Of course there are a lot of men here at Oshkosh. Some of them say the dumbest things. Like the guy this morning who asked “So, do YOU fly this plane?” even his friend rolled his eyes.

Then I met a woman who flew here with her mom in their RV. She solo’d at 16 and licensed at 17. She is now a CFI (flying instructor). Wow! She’s COOL!!

Most people are so nice. I have good neighbors. I’m heading to the beach for a swim today before the rain rolls in.

Taking off at sunrise, around 5:30am , ended up working out great!! I flew the Fisk arrival with no one in front of me and only two behind.

Landing was uneventful, and I did put my wheels on the orange dot.

I tied down, set up camp, and then went to check in. The volunteers at check in made my day!

They gave me a bunch of awards and sang me a song. I cried. So sweet. What a way to make a pilot feel welcome.

Can’t wait to go explore all of the super cool information and fun things to do!!!

I stopped to see Devious and Mischievous in Minnetonka. It was So Fun to see them in their home. We worked and played and danced!!

Then, on the Wisc! Cha Cha and Linda picked me up at the Rhinelander airport and we headed to Linda’s lake house for a week of water sports with her sisters and Mom. Of course, Cha Cha too! Kayaks, Paddle Boards, a lake boat and a big floaty.

Friday morning early, I’m off to OshKosh! Almost there!!

Thermopolis Wyoming was pretty cool. The airport is ten miles from town, so the FBO owner loaned me a Cadillac. I started at the hot springs, and then went on to the dinosaur museum. Between, I saw buffalo grazing in the green open space.

Next up, Spearfish South Dakota. I really loved this place. It was friendly and packed with activities! This is the heart of the Black Hills and is just a few minutes from Sturgis. The scenery is stunning. I took a side trip and flew over Devils Tower, which is sure a lot greener than I expected! My bike ride up the Spearfish Canyon was delightful!

Now I am in Minnetonka, MN with two of my burner airport team! Taking off tomorrow morning to see Cha Cha and Linda at her family lake house. Happy to get back up in the air.

After landing in West Yellowstone, I jumped on my bike and rode to the backcountry ranger station. I wanted to hike more and drive less, so I chose a trail near Old Faithful. I love doing loops, so this was perfect. I got my permit and watched the education video, that actually, helped me a lot!

Next, I rode back to the airport and rented a car to get to the trail head. I packed my pack and was ready to go early. I wanted to be a tourist on my way to the trail.

That last photo…..yup. That was me. I’m the hiker. I saw a grizzly that same morning at the lake. It was running away from me and was far across the lake. Just the way you want to see a bear in the backcountry.

I was singing, and making noise on the trail…..and then came face to face with a juvenile. I thought about the training they gave me…..don’t run, back away. I did. The bear kept coming. I got out my spray, I kept backing away…..the bear kept coming. It was within 30-40 feet of me when I sprayed, and then the bear went by.

My next thought was where’s the mom????? I skirted the trail for awhile, holding my spray in front. I hooted and called. After awhile, I stopped shaking and put my spray away. The rest of the hike was without excitement.

This is my 40th year anniversary of working in the Park. I was probably on a backpacking trip on the very same day in July 1982.

Never have I encountered a bear on the trail. In fact, I hiked 250 miles that summer, and never encountered a bear at all.

I LOVE Yellowstone. It’s a grounding place for me. Bear or no bear, I’ll be back again, for sure.

After landing in West Yellowstone, I jumped on my bike and rode to the backcountry ranger station. I wanted to hike more and drive less, so I chose a trail near Old Faithful. I love doing loops, so this was perfect. I got my permit and watched the education video, that actually, helped me a lot!

Next, I rode back to the airport and rented a car to get to the trail head. I packed my pack and was ready to go early. I wanted to be a tourist on my way to the trail.

That last photo…..yup. That was me. I’m the hiker. I saw a grizzly that same morning at the lake. It was running away from me and was far across the lake. Just the way you want to see a bear in the backcountry.

