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Dan Nickens - May 24,2005
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Internet connections are slow here in the outback west and uploading pictures interfers with flying. So, here's a quick summary of flights to date:<br /><br />Day 1. April 29 D-Day (Departure Day)<br /><br />(a) Formation gathering over Little Lake Harris in lovely weather then to Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Tsala Apopka, Crystal River Nuclear Plant and Withlacooche Bay, landing Cedar Key (CDK) for swamp cabbage lunch, free flight time of 1.6 hours.<br />(b) Formation flight back around Withlacooche Bay past nuclear power plant, over Crystal River springs, landing Crystal River (CGC) for Dairy Queen Blizzard, fine flight time of 0.8 hours.<br />(c) Solo flight over Chassahowitzka Bay, past the National Wildlife Refuge, St. Petersburg, around Tampa Bay and Sarasota, landing Venice (VNC) to check on ground crew, easy flight time of 1.3 hours.<br />(d) Depart over Englewood Beach then to Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, around San Carlos Bay past Sanibel Island and Ft. Myers, Naples to landing at Marco Island (MKY), fast flight time of 1.3 hours.<br />(e) Overnight with the mosquitoes at Collier Seminole State Park on edge of Everglades.<br /><br /><br />Day 2. April 30 Return to Base and Repositioning<br />(a) Depart Marco Island and direct to Little Lake Harris for re-provisioning via inland route, fast cruise flight time 2.1 hours.<br />(b) Little Lake Harris direct Venice via inland route to meet ground crew, direct flight time of 2.0 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at Venice in deluxe RV Park without mosquitoes<br /><br />Day 3. May 1 Weather Watch<br />(a) Thunderstorms and resting, flight time 0.<br />(b) Overnight at Venice in deluxe RV Park.<br /><br />Day 4. May 2, Circumnavigation of Nature Coast<br />(a) Depart Venice in marginal VFR conditions to coast and offshore north to Crystal River (CGC) for lunch, cautious flight time 2.2 hours.<br />(b) Crystal River in beautiful weather north past Cedar Key, Suwanee Sound, Horseshoe Cove, Pepperfish Cove, Deadman Bay, Keaton Beach, around Apalachee Bay, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, to Wakulla County airport (2J0), Panacea, FL to meet flight crew, most excellent flight time of 2.4 hours.<br />(c) Overnight with the alligators at Ochlocknee River State Park.<br /><br />Day 5. May 3, Panama City Break<br />(a) Depart Panacea to Dog Island through St. George Sound to Apalachicola (AAF) to meet ground crew for lunch, slow flight time 0.7 hours.<br />(b) From Apalchicola northward up the river to Wewahitchka and Dead Lake, then direct Panama City (PFN) to meet ground crew and locals for evening, just plain flight time of 1.5 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at friend’s beach estate.<br /><br />Day 6. May 4, March to Mobile Bay<br />(a) Avionics repair attempt fails miserably and creates radio problem.<br />(b) Cross to Laguna Beach and through VFR Special Coastal Corridor to irritate military controllers with poorly functioning avionics past Destin and Ft. Walton Beach, Pensacola and the Gulf Islands National Seashore then direct Mobile Downtown (BFM) for real radio repairs and to meet ground crew, high anxiety flight time of 2.1 hours.<br />(c) Overnight in Wal-Mart parking lot with other derelicts and vagabonds.<br /><br />Day 7. May 5, Redneck Riviera Fly By<br />(a) Visit to Battleship Park<br />(b) Depart Mobile Downtown southbound to Dauphin Island and barrier islands of Alabama and Mississippi to Dogma Intersection over Cat Island, then northwest past Pass Christian to Stennis International (HAS) to determine that ground crew is at a different airport, mighty fine flight time of 1.7 hours.<br />(c) Relocate from Stennis to Picayune (MJD), who cares flight time of 0.3 hours.<br />(d) Overnight in RV Park with other weird people who chose to stay overnight in Picayune, MS.<br /><br />Day 8. May 6, Louisiana Delta Devine<br />(a) Leave Picayune and proceed directly south to cross Lake Borgne and intercept the Mississippi River at Port Sulfur, then wander with river to Southwest Pass and around the west side of the delta to an oyster bar near Grand Terre Island, continuing to South Lafourche airport (L49) for fuel, easy flight time of 2.9 hours.<br />(b) Depart Lafourche then west across Lake Poudreaux and past the town of Boudreaux to Lake de Cade, then northwest around Atchafalaya Bay to West Cote Bay and across Vermillion Bay to White Lake and Grand Lake then around Lake Charles over Calcasieu and Black Lakes, through the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge to land at Beaumont (BMT) to join ground crew, most excellent flight time of 3.0 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at RV Park with rednecks on border of Thicket Wildlife National Preserve.<br /><br />Day 9. May 7, On to Austin<br />(a) Depart Beaumont westward over the top of Houston, Texas to the Brazos River near Washington on the Brazos for river landing, then continuing westward over Somerville Lake and wild, windy landing at Taylor (T74), exciting flight time of 2.5 hours.