Its Friday........Yea.......A couple of "Points to Ponder"
.........Have a Great weekend.......!!!!
1. Money cannot buy happiness, but it’s more comfortable to cry in a
Mercedes than on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy, but remember the
bastard's name.
3. Help someone when they are in trouble and
they will remember you when they're in trouble again
4. Some people are alive because it's illegal to shoot them......;/
☺
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Scroll Alert........!!!!!!!!!!
To the "Scrolling impaired".......
I'll provide...5 yr olds in the throes of a "Sugar buzz"..........to do the 'Scrolling" for you.......free of charge.........of course separate 'Shipping and 'HAND'ling chrg's may apply..........(Smile)
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| Dammit GG and Dave, quit your "Whining".........here look, I'll throw in a fresh pack of 'double A' batteries...... |
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Look its the "Energizer bunny"......
he keeps going and going and going..............;)))) |
'Ritchie'.....AKA......'Craig R'........who is a 'Dear' friend to all of us here at MissTWA and is a member in very good standing..of the "Aviation Appreciation Society............Well he ...........travels thousands and thousands...........of air miles.......every year.........and I do mean thousands.........of miles............
Well, he had a one day conference.........in Victoria British Columbia.....and he let me tag along.........seems this trip .....wasn't......the usual.........."crazed".......getting up at 5 in the morning.......to take 3 connecting flights.....to nowhere...staying in a crappy hotel........eating crappy food......then Friday........load yourself........back on those 3 connecting flights.....which, of course.....one will leave you stranded.........trying to get home.......
Then doing the same......on Monday.....!!......Oh Ritchie........I tend to think of the 'Romance' of flight................and can't really imagine........it as a
'Rat race'......flying........!!!........Well, lucky me........you taking me along.........for a lovely trip across.......Canada............!!!! Documenting........the many images......of this short and sweet trip.......of which........you enjoyed so much.........!!
The following are 'Slides' ..of this trip......!!!.....and interesting 'Tidbits' of short cuts........and lessons.........Ritchie......learned the hard way........of course he has a 'Loud mouth brat' ...at his side..........giving even more 'heartache'......LOL.............So here we go......
This is an 'Abbreviated'...........version.......realizing .....everyone's time is limited..........My Thanks to all who come to visit.......!!!!..........These pictures were all taken......by Ritchie along...........the way...........
Thank you again Ritchie.......for sharing........and taking the time to document.........!!!
What an Awesome Prezzie ......the following are pictures..........of that......trip.......I Hope you Enjoy the ride along..............
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| First thing.........get to Toronto's Pearson Inter'l Airport(CYYZ) to board at 7:35 sharp.....park and take a picture of the parking place......this parking garage is huge.......so you may forget.............BUT.........you have to delete the last pic........or you'll be going to the spot.......from last week before......."OMG.........I get lost in the 'Walmart' parking lot........eshhhh |
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at CYYZ we just breeze past the check-in counters (gotta love online check-in) and head for security. No bags to check (never!) so we just stride up and hit the priority lane at security, since we really do not want to be behind the family with the three small kids. Time to hit the Maple Leaf Lounge for a quick coffee, and a quick check of the board shows we’re on time. Grab some raisin toast(YUM) and a magazine, and we’re ready to head for the gate.......... "D concourse. We’re on flight AC007, leaving from gate D36 …. down at the end, then second last gate on the right. The concourse is a busy place, even at this early hour...
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Our ride today is an Air Canada B777-300. Our particular plane is fin number 737, and registration number C-FIUW. I quickly check something on my laptop and yup, I’ve flown on this one before. A few years ago I was flying home from Vancouver and instead of my scheduled A330, there was a brightly painted B767-300 waiting at the gate, with a huge native Indian eagle painted on its side. Cool, I thought. Then a week later, I got the same B767 with the eagle on it again, going somewhere else. Air Canada also has an A319 that’s painted in a retro Trans Canada Airlines livery (fin 264, G-FZUH), which I’ve flown on several times too, including occasions where, like the ’67 with the eagle, I’ve had it twice in the same week. After those experiences, I began to keep track of the fin numbers, just to see if I’ve been on a particular plane before. Checking an Excel spreadsheet on my laptop confirms today’s B777 brought me home from Vancouver one night back in February.
So, hello again....♥
It’s a good day – my (our) requested upgrade to 'J' class cleared, Hear that Dave.............I got a "J" class seating.......and not end up over the wing, or the 'exit' isle.......lalalalalal..........Grrrrr.....;)))))
so today I (we) ride up front. My company won’t pay for business class on domestic flights, even transcons, so I am grateful for Air Canada’s periodic upgrades. The economy seats are just fine, but a bit of extra creature comforts is real 'Nice'....... Who you calling "Creature"???? I’m glad for the upgrade. Vancouver is five hours away.
