July 20, 2021 Get a Move On

The Liberty Gazette

July 20, 2021

Ely Air Lines

By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

Mike: Let’s get a move on. Since the onset of the most recent biological warfare, we haven’t been grounded by the shutdowns across the country, but we have had to pivot on travel plans. Like many folks, we became more creative and spent more time outdoors. Things are slowly opening up, yet perhaps not at an agreeable pace. 

Over the past fifteen months, our bikes have resided in the back of our airplane. With picnic lunches packed, we’ve taken off to find adventures. We’ve chronicled some of those jaunts, showing that it really didn’t matter that much where we were going, only that we were indeed going. 

To date, we’ve flown and biked around some interesting places which we might not otherwise have visited, since our trips usually cross several states. For instance, in San Antonio on the Mission Reach trail, riding right up to the front steps of the Alamo. We cycled along the top of the dam in Waco. In Texarkana, we found a small trail that drifted along a drainage culvert to a park bench under a couple of trees. At a beautiful little park just south of Lafayette, Louisiana’s downtown district, we gobbled sandwiches and guzzled lemonade. We enjoyed a similar treat in Ada, Oklahoma along the edges of a gorgeous lake. And, we headed down the coast to Mustang Beach where we walked barefoot, collecting sand between our toes as we dipped them in the waters of the gulf.  One of my favorite trips was to the hilltop at Lockhart State Park where we munched on crackers and cucumbers. 

I love hiking, but bikes offered us a quicker means to get out into the country from the airport. Besides, many of the paths are concrete which wreaks havoc on my shins, making biking a more body-friendly choice. On corporate trips to Salt Lake City over the winter, I climbed mountains both in heavy snow and later in brilliant sunshine. All of this gave my lungs a good workout and filled them with wonderfully freeing fresh air. 

We have also spent more time practicing instrument approaches. That’s something that many pilots have a tendency to put off when there are interesting places to go. Staying proficient is vital for instrument flying.

When we are not wandering the country’s airwaves hither and yon, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed virtual international travel with WithLocals.com. One host showed us how to Greek dance. With another learned host, an archeologist, we studied Pompei’s ruins from the awesomely frightful volcanic eruption at Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D. We took a cooking class in Italy and were introduced to Krav Maga from Israel. We learned about Greek mythology and Venetian history, rode along with a German veterinarian who took us sight-seeing in Berlin, and these things only whetted our appetite for actually being there. 

As our country and the world slowly move out of this dark, oppressive period, we can only hope that things will return to normal. The real normal. 

ElyAirLines.blogspot.com