Among aviation circles, it is a truism that there are two kinds of pilots.  Those that have landed an airplane with the gear up and those that will.  I've decided that a similar truism exists for parrot owners. 

Every once in a while I work in Merced, CA for an old friend.  This trip was different than ones in the past because my wife, Grace, got called for jury duty, but she didn't check the date until it was too late to change it.  Of course the date was 11/18/08.  Being the honest girl that she is, Grace decided to stay home and send me on my way alone, except for Linus.  The eclectus boys, Gauguin and Pippin, stayed with her.  This was the first time that I was planning on being away from Gauguin since he came to us (with the exception of one weekend nearly two years ago).  We didn't think Linus would handle a week separation without us working up to it.

The drive was generally pleasant.  I chose a route that gave views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.  These are very striking volcanoes in Northern California.  Merced is about an hour north of Fresno and 425 miles from Eureka.  Linus and I had a very long drive.