13 Catching Up--- more in this Long Distance Trike Flying Adventure series

Last updated by CraigV

Categories: Trike Talk, Cross Country / XC, Big Fast Trikes

Catching Up:

Yesterday I left Aberdeen, SD before sun up with the idea of getting
as far as possible. Some weather was moving in and I figured I had
until 9 AM to get to my destination before the winds got too wild.
Again, a tailwind pushed me westward towards Hettinger, ND and it took
about 2 1/4 hours to fly the 220 SM distance.

The previous day, on the Fourth of July, I had called ahead to the
Hettinger FBO to see if a hangar would be available. Populated
airports are become more scarce in the Dakotas and I didn't want to be
caught with the trike outside overnight with thunderstorms due over
the afternoon and night. I had located the few places along the
route to buy gas if I had to return to Aberdeen but luckily Mike met
me at the fuel pump in Hettinger and said they had plenty of available
hangar space.

Some local pilots came over and we chatted a bit and then I took off
for Baker, MT about 85 miles to the west. Baker was to be my Montana
stop and it was an out and back before heading South towards NB after
the storm clears. The winds were noticeably stronger than when I had
landed and about 25 miles from Baker the turbulence started up. At 15
miles the skies had become scarily turbulent and so I turned around
and headed back to Hettinger wondering why I had left and grateful to
be heading back into smoother air.

The storm hit hard last night and I'm guess dumped over an inch of
rain with lots of thunder and lightening. It's overcast and drizzling
now and I'm hoping things will clear up enough for an early departure
tomorrow, as I try again for Baker, MT. Then I'll just head on South
and see how far I can get. Someone at the airport said tomorrow might
still be too turbulent to fly, so we'll see how it goes.

The Dakotas have surprised me with their beauty. If Minnesota is "The
Land of 10,000 Lakes" then the Dakotas have to be "The Land of 100,000
Lakes". They seem to be everywhere and the grasslands are a lush
green color. The wildlife must be fantastic and the scenery with the
big skies is amazing.

Craig