Snowbird RV Adventure Part 2 Ends: Return to Bellingham, Washington

Part 2: Day 27

February 28: One reason we chose Lazy Days KOA as our last destination for Part 2 of our Snowbird RV Adventure was its proximity to Tucson International Airport.

Allegiant Airlines flies direct between Tucson and Bellingham during winter,.

We put our Sunseeker RV in a secure area to wait for our return. We have an electric hookup so we can keep our batteries charged and to use our Davis Air-Dryr dehumidifiers. In addition to preventing moisture buildup, they provide some heat to combat cool nights.

We still love our float cabin home in all seasons.

Thanks for coming along on Part 2 of our Snowbird RV Adventure.

After taking care of some business in Bellingham, we'll head home to our float cabin on Powell Lake, an adventure in its own right.

There still may be some winter weather, but after all of the Arizona sunshine it's okay.

Here's a summary of our Snowbird RV Adventure so far.

Trip Log

Part 1 Snowbird RV Adventure Totals
Bellingham, Washington, to Pomona, California
Total RV Driving Distance - 1644 miles
Total Length of Adventure - 43 days
Number of RV Campgrounds and Resorts - 16

The Lakes RV Resort in Chowchilla, Wayne's #1 and Margy's #5 vote.

Part 2 Snowbird RV Adventure Totals
Pomona, California, to Tucson, Arizona
Total RV Driving Distance - 611 miles
Total Length of Adventure - 27 days
Number of RV Campgrounds and Resorts - 7 

Lazy Days KOA Resort in Tucson was Wayne's #1 and Margy's #2 vote.

Snowbird RV Adventure To-Date Totals
Bellingham, Washington, to Tucson, Arizona
Total RV Driving Distance - 611 miles
Total Length of Adventure - 70 days
Number of RV Campgrounds and Resorts - 23

We hope you will come back to follow along on Part 3 of our Snowbird RV Adventure and the trip back north to our homebase in Bellingham, Washington. -- Wayne and Margy

Available Online: "Up the Airway" by Wayne J. Lutz

A great book for any aviation enthusiast.

Up the Airway

Coastal BC Stories
by Wayne J. Lutz

For the pilot and adventurer at heart. Fly high over beautiful Canadian lakes, forests and inlets. Land at remote strips and camp under starry skies. In addition to BC, travel to the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Canadian prairies and Pacific Northwest for a unique travel experience. Read Up the Airway by Wayne J. Lutz and see how much fun flying can be. 

Go to PowellRiverBooks.com for more information.

Kindle version for $1.99
Print version for $12.95
iPad and Ebook versions $1.99

Or check with your favourite online bookseller.

Available Online: "Flying the Pacific Northwest" by Wayne J. Lutz

Perfect for Pilots
and Aviation Enthusiasts of All Kinds

Flying the Pacific Northwest

by Wayne J. Lutz

Description: Airports of Western Washington and Oregon form the backdrop for adventures in the Pacific Northwest. Take the controls of a Piper Arrow, as your personal flight instructor leads you to out-of-the-way spots where recreational aircraft give us the freedom to pursue personal goals. Hints for cross-county and local flying, as presented by a 7000-hour FAA certified flight instructor. For armchair pilots and experienced pros, this book is an escape so realistic you’ll swear you’re airborne.  

Kindle $5.99

Print from Amazon.com $10.95

Check with your favourite e-book dealer 
for other formats.

Check here if you need a Kindle 

or free Kindle App.

If you enjoy the book, consider writing a review at Amazon.com
Happy reading! - Wayne

997's Annual Inspection with Vertex Aviation Services at Skagit Regional

Final approach to Skagit Regional Airport.

What do you do when the skies are gray, and the weather isn't tempting for a flight? Schedule an annual inspection for your airplane.

Being on a winter cycle isn't a bad thing for us here in the Pacific Northwest.

Every airplane is required to have an annual inspection, and the aircraft's manufacturer has a maintenance manual that spells out what must be included.


A certified aircraft mechanic and/or facility does the work. This year we took Arrow 997 to Vertex Aviation Services at nearby Skagit Regional Airport. Owner Lin Holdeman and his crew of mechanics and technicians are taking care of everything for us.

Arrow 997 in the Vertex Aviation Services hangar for her annual inspection.

There are two exceptions to an annual inspection. The first is for aircraft used to carry persons for hire or flight instruction. They are required to have a more frequent inspection every 100 hours of engine time. The other exception is a progressive inspection that results in a total inspection of the airplane within a calendar year. Neither of those apply to us.

