June 29th, All the way to Fairbanks

JR made me a breakfast with pancakes, syrup and burgers. So I was prepared for the car trip, when we said goodbye and meet again in Alaska or in New Mexico, or in between. Weather was good the first 150 miles, thereafter a lot of rain.

I had a capuccino in Talkneeta. No flights were there to Mt Mc Kinley's glacier. Too cloudy.
At the next airport Denali I stopped, was invited in by a nice lady. A young man named Trent offered me coffee and told me of the unique flights they make in  a beaver thru a one  mile wide gorge. We exchanged info about flying freedom in Holland vs USA. And then he had get on with his work.

Around 6 pm I reached Tamarack Maintenance and Pilot in Fairbanks. There was Vicky who I had met 2 years ago in New Holstein. I also met her husband Dan and Brian, a coworker, and of course the dogs. We had a great meal. Dan flew the Arctic Tern home, while I followed Vicky's car . I didn't get lost, so I have a fine bed to sleep in, which I will do.

Monday, June 28th Mile Pole 80 JR

I left Wisalla and after a one hour drive North I arrived at JR's. An airfield, a few hangars with houses, a silver car and a friendly man. Must have met him the first year in New Holstein, but then everyone was new to me … JR told me about the terrible loss he had: May 14th his friend Neal B. Burleson had made a deadly crash with his Cub in the woods nearby. The coroner said it was a blood clod in Neals brain that 'd caused it. In JR's hangar the remains of Neals Cub were divided in two: good to be sold, and trash. A guy had come in to buy the engine.

Loading up Neals Burlesons engine

Then JR took me to a loghouse dinnerplace, a 15 minutes drive. After waiting for another 15 minutes the servant said came over. She could only serve drinks, kitchen closed at 9.00 pm. I told her I was writing articles on dining in Alaska for a Dutch cookery magazine, and what should I write now! She didn't know if we were pulling her leg, but she came up with some good soup and bread. We accepted so JR didn't have to cook spaghetti as another option. We finished the meal off with cake and ice cream. When JR paid, the woman said the soup had been on the house. And he said we would send her the article. At 23.15 we were back in the house. I checked email. It was still light outside. I had a shower, closed my curtains and slept. Great welcoming …

Monday, June 28th Anchorage Museum and to Fairbanks

Mark brought me to the commuterbus. I happen to be the one and only passenger. After almost an hour he put me right in front of the Anchorage Museum. I had a cappuccino and had several surprise! What a nice museum! Fantastic masks, clothing, totempole; the Japanese occupation of Kiska and the liberation by the US and Canadian troops.What hardships! And then the young children in the space where they could a lot of interesting experiments. Complete joy, and then I took a taxi to the airport to get my little Chevrolet Aveo. Drove back, spoke to Cecilia in the middle of her night and now I am off North.

Sunday June 27th: rain and another blog

It sort of rained all day. My rental reservation had been annulled by holidaycarrentals.com, so had to make another reservation: www.economybookings.com. They got me a car which I can retrieve at the airport in Anchorage with Alamo. Good! And I found out I can get there by commuterbus for $ 10! My hosts are thinking of renting this nice cabin out and had asked me if I had any ideas to put it on the internet. So like a real-estate man I took pictures, made a tiny slide show and created another blog: cabinwasilla.blogspot.com. It's still in the concept status, but anyhow, there is something. After Sheila and Mark came back from their shopping expedition I was invited to share a leftovers meal with them: salmon in three different tastes ... I'll come back for any leftover meal. Now I am ready to go pick up the car and spend some time in Anchorages Musea before I move up North. BTW, this is my real estate production.

June 26th, a State Trooper, Clams, Boat ride and Skype

Saturday afternoon I used the courtesy pickuptruck to do some shopping. Host Mark just in time upgraded the license plate to 2010, but as it showed still 2009, I was an easy mark for the State Trooper, who pulled me to the side of the road. I made a picture of him, while he was checking my Dutch drivers license and passport. But very strangely this very picture evaporated on my computer. So this Trooper looks older, less friendly than the one wished me a good time in Alaska after we separated. (Also it was raining a bit, not snowing).

Drove to Lake Wolf Airport, to see where it was. Maybe I contact cubtraining later to have some bushlanding training. Then to WalMart and get necessary items like film, stamps etc. Back home to my wonderful cabin at Lake Seymour, Mark and Sheila invited me for a clams-dinner. 

Never ate them, but I am a big fish (and) meat lover. So I agreed quickly.

My amazing Cabin and Courtesy Pick Up Truck.

It was a bit raining - very good for the grass, so I spent time to find a rental car to drive up to Fairbanks Alaska, to see Vicky, the lady I met two years ago in New Holsteins SuperCub Fly In, when she came solo flying all the way from Alaska. So Monday I will pick up the car in Anchorage and drive up North.

