Re: Left Coast Oshkosh Convoy

[RST Engineering]

Current thinking ...

Tooele UT (pronounce Too-willuh) is a good cheap ($2.90) gas stop and
Rawlins WY is a good overnight stop (Day's Inn gives a $60 price to pilots)
but is a little high on fuel. ($3.43). The first on-course reliable autogas
stop between California and IOW is Audubon IA. I can't do Rawlins- Audubon
direct, but I can do Torrington WY (excellent fuel price) direct Audubon.

Morning fog frequently develops over the panhandle and central part of
Nebraska and doesn't dissipate until noonish, although the fog is generally
spotty.

So ...

Friday morning: Grass Valley to Tooele for gas. At Rawlins put enough gas
in to get safely to Torrington (about an hour) in the morning and then RON
Rawlins at the Day's Inn.

Saturday morning: Rawlins to Torrington for fuel, then Audubon for cargas,
Iowa City on Saturday afternoon.

Coming home...

Saturday about noon departure from Oshkosh. Just enough LL fuel in at
Oshkosh to get to Portage for car gas. Then to Audubon again for the last
shot of cargas before the long trek across Nebraska home. WAY too early to
be planning anything this far in advance.

Any thoughts?


Jim

[Ben Smith]

> Just enough LL fuel in at Oshkosh to get to Portage for car gas.

Paid $2.52/gallon for autogas on 7/2. I suspect it'll be around the same
price. If no-one has fueled there before, the credit card terminal is east
of the tanks in a 'porta-potty' type shelter! Guess they put that there
cause of previous vandalism to the console when they first got it installed.

--
Ben
C-172 - N13258 @ 87Y

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:
> Current thinking ...
>
> Tooele UT (pronounce Too-willuh) is a good cheap ($2.90) gas stop
Tooele was my first choice for the gas stop on Friday (thank you
AirNav). Tried stopping there last year but the fuel pump was INOP so
we made an unplanned trip to Ogden and made up for it by having lunch there.

> Friday morning: Grass Valley to Tooele for gas. At Rawlins put enough gas
> in to get safely to Torrington (about an hour) in the morning and then RON
> Rawlins at the Day's Inn.
Sounds like a good plan for Day 1. Let's see who gets there first. We
stayed at the Day's Inn two years ago.

> Saturday morning: Rawlins to Torrington for fuel, then Audubon for cargas,
> Iowa City on Saturday afternoon.
I'll have to do some more AirNav research and see what the trade off
might be for a single gas stop between RWL and IOW. At the moment,
Creighton, NE (6KY)looks reasonable. The last two years were in rental
birds on a wet rate so it didn't matter where we bought gas. This year,
however, it will pay to shop around for 100LL.

>
> Coming home...
>
> Saturday about noon departure from Oshkosh. Just enough LL fuel in at
> Oshkosh to get to Portage for car gas. Then to Audubon again for the last
> shot of cargas before the long trek across Nebraska home. WAY too early to
> be planning anything this far in advance.
>
> Any thoughts?
Yep, it's pretty early to be planning the return home. We're planning
to leave Saturday morning and try getting back with one overnight stay,
maybe in ScottsBluff. Of course, the afternoon buildups over the
Sierras may force us to stay the night somewhere in Nevada.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

> Tooele was my first choice for the gas stop on Friday (thank you AirNav).
> Tried stopping there last year but the fuel pump was INOP so we made an
> unplanned trip to Ogden and made up for it by having lunch there.

And as I understand it Tooele is an unstaffed airport with damned little
other than a gas pump and a portapotty. Anybody got a friend in Tooele that
we can call on Thursday to see if the gas pump is working?

The reason I want Tooele instead of Wells is that Wells puts the route
directly over the center of Salt Lake. I generally get a pucker factor when
I'm out of gliding distance from solid earth and Tooele puts you around the
bottom end of the lake.

> Sounds like a good plan for Day 1. Let's see who gets there first. We
> stayed at the Day's Inn two years ago.

Same price this year as last -- $60 for those who fly in. And the steak
house attached is absolutely excellent. I'm going to make reservations for
Day's Inn (307.324.6615) and cancel them by 6 pm if we can't make it for
some reason.


> I'll have to do some more AirNav research and see what the trade off might
> be for a single gas stop between RWL and IOW. At the moment, Creighton,
> NE (6KY) looks reasonable. The last two years were in rental birds on a
> wet rate so it didn't matter where we bought gas. This year, however, it
> will pay to shop around for 100LL.

