Around Lake Michigan

Vlad · #1 08-20-2013, 07:42 PM

Tour around Lake Michigan was my dream for years. On my way to Oshkosh 2006 we drove around it but didn't see much from the road. I told myself after my RV is airworthy I would fly around it. And I did in 2013. It took Saturday all day and most of Sunday. Weather was perfect VRF as usual. Below is a loose slideshow with some subtitles. There will be some pictures looking rather provocative but they were planned and no safety was compromised.

... Preflight was done the night before. I told her where we go and how. She agreed. I showed up very early in the morning.

First stop is 6G4 Wynkoop airfield in Ohio. Short hop two hours something. Sun was rising over New York City.

A City of relaxed filmmaking and associated airport. ATC called it a pit looks decent to me.

One hour more and Wynkoop 12 o'clock.

Very nice, hospitable and picturesque place. Grass runway 9 out of 10.

Lots of different airframes.

Hmm. RV too? So it says on the tail.

Vlad · #2 08-20-2013, 08:06 PM

Mighty Waco.

A line with RVs. Piper Cub seats in right crowd.

Nice example of panel.

I spent close to an hour on the ground, ate tasty breakfast sandwich, took some fuel and launched toward Grand Rapids, Michigan. B17 was there giving rides. He was cleared for take off, I tried to deviate a bit to catch a good picture but stern tower lady ordered minimum time some heavy iron was behind me. Wilco.

Do you see the Fortress? It's there, ready for takeoff from parallel 26R.

Stay at KGRR was rather short. Two pilots of higher caliber met me at the most expensive FBO in MI and escorted to an undisclosed hangar. Camera was seized and remained in protective custody. I managed to retrieve an image from a friendly spy satellite. There is some serious hardware in USA.

Quick lunch followed and I was dispatched expeditiously.

I flew toward shoreline of Lake Michigan to a recommended field with cheap mogas. If you plan to stop at Park Township KHLM on a weekend, don't. The fuel pumps are locked and not a single soul around. One good thing is they have some dark corners between hangars...

Vlad · #3 08-20-2013, 08:25 PM

Here comes the shoreline.

Started northbound on planned altitude of 1000' along eastern shore. Last time I saw water like this in the Bahamas.

A SOS call came from a boat requesting help. Pirates!!!

I responded promptly.

Shot one speedster he will capsize in a second.

Soon all offenders were scattered and fled. The boat was safe to continue its journey to the ocean. I am happy and waiting for a medal.

If back in the day they had RVs they wouldn't lost a ship here by Doug Bell's Arcadia. Do you see the wreck? I do. It's to the right from peddling woman on a board.

Vlad · #4 08-20-2013, 08:46 PM

Then there were the Dunes.

Something is going on there.

The whole sand box is full of cars and motorcycles.

They do some crazy things there. I loitered for couple minutes and left. What is this? A lake above the Lake?

Ludington! The Badger ferry!

Very familiar spot. In 2010 the Vegelins (an RV builder from Russia) and I drove to here to cross the lake with our cars. How are you doing Sergei? Long time no talk. We had good time on that ferry three years ago. Time to repeat.

Nothing changed much since then.

I have a picture from the other side too.

Vlad · #5 08-20-2013, 09:09 PM

Crystal Lake.

Montauk of Michigan. Woolsey airport 5D5 great spot. Jay Pratt camped here with his first RV6 in 1996. He circumnavigated Lake Michigan too.

Woolsey has very interesting FBO building all rocky.

Rocky shack was closed at the moment and I couldn't guess the right combination for four key buttons ctaf didn't open neither did sesame.

I finished my emergency ration snack and took off.

Towards private island of South Fox.

Waco01 · #6 08-21-2013, 02:20 PM

Vlad
Thanks for the complement on my panel. I saw your RV-9A parked but failed to see you at Wynkoop.
Val Kozak
RV-8, 81VK

hempy.4 · #7 08-21-2013, 02:52 PM

Real nice report and pictures Vlad. I had flight planned the same trip for the way back from Oshkosh this year but the WX didnt work for me. Maybe next year.... Nice work!!
Skipper RV7

Vlad · #8 08-21-2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waco01

Vlad
Thanks for the complement on my panel. I saw your RV-9A parked but failed to see you at Wynkoop.
Val Kozak
RV-8, 81VK

Val that's one amazing aircraft you have. A friend of mine half a world away is dreaming about it

Quote:

Originally Posted by hempy.4

Real nice report and pictures Vlad. I had flight planned the same trip for the way back from Oshkosh this year but the WX didnt work for me. Maybe next year.... Nice work!!
Skipper RV7

Thanks Skip. Now I know the road and can show it to you next year

ccsmith51 · #9 08-21-2013, 05:43 PM

Mr. Karpayev, you are truly an ambassador, for many things. I sense the Visitation Bureau in your Mother Country longs to have you return to produce inspirational media to entice more people to visit there....

It is on my bucket list to someday visit Russia, I hope to make it.

Will you be passing through Palatka, FL, anytime soon?

Warm Regards,

Vlad · #10 08-21-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccsmith51

Mr. Karpayev, you are truly an ambassador, for many things. I sense the Visitation Bureau in your Mother Country longs to have you return to produce inspirational media to entice more people to visit there....

It is on my bucket list to someday visit Russia, I hope to make it.

Will you be passing through Palatka, FL, anytime soon?

Warm Regards,

Thanks Chris, the real RV Ambassador is Rosie I am just a rank-and-file consul in his foreign service dept.

Will stop at 28J around Thanksgiving Day for fuel. Would claim lunch Con and Ginger promised me last year.