I take off from Red Bluff very early in the morning to catch the VFR condition, I know the Wx is very unstable at this time of the season. The cloud base is at 6000 feet level, as long as I stay adjacent to I-5, I can make it through. I am a little too optimistic, but I have to move on. If I follow all the rules from the flight school where I was trained at, I will be stuck in northern California for days.
The air is steady, I climb to 4500 to avoid the terrain and clouds, pass one airport after another, carefully identify each one of them on the map, and make up my backup plan in case the Wx deteriorates. I was very fortunate to pass through Mt. Shasta area with many of struggling. Then I proceed to lower terrain and wider valley, then higher mountain again. Fianlly I made it to Roseburg, the valley really opens up at this point, but the clouds are getting lower and denser. I made a choice to land at Cottage Grove, a green and beautiful town adjancent to a small river. It was in maginal conditon, I manuver between the clouds while coming down to land. Just in time to touch down before the next shower comes. A father and his son was watching me land. After taxi to the transient parking, they approach to me and my first word to them is --- Do you guys enjoy my entertaining? They laughed.
I was too fast and too high when rushed in, so, I went around and made a longer final approach. it was a so so landing, flared a little high, but wasn't a bad touch down. They restore a 1929 bi-wing airplane (Travel Air), looks like Waco, the cylinder valves are not lubicated by engine oil, need to be opened and greased every 15 hours, extremely high maintenance to fly it.
Cottage Grove is a very beautiful town. I wish I could camp out here for a few days, but I have to move on. After a heavy rain shower, the sky partially opens up. There is no internet nor fuel at the airport, James Bu helped me with the Wx over the phone. I took off in the light rain and climb toward the north.
The Wx beyond this airport is still in maginal conditon, I head toward Eugene, an airport I have never been, the ceiling was low, maginal VFR I should say, I fly 1000 feet over the ground to maintain cloud clearance, I fly away from I-5 and head toward Eugene to the west, Eugene's Wx is a little better, but to get there, requires a little higher heart beat and a little more sweat.
Eugene is a huge airport, no fee to park at the FBO, they have pilot lounge and a shower room, well equipped with everything. After checked the Wx, I taxi to self serve fuel pump located near the take off end of the runway, wind was blowing hard.
The next stop is Albany, Albany is a good place for fuel (city sponsored) $3.99 per gallen, but I have already filled at Eugene. The restaurant and lodging are at the south end of the runway, I have the concern about the security for tie down over night at the south end, with fully loaded equipment in my airplane, the short fense and open gate really couldn't stop the complex highway traffic and neighborhood next to the airport.