I brought Flying M Air's Robinson R44 helicopter to Central Washington State for the cherry drying season in the summer of 2008. For 10 days of that season, I was fortunate enough to be based at Pateros, where I stayed at the only motel in town: Lake Pateros Inn. The manager, a lover of helicopters, allowed me to park the helicopter on a grassy patch beside the building for the length of my stay. Needless to say, I got the attention of other motel guests as I came and went.