New Career

Air Nootka phoned last night to make it official. I start my new career next Wednesday - I am getting paid to fly a plane as a commercial float pilot.

What does Air Nootka do:

-fly loggers to and from logging camps
-mail run to remote communities - my favourite
-fly surfers to remote beaches where they camp on the beach and surf the most isolated beaches
-fly hikers to the trail head of the Nootka and Hesquiat trail then pick them up at the trail end
-scenic tours to incredible places like Yuquot (Friendly Cove)
-and more....

If you are in Gold River- drop by the Air Nootka base.

my former Neighbour

My former neighbor in Victoria started off his season with a bang - NICE WORK SQW! I am trying to make sure that I can watch SQW win worlds in Vancouver and of course I will be watching every second of the Olympic Triathlon race on CBC.

Looks like I finally have my first job as a commercial float pilot. I am very excited about the new job. It's very similar to the day that Reebok wanted to hire me as one of their pro triathletes. I have a grin from ear to ear. I start mid-May. More on the new job after my road trip this weekend.

For the past few years I have been pacing part of the Boston and New York City marathon with PowerBar. It's a great gig. I get to hang out with the great crew from PowerBar and run part of the marathon. I am teaming up with my buddy Tim Deboom for Boston. He gets 13.1 and I get 13.1. It doesn't matter which leg I get - running Boston is a huge treat. One of these days I need to do a marathon for time. To see what I can do. The itch to train seriously for something is finally coming back. It's taken almost 2 years and a ton of extra pounds of my body to want to get back in shape.

Anyway, look for Tim and I at the PowerBar booth Saturday-Sunday then out on the race course Monday.

Also, GOOD LUCK TO DESIREE at the US Women's Marathon trials Sunday in Boston!

Motivated to run!

This is the year I get back to racing - trail run races with a possible assault on the 2009 Western States 100. I am following the path of one of my idols - Paul Huddle.
Check out this blast from the past that Andrew Ernst created for me:

http://www.rubbergoose.com/videos/peter_reid/peter_reid_promo.mov

IFR and off to Camp

For the past 8 days I have been commuting (1hr 45min each way) from Squamish to Boundary Bay Airport to spend time in a Simulator learning how to fly IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). At first I hated it and wondered why a wannabe float guy like myself was learning IFR. Now, I get it! I almost addicted to it. I enjoy the SIM! What a difference a few hours can make.

I have two more sessions in the SIM then it is off to Tucson for my yearly journey to AZ. I have been going to Tucson since 1993 as either an athlete or coach.

This year we have 2 camps.

It should be fun and to see guys like Bruce (see picture) get so pumped makes it worth being away from the SIM.

More from Tucson....

PR

Back home from the Tour of California

The weather was wet and cold; but, the roads and riding partners were incredible!
I had a great time and it was nice being on the bike again. I have a few weeks off the bike then back on at the Tucson training camp. Specialized continues to spoil me.

new plane and a road trip to California

Tomorrow I begin my Simulator training in the morning then do a fun flight in a tailwheel plane - Citabria - in the afternoon.
Tuesday I am off to California to help my former sponsor, Specialized, at the Tour of California. I am still a huge cycling fan; so, watching the big boys of cycling race is going to be a blast.

I sure miss the twin

For the past week since my flight test I have been away from the twin while I study for the INRAT. I sure miss FIMC.
Some offers are slowly coming back to me after a big push to get my resume out there. Looks like I will be working on the dock or ramp loading planes for quite some time before I get the flying gig. Bring it on! It's all part of my path to landing the first flying gig.