Tuesday, April 05, 2005
North to Pauingassi
Ed called and informed me there were 2 trips to supply the construction crew at Pauingassi, NDL Construction, with groceries. The winter road into Pauingassi was "toast", and we would use the Cessna 185, C-GFVZ to supply the crew.
I fired off from Riverton early in the morning, after checking the Icelandic River, which my 3 acre property borders. There is a flood watch in effect, but I don't think the water will rise too high (wishful thinking!!). It was 25 minutes to Silver Falls, and I landed on the sodden turf runway. By the time I taxied into the loading area, there was more grass thrown against and stuck to C-GFVZ than there was left on the runway! I hate wet gravel or grass runways.
I loaded up, and fired off north. It was a beautiful sunny day, wind about 15 kts. out of the northeast. It took me an hour to get to Pauingassi, and I stayed low to check out the progress of the melting rivers and creeks. I flew low over a spot on the Gammon River where we insert moose hunters in the fall, and noticed a huge "salt and pepper" wolf on the ice. I circled, but could not find a kill that was visual.
I made Pauingassi and noticed that the lake conditions were landable, but not ideal. There was lots of slush and water still on the lake. Anyways, I landed safely, and the crew came in a 4x4 to unload me. I told them I would be back in 3 hrs, cranked up old C-GFVZ, watched the lake slide by beneath her Fluidyne 3600 wheel-skis, and became airborne. A tailwind had me back south in 42 minutes!
I landed at Silver Falls and bathed C-GFVZ in grass once more. Man, I'll be glad when the runway dries up!
Loaded up, airborne again for Pauingassi, "Garden Spot of Manitoba"! I call it this humourously, as the sanitation practices of the people are "suspect", and in the spring when the snow melts, the community sports a fine "garden" of Pampers, plastic bags, tin cans, 4 liter plastic milk jugs, Pepsi bottles and cans, and whatever else can be thrown into the snowbank from your porch-step. Amazing!
Second load unloaded, I took off and headed for Riverton to check on the river and flood situation. By 4 PM the river had risen, but only slightly. The water was still flowing and rotting the ice. The problem is, when the ice goes quickly, it tumbles and jams against the bridges, creating dams.
I took some pictures of the river and the ice, and I will post them tomorrow. Today was an enjoyable day, flying the bush. I love being in the air, and seeing the huge, robust wolf made my day. I could never work in an office all day long. I would go batty! Until tomorrow, I will go practice my accordion, just to prove General Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf wrong! (see quote on sidebar)
C-GFVZ at Silver Falls, covered in grass!
On the ice at Pauingassi, after unloading into the NDL truck.
Fine shot of C-GFVZ reposing on her Fluidyne 3600 wheel-skis!
Pauingassi, "Garden Spot of Manitoba", with the CBC repeater tower clearly visible.
Flying back to Silver Falls, the camera catches the prop in mid-swing, and the frozen expanse of "Family Lake"!
Back at the yard in Silver Falls, a fine shot of our other Otter, C-GHYB, a fine ship, waiting to be put on floats!
I just thought I would show you the prop good old C-GHYB swings with her 1,000 HP Pezetel engine. The prop is off of a DC-3! She can create a helluva' lotta' wind!
Back in Pauingassi, the crew picks up the second load.
Engine howling and tires spinning, the truck makes it through the water and slush!
I fired off from Riverton early in the morning, after checking the Icelandic River, which my 3 acre property borders. There is a flood watch in effect, but I don't think the water will rise too high (wishful thinking!!). It was 25 minutes to Silver Falls, and I landed on the sodden turf runway. By the time I taxied into the loading area, there was more grass thrown against and stuck to C-GFVZ than there was left on the runway! I hate wet gravel or grass runways.
I loaded up, and fired off north. It was a beautiful sunny day, wind about 15 kts. out of the northeast. It took me an hour to get to Pauingassi, and I stayed low to check out the progress of the melting rivers and creeks. I flew low over a spot on the Gammon River where we insert moose hunters in the fall, and noticed a huge "salt and pepper" wolf on the ice. I circled, but could not find a kill that was visual.
I made Pauingassi and noticed that the lake conditions were landable, but not ideal. There was lots of slush and water still on the lake. Anyways, I landed safely, and the crew came in a 4x4 to unload me. I told them I would be back in 3 hrs, cranked up old C-GFVZ, watched the lake slide by beneath her Fluidyne 3600 wheel-skis, and became airborne. A tailwind had me back south in 42 minutes!
I landed at Silver Falls and bathed C-GFVZ in grass once more. Man, I'll be glad when the runway dries up!
Loaded up, airborne again for Pauingassi, "Garden Spot of Manitoba"! I call it this humourously, as the sanitation practices of the people are "suspect", and in the spring when the snow melts, the community sports a fine "garden" of Pampers, plastic bags, tin cans, 4 liter plastic milk jugs, Pepsi bottles and cans, and whatever else can be thrown into the snowbank from your porch-step. Amazing!
Second load unloaded, I took off and headed for Riverton to check on the river and flood situation. By 4 PM the river had risen, but only slightly. The water was still flowing and rotting the ice. The problem is, when the ice goes quickly, it tumbles and jams against the bridges, creating dams.
I took some pictures of the river and the ice, and I will post them tomorrow. Today was an enjoyable day, flying the bush. I love being in the air, and seeing the huge, robust wolf made my day. I could never work in an office all day long. I would go batty! Until tomorrow, I will go practice my accordion, just to prove General Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf wrong! (see quote on sidebar)
C-GFVZ at Silver Falls, covered in grass!
On the ice at Pauingassi, after unloading into the NDL truck.
Fine shot of C-GFVZ reposing on her Fluidyne 3600 wheel-skis!
Pauingassi, "Garden Spot of Manitoba", with the CBC repeater tower clearly visible.
Flying back to Silver Falls, the camera catches the prop in mid-swing, and the frozen expanse of "Family Lake"!
Back at the yard in Silver Falls, a fine shot of our other Otter, C-GHYB, a fine ship, waiting to be put on floats!
I just thought I would show you the prop good old C-GHYB swings with her 1,000 HP Pezetel engine. The prop is off of a DC-3! She can create a helluva' lotta' wind!
Back in Pauingassi, the crew picks up the second load.
Engine howling and tires spinning, the truck makes it through the water and slush!
