Dekalb, ILLinois

Low ceiling did not allow departure until afternoon. I was given a tour of the EAA museum. It would take 2 days to read all the placques. I was fascinated by how small The Spirit of St. Louis was! The windscreen was replaced by another fuel tank. The only forward vision was thru a side periscope! He landed at nite on a field that was lit by car headlites!

Upon arrival at Dekalb, I was met by Kris, a cancer patient, and members of the local EAA chapter. Then a strange twist of events occurred! Kris gave me a ride in his plane! First time in years I had been a passenger.

Kris is from Polland and moved to the US 

(Or should I say, he was kicked out by the Russions) during the time Polland was fighting for their freedom. I was treated like family and made more new friends.

I will head for home tomorrow. Not sure if I can make it. May have a late start again due to fog/low ceilings!

Oshkosh by Gosh!

By noon, the clouds lifted enough for me to depart Cumberland. By the time I got to Oshkosh (headquarters for EAA) there were blue skies for the first time in days!

Today Hal Bryan will give me a tour of EAA headquarters and introduce me to a cancer patient who wants a ride.

Day of rest

Yesterday was an enjoyable day of rest. Weather prevented me from moving on. My next stop will be the 48th state, Wisconsin. Oshkosh, Wisc. Is where the headquarters of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) is located.

Randall and I

47 complete, one to go!

Yesterday was a good day. The avionics shop got my radio working! At the airport, I met Pete, a D.J. Who had cancer. I took him for a ride after sharing my story and hearing his. He really enjoyed it.

This was the first time I had flown to and from a controlled airport in 40 years! It was not bad. Greg had told the controllers to take it easy on me.

I then flew to Princeton, Mn. Where I was met by a friend who arranged for me to meet Randall, a 14 year old cancer survivor. I shared my story then took him for a ride.

I had planned to fly to Oshkosh, Wisconsin (48th state) today, but weather has moved in and I will stay put til tomorrow.

St. Cloud, Minnesota (47th state

Yesterday I flew from Crookston Minn. to Maple Lake, Minn. there I was joined by Greg, EAA chapter President in his CT plane. He led me as a flight of 2 to St. Cloud.

The avionics shop pulled my radio, replaced the fuse and it seemed to be working on the bench! We had to leave before he installed it back in the plane.

We went to supper where we were met by other Chapter members.

We returned to the chapter hanger where

A large group gathered to hear me speak. Included American Cancer Society members an the assistant to the congressman, Tom Emmers. He had heard about my mission and drafted a commendation which his assistant presented to me! Wow! I feel unworthy of all this attention.

This morning I will meet a cancer patient at the airport and give him a ride before moving on.

Monday, departed Tea, S.D.

Ed did some calling to avionics shops in Sioux Falls in hopes of getting my radio repaired. No luck. So I borrowed a handheld from Alan which I will use til I get home then mail it back to him.

After 30 minutes of flight my oil pressure became excessively high, so I landed at Madison and changed the oil and filter.

Thanks to the FBO for loaning me tools!

As I was ready to depart, a newspaper reporter came to do an interview! The person where I bought the oil called him after hearing my mission.

I got airborne again only to find that thermals and high headwinds (20 mph) were prevalent. I lasted an hour before landing at Watertown, still in SD!

Today I plan to make it to Grand Forks, N. D.

Sunday

This has been a great day. I had no schedules to meet, so I sat in my room leisurely having coffee this morning. Then I had breakfast before returning to the airport. There were wind warnings, so I did not leave.

Alan Amdahl had invited me to his home to join a reunion celebration dinner with Ed Ludke and Netty (friends from arkansas who used to live here) and other friends. It was a great meal and fellowship. I have been treated like family!

Alan invited me to spend the nite here (and their home is luxurious) so that I would not have to pay another motel nite.

The winds are forecast to be lite tomorrow, so I plan to leave for North Dakota.

Thanks Alan and Chris and others who have helped!

 

Tea, South Dakota

I finally got out of the mountains and to lower elevations. Eastern S.D. is mostly flat farmland. There is still lots of smoke in the air from the fires in western states.

Upon landing, I met Dustin, a cancer patient. We talked a long time, exchanging stories. We opted not to fly as the winds were high.

This morning I am to meet Terry, a videographer from the TV station, Dustin and a young lady at the airport. 

