I’ve shared my experiences flying on Alaska’s big jets, but true flying doesn’t require a runway. After landing in Seattle, we grabbed lunch at a brewery on Lake Union before heading to Kenmore Air’s lakeside terminal for a seaplane adventure to Deer Harbor on Orcas Island in the San Juans. The terminal was easy to spot, thanks to a prominent billboard, and inside, we were greeted by a plethora of merchandise and a small ticket counter.
Checking in was smooth until we hit a snag with our luggage. The 25-pound limit per person was exceeded by our carry-ons, causing a bit of a stir. After a few phone calls, we were allowed to proceed, albeit with a fee. Although the sign indicated $3 per pound, we were only charged $10 for about 20 pounds of excess weight. Go figure.
The waiting area was bustling, as Kenmore had scheduled all flights simultaneously. We found a couple of seats on the balcony and watched the planes, including our vintage Otter, arrive. Boarding was organized with laminated passes, and we were on flight B, humorously dubbed “for beautiful.” However, we discovered our flight was combined with another to Roche Harbor, which was a bit of a letdown.
Dock hands loaded luggage into the floats, while Captain Mike stowed carry-ons in the back. We were assigned row 1, but someone else snagged the coveted seat next to the pilot.
Captain Mike conducted a safety briefing before we took off. The flight to Roche Harbor took 39 minutes, followed by a quick 6-minute hop to Deer Harbor. Despite the minor hiccups, the journey was a unique and memorable experience.
#SeaplaneAdventure #KenmoreAir #TravelDiaries #SanJuanIslands #AviationExperience
Originally reported by Cranky Flier Read More
