This trip has been an experience on so many levels, it's insane. Insanely GREAT.
LA was interesting... riding your bike through LA is interesting.
The entire purpose of this trip was to go to the RUSH concert on Sunday, June 7 with friends. That was simply EPIC.
Great day, great friends, great concert!
Monday... time to get outta dodge! It was fun, but time to hit the road.
Back to the airport via cycle...
Had to wait for the marine layer to burn off... but once it did, YES!
Leg 1: KSMO (Santa Monica) to KSBP (San Luis Obispo)
Santa Monica has a noise abatement... not a big deal. Unfortunately they are under pressure to close... sounds like they have another 2.5 years. KSMO is an active airport. Lots of Cirruses doing training, and it is a Sling training center. Plus, there is scheduled service as well.
Followed the coast until I could see the marine layer, and then climbed and headed direct. 1.4 hours airtime.
Fueled up in SLO. $6.35 vs $10 at Santa Monica. BUT, I felt like I was mobbed. Landed and taxied to the pumps, and all these people came out to say hi. SLO has a huge experimental community! Rans, Cubs, RV's, Slings, etc. Was so awesome to see. Plus they have scheduled service in and out of there as well. Wish I had more time.
Feeling overwhelmed, I went where I knew. Flew back to Concord, Sportsman in Paul's hangar, a known hotel and area. Decompression day.
Plus, WX to the north into Oregon is not looking good on Tue (June 9), so taking a day. Get caught up on work, emails, etc. Trying to plan how to get home...
Decided to ask Google Gemini for advice. Here is what it planned for my route home (considering weather, fuel prices, etc)
I'd prefer a more scenic route, but I just want to get home. Need to get ready for Smiley Creek, and we leave in 16 days. I need to do a 50 hour inspection on the Sportsman, and that will take time (a few days minimum), and I have work to catch up on.
Launched out of Concord at 7:35 and headed to San Luis Obispo. Flew along the coast up towards Santa Barbara.
Stunning scenery.
Landed in SLO... and was immediately greeted by a bunch of locals wanting to look at the Sportsman. SLO has an active homebuilding community. Multiple RV's, Ran's, Cub's. Lots of cool people.
I've been using Declin Runup (fuel additive that reduces the effects of lead). You add between 1/2 to 2 ounces per 10 gallons. There was a couple in a Rotax powered Sling low wing waiting for fuel, and the wife says "I've never seen anyone else ever use that before". They use it as well. The husband says he has had no lead fouling on his plugs in 4 years. That is a really good sign...
From SLO headed to Medford to top up. Neat airport... the Jet Center (FBO) was gorgeous.
Flew right by Mt Shasta. That was awesome...
Next stop was Lebannon, OR for fuel before getting through Portland and Seattle airspace. Foreflight said their fuel was less than $6... but they had none. FBO locked. Talked to a local and he said Albany has fuel, but its more expensive.... so quick 6 minute flight to Albany.
Got out of Albany and tried to get Cascades Approach... when he finally got back to me I was out of his airspace... so then onto Portland approach. They vectored me right over PDX.
Very cool!
Went up the west side of Seattle enroute to Arlington.
Landed in Arlington to use the Glasair picnic table to get my customs paperwork done. Filed departure EAPIS, flight plan, and called CBSA. This was my first time using CANPASS.
Wanted to top up before leaving Arlington (at over $8 per gallon) and there was a guy calibrating his tanks at the pumps. I was on a timeline, and did not plan on this. So I helped him.... ended up being 7 minutes late arriving, but you have a 20 minute window either side of your arrival.
No one waiting for me, so taxied to the hangar and put the Sportsman away.
The aircraft was buggy, but in good shape. No real issues.
Total airtime there and back - 22.4 hours.
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