Kona Kristmas

FROM CAP’N MERYL Kona Kristmas
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2004-12-27-ask-the-captain_x.htm
In my last note to you, I thought I was headed for Osaka, Japan. That didn’t quite work out and instead I flew a trip from Chicago nonstop to Maui, then on to Kona for a nice layover. This was on Christmas Eve, so instead of dashing through the snow in Colorado, I wound up doing the hula in Hawaii instead. With this job, you just never know.
I’ve flown into Kona before but I’ve never spent the night. It was a fun trip with perfect weather. One reason I’ve always preferred Maui and the other islands is because I’m an avid swimmer, and much of the Kona coast is quite rocky.
I only had to walk about a mile to find a beautiful snorkeling area, however, and I put on my trusty goggles to have a good look below the beautifully clear waters of Kona. Although snorkeling is fun, I like to get “up close and personal” and enjoy going to the bottom for a closer look, so I usually go for goggles instead of a full face mask with snorkel. They’re lighter to carry in my suitcase anyway. I lost count after spotting about 15 varieties of very colorful fish, none of whom seemed to mind my intrusion into their world. At least, they didn’t say anything.
At a Christmas Eve Christmas party for our crew, one of our flight attendants missed a step at the restaurant where the party was held and severely sprained an ankle. We were at minimum staffing and another flight attendant had to be flown from Honolulu to work the flight back to Chicago. Our working wounded flew back on our flight but is definitely out of commission for awhile as far as work goes. I got a great group photo of the entire crew and may post it if I ever get my photo gallery up.
Now I’m home again in Colorado for a couple of days—due out again on December 30th. If you’re a new subscriber, the situation here is that I’m a reserve pilot and never know where I’m headed until a trip is actually assigned—two days prior for international trips and one day for Hawaii and other domestic trips. That’s the maximum time, by the way. Minimum callout time might be as little as a few hours. I’ve got my eye on a trip to Honolulu that needs a captain on the 30th but by then everything could, and very likely will, change again. So we’ll see. I can’t get too much of Hawaii.
I’m having my Christmas dinner today (I’m writing this on Monday, December 27th), and as I write there are very enticing smells emanating from the kitchen where Al, my Other Half, Web Guy and Chief Cook is working away.
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season, and I’m about to go have my turkey dinner. So…..
Until next time, Maintain Airspeed!Cap’n Meryl

Sushi For christmas

FROMTHE FRIENDLY SKIES OF CAP’N MERYL!FROM CAP’N MERYL Sushi for Christmas?
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2004-12-20-ask-the-captain_x.htm
This was another really, REALLY busy week for me—but this time I was just doing my “day job”—flying.
First was my second flight to Frankfurt, Germany in just a matter of days. It was easier the second time because I remembered the way from the first time less than a week ago. Okay, okay, just kidding. Actually, we took a much more direct route straight across the Atlantic whereas last time our route was much farther north. Our route was and often is determined by wind direction and speed. Other times it may be influenced by weather systems we’re trying to avoid.
Coming back, on the other hand, we went WAY far north over Iceland and Greenland—this time to stay out of the winds coming westbound. By staying so far north we had an average wind component of only around 50 knots as opposed to almost 150 knots by flying a more direct route.
Once back in Chicago, it was my intent to come on home to Denver for a couple days off, but that’s not how it worked out. Flights were so crowded that my Significant Other/Web Guy suggested I stay put in Chicago and fly a second trip—this one to San Francisco for a 25 hour layover, which was really nice. Perfect weather and a chance to go exploring deep into Chinatown. Although airline employees get passes—they are for standby travel and with the Christmas travel rush my prospects looked grim for getting home to Denver anyway and the trip to San Fransciso turned out to be a good option. Commuting is difficult at best and sometimes we just have to go with the flow, so to speak. Upon my return from San Francisco I was able to hop a flight right to Denver without much trouble.
So I spent an unexpected night in Chicago, and that gave me an opportunity to meet one of my readers who lives close to Chicago O’Hare. Just thirteen, her parents brought her to my hotel where they treated me to breakfast. This young lady is very interested in aviation, as is her father, and this was a good opportunity for them to ask me some questions face-to-face both about some things I mentioned in my book and some other general aviation questions.
I’ve met a very few other readers face-to-face—for instance at book signings here and there—but it doesn’t happen often. It’s nice from my end of things to put a face to those I’ve communicated with previously only by email.
Also, just a note to those of you who requested I put my recent interview on ABC’s The View up on my site—but I can’t do it. I requested permission from ABC to do so but it was denied. They told me this show will be rerun during the summer, but I won’t know when. So that’s a disappointment, but what can you do?
I’ll be flying over Christmas. I’m not sure where yet, but it looks like a trip to Osaka, Japan is shaping up. Because I am a reserve pilots and fly whatever trip is left uncovered, I’m never really sure where I’m going until a day or two prior at the very most. Wherever I wind up, I will be thinking about my family, of course, and you, my readers this Christmas holiday. I wish you the very best, the very happiest and the very safest of holiday seasons.
Until next time,Maintain Airspeed!
Cap’n Meryl

ABC The View

FROM
THE FRIENDLY SKIES OF CAP’N MERYL!


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/getline/2004-12-06-ask-the-captain_x.htm


Cap’n Meryl is busy this week visiting friends and doing some interviewing on both coasts. First, on Monday of this week, she was interviewed on Barbara Walter’s “The View” live in New York. Current subscribers should have received notification a few days ago. Meryl found out she was going to be on just a few days prior. Although the producers have been in contact with her for several months this is the first time scheduling worked out.

From New York it was off to Los Angeles to tape a half hour interview about her book “The World At My Feet” for The Gregory Mantell Show. We don’t have the viewing schedule yet for that but it will air in about a month or so for Comcast, Time Warner and Adelphia customers in the Los Angeles area.

Don’t forget to check the Media Links page at www.fromthecockpit.com if you’re interested in catching one or more of her interviews. They’re always lively and fun.

So Cap’n Meryl sends her best and, as she always says, till next time,

Maintain Airspeed!
The Web Guy