snip my ramblings

The CFS says 14-22Z which should have been 9 or 10 AM to 5 or 6 pm local time... depending on whether they were on
Central Daylight or on Eastern Daylight. Central is my guess. It specifically says "14-22Z during DST". Surely
they didn't stay on Central *Standard* time in summer???

Something was not right.

While doing research for the trip, I received bad info more than once, so I'm not surprised. I called Canadian
customs several days in advance and talked to them first-hand because I wanted current information from "the" source.
Obviously, current doesn't always mean accurate. I wasn't sure about the daylight savings thing either and asked at
the FBO in International Falls because I too thought it may have something to do with the time discrepancy. He said
they were the same as Minnesota, after looking it up on his computer for me. I should have just asked the customs
agent that took the call. Personally, I think he was confused or just wanted to give the inspectors more time to get
ready.

snip

The next morning they took us back to the airport. I called FSS and got a WX brief. They gave me a frequency to
contact Minneapolis center for a squawk code to use crossing the border. I filed a vfr flight plan. Then I called
Canadian customs and was told I couldn't arrive at Red Lake until at least 1/2 hour after I'd expected. I knew I
had to give them two hours notice and the flight was to take about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Actually, that's two hours minimum, but you could have called them the previous day (or up to 48 hours before
arrival, according
to the published procedures, anyway). That might have given them enough time to co-ordinate their manpower for
your arrival time.

Right, two hours minimum. I should have been more specific.

I wonder if they needed the time to assure an officer was back from another duty and
would be available in the vicinity, had they decided to check you.

In hindsight, it may have been more convenient to clear customs at Kenora. Bigger place, longer hours both AM and
PM,
not that far off your route, I don't think.

I considered Kenora, but it would have cost us an unnecessary stop on the trip.

I opened the flight plan when airborne then called center for my xponder code. The scenery on this leg was
fantastic but semi-scary. We flew at 8500' agl during this leg. I wanted some gliding distance available. There
was
no place to land except in the water or take a chance on one of a few scattered logging roads that looked like a
sure invitation to an insurance claim.

Did you start hearing those strange engine noises, that you never heard before? ;-)

You know, I really didn't. After flying over hostile terrain following the Sante Fe trail and flying the Grand
Canyon, I guess I am beginning to trust my Cherokee. (I hope my confidence is well placed). I did spend a lot of
time
thinking of my options... and there weren't many.

I tuned 123.6 to get Winnipeg radio at Red Lake

Interesting. Those bush guys always do their own thing, anyway, but the published procedures would have you use
123.55 only for enroute enquiries... for the actual airport advisory and traffic, etc., as published, you would
switch to 122.30.

Damn, growing old sucks. I looked it up in the CFS again. You're right, it was 122.3 not 123.6.

Taxiing in to the dock I noticed a large submerged log floating just below the surface. When I pointed it out
"Curly's" eyes sure opened up wide. He said he'd never hit one yet, though.

Apparently it gets even more interesting when the log changes direction and moves quickly into the path of the
airplane,
and turns out to be a swimming moose.



The fishing was great, but 7 days of it was about 2 or 3 two many.

Hee-hee... I know. The big ones pretty much jump into the boat. Too easy, right?

We did have some slow times where we only caught two or three monsters in a few hours. : ' ) It always seemed to
get busy again later, though. One morning I had caught only one fish. On the way back in to a late brunch I
suggested we stop and troll at "the wall". I caught a really nice walleye and suggested another pass. I then caught
the largest walleye of anyone on the trip. Honest, that ain't a fish story! It was never, "reel one in on every
cast", fishing. But one evening it came darn close. We "slayed 'em" as they say back in Oklahoma.

... Our Indian hosts were interesting and spoke little English.

That would be: your "native" hosts. :-)

Gottcha


... Although the motors were new, they began quitting us. they always restarted but it became more frequent.
Back at the dock I siphoned some fuel from one of the 55 gallon drums into a clear bottle and discovered water in
the bottom.

Water in drum-gas seems to be almost "normal". Gotta lift that pump off the bottom :-)


What pump? Our natives weren't too well equipped. We used siphon hoses or poured it.


The Norseman float plane returned for us a week later at two in the afternoon, and unloaded two 55 gallon drums of
fuel for the boats. We boarded and were back in Red Lake at about 3 pm. Instead of immediately heading to the
land airport and departing, I decided to spend the night in Red Lake, a decision I would come to regret.

I don't think you ever state specifically *why*? Or did you mean, because of the extra time to add ingredients for
the hangover? ;-)

Oh yeah, that reminds me! We did sample some Canadian beer and whiskey. In one of my previous posts I'd promised to
report on it. I liked the Northern brand ale the best of what we tried. We wanted to bootleg some home, but we
messed around and the liquor store closed before we got there. That caused a trip to the bar to drown our
disappointment, where upon we sampled a few more kinds. Northern was still the best. : '

As to the reason for not departing Red Lake on Saturday afternoon... we were pretty worn out from the fishing and I
thought a night in a motel would do us good. I hindsight, we could have shaved at least two hours off of the next
day's trip by making Falls on Saturday evening, and we'd have already cleared customs. An early start from Falls the
next day also may have let us get aways down the airway before the high headwinds and thunderstorms developed.

We departed Red Lake at 6:15 am the next morning after visiting with FSS and customs by phone. Getting ahold of
customs was a problem as the 1-800 number didn't work in Canada.

Well, I don't know if it was there before, but I just found this wonderful document on-line that has
a complete listing of all the airports that provide POE and their local phone numbers and hours, for the entire
Country!!!

It has a whole bunch of other customs-requirements for flyers. Every private pilot who flys into the USA gotta
have *this*:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...20flyers_1.doc

... big snip...

Thanks to all who gave advice for planning the trip. Especially Icebound who provided links that were very
helpful.
I need to fly to Kansas City in a week or so then 8437R goes in for her annual inspection.


Disappointing that nobody surfaced here who was actually in or from that area, to help you out a little more. I've
*been* to that part of Ontario and flown over a small piece of it locally, but never seriously cross-country.

Actually, the Customs part went very well, all things considered. I did phone AOPA and asked their advice after
reading everything I could find on their web site. If anything, there is almost too much info out there. Just make
sure those phone numbers are direct to the airport of entry customs office instead of the main office. All the
customs people were very helpful and friendly.

Gonna do it again?

If that's an invitation, yes. : ' ) Seriously, probably not for a few years. I'm glad I did it. It was quite an
experience! I'd be tempted to go again with some family or close friends. I have brothers and nephews who'd love to
go. On the other hand, it was expensive and a long, risky trip. I'll try and find some new adventure, unless
someone else talks me into it. Or if that new airplane comes into the picture.






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