When I think back at the schedule we made for this trip, it’s laughable. When we get home, I’ll mark on the map what we actually did vs. what we planned. Flying a single-engine light aircraft, you’re at the mercy of the weather AND other environmental factors. We found out at the start of the day that smoke from Canadian wildfires is going to snafu our plans to see our friends near Boulder CO, and that’s a huge bummer. We were excited about that part of the trip, flying in the Rockies and all that stunning scenery. We’re doing some re-planning and might pass through Amarillo TX en route to Moab, which so far has been spared the smoke.

Far sadder than spoiling our plans is the fact that there are more than 94 wildfires raging in western Canada in MAY. This isn’t a blog about climate change, but can we hurry up the alternative energy investment please? I don’t know why it hasn’t been happening faster for the last 50 years. Even as a kid in the 70s, I wondered why buildings weren’t being built with solar. Sigh. OK, rant over.

Far happier is that Day 14 was the best flying day of the trip so far. Smooth air, sunny skies and pretty views. We crossed back over the Mississippi and looked down at what seemed to be horse farm after horse farm. And THEN, we landed on a wonderfully maintained grass strip in a little place called Gastons White River Resort in Arkansas. It’s a slice of paradise and we got super lucky to pick up a cottage from a cancellation. It’s kind of like the resort from Dirty Dancing, but with country music, baseball caps, and pickup trucks pulling fishing boats. And peacocks strolling around “camp”. And pilots who flew in because this is one of the coolest things you can do in a light aircraft. We saw what the roads look like that lead here, and I was glad to be flying. The people here are nice as pie. We’re definitely going to come back here and stay even longer.

We get to enjoy three nights here watching the river go by, birdwatching, swimming and practicing banjo (Dan) and ukulele (Alyssa). Bliss.