Capt. Lambert in Biplanes

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #91

 

The military kindly offered to billet Lambert, Roger & Manwell overnight at Shemya.

Lambert was woken in the early hours of the morning by an Air Force Lieutenant tapping him on the shoulder.

"What is it?:, Lambert hissed. "Can't you see I'm sleeping!'

"Excuse me sir, message from your wife. She wants to know where her riding boots are?"

"What?"

"Her riding boots. She says she needs them!"

"Good g-d. Where is she?"

"Can't say Sir. Classified"

Lambert thought about that for a minute.

"Tell her they're in the potting shed in a green box labelled 'horse stuff'"

"I will. thank you Sir"

 

Meanwhile, at Sloterberry Farm, Jane was lounging around in her slippers & dressing gown when Lucy appeared at the door.

Startling her.

"Just passing, thought I would drop in!", Lucy called to Jane, advancing through the open door with a bouquet of cut flowers.

"For me?", Jane asked, taken aback.

Lucy nodded, & pulled up a chair at the kitchen table.

"I have a favor to ask!", she whispered.

"There's this chap in South Africa who wants a photo of my car. I don't have the internet. Could you take a picture & upload it for me?"

Jane was not sure what was going on, but agreed.

 

Lucy's 1975 Austin Mini Cooper S soft top

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To be continued

 

Windswept 

[DaveLTB 48]

Outstanding...  

 

Dave Britzius

(Cape Town)

[Windswept 77]

3 hours ago, DaveLTB said:

Outstanding...  

 

Dave Britzius

(Cape Town)

Thanks Dave.

Need to find a shot of Mildred's Hillman Minx

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #92: Shemya, (PASY), to Adak Island, (PADK)

 

A sleep deprived Lambert prepared to leave Shemya for Adak Island.

\"About 385 miles today chaps. Could be breezy, I've been looking at the forecasts & once we head further East & are out in the Bering Sea, there isn't any land to shelter us. Better pack extra brown bags Roger!", Lambert laughed. 

"Do you know anything about Adak Island Manwell?", Lambert asked, pausing from chewing his way through a packet of wine gums.

"Que?", Manwell replied, with a look of puzzlement on his face.

Lambert sighed & handed over a Wikipedia extract.

 

'Adak Island (Aleut: Adaax is an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Alaska's southernmost town, Adak, is located on the island. The island has a land area of 274.59 square miles (711.18 km²), measuring 33.9 miles (54.5 km) on length and 22 miles (35 km) on width, making it the 25th largest island in the United States.

Due to harsh winds, frequent cloud cover, and cold temperatures, vegetation is mostly tundra (grasses, mosses, berries, low-lying flowering plants) at lower elevations. The highest point is Mt. Moffett, near the northwest end of the island, at an elevation of 3,924 feet (1,196 m). It is snow covered the greater part of the year. Adak, Alaska, is its largest and principal city.

The word Adak is from the Aleut word adaq, which means "father".'

 

"Oh!", Manwell responded when he had finished reading. He offered it to Roger, but he shook his head. He was scanning the sky & clouds & sniffing the wind.

Lambert noticed this & that the wind was picking up.

"Time to go chaps!", he told them hastily  & soon had Babushka warmed up & ready to go.

 

The takeoff was dicey as the headwind had become a cross wind & they were b;lown to the left off the runway during their departure.

But Lambert gritted his teeth & held it together, gradually easing Babushka back on track as they climbed slowly at 200 fpm.

Once they got away from the island they caught a tailwind & made good time to Adak Island, where the landing was without incident.

That evening Lambert informed them that he was considering skipping Atka & going straight through to Unalaska the next day.

Roger was not pleased by this at all & protested it was too  long a leg in the weather they were striking.

"We'll review the situation tomorrow!", Lambert announced, cutting off further debate.

 

Meanwhile, at the Safe House, Mildred had caved in & basically acknowledging she could be bought for a case of Gordon's Gin, had agreed to ride Skylark Dance in the 3.30 pm steeplechase race at Cheltenham.

"Good!", Augustine had enthused. "How much do you weigh?"

Mildred hesitated. "About 120 Lbs I think"

"Good g-d girl, your way overweight!. Poor Skylark will collapse. Nothing for it but the sauna!"

"The what?", Mildred protested.

"Sauna dear. They have one here. Squires will provide all you need" 

& as if by magic, Squires appeared at the door with several towels & a terry robe dressing gown. "Follow me please madam!", he commanded, & Mildred was too stunned to refuse.

After 3 hours in the sauna, by which time Mildred felt like a dish mop, a stalemate occurred.

Her refusal to continue the regime was only overcome following a hasty conversation between Squires & Augustine, the outcome of which gave Mildred a Gin & Tonic to be going on with while she remained in the sauna.

 

And at Sloterberry Farm, Jane was teaching Lucy how to milk a cow.

"Very visceral isn't it!", Lucy had declared as she pulled heartily on Daisy's teats.

 

 

Battling a cross wind to get out of Shemya

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Weather has improved. Volcano off to the left

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Passing over one of the larger islands, on the way to Adak Island

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Stray picture

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Over Adak Island runways

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On the ground at Adak Island, (PADK)

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[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #93: Adak Island, (PADK), to Unalaska, (PADU)

 

Manwell wandered around the outside of Babushka checking hinges &  doors while Lambert & Roger had a fearful row in the cockpit.

"Monsieur!", Roger proclaimed, standing on the right seat to eyeball Lambert. "You say next we go to Atka. Now you say Unalaska!

That's 385 miles in the bad winds we have been experiencing. Monsieur is the case of nuts!!??"

Lambert frowned, Roger had a point. The winds had been getting worse & were shifting around a lot.

"Tell you what Roger. We will track to Atka & if the weather is no good, land. If its ok we keep going to Unalaska!"

