Shelter Cove (0Q5) is a beautiful trip.  Flying along the rugged sheer cliffs of California’s Lost Cost is breath-taking.  I took a trip here with a few friends last year.  We ate at The Chart Room which is a 2 minute walk from the tie-down area at the north end of the field.  Right across the street was the Inn of the Lost Cost which is situated on the edge of a low cliff.

The airport is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on 3 sides which makes for a beautiful approach.  The day we landed there were moderate breakers crashing on the rocks just off the approach end of the runway.  It was hard to focus on the numbers with those beautiful waves crashing in front of me.  I’ll go back with a video camera one of these days to capture that approach.  Just gorgeous!

 

 

Hollister is a neat place to visit.  It’s a WWII era training base that was handed over to the City of Hollister.  Most of the buildings have been kept in tact so you still have that old military feel to the field.  There is also a cafe on the field called the Dingaling which serves pretty good eats.  Hollister is also home to several Reno racers and some gorgeous P51’s.  You’re almost certain to find some hangar doors open on the weekend.  Drop by and take a peek.

 

  

On my return trip from Oshkosh 2003 I made it to Fairmont, MN (KFRM) before a headache and bumpy air forced me to call it a day at only 1pm.  One of the guys from the FBO gave me a ride to the worst hotel ever.  But I was so tired it didn’t matter.  It was okay though because he picked me up again in the morning and took me back to the airport just as we had agreed.

 

  

I stopped in Malad City (KMLD) on my trip to Oshkosh 2003.  I stopped to check the weather and stretch my legs.  I very nice young lady with a baby on her hip came out and asked if I needed gas or would like to borrow a courtesy car (both of which looked like brand new cars.)  I politely declined.  I’m going to have to explore this airport more next time.

 

  

Viroqua (Y51) was my first stop on my way back from Oshkosh 2003.  When I departed Oshkosh, the FAA briefer said it was good VFR.  There was an overcase but I trusted him.  I found out that when a briefer back east says “good VFR” what he means is that you currently have VFR minimums: 3 miles visibility.  I took off and found that we had about 4 miles visibility tops.  I followed another airplane for a while but he soon started to veer south.  I wanted to go west so I kept on heading west.  The ceiling began to drop and soon I found myelf in about a 500 foot band of clear between rolling hills and a dropping overcast.  Then a tower shot past me at 180 mph.  I decided to turn south to see if that other plane knew something I didn’t.  He did.  Within 15 minutes of turning south the overcast disappeared and I was under sunny blue skies. 

By this time I had a pounding headache and decided to look for the closest airport.  It ended up being Viroqua.  I landed there, took some aspirin and then took a nap in the unattended FBO.  You punch a code into the door lock to get in.  Inside were a couple of couches and easy chairs.  I took advantage of one of the easy chairs and was not disturbed by anyone for over an hour.  It seemed like a very nice airport but I was on a schedule to get home and didn’t have time to explore it.

 

 

Oceano (L52) is a really fun airport to visit.  There are a ton of things to do.  They have camping on the field with full shower and laundry facilities.  You can even rent a tent if you can’t bring one or don’t have one.  Just a two block walk from the airport is Pismo Beach, and this is why most people go there.  Pismo is (I think) the only drive-on beach in California.  Because there are cars and trucks on the beach you do have to keep your eyes open but it also makes for some good entertainment when someone gets stuck!  There are a couple of places that rent dune buggies and quads too.  I usually go just to sit and enjoy the ocean.  Can you believe it’s only an hour flight from the Dutchman’s home base?

 

 

Los Banos (KLSN) is one of our favorite breakfast destinations.  It’s close, has some of the cheapest fuel around, and has several restaurants right across the street from the airport.  Choose from Me-N-Ed’s Pizza, Country Waffles, Ryan’s, or even McDonald’s.  There are more eateries if you’re willing to walk more than one block.  Silver State Helicopters also offers helicopter flight training at Los Banos.

 

 

Auburn (KAUN) is one of those really neat airports. It has a very active population of pilots and also has a great restaurant on the field.  They are open for breakfast and lunch.  My flying buddies and I have made many a breakfast flight to Auburn.  If you haven’t, be sure to stop in.

 

 

Sunriver (S21) was my last fuel stop on my infamous day 2 return trip from Oshkosh.  I had left Pierre, SD that morning at 5:30am.  When I arrived at Sunriver the air was getting very bumpy, it was 3:00pm and I was just flat out beat.  I did not want to fly any more that day.  I asked if there was any room at the Sunriver Resort.  “No” was all the reply I got from the front desk at the resort.  One of the FBO guys suggested I call a rent a car and go find a hotel.  The guys at the FBO weren’t very helpful when I first arrived but after I had hung around for an hour or so, taking a nap on their couch in the middle of the busy lobby, they began to take pity on me.  Even so, they weren’t really prepared to help out.  I finally bought some fuel and launched back into the bumpy Oregon afternoon sky vowing never to return.

Page Airport (S95) was fuel stop #3 on my infamous day 2 of my return from Oshkosh.  The guys here were friendly enough but pretty busy working on airplanes.  Stopped here for gas and a soda and then moved on.