FLYING AROUND THE UNITED STATES IN MY CHEROKEE 140

46 Stops, 17 States

2008-10-01T20:54:00.004-05:00

All I can say is that is it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Our great country is beautiful, but even more so from the bird's eye view that pilots are privileged to enjoy.

From		To	Initial Heading		Distance
46 segment path:					5704 mi
	ROG (36°22'20"N 94°06'25"W)	KRAW (38°20'49"N 93°20'44"W)	16°	(N)	142 mi
	KRAW (38°20'49"N 93°20'44"W)	IRK (40°05'37"N 92°32'42"W)	19°	(N)	128 mi
	IRK (40°05'37"N 92°32'42"W)	IOW (41°38'24"N 91°32'50"W)	25°	(NE)	119 mi
	IOW (41°38'24"N 91°32'50"W)	SFY (42°02'45"N 90°06'29"W)	68°	(E)	79 mi
	SFY (42°02'45"N 90°06'29"W)	57C (42°47'50"N 88°22'21"W)	59°	(NE)	103 mi
	57C (42°47'50"N 88°22'21"W)	MTW (44°07'44"N 87°40'50"W)	20°	(N)	98 mi
	MTW (44°07'44"N 87°40'50"W)	4R5 (46°47'19"N 90°45'31"W)	321°	(NW)	237 mi
	4R5 (46°47'19"N 90°45'31"W)	GPZ (47°12'40"N 93°30'35"W)	283°	(W)	133 mi
	GPZ (47°12'40"N 93°30'35"W)	HIB (47°23'12"N 92°50'20"W)	68°	(E)	34 mi
	HIB (47°23'12"N 92°50'20"W)	TVF (48°03'56"N 96°11'06"W)	287°	(W)	163 mi
	TVF (48°03'56"N 96°11'06"W)	48Y (48°59'59"N 95°58'57"W)	8°	(N)	65 mi
	48Y (48°59'59"N 95°58'57"W)	PMB (48°56'33"N 97°14'27"W)	266°	(W)	57 mi
	PMB (48°56'33"N 97°14'27"W)	06D (48°53'04"N 99°37'15"W)	268°	(W)	108 mi
	06D (48°53'04"N 99°37'15"W)	S28 (48°59'52"N 100°02'36"W)	292°	(W)	21 mi
	S28 (48°59'52"N 100°02'36"W)	D09 (48°49'49"N 100°25'02"W)	235°	(SW)	21 mi
	D09 (48°49'49"N 100°25'02"W)	ISN (48°10'41"N 103°38'32"W)	254°	(W)	155 mi
	ISN (48°10'41"N 103°38'32"W)	OLF (48°05'40"N 105°34'30"W)	267°	(W)	90 mi
	OLF (48°05'40"N 105°34'30"W)	GGW (48°12'45"N 106°36'53"W)	280°	(W)	49 mi
	GGW (48°12'45"N 106°36'53"W)	HVR (48°32'35"N 109°45'44"W)	280°	(W)	147 mi
	HVR (48°32'35"N 109°45'44"W)	HLN (46°36'25"N 111°58'58"W)	218°	(SW)	169 mi
	HLN (46°36'25"N 111°58'58"W)	MSO (46°54'59"N 114°05'26"W)	282°	(W)	102 mi
	MSO (46°54'59"N 114°05'26"W)	COE (47°46'28"N 116°49'10"W)	295°	(NW)	141 mi
	COE (47°46'28"N 116°49'10"W)	3W7 (47°55'19"N 119°04'59"W)	276°	(W)	106 mi
	3W7 (47°55'19"N 119°04'59"W)	EAT (47°23'53"N 120°12'21"W)	235°	(SW)	64 mi
	EAT (47°23'53"N 120°12'21"W)	KPLU (47°06'14"N 122°17'14"W)	259°	(W)	100 mi
	KPLU (47°06'14"N 122°17'14"W)	MMV (45°11'40"N 123°08'09"W)	197°	(S)	138 mi
	MMV (45°11'40"N 123°08'09"W)	77S (43°55'51"N 123°00'26"W)	175°	(S)	87 mi
	77S (43°55'51"N 123°00'26"W)	GCD (44°24'10"N 118°58'00"W)	79°	(E)	203 mi
	GCD (44°24'10"N 118°58'00"W)	LKV (42°09'40"N 120°23'57"W)	205°	(SW)	171 mi
	LKV (42°09'40"N 120°23'57"W)	SVE (40°22'32"N 120°34'22"W)	184°	(S)	124 mi
	SVE (40°22'32"N 120°34'22"W)	O43 (39°00'15"N 119°09'29"W)	140°	(SE)	121 mi
	O43 (39°00'15"N 119°09'29"W)	BIH (37°22'23"N 118°21'49"W)	158°	(S)	121 mi
	BIH (37°22'23"N 118°21'49"W)	L06 (36°27'38"N 116°52'47"W)	127°	(SE)	103 mi
	L06 (36°27'38"N 116°52'47"W)	0L7 (35°46'06"N 115°19'47"W)	118°	(SE)	99 mi
	0L7 (35°46'06"N 115°19'47"W)	BXK (33°25'14"N 112°41'10"W)	136°	(SE)	221 mi
	BXK (33°25'14"N 112°41'10"W)	AVQ (32°24'34"N 111°13'06"W)	128°	(SE)	110 mi
	AVQ (32°24'34"N 111°13'06"W)	E95 (31°59'59"N 110°21'28"W)	119°	(SE)	58 mi
	E95 (31°59'59"N 110°21'28"W)	LSB (32°20'00"N 108°41'30"W)	76°	(E)	100 mi
	LSB (32°20'00"N 108°41'30"W)	T27 (31°43'11"N 106°14'13"W)	105°	(E)	150 mi
	T27 (31°43'11"N 106°14'13"W)	PEQ (31°22'57"N 103°30'39"W)	97°	(E)	163 mi
	PEQ (31°22'57"N 103°30'39"W)	BBD (31°10'45"N 99°19'26"W)	92°	(E)	248 mi
	BBD (31°10'45"N 99°19'26"W)	KBMQ (30°44'20"N 98°14'19"W)	114°	(SE)	71 mi
	KBMQ (30°44'20"N 98°14'19"W)	T74 (30°34'22"N 97°26'35"W)	103°	(E)	49 mi
	T74 (30°34'22"N 97°26'35"W)	T12 (30°38'48"N 93°54'54"W)	87°	(E)	210 mi
	T12 (30°38'48"N 93°54'54"W)	OPL (30°33'30"N 92°05'58"W)	92°	(E)	108 mi
	OPL (30°33'30"N 92°05'58"W)	ROG (36°22'20"N 94°06'25"W)	344°	(N)	417 mi

