Flight Report: My great flying day turned into an even better coin and flying day!
airplanenut
Posts: 22,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
Unfortunately, I had to take a sick day yesterday, which is to say that I purposefully planned a routine dentist visit to be first thing in the morning so I'd have an excuse to take the day off. The weather in Seattle was fabulous, so I decided some aerial recreation was due, and picked the San Juan Islands as my destination. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the San Juans are an archipelago just south of the Canadian border (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Islands). They have some neat history, amazing views, and the two largest towns--Friday Harbor and Eastsound--have quaint little downtowns. I take lots of friends here, but also go when I just need to walk around and get away from everything. Being islands, the most common way for ground-based people to go from Seattle is to drive 2 1/2 hours to the ferry, wait for the ferry, take the hour-plus ride, and then you're at one island. Have a plane? The flight's usually a little under an hour, and it's minutes between Friday Harbor and Eastsound.
So as late morning approached, off I went. This route has the added bonus of taking me right over my office, providing me a perfect opportunity to let me colleagues know I'm nearby.
After landing in Friday Harbor, I took the quick walk from the airport into town and as usual, popped into a few shops to look around. Normally this wouldn't result in a post here, but yesterday ended up being special. I love antique stores where there are neat and interesting things to look at, though admittedly I don't buy much since I only have room to display so many things, and if it's not something I really need, I'm often unwilling to spend too much on a whim. To that end, there's a cute antique store in town that I've walked through dozens of times, but I'm not sure I've ever bought anything. This time, though, I spotted a few coin albums, and a couple of them were priced right with nice contents, so I had something to buy.
After looking through everything, the shop owner asked if I'm a collector (yes) and if I had any time constraints, such as a ferry to catch (nope). She had a bin of coins and paper that had come in from an estate, but had some questions about them and didn't know where to start on her own. She asked if I'd stick around and take a look. So I did. The material was largely unremarkable--a lot of 90% silver, some dirty XF/AU mercs, buffalos, wheaties, Indian cents--and to a degree looked like change someone stashed away long ago, although mixed in were some state quarters and other more recent issues, so the various bags and envelopes didn't sit totally dormant for decades. Some envelopes also had crisp notes, but they were new enough that shy of being graded and coming back with a very choice grade, they were just nice examples of lunch money (there was indeed a pile on the table that the owner was going to use for that purpose).
In addition to getting to look through all sorts of stuff (even if it wasn't the most exciting material), what was even more enjoyable was the conversation. I was asked about what I collect and some of the best pieces in my collection, and when I mentioned two coins that had been handed down through my family starting with my great-grandfather, she picked up the loupe she keeps on the counter that came from her grandfather. A stack of circulated silver certificates turned into a discussion of the evolution of paper money and the banking system in the US. A local (and the owner's expert on wood items) came in at one point and talked about putting together albums as a kid. When he mentioned the 1955 DDO, I told them about Lucky Strikes, which elicited the rare "I wish I had taken up smoking" response. I probably spent an hour going through everything and chatting, and while it was totally unexpected when I planned my day, it was a thoroughly enjoyable change of pace from my usual trips to the island.
And within the many envelopes of bills, some SBAs and Sacs were also stored. I must admit that Sacs are a guilty pleasure of mine. I don't have any in my collection and I generally eschew modern releases, but I think the obverse is nice enough, and I really love the eagle design. Well, what happens when some Sacs are stored in an envelope for two-plus decades? Yup, spectacular neon toning. When I saw those, I gave the owner a little rundown of toning and explained that these were right in my wheelhouse. She insisted that I take them all. Okay, no arm twisting needed. I'll get some better photos soon and post them separately.
I also got a neat little price guide (which I'd never heard of) and a copy of the Lincoln/JFK coincidences. The latter because when I saw it, I mentioned that just a few days ago I happened to be talking to someone about them (and otherwise hadn't mentioned or thought of them for years)... what a coincidence!
Yes, please!
When the coin part of the day finished, I completed my stroll through Friday Harbor and went back to the airport to make the short hop to Orcas Island, where another quick stroll from the airport took me to my most favorite spot in Washington, perfect for enjoying the view and tranquility.
(And here's a photo from 7 years ago showing the view if you turn to the right):
Eventually it was time to head home, so back to the plane for a peaceful flight back to reality. If you've ever mailed me anything, along the way I took a bad photo of my Post Office from ~4000 feet up:
I finished the day with 2.5 hours in my logbook and the joy of my two hobbies unexpectedly overlapping.
Comments
Sounds like a great day Jeremy! That's the BEST kind of sick day schedule!!