Wayne talks to Dorie, the Vertex aircraft mechanic working on 997.

Aircraft owners can do some items in preparation for the annual inspection or assist along the way. We choose to develop a "squawk list" to let the mechanics know about problems we are experiencing in addition to the airworthiness directives for inspections, parts replacement and components that have reached their end of life.

Organization is a sign of a good shop.

Covers and panels are removed to check components inside and out. Because this is the first annual inspection for 997 at Vertex Aviation Services, she's getting a very thorough inspection.

The airplane is on jacks to test raising and lowering the landing gear.

We are very pleased with the service being provided by Lin and his crew. We've asked him to book us again for next year.

Vertex owner Lin give our airplane (and us) personal attention.

Flying is a very safe activity when all flight safety and maintenance precautions are taken. Wayne maintains very detailed records for 997 to make sure we are ready to go when good weather finally arrives. -- Margy

Breakfast Flight to Port Townsend

Approaching Jefferson County Airport in Port Townsend.

Being home based in Bellingham, we get to explore the Pacific Northwest in our Piper Arrow.

One of our favourite destinations is Jefferson County International Airport (0S9) near Port Townsend, Washington.

One spring day we took advantage of clear skies to fly over for breakfast. There's an old saying, "hundred dollar hamburger." Flying isn't inexpensive. We decided to get some "hundred dollar eggs" instead.

In addition to maintaining our flying skills, we gave our autopilot "George" some exercise. Linked to our GPS and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system) it makes flying in busy airspace safer.

997's panel with "George" in the upper left and the GPS in the center.

The flight was in beautiful conditions, with blue skies and lots of sun.

Looking over Jefferson County Airport towards Bellingham,.

It takes about half an hour to fly from Bellingham to Jefferson County Airport. Come along with us on an abbreviated video of our flight.

After landing, we parked right in front of the Spruce Goose Cafe. Because there's no commercial traffic at Jefferson County, the environment is like the old days of flying, no fences and security gates. There aren't too many places like that these days,

997 parked in front of the Spruce Goose Cafe while we enjoy breakfast.

We have flown extensively in the Pacific Northwest, and have camped under the wing of our airplane on many occasions.


Want to read more about flying destinations in the Pacific Northwest? Check out Wayne's book Flying the Pacific Northwest. It's available in print and Kindle formats from Amazon.

Kindle for $2.99

Print for $10.95

It's also available from many other online book vendors. -- Margy

Spring Fl(y)ing in the Pattern

Piper Arrow 997 outside her hangar at BLI.

On the first day of spring, Wayne and I decided to celebrate with a spring fling up in the air in our Piper Arrow 997.  We joked and called it our spring fl(y)ing.

We headed over to 997's hangar at Bellingham International Airport (BLI) and pulled her out to enjoy an afternoon with a mix of sun and cloud with us.

The calendar may have said it was the first day of spring, but the weather wasn't so sure.

We decided to do some pattern work and practice take-offs and landings.

On our base leg at Bellingham International Airport on the first day of spring.

Come along with us and fly around the pattern.

After several circuits, we landed and returned to the hangar.

Final approach for our last landing.

Getting up in the air on such a wonderful day gave us hope that sunnier skies and better weather are just around the corner.

And when that happens, you know where we'll be, flying the skies of the Pacific Northwest.

You can fly along with us here at Margy Meanders by clicking "Flying" in the sidebar. And you can read more about our aviation adventures in Wayne's book Flying the Pacific Northwest. It can be found in print and e-book formats at most online book sellers including Amazon.com. -- Margy

Bellingham to Skagit Regional Airport

For Christmas, Wayne got me (us) a Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 action camera. Up until now I've used my pocket camera for iPhone to take video clips. Now we have something even better.

On New Years Day we went flying in our Piper Arrow.

Wayne mounted the Garmin camera on the dashboard and we let it run throughout our trip to Skagit Regional Airport about thirty minutes away.

After we got home, I edited the raw footage down to a short YouTube video. Click on the button above and you can fly with us from our home base at Bellingham International Airport to Skagit.

Do you have an action camera? What do you have and how do you use it? -- Margy

Slip the Surly Bonds

This post was inspired by the famous aviation poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.


Eighteen year old Magee was an American who crossed the border into Canada to volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1941, he was assigned to the 412th Fighter Squadron at Digby, England.