Code	Source	Location
ROG	FAA	Rogers [Muni-Carter Field], AR, US
KRAW	FAA	Warsaw [Muni], MO, US
IRK	FAA	Kirksville [Kirksville Regional Airport], MO, US
IOW	FAA	Iowa City [Muni], IA, US
SFY	FAA	Savanna [Tri-Township Airport], IL, US
57C	FAA	East Troy [Muni], WI, US
MTW	FAA	Manitowoc [Manitowoc County Airport], WI, US
4R5	FAA	La Pointe [Madeline Island Airport], WI, US
GPZ	FAA	Grand Rapids [Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport-Gordon Newstrom Field], MN, US
HIB	FAA	Hibbing [Chisholm-Hibbing Airport], MN, US
TVF	FAA	Thief River Falls [Thief River Falls Regional Airport], MN, US
48Y	FAA	Pinecreek [Piney Pinecreek Border Airport], MN, US
PMB	FAA	Pembina [Muni], ND, US
06D	FAA	Rolla [Muni], ND, US
S28	FAA	Dunseith [Intl Peace Garden Airport], ND, US
D09	FAA	Bottineau [Muni], ND, US
ISN	FAA	Williston [Sloulin Field Intl], ND, US
OLF	FAA	Wolf Point [L M Clayton Airport], MT, US
GGW	FAA	Glasgow [Wokal Field/Glasgow Intl], MT, US
HVR	FAA	Havre [Havre City-County Airport], MT, US
HLN	FAA	Helena [Helena Regional Airport], MT, US
MSO	FAA	Missoula [Intl], MT, US
COE	FAA	Coeur d'Alene [Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal], ID, US
3W7	FAA	Electric City [Grand Coulee Dam Airport], WA, US
EAT	FAA	Wenatchee [Pangborn Memorial Airport], WA, US
KPLU	FAA	Puyallup [Pierce County Airport - Thun Field], WA, US
MMV	FAA	Mc Minnville [Muni], OR, US
77S	FAA	Creswell [Hobby Field Airport], OR, US
GCD	FAA	John Day [Grant County Regional Airport/Ogilvie Field], OR, US
LKV	FAA	Lakeview [Lake County Airport], OR, US
SVE	FAA	Susanville [Muni], CA, US
O43	FAA	Yerington [Muni], NV, US
BIH	FAA	Bishop [Eastern Sierra Regional Airport], CA, US
L06	FAA	Death Valley National Park [Furnace Creek Airport], CA, US
0L7	FAA	Jean, NV, US
BXK	FAA	Buckeye [Muni], AZ, US
AVQ	FAA	Tucson [Marana Regional Airport], AZ, US
E95	FAA	Benson [Muni], AZ, US
LSB	FAA	Lordsburg [Muni], NM, US
T27	FAA	El Paso [Horizon Airport], TX, US
PEQ	FAA	Pecos [Muni], TX, US
BBD	FAA	Brady [Curtis Field Airport], TX, US
KBMQ	FAA	Burnet [Muni-Kate Craddock Field], TX, US
T74	FAA	Taylor [Muni], TX, US
T12	FAA	Kirbyville, TX, US
OPL	FAA	Opelousas [St. Landry Parish Airport-Ahart Field], LA, US

THE REAL REASON I CAME HOME

2008-10-01T19:14:00.002-05:00

Is going from a Cherokee to a Mooney a step up or a step down???
You are looking at one happy young man.....
Romeo is confused, she sleeps outside for 23 nights, sleeps in her hanger for 2 nights and then some stranger is in her hanger while she is made to sleep outside.

3 Reasons I Came Home To Rogers

2008-10-01T18:15:00.003-05:00

There were several reasons I came home .

#1 Tannis was missing me so much...I can't stand to hear a grown woman cry....
#2 I was posting these bulletins on every airport for my friend Don Williams and I ran out of posters.
#3 My pilot friend Jim Hillabrand was suffering severe depression, he wanted to do a flight of 2 on my trip but he didn't think either of his planes would make the trip....I went, he couldn't = depression.

I have told him he needs a CHEROKEE...He might trade both of the planes in his hanger for a good CHEROKEE.

MY UNUSUAL LOG

2008-10-01T10:16:00.003-05:00

Bragging rights......been there done there.
Everywhere I landed someone signed my cowling...

The signature of my son when I landed at Rogers...note the Mooney 201PX at the end. What is that all about???? Check my blog tomorrow for details.

65.3 HOURS LOGGED

2008-10-01T09:35:00.002-05:00

When I landed my son Bodie was there to sign my cowling....
A very tired, but happy pilot....
Romeo will get to sleep inside for the first time in 24 days....

Getting Close to Home.....ROG

2008-10-01T09:22:00.002-05:00

I have seen some beautiful country on the first leg of my trip...BUT...

NW AR. is beautiful also....to all my pilot friends who have been following my adventure, you have the offer to come to visit our beautiful area....room and board provided....I will make you a gumbo.

