Departing from the home base in King City tomorrow morning for a 3-4 day tour of Northern CA in my trusty 140. No particular destination or direction so far, just gonna point the nose northwest and see where the GPS takes me. Probably fly the coastline towards San Fran, maybe stop first in Petaluma, never been there. Then maybe Angwin airport, always wanted to go there and check it out.

Probably work my way north along the coastal mountains hitting as many small airports as I can in the process, then work farther inland and toward the valley and mountains on the eastern side.

The first night I will probably end up as far as Ukiah or close to there, any recommendations on places to stay the night. Ideally, a short walk to a nearby town, or at least someplace with transportation available into town to hole up for the night...good places to eat as well.

As for the rest of the trip, any recommendations for sightseeing or cool airports to check out are welcomed. I've lived in CA all my life, but flying anywhere north of Napa/Sacramento area is mostly virgin territory for me, so at least it will all be "new".

I do have an alterior motive for this trip too. I'm in the market for a supercub and want to sniff around as much as feasible the little outta the way places, and talk to the locals wherever possible...it seems the best deals are never found online...we'll see what happens with that...

Check out Half Moon Bay if it isn't fogged in. You can park on the south side of the airport and walk 5 minutes to several restaurants and shops, there is a hotel to stay at there too. If you're up by Ukiah you should go up to Gravelly Valley Airport on Lake Pillsbury. Its a Dirt strip about 4000ft long and it has some fire rings at the south end if you want to camp.

Northern California???

Yreka, Montague, Alturas is Northern California. Any further south is Kalifornia!!!

Gump

Angwin is kinda fun especially if there is any wind. Jeremy who is one of the most knowledgeable Maule guys out there is hangared there. Willows has a great restaurant right on the ramp. How far North you going. Ranch Aero right outside of Chico is a really nice grass strip to visit also. I'll be up in the C-5 someplace tomorrow.

In fact I flew with Jeremy today. I live in Angwin so if you make it in, call me if you like and I'll show you around.
John 707-322-2350

Gump: Yes northern California!! I know what you mean by that but I live in King City an I'll be damned if that means I live in Southern Kalifornia...agree to disagree

Avid: I really don't know how far north i'm going...just flying by the seat of my pants, as always I'd like to go all the way to Alaska but I'm afraid that'll hafta wait a few more months

JLB: Thanks for the invite! If you see a white/red 140 with an Alaska state symbol on the tail, thats me

Try to hit Shelter Cove. One of the most beautiful approaches to an airport as you'll find on the coast. There used to be a restaurant about a block from the airport. Not sure it's still there or not. Still a beautiful airport to visit either way.

Shelter Cove has a nice Motel and golf also.
Here are some more good ones a little to the northeast of shelter cove. D63 Dinsmore H47 Hyampom F62 Hayfork 086 Trinity Center.On the east side of the Sacremento valley is F25 Brownsville.These airports are all in the mountains.Have fun.
John

Shoot, most of us northerners are thinking "Go south, young man" about this time of year. I think you need to revise your heading, and go visit Santa Paula....

And if not on this trip, anyone who's close to Santa Paula REALLY should visit. Great antique airplanes, pretty little airport and nice restaurant on the field. Great training opportunities there as well if you need a flight review...

MTV

Definately planning on Santa Paula soon, but that is an easy day trip from here, and I want to save that for a weekend

I'm gonna take advantage of the beautiful weather we're havin in CA right now and go play in the mountains for a few days...cool, calm, and sunny... just the right combo for my 140

My place has cows on it right now. If you get this far north I can move them but the frozen cow shit really bounces you arround.
tim

East side of the valley Columbia. Grass and paved strip. Short walk to the historic town. Camp ground too.

Have fun

qmdv wrote:My place has cows on it right now. If you get this far north I can move them but the frozen cow shit really bounces you arround.
tim

They're gone now. I buzzed the shit outta them on my way to Cave Junction.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:

qmdv wrote:My place has cows on it right now. If you get this far north I can move them but the frozen cow shit really bounces you arround.
tim

They're gone now. I buzzed the shit outta them on my way to Cave Junction.

Gump

Cave Junction?
The drug Capital of Oregon!
I'm sure you were there for the scenery
I hope you were armed.

SkyTruck wrote:

GumpAir wrote:

qmdv wrote:My place has cows on it right now. If you get this far north I can move them but the frozen cow shit really bounces you arround.
tim

They're gone now. I buzzed the shit outta them on my way to Cave Junction.

Gump

Cave Junction?
The drug Capital of Oregon!
I'm sure you were there for the scenery
I hope you were armed.

3S4 is where I learned to fly and had my first solo at age 22... it is very interesting Good swimming holes nearby though.

I flew a Gulpstream in there a few years back.
I was waiting for the DEA(?) to show up asking WTF!
There were more cars on blocks than there were teeth

The Illinois there looked interesting but my experience with it is at the confluence with the Rouge.

My mechanic and his wife have their shop there, and nearby Foris Winery makes a killer "Fly-Over Red." Complete with taildragger on the label.

http://www.highway199.org/events-page/m ... on/pilots/



Gump

Ah, a winery....
Now I understand

Blast it Gump.

I'm trying to cut back, live only slightly beyond my means- on this gorgeous beautiful day, only flew a little over an hour rather than 5- didn't buy anything over the internet today- and you show me this red wine with a tail dragger logo that I can buy over the internet -http://www.foriswine.com/buy_foris_wine.htm.

Sheesh