SUMMER!
Being a girl, raised in Florida it’s funny how differently I think about summer in the PNW. I have lived in Washington State for 5 years and its just now hitting me. The dread of winter, the lack of flying the bonanza for months, longing for a blue bird day or weekend during the gloom where we can escape short days and fill our minds with new flying memories and adventures.
Then, summer comes around. Summer doesn’t start June 21st in Seattle like most places, it really starts the 2nd week in July. That’s when one can count on the hot blue skies days to offer endless opportunities to explore. The runways are all open and not covered in snow and the back country opens up too, and the worry about icing is nearly non-existent.
This summer Sunday was a great day to meet up with our local flying family friends, The Birdies for dinner. We are lucky there are a lot of on airport restaurants within an hour of our base, S50 and KBVS (Skagit) is suggested for their on airport restaurant Flyers Restaurant and Brewhouse. It is also one of our; “where to next” airports. We land on runway 29 and park in transient parking, I look over to the right and see the restaurant, looks…. closed? Yep, closed. We are very aware most airport restaurants only serve breakfast and lunch, but this said brewery and my mind just didn’t think of it. Great, time to whip out the iPhone and begin plan B. But wait, our friends! We hear them on CTAF and they are in the pattern and are going to land soon. We tell them when the land to come up to a different frequency.
Of course Skagit is pretty remote and we didn’t bring The Little Dudes carseat for a short dinner flight. No other walking distance options with food are near. Plan B: Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor. Both are Airports with restaurants within walking distance we have been to before and within 15 minutes. The only potential issue is now we are a party of 8 with 4 kids and crossing that fine line of dinner time to hangry time. No one wants to take hangry kids and wait.
We take back off and I start calling restaurants to inquire about waits and reservations. On Roche, The Madrona has open tables and is first come first serve. There we have it we’re off to Roche!
Bonus, now we get to do some formation flying with our friends and head there as a flight of 2.
The Madrona is just a wonderful spot. Right on the water over looking the marina, casual atmosphere and the food was very fresh with lots of wonderful options. Mama pilot got the lettuce wedge salad with sirloin and papa pilot the cheeseburger, so delicious. Such a perfect evening with the low sun, calm winds, and the tranquility of the harbor drives us to wish that tomorrow weren’t Monday. But alas, we finish
dinner and it is late. We need to come back and stay some time at the resort. They do have a few restaurants, a pool and a playground.
But we take the short 10 minute walk back to the tie down areas and say our good byes as now were encroaching on bedtime. Its time to fly home as the sun sets on our tail and start planning our next adventure together.
