Nehalem Bay, OR - August 2009

ScottSchmidt · #1 08-24-2009, 10:32 PM

Recently we had a visit from our friends The Olson's from Wisconsin. They flew out to Salt Lake City Friday afternoon after dodging some weather through South Dakota. To my delight I was able to get both our RV-10's in my hanger that night.

We woke up on Saturday to the sound of thunder, rain and wind here in Salt Lake. A cold front was moving through the State with great weather expected to follow it. I was glad we put the plane in the hanger as a little hail started to fall at the house. As we sat around eating breakfast discussing what we should do, we discussed the option of going airplane camping. RaNae and I love to do that and will almost never turn that down. I really wanted to take them up to Idaho but the lows were expected to be in the 30's that night due to the cold front. I remembered a recommendation recently about a great camping spot on the Oregon coast. We checked it out for a couple of minutes and decided to go for it. This was a spot that Mike Seager took me when I was doing my transition training in the RV-10.

We departed early afternoon and we were on our way. We both cruised up to 10,500 and put our -10's LOP (Lean Of Peak) burning 9.4 gph at 158 knots TAS. We had headwinds and made it to 7S3 (Starks Twin Oaks) for fuel in about 3 1/2 hours. They had some of the cheapest fuel in the area at $3.85/gallon. It was a very cool airport. Another RV-10 flyer, Ed Hayden, met us there at the airport in his plane. He has a beautiful RV-10 and it was fun to see him.

Mt. Hood

Approaching Twin Oaks

After filling up we headed for the coast. We flew over Tillamook then up the coast to Nehalem Bay. We cruised the coast for a few minutes and decided we had better land and get our camp set up.

Here is a shot of Tillamook airport. There use to be two hangers and was a Naval Air Station where they housed blimps for patrolling. One of the hangers was destroyed in a fire in 1992. Because of rationing the hangers were built completely from wood and may be the largest wooden structure in the world. The hanger is now home to the Tillamook Air Museum.

ScottSchmidt · #2 08-24-2009, 10:33 PM

Nehalem Bay State Park

The Olson's on final approach

We taxied over to the camping area where spots #1 and #2 were open and waiting for us. The state park charges $8 per night. We walked over the the main office where we paid our fee and purchased two bundles of firewood for $5 each which were delivered to our campsites while we walked to the beach to enjoy the sunset. I don't think we had any idea we would be walking in the Pacific Ocean when we woke up.

RaNae and I

The Olson's

ScottSchmidt · #3 08-24-2009, 10:35 PM

The next morning we walked to the end of the Runway 33 onto the beach where the water was in low tide. There was a great tree to balance on and a fort someone had built. It was a great day on the coast.

ScottSchmidt · #4 08-24-2009, 10:35 PM

We walked in the town of Manzanita, OR for lunch which was about a 30 min walk. There are many great options for food on the main street. After lunch we walked the beach back to the airport where they were kite surfing. In the distance we saw a group of planes coming and couldn't believe our eyes when a P-38 banked over the airport. That was something you don't see everyday.

The Olson's stayed in Oregon for another day but we had to head back to Utah so we said our goodbyes and headed home. It was 3 hours 20 minutes home and it was a beautiful flight.

Mike S · #5 08-25-2009, 12:25 AM

As usual, great writeup.

And great photos.

Thanks.

pierre smith · #6 08-25-2009, 04:56 AM

...and thanks a lot, Scott.

BTW, how many hours do you put on your bird annually?

Regards,

hydroguy2 · #7 08-25-2009, 09:11 AM

and once again the Schmidt's raise the bar. Thanks Scott.

Showed the pix to Kris and she said "I want that"....so off to the shop I go.

the_other_dougreeves · #8 08-25-2009, 09:36 AM

The Oregon Coast in late August and Septmeber is pretty awesome. Nehalem Bay is a great spot to drop in as well - always sites for fly-in camping.

TODR

ScottSchmidt · #9 08-25-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre smith

...and thanks a lot, Scott.

BTW, how many hours do you put on your bird annually?

Regards,

We have been averaging just over 200 hours per year on our plane. It will be three years of flying this October and we are around 610 now.
This year was a little less than the previous two years due to weather. We had a pretty slow start to the spring.
I can always make RaNae flinch by saying, "our engine is 30% worn out"

I can't believe Paul and Victoria Rosales have 3000 hours. They definitely have raised the bar. I figured they average 333 hours per year. Pretty awesome!

zspivey · #10 08-27-2009, 09:06 AM

Scott, Your trip write ups are always inspiring. Your photos raise the bar.

My son and daughter-in-law live in Tacoma, WA. I hope to fly N912PS out there to see some of the areas about which you write.