Hello, I understand what your saying but if your not sure you can remain vfr
you should file IFR. I have never had any difficulty in getting clearance
to deviate flight path to go around build-ups. In fact, during the flight
that I was referring to in my original post, the controller stated Radar
contact lost (he never had it to begin with) and for me to do what I needed
to do. I expect that he had no other traffic in the area. I was told to
report being re established on the victor airway, which I did. I have
strike finder and capability to download nexrad to the Garmin 430 which
helps some. I'm based in SE US so afternoon CBs are common and you sort of
learn to deal with them through experience. Best advice, as you said, stay
out of the build-ups.
"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...
"PA28Rdrvr" wrote:
Weather was VFR but lots of convective activity, sky broken.
[...]
It's amazing that I have become, over time, uncomfortable going VFR
cross
country.

With lots of convective activity, I'd rather be VFR. I don't want to
fly into a CB, so VFR will allow me to visually navigate around the
buildups. IFR, I'm at the mercy of the controller as to where I go.
Once he puts me into a cloud, I can no longer see what's ahead. My
first hint that the benign-looking CU I flew into has turned into
something nastier may be my head bouncing off the cabin top.