North OF OPL, 6500 Ft 8 AM Beautiful

2008-09-30T19:36:00.003-05:00

Morning flying is very hard to beat!!!

Unless it is evening flying.....or middle of the day flying...or night flying....flying is always GOOD.
If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.
(Bob Hoover)

Opelousas LA. OPL

2008-09-30T19:16:00.002-05:00

I landed at Opelousa for fuel.

It was getting late, I was going to fly on to New Orleans area and spend the night.

There were some issues with the fuel pump, so I decided to just spend the night. Well as luck would have it, all the motel rooms in the area were taken because of the hurricane several weeks ago.
But that was no problem for the prepared, cross country traveller, I had a pilots lounge with high speed internet, a nice couch for my sleeping bag, a good book to read, Without Fail by Lee Child.......all the comforts of home. Life is good.

Airplane Cockpit

2008-09-30T18:53:00.002-05:00

This is what us pilots are looking at as we fly.

This is a Garmin 496, see the little airplane on the screen? That shows my position. With the GPS I am able to program in where I want to go, the GPS draws a line to that place. You can also subscribe to real time weather on the 496...
My 140 has a very clean, easy to use panel.

When a flight is proceeding incredibly well, something was forgotten.
(Robert Livingston, "Flying The Aeronca")

KITFOX

2008-09-29T21:35:00.002-05:00

When I landed in Lordsburg,NM there was a KITFOX there.

I went to lunch and to visit the ghost town, when I got back the KITFOX was gone.
My next stop was in El Paso, Horizon City. When I landed, there was the KITFOX again.

I met the proud new owners, Marilynn and George McDowell, they are from Houston, TX. they bought the KITFOX in California and were flying it home.

They left and I visited the musuem. I decided to fly some more, I headed to Pecos TX. to spend the night. When I was about 20 out and called in to the unicom, who do you think was doing the same. Yep, it was the KITFOX. We shared a courtesy car and found the last 2 rooms in Pecos.

Kirbyville, TX.

2008-09-29T21:22:00.002-05:00

I stopped in Kirbyville, TX. to have Sunday lunch with my cousins, Mercedes and Thomas Hall.
As you can see, their idea of traveling is completely different from mine...give me my Cherokee any day of the week....to each his own....they have a beautiful motor home.

Taylor ,TX. T74

2008-09-29T21:04:00.003-05:00

I was really getting tired, it was getting close to dark. I did not have a stopping place planned.

I heard some chatter on the unicom, so I ask a local pilot if there was an airport in the area that had a hotel with in walking distance of the runway....He sent me to Taylor. It was a great choice.

Very nice motel, 50 yards from the runway....wonderful Mexican restaurant.......mark it on your sectional if you are in the area and need a place to eat or sleep.

I met Stacie there, she is a student pilot with 14 hours, she is about to solo...

C.A.F. Will Be At The Little Rock AR. Airshow

2008-09-28T08:31:00.002-05:00

The C.A.F. will be at the Little Rock Airshow in Oct. or you can come to Burnet, TX. and see their planes........
The C.A.F. will be at the Little Rock Airshow next month.........or you can come to Burnet, TX. was view them at their hanger.....

Lake Buchanan, Colorado River BMQ

2008-09-28T08:19:00.003-05:00

Hot and hazy...8 miles

COCKPIT VIEW AT 4500' NEAR BRADY TX.

2008-09-27T21:14:00.001-05:00

THIS IS WHAT AN AIRPORT BUM LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION....

OIL WELLS EAST OF REGAN CO. TX E41

2008-09-27T21:01:00.002-05:00

The white spots are oil wells.......I know the pilots in the area may find these pictures boring but just think about the pilots that have never flown this area....they will love them.

More Pecos History

2008-09-27T20:51:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of history in Pecos TX.

2008-09-27T20:35:00.001-05:00

El Paso To Pecos, TX PEQ. Lonesome Country

2008-09-27T07:44:00.004-05:00

There were no towns, airports no anything for this 165 mile stretch.

Talk about lonesome and open....I now know what people are talking about when they talk about West TX.

being open.

Horizon/El Paso, TX. T27

2008-09-27T07:32:00.002-05:00

We have come a long ways in the computer world....
This plane made a crash landing here and just stayed.

This is an open air pilot's lounge.

Lordsburg, NM. KLSB

2008-09-27T07:14:00.002-05:00

Anne Lee, the airport manager at Lordsburg, NM. Super nice lady.
I stopped here of visit this ghost town but it was closed....

This is hot, lonesome, windy country.

Stops I Have Made So Far and Some Pilot Thoughts

2008-09-26T08:48:00.004-05:00

This gives you a general idea of the areas I have flown over. Every red dot is a place I have landed. But in reality it is not my exact path.

In the mountains I could not fly straight from point a to point b. I usually was following a road or a river. When I get home and have more time I will plot my exact course.

Some thoughts about my trip.

I think one of the most enjoyable things about this adventure is the fact that I have not had a definite planned route. I try to find a local pilot and tell him my general direction and ask for a place of interest in that direction....it has worked out real well using this approach.....no one knows an area better than local pilots....

I have taken 100's of pictures....but I am covering of much real estate that when I start looking at the pictures, I don't know the exact spot I took them....To fix this problem I started writing in my log book the area I took the picture in, this has really helped.

I had planned to camp some, but at the end of the day the lure of a good bed and hot shower has been overwhelming....a sure sign of OLD age. Believe it or not, serious airport bumming is exhausting.

The AOPA feature on the 496 is helpful but not always accurate, I have stopped at several places where courtesy cars were [according to the data base ] but there were none.

As for eating, I try to get a good breakfast, lunch in the plane is usually a banana, then I look for a good dinner......[GORDY at Rolla,ND had spicy cheese crackers at his FBO...I should have never bought a box...bet you can't eat just one]

Tannis, my wife, send me a e-mail suggesting I should start toward home...What were those famous words I remember from school....."WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT'. "I HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FLY". If that makes any sense.....BTY, Tannis please sell some real estate....I might be needing some funds soon......your loving husband.