Roger reluctantly agreed and within an hour they were ready to move on.

They were hit by a wind switch during the take off & pushed left of the runway, but Lambert managed to recover the situation, despite Roger swearing loudly at him in Belgian.

Once they were at the 8,500' cruising height things settled down.

Apart from some brief rain half way to Unalaska and on landing, the journey was straight forward.

 

At Unalaska terminal Lambert was handed a note by Counter staff.

He opened it, read it, & frowned deeply.

 

 

Babushka blown sideways to the left on leaving Adak Island. Roger was not happy & let Lambert know it. In Belgian

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Headed for some wet weather

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Past  one of the islands on the way to Unalaska

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Over mountainous terrain

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Unalaska runway off to the left

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Heading into Unalaska past some fishing vessels

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About to be on the runway at Unalaska

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To be continued

 

Windswept

 

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #94: Unalaska, (PADU) to False Pass, (KFP)

 

At Unalaska terminal Lambert was handed a note by Counter staff.

He opened it, read it, & frowned deeply. A frown so deep that Manwell thought he was having a stroke.

It was from Mildred.

"Where are the keys to the Hillman Minx?", it read.

Lambert paused & then asked the Counter Staff if they could send a return message.

They said they could.

"Right!", Lambert said, "Take this down - Dearest, why do you want the Minx? You can't have it, the gearbox is shot. Take the Morris Minor instead!"

Lambert harrumphed & stalked off.

 

He encountered an agitated Roger. "Monsieur, terrible weather forecast - wind & fog & pestilence & a plague of locusts!"

At that moment Lambert decided that Roger had lost his mind.

Should he jettison him? Then he recalled that of the 3 of them, Roger had by far the keenest eye sight. He would keep him on.

For the meantime.

"Challenges old chap. That's what life is all about!", & he strode off to find some more wine gums, coming back with marshmallows instead.

Which he did not share.

 

They set off in indifferent conditions.

The winds kept switching & Manwell had to play the mixture/prop speed & throttle like a violin to hold a steady pace.

At one stage they had a 64 kt tailwind.

Then a crosswind. Then they were crabbing for 2 hours, nose pointed to 1 side but holding the flight plan line.

"Takes skill!", Lambert informed them as Babushka bounced around like a bear on a trampoline.

They passed several spectacular volcanoes & about 30 minutes from False Pass the weather closed in.

Roger ended up with his nose pressed against the windscreen looking for land.

Again he came through, but was horrified by the approach & covered his eyes as Lambert wrestled Babushka down to the runway.

"Well, that was a tricky one!", Lambert declared as he surveyed the deserted graveled airstrip. "I guess there's no MacDonald's here!!"

 

Meanwhile, at the safe house, Mildred had arranged for Squires to pick up her Morris Minor & bring it back to the Safe House so that she had transport to Cheltenham.

The race was 2 days away & she was nervous.

Augustine would not let her see Skylark Dance before the race, which Mildred thought odd.

"Why don't you take a Bentley or Rolls dear?', Augustine asked Mildred, flabbergasted she would be driving a Morris Minor. "Its James Mother. He collects these 1950's through 1970's British cars &  does them up.

Keeps him happy for hours. Which keeps me happy as he's out of the house!", she replied brightly.

"Ah!", Augustine replied, still considering it all very odd.

She judged a person by their car.

 

& at Sloterberry Farm Jane was becoming suspicious of Lucy's intentions.

When Jane had wanted to retire to her laboratory where she made her cheese cultures, Lucy was very adamant about accompanying her.

"To observe & learn" were her words.

Jane smelt a rat & feigned a headache. That got rid of Lucy, but Jane had the feeling it wasn't the last she had seen of her.

She had spent months developing a new culture for her Cheshire Cream soft cheese & had high hopes of winning 1st place at the annual  Boutique Cheese Makers gala in Manchester.

A win such as that would give her instant fame, abundant sales, & financial security for the foreseeable future.

Something made her go back to the lab & to get her note book with the formula, to put in safe keeping.

She was distraught to find it gone!

Very distraught. "That b-ch Lucy must have slipped in while I was making tea!!", Jane muttered to herself indignantly.

"Right, we'll see about this!", Jane announced aloud.

 

Leaving Unalaska in inclement conditions

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Hilly country on an  island on the way to False Pass

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Volcano ahead

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Dropping down to False Pass

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Turning back to False Pass runway after Roger spotted it in the fog. It is way over to the right, in the fog.

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Heading in to the runway. Approach was tricky but a strong headwind meant they had to come in from this end, despite hills. Runway begins just above tip of upper right wing.

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On the runway at False Pass & holding Babushka steady with the throttle & brakes until it could be tied down

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To be continued

 

Windswept

 

[Heinz Flichtbeil 1609]

Everytime a very fine and interesting diary with good screenshots... Reading is like flying with you

Greets Heinz

[Windswept 77]

Thank you Heinz.

It is an opportunity to see new scenery & let the imagination loose.

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #95: False Pass, (KFP), to Chignik, (PAJC)

 

Lambert pored over weather information.

Outside Babushka the snow was pelting down, driven by strong gusty winds that made her shake & shudder.

Roger was wandering around muttering about lunacy.

Manwell was peering into the snow, his eyes screwed up like a letter box slot.

"We go!", Lambert announced.

"It's going to get better, guarantee it!" he added enthusiastically.

Roger groaned, Manwell, now sheltering behind a tire,  expectorated on the ground.

"Not good!", he muttered to himself.

Babushka's engine rumbling into life forced him to get back aboard as the prop wash was coating him in snow.

He was cold.

Even with gloves his hands were throbbing.

 

Lambert took Babushka out of False Pass in a blinding snow squall. At times she seemed to be in a stationary hover, like in a snow globe, but she was making progress.