<br />(b) Southwest from Taylor to Lake Travis, then on to Spicewood (88R) to hide SeaRey in hangar and meet ground crew, light flight time of 0.8 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at Greenberg’s lakeside hideaway for wayward SeaRey crews.<br /><br />Day 10. May 8, Storms of Austin<br />(a) Thunderstorms pound the town and keep the crew on the ground and the pilot barely avoids having to visit the Presidential Library with ground crew.<br /><br />Day 11. May 9, Hill Country Living<br />(a) Clean off the bugs and fly around Lake Travis before turning westbound along the Pedernales River, with one splashdown before landing Fredricksburg, TX (T82) to meet ground crew, super flight time of 2.1 hours.<br />(b) Overnight at nondescript RV Park near airport.<br /><br />Day 12. May 10, Hill Top Clouds<br />(a) Low clouds and a lost cell phone keep aircrew on the ground.<br />(b) Overnight at fine RV Park on the banks of the Guadalupe River at Kerrville, TX.<br /><br />Day 13. May 11, Taking on the Big Bend<br />(a) After lunch departure from Fredricksburg southwest over the hill country under low clouds to landing on Devils River, then around the Armistad Reservoir to avoid Laughlin AFB and land at Del Rio International (DRT), low flight time of 2.3 hours.<br />(b) Explain to FAA inspectors that SeaRey pilots are not completely crazy.<br />(c) Flight over the Amistad National Recreation Area (mostly) and westward along the Rio Grande squawking the good citizen code (1234) through canyons and desert avoiding Cupola Mountain and south to the Big Bend National Park to Boquillas, turning north up the valley between Sierra Del Carmen and Emory Peak, then skirting the Santiago Mountains past Elephant Mountain and Cathedral Mountain, crossing the dry line into unlimited visibility for landing at Alpine (E38) in howling winds to meet the ground crew, stupendous flight time of 3.1 hours.<br />(d) Short local flight with ground crew, including Zach’s first flight in SeaRey for round the patch flight time of 0.3 hours.<br />(e) Overnight at Lost Alaskan RV Park next to airport.<br /><br />Day 14. May 12, Parking<br />(a) Chilling in the desert and visiting Fort Jefferson.<br />(b) Overnight at really Lost Alaskan RV Park.<br /><br />Day 15. May 13, More Parking<br />(a) Cruising around the Big Bend Park in an RV to hike Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande.<br />(b) Overnight at never to be seen again Lost Alaskan RV Park.<br /><br />Day 16. May 14, Out of Texas<br />(a) Depart Alpine for low flight over high plains, touching down in Imperial Reservoir and landing at the gravel mine, then on to Midland Airpark (MDD) to join up with the ground crew for a just fine flight time of 2.8 hours.<br />(b) Visiting the Commerative Air Force museum and passing up the Museum of Oil.<br />(c) Leave Midland to cross the oil fields of the Permian Basin over dune fields and salt lakes to land at Cavern City (CMN) in Carlsbad, NM after a flat flight time of 2.0 hours.<br />(d) Overnight at desert RV Park.<br /><br />Day 17. May 15, Cavern Hike<br />(a) Hunkering down for severe storms and hail inside Carlsbad Cavern.<br />(b) Overnight at same desert RV Park.<br /><br />Day 18. May 16, Desert Flights<br />(a) Leaving Cavern City southwest around Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains to Pine Springs, then northwest around Brokeore Mountains then skirting the Sacramento Mountains to meet up with the ground crew at Alamogordo White Sands Regional (ALM), fabulous flight time of 2.4 hours.<br />(b) Touring of White (hot) Sands National Monument with ground crew.<br />(c) Leave Alamogordo north along the mountains past the Trinity site and the White Mountain Wilderness area to the Valley of Fires at Carrizozo, then up the mountain to Fort Stanton and returning to Carrizozo (Q37) to meet the ground crew, flittering flight time of 1.4 hours.<br />(d) Overnight at Valley of Fires State Park with the moon hanging over the mountains.<br /><br />Day 19. May 17, Turbulent Testing<br />(a) Howling winds make for hazardous departure from Carrizozo, then northward across the intermountain plain, crossing escarpment with severe upset, then to the salt flats of Laguna Del Perro, for landing on salt strip at Estancia (E92), frightening flight time of 1.6 hours.<br />(b) Leaving Estancia northbound over high plains past Sandia Peak to meet ground crew at Santa Fe (SAF), elevation 6348’ with record high temperatures in the 90’s, tentative flight time of 0.9 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at mountainside RV Park north of town.<br /><br />Day 20. May 18, Touring Santa Fe<br />(a) High temperatures and high winds make it a good day to taste the town.<br />(b) Overnight at the same old mountainside RV Park.<br /><br />Day 21. May 19, Hiking the Hills<br />(a) More record temperatures and high winds make it another good day to tour town and hike the hills.<br />(b) Overnight parking at in the high mountain Hyde State Park.<br /><br />Day 22. May 20, Very High Flight<br />(a) Some winds and more hot temperatures but early morning departure from Santa Fe, then over to Rio Grande near Los Alamos up to Espanola to join Chama River up to Abiquiu Reservoir and a landing and a dubious departure from an elevation of 6400’ in the heat, turning north to the Canjilon Mountain for over fly the snow, then northwest to Pagosa Springs, Stevens field (2V1) for a stupendous flight time of 2.7 hours.