GOD BLESS THE INVENTOR OF THE 496 WITH WX

2008-09-25T21:44:00.003-05:00

I flew over Tucson, going to Tombstone, AZ. the weather was 10 miles and clear.

I was flying valleys at 4500, so you can't see around the mountains.

I noticed about 40 miles out on the 496 some yellow and orange that came out of nowhere.

Guys this was a beautiful.....

I barely got Romeo tied down before the bottom fell out.

These 2 pictures were from the air, needless to say I was looking for an airport.

MARANA, AZ. AVC

2008-09-25T21:29:00.002-05:00

I stopped here today for several hours because the FBO had hi speed Internet.

This is hot dry country...dusty...windy

I had head winds today of 30-40....

This is a nice place to visit but I don't think I could get use to the weather...

Happy Birthday To ME

2008-09-25T17:08:00.003-05:00

From Vegas I was headed to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
I called the family newspaper, Junior Crehan, and he informed me that we had family in the Phoenix AZ area.....so what is the Grand Canyon compared to family that you haven't seen in 20 plus years.....
Here is Harmoni, my second cousin,that I had never met......she signed my cowling.

They gave me a surprise party, turned 56 today...9/25/52

Uncle Earl, Aunt Ruth, Peter Lewis and his family............

JEAN NV.......OL7

2008-09-25T17:01:00.003-05:00

For the cross country pilot you can't beat this place....the casino built an airport right by their building....$35 room, wonderful food......very convenient......$3 Margaretta's

FURNACE CITY....DEATH VALLEY

2008-09-25T16:54:00.002-05:00

46R landed minus 214 below sea level

BISHOP CA. BIH

2008-09-25T16:45:00.003-05:00

Ken the airport manger signing my cowling.

In 1903 three things of importance happened, #1 Ford Motor Co. started, Harley Davidson Motorcycle Co. was started and ERICK SCHAT'S BAKKERY was started..
This place is awesome.....home of the chili cheese bread.

Walker Lake in NV.

2008-09-25T16:39:00.002-05:00

Everything is prettier from the air...this is the area around Walker Lake in NV.

YERINGTON NV. HOME OF PERI and SONS FARM

2008-09-25T16:26:00.003-05:00

I saw some unusual things in Yerington,NV.
#1 The 10 commandments at the court house entrance......GOD bless America.
#2 A business that did not want more business.

At the airport I met Jessica Cummings, her family owns Peri & Sons Farms. They grow SWEETIE SWEET ONIONS.

Jessica found it hard to believe that I had been traveling for weeks in "that little plane".

Susanville, CA. KSVE

2008-09-25T16:16:00.005-05:00

I have not had Internet connection for several days now, so I am playing catch up.

If you are a pilot you will love this list of the 33 GREATEST AVIATION LIES.
You can double click on it to make it larger..

Lake County, OR LKV 9/22/09

2008-09-25T16:09:00.003-05:00

You never know what you will see when you land at an airport!!!!

For you young whipper-snapper pilots....look at picture # 3.......not many of those around .......it is still used by the airport...very accurate.

Prairie City to Lake County, Co. LKV 9/22/08

2008-09-25T15:57:00.004-05:00

The area around Burns Or. is beautiful....
Very high and dry, when they water the ground it produces beautiful green alfalfa. [picture #2]

This is Albert Lake....

GUMBO AT PRAIRIE CITY,OR.

2008-09-25T15:39:00.003-05:00

Here I am trying to teach Russ to make gumbo.
You will notice Millie found him
a shirt that kinda 1/2 way matched his pants.

He was no more help with the gumbo than he was changing the oil in my plane.

Oil Change At Prairie City, OR.

2008-09-21T13:49:00.002-05:00

I can usually change my oil in about an hour or so....today I had Russ helping...
It took about 3 hours......

But how much help can a guy be that dresses like this.....
And collects BARBIE DOLLS!!!!

Strawberry Mt. Prairie City, OR.

2008-09-21T13:33:00.002-05:00

This is Strawberry Mt. the top is 9994 ft. above sea level.

We climbed to 8500 ft.

From Creswell To Prairie City, OR

2008-09-21T13:11:00.003-05:00

It was very smokey coming across the Cascades because of the fires down to the south.

Just look at the 140 climb..9000 and climbing.

In the last picture off the tip of my wing you can barely see the mts. called the 3 sisters.....they are about 10,600 MSL.

The Reason I Am Off Course

2008-09-21T10:05:00.002-05:00

I found out that I had some friends that I had not seen in over 25 years that lived in Prairie City, Or.

I flew just a little [ A LOT ] out of the way to surprise them. A real friend thinks nothing of crossing the Cascade Mts. to visit a friend.

I have been here for 3 days...will stay until they run me off....Millie is probably the best cook in the world.

I have also stayed to try to help Russ, I have about decided that he is beyond help.

I can understand why they moved here...it is beautiful.

Crestwell,OR. 778 46 Belllanca FOR SALE

2008-09-21T09:11:00.005-05:00

I spent Wed. night, the 17th, at Crestwell Or. A beautiful little town with a busy little airport. I was told there are 128 planes based there.

I bummed there all morning waiting for the weather to let me over the mountains to the east.

While bumming I met a nice guy with a 46 Bellanca for sale. Larry is an A&P, he has had his Bellanca for 17 years....and it is beautiful.....

Larry's # is 541-344-5107

Am I Lost??? Off Course??? Did my GPS Malfunction?

2008-09-20T21:18:00.002-05:00

Looks like I am a little off course....

I think my GPS is malfunctioning....

I am suppose to be following the coast.

For My Friend Joey Travis, All State Insurance

2008-09-20T20:31:00.003-05:00

Joey you would be in hunters heaven here in Prairie City, OR.

