We're Baaack!

Okay, we're back from the honeymoon and it's time to pay attention to the blog now.

We had a great time in Maine. Flying into Portland (clarify - we were flown there, by Continental Airlines, we didn't fly ourselves), and then drove about three hours north/northeast to a little town called Blue Hill where Mike had reserved a nice secluded house atop a hill that overlooks Penobscot Bay. There were lots of places to hike, the autumn leaves were in full color, and the views were awesome.

When we ventured outside of Blue Hill, we visited Bangor, Stonington, and Bar Harbor, including a day at Acadia National Park. It was in Stonington where I got to fly my first seaplane, something I've been wanting to do since I started flying. Mike got his seaplane rating about 25 years ago, so he was eager for me to try it too. He said I did well, and I logged four take-offs and landings - I'll post the pictures he took from the back seat on the next post.

At the Bar Harbor airport we took a ride in the back seat of a glider - a first for me, but of course, Mike also got his glider rating a long time ago. It was on this ride that I learned something new about myself - it's a good thing I wasn't born a bird; I wouldn't make a very good one. That whole soaring thing, well, let's just say I've finally found something that can make me uneasy.

It's going to take awhile to post all the pics, but I'll start with the glider pics. Up top is a photo with Mike and our glider pilot, Jeff.

As Mike closes the canopy on the glider, I get a few quick photos. Yikes! It's tight back here!


As the tow plane taxis out to the runway, we are briefed by the pilot.

Soon we're airborn...

...and there we are, enclosed and squished in the back seat of this small glider; no engine so no noise, no air flow, and... uh oh, just a few minutes into the flight I said, "I need air".



The pilot turns on the vent and points it toward me but it wasn't enough, as it felt we were just floating along, suspended in the air. I told him I need to get down on the ground. He radioed the tow plane and as he began to turn the movement made me feel better.

So of course, since we figured out what the problem was - I was made to do aerobatics, not to float! - Captain Jeff made the rest of our ride suited to my liking. Plenty of wing-overs, not-so-lazy-eights, and aerobatic maneuvers. And suddenly, I wasn't sick anymore!












And no, I didn't tilt the camera or rotate the pictures - we were at those angles and it was a blast!