Day 11 Diary
Oct 4, 2009
From Williams Lake B.C. to Bellingham WA.
Before I landed at Williams lake yesterday, I over heard the conversation between a Cessna pilot and the control tower...
pilot: is there a courtesy vehicle available at the airport?
Tower: Negative, but I can arrange the taxi for you, It cost $30 one way....
For the reason to save money and to takeoff first thing in the morning, I decide to camp out at the airport, I'm fully equipped, have plenty of food and water, and I can use the facility at the termainl if I have to, really no need to spend $60 for taxi and $100 plus bucks for a few hours of bed time.
I wake up just before dawn, had a good night sleep, part of the reason is, there is no need to worry about bear breaking my window (BMW).
A thin layer of frost has built up over the night, I have to wait till the Sun comes up for it to melt, the departure will be postponed for sure. Taking off with a thin layer of frost is a big NO NO, even with 1/16" of the frost can reduce the aircraft lift with the subsequent of crash, never takeoff with any frost on the airplane.
I walk to the terminal to use the restroom and to file the flight plan, there is a NAV CANADA console next to the tower control room, I checked the weather, Notam and TFR with flight service, it's VFR all the way to the border. After I filed the flight plan, I relaize I don't have the internet access to file the eAPIS, I didn't think of that last night, I was planning to do it when I get to Chilliwack (the last port leaving Canada), there is a flight school there, I have no doubt they will let me use their computer.
Before I walk out of the terminal, I decide to take a chance to talk to the tower guy, see if he will let me use his computer. It's still early, non of the commercial flight has yet started, it's a good time to ask. The guy hesitated for a moment then decide to let me use his computer. Although I had filed the eAPIS once, but still took me a while to get everything through and confirmed. I give myself plenty of time for the flight, but the border crossing still needs to be accurate, I plan a stop at Chilliwack to adjust for the timing to cross the boader.
Williams Lake Airport control room. Really shouldn't call it a control tower, because it's on the ground level. The proper way to call them on the radio when coming to land...."williams Lake radio, N654JM 10 miles to the south...entering base...turning final". They are halfway between controlled and non-controlled airspace, you make you own announcement when coming to land.
After filed the eAPIS, it's time to call U.S. Custom to inform them my arrival, I couldn't believe I prepared everything to enter Canada but forgot to write down the phone number for U.S. Customs, I decide to call friend in the U.S. to check the number on the internet, but my cellphone didn't show any connection, the only phone is available will be the payphone. I swept my credit card according to the instruction, but it failed every time, before I run out of choice, I call Canada Custom @ 1-888-226-7277 to see if they have the number for U.S. Custom, I explained my problem with the phone, the lady said, she can transfer me through, I was so appreciated with her help. I talk to U.S. Custom at Bellingham, explain I may be late for a couple of hours due to the frost on the airplane, the guy said, don't worry about the eAPIS, we know you have filed and we know you are coming, everything will be alright when you arrive. I asked his direct number and name in case I have to contact him again.
I walk back to the airplane, move the airplane to the asphalt area (darker ground absorb more heat) and turn it around to let the wing faces the Sun direct, the frost begins to melt, I feel so lucky to have the clear sky and the warm Sun in the morning, I know I have made the right choice to return from Whitehorse, if I don't have the Sun today and the temperature is a few degree lower, I wouldn't be able to defrost the airplane and have a chance to takeoff today.
I have decided to fabricate the wing covers when I return to LA, got to have it to fly in this northorn country, this is probably the worst season to fly because the temperature is right around freezing level, the water can turn into ice very quickly. If it's much colder, perhaps the snow will stay dry and won't have the ice issue, nothing would stick on the airplane surface.
I wiped the airplane dry, make sure nothing will ice up when I climb to freezing level. I start the engine, warm up the oil near 100 degree (took a long while), talk to the control tower and back taxi to runway 29. I made a left downwind departure and turn toward Fraser river after leaving the airspace.
I cruise at 7500', fly between clouds, the clouds become thicker at one point, I had to fly off course to avoid them, but later the cloud turn into broken patches. I climb to 9500' fly between the mountains, outside air temperature is -10 degree celseus, much colder than 10 days ago when I was north bound. The snow has covered the rugged mountains, very beautiful....
(Fraser River Canyon is some of the most rugged and treacherous terrain I've ever flown over. Even at 9,500 feet there are long stretches where I have concern for lack of landing opportunities)
I contact FSS for weather advisory at Chilliwack , they advise me that there is no AWOS available for that airport, but there is a PIREP at the south-end of Fraser River Valley, pilot reported -- wind shear and moderate to severe turbulance.
