Okay this is hilarious. The taxi was so slow that my Garmin watch thought I was walking and credited me with over 5,000 steps! Guess that’s one wY to hit my fitness goal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

What you flew through got here about 1 am today. That was some stuff! Did you fly the deck?

DR, from Lockhart to Junction I was near the deck because of the low overcast, but once I got into that wind it was the same speed on the ground as it was at 10,000 feet. Being near the ground wasn't an option as whitewater was churning because of the hilly terrain. At 8,500 feet was a layer of clouds where the turbulence increased, so I found myself mostly at 6,500 feet (elevation was about 4,500 feet). Turbulence wasn't bad (mostly light) but it was unending.

What a difference a day makes. Left El Paso this morning at 7am for Tucson. Silky smooth air, light cool breeze. This morning was why I fly.

Came across these two meteor craters. Got me to wondering what it must have felt and sounded like when they hit. And were they part of the same shower? Were these part of a bigger extinction event?





Then within a minute or two I came across this cluster of small volcanoes. Were these active around the same time the meteors hit? What did this area look like? Were dinosaurs roaming around?



As I flew on I was greeted with more desert beauty.













As I was nearing Tucson I found myself near the town of San Manuel. Past it, in the middle of a big area of green mountains was a red rock formation. Curious I flew over to it and this is what it was.



On to California tomorrow.

Great report - and photos!!

Those craters are Hunts Hole and Kilbourne Hole between Demming and El Paso. They’re volcanic craters caused by underground explosions when magma and water get together, iirc.

Flew past there on my way to OSH in 2012. Cool area.

Thanks for the info Cannon.

Left Tucson this morning. Dropped in at Robs near Yuma, that was great, then on to Santa Ynez.

Saw some more beautiful desert scenery and the air temp was bit warmer but tolerable.

Love Saguaro Cactus





The Colorado river.



About the right population for me.



And then civilization. Arrrggghhh!

Quick update. I’m in Lewiston Idaho. Got lots of pictures to post but that will have to wait till I get home.

Was supposed to be in Couer D’Alene tonight but a big storm blocked my way. Winds on the ground and aloft were 30kts gusting to 45. Figured it was smart to give up trying to go under or around the storm so landed Lewiston in the same winds.

It wasn’t confidence inspiring to have the crash truck come out to the taxiway while I landed. Once down I swear I saw the truck’s shoulders sag as it turned around and went back to the station.

Tomorrow Ketichikan!

Awesome! Sounds like an exciting trip!

Supposed to be nice for most of the week. This will most likely be the case as I don’t need to go to town this week. Hope to see you at PAGS.

J

These flowers were sure beautiful.


Picture from a ranch we rented for the weekend.I was born and raised in California, it truly is a beautiful place, too bad the kooks took it over.


The south end of Pismo Beach. I have great memories of jeeping there when I first got my license. Vehicles we saw in the dunes were four wheel drives, dune buggies, sand rails, and water pumpers.


I was disappointed that the fun police have intervened and fenced off the best part of the dunes.


When I ran the dunes we camped at Oso Flaco or deep in the dunes, certainly never on the beach. Now four wheelers rule the dunes and everyone is on the beach. I'm sure glad I'm not making these memories.


The City of Oceano, at Pismo Beach.

Heading north from Pismo Beach. What's not too like about the Pacific Ocean and the coast of California.


Then there was Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. What an amazing country the U.S. is that allows me to fly my plane next to a nuclear power plant without restrictions (or over some Air Force bases for that matter).


Morro Bay.


And just past Morro Bay. Loved the wave action here.


And then I was no longer on the coast but in the San Joaquin Valley headed to Madera. You gotta love farmers, what a tough, thankless job feeding us.


After a short visit with family I headed to Lake Isabella. It was two Santa Barbara Bass Club Championship wins in the early 80's here at Lake Isabella that convinced me I could be a professional bass fisherman which led me in yet another direction in life.



Here at Kern Valley Airport I met pacerpilot who graciously bought breakfast and shared with me information about the various backcountry strips in the area (thanks Rick). Unfortunately my schedule was too tight to explore them.

More, more, more!!!!

Ask and you shall receive.

After flying out to California I was now heading east back to New Mexico. I left Kern Valley Airport, scouted one of the backcountry strips pacerpilot shared with me, and then across the Sierra Nevada Mountains.



As soon as I was across the mountains I dropped to the valley floor for fuel at Inyokern Airport which is tucked right up against a Restricted Area. In fact, if you weren't paying attention it would be pretty easy to be looking at China Lake NAWS airport (and land there) instead of Inyokern. That would certainly put a hitch in one's giddyup. A short time later Nevada and lot's of weaving corridors between restricted areas.


Then Northern Arizona.


Fuel in Williams Arizona. This is a great place to stop and spend some time. Gun fights in the streets of Williams, a Steam Train ride to the Grand Canyon (during which robbers will board the train), and if that's not enough Route 66 goes through the center of Williams. And if you don't know what Route 66 is, well, your life will never be complete no matter how long you live.


A little further east and you are in Sedona Arizona. Stunning country and people who have been in the sun WAY too long.





On to the Holbrook area.


