2018.04.09 solo amphib flight is to explore Lake Mohave and the Colorado River (Nevada, Arizona and California).

First leg

Torrance to Banning:


Second leg

Banning to Blythe:


Third leg

Blythe to Bullhead City


Please comment regarding weather, logistics, routes, river conditions etc....

KTOA.KUUD.P20 3.5 hours (Colorado River is Gorgeous!!)

Departed Torrance, CA (1) day early (weather is gorgeous in the Southwest States to today).

First stop was Bermuda Dunes which to my surprise, is a super luxurious jet center just outside of Palm Springs. They treated me very well. Purchased fuel and then departed to Blythe, CA. Having a 20kts tailwind I decided not to land, at Blythe, and continue to Parker, AZ.

Parker, AZ is beautiful. The airport maintenance manager drove me to the Quality Inn. Never been to a Quality Inn, very nice for a $100. Breakfast at 0500. Good to start flying early morning in the desert. Thermals can really bounce a low flying Scout around!

The desert is my original home and I miss the place. Glad to be here. Mary is back in Hawaii, goal is to show her the Colorado River someday, maybe Summer.

A few pictures rendered from iPAD

Salton Sea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea. Unreal to see vast water in the middle of the desert:


Colorado River North of Blythe, CA. This is the East/West border of California/Arizona. :


Solar panels:




An Australian Jabiru. Hope Tim and Noel see this!!


90F in the shade, dew point spread is 92 degrees (14:00 AST) Bull Head City, AZ! That is dry!


Garmin InReach:


Garmin Pilot “Log Book” function:

KTOA.KUUD

KUUD.P20

P20, Parker, AZ. 09:30 MST

There is a high wind watch along the Colorado River today with gusts to 30kts. I was cautious around the mountains and very caution on where to touchdown. There were some coves where the fetch was shorten and the waves were not whitecaps. But, it was blowing hard for a little ship in most areas!

There are some big birds out here:


Neat little autonomous lake:


The London Bridge is down there but, covered by the aircraft strut:


Can anyone name this area?


iPAD video on the river:

Light and variable winds! Temp 97F/400’ MSL. The rivers and lakes are fantastic!

Departed P20, Parker AZ @ 0900 MST:

Greased the floats with AreoShell #22. Oily grease wear disposable gloves!


Pumped the floats from yesterday’s rough ride:

2018.04.11 Parker, AZ @ 0600L

Las Vegas and vicinity: Wind changing to Gale Force, peaking on Thursday. Definitely going to watch weather closely. The manager said he may have room in a hangar for me. South at Parker, AZ may not see the same strength. But, I am a little scared right now.

North Las Vagas, Nellis AFB TAF

Note: Wind gusts to 50kts



Las Vegas, McCarran TAF

Note: Wind gusts to 48kts

The starter relay was hesitating a few days ago and it would have been a good idea to order new. Because, today it made one last click and died. Parker, AZ is forecasted to receive winds in excess of 30kts (dust storm velocity) and temperatures near 95F. So, I asked to be towed into the maintenance hangar. The people here are really friendly and we got the Scout in less than 30 minutes. The starter relay was removed and ACA sent a new unit overnight. Five stars: Parker Airport, P20.



Hangar, tools, water/electricity, and courtesy shuttle to/from airport. The airport is owned by https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_Indian_Tribes


I washed my wool socks in the sink and they dried almost instantaneously in the front seat! Very very dry out West.


Dust is building in the air, wind 24kts @ 15’AGL/450’MSL.


The only way back to KTOA (Torrance, CA) is through the Banning Pass which has a dust storm forecasted:

It’s funny you should find Parker, AZ. I really like that place. I was introduced to it by an old friend years ago who has a place at one of the airport communities in Salome. He’s since gone West but last I heard his old airplanes were still baking in the hangar. Sad.

They say it’s crazy busy with kids during Spring Break but quiet otherwise. Always seemed like a good place for wet Alaskans to go scrape the mold off.

gbflyer wrote:It’s funny you should find Parker, AZ. I really like that place. I was introduced to it by an old friend years ago who has a place at one of the airport communities in Salome. He’s since gone West but last I heard his old airplanes were still baking in the hangar. Sad.

They say it’s crazy busy with kids during Spring Break but quiet otherwise. Always seemed like a good place for wet Alaskans to go scrape the mold off.

Hi Justin,

The Colorado River has it’s “Spring Break” hot spots. But, I found having a seaplane, there is plenty of river out there that’s still vacant and gorgeous! Needles hit 100F this week. Bring hats, sunscreen and long sleeve sun hoodies. There are plenty of Alaskans out here. The guy who purchased your family’s old Glacier Bay fishing lodge and airstrip lives in Arizona (Chandler). Beautiful spread you guys built up in Gustavus, loved it.

I need to get back to Hawaii soon so, unfortunately leaving tomorrow (if plan A works). Come out and catch some pelagic fish in the Islands, instead of those bottom feeders! I love halibut, just a joke.

Aloha!!

hi Ted,

Curious, which starter is installed on your Scout's engine?

Float safely,
Pat

iPat wrote:hi Ted,

Curious, which starter is installed on your Scout's engine?

Float safely,
Pat

Hi Pat,

Skytech, Model 149-12LS TT 500hrs, no issues

Hopefully, buy you lunch when I get back to hangar. I’m a “Rewards member” at Panera Bread (Torrance Town Center), great sandwiches!

Aloha,
Ted

The UPS tracking website says the ACA starter relay overnight package is almost here. Halfway up HWY 95 from Blythe, CA. I only use UPS. Always a good value.

Sorry to hear of your unplanned stop over. You are a far more patient man than I.... Parker does have a NAPA

Rob wrote:Sorry to hear of your unplanned stop over. You are a far more patient man than I.... Parker does have a NAPA

Haha! Not a bad idea!

Same part number and made in Mexico. There is no difference. But, I like to talk with the factory anytime I have unscheduled maintenance anyway.

Very easy to have it here by 10:00AM and log it as an ACA part number not a NAPA part number. I don’t have a car right now anyway.

Installed and tested...

Back in the saddle again... ETD 0700MST P20.KUDD.KTOA

Leg (1) P20.KUDD (Fuel)


Leg (2) KUDD.KTOA

Arrived at P20 @ 0530MST. Opened the hangar, preflighted, and departed 0630MST to Bermuda Dunes, KUDD for fuel then KTOA:


Beautiful desert Sunrise:


“Desert Center” very cool MotoGP and Motocross tracks:


The Solar Panels were covered with dust from the sand and dust storms yesterday. They are going to use a lot of Windex today to get them shiny.


HWY 10 the modern “Route 66”:


I love the desert:


ATC Flight Following, Palm Springs, TRSA:


Granite mountains, several routes (3-4) pitches max on other side (South):


Garmin Pilot App, Log book P20.KUDD, KUDD.KTOA



Great trip and recon flight for future adventure! Mahalo for following along.