The delta for fuel price between Rawlins and Torrington is about 70 cents a
gallon, so figure how many gallons you will burn between Tooele and Rawlins.
I'll probably have twenty gallons in the tanks when I get to Rawlins, so
I'll put in ten more at Rawlins and 35 or so in Torrington.

Creighton would have been a WONDERFUL stop for me but they stopped carrying
autogas. Talked to the owner of the tank farm yesterday and he said he put
in 800 gallons of cargas and hadn't sold half of it in 11 months. He used
to use it on the tractor on the farm next door but got a new diesel tractor
and has no use for cargas any more.


> Yep, it's pretty early to be planning the return home. We're planning to
> leave Saturday morning and try getting back with one overnight stay, maybe
> in ScottsBluff. Of course, the afternoon buildups over the Sierras may
> force us to stay the night somewhere in Nevada.

I've got that EAA annual meeting on Saturday morning or I'd be launching
early with you. Trust me, you don't want to stay in Scottsbluff. No
courtesy car and no motel pickups last time I was there, and it is a LOOOOng
cab ride to town. The only WORSE places for getting to town are Rock
Springs and Rapid City.

More better Ainsworth, Alliance or Torrington if you can. If you get to
Torrington, there is a Chinese takeout place (only Chinese in town) that
makes the best Crab Rangoon I've ever had. Torrington for another reason.
The Nebraska panhandle is famous for morning low clouds and fog. I can't
count the hours I've wasted sitting on the ground waiting for the morning
scud to burn off. Torrington is generally west enough to be out of it.

Jim

Jim

[Darrel Toepfer]

RST Engineering wrote:

> And as I understand it Tooele is an unstaffed airport with damned little
> other than a gas pump and a portapotty. Anybody got a friend in Tooele that
> we can call on Thursday to see if the gas pump is working?

According to Airnav.com KTVY lists $2.90 a gallon for 100LL and has the
following as a contact: Salt Lake City Dept. of Airports 801-575-2401

They said to call here: 801-647-5532 He said the pump was working as of
midnight last night and the price is still the same and all major credit
cards are accepted 24 hours per day...

[B. Jensen]

Jim,

I learned to fly at Audubon, Iowa. The FBO owner is Charlie Goeken. He
still lives on the field and is a great guy. Tell him Bryan from
Minnesota says HI!

Have fun,

Bryan

RST Engineering wrote:

>Current thinking ...
>
>Tooele UT (pronounce Too-willuh) is a good cheap ($2.90) gas stop and
>Rawlins WY is a good overnight stop (Day's Inn gives a $60 price to pilots)
>but is a little high on fuel. ($3.43). The first on-course reliable autogas
>stop between California and IOW is Audubon IA. I can't do Rawlins- Audubon
>direct, but I can do Torrington WY (excellent fuel price) direct Audubon.
>
>Morning fog frequently develops over the panhandle and central part of
>Nebraska and doesn't dissipate until noonish, although the fog is generally
>spotty.
>
>So ...
>
>Friday morning: Grass Valley to Tooele for gas. At Rawlins put enough gas
>in to get safely to Torrington (about an hour) in the morning and then RON
>Rawlins at the Day's Inn.
>
>Saturday morning: Rawlins to Torrington for fuel, then Audubon for cargas,
>Iowa City on Saturday afternoon.
>
>Coming home...
>
>Saturday about noon departure from Oshkosh. Just enough LL fuel in at
>Oshkosh to get to Portage for car gas. Then to Audubon again for the last
>shot of cargas before the long trek across Nebraska home. WAY too early to
>be planning anything this far in advance.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>

[RST Engineering]

Thanks, Darryl. I used airnav yesterday to get the SLCDA number yesterday,
but they didn't share that other 647 number with me. I put it in the trip
book and will call them Thursday afternoon.

Jim


>
> According to Airnav.com KTVY lists $2.90 a gallon for 100LL and has the
> following as a contact: Salt Lake City Dept. of Airports 801-575-2401
>
> They said to call here: 801-647-5532 He said the pump was working as of
> midnight last night and the price is still the same and all major credit
> cards are accepted 24 hours per day...

[RST Engineering]

Will do.

Jim


"B. Jensen" > wrote in message
...
> Jim,
>
> I learned to fly at Audubon, Iowa. The FBO owner is Charlie Goeken. He
> still lives on the field and is a great guy. Tell him Bryan from
> Minnesota says HI!