The local EAA chapter has been so helpful and generous. Alan Amdahl met me and insured all my needs were met.

The FBO was very helpful, and generous, loaning me a car and helping with luggage. I feel so blessed.

Tea (Sioux Falls S. D.)

It has been a good day with a tight schedule. I am too tired tonite to write all about it. Hopefully I can in the morning.

45 down, 3 to go

Today was a better day! I departed Craig early and had smooth air to Rawlins, Wyoming. I fueled up, and flew on to Douglas, Wyoming. Sue loaned me a courtesy car to go to town for lunch. I told her the mission I am on.

I fueled again then checked AWOS for Newcastle, Wyoming. The runway was closed, so I diverted to Custer, South Dakota which is near Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments.

I have finally cleared the Rocky Mountains! A hundred miles east of here the elevations will be less than 2,000 feet all the way home. I will be able to breath again without wearing oxygen!

Tomorrow I will proceed to Tea, South Dakota, former home of Ed Ludke and Netty. There I will be met by EAA chapter members Alan Amdahl and Bruce (sorry I don't remember your last name). I believe Ed and Netty are there now. I look forward to seeing them. They are special people, they host our chapters monthly pancake breakfast and Fly-in.

Craig, Colorado

A short time after liftoff from Meeker, the fuel pressure gage became eratic so I landed at Craig to check it out. I found nothing wrong, so I changed the fuel filter.

Then I called Ronnie Smith at South Mississippi Lite aircraft who is a good Rotax Service center. He said it was OK as long as it did not redline. Besides I have an electric fuel pump for backup.

This took a long time, and by the time I finished it was too windy to go on, so I spent the nite.

Meeker, Colorado

After enjoying a long breakfast and conversation, I got a late start. I had mountains to cross and it got bumpy.

So I landed in Meeker and spent the nite in the White River Inn!

Today I hope to fly to eastern Wyoming.

Oops!

My phone messed up and did not load all pictures (I'm sure it wasn't me)!!! :-) i will try again.

Still in Idaho Falls!

Storms were forecast yesterday, so I stayed another nite. Huge storm clouds were all around, then winds kicked up a dust storm before rain came in ernest.

Today will be too windy for flying, so I will stay another nite here!

There is a huge statue and waterfall

in the middle of a trafic circle (3 stories high)!

44 done, only 4 to go!

Yesterday I left Preston, Idaho, flew over the northeast corner of Utah, then landed in Evanston, Wyoming. The air was smooth the first half of the trip. Then it got bumpy. I had to climb to 11,500 to clear the mountains before landing at Mack Mesa, Colorado (near Grand Junction, Colorado).

I was met by Syndi Jochums, EAA chapter President. We went to lunch and was joined by Sterling, a chapter member. Then she transported me to my Motel.

Syndi and husband Lane.

West Yellowstone Montana

I flew to W. Yellowstone thru smoke from all the fires. I was unable to line up a cancer patient there, so I headed south toward Colorado. I made it as far as Preston, Idaho, 25 miles from Utah.

Today I will cross the Rockies to Wyoming, then south to Colorado.

My iphone 4 is beginning to age, does anyone have an iphone 5 for sale?

Its time to get loaded up and head for the airport!

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I forgot to mention, the morning after I landed in PYette, that I met Bruce, a cancer patient and gave him a ride. He really enjoyed it.

After spending 3 nites in Payette I departed for West Yellowstone this morning. The record heat made thermals that bounced me around like a cork in the ocean! I was so tired when I stopped in Rigby for fuel that I decided to spend the nite.

Departing Payette, Idaho

After being grounded since my radio quit working Monday I will depart this morning for West Yellowstone, Montana. I had to order a headset adapter for my handheld radio, and it came in yesterday afternoon.

There is a big fire about 50 miles south of here making it very smoky. It is so dry out here in all these western states!

7 more states to go!

Payette, Idaho

The cancer patient Daniel had lined up for me had to go for treatment today, so I didn't get to meet him.

I departed Walla Walla and flew to Payette, Idaho which is just across the Snake River from Ontario, Oregon. On the flight, my radio quit working! I was met by chapter President Jan Zumwalt and friends. We went to lunch, then they brought me to my motel. Tomorrow morning I will meet the cancer patient and give him a ride. Then I have to figure out what to do about my radio.

