I started planning a trip to Alaska two years ago. First time the life was on the way, second time - a job transition. NOW or NEVER I said to myself. Took a vacation plus some unpaid time, loaded my plane with all kinds of gear a pilot could imagine (except a thing I really needed) and launched.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F001.jpg&hash=20dcd494e66af8a71febacd600903500)
Launched a day ahead of my schedule. My Chief Meteorologist Rocky literally pushed me out of the nest. A big hurricane was heading to East Coast and there were already some buildups. Come on Russki he said, fly to Lansing MI, spend a night at my place then go your way in nice weather. He also mentioned something about food and gas...
In an hour or so I had to land at Deck PA 9D4 to wait till front passes.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F004.jpg&hash=52708b07b4f9409a9c9e4658ad53d563)
It's a real countryside there with proper smell.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F006.jpg&hash=4b2c94e47dc613386c0e91bc9c88c9f3)
T-storm dissipated and I was on the way again. There was some lower visibility by Cleveland OH then by Detroit everything was nice and rosy. 3 hours later I landed at Lansing MI.
These are island on Lake Erie Put-in-Bay being the major one. I landed on all of them a year ago.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F002.jpg&hash=649a364fe734d3ed9b29b7334f1984ae)
Great dinner followed by a good night sleep. Then Rocky dispatched me with father's blessing...
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F003.jpg&hash=661028dfe731f7138b2a8403f7e25642)
Air over Lake Michigan was very smooth on 4th of July. Somewhere in the middle of the Lake the engine ran a bit rougher. The roughness was immediately cured by a half turn of red knob in. Those who flew over water know what I am talking about.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F007.jpg&hash=e0a1c074cfe32f84e1e14e7f58094867)
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F005.jpg&hash=fe47714ea747a6a179afc47d120f6caa)
These stacks look familiar.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F008.jpg&hash=e46ff1de89f329fbf14293729d6a90ce)
A year ago.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F009.jpg&hash=d7aa607e737dbfd049d528e8b70b96a0)
On the other side of the Great Lake I landed on an airport hoping to get some mogas. But it was too early on a holiday and pumps were locked. I had plenty of fuel and pressed farther...
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F0010.jpg&hash=964fef9224cc07e60f1661152106461a)
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F001.jpg&hash=20dcd494e66af8a71febacd600903500)
Launched a day ahead of my schedule. My Chief Meteorologist Rocky literally pushed me out of the nest. A big hurricane was heading to East Coast and there were already some buildups. Come on Russki he said, fly to Lansing MI, spend a night at my place then go your way in nice weather. He also mentioned something about food and gas...
In an hour or so I had to land at Deck PA 9D4 to wait till front passes.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F004.jpg&hash=52708b07b4f9409a9c9e4658ad53d563)
It's a real countryside there with proper smell.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F006.jpg&hash=4b2c94e47dc613386c0e91bc9c88c9f3)
T-storm dissipated and I was on the way again. There was some lower visibility by Cleveland OH then by Detroit everything was nice and rosy. 3 hours later I landed at Lansing MI.
These are island on Lake Erie Put-in-Bay being the major one. I landed on all of them a year ago.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F002.jpg&hash=649a364fe734d3ed9b29b7334f1984ae)
Great dinner followed by a good night sleep. Then Rocky dispatched me with father's blessing...
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F003.jpg&hash=661028dfe731f7138b2a8403f7e25642)
Air over Lake Michigan was very smooth on 4th of July. Somewhere in the middle of the Lake the engine ran a bit rougher. The roughness was immediately cured by a half turn of red knob in. Those who flew over water know what I am talking about.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F007.jpg&hash=e0a1c074cfe32f84e1e14e7f58094867)
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F005.jpg&hash=fe47714ea747a6a179afc47d120f6caa)
These stacks look familiar.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F008.jpg&hash=e46ff1de89f329fbf14293729d6a90ce)
A year ago.
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F009.jpg&hash=d7aa607e737dbfd049d528e8b70b96a0)
On the other side of the Great Lake I landed on an airport hoping to get some mogas. But it was too early on a holiday and pumps were locked. I had plenty of fuel and pressed farther...
![](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi447.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq197%2FN666BK%2FAK%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520to%2520AK%2F0010.jpg&hash=964fef9224cc07e60f1661152106461a)