 am.  White House Bed & Breakfast. Catch 12:25 White Pass and Yukon narrow gauge rail to White Pass summit, Yukon-Klondike Canadian border. Return, 4 pm. Watch OKC Thunder beat LA downtown Skagway.

Heading for White Pass, on the Klondike trail

May 20--Dawdle in Skagway.

View from M/V Malaspina, south out of Skagway

May 21--Depart on MV Malaspina, Alaska Maritime Ferry, 7 am. Arrive Juneau, 1:45. Back to Capital Inn Bed 7 Breakfast. Watch Thunder beat LA.

Juneau from Mount Roberts

May 22--Mount Roberts Tram. Shop Juneau.

May 23--Depart Juneau, Alaska Airlines, 8 am. Arrive Seatac, 11:18. Depart 12:30, arrive DFW, 6:22. Depart DFW, American Airlines, 9 pm, arrive OKC 9:45. Pick up car at Four Points, arrive home to Max the lonesome cat, 10:30 pm.