August 1, Sunday – Little Falls, MN and Ellendale, ND

CECI & CHUCK’S OSHKOSH ADVENTURE 2004

PART 4

August 4, Wednesday to August 7, Saturday – Port Orchard and elsewhere

Lenn was a perfect host, treating us to more wonderful adventures. Here are some highlights of our 5 days with him:

Sitting in the hot tub sipping wine
Taking walks in his neighborhood and local forest
Picking black berries and enjoying them over ice cream and on pancakes
Driving to and staying overnight in his cabin (which he built) on a tiny lake; paddling around the lake in a canoe, sitting around a camp fire, walking around the lake, relaxing with the beautiful view

Taking the ferry to Seattle and having dinner with my cousins Gerry and Fran at their home overlooking Lake Union

Chuck & Ceci on the ferry
Enjoying dinner on Fran & Gerry’s patio

Braving the rain, riding the ferry again to Seattle to see the Boeing Museum of Flight

Finding Bob and Juanita Thompson’s cabin in Grapeview on the canal and having a warm, friendly visit with them catching up on 12 years!

Sitting on Bob & Juanita’s front porch overlooking the water

Flying to the San Juan Islands, landing at Eastsound, Orcas Island, eating lunch on the water and watching the airplanes fly over in their "hometown" fly-in.

Ceci & Chuck in front of Lenn's airplane
Lunch on the waterfront in Eastsound, Orcas Island

Poor Chuck enduring hiccups for 4 days!

August 8, Sunday - Beaverton, OR

We flew off to Portland mid morning in clear blue skies, while Lenn took off for Redding to see girlfriend Joy. Ruth and Carl Homan picked us up and we enjoyed an afternoon and evening visiting with them.

Ceci & Chuck enjoying the Homan’s "Papa San" chair
Hillsboro Airport, Portland, OR

August 9, Monday - Redding and Concord, CA

Another fantastic day of flying in smooth blue skies! We landed at Benton Field, Redding. Audrey Schutte was there with Lenn and Joy, so we got to visit with her awhile. Lenn and Joy took us to lunch and on the way back to the airport we saw Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge. What an incredible and beautiful structure! It was hot and I was anxious to get airborne, so we bid farewell to our wonderful friend Lenn and headed closer to home.

Aunt Carol and Uncle Art picked us up at Concord. We had a nice visit and rest with them before our last, homeward leg.

August 10, Tuesday - HOME!

Another beautiful flight. We landed at Agua Dulce Airpark for gas and lunch, just to extend our vacation a little longer and get used to the fact we were almost at the end of our trip. Density altitude there (100 degrees—6000’) didn’t hold our little Cherokee back; she jumped off the runway, eager to get home, too.

As we approached Whiteman to land, controller Ed welcomed us home! It was sad to end such a wonderful adventure, but great to be back in familiar territory and our own home and bed!

Total time in the airplane: 44.6 hours

Total number of airports landed at: 22

Total days: 20

Total enjoyment: immeasurable!

Ceci and Chuck

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