We flew from Troutdale, OR to Cedar Grove, WA to meet Highroad who was in the area from Gold Beach, OR. With him in tow, we headed to The Dalles via Cascade Locks for a few photo-session touch and goes. After breakfast at The Dalles (not bad, very reasonably priced) we puts some tracks in the grass at Hood River, and returned to southwest Washington for a T&G at Goheen, and finally a play session at Daybreak. I like to refer to this kind of flying as "sidecountry" because the grass strips are rural, but not really out there. And grass...grass is so good.

Video (added 6/17/2009):
http://www.vimeo.com/5165928

Here are some fun photos from today... video of a TO and LDNG competition between RobBurson and Highroad is forthcoming.

Upriver in the Columbia Gorge


Cascade Locks, short final, Highroad in his Pacer.


Cacade Locks, in the grass.


The Gorge has such fascinating topography


Burson just helped Highroad push his plane to the tiedown and he feels young and alive.


Highroad, in the Gorge near Beacon Rock.


More interesting yet unlandable terrain...


The 300mm lens is great for air-to-air shooting


Cap'n Burson


Daybreak was a good place to stop and hang out, and I wanted to shoot some video from the ground, so the guys decided to stage an informal takeoff and landing competition. Highroad, in a moment of clarity, offered to use cargo from his plane for reference points to be placed along the runway edge. This included a sleeping bag, some waders, and a Thermarest. There's a little but of exciting footage from that, maybe I will post it later.

At Daybreak, still friends before the TO/LDNG comp.


RB's flying machine.


I build a panorama of Daybreak, because the place is so cool. Click for full-size.


Overall, a very fun day with some cool guys.

Great Flying today guys. Made it home and was even able to put a few more off airport notches in the belt on the way. Pics look great 1seventyZ.......looking forward to the video.

Sure glad Rob and I had on matching shirts......

nice job, guys...! lush country, and looks like fun...see you all at jc...

A few pics off my phone....

RobBurson in the Gorge


Playing on the way home


A little coastal scenery

awesome pics thanks for sharing!

Zane:

What camera and Lens did you use? And, where is that great looking sand runway?

Alex

Alex wrote:What camera and Lens did you use?

Canon 30D with EF 75-300 for the air-to-air and the cheap EFS 18-55 kit lens for the ground stuff.

Great pics guys, looks like a fun day.

Rob, is that a Cray supercomputer strapped to your yolk ?

Vick wrote:Great pics guys, looks like a fun day.

Rob, is that a Cray supercomputer strapped to your yolk ?

A Motion LS800 Tablet PC. Windowx XP Tablet. Flight Prep Software. Moving Sectional, Low and High Enroute. Moving approach plates.WAAS GPS. XMWX.
GPS, XMWX, are bluetoothed to the tablet. 2.5 hour run time on the tablet battery.

http://www.flightprep.com/



RB

RobBurson wrote:

Vick wrote:.........
Rob, is that a Cray supercomputer strapped to your yolk ?

A Motion LS800 Tablet PC. Windowx XP Tablet. Flight Prep Software. Moving Sectional, Low and High Enroute. Moving approach plates.WAAS GPS. XMWX.
GPS, XMWX, are bluetoothed to the tablet. 2.5 hour run time on the tablet battery. ....

Don't forget to look out the window once in a while.

I finally got around to compiling our footage of this flight from a few weeks ago:

http://www.vimeo.com/5165928

It's a bit green around here.