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Burnin' up some vacation

acroflyrgirl

Well Known Member
So, I am kicking around some ideas to have a little adventure in the plane this next week.

Here are some route thoughts.

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Camping

I got some of these ideas from the camping threads. I am thinking about just popping into L35 for lunch and maybe try camping at Kern Valley or Columbia CA.

Any input about these places?

Someone mentioned Georgetown. Good camping or better for a lunch stop?

Then I'm thinking I might just as well go on up to Van's homecoming, since I'll be halfway there already.

Any others taking the "scenic" route to Van's gathering?

Maybe if I show up early to Van's, I can find some willing formation types to fly with too.
 
Georgetown has a small but nice campground suitable for a couple of tents.
Columbia has a well developed larger campground with showers. There is a modest fee for its use.
I don't know that there is food available at either airport. However at Columbia there are a number of places within 15 minutes of walking, head toward the state park.
 
cathy, it is nice to see people going places in their aircraft. a lot of people are missing out on all the fun of owning these fine machines. keep us posted on your travels. go girl. :)
 
As has been mentioned, Columbia would be better than Georgetown, as there is no food at Georgetown.

Have you looked at the RV Hotel list by any chance, might be a good planning aid for you.

Home page of VAF, left side.

See you at the Homecoming:)
 
Homecoming

I think I'll stop in Big Bear City for lunch and fuel, then plan to camp at Columbia for a day maybe two, then meander up to RV Mecca.

I did see the RV hotel list, very cool.

Any places I'll be passing by along this route that are a must see, or a must stop, or a must eat, best fudge, coffee, scones etc?

Hmm, must be getting close to dinner time. sorry!
 
travels

cathy, it is nice to see people going places in their aircraft. a lot of people are missing out on all the fun of owning these fine machines. keep us posted on your travels. go girl. :)

Back in my earlier GA days I camped all over the Pac NW. I was able to take just about anything I wanted in my C170 and I found out this weekend that no matter how persistent I am, my bicycle will not fit in the back of the RV.

All the other ah junk will fit however. With a bicycle I could be less picky about having food close to the airport, but without that I'll be keeping walking distance to a couple of miles.
 
i found that landing at block island i could get a ride hitch hiking in about 3 cars. the nicest people you can meet. maybe a unicycle could get you around. enjoy your trip. keep us posted here. adios. ;)
 
Kern Valley is a great airport, camping close by and some killer restaurants in town.

It's also hot...

The low was 79F there yesterday... a bit high for camping perhaps...:)

I'm presently in Bakersfield with some of the hottest days of the summer, hoping to beat the monsoon back to Tucson tomorrow.

Once you reach Oregon is will get cooler...:D
 
Day 1

I took off this morning from Tucson, forgot to take any BTO (before takeoff) pix.

Here's my first stop, for fuel of all sorts.

Big Bear City CA

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Aww, photobucket must have kicked he bucket temporarily, no pix to post up.
I'll try again tomorrow. I had a nice lunch at Big bear today, then did a fly by of Kern and decided to keep going north to Columbia.

Walked into town and had some nice mexican food and a cold beer. Life is good.
The sun has set, a warm shower took care of the days grime and now the crickets are singing a lullabye, just for me.

It's just me and the crickets in this whole campground.
Maybe a deer will join me for coffee in the morning.

Tomorrow, RV mecca.
 
Sounds like you are having a great time, good for you.

Columbia is a wonderful place to visit, I used to go there for the Stinson fly in every year-----havent been back for five years or so.

Will see you at the Homecoming, we are heading out Fri morning.
 
Leaving Big Bear City
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CB's around Yosemite
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Columbia Airport
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The only game in town on a weekday, best I could tell, yummy.
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Sunset at O22
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Day 2

I woke up today, packed up the tent and decided to fly to breakfast. Red Bluff ought to work.

Departing O22, waited for this big bug to leave. It would take a heck of a fly swatter to knock this critter down.
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A couple of S2's I think and an OV10.
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A fire in the valley
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Nothing like a nice shady spot to park while I go to the restaurant and see if I'm too late for breakfast.
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Lucky me
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Goodbye Red Bluff
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So, I have a coulpe of options. Follow the "magenta" or follow the "blue". It went up for a vote with some of my FB friends. The "blues" have it
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I didn't stay very long, this was just off the airport.
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Next stop, Independence
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All tucked in for the night. Bring on the fly-in
 
Vortex generators

Great pictures. I have to ask... Do you notice any difference of any kind of performance with the addition of the vortex generators? I have always wondered about those things on smaller aircraft...
 
RE:Great Thread and ???

Cathy

I have really enjoyed this thread and really look forward to the next installment.
I will be up that way next week!!!!! (7S9) Waiting on a new oil probe from GRT. It was supposed to be here today...oops...thread creep.

One question what is you tent of choice? Why? Sleeping Bag and Pad of choice?Why?

Continue to have fun. Again thanks for a fun read!!!!
 
Sorry my trip thread started in the wrong spot.

The VG's came with the plane and I have no experience without so can't say.

As for tenting gear, nothing special. Cheap tent with attached poles so I don't lose them, an REI bag and a Thinsulate pad.
 
Awesome! Looking forward to more of the trip. Often I mention the "RV" to friends and they first think I am talking about the type that you see at the lake with slide-outs or being pulled behind diesel trucks (what I always called campers). In a sense the RV is that too. A great "Recreational Vehicle".
 
Great Motivation!

Cathy,

Thanks for taking us along on the trip! It's posts like this and of course the "VLADventures: Russian around the country in his RV" that are posted that keep builders motivated while dreaming of their own future adventures!

Yol Bolson!
 
Mecca

Today I have gotten to meet many people thanks to my wonderful hosts Keith & Linda pointing me in the right direction.
Jim a WWll pilot, let me ask him all sorts of questions and I was quite taken by his many recounts of days gone by.

Jim in turn introduced me to many local RV builders and flyers and others who fly various machines.

Next I was able to follow some folks over to Lenhardt Field for coffee. There I met many more pilots and a cool group of women there one of which recently flew her Cub all the way to OSH for the big Cub gathering. Another who is building from scratch a beautiful bush plane. Awesome craftsmanship. I look forward to seeing the finished plane.
Several other women aviators who all share my same love. How nice is that!

After a nice tour of some cool projects we walked back into the FBO and I found out about a little lunch over at Aurora. Jerry VanGrunsven was also flying to Aurora and let me follow him over.

We landed and I taxi'd behind him and pulled up right in front of Van's factory. Then Jerry gave me a tour of the whole operation before getting to partake in some fresh grilled burgers across the ramp.

independence, home to this years Van's Homecoming
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Me and Jerry V
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Their RV 8A
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Flying all the way from Lenhardt to Aurora, enroute
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Taxiing into Van's. I'll bet many builders and dreamers alike have flown into this very spot in anticipation of picking up their kit.
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Parking in front of the Van's hangar. Every RV ought to come here to visit it's birhplace, so to speak.
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Whew, posting on a cell phone is a exercise in patience. After several fat fingered edits, viola!
 
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Cathy,
I most likely won't ever make it to the homecoming
but with your excellent coverage I am there.

Thanks for the writeup and pics,
Tom
 
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