Walla Walla, Washington

I flew from Sun River, Oregon to Walla Walla, Washington yesterday. I was met by Daniel Feekes, President of the local EAA chapter who took me to lunch, then to my motel. There was lots of smoke filling the air from all the fires.

Then I hooked up with Del White who is building a Zenith 701 plane. He wanted to look at my plane and for me to see his project. Then he took me to his home for supper! His wife Kay had made a blackberry pie! We had a very nice visit.

Thanks folks for your hospitality.

The terrain below this flight was barren hills and gullies, not a good place for emergency landings.

Sun River, Oregon

Today I flew from Tule Lake California to Sun River, Oregon. My cousins, Faye Hill and her daughter, Denise live near here. I will visit with them before moving on to Walla Walla, Washington.

Christina

My friends from home, Bob and Gloria Fenter have a daughter, Wendy who lives in Cool, California. She lined up a cancer survivor, Christina who met me at the Lincoln airport. I asked her what she thought happened to a person after they die. She believes that a person is reincarnated! I shared my belief and gave her a Billy Graham DVD, a pamphlet and my DVD. Then I took her for a flight which she enjoyed very much.

Then I departed for Oregon. I stopped in Red Bluff Cal. For fuel. There I had to replace a bolt on my voltage regulator.had to tighten hose clamps to 

The FBO operator helped me. Thanks!

Then I flew to Tulelake, Cal. just south of the Oregon border for fuel. I had a small coolant leak which I had to tighten hose clamps to fix the leak. At 4,400 foot elevation, I tired and spent the nite.

From Red Bluff, the smoke reduced visability. It is so dry here, and there was rugged country on the way.

I am getting ready to depart for Oregon.

Marysville

I spent a couple days visiting my uncle Pete. He took me to see my aunt Lois who has Alzheimers. Very sad.

Correction

I mistakenly said Bobs wife was Sherry.

Sorry, her name is Terri!

San Jose

Yesterday Ron Carmichael, my EAA Chapter host arranged for Bob, a cancer survivor and his wife to meet me at the airport. We had a good visit, and Compared stories.

After having a sandwich I flew north. I intended to land at Marysville, where I lived during my teen years and graduated High School. However the airport was under Temporary Flight Restriction, so I landed at Lincoln.

My uncle Pete and cousin Brenda met me and I spent the nite with him.

As I flew just west of Sacramento, the smoke from the big fire near Clearlake got thick and reduced visability.

Bob and I

Bobs wife Sherry

Newspaper article

Correction # 2!

Remove the last 1from the string and you can read the article!

San Jose, California

I flew from Adelanto to Delano, fueled and ate lunch, then flew on to San Jose where I will spend a couple days with friends, John and Leeann Patterson. I will meet my EAA host Ron Carmichael and a cancer patient tomorrow.

It was 111 degrees yesterday in the high desert (barstow) and only 87 here in San Jose today! Nice!

Newspaper Article

Correction!

To read the newspaper article article from St. George, Utah, go to:

www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2015/08/01/pilot-offers-flights-hope-cancer-patients/310002951

wwwspectrum.com

Check the newspaper writeup

Rain Delay

Glen picked me up and drove me past the big white Temple built by the Mormans in 1876. Such beautiful architecture. On the way to the airport, we encountered a few raindrops and saw lightning  to the south, the direction I have to fly! So I will enjoy the comfortable waiting area provided by the FBO, Above View until the storm is past.

St. George

In St. George I was met by Jennifer, my hostess and the Newspaper reporter, Kevin. Soon Glen, a cancer survivor came. By then the 45 degree crosswind was 20 mph gusting much higher, so I called off the flight til morning.

Grand Canyon

Today I met Mark, a stage 4 cancer patient then gave him a ride in Purple Passion. I asked him what he thought happened to a man after he died. He didn't know! So that opened the door for me to witness to him and explain how to get to heaven. I prayed for him then gave him Pamphlets. Help me pray that he will obtain salvation!

I attended EAA Chapter 765 meeting then strapped in and departed for St. George, Utah just before a storm came in from the south.

I had to fly over The Grand Canyon at 9,500 feet. Lake Mead to my left. It was overcast so the pictures did not come out clear.