We used to fly a Cessna 172 recreationally out of
Boundary Bay airport (CZBB) located in Delta, British Columbia. Here is
a story about our most memorable
flight from Boundary Bay to
Port Hardy (CYZT) via
Sechelt (CAP3),
which took place in August of 2013. Port Hardy is located on the
Northern
Vancouver Island.
43. It became clear that we would have to spend the night in Port Hardy.
Fortunately, this is not a bad place to be stuck in. Located close to the
Northern end of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy is home to 4,000 people
(thank you,
Wiki) and
boasts many hotels serving numerous tourists who come to experience the
wilderness of British Columbia. We locked the plane, walked out of the
aerodrome, and looked back.
Outside View of Port Hardy Airport (CYZT)
44. Follow this road, and you'll see the hotel in ten
minutes, told us a helpful local.
Road from Airport Port Hardy British Columbia Canada
45. Sure enough, ten minutes later there it was -
Airport Inn, complete with a liquor store and a Japanese restaurant on
premises. The lady at the reception was very friendly, and with regret
informed us that, because there would be a ferry tomorrow, they had no rooms
available. She then called other hotels and found a room, but said we would need
a cab to get there, so she called for a cab and said that the wait time
would be about twenty minutes. Ten minutes later the phone rang, she
talked to someone, hanged up, and then said that she received a
cancellation, so would we be interested in staying here tonight. Yes,
please!
Airport Inn Port Hardy BC Canada
46. After such an eventful day, the grilled salmon
from the Japanese restaurant tasted great, and did not feel as big as it
looked.
Grilled Salmon Japanese Restaurant Inside Airport Inn Port Hardy BC
Canada
47. Airport Inn turned out to be a typical small
hotel, quite clean, fairly modern, and with several tasteful pieces of
art in the public area.
Art Inside Airport Inn Port Hardy BC Canada
48. We went to bed about 10 PM feeling very, very
tired, and hoping to
sleep until about 8 AM. Yet, woke up at three in the morning.
Photo of a Room in Airport Inn Port Hardy British Columbia Canada
49. Ok, the plan is as follows: go to the airport
and take off the minute pilots without a night rating are allowed to
fly: thirty minutes before sunrise. Here is Port Hardy airport inside.
Inside Port Hardy Airport (CYZT) Northern Vancouver Island BC Canada
50. We did take off 30 minutes before sunrise, at about
0540 hrs. We tried to beat the fog, which usually forms in this area in the
morning. The first ten minutes or so went well, but then the fog
appeared below the aircraft, and started to obscure the ground. So, we returned back
yet again, and started waiting for the clouds to clear. Took a photo of
this DeHavilland Otter (C-FITS) seaplane of Pacific Coastal Airlines.
DeHavilland Otter Seaplane Port Hardy Airport (CYZT)
51. By about 11 AM, the clouds finally lifted up, and
we
started getting ready to depart Port Hardy for the third time. Tried
lifting up the airplane's seat which we reclined all the way back to rest
before the flight, and...the seat won't move! Ok, no big deal, because
this is Port Hardy, where everything a stranded pilot needs is just
around the corner. Pacific Coastal's repair facility happened to be
a hundred meters away, and the mechanics agreed to fix the seat for a
small charge. Here is our plane inside the hangar, with the front seat
removed.
Pacific Coastal Airlines Hangar Port Hardy Airport (CYZT)
52. The mechanics turned out to be pleasant guys, and
also knew their way around a broken seat. As for the payment...the
taller mechanic and us drove to the liquor store attached to the hotel
where we stayed last night, and we bought him a case of beer. He was very
grateful.
Mechanics Repairing a Cessna-172 Seat
53. Also in the repair hangar there were these retired flying boats -
Grumman Goose.
Pacific Coastal Airlines Grumman Goose
54. Took off again around 12:30 PM. This time without having to come
back.
55. These are
Discovery Islands, with Marina Island in the foreground.
Marina Island - Discovery Islands British Columbia Canada
56. To the right, beyond
Hernando Island right below
us, is the already familiar Savary (the boomerang) Island.
Hernando Island BC Canada
57. Here comes Vancouver.
Metro Vancouver Seen from the Air
58. Downtown Vancouver in the foreground,
much of the rest of the city of
Vancouver in the middle of the frame, and, in the background, is the
neighbouring municipality - the city of Burnaby.
Vancouver and Burnaby BC Seen from the Air
59. Fraser River separates Vancouver from the city of
Richmond, which borders Vancouver on the South (right side of the photo
below).
Metro Vancouver British Columbia Canada
60. YVR tower directed us to cross the threshold of
Runway 26 en route to Boundary Bay airport, so here we are above that
threshold, with Vancouver International Airport below us.
Flying above YVR - Vancouver International Airport
61. A British Airways Boeing 747 has just landed on Runway 26
Right.
British Airways Boeing 747 After Landing at YVR - Vancouver
International Airport
62. One more look at the Vancouver International.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
63. The last photo before landing at Boundary Bay
about two hours after the takeoff in Port Hardy.
There have been other memorable flights, but so many
adventures at once happened only during the flight to Port Hardy.
ihikebc.com
Trip 063 - Flight in Cessna 172
(from Boundary Bay to Port Hardy)
Page 3 of 3
|