He was inspired during a test flight in the new (then) Spitfire V to the high (then) altitude of 30,000 feet. He included the poem in a letter to his parents shortly thereafter. At the age of 19, Magee was killed in a mid-air collision with an RAF trainer.

I often think of this verse as we fly through and around the clouds here in the Pacific Northwest. It truly feels like you could "touch the face of God." -- Margy

Pilot or Co-Pilot

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

I fly from the left seat.

Wayne, with his instructor background, flies from the right seat.

And George, our autopilot, flies from the font panel.

No matter how we do it, it's fun to fly in 997 . . .

Final approach to Mahlon Sweet Field Airport in Eugene, Oregon,

. . . to places far and near. -- Margy

Christmas Spirit on Lopez Island, WA

During a trip to Lopez Island, Wayne and I walked from the airport to the marina to get lunch. On the way, we passed a unique mailbox.

As you can see, every day is like Christmas on Lopez Island.

Lopez is one of the San Juan Islands off the northern Washington coast. It can be reached by air (your own plane, Kenmore Air or San Juan Airlines) or sea (boat or ferry). Lopez is one of the most rural of the San Juans. Walk or drive the quiet back roads and you'll see lots of interesting mailboxes. Come and see for yourself. -- Margy

Quick Shuttle Service from Bellingham to Powell River, BC via Vancouver Airport

Quick Shuttle connection at the Bellingham Airport.

Want to get to Powell River without taking a car on the ferries? Take the Quick Shuttle bus that connects Seattle and Vancouver airports. It has several stops, one of which is Bellingham Airport. Reservations are mandatory and passports are required.

The bus uses the Pacific Highway Crossing in Blaine. You get off at a special building and take your bags inside to clear Canadian immigration and customs. For up-to-date information about border crossing requirements check with with the Canadian Border Service Agency and US Customs and Border Protection before you go.

Boarding the Quick Shuttle

The amount of time necessary depends on the number of passengers and buses in line. Plan on at least 30 minutes, more on holidays. By the way, the Quick Shuttle has free WiFi so you can surf the web the whole trip (or work if you must). The cost is very reasonable, currently about $49 round trip, or $29 from Bellingham to YVR. They will also stop at the train station, cruise ship terminals, downtown Vancouver and most major hotels. Along the way you will see forests, farmlands, small towns, glimpses of the ocean, and finally the big city.

Vancouver Airport South Terminal

Whether you arrive at Vancouver Airport by bus or plane, Pacific Coastal Airlines has a free shuttle every half hour outside the lower level to take you to the South Terminal. Pacific Coastal has connections to many Vancouver Island and BC destinations. From Vancouver, it is only a 25 minute flight to Powell River.

Over Powell River, BC

One-way fares start at about $140. The Quik Pass program includes discount fares for frequent fliers.

Transportation is easy in Powell River. Your Pacific Coastal flight crew can call ahead for a Powell River Taxi to be waiting to whisk you away to your first adventure. If you are on the ground, you can call them at (604) 483-3666. You might be lucky enough to get one of our good friend John's brothers, Rick or Rob. They both have Prius cars to be environmentally friendly and economical.

Powell River Airport

If you want a car, Budget car rental is in the terminal. There is also a stop for the Powell River Regional Transit District bus outside. This bus can take you all around town or, with a connection, to the community of Lund at the end (or beginning depending on your point of view) of Highway 101.  No matter how you get here, Powell River is the place to visit and live. Join us here someday soon. -- Margy

Bird of a Different Feather

Landing at small airports is always exciting. They remind you of how things were before 9/11 and security at commercial airports closed them to the public. Most private strips still allow you to enter the tarmac and for some airplane watching.

Another interesting feature of small airports is you can find some unusual aircraft. They may be old models or former military planes lovingly restored. On our recent flight to Skagit Regional Airport we saw a very unusual modern aircraft.

A Triton Aerospace A500 at Skagit Regional Airport.

Thanks to Google images I was able to identify it as an Adam A500. It's based on an composite airframe originally designed by Burt Rutan in Mojave, California. That's pretty obvious if you've seen any of his other designs.

Adam Aircraft Industries went bankrupt and then out of business in 2009. Their product designs and manufacturing equipment transferred to a Russian owned company but everything quickly transferred to Triton Aerospace (AeroMarine), a former composite yacht builder, located in Burlington and Anacortes, Washington.  Ah, there's the connection to Skagit Regional Airport.

