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| Flight Route |
7/23 6B6 to MCD (Mackinac Island)
Mackinac Island has no automobiles
so took a horse drawn carriage from the airport to a funky little B&B near
the Grand Hotel ($7/person for ~3 mile dist). Rented bikes to explore the
island. Mia did multiple circumnavigations.
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| Morning weigh-in (I don't do this every time!) |
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| Early morning departure. You can see the excitement in the eyes! |
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| Mackinac Taxi Ride from the Airport |
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| Even the Trash Truck is Horse Drawn |
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| Home for the Night |
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| Mia the Photographer |
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| Enjoying Bike Paths on Mackinac |
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| Rare Photo with Tatja (you can tell who takes most of them..) |
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| The Grand Hotel living up to it's name |
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| Leaving Mackinac Island Airport for Green Bay |
7/24 MCD to GRB (Green Bay)
RNAV 24 approach in 1000’ ceilings
(ATC dropped us off high, had us start RNAV 18 then last minute change from
RNAV 24, kept me busy). Arrived at hotel to find out it was right across
from Lambeau Field and the start of the Green Bay Packers training camp. And
I thought NE was crazy about the Patriots! It was great to get caught up
in the NFL history and excitement.
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| En-route to Green Bay |
We stayed in Green Bay while
attending Oshkosh. Great experience and we only scratched the small
fraction of what is offered. Mia absolutely loved the experience
absorbing everything, and Tatja and Remi were happy despite the brutal
temps. I went to several ABS seminars and enjoyed the ABS tent with cold
drinks, fans and fellow Bonanza pilots. ABS seems to be doing something
right as their turnout was one of the highest and was very active. Met
several great folks. Patrick McGowan who runs PK Floats in Lincoln,
Maine got me excited about attending the seaplane fly-in in Greenville, ME later in
the summer. When we mentioned we were going to return via Maine he
recommended the Pickled Wrinkle outside Winter Harbor. This sealed the
deal as we were trying to decide where in Maine we wanted to go…..
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| Sacred Ground for Packer Fans |
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| Oshkosh |
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| North 40 at Oshkosh |
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| Lunch at the Sea Plane Base |
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| Oshkosh Eye Candy |
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| Mia on the Flight Line |
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| One of Mia's Photos |
7/28 GRB to
MVL (Stowe)
We were interested in Stowe, VT as it
has glider activity for Mia and looked like a fun strip to get in and out of,
nested in a valley between the Green Mountains and Worcester Range. Also
having lived in Stow MA for 15 years and continually needed the ‘No, Stow
Massachusetts’ caveat, a visit to Stowe was long overdue’. About 20 min
from landing convective thunderstorms typical for the time of year started
developing over the field. The thunderstorms were tracked with ADS-B FIS-B
data sent through our new Garmin GTX-345 transponder with blue tooth
connectivity to my iPad. I wish I had saved a screen shot showing
the weather closing in. Boston Center gave no warning that we were about
to head right into anything… It is just amazing how much information is
available to GA pilots now.
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| Lake Huron is under those Clouds |
The conditions forced a diversion
to wait out the thunderstorms for a few hours. Lake Placid and Ticonderoga
(4B6) were nearby. Lake Placid, with nice airport near to the town
would have been the obvious choice but I had never been to Ticonderoga….
Nice paved 4000’ runway right on Lake Champlain… perfect! Well 3 planes
on the ramp, 3 T-hangers 5 cars (permanently parked) and a porta-potty with
NOTHING else. Although desolate, it was in the middle of beautiful fields
blooming with wildflowers. Next time, I need to look more closely
at services…. We eventually arrived in the Morrisville-Stowe
airport. Great little FBO. Mia compared notes with folks operating
a commercial glider tour company on gliders and tow planes.
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| Waiting for weather to past in Ticonderoga |
We used the iPhone app ‘Hotels
Tonight’ to get a deep discount (but still overpriced) at the StoweFlake
Inn. I love the flexibility that GA vacations require. With hotel
rewards points, smart phone apps such as AirB&B, Hotels Tonight and last minutes
rental car reservations last minute planning is pretty easy and the often very
rewarding.
7/29 MVL to BHB (Bar Harbor)
Landed at what seemed a pretty
quiet Bar Harbor Airport. Only 5 or so jets and no problem entering the
pattern. We stayed clear of the town and drove up to the ‘other Acadia
National Park’ near Winter Harbor where we only saw a few people. Boy I
just never get tired of Down East Maine! Just beautiful and a place I am
continually drawn to.
We had a great lunch at the Pickled
Wrinkle based on the recommendation of Patrick of PK Floats; seafood stew and
one of the best crab rolls I’ve had (and I had I my fair share). For the
evening we stayed in a B&B and fell asleep to a Jazz trio playing in the
living room.
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| Somes Sound in Acadia. We've anchored in this very spot on Borealis |
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| Maine |
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| The Pickled Wrinkle: Well worth the trip to Maine |
7/30 BHB to
6B6 (Home)
Wonderful VFR flight down the Maine
coast with Mia at the controls for most of the flight. Tatja and Remi
noted how much Mia’s flying had improved over the trip and on this last flight
they could actually read while Mia was flying. While talking to Portland
approach I was hailed by another Bonanza a few miles ahead and same altitude
and direction. Turned out to be Joe and Eric (7AB) from the adjoining
hanger heading back to 6B6. Small community. After fueling up we
were back home in less than 40 minutes bringing to close a memorable
flying vacation the whole family enjoyed!