The wind rushing over her wings was providing the lift to prevent them all dropping into the sea.

Roger was humming  The Marseillaise at a very high pitch. Sufficiently high that Lambert yelled at him to stop.

Luckily, Lambert had the weather right & after 30 minutes things quietened down & they picked up a tail wind.

"Read this. This is where we have just been", Lambert advised Manwell, handing him another extract from Wikipedia.

 

'False Pass is an early English name for Isanotski Strait on which the city of False Pass is located. The strait was called "False Pass" by early American sailing ship captains because it was thought to be impassable for their deep draft vessels at the northern end. A salmon cannery was built on the Unimak Island side of the strait in 1919 which provided the nucleus for the modern settlement. A U.S. post office with the name of False Pass was established in 1921 which gave official status to the community.

Commercial fishing for salmon, cod, halibut and crab continues to be the core of the community's lifestyle and economy.

The city population was 35 at the 2010 census and currently rests around 46'.

 

Manwell nodded & handed it back.

Lambert offered the paper to Roger, but he declined.

He was very distraught that Lambert had gone out in the snow squall, & was contemplating bailing out at the next stop.

 

Lambert took Babushka all the way to Chignik.

They had some difficulty locating the airport as it was down low near sea level & again required Roger's eyesight to spot it.

The landing was a sideways drift in a 30 kt crosswind & Lambert took pride in only missing the runway edge by 10'.

Fortunately, Babushka's rugged undercarriage took the frozen runway surrounds in its stride.

 

It was very cold in Chignik & Lambert resolved to get out of there as soon as possible the next day.

"Kodiak tomorrow, slowly working our way to civilization & a hot shower chaps!"

"Yippee!", Roger muttered under his breath.

 

Meanwhile, in the Safe House, Mildred was having a panic attack about the steeplechase race & was seriously considering ripping up her sheets & exiting via a bedroom window.

 But when she tested a window, she found it welded shut.

"B-gger!", she muttered to herself.

Augustine, sitting  in the Safe House Control room, had watched all of this on the monitors.

"Silly child", she murmured.

She turned to Squires, who was also in attendance. "Do you think we need to sedate her??"

Squires paused. "I think not madam. I would be happier if she had her wits about her when on top of the horse!"

"Quite right Squires", Augustine agreed.

 

& at Sloterberry Farm, Jane was doing an Internet & social media search for Lucy.

What she found did not surprise her.

"So!, that's who she is!", she muttered to herself.

 

 

Heading out of False Pass in a snow storm

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Snow easing off

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Hilly terrain, but not so much snow on the ground

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Descending & turning while looking for Chignik runway

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Down low over the water, still looking for the runway, which is on the  far right hand side of the shot, just above the waterline

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Another cross wind landing. Wind strong enough to push Babushka off the runway

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To be continued

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #96: Chignik, (PAJC), to Kodiak, (PADQ)

 

Lambert was looking for an early start from Chignik.

Kodiak was only 92 miles away & he was keen to get there to catch an afternoon matinee of "Gone With The Wind", at the cinema.

He secretly identified with the hero, but Roger was less than complimentary about it when Lambert confided in him.

"Monsieur, the heroes character & yours, how do we say it, chalk & cheese different. For one, the hero is handsome!!", he commented dryly.

This caused Lambert to splutter with indignation.

He turned to Manwell for his opinion.

Manwell did not comprehend as he had never seen the film.

"Kodiak!", Lambert enthused, "Almost civilization!"

Manwell looked blanker than usual.

"Here, read this from Wikipedia!", Lambert urged Manwell

 

'Kodiak (Alutiiq: Sun'aq; Russian: Кадьяк, tr. Kadʹyak) is one of seven communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline. The population was 6,130 as of the 2010 census. 2014 estimates put the population at 6,304.

After the Alaska Purchase by the United States in 1867, Kodiak became a commercial fishing center which continues to be the mainstay of its economy. A lesser economic influence includes tourism, mainly by those seeking outdoor adventure trips. Salmon, halibut, the unique Kodiak bear, elk, Sitka deer (black tail), and mountain goats attract hunting tourists as well as fishermen to the Kodiak Archipelago.'

 

"Ah fishing!", Manwell replied. "Perhaps we can go fishing?"

Lambert frowned, his brow furrowed like a corrugated road in the Australian outback. Deep furrows, & fierce.

"I think not old chap. Must press on. Have to be in San Francisco by 5 December! No time to waste!"

"But fishing is not waste Mr Lambert. Fresh fish! A change from powder dried curries!!"

Roger nodded in agreement.

"Can't be done!", Lambert snapped, & he headed off to fire Babushka up.

As soon as Manwell had completed his checks Lambert had Babushka rolling down the runway.

He flew the whole leg while Roger & Manwell admired the scenery. In parts it was quiet spectacular.

The only difficulty on the flight  was the landing.

Lambert found he was crabbing her in as a 20 kt crosswind from the left threatened to push them off the runway.

However, he touched down & skidded sideways to a stop,  on the icy surface.

"Great undercarriage", he enthused.

As son as Babushka was tied down, Lambert left in a hurry for the cinema.

"Geez!", was all a tired  Roger could muster.

 

Meanwhile, in the Safe House, Mildred had managed to sneak a roast chicken from the kitchen & consumed it in a flurry of elbows & greasy fingers.

Nervous tension snacking was her excuse to Squires, upon discovery.

When Augustine caught wind of it she had Mildred on the scales in a flash, then back in the sauna.

Mildred was not pleased.

Augustine was livid. "You can't be overweight!", she admonished Mildred.

"I'm fading away!", Mildred complained.

"Poppycock!", was Augustine's response.

 

& at Sloterberry Farm, Jane was looking over road maps & trying to find the best route to get to Lucy's house.