I experienced some turbulance when passing through that area, but didn't feel any wind shear at all. I start my descend when I am able to see the valley behind these mountains, I descend from 9500' to 6500', then after pass the last peak, I execute the steep descend, Chilliwack is less than 10 miles away, I keep the RPM up until a couple miles from the airport, then I apply full flap to help with the descent to the sea level (Chilliwack elevation 32 feet).
The landing at Chilliwack is the most challenge landing I have ever experienced, I hit a wind shear at 100 feet above the ground and it dropped me nearly 50 feet, I applied full throttle immediately and touched down with full power, the gust threw me all over the runway during the flare, after taxi to the gas pump, I noticed I have used full flaps for this landing, a big mistake under this circumstance. I checked the time of enroute, it has taken 2.1 hours to get to Chilliwack.
I order a mushroom burger at Chilliwack airport, big an delicious
I check Bellingham Airport weather before departing Chilliwack, it is gusty to 36 Knots. After takeoff from Chilliwack, I immediately contact Abbotsford FSS for border crossing squark code, I dialed in and made my crossing through the border.
Bellingham is only 12 miles from the border, I checked the ATIS, landing runway 36, wind gust to 36 knots, I check the wind sock when entering the pattern, the wind is 20 degree to the left. I landed with negative flaps this time, it turned out to be pretty satisfactory.
I taxi to the Custom building next to the control tower (on the north side), a female custom officer comes out with a test instrument in her hand (look like some sort of radiation tester), she asks me to leave the airplane with my ID and documents to meet the officer inside (Passport, Aircraft registation, Medical certificate and pilot license) she begin to search the airplane after I entered the building.
The male officer at the counter reviewed all my certificates then asks me do I have any firearm on board, I told him I have a shotgun and bunch of ammunitions, he took it seriously, but the lady behind the desk yells back "it's part of his survival equipment". Apprently this young officer who I'm dealing with must be new in the office. He also asks me if I have traveled with anybody during the trip, I told him I met a guy at MacKenzie and travel through Yukon Trench together for two days, he asks who the guy is, where does he come from and what the purpose of meeting the guy. I was surprised with the questions he brought up, I didn't know that was a big deal during the travel, he must has the concern about the terrorist.
I was going to make one more stop at Renton, WA. to meet College Calssmate Tsang (5 miles NE of SeaTac airport), but due to the gusty wind (25KTS), I decide to skip and head straight to the south, I say to myself, I really have enough wind for the day, I don't think I need to challenge another one.
I call Bellingham tower to let the big guy takeoff first, don't like a Jet chasing my tail....
After 2 hours of flight, I made the landing at Kelso Longview airport and call it for the day, the wind was calm. It's a logging town next to Oregon border, has three hotels listed under pilot flight guide, after top off the tank, I call all of them and found Super 8 has the best price, I ask a couple (Duane and Linda) at the tie down area for directions (they have just landed), they kindly offer to give me a ride. Duane is working on his Flight Instructor Certificate, Linda is getting ready for her solo cross country, they have built two RVs together. All their kids have grown up, they are now pursuing their dream to be professional pilot. Duane's first flight started 5 years ago, just like me, there are some similarities between us, but he has logged more than 800 hours already, it's a joy meeting interesting people.
Super 8 has turned out to be a great choice, the lady at the front desk gave me 10% discount (I didn't ask for it). The facility is very new, with indoor swimming pool and high speed internet, and a couple of restaurants nearby, the Hotel offers free breakfast too. Everything has turned out to be so perfect today, including the WELCOME HOME GREETINGS ---STRONG GUST AND LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR, the deadly trap which has killed a lot of good pilots.
I think I'm a much better pilot after this long solo cross country flight, I feel I have graduated from the elementary school and now joining the junior high. Things doesn't kill you make you strong, this is especially ture to a Pilot. Mother nature has taught me many great lessons during the trip, it's truely a wounderful adventure, much better than what I have expected.
This is the last diary I'm putting out, I'll plan another trip to Alaska a little earlier next year, it will be different challenge in different month, I have pretty good idea how to make it a better and safer trip with all the experiences I have learned. Thank you all for tracking me all the way to Alaska and giving me so much support and love along the journey.
Paul Hsei has prayed for me every day, David Tsang called 911 and FAA and even cried when he thought I was missing. James Bu kept tracking the weather for me and gave me advise and warning ahead of time. Robin Hou and Randall Wang both gave me spiritul support over the phone and emails. My Boss Jim Berger and his friend Stan and all colleagues at the shop supported me with emails and continuous tracking over the SPOT Satellite tracker, Jim knows where I am minute by minute, I can never forget their love and care during this long journey. Many thanks to all of you and whom I didn't have a chance to mention.