Yesterday was simply fabulous here in the Upper Midwest. A high
pressure system dominated, resulting in cobalt-blue skies, light
winds, and cool temperatures -- perfect for a leaf-peeping flight!

See the pix at www.alexisparkinn.com/2004_leaf_peeper_pix.htm .

We headed over to the Mississippi, just 35 minutes away, for Sunday
brunch at Prairie du Chien's riverboat casino. After stuffing
ourselves to the point of submission, we waddled back to the plane for
a lovely afternoon of leaf peeping.

The Great River Road runs alongside the Big Muddy for much of this
flight, and it was absolutely packed with ground-bound leaf peepers.
Our casino courtesy van driver confirmed that every hotel room up and
down the river was sold out for the next week or two, as literally
tens of thousands of people converged on Mark Twain's river, trying in
vain to see perhaps 10% of what we could see from the air.

For a change, we had no where to go, and nothing to do but gaze out
the window. Throttled back to 20 squared, we puttered along at 2000
feet, enjoying Dwayne O'Brien (and his album of flying songs called
"Song Pilot") and the warmth of the late autumn sun.

After a time, we even turned the radio off, and (*gasp!*) flew NORDO
for an hour or so, completely lost in reverie as the sun set and each
new bend in the river brought new and better sights.

It was a great day. I hope you all have such wonderful flights, too!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"