apkp777
Well Known Member
Thought I would share a few notes and pics from my trip to San Diego and back from Wisconsin. My son Aaron was graduating from MCRD San Diego (Marine Boot Camp) and in one of the very few letters we received from him, he said he wanted to fly the RV back home after boot camp. So, I figured we would make a trip of it. The trip took about 26 hours of flying and 3200nm.
Route
My wife and I planned to fly to San Diego and my son and I would fly back. However, a death in the family had my wife travel to Oregon just a few days before departure so her and I ended up meeting in Denver. I flew into Front Range Airport just southeast of KDEN. They had a airport car available and I drove over and picked up Kellie. The folks there at Front Range were great and the location was super convenient. Next Kellie and I headed south toward Pueblo where we would cross Poncho and Marshall Passes. I had borrowed a portable Ox system so I ended climbing to 14.5k and crossed over with no trouble. We did get a fair amount of turbulence but nothing too extreme.
Marshall Pass
Once across the passes we made for Gunnison and Black Canyon. We landed at Montrose, CO and stayed the afternoon/night there. Those folks are great. They had a Jeep available for free and let us have it all day. We drove up to the Black Canyon National Park and had a great time enjoying the scenery.
Black Canyon
The next morning we took off and headed toward Moab/Canyonlands airport. Words can NOT express how amazing the view was. Just incredible. We were at awe. The short flight to Moab got us into Canyonlands airport early in the day where we rented a car and went hiking in Arches National Park (1 day before it was closed due to the Government shutdown).
Moab
The next morning we headed toward San Diego. Our route of flight took us over the Canyonlands, The Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree and on into San Diego. Again, words and pictures fail to convey just how incredible it was.
Canyonlands
Grand Canyon
Arriving into San Diego, SoCal approach granted my request for a coast approach into Montgomery Field from the new which gave us nice view of the coastline.
San Diego
Of course the highlight of our trip was seeing our son graduation from boot camp. It's a very patriotic ceremony and a very proud moment in our lives.
Marine Boot Camp Graduation 2nd BTL Golf Co PLT 2150 MCRD San Diego
PVT Aaron J Phillips
Aaron and I flew home and again stopped in Montrose, Pueblo and on into Wisconsin. He was anxious to get home and see the rest of his family and friends so other than the aerial tours of the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands and Lake Powell, we tried to keep the pace up to get home.
Pueblo
Route
My wife and I planned to fly to San Diego and my son and I would fly back. However, a death in the family had my wife travel to Oregon just a few days before departure so her and I ended up meeting in Denver. I flew into Front Range Airport just southeast of KDEN. They had a airport car available and I drove over and picked up Kellie. The folks there at Front Range were great and the location was super convenient. Next Kellie and I headed south toward Pueblo where we would cross Poncho and Marshall Passes. I had borrowed a portable Ox system so I ended climbing to 14.5k and crossed over with no trouble. We did get a fair amount of turbulence but nothing too extreme.
Marshall Pass
Once across the passes we made for Gunnison and Black Canyon. We landed at Montrose, CO and stayed the afternoon/night there. Those folks are great. They had a Jeep available for free and let us have it all day. We drove up to the Black Canyon National Park and had a great time enjoying the scenery.
Black Canyon
The next morning we took off and headed toward Moab/Canyonlands airport. Words can NOT express how amazing the view was. Just incredible. We were at awe. The short flight to Moab got us into Canyonlands airport early in the day where we rented a car and went hiking in Arches National Park (1 day before it was closed due to the Government shutdown).
Moab
The next morning we headed toward San Diego. Our route of flight took us over the Canyonlands, The Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree and on into San Diego. Again, words and pictures fail to convey just how incredible it was.
Canyonlands
Grand Canyon
Arriving into San Diego, SoCal approach granted my request for a coast approach into Montgomery Field from the new which gave us nice view of the coastline.
San Diego
Of course the highlight of our trip was seeing our son graduation from boot camp. It's a very patriotic ceremony and a very proud moment in our lives.
Marine Boot Camp Graduation 2nd BTL Golf Co PLT 2150 MCRD San Diego
PVT Aaron J Phillips
Aaron and I flew home and again stopped in Montrose, Pueblo and on into Wisconsin. He was anxious to get home and see the rest of his family and friends so other than the aerial tours of the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands and Lake Powell, we tried to keep the pace up to get home.
Pueblo