And a big high desert storm that didn't look too bad. In fact I considered flying under the edge of it to wash the 200 billion bugs off my plane. At least right up to the point I noticed three "dust devils" that went from the ground right up into the clouds. I say dust devils because there was no funnel, just a devil going straight up some 500 feet or so. Oh, and just past them I saw a bunch of big dust clouds along the ground except instead of just blowing along the ground they were blowing up into the clouds. "Hmm" I thought, perhaps I should wash the plane somewhere else. I took this photo of what I saw but you can't really make it out.

I got around that storm and headed into New Mexico and my favorite city Santa Fe where I planned to stay a day or two, eat some of the best food I've ever had, check on the progress of my hats, and just do some general relaxing before continuing.





After my stay in Santa Fe I made the arduous one hour flight to Durango Colorado, another pf my favorite cities. Even though Durango is a ski town (sort of) it's not pretentious like other Colorado ski towns. You won't see Ferraris and Bimbos, thouth you may very well sit down next to a millionaire at the Durango diner. But you won't know it cause they are dressed and act like everyone else. I include this picture because it's nearly the same same as the best donut store anywhere "The Moose Is Loose" located right here in Soldotna.


I was hoping to get some fly-fishing in but all the rivers were high and muddy because of the unseasonably early spring runoff. So I settled for my second favorite thing to do in Durango, and that's ride the Durango & Silverton steam train up the Animas Canyon. Steam trains are a big thing to me so I ride them whenever I can.




I left Durango headed for Idaho and passed by the top end of another of my favorite destinations, Mesa Verde National Park.

Kim and I happened to be in Chama NM last fall and took the opportunity to ride the Cumbres and Toltec steam train. The Aspen were in all their glorious fall colors and it was absolutely beautiful! Rode most of the way in the open deck car; you could reach out and touch the trees.

That's a great steam train trip as well!

After leaving New Mexico was Utah. In particular MOAB.


But then I got sidetracked with Lake Powell.




After that diversion was Bryce Canyon.




Then I came across this. From far off I wondered if it was a mountain covered in salt. Up close not sure what it is, but it's different than everywhere around it.


More interesting UTAH terrain.


Then Idaho, Twin Falls area.


I continued up past Boise, where I learned to fly in 1981, and landed Nampa for fuel (a much better choice then Caldwell just a spit north as Caldwell has all kind of training traffic). My takeoff was less than stellar and I'm blaming it on the 172 in front of me, couldn't possibly have anything to do with me.

Great TR, Phil. Keep the pictures coming!

Next stop was Coeur D'Alene ID, but as I mentioned earlier there was a high wind storm blocking my way that I couldn't go under or around. Right below me was Lewiston so I decided to land there for the night. That's also where the crash truck came out in case they needed to put out the fire and police up the bodies.

Veronica, at Hillcrest Aircraft the local FBO, came out and treated the plane, made hotel arrangements (with a good discounted rate) and gave us a crew car to use for the night. Fantastic FBO and thanks again Veronica. The next morning the 185 was topped off and as we were about to leave we met a fellow BCP'r "Pheasant feather" who then introduced me to another pilot on the field who actually is one of the six of us that is flying to Russia in June. What a small world.

Lewiston is a beautiful little city, very clean, and homeless drug addict free (at least we never saw a one). We really liked it.




Lewiston sits right next to the Snake River and as soon as we took off we were over Washington which was mostly rolling hills and farm land.


Eventually we got to these big rocks we had to cross.


And on the other side was some great looking sand bars.



At this point I'd like to say that all along this trip, in every state and province, I saw all kinds of cool off airport places to explore and none of them with tire tracks on them. Why aren't you folks using them? Or maybe you are and just sweeping the tire tracks away leaving no evidence.

Next stop was Abbotsford British Columbia to clear customs. A phone call and we were on our way to Langley, just ten or so miles further where we met up with another BCP'r "175 magnum" who graciously took us out to lunch. After lunch it was time to figure out how to get out of all this controlled airspace. I'll admit I was just a bit nervous cause I had to get from the lower right arrow to the upper left arrow without getting any one pissed off or getting escorted to the ground by a fighter jet.


175 magnum came to the rescue showing me the route he takes, the radio frequencies, and the positions to change course. He kept me from having to talk with Vancouver Intl by having me talk with Vancouver Harbor instead. Was a simple exit and I'll say that the NavCanada controllers were fantastic, helpful, and patient.

And now began the coastal route flight from Vancouver to the Kenai Peninsula. Clearing U.S. Customs and stop for the night will be Ketchikan Alaska. And the weather was perfect.



Prince Rupert was the last stop in British Columbia. A beautiful commercial airport terminal and exactly two people there, and no airplanes.


A short hop from Prince Rupert and we are on our approach to Ketchikan. Both town and airport are on different islands (like Prince Rupert) and a seaplane runway is between them.



A ferry ride from the airport to the town (we got a crew car from Aero Services). In a few weeks cruise ships will be docking here.


The following morning, before leaving for what should have been the last leg of the trip, I had breakfast with Sam Dalin of Dalin Charters & Guiding. I'd hunted Black Bear with Sam back in 2008. Was great to catch up with him.

After breakfast we took off into a day the was even more beautiful than the day before, leaving Ketchikan behind us.

Awesome photos, loved seeing Morro bay from the air, one of my favourite places. Feel free to stop in on the way home if you need a shower and a bed. Gillies bay, 35 miles SE of Campbell River.