TALES FROM BOSTON, NEW JERSEY, CALGARY, AND BANFF

 What started as a desire to see my granddaughter enter the portals of TUFTS in Boston led me to two significant adventures. First, a one-hour flight in a biplane about 80 years old, and then a few treks on the border of Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. These trips were magical due to the sheer rollercoaster effect on emotions and physical endurance. More of it later.

In 2022, when my Grandson chose to pursue his academic credentials at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, little did I know that Tufts in Boston would beckon his sister in 2025. This picture says it all.

True to the family tradition, the Inamdars, along with the Balis, joined the Bangaras to bless the new entrant from Mumbai. There were two GEN NEXT ++, as can be seen. 5years and just under 1 year. I hope they will one day join the pursuit of excellence in education. They may head East towards India, which by then may just be the "go-to" destination for higher education.

My short visits to New Jersey to meet my nephew and his family have always been rejuvenating and joyful. His only daughter is at Purdue, where she excels in academics and also flies. Having already clocked many hours as a student pilot, including a stint in aerobatics, she continues to use the flying facilities that coexist with her school. That was the context for the biggest and most priceless surprise that Nikhil had planned for me. He located an operational, 80-year-old biplane similar to the old Tiger Moth in which I had clocked my solo at Jakkur in Bengaluru in 1965. A long drive close to the sea brought us to the Ocean County Airport (MJX). Lo and behold, among various medium-sized aircraft parked at the terminal was an exquisitely maintained biplane. I was overjoyed to hear that he had booked a sortie for an hour to relive my experience six decades ago. 

Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine a biplane with open cockpits, leather helmets, and goggles would exist anywhere in the world. The only addition was the radio, which is mandatory given the crowded airspace. Yes, since we were scheduled to fly low over the sea, a life jacket was added to the drill. As some of you may have guessed, in an emergency, all we could do was release the seatbelt, stand, and leave the cockpit, step onto the wings, and inflate the jacket after hitting the water.

Cleared to take off, full throttle, airborne, steep bank to the left, and soon over the sea at 500 feet. As briefed, a quick check on my skills to turn, fly over fixed landmarks, and maintain correct altitude was followed within minutes. Then came the long-awaited moment. " You got her". I was tempted to test her ability to climb sharply, but desisted from doing so. Instead, I relived my first moments in a Tiger Moth. Stuck my head out and opened my mouth. As expected, the wind gushed in and ballooned my lungs.  Step two is now a steep climb. Her engines were more powerful than the Tiger Moth's. But had a tendency to ground loop. Minutes passed without a single intervention from the instructor. All he said was," You are having a ball, aren't you?"

Here are some pictures. Needs no explanation. My nephew, Nikhil Deshpande, has given me the greatest gift in my 79th year. I can never thank him enough.

Off I went to Alberta and the hills of British Columbia. There were some unfinished treks after my last visit to Canada two years ago. Old colleagues who are now settled there had worked out my schedule. Four girls were waiting to join my treks. I was the granduncle who had to set the pace for two treks. It was a bit much for their parents and friends. So a visit to Banff, a town I admired, was the curtain raiser. You can see why.

A moderate trek starting at the lower Rawson Lake (Kananaskis reserve) was planned and executed by young Raano, a student. Breath-taking, metaphorically and quite physically. All my years of Yoga and pranayama helped me to stay the course. It meant reaching the upper lake fed by the glaciers and, without a break, descending to the lower lake.

It was soon after that the girls decided to show off the "Grand uncle" to those breathless younger trekkers at the next location. The chosen location, called Bear's Hump in Waterton, was their way of bidding farewell to me. As can be seen from the pictures, the view from the top was spectacular. Hosting a lunch for them at the lakeside chopper house was my way of thanking them for their time with 'Gen old'.

In conclusion, without the logistic support and hospitality of my gracious hosts, Sukhi and Kishore at Calgary, and a former shipmate, Grewal, now an entrepreneur, my visit would not have materialised. I expressed my gratitude by inviting them to break bread the sailor's way. Full of spirits. The Canadians are a friendly lot. Never failing to exchange greetings and engage in chats. And so when a group complimented me on the shirt I wore, to their amusement, I couldn't resist saying, " Come to India and get a better deal than in your neighbourhood ." Bursts of laughter greeted me.