But Saturday evening I walked up to my hosts and neighbors Mark and Sheila for the clams experience.

Mark and Sheila want me explicitly to mention on this blog, that it's just bed and no breakfast they will be running here in the future. All is set up to make guests as independant as possible: sleeping, cooking, laundering, bathtub, shower, fridge, freezer, boat, car and even free internet! And I am the lucky one they test it out on. To give them feedback I got invited for dinner . And I tell you: besides my home in Oosterland, Zeeland, the Netherlands, this completely equals the place where Cecilia and I stay when we are in Whitelaw, Hammond LA, Lodi CA, Minneapolis or in KC with Steve of Dana. What an incredible hospital people one finds at SuperCub.org.  It makes me humble ...

O, the clams: here is my plate:

Delicious, with pasta and salad. Baked in butter with garlic. Mark caught them self last year. Exquisite!

After dinner my hosts invited me to join me for a wine ride in the boat over the Lake. Nipping a good Merlot, and looking houses, children and some lonely dogs.

 Coincidence: this house belongs to a certain 'Martinus Reint List' of Dutch background.

Back to the house I invited Sheila and Mark to a Skyping session with Cecilia, who was just waking up in the Netherlands. We had a lot of fun together.

Cecilia showed Mark and Sheila the garden, the room, outside the house, and posed next to the roses she received after her last show. Mark got interested in steaming pans he noticed in the kitchen.

After this fun exchange (Cecilia was invited to come to Alaska next year ..) There I was asked to explain what kind of work Cecilia and I do, as clowns. Luckily I could show a youtube video of us playing for a class of young children:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwYzk-w1QfI

Then I said I had a good idea of what Sheila's job as secretary to an Elementary School Principal was, as I used to be a principal myself. But I could not have a picture of what Mark did with his Cub. So he also had a go at youtube and came up with this! Spectacular: spotting herring from the air for a group of fisherboats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLAnHhROZk8

Wow!
Finished the bottle of wine, made one last picture of the setting sun over the lake and went to to 'my' cabin ...What a magnificent people in this country! Slept like log. Period.

Friday, June 25th with Joe Beck to Knik glacier

(Google maps)

Joe Beck picked me up around 10.30 this morning. He planned to fly me to Knik, a glacier. First we drove to his house, at the other side of Lake Seymour. He got his Cub ready, fuel, oil and moved it to his spectacular runway. Trees along on all sides, a road half way. I got my camera ready and we took of in eastern direction. I was in for the most spectacular sightseeing trip in my whole life! Amazing, incredible, I took about 300 pictures, of which you can see most of in this post. I got to see rivers, stream, poles, ponds, sandbanks, gravelbanks, and ice and ice and ice in all sorts. We landed at several places, I got to feel the cold water, climbed a little hill, saw motor guys having fun, moose prints, and even a real moose running away from us. Then we flew back, over many an airport or strip. I bet there are more airstrips here on a square mile, then in the whole copuntry of the Netherlands.
We flew back over Lake Seymour, took some pictures of the Marks and Sheila's place, where I stay. And then another landing at Jope's homestrip. A cup of coffie in Joe's garden finished this unique meeting Alaska's Knik. Thank you Joe!

June 24th: a lazy day

The day started with Cecilia calling while I was juist waking up. Her good news was that she had done twice a show at a school in Bruinisse. This show she hadn't played for years but she likes it so much she wanted to take it up again. On Skype she showed me very nice drawings the children had made of her appearance. Fantastic! But me, I just slowly gathered my energy. Had some breakfast and coffee.
Watched Elijah do flipovers on the trampoline. Even tried to jump a bit myself ...

And phoned mr. Beck, also of Supercub.org, who lives nearby. He dropped by and we had a nice chat to get to know one another. I thought he would pick me up around 13.00 to go fishing with him.
Anyhow, maybe I had misunderstond and I should have called him again, I was on my own the afternoon and I enjoyed it: sleeping, sitting in the garden. Listening to the voices of Mark and Elijah planting cauliflowers and broccoli. And dozed off again...
Mark announced that the Dutch Orange team was winning their soccergame. And so pizzas were ordered. Real good pizzas here in Alaska. Now I am back in 'my' cabin, lazy on the sofa, like a real couchpotatoe. Tomorrow I might have more energy ...

BTW: The weather was real good today.

Wednesday, June 23rd Alaska by daylight

Mark asked me to go to Lake Hood around noon. I went there by taxi from the hotel. Many seaplanes were lying by the shore. I found a good spot where Mark could land. And then the red and white Cub arrived! I remembered Mark right away from New Holstein. He put my bags in and there we got clearance from the tower. A fascinating flight over along Anchorage, sea inlets, mountains, and water, water, water. Finally we landed in Lake Seymour, where Mark and Sheila have their house.
I was made very comfortable, first in the 'cabin' then the pickup-truck and finally the boat.
We ended the day at the fire. And now I will go and rest ...

