An eMessage dispatched to family and friends after getting to Oakland on
July 3rd:

"Wow, we have made it across the country, coast to coast. We're now
visiting family in Oakland after taking a week en route from
Virginia. We have sure learned a lot: about an everyday schedule of
flying; about being flexible as Mother Nature challenges us with
various weather phenomena; how to deal with pathways through (or
above) the mountains; and how beautiful it all can be. It was a
thrill to see the Golden Gate bridge on the horizon (and above the
fog) --and the Pacific beyond-- as we started our descent into
Oakland.

We will begin our return trek tomorrow (Thursday), -planning- to fly
into southeastern California, then to Tucson, up to Kayenta (we must
get some authentic Southwestern dirt for my wife's program on Pueblo
Indians), to Clovis to visit family, and then turn towards Virginia.

On the way west, we covered about 2300 miles with 30 hours of
operating time (actual flying time was maybe 25 hours) in 15 hops.
The longest leg was 3.2 hours, about 320 miles. We've operated from
airports as low as 10 feet (Newport News) and as high as 6,760 ft
(Rock Springs, WY). Our cruising altitude over the Alleghenies was
6,500, across the plains usually 4,500 ft, and starting in Wyoming
10,500 ft (all these figures are above sea level).

* We started our trip on Saturday, Jun 24th. We were delayed 3 days
getting out of Virginia by the rains that caused Flood Watches (and
flooding) from North Carolina to New England. The first night was in
Roanoke, then we headed southwest hoping to find a break to go west.
But - it was not to be - landed briefly at Blacksburg, then at the
New River airport near Dublin (and Pulaski), VA where we spent two
nights waiting for the rains and clouds to go away.

* Weather for the 3rd day at New River (Tuesday, the 27th) was
looking unfavorable for proceeding across the Appalachians, so we
rented a car and drove through the mountains back to Roanoke where we
enjoyed a tasty midday meal at a restaurant we visited 12 years ago.
At some point, my wife said "What if it is clear when we get back to
New River?". Well..returning to the airport, about 20 miles north of
Pulaski, the sky opened up to --blue--. We headed for the airplane,
checked weather (and time of sunset), and decided we could proceed,
anticipating we would be able to get to Ohio for the night. We
didn't quite make it before the haze and angle of the sun reduced
visibility below comfort level. This caused us to shorten our
flight, landing at the Logan County airport in West Virginia. The
place was closed - locked up - even the gates in and out of the
airport were locked. So we pulled the tent from our 'survival kit',
borrowed some seat pads from an out-of-commission helicopter behind a
hangar, and enjoyed a good night's sleep. People arrived before the
fog cleared the next morning, heard our story, then gave us the keys
to their pickup and directions to a restaurant, and said "Go have a
nice breakfast.", which we did.

* When the fog cleared, we cleared the Appalachians, making it to
Baraboo (the Dells), WI in one day, then enjoyed a layday visiting
family. On the way to Baraboo we did have to deal with some
thunderstorm cells by waiting 'til they passed or flying around them.

* On Sunday we flew to Wall, SD (home of the famous Wall Drug Store)
with a stop in Worthington, MN for fuel. We received a generous
welcome from the town mayor at Wall (who also looks after the airport),
including use of his old VW Bug which made it possible for us to
drive out into the Badlands - quite amazing scenery.

* We decided by this time in our trip to start -very early- each day
(to enjoy smooth air and avoid having to deal with thunderstorms that
usually develop later each day). So up at 5:00 and on our way from
Wall, starting with a flyover around the edges of the Badlands, then
on to Rapid City climbing to 10,500 - there are mountains ahead.
Passing Rapid City we looked down upon Mount Rushmore (it looked
small from that altitude) and flew on to Casper, WY.

* Up again early the next day, we had a fairly short hop to Rock
Springs for fuel, then tackled the Real Rockies - over the rugged
mountains along the Wyoming/Utah border. Following I-80 through (I
think) Meeker Pass, we looked down on Ogden and Salt Lake City, but
flew on to Wendover, UT where, in the face of building "convective
activity" (known to most as "thunderstorms") we decided to spend the
night.

* Up before daybreak the next day (didn't account for time zone
changes, so we got an earlier-than-planned start), we headed across
Nevada, refueled in Lovelock, NV, and headed for Reno and the Sierra
Nevada mountains. Continuing to follow I-80, we wended our way
across the Sierras with views of Mt Lassen to the north, Lake Tahoe
to the south, and Truckee below us. This was the most rugged terrain
we'd yet encountered. But it was downhill from there into
Sacramento, However, fog sat over Oakland so we landed at Mather
(formerly an Air Force Base). By early afternoon the fog had cleared
and we made the last 45 minute flight to Oakland.

We're looking forward to a return trip easier than the trip west. We
can expect to have tailwinds (rather than the headwinds one
encounters flying westerly) which will give us hops of greater
distnance, and we won't have such high, rugged terrain to cross. If
Mother Nature will provide relief from the persistent thunderstorms
in the Southeast, we should be home by the 16th. And we'll have done
the Coast-to-Coast."

Best to all, george & pat