<br />(b) Leaving Stevens following the river valley down to Navajo Reservoir and landing on top of the Mesa at Navajo State Park (1V0) to meet the ground crew for a fascinating flight time of 1.0 hours.<br />(c) Relocating from the Park to Aztec (N19) because the ground crew couldn’t drive up the mesa, greeted by Mayor Mike Arnold and almost witnessing a crash, quick flight time of 0.4 hours.<br />(d) Overnight at dusty old RV Park in Bloomfield.<br /><br />Day 23. May 21, Covering Native Territory<br />(a) Routine maintenance with the mayor’s help before departing Aztec north around Farmington to circle Ship Rock then around the Carrizo Mountains to the valley of the San Juan River to Aneth before turning south over Indian villages and flying to Round Rock and following the Chinle Wash south to Canyon de Chelly National Monument and landing at Chinle (E91), fantastic flight time of 3.0 hours.<br />(b) Touring the canyon and overnight at a local hotel just because.<br /><br />Day 24. May 22, Towards Higher Ground<br />(a) Leaving Chinle and heading south to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Monument to join the ground crew at Holbrook (P14), outrageously beautiful flight time of 1.6 hours.<br />(b) Touring the Monument at ground level but leaving all the stones unturned.<br />(c) Departing Holbrook into an huge wind for a low level tour of the meteor crater west of Winslow, then climbing very slowly up to Mormon Lake before turning north to land at Flagstaff (FLG), elevation 7011 with a scorching temperature of 84 F and very high flight time of 1.9 hours.<br />(d) Overnight at RV Park below the mountain top.<br /><br />Day 25. May 23, Hot Hiking<br />(a) With high winds and record temperatures it was a good day to hike the mountain in the morning and tour of Sedona.<br />(b) Late afternoon hike and watching full moon climbing up over the mountains.<br />(c) Overnight at RV Park below the same old mountain top under a bright full moon.<br />
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John Robert Dunlop - May 24,2005
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What can I say? Just fantastic Dan!
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P.C. Russell - May 25,2005
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Dan;<br /> I envy you. I've done just about what you did in the air and what your ground crew did on the ground. Always wanted to do the air part in an helicopter. The searey was probely just as good. I've done the air part from too high to enjoy the scenery.<br /> What a trip. P.C. Russell
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Dave Edward - May 25,2005
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What a great saga. Hope your 'support team' is having as good a time as you. More please!
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Roberta Hegy - May 25,2005
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What a Great Odyssey!! I do love the SW so Dearly. I just can't convince Rich to just drop everything here and go out there, LIKE RIGHT NOW!!! Enoy, be safe, and keep us all posted.
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Dan Nickens - May 27,2005
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Day 26. May 24, Mostly Provisioning<br />(a) Another day of high winds and hot temperatures. Time to stock up for wandering outside the city. Repairs required on RV’s windshield for damage due to rock throwing trucks.<br />(b) Another late afternoon hike and watching moon climb over mountain.<br />(c) Overnight at RV Park below the thrice old mountaintop.<br /><br /><br />Day 27. May 25, Off to the Canyons<br />(a) Preparations completed for a morning departure from Flagstaff. Pressure altitude shown in bright red sign at end of runway: 9100’. Departed anyway.<br />(b) Flight around edge of Grand Canyon on VFR airway and up Marble Canyon to airport (L41), for an awe filled flight time of 2.2 hours.<br />(c) Short flight from Marble Canyon Airport up canyon to Lake Powell and a panorama of totally unbelievable color. Only a smooth touchdown on the cool, clear water made it real, for a fantasy fulfilled flight time of 0.7 hours.<br />(d) Sunset hike in surreal sandstone canyons.<br />(e) Overnight at sad looking RV Park in Page, AZ.<br /><br />Day 28. May 26, Visually Overwhelming<br />(a) Morning tour of the Lake Powell with Zach and Ann to view the most incredible scenes yet seen with bonus beach time, for a fabulous flight time of 1.5 hours.<br />(b) Incredible, fantastic, over the top, outrageously beautiful flight up Lake Powell to the San Juan River canyons, through the Goosenecks and out into Monument Valley landing at Bluff, UT for a stunning flight of 3.2 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at a neat little RV Park on the river in Bluff after first fighting the stickers at Sand Island Park and losing.<br /><br /><br />
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John Robert Dunlop - May 27,2005
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WOW!!
