[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Loon Zone Chat Page Version 1.60 ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Ballpark Frank (24.237.94.196) on 07:52:53 09/26/14
Thursday morning, I drove my better half to Merrill Field, the non-international airport in Anchorage that handles an incredible volume of light aircraft traffic. My vehicle is in the shop, and I'm borrowing hers temporarily. As we approached the small building housing the airline offices, we noticed a large sign that said "No Rap Zone - Rock and Roll Only". I had never seen this specific sign before, chuckled at the sentiment, did a fist pump, and said "Right on".
Jane was flying to an isolated village, accessible only by small boat or light aircraft, with several other associates, one of whom was visiting from Seattle. A few photos were taken, and the group started boarding the four passenger aircraft.
I was standing on the tarmac, planning to take a few photos of the taxi and takeoff, when I felt a disturbance beneath my feet. It felt like one foot was ascending a bit, while the other was descending. Then it reversed itself. I thought "wow, I wonder if there is some sort of large scale fuel delivery/storage system under here, or some giant pump that just kicked in". I started walking toward the one story building owned by the small airline to ask about what lay beneath the tarmac, when I felt a much more profound shaking, and saw the building visibly vibrate. I could hear the exclamations of excited employees emanating from the structure. Then their dog came running out, followed by the human occupants. That dog took off around the corner on a dead run, with one concerned individual chasing it.
This is when a behavior peculiar to quake-prone areas ensued. A doctor traveling with the group estimated the quake at 5.2 on the Richter scale. I guessed 5.9, and the airline owner said "6.1, maybe 6.2". Ironically, the quake was estimated at 6.1 by the USGS initially, and eventually upgraded to a 6.24. Someone had to say it, so I made a comment about how whoever put the sign on the building about the No Rap Zone may have invited this event. We were definitely Rockin' and Rollin'.
Ballpark
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Loon Zone Chat Page Version 1.60 ] [ FAQ ]