2024-02 KORS (Orcas island, WA)

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Our excursion to the San Juan Islands was a delightful triumph. The weather was perfect as we embarked on a day trip for lunch and a hike. While Eastsounds offers a crew car, availability was on a first-come, first-served basis. Naturally, we brought Scout along. Our initial plan was to use the car, with a backup of strolling into town for a snack. It had been some time since our last visit to Orcas Island, and we look forward to returning in the summer for extended daylight hours and camping. Fortunately, we secured the car! We decided to stop by the Orcas Island Hotel close to the ferry terminal for a snack and some coffee, where the beignets were a treat. Later, we made our way to Moran State Park, coinciding with a 100-mile race. Scout brought joy to Cascade Lake, where a hydration station was set up for the racers. Although we only explored a small portion of the lakeside trail, the surroundings were rich with ancient trees. Witnessing a breathtaking sunset on our return journey was the perfect ending, topped off by our little companion leading us back home.

2024-02 Local Flight

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We recently welcomed a new addition to the family – Scout, a miniature Australian Shepherd, who is the most relaxed puppy you’ll ever meet. On Presidents Day, we decided to take Scout on a flight. Although we had hoped to fly to the San Juan Islands, the rain hindered our plans as it lingered just east of the Olympics, preventing us from heading towards the islands. Instead, we opted for a local flight to help Scout acclimate to the sounds and movements of the airplane. We circled around Snoqualmie Falls and our house a few times. We look forward to attempting the trip to the islands on another day.

2023-12 Sedona, AZ (SEZ)

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Christmas Vacation 2023 in the El Niño year means a flying adventure! We’re so excited to get the chance to fly to the beautiful red rocks for a holiday. The decision came day of. We had airline tickets booked as backup. The weather was looking like it would hold for us to get out on the 22nd, but telling the weather for the way home was anyones guessing game.

Sedona forecast rain at the time of our arrival but the temperatures were high to avoid icing.

Our travels are a bit different in the past few years. Plane Girl is no longer in a big car seat, just a booster. The Little dude isnt even in a car seat anymore. We even were able to use oxygen for the first time on this flight! Cruising at 13,500 saved us gas and allowed us to have a better ground speed over 200kts.

We didnt go straight to Sedona of course. We stopped in Bend (BDN) for the night. Heading home after 6 days and now the weather is back up in the air. The metars are VFR everywhere but BDN. We hope to stay the night on the way home. But there is a freezing fog layer thats going to burn off any moment. There is always a plan B. This plan B is sunriver, with a plan C of Winnemuca if we just want to skip Bend and go home.

2023-08 003 (Animas, CO)

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Our final summer adventure brought us to Colorado! We flew to Canyon Lands (CNY) in 4:40 we debated going all of the way to Colorado but decided to stop for the restroom. We were picked up by family and visited tons of local attractions:

  • Mesa Verda
  • Durango Silverton Train
  • 100 year old mine
  • Chuckwagon dinner at Bar D

2023- 07 WYS (West Yellowstone, MT)

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Our Annual Yellowstone trip! We flew into WYS and rented a car to the lodge. we departed COD and headed to Yellowstone as a formation flight. We celebrated papa pilots birthday with a chuck wagon dinner

2023-07 3U2 (Johnson Creek, ID)

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We started Papa pilots birthday week with a visit to Johnson Creek! It was our first time into the airport and we referenced Idaho aviation associations website to find all the Maps on how to get in. The airport is located a little bit in a canyon so you come in from the north and circle down to land on the runway. The day that we landed at the airport they were watering the grass so half of the runway was closed although we did not have any problems landing on the second half of the runway. We wanted to go look for the Hot Springs bathtub but we did not have enough time. The airport is really great for being able to have camping next year playing and they also have restrooms and showers and firewood for the fire pits.

After we left Johnson Creek we did a short flight over to McCall Idaho (MYL) borrowed a couple bikes and rode out for breakfast.