6/18/13



Coming in from the valley

Today the village was abuzz with excitement again as the helicopter came in to claim the float plane that flipped in Second Lake last week.  They got the float plane upright within a couple days of it's misadventure, at it has been waiting patiently on the beach at Second Lake for the helicopter to come in and take it out.  The entire process was actually very speedy and we spent far more time at the runway waiting for things to begin than watching them take place, but it was still pretty cool to watch.  Given that several flights come in and out of the village most days, accidents will happen, but they seem to have had more than their fair share the last few years.  One got caught by a sudden gust of wind as it was landing and ended up in the lagoon right before we moved to the village two summers ago - I think I posted pictures of it, with it's curled up propeller.  In December of that same year, one experienced problems taking off and the pilot took it over the water before going down to soften the crash - very brave considering he cannot swim.  Everyone was shaken up and very cold, but okay and we were all thankful.  Last summer, that same pilot went down in the neighboring village.  I'm pretty sure everyone was okay again, but I'm thinking he should rethink his profession before his luck runs out.  Later that same summer, the same company lost a plane to incoming tides.  They had landed on a beach for a bear viewing tour, and couldn't get the plane up before the tide came in.  Now this float plane has also been sunk, at least in fresh water rather than sea water so it is salvageable, although it will be the insurance company doing the salvaging - I would hate to see what's happened to their rates over the last two years.  Hopefully, they have experienced enough problems to satisfy Mr. Murphy and his law, because this little duck still has one flight out of the village to go.

Bringing the plane down for a break before heading to Homer

On another note, I found some interesting treasure on the beach this morning as I was looking for sea glass.  Were I still living here, I would be making Mike drag it up to the house to put on our porch for decoration, but I am not still living here and do not have a place to put it in my house in Missouri, nor am I interested in paying the freight to get it there, so a picture will have to suffice.  I know it's a gear, but I'm not sure where it's from.  It's obviously been in the water for a while since there are rocks rusted into it.  I thought it was a pretty cool find for a sea glass expedition.

Sea Treasure - it would look awesome on my porch,
if only it were still my porch