We’re leaving from runway 05 this morning, taking off over the city before we turn east. At 11,120 feet, runway 5 / 23 is the longest runway at Pearson, and I think they like putting the heavies on it for that reason. It’s a sunny morning as we climb out. After a week of rain, finally, sunshine. Too bad it’s forecast to rain all weekend in Victoria.
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After we level off, it’s breakfast time. We start with a fruit plate, then have a choice between an omelette or pancakes. .......Hey Ritchie.........give me that damn yummy pancake.......!!
Halfway there........clouds hang over......., as we descend into Vancouver(CYVR).......We over shoot the airport.......and are coming in from the west, over the Pacific Ocean...dropping......as we touch down on runway 08Left.......gentle as can be.........Ritchie loves coming in from the 'Sea'.........and says it's as close as most of us will ever get to the sensation of maybe landing on an aircraft carrier.............♠
Check out "J" class........Dave........Mmmmm..........like having your own mini apartment................!!
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Is that you running..........Ritchie.......to the 'Special Needs'........gate.....Yikes.!!!...;))
The B777 we came in on will continue on to Hong Kong in an hour or so......so from here......we have a long walk to get to the gates where the little prop planes are..... Since it will be an international departure, we arrive at a (‘swing’ gate), meaning a gate that can be used for ether domestic or international flights. There’s a literal meaning too, since a glass divider door swings one way to direct arriving passengers into the domestic concourse, or swings the other way to direct them down a hall toward Customs. All the little regional planes go out of the C-30/36 gates, at the far west end of the terminal. International flights go from the middle of the terminal, and US flights from the far east end.
A quick check of the overhead board shows we leave from C31, and the flight is on time. On the way to gate C31 we pass a couple of silly statues in the YVR terminal. One, of a guy running like crazy with his bags, always makes me smile. I think it’s a statue of me! Some days, it really could be.........Glad to hear those "Speed Walking" are coming in handy.......;b
The C gates where the little prop planes leave from has a glass roof, and we can see (and hear) it’s absolutely pouring rain ….. which means we will get wet when we go outside to board our connecting flight to Victoria. We'll have to walk across the tarmac to get to our ride, and there’s no jetway to keep us dry. Welcome to Vancouver......Rain doesn't 'Kill'......:)
Our plane today is a Dash-8 100 series (and a new entry in the spreadsheet, since I’ve never flown this particular one before). It’s still in the old Jazz livery …I've Always loved the "Jazz" livery.......!!!......and the name.......was/is so 'Catchy'...!!! white plane with the word “Jazz” scrawled across it, this time in lime green paint. Other Jazz planes have the logo in blood red, or blaze orange. I like this colour scheme, but they’re slowly fazing it out and adopting the Air Canada mainline livery, with an Air Canada Express branding replacing Jazz. It’s attractive too, but I do like the old planes as well. I’ll miss them.:(((((
They call priority boarding just as the rain lets up for a moment (told you this was an unusually good trip!) so we take full advantage and dash to our Dash 8. Ever flown on one of these planes Jules?.........NOPE.....NEVER FLEW A DASH-8....;(
It’s quite a different experience than the nice pod seats in the 777’s J(Heard that Dave....dammit.....ha ha) cabin. It’s small, it’s crammed, and it’s loud. But the Dash 8 is a great airplane, and who gives a shit anyway, because in 25 minutes we’ll be in Victoria (YYJ).
The flight from YVR to YYJ is normally spectacular – think beautiful ocean islands, inlets, shoreline mountains and crashing surf, all at turbo-prop altitudes. Not so today, thanks to the rain. At 5,000 feet we’re in a white cloud haze, and we don’t leave it till we touch down in Victoria 25 minutes later.
WELL THATS ENOUGH TIME FOR A GLASS OF WINE..dammit........;)
Our Dash-8.......with 'lifesaver' Green livery.........!!
So weird to see the propellers.... from the window seat......thats a first for me......!!
Our Dash-8 Cabin view...yea looks a little cramped.....in the cabin...as long as there's room for a glass of wine.....won't hear a peep from me.........;))))
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Tonite staying at the Fairmont Empress. The "Empress" opened in 1908 and is one of the grandest, most elegant hotels anywhere. Taking high tea on the terrace overlooking the harbour is a tradition that goes back to the turn of the last century, and continues today. .....Goodness.....it looks like a "Castle"........
Love the "History" lesson tooooooo....!!!!!!!!!
