9-6-2012. The flight to Seattle was uneventful and relaxed. Leslie lent me a great book to read… The Art Of Racing In The Rain… yes, I was crying on the plane. I have herding videos and agility videos on my iPad plus some good audio books. Nowhere to go, nothing to do, I realized I had not sat down just to read a book in a mighty long time!
Staying at the Radisson directly across from the Hawaiian terminal, a 5 minute walk, nice. After checking in, went for a late dinner next door, sitting at the bar and read some more. In no hurry since my flight to Montana doesn’t leave until noon tomorrow. I can get used to this! It’s been quite a while since I’ve traveled elsewhere then to see and stay with family.
9-7-2012. So far, the only irritant is having to get to the airport way too early, just to get to stand in line. There are a lot of human bodies at SEA airport! Remember, it’s been a while since I’ve left the islands. To the gate in plenty of time, more reading…how fun, oh and a Starbucks. The windows afford me a good look at the line up of planes. Hummm, they appear to be rather small, so small that I have to “check in” my carry on.
Plane from Seattle to Billings.
I cannot classify this as an irritant, but I do start getting that “I can’t breathe” feeling. I am claustrophobic to a certain degree. enough so that when I start to board, I realize that there are still many behind me so I backed out and waited until everyone else had boarded first. The thought of sitting in that narrow plane…waiting…well, is not my idea of fun.
The advantage of the smaller plane is the height of it’s travel. The scenery, the views!!! Oh my! The view of the Northwest from above, seeing clear all of the mountains down to Mt. Bachelor, rivers, lakes… I could smell the Northwest.
Flying over the Cascades, heading towards the high desert. For a bit there wasn’t much to look at, and then! The coolest sites! here are a couple of photos:
COOL. HUH???
Arrived in Billings and my, this is my kind of airport! Laid back, very few people, the decor bringing me back in time, somehow reminding me of Oregon years ago. Easy stroll to get rental car, outside sun shining with just a slight crispness to the air.
Easy to get myself through town to hit the freeway. Oh, and now I’m on a freeway! Here is what I wrote to my friends back home:
“Arrived in Billings about 3:30 on Friday, Red Lodge is about 60 miles from Billings, initial driving seemed strange in full sized rental car. Once on the freeway speed limit said 65 and I thought, “wow”, feeling like almost 60 was plenty fast :). Obviously those behind me didn’t. A few more miles and the speed limit changed to 75, holy shit! I was able to get to about 68 comfortably. I have been on the island too long I think.
Most of the miles were on a 2 lane highway, speed limit up to 70, several dead raccoons and some other animals I cannot figure out along the road, possums or marmots maybe. Kind of sad but kind of exciting to see other varmint/animals besides mongoose and pigs. Beautiful farmland, huge rolls of hay, acres of corn and sunflowers and alfalfa. Cool farmhouses and barns. I love farm country.”
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