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Roberta Hegy - May 27,2005
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Dan, I am so happy you did the GC, Lake Powell, and Monument Valley. These are truly awesome, MUST SEE, places. I would have loved to land Oliver II on Lake Powell. I settled for some nice low flights, instead. But still incredible!!! HAVE FUN!!! and BE SAFE!!!
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Dan Nickens - Jun 01,2005
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Day 29. May 27, Monumental Flights<br />a) Before the heat set in, Ann and Zach were flown up and down Monument Valley. It might have been a serene flight except the pilot kept yelling “YippeKiYiYay!” (or something to that effect), for a wild west special flight of 1.1 hours.<br />(b) Socket on airbox kept slipping off due to wear. Rotated and it worked fined but need to order replacements.<br />(c) It was supposed to be a short hop from Bluff to Moab, UT but the SeaRey got diverted up the Comb Ridge to Rainbow Bridge then back to Bullfrog Landing on Lake Powell, followed by a hop and a skip on the water and up the Colorado River to Goblin Valley and Canyonlands National Park before finally settling in after phenomenal 3.5 hours in the air.<br />(d) Overnight at a motel because the RV parks were full of Jeep hauling rock hounds.<br /><br />Day 30. May 28, Down Low and Dirty<br />(a) If everyone is doing it, there must be some good reason to rent a Jeep and four wheel it all over the canyon lands singing “Yee Haw, Good Buddy!” for a wild and rocky ride of seven or so dusty hours.<br />(b) After shaking off the dust an exquisite dinner was found on a ridge overlooking the town as the sun set to flame the subsiding clouds of an afternoon thunderstorm in the appropriately named “Sunset Grill.”<br />(c) Overnight at a mosquito filled RV park outside of Moab on the river in what is advertised as a bug free desert.<br /><br />Day 31. May 29, R and R<br />(a) After a month of flittering about a down day was required to read the Sunday newspaper, catch a movie, and read a book.<br />(b) Overnight at a brimming full RV park in the dusty desert.<br /><br />Day 32. May 30, Memorial Day in the Arches<br />(a) Hiking in the Arches National Park, then running to avoid downpour from thunderstorms from cold front. Zach and I got drenched.<br />(b) Overnight at a downtown RV park amid the quaint shops where we spent no money.<br /><br />Day 33. May 31, Canyonland Alightings<br />(a) The front moved on leaving crystal blue skies and much cooler temperatures to the SeaReys delight. Depart Canyonlands airport to view some arches, then south east around a restricted area to alight on the waters the Green River in the canyons. Stop at an isolated gravel strip between the walls of Mineral Canyon. Climb out to view the great wall of the San Rafael Reef. Land at the Green River airport (U34) after a splendid flight of only 2.0 hours.<br />(b) Depart U34 and head up river though the mountains at up to 10000’. Stop at a high mesa gravel strip to survey the world. Fly on to Pelican Lake for a quick alighting. Past Vernal, Utah to the ragged peaks and deep canyon lairs of Land O’Dinosaurs park before landing at VEL after a breathtaking flight of 2.2 hours.<br />(c) Overnight at an RV park out of the desert and in the swirling snow of the cottonwood trees.<br /><br />
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Charlie Gray - Jun 01,2005
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Dan,<br />Now you are getting into the 'real' mountains and some great 'tall tales' are sure to be inspired. Don't forget Priest Lake and Cavanuagh Bay, ID..... you almost made it there once and Larry McCormick (has Curt Bryans Searey w/ new C hull) would love to have you stop by. Not to mention that you can plop down at Curt's place and go for another Blue Angel ride? There's room for the RV there also; Zach could chase cows.... email or call (cell# 253-576-9082) as you flitter into this area...
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Dan Nickens - Jun 01,2005
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The problem with flittering, Charlie, is that you never know where you'll end up. Idaho is a good possibility but I don't know about the far west coast (though I'd sure like another of Curt's aerobatic tours of the mountain).
