My life has been in spitz and spirals as it goes ever upwards. Planes are funny things. There is a point on the Interstate 205 Glenn Jackson Bridge where you have a great view of Mount Hood. But under the auspices of the night all that you have are the Portland city lights. And the airport.
Now not an enthusiast for the Portland International Airport. I think it's silly that there is currently a campaign to save the 20 year old carpet. (See more here for that.) But I have found it a nostalgic place for my time out here. For over half of the folks I have hosted and showed this place, I've met them, and dropped them back off at the Portland International Airport. Do I think it's America's Best Airport? Not really. I really, really hate the Jeopardy! game show font and style they use for informational signs on the TV screens. The airport is not really that big, and therefore doesn't really have any good options for those late night flights.
I do like crossing the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge at night, and watching the lights of the airplanes coming in though. It's a perplexing sight really. The airplanes take an approach perpendicular to Interstate 205 to land on the runways that somewhat parallel to the Columbia River. So as you see planes coming in at night, they usually sit simply as a point of light in the distance. Their shape doesn't change until they are very close to the highway and airport because, from the drivers point of view, they are flying directly towards you. And because there are usually multiple planes coming in for approaches, there are usually multiple dots of light just sitting around the highway.
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| This is actually the moon. It was ridiculously large that night. I don't have a camera good enough to capture incoming planes. |
Things are different from the flyers point of view. If you take an easterly approach during the day, you pass over the Cascade mountains, and follow the Columbia River (if you can see it) into the Portland area. The view is beautiful and the plane gives great views of ultra high mountains in the region. It is a very amazing thing to see in the distance.
If you are approaching at night, despite your direction, you usually can see Portland off in the distance. As you approach the city, you start to descend, inching ever closer to this large black ribbon that cuts right through what looks to be the city of Portland. You may get a good pan of the city if you need to take a westerly approach, as you bank, but as you lower down, you get closer, and closer to that ribbon. Then you find out it's water. And that is indeed, as you thought, a massive river, and maybe this plane turns into a pontoon landing! But there is nothing to worry about. The runway is literally a quarter of a mile from the waterfront, and the plane lands safely on dry land.
Flying in and out of the region has given me that all familiar privileged feeling of landing back in a place you know. If you've flown, or even driven places, you know that feeling. That feeling that you are back in your comfort zone, one that you've missed for even a little bit, and things will keep moving, and will continue.
