The top was 10,000. We were at 10,500 (almost due north, so VOR-VOR was sometimes even, sometimes odd...at
that point it was slightly west). At even 10,001 feet, we wouldn't have had to call them at all, but since we did we
got a 20 mile detour as a result.

That's just absurd. You must've found a controller that was ****ed
about not being allowed to wear flip-flops to work...

ducking!

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