[Darrel Toepfer]

RST Engineering wrote:

> Thanks, Darryl. I used airnav yesterday to get the SLCDA number yesterday,
> but they didn't share that other 647 number with me. I put it in the trip
> book and will call them Thursday afternoon.

I got transferred twice, the last one gave the other number...

I just don't remember if the local guys name was Jack or Steve...

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:
> Same price this year as last -- $60 for those who fly in. And the steak
> house attached is absolutely excellent. I'm going to make reservations for
> Day's Inn (307.324.6615) and cancel them by 6 pm if we can't make it for
> some reason.
Another thing on the OSH to-do list, thanks for the phone #.

> Trust me, you don't want to stay in Scottsbluff. No
> courtesy car and no motel pickups last time I was there, and it is a LOOOOng
> cab ride to town.
When was this Jim? In 2003, we stopped there on our way back. The
little Mom & Pop motel kept two cars out at the FBO, was about $60 for
the night, and there was a great steakhouse next door. Maybe things
have changed since them...or...improved since your last experience (?)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

It was the better part of ten years ago. I freely admit that, lacking
updated information, that I tend to avoid places that have not been good to
me. I'll put BFF back on the OK list.

Jim


> When was this Jim? In 2003, we stopped there on our way back. The little
> Mom & Pop motel kept two cars out at the FBO, was about $60 for the night,
> and there was a great steakhouse next door. Maybe things have changed
> since them...or...improved since your last experience (?)

[RST Engineering]

Jack Allison and anybody else RON Rawlins ...

GET YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY. THere is a softball tournament in Rawlins next
weekend and the place is nearly sold out. I had to settle for a smoking
(yecch) room at Day's Inn, but was promised that if a NS room became
available I'd get it. THey also promised that if I had to take the smoker
that they would open up the windows in the morning.

Jim


"RST Engineering" > wrote in message
...
> Current thinking ...

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:

> It was the better part of ten years ago. I freely admit that, lacking
> updated information, that I tend to avoid places that have not been good to
> me. I'll put BFF back on the OK list.
>

Ah, good to know they've improved rather than declined. Can't blame you
for not going back after your first experience. Glad I could provide an
updated PIREP.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:

> Jack Allison and anybody else RON Rawlins ...
>
> GET YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY. THere is a softball tournament in Rawlins next
> weekend and the place is nearly sold out. I had to settle for a smoking
> (yecch) room at Day's Inn, but was promised that if a NS room became
> available I'd get it. THey also promised that if I had to take the smoker
> that they would open up the windows in the morning.
>
Yep, I called them this morning and had to do the same thing. I'll bet
we'll have to opt for the airing out option.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

Jack --

I know Jay will have a hissyfit for me suggesting this, but...

fuel at Torrington WY (about an hour past Rawlins) is 63 cents cheaper than
Rawlins. The problem with Torrington is that it is on the other side of the
continental divide, and all that humid air from Nebraska/Colorado makes for
some pretty spectacular buildups in the afternoon backing up to the divide
around Medicine Bow on selected days. Whether or not next Friday is a
"selected day" remains to be seen.

63 cents for me works out to about 30 bucks. That ain't chump change.

That and we have an hour less to fly on Saturday to get to Jay's gig.

I'm going to make a Friday night reservation in both Rawlins (which I have
already done) and Torrington (which I have NOT done).

The problem with Torrington reservations is this:

The Holiday Express is $75 a night, but they have shuttle service. The
Super 8 is $62 a night, but does not have shuttle service. The airport car
is first come, first serve. The Super 8 is a little less than 2 miles from
the airport, but 2 miles with luggage is a pain. There is no cab service in
town.

My hit is to make a reservation at the Super 8 and gamble that we will be
the first in line for the airport courtesy car. If not, most small
midwestern towns will let you hitch a ride with the city cops if there is no
cab service. Failing that, I always carry an 11x17 sign saying "Pilot -
Airport" and you can generally hitch a ride within five minutes.

How say you?

Jim

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:

> fuel at Torrington WY (about an hour past Rawlins) is 63 cents cheaper than
> Rawlins.
Hmmm, .63 a gallon cheaper would probably be somewhere around $20 for
me. Heck, that's another T-shirt I can buy at OSH...I'm in! :-)

> That and we have an hour less to fly on Saturday to get to Jay's gig.
Which means one *more* hour to hang out at Jay's gig.