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Charlie Gray - Jun 02,2005
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Flitter where the winds and weather take you.... just don't stop the pics or stories. I really think you should write that book...??? Stay safe Dan, and surprise visits are the best anyway. Staying east of the Cascades etc. definately makes the weather more predictable.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 06,2005
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Day 34. June 1, Dinosaur Hunting<br />a. With reports of dinosaurs in the mountains we went hunting their bones at Dinosaur National Park and the Utah Field Museum in Vernal. Bones spotted at all locations.<br />b. Overnight at the RV park with snowing cottonwoods blown out by howling winds.<br /><br />Day 35. June 2, Hunkering Down<br />a. Rain, low ceilings and the rumble of thunder filled the day of rest.<br />b. Overnight at the same old RV park with to chilling temperatures.<br /><br />Day 36. June 3, More Hunkering Down<br />a. The rain came infrequently but insistently providing the excuse for another day of resting.<br />b. Overnight at the really same old RV park with the cold chill.<br /><br />Day 37. June 4, Escape from Vernal<br />a. Morning showers and low ceilings combined with a forecast of afternoon thunderstorms was just too chilling to endure. Departed VEL to fly up Flaming Gorge over cloud covered mountains and up the Green River to the Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport (48U) in Wyoming for an exciting and sobering flight of 1.4 hours.<br />b. Launched from Spaceport towards Bear Lake with a stop over for fuel at Kemmerer (EMM) for a relaxing flight of 1.1 hours.<br />c. Hopped over the hills from Kemmerer to Bear Lake to splash down and attempt a beaching. After wallowing in the shallow mud and barely slipping off the water it was a relief filled landing at Bear Lake County airport (1U7) and a flight time of 0.8 hours.<br />d. Overnight at a RV park outside of Montpilier, ID nestled in a valley next to a rushing stream in the cold of a mid-Florida winter.<br /><br />Day 38. June 5, Great Salty Lake to Jackson Hole<br />a. Flounting a forecast of 25 gusting to 30 winds and scattered thunderstorms, climbed the mountains to the valley leading down to the Great Salt Lake and a dirt road landing and a salty splashing before settling in at Brigham City, UT (BMC) for a well justified risk of flight of 2.4 hours.<br />b. Max power climb from Brigham City up the valley with finally just enough altitude to cut through the turbulence and up a canyon leading to a landing at Jackson Hole airport, WY after a flogging flight time of 1.8 hours.<br />c. Overnight at a RV park on the banks of the Snake River to the sound of showers on the plastic roof.<br /><br /><br /><br />
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Roberta Hegy - Jun 06,2005
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Dan, you silver tongued daredevil!!!! Be careful!!!
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Dan Nickens - Jun 10,2005
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Day 39. June 6, Jackson Chic<br />a. The weather was cold and rainy. We parked in town and did the tourist thing.<br />b. Overnight at an in-town RV park packed to the brim with lots of other un-Chic tourists.<br /><br />Day 40. June 7, Jackson Clinic<br />a. The weather was really cold and it snowed. We stayed around town because the bacteria in the pristine mountain stream water didn’t agree with Zach’s stomach and the vet said so.<br />b. Overnight at the same old in-town RV park in the snow.<br /><br />Day 41. June 8, Grand Teton Tour<br />a. The weather was still cold but it didn’t snow. Low clouds and a late package kept the airplane on the ground.<br />b. Being grounded was a good excuse to tour the Grand Teton National Park with it’s peaks rising straight up from the valley, elk strolling the woods and pretty little SeaRey lakes (officially off-limits, of course).<br />c. Overnight in the Park on the Gros Ventres River to the sound of pea size hail and the sight of a mother moose and calf walking the river banks.<br /><br />
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Dan Nickens - Jun 10,2005
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Day 42. June 9, High Anxiety<br />a. The weather looked better. At least it wasn’t snowing or hailing and the rain mostly stopped in the morning. The FSS said it was good to go. The pass at the north end of Jackson Lake was, however, completely rained out. Returned to Jackson for an almost frustrating flight time of 1.3 hours.<br />b. With Ann already gone the day was passed discussing the vagaries of weather and mountain flying with a seriously experienced aviator.<br />c. Late in the day it looked good for one more attempt. It wasn’t pretty but I slipped over Yellowstone to Gardiner, MT (29S) for a wildly beautiful late flight of 1.5 hours.<br />d. Overnight was spent at the airport overlooking the Yellowstone River with the blessings of a very friendly airport manager.<br /><br />Day 43. June 10, Slipping down to Great Falls<br />a. A great day dawned for flying north up the valley. The airport manager, a veteran of 37 flights to Alaska, said it was all down hill.<br />b. The Canyon Ferry Lake was certainly low enough to splash and explore the pebble beaches.<br />c. A great looking marina on Upper Holton Lake forced another landing but the private club wasn’t very inviting.<br />d. With a military exercise underway the sky was filled with an approaching storm and gray fighters at Great Falls (GTF). I wasn’t blown down and they didn’t bother to shoot me down so I landed in between sorties after a fun-filled 3.5 hours of flight.<br />e. Overnight at an RV park on the river in town.<br />
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Doug Rogerson - Jun 10,2005
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Dan,<br />I'm suffering from sensory overload just looking at the pictures you've posted as you flitter about your great country. It must be awesome when one can view these scenes in full panorama. Keep em coming. I almost hope your journey never ends. However it would be nice if you happen to flit into Ontario around the 1st of August. Happy flittering.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 10,2005
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Thanks, Doug, but the thing about flittering is that you just never know where you'll end up or when you'll get there. The Great Georgian Gaggle v.2005 is, however, certainly on the flittering event horizon.