When I landed there was a herd of deer on the airport.
There are quail in the streets, deer every where you look.

I am thinking you should move your beer camp.....sorry I meant to say your deer camp up here.

For Andrea....Barn Pictures...

2008-09-20T20:16:00.002-05:00

My daughter, Andrea, loves pictures of old barns....these are from PRAIRIE CITY, OR.

McMinnville OR. MMV TheSpruce Goose

2008-09-18T12:42:00.003-05:00

You can read about this plane, read the figures about it's size....but until you see it in person you cannot imagine how HUGE it is.

Howard Hughes had to be a genius!!!!!

Wed. Was A Tough Day For Flying

2008-09-18T10:22:00.007-05:00

After I crossed the Wenatchee Mountains yesterday it was like I was in a different world...you can see by the pictures that the visibility was really bad. They were calling it 5 miles.....but I don't think so.

This makes for real stressful flying. If you click on the pictures you can enlarge them.

Picture # 1 see the huge plane in the bottom corner?? What is doing flying that close to me???

If you enlarge the picture you can see in the bottom right corner several parachutes....I think they are at the military base near by.
I was trying to get to Oceanside Oregon to eat some clam chowder but the coast was fogged in. There is a line of hill in that area that run along the ocean. The hills hold the fog in place, the 3rd picture is of the fog up against the hills.

I think it is interesting that in every area of the country I have flown thru, pilots have different weather they have to deal with.......this area is unique without a doubt.

A pilot today told me this stuff can hang around for days.....I sure hope not. Right now I can look out my motel door here in Creswell and even tho the ceiling in 1900 ft. the mts. to the west are in the clouds..

Pierce County PLU

2008-09-18T08:33:00.014-05:00

This is Vivian, she works for [runs] Spana Flight. She just signed my cowling. Don she is holding one of your fliers .....[Don has an airpark at Turkey Mt. Mo. I am posting his fliers everywhere I land.]

This airport has a wonderful restaurant on the field, I don't mean a burger joint, I mean a nice sit down place with anything from steaks to seafood.

When I am in an area and see something unique on the menu that I have not eaten, I just automatically order that....I love to try new foods.

Well the country boy saw "PRAWNS" on the menua....O.K., never had that.

Well, prawns in Washington are fried shrimp in Ar.

From Wenatchee To Pierce County, Washington PLU

2008-09-18T08:33:00.011-05:00

Mt. Rainier in the back ground

Wenatchee Mountains....
For the country foke like me....this is a wind farm......hundreds of wind generators

Wenatchee, Washington EAT

2008-09-18T08:33:00.006-05:00

This is another beautiful place. The valley around the airport is filled with orchards....

Electric City Washington...Beautiful Place 3W7

2008-09-18T08:33:00.002-05:00

The approach to this airport is as beautiful as you will ever see!!! It is a pilot's dream. Courtesy car to get you to town for lunch or to visit the dam.

I slept in my sleeping bag in the pilots lounge...you can camp and fish on the airport.

I met the airport manager....great guy. I am going to say this is one of my FAVORITE stops this far into my trip.

Pictures Between Missoula and Coeur d Alene

2008-09-16T22:33:00.003-05:00

Pilots before you take your final flight, if you know what I mean....sell the kids, divorce the wife, quit the job, mortgage the house, rob the bank.....

Do what every you have to do, but get in your plane and airport bum across this GREAT UNITED STATES that we live in.
Basic Flying Rules: 1 Try to stay in the middle of the air. 2. Do not go near the edges of it. 3. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly in the edges.

Coeur d Alene ID. COE

2008-09-16T22:21:00.004-05:00

This airport is all about safety....pilots can fly in, get a nice meal, drink until you can't stand up and then stagger out to your plane and fly away.

A bar at an airport....why didn't I think of that.

The similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots? If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies. If ATC screws up, the pilot dies.

Monday Night IN MISSOULA, MT. MSO

2008-09-16T21:59:00.003-05:00

Monday night I stayed at NORTHSTAR AIR EXPRESS ,FBO, in Missoula, Mt.

They have a very nice pilots lounge with showers, beds, wi-fi, T.V., all the comforts of home. It was a first for me. Can now say I have been there done that.

They also have crew cars, if you need to go in town for supper.

All the people they were just absolutely wonderful.

You can see the pass/valley that I am following to get to Missoula....I am now a qualified Mt. pilot....any questions just ask. My best advice is to stay from the big rocks.

I did notice that my 496 is malfunctioning....all thru the mountains there is a black box that keeps popping up in the bottom left corner.....I will get it fixed when I get home.

The three most dangerous things in aviation: 1. A Doctor or Lawyer in a Cessna. 2. Two captains in a DC-9.

WASH DAY AT ELECTRIC CITY, WASHINGTON

2008-09-16T20:49:00.002-05:00

Every place I visit seems to have it's own type of beauty. You see a place and you think, It can't get any prettier than this.

Then you land at a place like 3w7 and you think....I'll just stay here.

I am going to spend the night on the airport......this place is breath taking beautiful.

This is what a confident pilot looks like......I HAVE FLOWN ACROSS THE ROCKIES....

IF you don't get your clothes dry at the laundry mat this is how you dry them.

GLASGLOW,MT. KGGW

2008-09-15T20:59:00.003-05:00

I spent Sunday night here. It is beautiful high country.

Monday I will do my first Mountain flying. It is pretty intimidating for a flat lander...

I have been quizzing pilots at every airport I stop at about routes to get across the mountains.....it will be fun.

Speed is life. Altitude is life insurance.

THE SOLUTION TO HIGH HANGER RENT

2008-09-15T20:42:00.002-05:00

If you are tired of paying the outrageously high hanger rent at your local FBO..

You may want to consider basing out of Wolf Point MT.

It only takes two things to fly: Airseed and money.

