Greetings from the Okanagan,
I figured it was about time for a quick update. Not a ton
has been going on since I moved into my new condo over the Christmas break.
It was a pretty quiet winter on the work front though I did get to do fly some (pine-beetle infested) logging crews around in the snowy woods and cut-blocks just North East of the Rockies near Jasper.
It was a pretty quiet winter on the work front though I did get to do fly some (pine-beetle infested) logging crews around in the snowy woods and cut-blocks just North East of the Rockies near Jasper.
Our heli-wine tours have started up again and we’ve been
doing a fair bit of filming and promotion so there could be some videos coming
out. It looks like there will be a big fire season in
Canada this summer so I may be pretty busy with doing the IR scanning in the
jetranger again. In spite of the 3am alarms, I do so love being on a fire. We’ve
been doing quick flights at the Vernon speedway on race days which is pretty fun
and good for some photo ops.
The boss is talking about sending me and the other jetranger
pilot down to Australia next winter to be co-pilots on the medium helicopters
that we send down there each winter for fire / flood support.
I had fun skiing on the slopes of Silver Star and Big White this winter but I don’t know whether I could really handle another quiet, non-traveling winter!
I had fun skiing on the slopes of Silver Star and Big White this winter but I don’t know whether I could really handle another quiet, non-traveling winter!
I’m headed to New York / New Jersey for my 10 year university
reunion tonight. It will be an epic 4 days at Old Nassau – I’ve only been back
once since I graduated and it wasn’t for reunions. It is usually a very pickled
event but the key is to stay hydrated until AFTER the alum vs undergrad rugby
game....
Since I haven’t had a proper vacation for over a year (since
I left Fiji) I asked for a bit of extra time off so I’ll be in the NJ / NYC
area (mostly based out of Princeton with my teammate Ginny) until Sunday June
10th. Saturday the 9th is my 32nd (!!!)
birthday so let me know if you can make it to the celebrations....perhaps at a
Jersey City Beergarden.... ? I want to spend much of my time reconnecting with
old friends and exploring the city. I won’t have a car but if you are nearby
and can let me know how to reach you by train or bus, hopefully we can meet up –
otherwise see you on the 9th! If you don’t have a job and want to
drag me on a roadtrip somewhere on the shore or somewhere, you know I’d be
game.
I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to summer
(or winter for your Southerners....). I’ve certainly been enjoying a martini or
two on my patio with its wonderful views of the lake and Okanagan Mountain Park.
Late afternoon sun streams down and it is blissful. Hope to share a bevvie or 2
with any of you who can make it my way (if I’m not away working!)
4 comments:
love it!
i'm still keeping my fingers crossed you'll be able to hit the island for August 18th!!! :)
Hi Chinook! Just wanted to thank you for sharing your helicopter experiences through this blog. Just used the last hours on reading through your blog from the post were you tell "the world" about your dreams and up to today. I am getting close to heading out on the same journey myself and found your blog while "researching" Chinook Helicopters (love the "cheesyness"-factor with the whole name thing!). It was fantastic to read an (relatively?) uncensored journey with ups and downs. I have always been aware that it won't be easy, something your blogs also tells me. It is however amazing to see how persistence and determination (and maybe faith?) eventually enable you to get as far as you have until now. Congrats on that, and all the best for your future in aviation!
Thanks again! :)
Hi Stig,
I have been horribly behind on this blog so I apologize that I only noticed this comment today (months and months since you posted it). Perhaps you are a licensed pilot by now....or perhaps you went another way.... I any case I wish you the best of luck and glad that my ramblings may have given you just a little more insight into this crazy career I've chosen.
Tomorrow will be my 5 year 'anniversary' since gaining my license and it has been an up and down road for sure, but I am thankful for the exciting journey so far. I have been so very fortunate, I know.
Take care and let me know how things are going for you!
Congrats on your anniversary, hopefully I will celebrate the same anniversary with the same success sometime in around 2017/2018 :P
As for training, I have not started yet, but will hopefully start fall 2013...finger crossed!
And no worries about the somewhat slow answer, I mainly wanted to let you know that your blog was very much appreciated :)
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