Goodbye to my second home away from home

The shinny object in the sky.

Pretty shiny blades could be seen from miles away.

The turn out road off in the distance I could see the chopper from on my morning drive in.

The chopper in the center of the pic.

On my drive in, I could see our little helicopter shining below the sun in the center of the pic.

I spent the night at a little lodge called the Itipahato Lodge. What a beautiful place along with so many other great little places I've stayed up here in Idyllwild. This one was really cool though. It's a little cabin on the side of a hill surrounded by forest with trails down to the creek and up to the Nature Center. It was great to wake up and look outside at all of that. On my last night there I went for a hike the next morning which was a great way to start the day. New challenges were slipping on ice from the dew that had frozen on the entire ground everywhere. hahaha. As I headed into town that first morning back I stopped at the Red Kettle for breakfast before work then onto work. As I drove down Scenic Hwy 243 I couldn't help thinking how great is has been to be up here for work. Not too many people get the luxury of driving to work in the gorgeous mountains with breathtaking views. As I drove a shiny object caught my attention as I scanned the mountains as I always do when I drive. Must be a pilot thing. lol. Anyway, the shiny thing was the helicopter! From miles away. So I quickly pulled into the next turn off and took a picture of it. It was awesome to see from so far away. It's the little silly things like that, that make my day. I'm going to miss working up here. This town has become my second home away from home. Spending so much time at the helibase I've grown fond of. I don't know about other fire pilots, but I get attached to my exclusive use contract locations as the ones I've worked on are so wonderful. It's going to be sad to not work up here after Sunday. I'm even going to miss the fun little drive going up the driveway to the helibase. It's a twisty narrow drive going quite a ways up the hill to the helipad. It always makes my morning! lol. Once at the pad, I notice the chopper was still gleaming with sun shinning on the blades. So pretty! I could see the turnout from the pad as well. I love it! I'm so easily pleased and entertained. Ha! Funny note, oddly enough it's a lovely 49 degrees out right now mid day and it's quite comfy compared to Chicago temps. lol. It's been kinda cold up here but not miserably cold. Much cooler yesterday with the cloud cover. Good performance temps for the machine! Oh, I'm going to miss driving off into the gorgeous sunsets every day at the end of shift down the long driveway, it's always a great way to end the shift. Bye Idyllwild! Thanks for the good times and the memories.