FLY-IN BREAKFAST IS BOTTINEAU, N.D. DO9

2008-09-15T20:29:00.004-05:00

Hey Jay, you didn't know you and your children were going to be on the Internet did you.....

This fly-in was on a Sunday, I think that is because this is farming country and everyone works on Saturdays.

It was a packed out event, 40/50 planes.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN S28

2008-09-15T20:18:00.004-05:00

This is a beautiful place, it is on the N.D./ Canada border.

PILOT STUFF

2008-09-14T20:20:00.004-05:00

19.4 HOURS

133 GAL. FUEL

7 GAL PER HOUR

AVERAGING 94.84 MPH

1 QUART OF OIL

Weathered in at Rolla ND.....

2008-09-13T14:33:00.003-05:00

The weather briefer this morning said I had 1800 and 10 miles....From the ground it did not look that good....but as pilots, you know that you can always count to the weather guys....

So I did what any good pilot would do.....go up and stick your nose in it to find out what it really was.The ceiling was 300 AGL... The system is suppose to move thru today and be nice for several days.
I have met some of the nicest guys here. Gordan [Gordy] Krech owns Rolla Flying Service. He insisted that I use his wife's car while I was here......Pilots are a very tight group..Thanks Gordy.

One of Gordy's pilots is a neat young guy, Jay Blessum, this is his first year to fly crop dusters.

I spent the entire morning asking them dumb questions about crop dusting....It is amazing what you don't know until you start asking questions....

With all this new found knowledge I think I will start me up a crop dusting business when I get back to Rogers,AR.......If I can get someone to start farming so I would have some crops to dust.

Jay told me about a breakfast fly-in tomorrow at Bottineau ND [Do9]....it is just west of where I am now. I think that will be my first stop tomorrow......I hope they are offering a prize for the pilot that came the greatest distance..

I would also like to stop at the International Peace Garden [S28] it just outside of Rolla. It is on the Canada/ND line.

Domenick, from the Cherokee Chat has sent me SOME very good directions on where to cross the mountains.....the mountain crossing will be a first for me.....THANKS DOMENICK

I have no cell phone coverage in this area of the country, so I e-mailed my wife Tannis and told her she should start shopping for a new husband.......I think I could do what I am doing for the rest of my life..........living a dream......airport bumming around the U.S.

A check ride ought to be like a skirt.
Short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover everything.

I LANDED IN CANADA TODAY

2008-09-12T20:04:00.005-05:00

Here are the places I landed today.

Had a nice headwind just about all day with the exception of when I was going straight north for about 65 miles to land in Canada.

I landed in Canada today,Piney Creek Border, 48Y. 1/2 the runway is in Canada, the other 1/2 is in U.S.

In the picture I am on the Canada side....Fuel there was the best price in the area...$4.99

I am in Rolla ND tonight. I must say I was surprised at how flat the country is thru here...

It is rich farming country.....At 3000 MSL I counted 48 tractors in the fields doing whatever they do this time of the year. How is that for something to do as you fly along, count tractors.

I was just about to get tired of swamps and rivers and lakes.....WI and MN in the north parts is scary flying.

I think I will sleep in Montana tomorrow night.

The difference between a duck and a co-pilot? The duck can fly.

MORE ON HIBBING

2008-09-12T09:59:00.003-05:00

"I Have nothing to do today, and all day to accomplish it...."

This is the nicest place......this is what my 140 looked like when I landed..

While I was tied down for 2 nights ....they put me in a hanger.....gave me a new paint job....put a powerflow on. What a great place.

I got up early this morning to beautiful blue skies at the motel, it is 3 miles or so from the airport....

Got here to 1/4 with fog. Still flogged in at 10.

The name of the wonderful FBO here is HIBBING FUELING FACILITY.....The nicest lady you will ever meet works here, MAUREEN BEEL..

All the comforts of home,T.V. wifi, a computer you can use, coffee, popcorn...

I still need some sectionals...

SOME FACTS ABOUT HIBBING, MINNESOTA

2008-09-11T16:58:00.005-05:00

First the important stuff.....

The FBO here is the friendliest I have met in my travels. I will get his name tomorrow and post it on my blog.

Aboot [about] see I am starting to type the way they talk up here.

There are more bars in this small town then all of NW AR.

My friend, Russell House, told me that if I stayed in this part of the country very long that I was going to have to learn to drink like a real man.

Well, I knew I wasn't going to fly today so last night I went past my 1 Margaretta limit and had 2. The second one was so good I celebrated and had a third.....I think I crawled back to my room.

FIRST PICTURE IS OF THE HULL RUST MINE, THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATE. I TOLD THE GUY AN THE LITTLE TOURIST OFFICE,"THAT SURE IS A BIG HOLE". HE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN DIGGING THE HOLE FOR OVER 120 YEARS.

Second picture is of the original town of Hibbing. The streets are there,sidewalk,concrete foundations, curb...they moved the entire town because it was to close to the mine for blasting..

I am going to stay in ND tomorrow night.......

PILOT STUFF

2008-09-11T09:56:00.004-05:00

A month ago I didn't know what a BLOG was....Now I am a BLOGGER.

This is Joe Holloway,working real hard to show me how to do all this stuff.

I met Joe at our local library, I was sitting there reading a flying magazine with one of my tee shirts with N6446R on the front. [I am vain, I just about won't wear it if it doesn't make a flying statement]

He said he would like to fly in a small plane..I took him flying, found him and instructor and he is hooked.

BTY....the 150 that crashed at Lost Bridge AR............guess who was flying it???? Sorry I can not answer that question, JOE might get mad at me.....

I am averaging 6.6 gallons per hr

Have logged 11.2

Today is my second day to be weather in.

Someone ask what kind of equipment I have in 46R. She is pretty well original. Just the basic stuff. I do have the 496 with weather.

No auto-pilot....I talked to a pilot at MTW who could not believe that I would fly this kind of a trip without an auto-pilot. I informed him that I wanted to log all my time and if I flew with an auto-pilot I could only log 1/2 of the time flown........

