Coho

I'm still working on getting caught up, as I type, i'm making dinner after getting back from a great couple days at the cabin. Life has been hectic with little sleep. I hope to post a few catch up pics as it slows down. Here's one from today

Josh

GoPro Images from fishing yesterday

This camera is amazing. Took a couple trips across to the cabin fishing yesterday and strapped the GoPro on the wing. Great images all day, here are a few... I'll catch up on the blog here as soon as things slow down.

A short video

Here is some footage of landing at the cabin to the south. I picked up a Gopro camera last week and strapped it on the plane for the ride over this week. A big three days were had over there this week and i'll update the blog with some pretty great pictures! back later,
Josh

More Alaska summer

I took off around 10am yesterday and flew across with great conditions planning on fishing and hunting most of the day. I ate lunch at the cabin and landed at a nice little strip just north of where we usually fish for kings. I was the only plane on the strip and had a whole clear creek full of reds to myself. After a few hours and a limit of reds I flew back to the cabin, watered the garden and ate a bit of dinner. Life is hard up here.

Back on the scene

I have flown every day this week, sometimes twice a day. I can't stop thinking about it, and it's all I want to do. The cub has been amazing so far, and it's everything that I wanted and expected. It effortlessly takes off with large loads, and lands super gracefully as long as I do it right. This plane is a life changer. Here are some shots from this weeks evening flights. I would often take off from across the inlet around midnight and start making my way home by moonlight and the lingering summer daylight. I am a lucky one.

Supercub 4104Z "Ragtag"

Today was my first solo flight in the Cub after a couple of hours training with Doctor Russell. I have been signed off in both my airplanes so far by Dr. Russell and each flight with him is a joy. He is calm when I screw up, and always offers gentle advice to help me get back on course. He is a master of the Supercub and claims to have just plain wore out about 4 of them. Before our first flight he told me the story of wearing out the first one. I agree, it was fully worn out..... Yesterday after finishing up my last check ride with Alex I called Gregg to see if he would be up for flying the next day and he was all in. Today Gregg and I lifted off around ten, and after a few touch and go's in the pattern we winged our way north over Turnagain Arm and in into the mountains toward Knik glacier. The glacier has carved out a huge valley with abundant rocky moraine fields, perfect training ground for a new cub pilot. The flight up was super bumpy, but by the time we dropped down into the valley, there was a perfect smooth wind that made for nice, short landings and take-off's. After an hour or so of practicing landings, checking out sheep, and taking a few photographs we headed out the valley toward Palmer/Wasilla, turned left, and headed over Fire Island and back to Soldotna. Thanks go to Gregg for a great first day, and a wealth of practical knowledge. On a side note: I rarely name my vehicles, but have decided to name my plane after the cub that piqued my interest in flying as a child. Ragtag was a close family friend's Cub that spent many years flying slow over most of Alaska. I'm not sure where that airplane is now, but hopefully I can do the name justice as I begin my career as an Alaskan Supercub pilot.

Setting sail out of Seward

I was lucky enough to get an email from John Baker out of Anchorage inviting a group of us out for a weekend of sailing in the Seward area. John's Boat is a 44 foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey sloop that will comfortably sleep 5, but handled 7 of us just fine. The yacht is immaculate and John's cooking was even better. I'll throw up a few photo's tonight, and give a little more description tomorrow. It was a beautiful weekend for sailing and if you wish, you can follow the history of our trip on my SPOT page.