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Roberta Hegy - Jun 11,2005
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I hope EAA is, again, on your flittering list. Would love to see you and Ann again. Great Adventure. Someday Rich and I will head out for a few months of non-stop siteseeing flittering.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 11,2005
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Is there any better way to spend a cool summer evening than sitting under the trees at Vette seaplane base talking about airplanes? It's hard to beat and we'd love to be there. With this wandering around the continent we plan to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. Depends on the wind, I'd say.
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Charlie Gray - Jun 14,2005
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Dan,<br />I know you refer to music/song in your writings alot, and I'm sure music is part of all your flying sometimes, so in case you flitter in the neighborhood of one of these events and need to 'hole-up' for a night or more......<br />LADY OF THE LAKE Music/dance week 6/18-26<br />Coeur d'Alene, ID <a href="http://www.spokanefolklore.org/">www.spokanefolklore.org</a><br />NATIONAL OL'TIME FIDDLERS contest 6/20-25<br />Weiser, ID <a href="http://www.fiddlecontest.com/">www.fiddlecontest.com</a><br />BREAKOUT BLUEGRASS camp-out 6/24-25<br />Garrison, MT<br />SUMMERFEST & CROOKED RIVER ROUNDUP 6/25<br />Prineville, OR<br />WENATCHEE RIVER BLUEGRASS festival 6/17-18<br />Wenatchee, WA<br /><br />just a fyi......
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Dan Nickens - Jun 14,2005
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No doubt I could use the culture, Frank, but it's too late. I'm parked at the High River airport just south of Calgary. I do appreciate the info, Charlie. Ya never no.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 20,2005
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Day 44. June 11, Stocking Up<br />a. It was a beautiful day in Great Falls. Unfortunately it was raining and storming all around the town. That provided the down time to stock up on provisions for the long trek north.<br />b. Back to overnight at the park on the Sun River after an afternoon at the movies.<br /><br />Day 45. June 12, Just Chilling<br />a. Is there anything better to do on a rainy Sunday than to hunker down, snooze and read? Life is good and wet in Great Falls.<br />b. The same old park is starting to look like home to Zach for another overnighter.<br /><br />Day 46. June 13, Stocking Up and Up<br />a. You’d think we were leaving civilization for good the way we’re adding stock. It was a perfectly good day for flying but we were shopping.<br />b. Zach has made trails to the ball field from the same old RV park where another night found us.<br /><br />Day 47. June 14, Oh Canada!<br />a. Federal Express delayed our departure until after lunch while we waited for mail.<br />b. Finally left Jackson and headed north across the prairie direct to Lethbridge, Alberta (CYQL) for an extremely friendly reception at Customs, and a business like flight of 1.9 hours.<br />c. Rain and storms moving in from the mountains had me pushing up the throttle to beat them to High River, Alberata (CEN4) for a fast flight of 1.1 hours.<br />d. Overnight parking at the Lion’s Club park in the recently flooded town of High River.<br /><br />Day 48. June 15, Chased by Storms<br />a. It was late morning when we finally got out of High River and turned north. The path northwest was blocked by early storms in the mountains and turbulence due to high winds across 60 miles of high rock. The flight across the prairie was direct and fast to Wetaskiwin, Alberta (CEX3) for a point-to-point flight of 2.1 hours.<br />b. Wetaskiwin has an excellent museum featuring 100 years of motorcycles and an aviation building including a Hawker Hurricane.<br />c. On the edge of town was another Lion’s Club park where we could watch the storms coming across the prairie.<br /><br />Day 49. June 16, Mostly Prairie<br />a. Departed to a northwest destination but deviated to land in Pigeon Lake, then deviated even more to Hinton-Jasper (CEC4) to get close to the mountains, with a mostly mundane flight of 2.4 hours.<br />b. It was a short hop from the airport to a fine but mostly too short view of Jasper Lake before returning to Entrance (CEE4) to land on grass and look for fuel, for a fuel shortened flight of only 0.6 hours.<br />c. With no fuel at entrance I had to back track to Edson (CYET) to call out the fuel guy for a mostly redundant flight time of 0.8 hours.<br />d. With plenty of fuel but no time I flew direct to Grande Prairie (CYQU) for a mostly quiet flight of 1.9 hours.<br />e. Overnight at a “country” RV park full of oil field workers.