……..you stop at the gas station and the attendant asks how many days you have been staying at the Brockton House Inn (apparently you are driving what is referred to as the Brockton Bus)
…….you are waved at by the driver of every vehicle you pass on the road (I’ve always loved “The Wave”)
……..you go to the grocery store and the baby food is across from the crab traps and the motor oil
……..you arrive at the airport and make light of the fact that you are early….and the attendant tells you that you are the only passenger getting on and gets your ticket for you without even asking your name or where you are going
….the centre grassy area of the airstrip doubles as a hay field and the hay is already baled and waiting to be taken in
……a charter plane lands and the pilot asks the woman at the counter if it’s OK to “park” the plane where he left it
……a dog wanders into the airport check-in and no one minds…when the plane lands, the dog greets its owner at the arrivals gate
…..the pilot fuels his own plane
…..there is no airport security, your luggage is placed outside on a rack for pickup (and drop off) on a bench not unlike that at an old bus depot. You don’t have to take your shoes off, you can take your bottle of water along and no one cares if you have a pair of nail scissors in your carry on
It’s just a different pace, a nice pace.
I am the only person getting on the planbe here, apparently there was one passenger who checked in at Anahim…so there will be two of us on the plane ride home. I assume we will be in what Mom refers to as the flying culvert again.
I’ve spent four days here in Bella Coola and it’s a lovely place. I got lucky with the weather, it wasn’t great before I came, it turned nice when I got here. Today is a bit cloudy and windy (as every other day was) but it is supposed to sock in over the next couple of days and the rain is supposed to come. I think I should be grateful that I saw it when I did…I think it could be quite nasty in foul weather.
There are some great trails that I would love to go on…but not alone. It would be quite wonderful to come back here in the fall and see the grizzlies catching salmon…..next time……