I left him with a very confused look.

My pilot side seat is in bad need of being rebuilt, as a result the right side of my butt suffers after an hour or so of flying. To fix the problem I am doing most of my flying from the right side.......In case some of you young pilots did not know it, that is why u have 2 yokes...for when your butt gets sore.

I should have ordered all the sectionals I needed before I left on my trip. I thought I would just pick them up on the way...not a good idea....

Will also go buy me an Altas map today, easier to see the big picture for flight planning.

I am finding that most airports have wifi......my how life has changed. You get out of your plane and the what do you say?? Do you have fuel?? NO,you say," do you have wifi".

This lap top stuff is all new to me....I am using Tannis's

Where to from here??? I don't have a clue....

I remember years ago Tannis and I were going to take 7/8 days to go on a flying trip. We loaded the plane and I told her to point in the direction she would like to fly. Bear in mind that Tannis can hardly figure out UP from DOWN [man I hope she isn't reading this section] much less north from south..

So she points north..away we go. Every day she would point. We went to NEB,SD,ND, Wy,Co,OK,AR, MO..........was a wonderful trip.

Just about how I am planning this trip........will head NW tomorrow.

Madeline Island WI. K4R5

2008-09-11T09:38:00.004-05:00

This is Madeline Island WI. I had planned on spending the night here.

I knew by the weather on my 496 that I would probably be weathered in for a day or so.

I called from the airport to one of the motels and was quoted $160 per night. I would much rather put that $160 into the fuel tanks.

BEAUTIFUL PLACE........

PICTURES OF MANITOWOC, WI......KMTW

2008-09-10T18:15:00.003-05:00

This is the sun coming up in Manitowoc over Lake Michigan...No doubt about it, this is one beautiful place.

By the way, to take this picture you have to be an early riser..

This is the USS Cobia......

Ducks and geese...
Some history....

As for living on a submarine....I think I will stick to the wild blue skies and flying.

STOPS I HAVE MADE ON MY ADVENTURE

2008-09-10T05:06:00.002-05:00

O.K. I need to get serious and cover some ground. But then on the other hand this trip in not about speed.....It is about enjoying the moment.

It is about living a dream I have had for almost 30 years, a dream I think most pilots have. It is about FLYING, with no purpose other than just the pure joy of being in the air....

Some guys hunt, some fish, some golf.....we fly. And we are a devoted tight nit group. I remember asking my wife ,Tannis, years ago what she thought about me being a pilot and flying.

Her reply surprised me, she said," I like it that you can do something that not many people can do". Pilots are vain but pilots wife's are also vain. We are an elite group......ENJOY YOUR PASSION EVERY TIME YOU GET A CHANCE.

Iowa City,Iowa To Manitowoc,WI

2008-09-09T19:17:00.004-05:00

Lake Michigan north of Chicago.....
Beautiful from the air.....

You can see Chicago in the background.
If I don't stop airport bumming so much it is going to take me forever to make this trip.

Tomorrow I will visit the Maritime Musuem before I hit the skies.

Greg thanks for the

IOWA CITY IOWA

2008-09-08T13:12:00.004-05:00

If you have to be weathered in , there is no better place than Iowa City,Iowa.

Mary and Jay Honech own/run the Alexis Park Inn. The inn is a stones throw from the airport and they keep a very nice van an the airport for pilots.

Note the background of the picture, that is just a taste of the decor here, every room has an aviation theme. I am in the Blackbird Suite [SR-71].

They also have a flight simulator you can fly and a library of over 150 aviation books.

Jay was telling me that on his web site you can watch all kinds of aviation movies.....check out his website, it is under my sponsors links.

This is PILOT HEAVEN......

As for the flight from Warsaw to Iowa City yesterday....after the fog in Warsaw burned off the ceiling was 1800 ft. with 10 miles visibility.....smooth and silk. About 50 miles north if Warsaw it became 3000 scattered.

I stopped at Kirksville Mo. I think I will plan on stopping about every 100 miles....it is very tempting to put down at ever airport I come to but I would be forever making my circle if I did that.

As for the questions concerning 46R and how she is running.....well the alternate is alternating, all 3 of the little gauges on the right side of the panel that have the green & red color, the little white things in the gauges are pointing to the green...I think that is a good thing??

The fan up front is blowing and keeping me nice and cool.

I could not get the wheels up yesterday so I just flew with them down.

This has nothing to do with flying , I saw this on a tee shirt today.

"IF I AM TALKING, YOU NEED TO BE TAKING NOTES"

DEPARTURE DAY,SEPT.6TH

2008-09-07T20:57:00.003-05:00

This is my pilot friend Jim Hillabrand putting the first name on my cowling, every place I land I will have someone sign their name and airport.

Jim has a Bonanza and a Cessna 152. We were planning on a flight of 2 around the U.S. but he did not feel that either of his planes were up to the trip.......He needs a good dependable plane like a Cherokee for an endeavor like this.....

I am told that as I was lifting off for my adventure that he was talking to me in sign language.........

This is Jim,Cindy,Tannis and myself.....enjoying the moment.

6446R loaded....everything needed for the journey....
My son-in-law Matt showing off his beautiful bride of almost 1 year, Andrea.
I will drop Tannis off at Warsaw Mo. to visit with our friend, Patti Wilson. I will spend the night with them and head toward Iowa City Iowa.

I AM IN WARSAW MISSOURI

2008-09-06T20:31:00.004-05:00

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE...

The fog around the lake area here will give me a late start today......but then how can you be late if you are not on a time schedule......duh

I think I really want to stop at Iowa City and spend the night at the motel there on the airport, the guys on my Cherokee chat page rave on about this place..so I think this is the plan for the day.

The airport here is Warsaw Mo. is new and very nice, high speed Internet,T.V. with movies in the lounge, a full kitchen.....all the comforts of home.....and a courtesy car. Will top off here, fuel is $4.60.