<br /><br />Day 50. June 17, Looking for Some Wild<br />a. With great expectations of finding some wilderness, departed Grande Prairie and headed northwest with a stop at Ft. St. John after a totally tame flight of 1.5 hours.<br />b. Just outside of Ft. St. John I took a dip in Charlie Lake before heading out into the wild oil fields of Alberta, with just a touch of wilderness around little Klua Lake before giving it up at Ft. Nelson after a not exactly wild flight of 3.2 hours.<br />c. Lots of time before dark to do some routine maintenance.<br />d. Parking overnight next to the museum outside of town.<br /><br />Day 51. June 18, Doubling Back on the Alcan<br />a. With some expectation of getting to Watson Lake (only a 30% chance of rain and storms), I had to divert due to weather to follow the highway through the mountains for a splash in at the seaplane base on Muncho Lake for some food and fuel after fantastic flight of 3.2 hours.<br />b. The dash to Watson Lake ended too short when the dark clouds let loose so I doubled back to the seaplane haven on Munch Lake for a doubly fine flight of 1.1 hours.<br />c. Overnight was spent next to the SeaRey with rain falling on the roof.<br /><br />Day 52. June 19, Up the Valleys<br />a. The briefing specialist said no way for VFR to Watkins Lake due to rain and ceilings. Later another briefer said it’d be easy. It was though the high mountains were covered the pass was fine, for a fine flight of 1.9 hours to Watkins Lake (CYQH).<br />b. The fueler said the day before was atrocious with high winds, lightening and hail.<br />c. Night came after 10:30 p.m. in a RV parking lot.<br /><br />Day 53. June 20, Just Another Excellent Day<br />a. Rain overnight gave way to partly cloudy skies and an excuse to leave the Lake for Teslin (CYZN) through the mountains for another remarkable flight for as fine a sight as there can be of a too short 2.2 hours. Spotting Ann and Zach nearby I called them in for a halibut burger sandwich on the river.<br />b. The forecast said scattered showers but no big bumpers so it was on to Whitehorse International (CYXY) in the Yukon Territory with some lake splashing along the way for another highly well remarkable flight of 1.6 hours.<br />c. Finally a site on a hill in the woods to listen to the soft rain on the roof of the RV.<br /><br />
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Charlie Gray - Jun 21,2005
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Dan, <br />To be a real 'sourdough' you have to :<br />Piss in the Yukon , shoot a bear and make love to a Inuit??? (squaw)... I know not PC but I know how to spell it. I did my first flying from Skagway up through Bennet Pass to Whitehorse and back, in the 70's, bet things have changed a little, can't wait to see the pics.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 21,2005
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Now, Charlie, are you sure being a real sourdough is something to aspire to?
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Charlie Gray - Jun 21,2005
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You know young men and there follys..... <br />When I was working in Skagway it was land-locked so the only way in/out was by boat/train or plane. The narrow gauge train up to Whitehorse is a pretty incredible ride, I put my 49 International van (think milk truck) on the train in Whitehorse after driving the AlCan and rode it down to Skagway, lots of moose along the way etc.. I never became a 'Sourdough' either, lasted about 6 weeks and then had the wife fly up and stay the rest of the summer; she is 1/4 Blackfoot from Utica NY area and I did complete the other items. Stay safe up there Nickens..... do some pics when you can, thx
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John Robert Dunlop - Jun 21,2005
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The way I heard it Charlie, you had to shoot the squaw..
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Bruce Bennett - Jun 28,2005
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Nuking Zach's worms???? JB
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Dan Nickens - Jun 28,2005
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Yep. Writhing alien worms from the wild wilderness invaded Zach, going in one end and wiggling out the other. Two big pills of kryptonite put an end to their invasion.
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Bruce Bennett - Jun 28,2005
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Dan, I'm guessing and hoping you went to see a Vet about this, or do you know of the Remedy for this type of problem?? JB
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Dan Nickens - Jun 28,2005
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The sign on her door said 'vet,' Judy, but I'm thinking she put some kind of voodoo hex on the worms too.
