WINTER FLYING ADVENTURE!
After obsessively stalking the weather for a week, we decided to ditch our airline tickets and wing it south instead! Oregon looked a bit iffy, but we were ready to dance with the clouds. Our first stop? Bend, OR, for a cozy overnight stay. (But this isn’t a Bend post)
We took off from Auburn in clear skies, but as we cruised south, we soared above a fluffy 7,000-foot cloud blanket and below a 15,000-foot one.
Once we crossed the Columbia River and waved at Mount Hood, things turned a bit gloomy to the south. Madras had a ceiling of 5,000 feet, so we were hoping to slip under the weather wall, but guess what? Snow decided to crash the party! We tracked the Nexrad radar, plotting our escape route. If things got too hairy, we could always just continue to the east as our alternate was Boise.
With I-84 airports on our radar, we were ready for a soft landing at BOI. As we zoomed past Baker City, we changed our minds and opted to head south instead of east, making a 270-degree turn. Just in time, we landed before the rain decided to join us!
After our flying escapades, Papa Pilot suggested Barbacoa for dinner. Oh. My. Goodness. What a gem! This place has an ambiance that screams “good vibes,” and their steaks are served sizzling on hot rocks—talk about a dinner experience!
We wrapped up our adventurous day with some pool time and a soak in the hot tub. What an exciting start to our trip!