View of the harbour.....♠
In the opposite direction, north of the hotel, is the Victoria Harbour Seaplane Airport. Harbour Air is the primary airline servicing it. They operate a large fleet of de Havilland DHC-3 Otters that have all had their original piston engines replaced with turbos, as well as bubbled windows that let you stick your head past the outer skin of the plane and look straight down. Cleanest Otters I’ve ever seen. They also have a smaller fleet of Turbo DHC-2 Beavers, and a couple of DHC-6 Twin Otters too. They do regular scheduled flights to several small communities, but most of the business is an hourly shuttle to downtown Vancouver. They also do flights to Vancouver YVR Airport, where they land in a river channel right beside runway 8 R / 26 L.
In the past you’ve heard Captain Doug (and me) refer to the Flying Beaver Restaurant in Vancouver.Yes.......I have pictures from Captain Doug's blog.....of him there on the warf....on a layover....also how good the food is at, the "Flying Otter"....Oh and that Odd looking pick up truck........used to 'tow' the seaplanes in and out of the water... That’s Harbour Air’s base at YVR. Here in Victoria, the restaurant is called the Flying Otter. It’s cute that their restaurants pay homage to the aircraft in their fleet. They have good food, too, and great patios overlooking the docks. A few planes come and go, then there’s commotion as a couple of planes hustle to taxi way off to the side, out of the main channel they normally use. A moment later, the MV Coho, a 340-foot ferry that runs between Victoria and Port Angeles, Washington, looms into view. I would get out of its way too!!!.....see below........
better move your Beeehind....,
Mr......"DHC-3".......
(Tail # C FHAD....)
#315..this number is located at the front of fuselage...don't know what is means..........??
Harbour Air DHC-6.......or a DHC-3......?????
Loading for CYVR........
There are some excellent restaurants in Victoria, Tonight, it’s Italian at a wonderful restaurant called 'Il Terazzo'......I Love the 'Brick Oven'.......fireplace.....inside....!!
After an excellent meal and wine.......... on way back to the hotel..........the harbour is 'Still and Peaceful', and the view of the legislature and the hotel at dusk is beautiful!!!
VERY Lovely indeed!!!!
The harbour normally full of pleasure boats, whale watching boats and harbour taxis, but this being November, it’s pretty quiet. The tourists have gone and all that stuff is shut down for the year.
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| Empress....at Dusk.............♠ |
"Legislature" at Dusk.........across from the hotel.......NICE...!!
Ahhhh.....Phewwwwwwwwww!!!.......
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One cool benefit to belonging to Fairmont’s President’s Club is that I can request workout clothing. When I check into my room, it’s waiting for me in a neat little basket – a shirt, shorts, socks and new-ish running shoes. They know my size for everything from my client profile. I go work out and just leave the dirty stuff in my room. I don’t need to pack extra clothes and shoes, nor do I need to bring that stinky stuff home. It’s a great benefit, and best of all, it’s free. They have great gyms in all their hotels, so at least I can maintain some sort of quasi-regular exercise routine, and avoid turning into a human turnip.........Oh Ritchie.......please exercise for me..........while I have 'Tea' on the terrace........ha ha....;)........and then......I'll be 'Chowing' at the buffet....
(oink oink)
♠
Early Sunday morning................... it’s off to spend 12 hours on my feet at a conference, followed by dinner with some colleagues and clients. Suffice to say that after a 16-hour day, I’m absolutely beat.Pooooor Baby......... Those "Starched" Socks and skivvies... will keep ya standing......for 12 hours.......Now get to "Work" and support us here........at MissTWA.......in the "Aviation fashion", I've become used to...........Grrrrr
Time to check in online for that flight home in the morning. Up at the crack of dawn....it's now time to check out........and catch the shuttle bus back to the airport.
Victoria Airport is pretty small, so there’s no worry about long lineups for anything. The biggest plane that comes in there is a daily Air Canada A320, that arrives late at night from Toronto then returns there very early the next morning. Westjet flies its 737s there, normally from Calgary and Edmonton. Otherwise, it’s all turboprops and regional jets. Alaska Airlines, through its Horizon affiliate, runs a Q400 every couple of hours to and from Seattle, while Air Canada has an hourly Dash-8 to/from Vancouver. It’s every 30 minutes during rush hour, very much like a flying bus. They also have jet service to Calgary, normally with CRJ-200s and occasionally with Embraer E-175s. The main runway is 7,000 feet, and an A320 or 737 eats up a whole lot of it on takeoff – especially when fully fuelled for trans-continental to Toronto.....
I'd Love to watch the A-320's take off on a shorter runway.....!!!!!