Undetected.

 

On the gravel runway warming up the engine

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On the way to Kodiak Island

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Some mountainous terrain South West of Kodiak

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Starting the descent into Kodiak

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Kodiak runway in sight

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Tricky 20 kt  crosswind pushing Babushka to the right. (Ignore the limp windsock!)

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Finally down on the icy runway at (PADQ)

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To be continued

 

Windswept

 

 

 

 

[MM 137]

Great!

A crowd is gathering at the Fairmont's Tonga Room, enjoying the refreshments, the company, and a few tall tales. We look forward to the arrival of Lambert, Manwell, and Roger ... and anyone else who surprisingly makes an appearance.

[Windswept 77]

MM

Lambert may appear.

Manwell & Roger will probably be left to sleep in Babushka.

But I fear that by the time Lambert makes it, [usually on the final date of a leg], you will have moved on!

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #97: Kodiak, (PADQ), to Homer, (PAHO)

 

It's 5.15 am at Windswept's residence & a bl-dy big truck with its lights out is dumping a dumpster bin at a refurb. house across the road.

With enough gear graunching & engine revving to wake the dead.

An early start for Windswept!!

What to do?

Write!

With bleary eyes & bleary brain.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Lambert came back enthused from 'Gone With The Wind' & for an hour or so effected a Southern accent until Roger suggest it was over faux.

But he did pay for them to sleep in a Motel near the airport.

Hot showers!

Mavwell had to be dragged out after 2 hours, he had fallen asleep clutching a bar of soap.

"Mattresses!, Luxury!", Roger muttered.

 

The next morning the weather was foul.

Blowing snow, gusty winds. Poor visibility.

But Lambert insisted they press on.

There was nearly a mutiny, assuaged only by Lambert promising to put them up in a top Hotel in Anchorage.

So they departed in a snow squall.

As they flew on in ever decreasing visibility, Roger became alarmed.

"What course are you flying monsieur?", he asked Lambert.

"Mag 15, why?"

"What altitude are we?"

"500'. Why?"

"Because monsieur, this topographical chart I am looking at shows a row of mountains at mag 15!", Roger screamed.

Lambert peered out into the zero visibility ahead of them.

"I don't see any mountains!", he announced indignantly.

At that moment there was a brief respite from the snow & there, right in front of them, not 1 mile away, was a cliff.

Much higher then they were!

"Holy cr-p!", Lambert yelled as he threw Babushka into the tightest right hand turn she could manage.

Luckily for them Babushka was up to the task & with the wings flexing & ribs groaning & wing wires screeching with the stress, she managed to just get around before the cliff.

"Back to base I think chaps!", Lambert announced coolly.

"I say Roger, you need to brush up on your terrain awareness old chap!", Lambert added.

Roger was so incensed that he grabbed a hammer from Babushka's tool kit & it was only Manwell's last minute intervention that prevented Roger from smiting Lambert's skull.

An action that would have rendered him senseless at an inopportune moment in the flight.

 

After they returned to Kodiak, Roger & Manwell decamped with haste.

"Where are you going?, Lambert called after them.

"Fishing!", Manwell called back.

"But you can't see!", Lambert protested

"We go on a charter boat. Much safer down here!", Manwell replied.

"When will you be back?", Lambert asked hastily, for he was becoming alarmed he would be 2 crew short very soon.

"Maybe tomorrow", Roger replied.

"What?"

"Tomorrow morning. Its a day/night charter!", Manwell told him.

"Oh!", Lambert muttered.

& they were gone into the snow, which was beginning to recede.
 

Meanwhile, at the Safe House, Mildred was on a saline drip. Augustine had been too cavalier with the laxatives & although the weight had poured out of her, Mildred was left feeling like a limp limpet.

"B-gger!", Augustine muttered as she supervised the medical attention. "Put a potassium drip on the other arm Squires, & also add a bag of multivitamins, need to get the bag re-hydrated & ready to go!

The race goes off today!"

"And how is Skylark Dance this morning madam?", Squires asked as he efficiently hooked Mildred up to more bags of fluid & hung them from the pole at the back of her bed.

"In good spirits. She's had her tonic . Ready to run!"

"Tonic madam?", 

Augustine tapped her nose & winked.

'Ah yes madam, the go juice"

Augustine nodded & smiled.

 

& 10 miles North of Sloterberry Farm, Jane was knocking on the door of her sister Emily's farmhouse.

Emily's cottage was named Wittering Heights & her forte' was breeding boutique milking goats.

It was a family mystery as to why Jane chose dairy cows & Emily went for goats.

They didn't see much of each other, but Emily had a car & Jane had only the electric bike.

It had got her to Emily's place, but now she needed to borrow Emily's Ford Escort RS Cosworth

For she had a journey to undertake in the  pursuit of justice & her notebook!

 

Emily's Ford Escort RS Cosworth. (Her shopping basket)

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To be continued

 

Windswept

 

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #98: Kodiak, (PADQ), to Homer, (PAHO) {This Time!}

 

At the Kodiak airport, Lambert paced the frozen ground beside Babushka.

It was 9 am, no sign of Roger or Manwell.

He was just about to catch a taxi to town to find new crew when a jeep pulled up & Roger & Manwell rolled out clutching a giant Halibut.

"Put that back!!", Lambert shouted.

"There is no room on this aircraft!", Lambert added indignantly.

'But, but!", Manwell protested. "We catch the fish. We eat the fish!!", Manwell protested.

"Not on my watch you don't!", Lambert confirmed.

He was about to take the matter up with the Jeep's driver, who looked to be a well bearded sea faring type, when Manwell relented & pushed the Halibut back into the jeep, spoke briefly with the driver, shrugged his shoulders & climbed back on board Babushka.