Life is GOOD.......

The weather kept me from leaving Rogers early today. We got wheels up at about 4. I am leaving Tannis here in Warsaw to visit with our good friend Patti Wilson.

My pilot friend, Jim Hillabrand will come and get her in his split tail Bonanza when she is ready to come home.

I will leave tomorrow and head in the direction of Chicago.

WHAT REAL WOMEN DO ON LABOR DAY

2008-09-01T11:01:00.003-05:00

THIS IS WHAT REAL WOMEN DO ON LABOR DAY.

My Plane Power alt. in installed. The front plate for the spinner should be in Tuesday.
MAYBE MY ADVENTURE WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK

LIFE IS ABOUT RISK/TAKING CHANCES

2008-08-27T20:57:00.003-05:00

I have been going thru a nightmare for 2 weeks now with my alternator problems. Two that were shipped to me had hair line cracks in them.....the one that was shipped to me Tuesday was the wrong alternator.

I found out thru my Cherokee Chat friends that I could buy a new alternator [plane power] at Quality Aircraft in Tulsa.

So today I was in desperate need of an airplane ride to Tulsa to pick up my new alternator.

The only pilot friend that I could find who could fly me today was Don Williams [owner of Turkey Mountain Airpark].

I was so desperate to get to Tulsa that I decided to RISK MY LIFE in his Bonanza. For you non-pilots let me explain why I say that.

If you will look at the pictures below you will see a very funny looking tail section. A little history about why the tail is built like that. When Beech was designing this particular plane, they had a very tight budget. As with all planes they start at the front and build to the back. When they got to the tail of the Bonanza , they had run out of MONEY and MATERIAL.

They did not have enough material to build a rudder and elevator so they build what they call a ruddervator...........I am happy to say that a few years later Beech found some more funding and were about to buy materials for the newer models and build normal tail sections for them.

Taking the risk today paid off. Got my alternator and survived the trip in a Bonanza.

A NEW WARDROBE FOR MY ADVENTURE

2008-08-26T10:10:00.004-05:00

MY NEW TEE SHIRTS

Don and Janet Williams own Turkey Mountain Airpark, their web site is linked under Friends and Sponsors.

Miss Janet, as Don calls his wife, has one of those hi tech computer sewing machines that can do just about anything.

Miss Janet wanted me to be dressed appropriately for my flying adventure. She made me these beautiful tee shirts.

I have asked her to leave DON and fly away with me....we could get rich flying around selling tee shirts at aviation events.

TEST FLYING MY GO-PED

2008-08-23T09:05:00.005-05:00

This might look easy BUT it is not.....

I tried yesterday but could not ride this monster, I went to bed last night thinking, I sure wasted $500 .

I got up this morning as any good pilot would and said to myself, self, you can ride that thing. As with most things in life, once you do it there is nothing to it.

I think it will be ideal for carrying in the 140.

Before you buy one, if you could ride one it would be helpful. After 30 minutes of riding I am comfortable with it.

A GO-PED FOR MY CHEROKEE 140

2008-08-21T20:10:00.003-05:00

My go-ped is 20 lbs. It folds to 34"x12"x13"....I will test fly it tomorrow. If I land somewhere and there is no courtesy car, car rental, or taxi.....the go-ped will get me there.

Alternator Update

2008-08-20T20:38:00.005-05:00

This is Chad Brown,the A&P installing my alternator that I got from Aircraft Spruce yesterday.

He found a hair line crack on the new alternator, he is pointing to it in the second picture.
Chad is single, looking and available , would really like to meet someone RICH who owns a plane.

I will order another alternator tomorrow, doesn't look like I will begin my adventure this week-end, I will shoot for Monday.

TANNIS LOVES HER FLOWERS

2008-08-15T04:05:00.005-05:00

This blog insert has nothing to do with FLYING .

I am posting it to get brownie points with Tannis...she loves her flowers.

I will tell her how thrilled I was to be able to put pictures of her flowers on my flying blog...she will believe me and probably offer to buy me a tank of avgas.

LEAVING AUGUST 17TH ????? I DON'T THINK SO

2008-08-14T15:51:00.005-05:00

I was planning to leaving on my flying adventure on the 17th of August. Bodie and I were on our way to a fly-in this past Saturday in Independence Kansas.

When Bodie started 46R we heard a squealing noise ......fan belt was making noise. We decided to have the alternator rebuilt while we have the prop off.

Chad Brown is helping us with the work.....Chad wanted his name on my blog, he will be famous now...

A PICTURE OF PART MY ROUTE

2008-08-10T16:24:00.002-05:00

This will give you an idea of the first part of my adventure. What is shown in red is 5459 miles. If you live along this route and would like to fly with me for a day or so contact me.....right seat is empty. tripacer@cox.net

STATES I WILL FLY THRU

2008-08-10T05:24:00.005-05:00

When I begin my trip this is the route I plan to take. Because of the heat I plan to head north on the first leg of my trip. My logic is to hit the northern states while it is so hot down south.

I will leave Rogers Ar and head toward Chicago Illinois. When I reach Chicago I will try to fly as close to the border of the United States as possible.

Here is a list of the states I will fly thru and the order I intend to fly thru them.

Leaving Rogers Arkansas, flying northeast....

Missouri
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Oregon
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas

At that point I will decide the rest of my route.

PICTURES OF THE BELLS

2008-08-07T04:27:00.001-05:00

Me and my Cherokee 140......

This is my son Bodie, he is a licenced pilot, he is working on his instrument ticket.
He has a Mooney coming about the end of August/first of September.

This is my daughter Andrea, we flew to Gaston's for her 24th birthday.
She is the perfect daughter!!!!!

And this is my wife of 37 years, Tannis. She is the one that keeps us all headed in the right direction. We are at Gaston's for lunch....