Love the San Juan's, and finding little treasures along the way makes for a special day.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Great day for sure! When I first read your thread title, I thought “oh nice, he finally got a chance to take Marty Brodeur up!”
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
That would be an even better day...
What a great read.
Looks like you had a sick, sick-day
I remember that Dell catalog, I used it back when I was 12, likely bought it at Gimbel's.
Hey Jeremy, get well soon
Nice 👍
Very interesting day, Glad you had fun.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I love the telling of your story and adventures. Great read and love the toning on those sacs. Thanks for giving us a day in your life recounting.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
We haven't got the boat out much yet this year, but those are our usual destinations. Probably Vendovi next week.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
Excellent.
I should have you buzz my MILs house in Port Angeles next time your in the area.
EDIT: To everyone not in this area Airplanenut just Photoshopped in the clear blue sky -- It is always gloomy and gray here. No need to visit.
I love those toned Sacs! I have bought a few estates what have contained a few toners too, but nothing quite that nice!!! Hard to believe they are 20+ years old now!
@airplanenut . Thanks for the post. i have a deep tissue ear infection so this is about as close to flying in a plane i will get. james
Thanks for the post. We vacationed in the San Juan Islands in ~1995 after a few days in Seattle. We were considering retiring in the San Juans because of the beauty, wildlife, and - wait for it - jet skis not allowed. We also stayed in Friday Harbor, probably retracing some of your steps. I recall the first day we were there, the locals were complaining of the heat - about 80F. We had to chuckle a bit. Further, though we were in the area for a week, it only rained once for about 10 minutes. So much for the rainy reputation.
Love those SAC's
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
The weather is a big ol' it depends. Summers throughout the PNW are usually quite dry--a few years ago Seattle got 0.03" of rain in an 80-day span. The San Juans get their fair share of rain for the other 8-9 months of the year, though the way so much weather comes off the Pacific, they're protected a bit by the Olympic Mountains and it's not uncommon for the weather in the islands to be a bit nicer than what Seattle gets on a given day.
That a C-172 you’re flying?
Great read. I haven’t been to the San Juans in years. I need to get back up there. I love Friday Harbor. Stunning area. Is the airport literally a short walk into town?
Dave
Yup. Usually fly one of my club's 2 172s, but sometimes take the 182. A few board members have been in this plane.
Less than 10 minutes from parking the plane to being at the water. Orcas is a minute or two longer.
…….
I learned in a C-150 and C-172 back in 1977. I flew the C-172 with a friend, my mom and sister from Roswell, NM, to Mena, Arkansas, landed, parked and walked 150 yards to my grandma’s front door. Round trip cost including fuel? $195! Can’t even fly one hour for that now in most of the country….or buy a nice Morgan! 😉
Wasn't quite as short a walk (and indeed, involved a short drive), but on my long solo XC, I flew to the airport near @TomB and we had some show and tell before I returned home.
Due to a small weight gain over the years I think if I went the plane route it’d have to be a C-210. Fast, powerful, and can carry a LOT of weight with ease. Me and my wife in a C-172 would make for really short legs…and little to no luggage. 😉
Good thing it's less than an hour from my home base at C172 speeds
Outstanding. Congrats on a fine day.
Congrats on those nice Sacs!
I remember the Stacks "Coins" bluebook as a Dell Pursebook. The wholesale price books put out by dealers were cheaper than buying a Redbook, and money was tight when I was 7 years old. Those price guides often put an asterisk next to low value coins (e.g., 1907 IHC in Good) with the recommendation of putting them aside until their price rises. Unfortunately, every coin collector did that as a child and these coins are still worthy of an asterisk. I have over 20 rolls of them I need to get rid of now.
Jeremy, thanks for that. Years ago, I went through a friend's late stepfather's foreign coin collection. Not much there numismatically, but the man's travels were fascinating. And this was a time when travel was difficult.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
I think you mean "I have over 20 rolls* of them I need to get rid of now."
That's sick bro. I live close to San Juan Island. I would love to have that kind of a sick day.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
And they'll go into the * bin. Five cents apiece.
Fly in the center of the air. The edges have all the problems.
Speed is life.
You can never have enough altitude or thrust.
Never eject over an area you just bombed.
Protect the paint. Keep it on the rubber.
Drunner
Wonderful post - next time, stop by and say hello! Flying up from Seattle is definitely the way to go!
We have 2 places on San Juan Island, not far from Friday Harbor. Here are the views from each.
Those are spectacular views! Now all they need is a 100% off friends and family rental discount
A passenger (an island local) once pointed out Chris Pratt's house while I was on final to FHR, and I believe Oprah and Bill Gates do/did both have homes on the island. It's one of those rare places that's so close to hustle and bustle, but a world away from everything.