Roger, meanwhile, had already climbed aboard & was snoring his head off in the sidecar.

Lambert sniffed him. He thought he could smell absinthe.

But before he could remonstrate with his delinquent crew, Manwell had started Babushka's engine & invited Lambert to take the left seat.

Which he did with ill grace.

"Never again!", he pronounced as if it were the definitive statement on the situation.

 

The trip this time was in much better weather & proceeded without incident until they arrived at Homer, which looked nothing like it should have.

"Damn!", Lambert muttered, "I set the scenery filter to Asia, not America!", oh well, c'est la vie!"

The airstrip was surrounded by craters, typical incorrect setting stuff.

 

By then Roger had woken & peered out of the cockpit window through his sun glasses.

"Where are we?", he demanded.

"Homer!", Lambert replied.

"Oh!", Roger replied, & promptly fell asleep in the sidecar again.

 

Lambert was puzzled. Was Roger a secret drinker?

Manwell shrugged when asked.

"Que??", was his best offering.

 

"Early start for Anchorage!", Lambert announced at dinner. "Always an early start!", Manwell complained.

Lambert decide would have to re-assess his crew in Anchorage. Too much back chat for his liking.

 

Meanwhile, at the Cheltenham race track saddling enclosure, Augustine was about to give Mildred a leg up into the saddle.

Skylark Dance was very restless & was rolling her eyes.

Mildred suddenly turned around & peering down at Augustine hissed, "Mother, has this horse been doped?"

This flustered Augustine, who hissed back, "Not so loud dear. Of course not. Whatever makes you think she has been?"

"Her eyes are magenta, she's sweating like a cart horse pulling a trolley in 40 C weather & she keeps trying to bite my leg!", Mildred hissed back as she tried to calm Skylark Dance down.

The stable hand was having a terrible time as Skylark's head bobbed up & down & she hopped from leg to leg

"She's always like this dear!", Augustine assured her.

"How many starts has she had Mother?", Mildred inquired.

"17 dear"

"Any wins?"

Augustine trilled as if Mildred had lost her mind.

"Not until today dear. I'm sure you can manage it!"

"Any last instructions, words of advice?", , Mildred asked.

"I hope you are wearing underwear dear?", Augustine ventured.

"Of course Mother, what do you take me for!", Mildred replied indignantly.

"Break a leg?', 

"Mother, thats a theatrical saying, entirely inappropriate!"

"Have you made a Will dear?", Augustine asked

"Good g-d, I'm getting off!", Mildred announced.

"Oh no, you can't do that dear. Skylark is 60:1, I've got 10,000 on her. You must ride her.!"

"I get 50% of your wager if she wins?', Mildred demanded.

"30% dear"

"50% or you can ride her yourself!"

Augustine sniffed, declared that Mildred was very ungrateful for what Augustine had done for her, then agreed to 50%.

 

& at Emily's cottage Jane was still knocking at the door when a figure loomed up behind her & put their hand on her shoulder.

Jane turned swiftly to find she was looking at a hairy chest.

Stepping back she saw that the chest belonged to an outdoorsy chap holding a bucket of milk.

"Who the hell are you?", Jane demanded, taken by surprise, for Emily had never mentioned a man about the place.

"I'm George, I'm Emily's live in lover!", he smiled & offered his hand.

Jane declined as it looked to be partially caked in goat dung.

"Where's Em?", she demanded.

"Over in the milking shed. She didn't tell me she had an attractive sister!" George commented, with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh!", was all Jane could manage as she hurried off to find Emily.
 

Emily's goats being milked

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Leaving Kodiak on the ill fated first departure into a snow squall

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Battling the snow. Shortly after this they saw the cliff & managed to turn around just in time & return to Kodiak

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Leaving Kodiak the next day in improved conditions & staying to the right of the hills near Kodiak

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On the way to Homer

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Late afternoon sun

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Homer up ahead

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Tower view as Babushka descends to PAHO, (Homer)

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To be continued

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #99: Cheltenham

 

Skylark Dancer danced all the way from the saddling enclosure, to the parade ring, & then the race course itself.

This spooked other horses, who also became toey & Mildred found that many of the jockeys were questioning her parentage as they rode by to the starting line.

"How long is the race?", Mildred had asked Augustine.

Augustine was fey vague & murmured something about 17 fences & maybe 2 miles.

"Hell!", Mildred thought, "that's a long way!."

They got to the starting line & the 20 horse  field milled around behind the stretched line barrier.

The green turf felt soft under Skylark's hooves, which Mildred was thankful for, in case she ended up on the turf.

As they started to get organised, Skylark decided to peel off the back & practice her rodeo moves.

Mildred had had enough & gave her an almighty crack between the eyes with her whip.

Skylark's legs wobbled. "Why the hell did you do that!", she demanded of Mildred.

"Your being an utter b-tch, that's why. Now listen old girl, I used to be a Dominatrix  & I know how to use a whip!!"

Skylark stopped & thought about that.

Just as the starter released the field.

Mildred wheeled Skylark around, but they were already 10 lengths last.

"Come on!", Mildred urged her.

"Oh, I don't know, don't feel like running today. Would rather have had a hoof pedicure at the stable!", Skylark replied as she stepped over the 1st brush fence with disdain, for she was a tall horse & the 1st  few fences were always low as it was not a good look for the industry if half the field fell at the first fence!!

"Thwack!", Mildred whipped her on the right flank.

"Bl-ddy hell, you do want to run in this race then??", Skylark queried.

'Run!, We have to win!!", Mildred replied, urging Skylark on to jump the 2nd fence, which she did with a bit more energy.

They were now 15 lengths behind the leaders & Skylark was starting to loosen up.

"What did you have for breakfast?", Mildred demanded as they cleared the 3rd fence & dodged a fallen horse.

