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So...we went west.....but only to look!!!

Weasel

Weasel

Well Known Member
Ever since the RV-10 was completed I have thought about taking a long trip out west to see a few things that people talk about.

A little back ground. I grew up east of the Mississippi river and the only time I have been west of there was on an occasional trip to eastern South Dakota or a Bus trip with our church chorus that took us as far as Oklahoma and Nebraska. I stopped in L.A. on an airline trip to Hawaii but was only a change over and stayed in the airport. And one time I went via airline to L.A to visit my brother for 2 or 3 days.

We decided to take the girls and go on a trip WAY out west and just look around.

I will let the pictures do the talking for the most part.

Some of them are not the best quality but hopefully they will give you an idea.

Due to all the children with us we only flew a max. of 2 legs per day and kept them at less than 3 hrs each. Worked pretty well.

Hopefully this will be good motivation material for someone out there.
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Day 1 ----

We headed to Excelsior Springs, MO for the first fuel stop.

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From there we went to Hot Springs, South Dakota.

Visited a 94 year old friend.

Went to Clint Buzenitz shop to see the Vetterman exhaust system facility and also the modified Cub that Clint is building.

Had the privilege of meeting Mr. Larry Vetterman the next morning before departure and swapping a few stories.

The girls found an airplane in front of Clint's house...they didnt have enough flying for one day!

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More of South Dakota

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Day 2 ---Hot Springs to Billings, MT

WX was low in the morning so we missed the Bad Lands, Mt Rushmore, and The Black Hills.

Having a heart to heart meditation.

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Day 3 --- Billings, MT to Bonners Ferry, ID

Was overcast in the morning again but was able to cancel before we got to the Rocky Mountains for some good views.

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Day 4-6 local in the northern Idaho area

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Flew up to Eckheart International Airport to take a look around. Was riding with a friend in his RV-9

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More of day 7

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Took a tour of the place. That was fun

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Left out of Vans and headed south

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Took a look at Mt. Shasta

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More of day 7

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Made it to Santa Rosa.

The crew at Santa Rosa FBO has got to be one of the best places I have ever been to. The were super!!!!!

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Day 7----Sana Rosa to L.A.

Sorry! got mixed up on the days here....was supposed to be days 3-5 in Idaho...then 6 was from Idaho to Sana Rosa.

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More of day 9

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Four Corners. We circled this one. went through 4 states in a Min. or so.

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Day 10 Portales New Mexico to HOME!!!

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Texes has all the water that is missing in the west.

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More of day 10

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Thats about it.

We flew a total of about 26 hrs.
Had a tail wind the entire trip.....SERIOUS!!!

Google Maps says if we had driven to each destination we would have had a 91 hr drive :eek:

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And if we had drove it.....

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Fantastic!

Wow Weasel, what a great trip. You almost made it all the way to the best field on the west coast .. KHAF. Thanks for the writeup and the photos; great motivation for us rivet-bangers. Seems like the family had a great time; the kids are toooo cute!
 
Awesome pictures! Looks like everone had a good time. Tailwinds the whole way......wow!....must be livin right;).

Thanks for sharing.
 
Great writeup

Joel, good trip, and great photos---------no wonder my internet crashed yesterday, JPEG overload;)
 
Weasel, what an adventure. Your kids are going to have some wonderful memories.

I used to stop at a little bakery in Brooksville with great pastries. Is it still there?

John
 
jpowell13 said:
I used to stop at a little bakery in Brooksville with great pastries. Is it still there?

John
Click to expand...

Dude its about 2 miles from my house.....i had a sausage biscuit from there this morning :p

Fly in here sometime and i will take ya down there....if we are not home, find a tractor or lawnmower or something to drive yourself.
 
Looks like a terrific trip ! Those of us that have been out west for years... take some of this for granted. But, viewed through the eyes of visitors, it is a reminder of the visual wonders we enjoy from our RV's. Hope the kids remember the trip for a while.
 
Nice Photos

Wow, thanks for posting all the great pictures! What an inspriational trip! You have a beautiful family, and it looks like you all had a great time! Beautiful airplane too! :)
 
Beautiful 😎

Thank you for sharing your great adventure with us.....your pictures are wonderful.....you have a beautiful family, you truly are a blessed man.😀
 
Weasel,

You're in real trouble and don't know it - yet. :) After 50 yrs. of flying,
I've learned a lot from the Tail Wind Bank (or Head Wind Bank)
So..... you flew 25 hrs with Tail Winds all the way. Well, look at you !!!!
Truth is - you're in Dutch to the Bank. You know the story, (the real one)
in the long run, you end up with more Head Wind time than Tail Wind time.
So... you now have a 25 hrs debt looming out there. At least, in the
RV10 - it's fun.

Really ---- I enjoyed seeing all you pics and reviewing your plan.
Nice trip and nice write-up. There's more waiting........
I've flown my RV-6 all over the USA/Canada/Bahamas for over 20 yrs.
It's been some of the best moments my wife a I have experienced.

drycreekrv we live at: www.ts07.org check it out:
 
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