Tuesday, June 22nd From Minneapolis to Anchorage

Yesterday a written welcome from Grant and Genes daughter Bridget, how nice! A good nights sleep. In the early morning I said goodbye to Grant and Bridget. Time to repack. And kept an eye on the driveway for Andrew Richardson, Grants collegue, how had offered to bring me to the airport. Very niced talking to this young man, even been in Amsterdam, and knew the inside word of how to say goodbye in Dutch: Doei! (phonetically duey ...). Had a healthy grilled chicken sandwich at MSP. And then on to Anchorage, via Denver. Arrived in Alaska at 09.50 PM LT. Notes from two SuperCub members who offered me a stay. What a magic club ... And more magic I got the last room - smokers - available. What a lucky guy I am!

A Dream Comes True in Johnson Creek

Steve Eaton sent me some wonderful pictures of me telling my story at Johnson Creek, last Saturday.
Thank you so much Steve!

June 21 Columbus to Minneapolis

Early wake up call: with weathercheck all appears cleart the 738 nm to Minneapolis. Dean lives there nearby in Rochester. He will transfer me near Minnie to SuperCub.org veteran Grant Wallace. Grant also offers me overnight stay and a ride to the airport so I can get on the plane to Alaska.
After a good breakfast at Uncle Sam Eatery, with Rick Papp, Dean Nordving, Alan Kasemodel (Yes he too) and the airportmanager, Dean and I took off around 08.00 from Columbus, heading east. Dean showed me some nice runways in the hills, with cabins. We saw many animals: antelopes, deer and we scarried a coyote. We tried 7500 feet to get more tailwind, but luckily no use: at 100 feet or lower tailwind was better and we could have more fun, waving the wings to the scarce people we saw on the ground. We stopped at Buffola MT after 3 hours, to stretch our legs. Then on to Mobridge at the grand Missouri River to fuel up. Dean phoned Randy Wolter in Aberdeen if he could meet us for lunch at the airport there. When we arrived almost the whole Wolter Family was there, except for Randy. We had a great lunch, made some pictures and on we went. Three hours more to Stanton. We were awed by the floods that had hit South Dakota and som of Minnesota. After an hour or so Dean got a bit sleepy so he offered me to autopilot the Cub.
In action he came again one hour before landing. Doing the radio and so we approached for a beautiful 1940's airfield Stenton. Grant awaited us. I said goodbye to Dean who has been so good for me, but longed for his own bed. Once more we tried the rolling rrrr, in Rrrreint and Norrrdving, and off he went. I happened to be the first adult passenger (plus baggage) that Grant ever had. We made a fine take off and did some sightseeing along the Mississippi River.
After a soft landing on the blacktop of Flemings, Grant showed me where he works: Wipaire and Lake Air. Very impressed I had a meal with him and then he took me home to stay the night.
Of course I met his daughter Brigit and wife Gene. We exchanged a nice talk. Grant attached me to the internet. I had a great shower, clean clothes. And so now I am sitting in the guests bedroom typing this report. It has been a wonderfool day again only made possible by the great institution of www.supercub.org
NB Dean got the message from Rick in Columbus that mechanic Terry could fix the engine trouble and that Rick hopes to take off tomorrow. Very good!

Sundat June 19th JC to Columbus

Early morning start. Short message. Wonderfool trip over the mountains. Breakfast on Fly In Twin Bridges.. On to Three Fork for FUel. Started with Rick , Dean, Pat, Alan and Ralph. Flew on west with Rick and Dean. Then Rick engines started to withold its breath now and again. So we decided for a stop in Columbys MT. By pure accident the engine had been renewed there by Al Rickman. An mr. Rickman was at the airport on the Fathersday. Compression on 3 cylinders 100%. On one 70%. Rick Papp stays in Columbus to help mr. Rickman with the repair. I flew on with Dean Norsvik. But because of an storm (part of a tornado that hit Billings) we returned after 10 minutes. So we had a great dinner sleep in a motel. Today Dean and I will have another try for Minneapolis. Maybe I can board the Frontier Flight to Alaska there tomorrow. I put in those great sights we had on our route. Enjoy!

Friday June 19th: again breakfast in Sulphur Creek

This time Steve Johnson invited me to go to Sulphur Creek, for breakfast in his C180. Beautiful day after a cold night. Reminds me of LIFE magazine pictures in the 50s. A pig is being roasted. Tonight I will do my 'A Dream Comes True, a Flying Dutchman and his Cub', tryout for a very experienced Cub crowd. I feel happy.