"Oats, banana & Augustine's special milkshake", Skylark replied.

"What's in the milkshake?"

'I don't know, blueberries, spinach, almond milk, walnuts & something bitter"

"Hmm, Mildred replied, "Have you got a bladder infection?"

'Why yes, how did you know?", Skylark replied, quite impressed with Mildred's diagnostic powers.

But Mildred didn't answer, she was catching the stragglers & beginning to weave her way forward.

'Any vices?", Mildred asked Skylark as they cleared the 6th fence.

"Vices?"

"Is there something you like but aren't allowed?', Mildred replied.

"Cigars!", Skylark admitted. "Love cigars!"

"A box of Cuban if we win!", Mildred panted as they cleared the 8th fence, for the jostling & bouncing was taking its toll on her & there were still 10 fences to go.

"Montecristo #2?", Skylark called out to Mildred as the 9th fence loomed.

"Of course!", Mildred replied, although at that moment she had no idea how to get hold of some, but Augustine would know, & if they won she would owe Mildred.

As they approached the 9th fence in the tail of the field, Mildred saw 3 horses go down on the other side, in a row, right in front of where Skylark was about to jump.

Jockeys arcing gracefully to the turf, horses hoofs flailing.

Disaster loomed.

Mildred had to make a split second decision!!

 

To Be Continued

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #100: Harold

 

As Jane was pondering a split second decision at the Cheltenham race track, Harold was deep in the middle of Brain Surgery in Bristol when he spoke to Roger without looking up.

"Roger, I need you to change your name by deed poll to Robert!"

Roger stopped abruptly from huffing on an oxygen mask.

"Why?"

"Because Roger, the writer has advised me that somewhere in this turgid liturgy there is a rabbit called Roger & this is confusing him. He can't deal with 2 Rogers!"

"Oh!", Roger replied.

"& get out of the oxygen Robert, I may need it for the patient!"

Robert turned off the oxygen & miffed, retired to a corner to text some friends - hereinafter I am Robert!"

"& Lucy!", Harold continued, again without pausing from his delicate microsurgery.

"What?", Lucy replied, slightly concerned after the Roger/Robert turn of events.

"Watch your back!"

"Pardon?"

"Lucy,  I know what you are up to!", Harold murmured as he navigated his way through the patient's cerebral cortex.

A flustered Lucy protested her innocence.

"Lucy, give it back. I was there I saw you take the notebook!"

Lucy burst into tears & fled the operating theater.

"Damn!", Harold muttered, "Stand in will you Robert, I need help finishing up here!. Quick!"

Robert stood in & handed Harold the instruments as he called for them, but when it was all over he left the hospital without the usual champagne toast.

Lucy had already gone.

In the Surgeon's lounge Harold turned to Lucille & commented that they had had better days.

"I don't think you should have admonished Lucy in front of the rest of us!", she commented to Harold.

"Really?", was his reply. "I'm tired, I'm going home. Need a lift?"

Lucille shook her head & went back to texting with Lucy.

 

& in Homer, Lambert was preparing to leave for Anchorage.

"We're staying in the Hilton Anchorage chaps!", Lambert informed Roger & Manwell, who nodded & smiled.

But the truth was, they were both exhausted.

Lambert was high maintenance. Babushka wasn't first class seating, would they continue on this odyssey???

 

To be continued

 

Windswept

 

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #101: Homer, (PAHO), to Anchorage, (PANC)

 

Lambert was hustling to get to Anchorage & left as soon as Roger & Manwell had finished their morning coffee.

Conditions were overcast when they left Homer in the early morning, & stayed that way for most of the trip.

Lambert  exhibited a new found caution & made sure they would be steering around mountains, rather than over or into them!

When they got to Anchorage he had Babushka booked in for a major check over which would delay them a day, but he was ok with that as he wanted to go dog sledding.

Roger & Manwell just wanted to sleep.

At the Hilton Anchorage they were surprised to find their rooms were on the ground floor, & Lambert was on the top floor.

"Natural order of things!", was his explanation as he strode through the hotel lobby on his way  to meet a dog sledder.

"Where you go next?", Manwell inquired.

Lambert hesitated, he hadn't plotted the next leg yet.

"Waiting for weather reports", he blustered. "That will determine where we go!"

& he left.

Seemingly missing the subtlety in Manwell's inquiry.

 

 

Meanwhile, there was a knock at Harold's door.

He opened it in his bath robe.

It was Lucy.

"What are you doing here?", he demanded, none too pleased at being found in his bath rob.

"I must talk to you!", Lucy begged him.

"No!", he said & closed the door firmly in her face.

He retired to the kitchen to make a cup of tea & found himself staring into Lucy's face, pressed up against a window pane.

She had nipped around the back of the house.

& Hharold knew that Lucy was nothing if not persistent.

With a sigh he let her in the back door.

"Thank you!", she said archly as she sat uninvited at his kitchen table.

"Well?; he demanded

 

& at Cheltenham racecourse in the middle of the 3.30 pm steeplechase, Mildred had made a split second decision as she approached the 9th fence, behind which were 3 fallen horses & 3 prone jockeys.

She was about to execute that decision when a 4th horse fell.

This required another split second decision.

"Nothing for it!", she announced out loud to Skylark.

 

Mildred clearing the 8th fence. Skylark Dancer is #11

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Early morning departure from Homer for Anchorage

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Cloudy conditions for the trip

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Probably the sun tucked in behind Babushka's tail

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Heading down to Anchorage

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Over water while descending to PANC

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Lined up for touchdown at Anchorage

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To be continued

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #102: Cheltenham, again

 

Skylark Dance, (#11) was aware that there were downed horses ahead of her & beside her. She was waiting for Mildred.

Mildred finally made a split second decision & aimed Skylark at the sighter board on the left side of the fence. The fences are usually around 3' to 4', but the sighter board is 5' 6'.

