Flying to Dutch Harbor, October 7th, 2009

  Try again today to fly to Dutch Harbor. 

  We got up, and had a few hours to kill again. We went for breakfast, then sat around waiting. Then Tom took us to the airport, again, and we waited around some more.

  Finally at 2:15 we were able to board our plane. It was a flight operated by PenAir. It was a smaller plane, it held around 50 people, I think. They were quite particular on the seating arrangements as to the weight distribution. 

  We took off, and flew to a place called King Salmon, where we landed to get more fuel. Then stopped again at Cold Bay. Apparently on these flights they stop to refuel often because there is the chance that upon arrival to Dutch Harbor, if the conditions happen to be bad, they turn around and fly back to Anchorage. Apparently this happens frequently. We hoped and hoped that this would not happen to us. The flight was supposed to be 3 1/2 hours long, so to turn around and have a 7 hour flight, and not even reach the destination did not sound like fun at all. Especially when traveling with a 19 month old who had already had enough of airplanes.

  I was pretty nervous of this flight, as the runway in Dutch Harbor was described to me as a  a very short runway, a spit jutting out into the sea, with mountains and ocean on both sides. Often foggy with bad weather as well. 

  We did our best to enjoy the sights on the flight. We could see volcanos and mountains reaching for the sky. Parts of the flight were clear and nice, until we reached Dutch Harbor.

  It was foggy, and raining, and the waves on the ocean looked pretty big. The plane rocked, and bounced, and I was very scared. At times we couldn't see anything. Then suddenly the plane was descending, there were mountains on both sides, and the plane was bouncing hard. Brodie was laughing like it was a carnival ride. I was scared to death. 

  The plane hit the runway, and hit the brakes, HARD. Once our hearts settled down those of us who must have been praying said "Thank you". 

  The fisherman, and the Fishing Boat Captain said that was a typical landing. And they still don't care for it either, even though they have done it many times. 

  We collected our baggage, and wondered what to do next. The Fishing Boat Captain offered to help us, but we said we'd be fine. 

  The rain was coming down hard, the wind blowing, but we were just glad to be in one piece, and to have all our luggage show up at once. (There was the chance it wouldn't come until the next day)

  As Josh went to find a pay phone, Brodie and I waited outside the airport. Then Lonnie, our Helicopter pilot, arrived. 

  There was no way we would go any further that night, so we found a hotel, then went for supper. 

  Then we went back to the Hotel with Lonnie, and got acquainted.