I have gone from Hood River, Oregon to Aurora, Oregon to Vancouver, Washington to Seattle, Washington, long flight next to some crazy Rhode Islander to Orlando and now back in Valdosta, GA.  17 days straight of work with the only break being the flight across the country.  Got to hangout with Jon Grey Hair Long in Florida.  Chairs outside my hotel drinking, crappy irish bar in the middle of know where, hoagies from an italian place and by the time the lady at the bar told us to shut up we knew it was time to call it.  That and Jon trying to describe his view of politics with three straws.  I believe that will be my last encounter with a great friend on this trip.  

As of today I have flown through 18 states and have hit 1001.1 hours in a helicopter.  3 more weeks or so and I go home and god knows what is next.

This was cool to see

This is my view from Hood River, Or.  This area is something special and should be seen by everyone.  My passenger is still the same and I am still exhausted at every end but I relish seeing every inch of my old stomping ground.  This is the where i learned and came crashing down.  

This is where I find myself again; in the air, in the moment and apart of the view.  The Northwest taught me and still awes me.  

Double Mountain and Full Sail brewery definitely helped.... A lot.

In Portland and I am flooded with emotions of being back to my 2nd home.  Don't even know what to say.  I miss being apart of a collective, having friends and family around and going to places and not needing Google maps help to find it.  I miss home, I want a home.  1 month and a few weeks and I get to go home but while I am here I will take every blissful moment and tuck it away for the month to come.  Also, my dog Sok Sok is awesome.

Leaving for Orlando tonight, parking 7198J and flying to Seattle tomorrow. Then Saturday I will pick up a different R22 and fly to Mcminnville, Oregon.  West bound and relieved to get out of the flats.

On the way down from Virginia to Florida I made a slight detour in Asheville.  Got in late and Tracy picked me up.  Well, first she drove right past me while I was on the side walk probably because I looked like a homeless person but she turned around.  I had to leave the next day so not much time but was much needed.  Sat on the porch most the morning drinking coffee and talking, Tracy sketching, a light nap in the afternoon and a 1 pm breakfast.  I want all days to start like that; with her smile and her cooking.  I went and saw fat boy Wells before Tracy dropped me back off at the airport.  It was not easy to start that helicopter again.  Flying out I made a few quick orbits around Dads house while Glenda waved a dish towel in the air.  If you are ever in trouble and you are with Glenda give her the flares, she is strangely good at waving things around in a distressed manner.
Flying in I got the sunset over the blue ridge and it was amazing, leaving I got to watch as the earth got flatter and the mountains slowly disappeared in the distance.  A bitter sweet 19 hours.  
Got greeted in Florida by Grumpy Magoo around sunset.  God he always knows just what to say! what a gem that one is!

Well in Jacksonville, Florida now grinding away 350 feet up, 40 knots, 7 hours a day till the middle of November...  God this job is dragging.  
I got to go to Gettysburg and stand in a field where over 130,000 men lost their lives.  Thousands of monuments scattered and looming across fields where different regiments fought and died.  No particular order, no particular reason but to remind you of the unfortunate, despondent event that took place.  And without sounding naive I cannot understand why these things happen and why people seem to think it is just human nature.  Such a sad excuse.
But fear not, when those gloomy sad face feelings start to creep up you can go into town and grab a Jamba Juice, drown that ugly feeling away and turn that frown upside down!  Maybe some Mini golf and some outlet shopping will do the trick?!?!  America... Fuck yea.