"Holy sh-t!", Skylark complained as she eyed the sighter board.

"Lets' go!", Mildred yelled as Skylark took off sailed majestically over the board, missed the downed horses & nearly landed on her nose.

Somehow Mildred stayed in the saddle & thereafter began reeling in the tiring front runners.

With 1 fence to go, Skylark Dance & the favorite, 'Bootle BT', were neck & neck.

They raced side by side, sides heaving, guts busting. Panting furiously. & that was just the jockeys!

The horses were tired & fed up with scraping though the top of  16 fences

In the frenzy of close racing, Mildred's right leg was banging up against the left leg of "Bootle BT's" rider.

As they both rose for the last fence she reached down with her right hand  &  deftly slipped his left foot out of its stirrup.

It was so quick & elegant that the on track video camera never caught it.

'Bootle BT' landed heavily & his jockey slid sideways into the turf. Even he was not sure about  what had happened.

 

There were 50 yards to go.

Mildred was urging Skylark on.

The crowd were in shock & had fallen silent. Except for Augustine screaming expletives very loudly  at Mildred, urging her on. In fact she was so coarse & loud that parents were covering their chidren's ears & looking around for a Policeman to shut her up.

Now, with a late surge,  there was another horse catching up.

Mildred could hear its heavy breathing.

She glanced back. It was Paddy Boy, an Irish import.

10 yards to go & she gave Skylark a whack with the whip, then all hell broke loose.

The saddle strap broke & Mildred felt herself slipping off sideways.

In a reflexive response to her dire situation, she wrapped her arms around Skylark's neck & gracefully slid around to be tucked under Skylark's bobbing head, her legs wrapped around the horses chest as best she could.

"You know, we can't go on meeting like this!", Skylark whispered to Mildred, who groaned. Her arms were nearly popping out of their sockets.

& that is the way they crossed the line, 1/2 a head in front of Paddy Boy.

5 yards later Mildred let go & bounced along the turf while Skylark delicately picked her way between Mildred's flailing arms & legs, desperate to avoid stomping her.

She wanted to collect the cigars!

By some miracle Mildred survived.

But as she was shaking herself off  after getting up & dodging finishing horses, she heard the Inquiry siren go.

"B-gger !", she muttered, as the Clerk of The Course bought Skylark back so she could ride her back to the award ring.

"Hold all tickets. There will be an inquiry into the finish of the race!", intoned the course announcer.

"Oh --- that!", Augustine screamed at no one in particular. "Where's my Solicitor! We won fair & square!"

 

 

Meanwhile, in Anchorage, Lambert was poring over weather maps & other maps & trying to figure out where to head to next.

"Valdez, Yakutat, how far are they? Weather looks dicey. Hmmm!" he muttered.

 

To be continued

 

Windswept

 

 

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #103: Anchorage, (PANC), to Valdez, (PAVD)

 

The next morning at breakfast in the Anchorage Hilton, Lambert pulled out a map on which he had drawn their next leg.

"The Window of Opportunity is upon us, we go immediately to Valdez, then Juneau, Ketchikan & finally Vancouver. After that I will figure out how we get to San Francisco.

Some of the flights are long, we must be alert!

Today we will thread our way between mountains & reach Valdez by flying up Prince William Sound. Should be some spectacular scenery, but we must hurry as the snow has stopped!"

They left for the airport in a Taxi shortly after. Manwell was still chewing on his toast & Roger had a bag of chocolate eclairs that he was devouring. These were not available on Babushka, hence their making the most of it in Anchorage.

Lambert looked anxiously at the sky.

Back at the airport he had a brief discussion with an engineer from the crew that  had checked Babushka over & then fired her up.

"Built like a brick out house!", he declared as she rumbled on idle. "Only needed consumables & fresh fluids, nothing else!"

& he patted Babushka's dashboard as he opened the throttle to taxi out.

An action that Roger thought was somewhat odd.

The flight was straight forward.

Good visibility allowed Lambert to steer them through some mountain ranges & down the Alaskan coast until they reached the entrance to Prince William Sound.

They turned left & followed the Sound up to Valdez.

"Tomorrow Juneau gentlemen. Quite a bit longer than today, but I am sure you are capable of managing it!" 

 

Meanwhile, at Cheltenham racecourse, the 3 Stewards had been called to the Inquiry Office.

James Cadwallader, a Cheltenham property developer had to be extracted from the Member's bar.

Sir George Wollop, self declared landed gentry was in the drug testing station & Lord Peter Risley was trying to seduce Lady Annabelle Marchant in the back of his Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.

He was not pleased when his driver tapped on the window.

"Duty calls sir", his driver explained. "I'm on duty here, what's going on old chap?" Risley called back.

"Inquiry sir. Last race. Appears something is not quite right"

"Oh damn!. Annabelle, stay here. I'll be back shortly!"

Annabelle sighed & looked around for a cigarette.

Peter never quite got there, but he was fun & showered her with gifts.

 

In the Inquiry Room the Clerk of The Course briefed the Committee.

"Skylark Dance crossed the finish line first, but the rider was not in the saddle!"

"What do the rules say?", Wollop asked.

"Unfortunately sir, they are silent on the matter!", The Clerk replied.

"Anyone else have some money on her?",  Cadwallader asked.

"I did", Wollop replied. "Me too!",  Risley chimed in.

"Then the placings stand I presume gentlemen?", The Clerk suggested

"At 60:1 too right they stand!" a delighted Cadwallader replied.

The course announcer was told & advised the crowd that there would be no change in the placings.

As soon as she heard that Skylark turned to Mildred & hissed, "Where are my bl--dy cigars?"

"In good time!"  Mildred hissed back, for she was looking for Augustine's Bookie to make sure that Augustine did not make off with all the winnings.

