Camping in the San Juans

Camp Orcas

Every summer, on the first full weekend in August, the EAA on Orcas Island hosts a fly-in and camp out. This year the event was cancelled, so a few of us flew up over Labor Day weekend for a night of camping and island hopping.  

The weather leading up to the trip had been sunny for a week or so, but a cold front was moving in a few days prior so it was looking like the trip would be a no-go. The forecast showed the front moving through by Sunday afternoon and then nothing but sunshine for the next few days. The forecast turned out to be correct and we departed for KORS Sunday afternoon with a nice flight direct to KORS, passing over Olympia, up the Hood Canal and then across the Strait of Juan de Fuca for an arrival into Eastsound. After setting up camp we made the short walk into town and had a nice meal at the White Horse Pub. For the oyster fans, the pub serves fresh oysters from nearby Judd Cove.  The next morning, our plan was to fly to Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor before returning to Salem.  We packed up our gear and after getting breakfast at Enzo’s, (nice Italian bistro with good espresso and baked goods) departed for Roche Harbor (WA09). Roche Harbor is a popular marina and resort and is about an 8-minute flight from KORS. After securing the aircraft at WA09, we walked around the marina and admired the vast number of yachts and we walked over to the mausoleum on the north west side of the airport.  The mausoleum is a shrine to the John McMillan family, which founded the Roche Harbor lime kilns in 1886.

McMillin Mausoleum

After a few hours at Roche Harbor, we departed for Friday Harbor (KFHR) to get a bite before flying back to Salem. The town of Friday Harbor is about a 15-minute walk from the airport, so headed to the east end of town to visit Friday’s Crab House for some chowder and fish tacos. Friday’s has a couple of outdoor tiered decks which overlook the ferry terminal and marina.

The weather was perfect for the 48-hour trip and the feedback from the group was that we’ll return next year for a longer duration to visit some additional airports and do some more island exploration. If you are an airplane camper or want to be, you should add KORS to your list as camping at KORS, is pretty modern with a bathroom and showers, loaner bicycles, ice machine, and the mini-mart and restaurants are a 15-minute walk from the airport. 

Mid-field crossing Roche Harbor

Northeast tip of Orcas Island

Camping at Nehalem State Airport (3S7)

I've visited Nehalem State Airport a few times in the past, either by car or airplane, but finally had the opportunity to camp at the airport. Next to the runway there are six primitive camp sites (see photos below of each), each with a fire ring and picnic table. Each campsite has its own "charm" with varying amounts of seclusion as some sites are more exposed to the airport surroundings and others set back in the trees. There is also an outhouse and a water spigot on site. One can also make the five minute walk from the airport into Nehalem State Park and use the showers and facilities there. The airport sites are first come, first served and the fee is $11 per night. Though we brought a bundle of firewood, the camp hosts inside the park have firewood available for sale. Just hanging around the campsite is very relaxing, but the beach and Nehalem River are a short walk, as well as numerous walking trails within the state park. If you are a little more adventurous, the town of Manzanita is a thirty minute walk via the beach or residential roads. The weather each day was sunny and 70 degrees and the marine layer lingered most of the morning but cleared by noon. Keep this in mind if flying to 3S7 as you may have to wait around for the low ceilings to clear longer than you might like. In fact I've been a here a few times where the low overcast remained for several days in a row. There is no published instrument departure for this airport and rising terrain in all directions except west over the ocean, but mobile service is good so in theory you could get an IFR clearance on the ground to fly over the Nehalem River to the shoreline and then climb through the overcast over the ocean on course.  

Museum of Flight

It has been at least 10 years since I've been to the Museum of Flight,  but today had the opportunity to fly up from Oregon and spend a few hours there. When I lived in the Seattle area we'd regularly visit the Museum but this was the first time I was able to fly to the museum. I learned to fly at Boeing Field (KBFI) and it was fun flying the VFR arrival (also on the Seattle Fly charts) procedure(s) that I used to fly regularly during flight training. The museum has grown in exhibits since the last time I visited and was impressed at the latest static display and the square feet of aircraft on display. The vast floor space required was evident when you have a 787 parked next to a 747 as the two aircraft weren't crammed into the space. The space shuttle display was also quite impressive. 

747 Flight Test Engineer Stations

787 w/747 in Background

  

Florence, OR. (6S2)

Florence, OR. has been on my list of destinations to visit and after some virtual map research the historic old town of Florence has several restaurants and shops that are a short walk (20-30 minute) from the airport. 6S2 is greater than 50 miles from my home airport so it counts for some cross country time and is within range to classify this destination as a $100 hamburger spot. We had been trying to go Florence for a flying club outing for several months but couldn't get a break in the weather for several Saturdays. Finally had a nice June VFR day on the Oregon Coast and flew down with four airplanes. The walk to the water front took a leisurely 25 minutes and we grabbed some outside tables at Mari's Kitchen for some breakfast. Also, turns out there is a quaint coffee shop called River Roasters on the main drag, so now Florence is also on my $100 latte destination list.

Highway 101 Bridge

Woodland, WA (W27)

 

About 20 miles north of Portland is a small state airport adjacent to Woodland, WA (W27). The airport sits next to Interstate 5 so is easy to find. The winds here can be challenging and today was no exception (see the windsock in the below photo). There are also large trees on the south end so the best way to approach from the south is to turn a modified left base turn into a dogleg and fly a curved final to runway 32. The reason for flying here was to check out Daddy D's BBQ and to add another $100 hamburger to the list. If BBQ isn't for you, there is a Burgerville and a few other food options. Either way all are a 5-10 minute walk from the tie down area. In regards to Daddy D's, this BBQ is legit and even if you aren't flying in, stop here if traveling between Seattle and Portland on your next road trip.

Engine Break-in Flight to Yakima, WA.

One of the club airplanes recently got a new engine and needed some extended break-in flights (greater than one hour). Of course the destination had to have a restaurant and my first thought was to fly to Washington, but since I'd already been to all of the airport restaurants in the Puget Sound area, I scanned the sectional and the internet for a food destination that I hadn't been to and was also greater than one hour away. I came across a new (to me) cafe which was located on the Yakima airport. No walking or crew car required, just taxi to the end of runway 27 and park next to the restaurant. I invited another club member to fly along with me, and we were off to KYKM and grub at Reno's On The Runway.

Reno's adds a photo to their board when you fly in.

Lenticular cloud over Mt. Adams

 

  

Tillamook Air Museum

It has probably been 20 years since I've visited the Tillamook Air Museum (KTMK). The collection in this WWII blimp hangar has diminished over the years but there was still quite a lot to see. As I remember, the entire hangar was full of aircraft, but now only about half contains aircraft and the remaining half of the hangar is used for RV storage. You can still taxi to the museum via runway 01 and the taxi way has been repaved. There are also new hangars on the museum side of the airport. Something else that was nice to see, was that the Port Of Tillamook has renovated the pilot lounge and added a crew car.  In addition to visiting the museum, one can take the crew car into town to tour the Tillamook Creamery) or visit the beach.

Gives some size scale of different blimps