I was singing, and making noise on the trail…..and then came face to face with a juvenile. I thought about the training they gave me…..don’t run, back away. I did. The bear kept coming. I got out my spray, I kept backing away…..the bear kept coming. I sprayed, and then the bear went by.

My next thought was where’s the mom????? I skirted the trail for awhile, holding my spray in front. I hooted and called. After awhile, I stopped shaking and put my spray away. The rest of the hike was without excitement.

This is my 40th year anniversary of working in the Park. I was probably on a backpacking trip on the very same day in July 1982.

Never have I encountered a bear on the trail. In fact, I hiked 250 miles that summer, and never encountered a bear at all.

I LOVE Yellowstone. It’s a grounding place for me. Bear or no bear, I’ll be back again, for sure.

It was a short hop from McCall to Johnson Creek. I left early in the cool morning air. Charlie Mike had to climb hard to get up over the peaks separating McCall from the creek. Once over the ridge, it was just following one river valley to the next.

Over Yellow Pine (pop 32), I could see down the valley that holds Johnson Creek airport. The instructions say to fly south on the west side of the valley, past the house (people live there full time), then circle back to downwind on the east side of the valley, base and land.

After my first call that I was on downwind, I heard a pilot call they were back-taxiing on the runway. What????, Ok, so I did another loop around the valley, letting him go.

Landing on grass is always a pleasure in 3CM. This was the best ever! I was in the Idaho Backcountry! What a thrill!

The campground is AMAZING! There are tie-downs for more than 50 planes. There are picnic tables, toilets, and a covered area with wifi, power for charging, a freezer for your ice, coffee in the morning, picnic tables, and hot showers…….ALL FREE.

From there, it’s 5 miles to Yellow Pine, a few miles to the hot spring, and just down the road is a salmon rescue. I went and watched the DNR agent handle 10 salmon, two of which he relocated. I rode my bike to town, I hiked up to the hot spring, and I barely scratched the surface.

I was only there for two nights, not nearly long enough. It was a delicious taste of what’s to come next summer!

After leaving Lynn and Eric, I did stop a night at electric city Wa. My favorite taxi in campsite!

Early off, I ventured on toward McCall, Idaho, the jumping off point for backcountry pilots.

The route from Electric City to McCall was jaw dropping! I flew over the Snake River canyon, and through valleys that were green and looked like velvet.

McCall is so lovely. Bike trails, a big lake, a beautiful state park and of course, great skiing the winter.

McCall is great, but the real adventure starts from here.

The weather went wet in Winthrop, and Lynn, Eric and I had a great 4th weekend!

We biked, ran, swam, and paddle boarded. We are great food with amazing people.

While Eric built my new bike, Lynn and I planned our bike trip to Laos.

Now I’m camped at my favorite fly-in campsite in the world. Electric City. Ahhhh!

Time to head east, toward OshKosh Air Venture. I’m so thrilled to be up in the air in 243CM.

Thanks to Ephraim and all of his effort, work, and patience in getting the engine installed, tested, broken in, and running strong!

We changed the oil, fixed the grounding problem in the comm antennae, did a couple of test flights around the pattern in Arlington, and then, off I went!

What a relief to finally launch! I had so much anxiety, worry, and stress about this trip really happening. Sleep was impossible the week prior to leaving. My feeling was that I was not going to pull it off and that I would need to make a different plan.

And then, takeoff. Charlie Mike was ready to go.

Flying through the mountains was a great confidence builder. Once reaching Stehekin, all tension, stress, and worry, faded away. The adventure to OshKosh begins!

My destination: Winthrop (Methow Valley Airport). The weather closed in immediately after landing and is staying for a couple of days. A treat for me to hang out with my friends Lynn and Eric on the edge of the Methow River.

Great friends, good food, and more adventure ahead.

Life is great.