June 18th: Ice and heat

I woke up and found everything except the inside of my sleepingbag, cold, and icy. Looking out of the tent  there was ice everywhere on the grass and the planes. I sat in Daves tent, and had a fine talk with him while a heater was burning. Then the sun came in, all warmed up. And we went for breakfast in Sulphur Creek. Great meal! Then I switched planes and went with Dean and Rick to McCalls to buy some emergency stuff: I needed new bags as my big bag was damaged on the way to Washington. Via new way into the mountains again to Johnson Creek. With Dean I also will travel after Johnson Creek to Minneapolis. From there I will take a commercial flight to Alaska and meet Deans SuperCubfriends. I also met today John and Deborah Graham in JC. Deborah will fly up to Alaska with John, I when he goes back, I have the honor to take her place and fly back to Ohio.
In the meantime there is the raffle. I was asked to feel the weight of the gun, one of the prizes, next to the bushwheels. Then I was invited to come to dinner with some of the gang in Yellow Pine.
Since Steve Johnson did a magical move on the internetconnection, posting is going real fine.

June 17th: No go to McCall and social life

Tried to get to Mc Calls for shopping, but no go. Then cooking a meal on the field. In the afternoon more people arrived and we socialized. Dave and Loud showed how big friends they are!

Impressions of Johnson Creek

On this collage: by the fire, my jetboil, Wendy and Dave,

arrival of Steve Johnson (Johnson Creek was named after him ...)

Wendy and her PA12 and a group awaiting more arrivals.

Wednesday, June 16th Rain, Long sleep

This is the last part of the route to Johnson, that Dave, Pat and SteveE followed. Mountain ridge, after mountain ridge.

Mostly rain and cold, day and night
today went into town, Yellow Pine, pop.25, bought warm socks

Lou instructed Pat  and me to prepare a Mountain Home meal with my Jetboil.

June 15th Billings_Dillon_Johnson Creek

2010-06-15JC_BillingsJC

Here I am, writing this blog in Johnson Creek Airport, free internet ... wow! A heartily breakfast with Dave and Pat Angelo in the hotel. A drive to Edwards Airport. Anmd yes, all my baggage got into Daves Cub, including ourselves. Bright weather, and we set off! During the flight Steve Eaton from Oklahoma joined us and we followed the Yellowstone River a while while getting into the mountains. After 2.5 hrs we arrived at Dillon to fuel up. A decent thunderstorm appeared, we tied up the cubs, had coffee. And when the rain had passed  the computer told us the way was clear al along to Johnson Creek. Well , if you look at the pictures on the webalbum, it was not altogether clear, but broken. We passed all the ridges and landed at Johnson. There quite some Cub friends greeted us, among them Lou, Bill Tracey and Wendy. Wendy Pat Dave and I went to nearby Yellow Pine to have a meal. That meal I did nog finish but after it I feel good enough to write this blog and upload the pictures. A wonderfool day, and I am still trying to understand what has happened to me... Oh, and Cecilia and I met each other on Skype this morning. Almost fingertouching good.

June 14 Over the Pond

I am writing this in a hotelroom in Billings, Montana. Dave Kirsten my fantastic Johnson Creek host, picked me up around 23.00 at the airport. That Monday started at 05.45 in Oosterland, waking up. At 06.30 driving with Cecilia to Roosendaal trainstation. Joining daughter Annelies in the train with the first coffee. And then 12.00 Flight UA 951 from Brussels to Washington DC after a goodbye with flowers and all. From Dulles Int. Airport to Denver in stormy weather. And finally to Billings. Great meeting Dave! A short night sleep after a hot bath. And now Dave is waking up. Day 2 on my trip begins! We fly with Daves new Cub into the Mountains ...  

Me and Dave in Billings, waking up for the JC adventure ...

Start

Yes! I am set to board Flight UNITED 0951 Brussel/Dulles/Denver/Billings MT Monday June 14th..
The same day I hope to arrive at 22.56 LT and friend Dave Kirsten will be waiting for me. Tuesday I will join him in his SuperCub and fly to Johnson Creek Idaho. Dave has organized there with other Cub friends a www.supercub.org fly in. In 2008 I had the honor to be there. And I had the plan to make a video of this unique event. But the film is still waiting to be edited. And I hope to do better this time. Also I promised Dave to tell my 'A FlyingDutchman and his Cub' story'. The same story I am invited to tell at Oshkoshs EAA Airventure this year. And I also tell it on Dutch airventures and recently in schools. During the Oshkosh period I most certainly hope to meet my flying friends during the New Holstein SuperCub.org Fly In. In 2006 I made a wonderful trip with my lady friend Cécilia in a SuperCub through the Midwest. Then I also made a blog which still can be seen on the web. Well I am all excited! And I hope to ben able to let you know what Cubs mean to me and my Cub Friends ...