It was calm and clear in Canmore at dawn when I caught the airport bus down into Calgary. And each of my connections were on time.
But the ride back to the Midwest was a bit of a roller coaster.
Twice in the last few weeks, I’ve read about significant injuries on planes from turbulence. Which made me feel a little uneasy because on the last four flights we have had a lot of turbulence. Not severe. But enough to keep us in our seats for long periods of time. Especially on the flights home last night. I make sure to maintain a calm demeanor but when the crew are ordered back to their jump seats a number of times during a flight I recognize extreme caution from the captain of a sky ship. Maybe a change is protocol.
After arrival, I glided through the quiet late night airport, out into the dark carpark, pulling on my coat, found my car and drove myself down through Illinois in the dark; through a whippy storm. Small branches were coming off trees but my little car and I were safe.
I wondered aloud the other day about what is causing this increased turbulence in flights. Because surely climate change is influencing air travel? Air travel is certainly contributing to climate change. If you imagine the air with rivers and streams and currents of hot and cold air, just like the sea, it makes sense right? We are warming and cooling in choppy cycles out here on the plains. Creating storms. High winds. Extreme temperatures. Extreme fluctuations in temperatures. This must be happening unseen in the sky too. Buffeting the planes on the sky.
I would love to put two well educated ship and air captains together to discuss this. And contribute with my many simple questions.
The air and the sea have much in common.
Anyway I am back. On the farm. And was delighted to wake up this morning to a chorus of birds. I think I hear a few new ones. Canada had lots of kids and snow sports but not many birds!
Some of the trees have greened up since I was gone.
The pond is full to overflowing. And it is not warm. Not cold exactly but windy and overcast and not warm.
Just as soon as I publish this I will get going, drag all my warm farm clothes back on and inspect the farm. I need to make an adjustment to the pigs living quarters before leaving again in 6 days!!
More on that tomorrow.
Good morning!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
20 responses to “A Bumpy Ride Home”
Glad to read you have returned. I am absolutely certain you have the correct thoughts on climate and those rivers in the sky. Living 2 hours from the Pacific our meteorologists constantly talk about the “atmospheric rivers” that bring in the countless storms from the sea. Some sit with us, others go north/south and bits of those sky rivers make it over the mountains to all of you in the wide open. I suspect air travel is going to be challenging as the years go by, especially for those of us who get rather panicked riding the sky roller coaster.
You get a lot of turbulence going over mountains. The worst I’ve ever experience was landing in Plymouth airport (now closed), but it was famous for the bumpy ride.
Welcome home!
Wellington is the same – do you remember when I flew into Queensland in NZ. Literally – never again. Plymouth – was it closed because of the bumpy landings?
No, the Air Southwest service to London Gatwick ceased in 2011 and passengers dwindled. There are still airports at Newquay and Exeter though.
I’m glad you got home safe and sound. The animals will be happy to see you.
Welcome home. I bet all creatures will be delighted to see you. Lovely bird song for your arrival.More pig home adjustments. Despite that l hope you found all well. Increased turbulence on planes is a thing l’m sure. On my last two flights the cabin crew have been requested back to their seats, scary stuff! I love travelling but hate flying, for the sake of the environment and my sanity. Look forward to some farmy tales before your next trip. You will doubtless be very busy!
“If you imagine the air with rivers and streams and currents of hot and cold air, just like the sea, it makes sense right?” Yes, it makes sense. Like water flowing, there are the same movements in the air. They both fall under the heading of fluid dynamics.
Fluid dynamics. That is something I shall investigate. Thank you Jim!
Glad you made it home safely. I agree that climate change is causing all the new turbulence. Welcome home
If so then flying might not be as safe as it used to be.
Balance… things that contribute to climate change are themselves becoming unsafe due to climate change… hmm.
Welcome back! 🙂🌟
Thank you!
Interesting point about turbulence. One of my most unnerving flying experiences was this time last year on a flight from O’Hare to Toronto. There had been severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the area and they told us the crew would be seated and buckled up throughout the entire flight. I recall thinking we’d be safter to just spend the night in Chicago. I was never so happy to land in Toronto!
That sounds dreadful!!
It was frightening. When they made that announcement, I thought to myself, “Should we really be doing this?”
people say: safe travels and I say – well that’s up to the pilot I think!! Hopefully they really do know what they are doing!
I spend a lot of time outdoors and have observed how layers of air currents can seem to slide over each other in the afternoons as sunlight moves westward. The sea may do that, too, as warmer layers cool off and sink.
it is wonderful to be so in tune with the environment.
The environment does keep me attuned, if only to slow me down to keep from tripping over roots, stairs, chickens, door jambs, or stepping in mud puddles. I watch the clouds when I’m too tired to take another step.