packed ten, that should be enough,â Jill answered.
âIâm packing, one pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, two warm sweaters, six tee shirts and two bathing suits for everyone plus shampoo, a bar of soap and a couple of towels.â Mary was very particular about cleanliness and just because they would be camping in the woods was no reason they couldnât stay clean. With some creative packing everything should fit in two large duffle bags. Of course it didnât! There were two duffle bags and one backpack, which would come in handy for day hikes.
âJim Iâm packing the tea kettle, you know how much I look forward to my tea every morning.â
âWhy not just take a small pot then that way we can use it for other things as well?â Jim said.
âI have just the thing. I was going to throw this old saucepan in the garbage but we can use it camping and throw it out after we get home. As I recall the plane has a full first aid box, so we donât have to take one but Iâll just pack some Tylenol, Neosporin and anti-itch lotion for pesky bug bites in the backpack in case someone gets a headache or a scrape or if the mosquitoes are hungry. There, that should be everything. Do you think I might have forgotten anything Jim?â
âEven if you did, Iâm sure weâll survive without it. Weâre only going for a couple of weeks.â
They drove out to the airfield where the Cessna was ready and waiting. Jim and the service crew made sure they had enough fuel to fly the 1000+- kilometers to their destination and back, with some to spare. The company that owned the plane certified it to be safe.
âNow Jim, this plane is equipped with a new transponder in case you need it, we just installed it and it works.â
âWhat does it do?â
âSimple, if you are in trouble, just flip this here switch,â the mechanic said, pointing to a small box. âAnd it will send out a signal that we can pick up. When activated this red light will flash and the signal will give us your exact location.â
They knew Jim well as he had rented planes from them before. The mechanic asked some questions regarding what they were carrying and where they were going. Jim filed a flight plan of their destination and they made ready for takeoff. The planeâs calling sign was V-HER8. Mary assured that they were all harnessed in their seats and as they took off from the airstrip, the weather was near perfect, the sun was shining, there were only high clouds. It was a beautiful, clear day for flying. They were averaging 200 kilometers per hour and should be at their destination in two hours or so. Jim pointed out landmarks to the kids as they were flying. âLook over there, thatâs Williams Lake, and over on the left is 100 Mile House.â
Both kids groaned, âEnough dad, when are we going to be there?â
âIn about half an hour,â Jim said with conviction.
âYou say that all the time too Grandpa,â Alicia chucked.
âI guess I do, donât I?â
âDad you always say that. Really, how much longer?â
âOkay, weâll be there in thirty minutes then.â
âYou always say that too,â the kids groaned in unison.
âAfter landing Iâll take you to a lake where the fish are so plentiful that you can walk across the water without getting your feet wet.â
âDonât you have any new material Jim? Mary asked. âThe kids know all your lame jokes by now. Seriously kids, we should be there in about an hour.â
After landing and unpacking the plane they planned to have a swim in the small crystal clear lake before sundown. Jim was able to navigate by sight since he had flown this area before and knew the landmarks well. The plane was in the air for one and a-half-hours when a fast moving thunderstorm with low flying clouds off the Pacific Coast blanketed the entire area. Heavy rain and winds
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