> I'm going to make a Friday night reservation in both Rawlins (which I have
> already done) and Torrington (which I have NOT done).
Sounds like a plane. I can dig up the number for the Super-8 and (shhh,
don't tell Jay) do the same thing. Perhaps they have the same deal as
the Day's in in Rawlins where they'll hold the room until a certain time
w/o a credit card.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jay Honeck]

> I know Jay will have a hissyfit for me suggesting this, but...

Please. I throw "****fits" -- no "hissyfits" in these parts...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[RST Engineering]

Just made a reservation at the Best Value Inn ( the successor to the Super-8
motel.) in Torrington Phone number

(307) 532-7118

Go for it.


One of us need to get there first to glom onto the airport courtesy car.
You go like dammity hell, I'll go like dammity hell, and one of us will get
there first.

Jim



"Jack Allison" > wrote in message
...
> RST Engineering wrote:
>
>> fuel at Torrington WY (about an hour past Rawlins) is 63 cents cheaper
>> than Rawlins.
> Hmmm, .63 a gallon cheaper would probably be somewhere around $20 for me.
> Heck, that's another T-shirt I can buy at OSH...I'm in! :-)
>
>> That and we have an hour less to fly on Saturday to get to Jay's gig.
> Which means one *more* hour to hang out at Jay's gig.
>
>> I'm going to make a Friday night reservation in both Rawlins (which I
>> have already done) and Torrington (which I have NOT done).
> Sounds like a plane. I can dig up the number for the Super-8 and (shhh,
> don't tell Jay) do the same thing. Perhaps they have the same deal as the
> Day's in in Rawlins where they'll hold the room until a certain time w/o a
> credit card.
>
> --
> Jack Allison
> PP-ASEL-IA Student
> Arrow N2104T
>
> "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
> with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
> you will always long to return"
> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>
> (Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[George Patterson]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> Please. I throw "****fits" -- no "hissyfits" in these parts...

Bet you never get your panties in a wad either. :-)

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.

[Jack Allison]

RST Engineering wrote:
> Just made a reservation at the Best Value Inn ( the successor to the Super-8
> motel.) in Torrington Phone number
>
> (307) 532-7118
>
Thanks, just made the reservation.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

Gas pumps at Tooele verified working as of 1430 PDT Thursday afternoon.

Jim


"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> RST Engineering wrote:
>
>> And as I understand it Tooele is an unstaffed airport with damned little
>> other than a gas pump and a portapotty. Anybody got a friend in Tooele
>> that we can call on Thursday to see if the gas pump is working?
>
> According to Airnav.com KTVY lists $2.90 a gallon for 100LL and has the
> following as a contact: Salt Lake City Dept. of Airports 801-575-2401
>
> They said to call here: 801-647-5532 He said the pump was working as of
> midnight last night and the price is still the same and all major credit
> cards are accepted 24 hours per day...

[Darrel Toepfer]

RST Engineering wrote:

> Gas pumps at Tooele verified working as of 1430 PDT Thursday afternoon.

Your package arrive in the mail yet?

[RST Engineering]

Got here yesterday. I was going to ask what the impetus was for those
particular records? In any case, thank you.

Jim



"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> RST Engineering wrote:
>
>> Gas pumps at Tooele verified working as of 1430 PDT Thursday afternoon.
>
> Your package arrive in the mail yet?

[Darrel Toepfer]

RST Engineering wrote:

> Got here yesterday. I was going to ask what the impetus was for those
> particular records? In any case, thank you.

You said you had a fire and lost those, in a thread a month or so back...

Sold our plane last month, I didn't need 'em anymore, least not that
copy... ;)

[RST Engineering]

Ah, yes, that is true. 1992 to be exact.

Thanks again...btw, how did you "come by these"? Are they available on the
market in CDROM for all the CessPipBeeMoo aircraft, or was this a "special
scanning"?



Jim



"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> RST Engineering wrote:
>
>> Got here yesterday. I was going to ask what the impetus was for those
>> particular records? In any case, thank you.
>
> You said you had a fire and lost those, in a thread a month or so back...
>
> Sold our plane last month, I didn't need 'em anymore, least not that
> copy... ;)

[Darrel Toepfer]

RST Engineering wrote:

> Ah, yes, that is true. 1992 to be exact.
>
> Thanks again...btw, how did you "come by these"? Are they available on the
> market in CDROM for all the CessPipBeeMoo aircraft, or was this a "special
> scanning"?

Purchased them, possibly... I'll email you the source...