Plans to start building the aircraft again began in 2011, but costs led them to move their manufacturing plant to Zhuhai, China. Currently, they are manufacturing light sport aircraft. Even though they have the rights to start building the A500 once again, I do not find any evidence. That makes viewing one these "birds of a different feather" a very lucky encounter.

Are you an airplane buff? Where are some of your favourite airports for ramp walking and aircraft viewing? -- Margy

Skagit Regional Airport

 997 in her hangar at Bellingham International Airport.

One of the benefits of returning to Bellingham is flying our airplane, 997. While we're in Powell River, she patiently waits in her hangar for an aerial excursion.

It may be winter, but we had five days of sunshine, even if it was quite cold. We used the time wisely.

The first flight was in the pattern to practice take-offs and landings. The next was to fly to nearby Anacortes Airport to join our friends Ken and Sam for lunch.

Our third flight was multi-purpose. We wanted to continue working on our currency with take-offs and landings, we wanted to exercise 997 and all of her systems, and we wanted to go out for breakfast.

Skagit Regional Airport was our destination of choice.

Skagit (KVBS) is located thirty miles southeast of Bellingham. It's on the coastal plain near the mouth of the Skagit River and Padilla Bay. The elevation is 144 feet (43.9 metres) and Runway 10/28 is 5477 feet (1669 metres) long.

The airport with the Skagit river valley in the distance.

Skagit can be a busy place on weekends with student pilots and visiting aviators, but it was relatively quiet for a Sunday morning.

We had breakfast at the Flyer's Restaurant and Brewhouse (of course, we passed on the brews).

Wayne's prime rib hash and eggs and my Eggs Benedict hit the spot, and the runway view with 997 sitting out front was awesome.


After some much needed exercise for 997 and practice for her pilots, we headed back to our home base in Bellingham (KBLI).

Final approach to Skagit Regional Airport.

Then it was time for 997 to settle in for a long winter's nap. Sleep well and dream about your next flying adventure in the Pacific Northwest! -- Margy

Come Fly With Us

Piper Arrow 997 in front of her Bellingham hangar.

Flying is one of our passions. It started for Wayne after he got out of college and he was working with his older brother running a small grass strip airport in Greenville, New York. A side benefit was that his brother taught him how to fly.

Wayne passed the passion along to me when we were dating and he also became my flight instructor.  It's nice that we can share this common interest and enjoy the pleasures that flying can bring.

Come fly with us in our Piper Arrow. She used to live with us in Southern California. Down there she got to stay outdoors on the tarmac in the warm sunshine, but up here in the Pacific Northwest with lots of rain and cold she lives in a nice protective hangar.

When we come to Bellingham we get to take her out and fly the Pacific Northwest skies. We've been lucky with the weather this week. It's been cold, but clear. That let us fly twice so far.

The first time was to practice takeoffs and landings to maintain proficiency. Here's a quick video so you can ride along.

The second was to fly to nearby Anacortes Airport to visit with our friends Ken and Sam.

Want to experience more flying adventures in the Pacific Northwest? Check out Wayne's book Flying the Pacific Northwest.  In it you can "take the controls of a Piper Arrow as your personal flight instructor leads you to out-of-the-way spots in a recreational aircraft." It's a good read for pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike. -- Margy

Winter Flying

Inside the cockpit in 997.

This time of year flying weather is either great or horrible, not much in between. Christmas Day turned out to be a perfect one.

We just had snow followed by cold, but the ramps, taxiways and runways were clear. A busy airport like Bellingham International has lots of snow removal equipment.

We got our airplane 997 out of the hangar and she was eager to fly. The engine cranked immediately and warmed up to a steady hum.

Bellingham Ground, Piper Arrow N41997 at the fuel pumps with Oscar ready to taxi.  Arrow 997 cleared to taxi to runway 34 via Foxtrot Alpha Golf.

We departed towards the north and did touch-and-go landings in crisp, calm air.

On the downwind leg we had a beautiful view of Mt. Baker capped in snow.

And Bellingham by the Bay.

Arrow 997 cleared to land runway 34. The end to a fun winter flight.

After landing, we thanked the air traffic controllers in the tower for working on the holiday so we could enjoy our aerial tour of Beautiful Bellingham.

Come fly with us on adventures to other destinations in Wayne's book Flying the Pacific Northwest.

"Take the controls of a Piper Arrow as your personal flight instructor leads you to out-of-the-way spots in a recreational aircraft." It's a good read for pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike. -- Margy