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| runs a Q400 every couple of hours to and from Seattle.... |
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Our little Dash-8 100 (fin 835, C-GJSX) is another new entry in the spreadsheet. This one has the Jazz logo in a rather faded orange paint, so I suspect it will be on its way to a paint shop sooner rather than later.:(((
The takeoff is uneventful, and being a nice day, the climbout takes us over the channel islands. Vancouver Island, and the hundreds of smaller islands around it, truly is beautiful....
(see pic below).... The ocean is as flat as glass, and I keep an eye out for pods of killer whales. Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don’t. We have a tail wind, so out flight to YVR will take only 16 minutes, coasting along at barely 5,000 feet. It’s a great view!!!!......It Is!!.......We drew straws to see who got the 'Window Seat".......I friggin Lost..........!!
But...Sometimes I don't play fair...........and I still stole......the window seat.....,
"Ya Snooze you lose".....!!!!!!!!!!!!..besides I can run faster....♠
We land in YVR and deplane through the same gate we left from – C31. There are about 40 people waiting for AC to turn the plane around so they can continue on their way to Victoria.
......it surely does look like a cave.....!!!
The flight home to YYZ is late. It’s a B767-300, coming inbound from Shanghai, China. It will leave from a swing gate (C50), close to where we got off the 777 from Toronto only two days earlier. But there is time to kill, since it’s still somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. May as well hang out in the Maple Leaf Lounge.
On the way there, I pass a gate where a flight to Toronto is in final boarding. I am tempted to walk up and ask the gate agent if I can get on,I know.............your NOT about to leave my nappy ass behind.............. but I can see there are already 10 – 12 standby passengers waiting. What a relief..............ha ha........!! My frequent flier status would allow me to bypass them all and have access to the first available seat, but I am not really in a rush, and don’t want to be a dick. Besides, at this time of day (mid-afternoon) the lounge will have soup, pasta and some tasty deserts. And, of course, all the beer and wine I want. It makes waiting for a late connection a bit more bearable.
The Maple Leaf Lounge in Vancouver is located near the middle of the terminal, close to the C-50 gate. The door is midway along a decorative stone wall that they installed when they spruced up the terminal for the 2010 Olympics. I always feel like I’m heading into a cave when I go there. Oh well.
The plane, Fin 648 (C-GEOU) is a former Canadian Airlines 767. I haven’t flown on it in two years, and it felt old the last time I was aboard. Boeing better get its shit together and get those 787s delivered pronto! These ol’ girls have earned their retirement.
It may be an older bird, but it does its job beautifully and the flight home is uneventful (exactly as I like it). Landing is on Runway 05 – same one we left from. Pilot totally greases the landing, I didn’t even feel the wheels touch. We left Vancouver late, but made up a lot of time thanks to a heavy tailwind – at one point the inflight entertainment system said we were doing 680 mph. So we’re only a few minutes late arriving in Toronto. We’re taxiing to yet another swing gate. Interesting to have that three times in one trip.
Everyone has their quirks, and I’m no different. Whenever I arrive someplace I always like to turn around after entering the terminal, to look at the board and see where my airplane is off to next. It’s 10 pm on the nose when I step into the Toronto terminal, and looking around behind me, I see this jet leaves for Santiago, Chile, at 11:30 pm. These things only make money when they’re in the air, and the airline doesn’t waste any time getting them turned around as fast as they can.......Oh Ritchie.......just like a true "Aviation Geek"..............I Love it!!!!!!!!!!
And NOW.......we're back to where we started.....in the parking garage.......using the pic on Ritchie's camera...........to find........the truck.....!!A quick check of the pictures in my cell phone shows the truck is parked on level four, spot C30. Get in the truck and erase the photo – I made the mistake of not doing that before, and wound up walking to the wrong parking spot on a subsequent trip...LOL.....!!
Pay for parking, and 40 minutes later I walk through my front door.
Another day, another dollar........Mmmmmm.............Maybe so .................but you've made this "Aviation Geek" so happy that you shared this weekend with all of US............!!!!!!!!!
and for those who visit......I hope you enjoyed this trip.....with Ritchie.......as much as I did..........!!??
I hope you enjoyed the ride. Sorry it’s so long, but this was a short trip! When I go to Asia or Europe, it’s for a week or more.
Ritchie..........don't you dare apologize........!!!!!!!!!
Thank you a million times.......for sharing...........and all the effort....and time to put this together.....for us who 'Love' Aviation......so much............Please take us along again sometime..............KK??!!....Now how do I get rid of this
"JET LAG"........;))
''Disclaimer"...I really do get 'Embarassed' when I see my 'miss spelled' words....and such.........!!........so remember those miss spelled words are a sign of 'Affection'..........
Thanks so much for your visit.............!!
ya'll Take Care now.......
♥
