Been IFR for (4) days. Having a VFR aircraft makes me do a lot surfing and sweeping the hangar deck. Not a good place to have flight school for primary training

My Maule and I are both VFR only.

I aborted a planned trip to JC this week due to forcast T storms and decided to go to Florence.

Then I saw the forcast on the Oregon coast changed and looked to be mostly IFR. Rats.

Now thinking about the San Juan Islands for just the weekend.

I really wish I had the freedom to go IFR but I'm just a VFR puke at present.

Mountain Doctor wrote:My Maule and I are both VFR only.

I aborted a planned trip to JC this week due to forcast T storms and decided to go to Florence.

Then I saw the forcast on the Oregon coast changed and looked to be mostly IFR. Rats.

Now thinking about the San Juan Islands for just the weekend.

I really wish I had the freedom to go IFR but I'm just a VFR puke at present.

Don't get the idea that being IR is a panacea for crummy weather--it isn't. The airplanes we fly and the places we go still require mostly good VFR skills, and a solid understanding of what is and what isn't flyable weather.

On the other hand, it is really nice not to have to cancel a flight that is otherwise doable in relatively benign IMC. In the last 40 years, I'd say that about 75% of my long cross country flights have involved some IMC along the way. The longest single flight in IMC was to OSH a few years ago, when my normally 7 hours of flight time turned into about 8+ due to diversions, and a good 6 1/2 of that was hand-flown in the clouds, with 2 approaches at each of my rest stops. That one would have been impossible VFR on that day, although I suspect a day delay would have made it OK VFR.

BTW, both Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor are nice destinations in the San Juans. The airstrip at Roche is an easy short walk from the harbor and a couple of restaurants. The strip at Friday Harbor is a little farther, but only half a mile, and of course, lots of restaurants in the town. I haven't flown into either--been in by boat several times.

Cary

Cary

Was just going to hop in the car to get to the airport when I look at the top the trees. They had just disappeared in the fog that just rolled in.

And we haven't had any surf for 3 weeks now.

Thanks for the insight.

I have been to both those places. Also Point Roberts and Orcas Island.

My thoughts for tomorrow were Orcas Island and the Kangaroo Inn B&B.

Should be clear tomorrow, but cloudy Sunday.

I get stressed because I HAVE to be at work Monday, and there are some serious mountains between there and here. It would be a long drive, and I hate driving. I'm a pilot.

I'll wake up early tomorrow and recheck the forcast and think about a launch based on that.

If I was IFR I'd have less concern knowing I could punch a layer of fog or low clouds to get out and above any marine layer that may build.

I have the brains and the stick skill, and I could make the time for a ticket, but my plane is basic VFR, no ADS-B, and would require serious investment. Also, I believe a person has to fly IFR frequently to be proficient, and I live in a desert and would rarely use it.

Bought the Scout to downsize and just wanted fun VFR flying, with a (4) cylinder, carbureted Lycoming. There was no need to do anything commercial. No need to have an IFR panel etc.

I am about 95% happy with just VFR right now. Sometimes however, I wish for a "balz to wall" IFR bird!

UngaWunga wrote:Was just going to hop in the car to get to the airport when I look at the top the trees. They had just disappeared in the fog that just rolled in.

And we haven't had any surf for 3 weeks now.

The South Shores have been epic for last (3) weeks here on Oahu. And I mean 6-8' barrels for 75-100 yards!

I tore off a middle fin of my thruster! It was kind of hairy and shallow in the soup. Luckily the wrist pin on the skeg broke before the fin box. Grabbed a skeg of an old Australian beater and kept surfing.

Update ... Theses METARS just in...

The entire Coast of North America from Newport, Oregon to Anchorage is 99.999% VFR .... except...(you guessed it) Newport. Good time to brush up on some deep Yoga exercises and do some chores.

That's funny right there!

Good news...its VFR in Newport!! Hopefully a trend to better WX has started

We can touch this now VFR:

Bill;

Didn't see you at Orcas yesterday.

Did some island hopping after the fog lifted.

TD

We went to Pacific City today for lunch. I laid down for a little nap and when I woke up your fog was rolling in. If I had waited another hour I probably would have had to depart IFR.

OregonMaule wrote:We went to Pacific City today for lunch. I laid down for a little nap and when I woke up your fog was rolling in. If I had waited another hour I probably would have had to depart IFR.

Looking like the Coast in June! I am always a little concerned with the marine layer there.

Let's have lunch again sometime? I really enjoyed your town.

Thank you for the photo, Rob.

The fog is back...(Newport City, Oregon; the only IFR all the way to Alaska on the coast). Ahhhh!