Float plane to Bowen Island

It was a very special experience.

Many moons ago I served in the Royal Air Force. I was never based at a flying station as my role was in telecommunications. Strange but true.

Ever since relocating to Vancouver I've wanted to take a float plane ride. There's simply a special feeling for me associated with radial engines and floats planes and I have no idea as to why. There just is.

To be gifted a float plane ride as part of a fly, dinner, cruise (sort of), limo experience offered by Harbour Air was a real treat. I found the folks at Harbour Air friendly, courteous and professional and, got the evening off to a great start. The short sight-seeing excursion to Bowen Island was in a  De Havilland Beaver, how very Canadian! These planes (not necessarily the Harbour Air fleet) have been around since the late 1940's so one could conclude that it's well tested technology in a very simple skin. It's a throwback adventure and, I loved it.

This was a late afternoon spin over a sun-drenched city and it showcased Vancouver rather well. In fact the whole evening was a wonderful experience, even though BC Ferries conspired to run late - the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay being the cruise portion of the evening.

Photo-wise, my images were shot with my EM5 MkII using the pancake 14-42 mm lens. Although this is a long way short of a professional set up, I was satisfied with the results through a plexiglass window. The constant vibration was also a good test of the built in image stabilisation. Post, well, apart from some cropping and adjustments, what you see is what you get. No retouching.