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-   -   Summer 2015 Travels (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=128003)

tommylewis 08-07-2015 09:27 PM

More Moab
 
Thanks guys!

On Wed we went on a day long river adventure on the Colorado River with Moab Adventure Center. It was a blast with a number of class 1 & 2 rapids.



The five of us and the guide.


A view along the river


Another view of the river.


Today we went to see Dead Horse Point State Park which is near Canyonlands NP, only better.


A VAF hat was sighted along one of the overlooks.


Another view of the canyon and river.

Tim 8-A 08-08-2015 06:57 PM

I was sure glad to run across ya'll at Osh, I was getting worried about the summer vacation trip reports. Our last child leaves in a few weeks to college so we are getting ready to take a few of the trips ya'll do every year so thanks for posting.
Tim

polishpilot 08-09-2015 07:50 AM

Tom, I wish I could have been there to see you flying through those arches. Must have been thrilling. Actually, I thought flying that low in a NP was illegal. Glad you are enjoying your trip.

tommylewis 08-10-2015 10:19 PM

Left Moab
 
No flying through Arches for us. We did see a video for sale of a guy flying through the arches before it was illegal.

On Sat, we loaded up our RV7a and flew north out of Moab. We had a lot of clouds and some mountain obscurations so we were staying close to valleys and IFR, following roads for the first portion.


One of the prettier hill sides just south of Provo, Utah.


Southwest corner of the Salt Lake.


So we flew to Wendover, Utah, where the parking lot for the casino is in Utah, and the casino is in Neveda. A lot of WWII history here as B17s and B29s trained here, thus 10000 foot runways.


The FBO has a coupon for 2 for 1 buffet at two different casinos and a casino shuttle will pick you up. For a reference, Montego Bay has the nicest swimming pool. We had a nice evening.

A look at the salt flats while on final. Speed Week was suppose to start that weekend but had been canceled because of wet conditions.


Keep pounding those rivets. These little RVs are great traveling machines.

petehowell 08-11-2015 07:44 AM

Great Pics!
 
Can't wait to get back to Moab and see more of Utah. You captured it so nicely!

JonJay 08-12-2015 03:57 PM

Very nice write up. The wife and I where just there and flew a similar path out of Moab but kept going north to Idaho instead of bailing west to Wendover. We followed the highway as well until we got to that point as ceilings where too low to go over top.
Mt. obscurity is a big deal in these parts. Big high mountains, narrow deep valleys, and remote terrain abounding.
Here was our view right before we passed over that beautiful mountain south of Provo you took a pic of.


Fun times....

tommylewis 08-13-2015 12:22 AM

On to San Juan Islands
 
On Sunday morning, we continued NW to the San Juan Islands. As we approached the Columbia River we found conditions getting a little smokey.



And the first snow capped mountain in sight was through some smoke. Adams I believe.


Visibility improved greatly as we flew NW and this was a view of Mt Rainer.



Cascades with Glacier Peak in the distance.

Mt Baker


And a look at East Sound on Orcas Island. Our rent house this first week is on final for RW34.


We had a great flight over the Cascades. Absolutely beautiful country!

BillL 08-13-2015 07:15 AM

Looking forward to hearing about your Orcas Island vacation . My son lives in Bellingham and just returned last night. He said the weather this past year has been nearly perfect in temp and skies. Enjoy your posts immensely. Visiting there is on the list when the 7 is finished. Dreaming for now.

tommylewis 08-13-2015 11:15 PM

Orcas Island
 
You have probably figured out that we enjoy visiting islands so these two weeks are a real treat. One reason we come during these two weeks, other than it is 100 deg in TX, is that the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival is held so we have tickets to four concerts. The 70 deg temps are real nice also.

On Tuesday we decided to fly the RV7a around the islands and stop at Friday Harbor for lunch and switch pilots. This is a view of the west shore of Orcas Island.


This is Roche Harbor on the north end of San Juan Island. We have stopped here for lunch but not today.


Friday Harbor. Great place for lunch and watch the float planes and boats come and go.


Friday Harbor Airport. It is a 15 min walk to downtown. Checkout the bakery next to the airport.


Our RV7a parked at Friday Harbor.


Turtleback Mountain back on Orcas Island. Do you see the turtle shape? A great hike and nice view from the top.


The ferry dock on Orcas Island at the south end.


The south end of Orcas Island.


We had a great day trip around the islands. These RVs are great flying machines.

DavidBurton 08-14-2015 07:21 AM

Downriggers restaurant on the waterfront in Friday Harbor is one of our favorite spots for breakfast. They have outside seatting on a second story deck overlooking the harbor. Kenmore Air flies regularly scheduled flights to Friday Harbor and the islands in Beaver and Otters on floats, many of them converted to turbine engine. They land in the harbor next to the marina. You can watch departure traffic from the airport. The ferry dock is only a few hundred yards away. Highly recommended (for breakfast).


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