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  #11  
Old 07-20-2010, 05:12 PM
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jthocker jthocker is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvmills View Post
Jon,

Sounds like an awesome trip!! We vacationed in Grand Teton National Park last summer, and its a beautiful place. Its on the way from Jackson Hole to the south entrance to Yellowstone, and is where the Tetons overlook Jackson Lake. Fairly close to Jackson airport, and some of the most majestic moutains and purtiest sunsets ever!

The rest of the trip sounds just as great. If you end up on San Juan Island (Friday Harbor), I once rented mopeds there and went all over the island, visiting the sites and stopping to pick and eat fresh blackberries...they were everywhere. Not sure if they are in season now, but if the weather is good, the San Juans are also on the "purtiest places in the world" list.

If you are coming south at all on the way back and want to visit yet another on that list, c'mon by Tahoe, and gimme a holler on the way in!

Have a great trip, and a most excellent adventure!!

Cheers,
Bob

PS: Can you do a PIREP on Douglas County, WY after you RON there? That's a planned stop on the way back from the Great Canadian Air Rally in August, and if you have hotel recs, I'm all ears! THX!
Bob,
We're staying at Hotel Labonte in Douglas, Wy. We picked Douglas for the proximity of airport and hotels(could walk if there's no taxi). LaBonte is an old hotel in downtown that looked more interesting than Holiday Inn Express.
Owner said he'd pick us up at airport.
I'll post a review afterwards.
Thanks for the invite, we'll see!
Best regards,
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  #12  
Old 07-20-2010, 05:17 PM
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jthocker jthocker is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu McCurdy View Post
On the way to Mt Rushmore, fly over the Badlands. After, fly over to Devil's Tower. Yellowstone is time well spent. After Hood River, fly through the Columbia Gorge, then you could go south and circle Crater Lake, then over to McMinnville, OR (MMV), site of the Spruce Goose Museum, just across the street from the airport. You could even stop for a visit at Aurura, OR (UAO)and Van's Aircraft. While in the San Juan Islands land at Friday Harbor (FHR) and walk into town (great calamare on the dockside restaurant) and Roche Harbor (WA09) and walk into historic town, and Orcas Island (ORS). On the way home stop at Kalispell (GPI) and visit Glacier Park.

Have a good trip

Falcon
Thanks Stu,
I've been to both Van's and the Museum, but the museum is so truly spectacular that the "girls" might even be impressed. I'll keep that in mind!
Thanks for the suggestions and I hope to see you at a "clinic" again soon!
Best regards,
Mutha
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  #13  
Old 07-20-2010, 06:42 PM
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gvouga gvouga is offline
 
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Mutha,

My wife and I lived in Portland for a few years. I've listed a few of my favorites below:

If your near Portland on the first Saturday of the month then 7S3 is a great little airport with the EAA 105 pancake breakfast. Guaranteed to be 50+ RV's there.

Oregon/Washington Coast - I never get tired of flying on that coastline. Incredible scenery. Pacific City is a good place to stop for food or overnight. There's a great little brewery about a mile walk up the beach from the airport. Incredible place to watch the sunset behind the rock formations in the ocean.

Airplane Camping - lots of great places all through the NW. It doesn't sound like this is your intention, but if it is let me know and I'll give you my favorites.

Mt. St. Helens - Great flyby on the way up to the San Juans.

Hood River - great little town and THE site for wind sports. The Colombia Gorge funnels the wind through there and there's almost always good conditions. Take a kiteboarding or windsurfing lesson or just rent one if your already experienced.

San Juans - Others have already described the islands. Definitely a must stop location. Visit all the islands. They all have their unique personality.

Neon
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  #14  
Old 07-20-2010, 07:17 PM
TOAD TOAD is offline
 
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Default Camp spots.. Would like ideas in the NW

gvouga -
Could you post some if your ideas on camping up and down the Oregon coast. My wife and I would like to take a couple of days at the end of this week - early next and try this camping out. We may even head out a bit further to W Yellow stone so other ideas are welcome also. What are some good RV-7A camp sites that stand out in your mind. Johnson Creek I know How about the coast? The direction will depend on weather. I am not IFR yet.

Thanks.... Toad
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  #15  
Old 07-20-2010, 11:44 PM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
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Default Oregon stops

Hood River is a great stop. I'm sure you have that mapped out already.

Another spot is Gold Beach.

Bob Axsom
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  #16  
Old 07-26-2010, 10:39 AM
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jthocker jthocker is offline
 
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An update on our great western adventure.
We embarked on our trip on Sat. morning, just as the thunderstorms were inundating Oshkosh. It looks like we picked the right year to go opposite direction from everyone else in the country.
Our initial route direct to Mt. Rushmore was blocked by that long line of weather, so we deviated with XM help to MCI and then northwest to Mt. Rushmore and on into Douglas, Wy. 8.1 hrs of flying the first day, with stops in Moberly, Mo. and Ainsworth, Ne. A pirep on the Hotel Labonte in Douglas is......cheap, quaint, the walleye was good in the restaurant, many "roughnecks" also staying at the hotel! Stay there at your own peril!
The Sunday flight from Douglas to Jackson Hole involved a detour from a direct route to a southerly route around the beginning(I think) of the Teton's and then a right turn along the valley leading into Jackson Hole.
That was probably one of the more spectacular flights I've ever made!
It sure is nice to make a trip like this with mutual support.




Larry and Kayley Wolf , Haley and Jon Thocker



Larry and Kayley near the Teton's
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Last edited by jthocker : 07-26-2010 at 08:02 PM. Reason: wrong mountain range
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  #17  
Old 07-26-2010, 04:20 PM
Paul B Paul B is offline
 
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Default More Pics Please

I never get tired of looking at RVs flying next to mountains. Enjoy your trip!!!

BTW the mountains behind Larry's plane are the Wind River Mtns.
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  #18  
Old 07-28-2010, 08:23 AM
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jthocker jthocker is offline
 
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On the way to Yellowstone, with the correct Mountain Range, Grand Teton in the background, Jon and Haley Thocker in 6JT!



The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone



More to come........
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  #19  
Old 07-28-2010, 01:58 PM
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panhandler1956 panhandler1956 is offline
 
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Default Thanks!

Jon,
That looks like a blast! Keep the pics coming - great inspiration!
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  #20  
Old 07-28-2010, 07:04 PM
Greg Reese Greg Reese is offline
 
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Default Careful

Jon,
Larry is getting too much sun......
Get him some sunscreen.
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