Back Sliding

Actually, going nowhere at all.
As you know, Path is in for annual which should have been close to complete. Except a little problem. An instrument called the Turn Coordinator had failed. A new one ordered. Except it was the wrong one, and the correct one will cost $1,000 more than originally thought. You can imagine my response to that little bit of news. My A&P had mercy on me and figured out a less expensive solution – remove the bad one, ship it to the manufacturer and get it rebuilt. Considerable savings. No flying for at least another two weeks. I’d like to hope for bad weather, but that wouldn’t be fair to my fellow pilots. Grounded so getting in extra walking – did 5.6 yesterday.

Here’s a nasty bit of weather near Reno from a trip last year. I flew in a different direction!

Annual

Last evening, Ed called and said, “I was at the airport and saw Path being strip searched.”

Path is currently “In Annual”. This means he’s spending a week with my A&P (aircraft mechanic).
Once a year, all General Aviation aircraft must undergo an Annual Inspection. This is not optional. If the Annual is completed in the month of January, then the following year the inspection must be completed by the end of January or it’s illegal to fly the plane.

During this time, his seats are removed, and floor carpeting taken out so that inspection ports in the floor can be accessed. Similar ports in the wings will be opened. The Cowl (hood) will be removed to facilitate engine area checks which include spark plugs, oil, starter and compression tests. Each and every moving part of the plane is examined, including the wires that connect flight controls inside the cockpit to the flight surfaces they operate.

Each model of airplane has a specific list of items that need to be scrutinized, tested and replaced or repaired at set intervals. There are a number of log books that belong to the plane. One each for the engine, prop and airframe into which the A&P makes entries as to the exact work completed. These logs are kept and are passed on to each owner so a complete history of the airplane is available. Path is over 40 years old and I own his logs for this entire time.

Expertise, time, and parts do not come cheaply. An A&P does not simply hang up a sign and start working on planes. They have years of training and must be certified. Of course, I consider it money well-spent for two reasons. One, it’s the law. Two, a well maintained plane is a safe plane. It’s painful to the pocketbook but soothing to the peace of mind.

A New Year of Adventure Begins

Number One. Intergalactic Bi-Plane.

After long weeks of dark, wet, dripping NW winter the sun came out. Yippeee! January 1, 2011. Temps in the teens, but I’m not complaining. Path, however, does not like to start when it’s cold. I nearly gave up, had to re-charge his battery, but finally – success. Up into the crystalline air with visibility over 100 miles. Ed is with me again, and we’re going north along the eastern edge of the Olympic Range, following Hood Canal to the NE corner of the Olympic Peninsula. We count mountain peaks on the way and even though I’ve seen them thousands of times, marvel at their majesty. At Jefferson County airport we enjoy lunch at the Spruce Goose Cafe, managing to grab the last empty table. Note for local pilots: The renovations are not huge, but the new deck includes a wind screen that does not block the view and should help keep lunch from blowing away. Ladies: The new bathroom is good.

A different route is selected for homeward – down the west side of the Olympic Range, which Ed has never seen. Oh, and see it we did. The light was just right (3:30 pm) The air was glass so I flew right in among the peaks. I’ve put a few photos here, but they truly do not convey what our eyes beheld.

CloseCloser

At home, I eagerly downloaded the photos and found this unexplained extra which to me looks like a golden Bi-Plane. Since I know Path was the only plane up there, I dubbed it not UFO, but Intergalactic Bi-Plane, thus identified!


Flight time: to Lunch 83 nm (nautical miles) – 40 minutes.
Home via Olympics: 149 nm – 1.5 hours

Lone Pine California

I stopped here on my way to AZ September of 2009. Why? Because the movie “Tremors” was filmed just south of town. It was my intention to land for a quick break and then try to spot the filming location as I departed. Approaching the area, flying down the Owens valley from the North, I spotted the Alabama Hills laying northwest of town. One of the most amazing mass of rock formations I’d ever seen, anywhere.

Finding a courtesy car available at O26 I decided that a quick drive for a closer look would be worthwhile. In no time I realized that this area required me to devote the entire day to exploration. I found a modestly priced, clean room and got pointers from the locals on where to go and what to see.
Alabama Hills.
Movies have been filmed here from the early days of Bogart, Hop Along Cassidy, and John Wayne to Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood. There is a museum/theatre in town that does festivals of films made in Lone Pine. Unfortunately it was closed the day I was there. Driving into and among the hills, I kept taking photos of the rock formations and would say “no more” until around a corner would be another view I just had to try and capture.

I came across a film crew but my curiosity was NOT appreciated, and they shooed me away after admitting it was a car commercial being filmed. I had snapped this photo before they accosted me, and figure it’s long enough ago that my sharing now couldn’t make any difference. Anyone recognize what kind of car this is?

Mt. Whitney.
I snapped this mountain when driving out of the airport. It was later in the day that I was told it’s very popular with climbers and extreme hikers. Oh, that explains all those buff young men in town!
Directed to the road leading to Whitney I drove up and up on a narrow, just barely two-lane strip cut out of the side of the foot-mountains (too big to be foothills). One mistake here and it’s goodbye – no guard rails and a long way down.
To put a perfect end on the day I took myself out to the local upscale dinner house, Seasons. Table cloths, candlelight and food every bit as delicious as the scenery I’d taken in all day. Chocolate mousse cheesecake for dessert.

This is a place I intend to re-visit when I’m traveling with my camper so I can stay and explore to my heart’s content.

Roosts

We fly over and spot them as waypoints as we travel. We touch down and visit for a rest break, fuel, or to visit for an hour or a day. We call our roosts airports and they are very special places.

Gateways to adventure.

Orcas Island, San Juans.

Places we land to camp where others cannot.

Cavanaugh Bay, Priest Lake ID

Daybreak, WA

Enjoy a meal while watching planes come and go.

Flying M, OR. Favorite brunch spot!

Opportunities to meet new people, visit friends and family.

Thompson Falls, MT. Love this place.

Each airport offers its own challenge, be it wind, terrain, length/condition of runway or heavy traffic.

At the end of a long trip coming home, the sight of that strip of concrete, patch of grass or that welcoming beacon at night say “Here I am, come home and Roost.”

Trying something new here..

I found a new toy! Can't resist playing and sharing.

CampHouse Trip #1

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