I took off yesterday morning from Cheyenne to make it as far as I could before sunset on my way to California. Right off the bat I got stuck in Rawlins for 4 hours waiting for the weather to the west to clear. At least the guy at the FBO let me push the 170 into the hangar to keep it out of the rain and wind. He also let me use the courtesey car to head into town to get a good breakfast. When I took off again the weather pushed me north from my intended route up to Kemmerer. I landed in Kemmerer about 2 minutes before a freak snow storm hit, then it was gone about 2 minutes later. I topped off my tanks there and checked the weather online, I decided to fly up to Bear Lake to see if I could get across the mountains to Logan, Ut. No such luck so I landed at the Bear lake airport to check the weather again, very nice pilot lounge there by the way. Since I couldn't fly over the mountains I had to fly around them, up to Soda Springs then back down the other side into Utah, stopping at Preston to top off the tanks again. On the way to Nevada I stopped to check out the Black Mountain strip along the shores of the Great Salt Lake, pretty cool place. Next I flew to Wells and Elko, Nv dodging lots of rain along the way. Running out of day light and not wanting to press my luck with the weather anymore I decided to stop at Battle Mountain. I camped out for the night under the wing right out on the ramp. When I woke up in the morning the weather looked doable so I headed out across the desert to Lovelock. I got gas in Lovelock and took off for Reno, then on to Truckee. I was going to fly down I-80 out of the Sierras but it was blocked with clouds and snow. South Lake Tahoe looked better so I went to see if I could make it down hwy 50. There was a few tight spots but I made it out of the mountains and landed at Lodi for breakfast. Another 15 minutes in the air and I finally made it to my new home in Rio Vista. Total flight time for the 2 days was 10.8 hours.

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/ ... 20to%20CA/

Damn, I hope Zane is hanging his head in shame. You are using that airplane like it's supposed to be used. To go places!

Good on you.

Gump

Welcome to California! Great trip report. I'll be following almost the exact same route but in reverse when I head to Oshkosh.

That's my Boy, he has had the BUG Big time from frist day when he started in a J-3

Sorry to see you leave our area of the country Rob, but maybe we'll see you out there.
HC

Welcome to the Neighborhood! Nice trip report! Rio Vista is a great place.....nice and quiet.

30C is up at Calaveras still, but just found out tonight I've got a hangar at Lodi waiting for me on the first. Looking forward to getting down to Rio VIsta and running you and your 170!

Flynengr

Very nice, Lodi seems like a busy little airport, even though it was wednesday morning. I'm sure I'll see you over there sometime. They have good breakfast.

Rob56, welcome to Kalifornia, I'm based at Tracy, not far from Rio Vista, your more than welcome to stop by and talk about Wyoming. I bought my Cessna 180 23 years ago from a guy in Pinedale, Wyo. My first fuel stop was in Wells, NV, no one was at the airport when I fueled up, note on the desk at the FBO said pay by check or cash, leave on desk. Another note said if you need the sheriff he's at the rodeo, call so and so number if you need him. I never seen one person while I was thier, very trusting people back then, to bad it's not like that now.

GumpAir wrote:Damn, I hope Zane is hanging his head in shame. You are using that airplane like it's supposed to be used. To go places!

Ouch, man! You are right though. I might as well just ride my bike. I wasn't worthy of owning that bird.

Nice pics, Rob. Glad you are back down in the lowlands where that thing can breathe.

Rob, glad you got through here when you did. It has been miserable below Salt Lake the last few days. Rain all day today. Good Luck in your new home!

Great trip report and pictures Rob. Glad everything worked out and it seems you had good timing as the weather here has been crap.

Hope to see you and the wife at Johnson Creek this summer.

Rob you should stop by Truckee now that your close. Maybe we can even get Zane back down.
Winter just ended today. Snow will no longer be falling after today in Tahoe looking at the long range FX. Skied 20 inches of new this morning at Alpine. Crazy...
Kevin

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I look forward to meeting all you California guys. Kevin, I would definitely like to make it up to Truckee some time. Maybe even hit the mountain with you next winter, I'm a big snowboarder myself.

unbelievable, i just drove up from the bay area(sfo) to no.ca. and it was raining and the mtn's were totally obscured and there wasn't a plane in site. that must have been one hell of a flight. congrats.

Yeah I didn't think I was gonna be able to get through the mountains, the weather waas pretty marginal.

Welcome Rob and great pics. Glad the pump at lovelock is working. Couple years back I stopped on the way back from Idaho, and the pump was broke. Luckily my plane likes 91oct and the airport guy was just leaving, ran me into town with some jugs and got gas.

We really need to plan a N. CA fly-about. I'd love to do a Tahoe, playing around down the East side of the Sierras to either Mammoth, back West over Yosemite, or all the way down to Owens, then in to Isabella and back up the West side, maybe stopping at my Dads strip near Woodlake (O42). Do it over two days of fun flying.

Of course, between JC in June and all the family vacation stuff this summer....you guys might have to go without me!

The pictures are fantastic, wonderful trip . Its good to see your post regards to your fantastic trip.
Makes me wish I was in the lower States for just that reason, to fly around the states. Keep the great shots coming , remember to stay safe....

Ken in Alaska