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Dan Nickens - Jun 28,2005
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Day 54. June 21, Rainy Day Stuff<br />a. The forecast called for rain and so it was. Searching for provisions in Whitehorse was the sport of the day.<br />b. The same hill and the same rain made for a peaceful overnight stay.<br /><br />Day 55. June 22, Cool, Wet and White<br />a. It was a fine day for flying off road and up into the mountains and onto a peaceful lake nestled deep in the valley. It all ending so well meeting a socialist bunny at a landing in Haines Junction (CYHT) after a wish fulfilling flight of 1.8 hours.<br />b. The socialist bunny directed the flight up valley to the Kaskawulsh Glacier for a cool, white flight of 2.9 hours ending at Beaver Creek (CYXQ).<br />c. A simple parking place for the RV was found in a nondescript gravel lot for a night remembering the day.<br /><br />Day 56. June 23, Back into the USSA.<br />a. The short flight direct from Beaver Creek to Northway (PAOR) through clouds and rain and Customs for a nothing but business flight of 0.8 hours.<br />b. Up the valley towards Fairbanks there was more rain and thunderstorms to steer around only to land at the North Pole, Alaska airport (95Z) after a gray flight of 3.4 hours.<br />c. The night was spent at the River’s Edge park closer to the road than the river.<br /><br />Day 57. June 24, R&R (Repairs and Restocking)<br />a. Repairing road damage to the RV and nuking Zach’s worms were the project de jour. b. Another park claiming proximity to a river turned out to be a road spot in Fairbanks.<br /><br />Day 58. June 25, More R&R<br />a. Finishing the tasks of yesterday took all of the day.<br />b. Why not park in Santaland at Northpole on a warm summer day? It seemed as unreal as the news of Doug’s death.<br /><br />Day 59. June 26, Going for It All<br />a. It was a somber flight through smoke and ashes to cross over the Arctic Circle and land in the far north at Bettles, Alaska (PABT) after a difficult 3.0 hours.<br />b. Conferring with the water bomber guys gave me enthusiasm for flying up the pass through the Brooks Mountains to Anaktauvuk Pass (PAKP) and the Gate of the Arctic National Park for an awesome flight of 1.4 hours.<br />c. Clear blue skies drew me out onto the tundra plain and on to land’s end at Deadhorse, AK (PASC) for a fanciful flight of 2.4 hours. The GPS showed 9350 miles covered from the Carribean to Arctic.<br />d. Splash down among the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean then rewind and repeat for a return back to Bettles through another magnificent pass for a stunning flight of 3.3 hours.<br />e. A night with no darkness and no dreams spent at the Bettles Lodge.<br /><br />Day 60. June 27, Return and Repositioning<br />a. Smoke again marred the way back to Fairbanks International (PFAI) but it didn’t seem so sad for a not-so-challenging flight of 2.7 hours.<br />b. Retracing the way back from Fairbanks towards the border there were thunderstorms to skirt for a visually wild flight of 2.7 hours ending at Tok Junction, (PTOK).<br />c. Parking the RV between some trees in another gravel park.<br /><br /><br />
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Don Maxwell - Jun 28,2005
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Good going, Dan!
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Dan Nickens - Jun 28,2005
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The going was very good indeed, Don, and I'm hoping the return will be as fun. So, are you up for flying to Russia next year?
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Don Maxwell - Jun 28,2005
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Da, tovarishch. Et tu?
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Dan Nickens - Jun 28,2005
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I have no idea, but then that's why you are to be the flight leader.
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Dan Nickens - Jul 01,2005
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Day 61. June 28, Playing Chicken<br />a. Ann insisted on seeing Chicken, Alaska (PCKX) but she didn’t want to drive there. We flew into the short strip over the gold mine in the mountains and returned chased by storms to Tok for a bumpy flight of 1.9 hours. Zach slept through the whole affair.<br />b. The same park made it easy to just wait out the storms and spend another night.<br /><br />Day 62. June 29, Rewind (Phase 1)<br />a. To get back to south in a motor home you have to turn around and follow the Alaskan Highway. I followed Ann’s lead towards Canadian Customs before finding out in flight that the intended destination had closed for repairs, so I landed at Northway, Alaska (PAOR, again) after a mostly radio stuff flight of 0.7 hours.<br />b. Sorting it all out I was able to persuade the folks at Beaver Creek (CYXQ) to quite scrapping the gravel long enough for me to satisfy Customs that I wasn’t running guns and the short hop was mostly a direct flight of 0.7 hours.<br />c. All the sorting out cost time and allowed some
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