Trip Report - Canada (long)

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in


Our route was across Lake Erie. There is a chain of island between Port
Clinton and Point Pelee, and it is easy to stay within gliding distance by
choosing that route.

Right. There is a runway on the South island, and the middle island. Be
careful, when landing on the middle island. There is a pedestrian walkway
across the middle of the runway. There are usually drunks walking in one of
the directions. (after visiting the winery, thereg) Don't ask me how I
know that.! Oh, and to add, I was always sailing, not flying. :-))
--
Jim in NC

Also a nice runway on north bass island, 1800 ft. The one on middle bass
is new, not the old one near the winery. Winery down by the dock is
closed and being turned into a state park. Great places to visit. Pelee
island in Canada is also great for walking around. Very nice winery there.

Morgans wrote:
"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in


Our route was across Lake Erie. There is a chain of island between Port
Clinton and Point Pelee, and it is easy to stay within gliding distance by
choosing that route.


Right. There is a runway on the South island, and the middle island. Be
careful, when landing on the middle island. There is a pedestrian walkway
across the middle of the runway. There are usually drunks walking in one of
the directions. (after visiting the winery, thereg) Don't ask me how I
know that.! Oh, and to add, I was always sailing, not flying. :-))

"Bill J" wrote in message
...
Also a nice runway on north bass island, 1800 ft. The one on middle bass
is new, not the old one near the winery. Winery down by the dock is
closed and being turned into a state park. Great places to visit. Pelee
island in Canada is also great for walking around. Very nice winery there.

Bummer. Many good times there, long ago, but time marches on.
--
Jim in NC

Also a nice runway on north bass island, 1800 ft, but with easy
approaches over the water. Nothing commercial there. The one on Middle
Bass is new, not the old one near the winery. Winery down by the dock is
closed and being turned into a state park. All the islands are
fascinating places to visit. Pelee island in Canada is also great for
walking around. Very nice winery there.
To complete the grand tour, check out Kelley's island - nice and quiet
but with a few resturants. Most folks fly to South Bass (Put-In-Bay),
but the landing fee of $10 and lots of traffic is something of a put-off.


Morgans wrote:
"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in


Our route was across Lake Erie. There is a chain of island between Port
Clinton and Point Pelee, and it is easy to stay within gliding distance by
choosing that route.


Right. There is a runway on the South island, and the middle island. Be
careful, when landing on the middle island. There is a pedestrian walkway
across the middle of the runway. There are usually drunks walking in one of
the directions. (after visiting the winery, thereg) Don't ask me how I
know that.! Oh, and to add, I was always sailing, not flying. :-))

The few times I have flown into the US (Arizona, SoCal, North
Carolina) I have been amazed at the volume of air traffic in some
areas. You folks have ten times the population in a smaller landmass,
a higher standard of living that allows more people to fly, and better
weather, on average. When we fly around out here on the Canadian
Prairies or in the Rocks, we get all excited if another airplane
passes within a half-mile of us. Most of the time we are all alone, we
think, which can lead to complacency and the occasional midair.
You are right about the need to be prepared for a forced landing
in a remote area. Most of Canada is remote, and it's the law here to
carry suitable survival gear on all flights. Most of the time that
just means decent clothing and some means of keeping dry while you
wait for rescue, but in the officially designated "Sparsely Settled
Area" there's a much stricter requirement and a list of stuff that
must be carried. Lots of folks have survived the accident only to die
of exposure shortly before SAR got there. Lots more have never been
seen again; there are many airplanes out there somewhere. Occasionally
some hunter/hiker/surveyor/prospector will come across one. There are
likely a number buried under glaciers or in the bottoms of lakes.
There's the story of a fellow who was forced down in bad weather in
the Coast Mountains, not far from a major highway, and whose airplane
was found the next day. His footprints in the snow led away from the
airplane toward the highway but not a scrap of him was ever seen
again. He was wearing a suit and street shoes, which pretty much
guarantees death in that environment.

Dan

"Bill J" wrote

, check out Kelley's island - nice and quiet
but with a few resturants.

I've been there, too. I spent one heck of a night, hanging on the anchor in
the cove, while a storm blew over. Not sick, but close, and awake at many
times, to make sure the anchor was not dragging. Good companionship made it
all worthwhile! ;-)
--
Jim in NC