Mildred spied Augustine. "That'll be 30,000 pounds thank you!"

Augustine looked flustered.

She was on her hands & knees searching the ground.

"Well done dear, now help me find my wagering ticket. I got so caught up in the excitement I threw it in the air as you crossed the finishing line!":

No!!", was Mildred's agonized response.

"Unfortunately yes!", Augustine replied.

 

Leaving Anchorage. They turned to the right & flew out to sea before cutting through mountain ranges to head South East just off the coast of Alaska 

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Beginning descent to Valdez. 

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Rugged terrain near Valdez

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On finals for PAVD

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Down safely, heading for the aprons

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To be continued

 

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #104: Movements

 

In Harold's kitchen Lucy was pursing her lips, which were beginning to quiver.

"I confess!", she murmured to Harold. "I took the notebook for my Father. He makes boutique cheeses & knew that Jane was onto something with her latest culture!"

"Ah!", Harold replied, adjusting his bathrobe.

"Then we must do the right thing & return the notebook & apologize!", he added.

"It's 9 am, help yourself to some tea & toast while I shower & then we will set off for Sloterberry Farm!", Harold pronounced as he dropped his robe on the kitchen floor & strode off to the bathroom.

Lucy didn't know where to look so she stared at the Tiger tattoo on his receding buttocks as he left the room.

 

& at Emily's goat farm, Jane had found Emily just finishing up the morning milking.

"Who is that out there?", she demanded.

Emily smiled & feigned surprise.

"Why, that's George, my current significant other. Found him in a pub up the road!"

"Emily!", Jane was shocked.

"Oh come on Jane!"

"What do you know about him?", Jane demanded.

"Well!", Emily paused, "He has great hands & he is a disbarred Vet"

"Disbarred Vet? What did he do?"

"Well!", & at this point Emily looked around then leaned over to whisper to Jane, "He was operating on one of Her Corgis to remove a lower abdomen cyst & accidentally castrated the poor blighter!"

"Oh!!"

"Yes, much consternation all around as it was one of Her top breeding dogs!"

"Oh!", Jane repeated.

"Slung out of the profession. Pity!"

Jane frowned.

"Now, what do you want?, Emily asked.

"I need to borrow your Ford Escort RS Cosworth!", Jane replied.

 "Why?"

"I need to track down a woman who stole my Formula notebook!"

Emily gasped. "What a dastardly deed. George & I will come with you so we can beat the living daylights out of her!"

"No, no violence. You can come, but we must go back to Sloterberry Farm first, for I have left my marked up map behind"

& 1/2 an hour later they set off for Sloterberry Farm, with Jane's electric bike strapped on the roof.

"Goes like the clappers this thing!", George pronounced as he drifted sideways through a country lane corner.

"Slow down George!", Emily yelled. "We want to get there!"

George shrugged his shoulders & turned & gave Jane a big smile.

 

& at Cheltenham Racecourse, Augustine & Mildred were on their way back to the Safe House. "It's in the hands of my Solicitors!", Augustine informed Mildred icily. "I have 3 witnesses I placed the bet. You'll get your money!", she added.

Mildred fumed & ached.

"&  the cigars?"

"You'll get those too. I'll contact my man in Cuba"

"How long do I have to stay in the bl--dy safe house?, Mildred whined.

"As long as it takes to make sure you are safe!", Augustine replied, just as she glanced in the rear view mirror, dropped down a gear & planted her foot.

'We're being followed, hang on!"

& the Cobra rocketed down the A40 motorway with a green Range Rover in hot pursuit

 

Meanwhile, in Valdez, Lambert was preparing for the long  trip to Juneau.

"Another twist & turn day chaps as we navigate the mountains & sounds of this sculptured coast line. Might see some Glaciers!", he added encouragingly.

He had formed the opinion that Roger & Manwell were either lazy or not morning people, for they both sat around yawning & looking disinterested.

"Tally ho chaps, off we go!", Lambert announced 15 minutes later. "Come on!", he added as neither crew member budged.

 

To Be continued

 

Windswept

[DaveLTB 48]

Wow those screenshots even make me feel cold ( and it's summer here! )

 

Dave Britzius

(Cape Town)

[Windswept 77]

It's set to Fall in the Sim, not sure if that is Fall or Winter, but as you say, it looks bl--dy cold!!

Windswept

[Windswept 77]

Diary Entry #105: Valdez, (PAVD), to Juneau, (PAJN)

 

When Lambert finally got Roger & Manwell of their butts & into Babushka, he explained that they would be taking a circuitous route to Juneau.

It was dawn the next day. They had  lost a day when Roger was taken to the Hospital Emergency Room with suspected food poisoning.

It was later found he had eaten an asparagus quiche of questionable provenance. He did not enjoy the stomach pump & swore off quiche.

Lambert was not pleased about losing a day.

"Following the Sounds & the Sea!", was how he described their next flight.

 "In fact we will be retracing out steps back out through Prince William Sound, before heading down the coast just offshore, in a South Easterly direction.

I don't want to straight line it across mountains because there is a severe risk of icing at this time of the year. So we fly below 10,000' the whole way!"

"'Plus, no time for Manuscript perusal Manwell, we must press on. We are falling behind!!"

 

They left at dawn & encountered patchy cloud on the way.

Roger & Manwell were disappointed that many of the glaciers were hidden by cloud & Lambert refused to divert to look for one.

There was some fog about Juneau, but Lambert got them down okay.

"Rest up chaps, off early again tomorrow, to Ketchikan!"

Lambert left them & headed into town, looking for Brie & grapes.

 

 

Dawn light departure from Valdez

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Heading back out Prince William Sound to the coast

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Mountain ranges inland from the West Coast of Alaska

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Juneau ahead, under light fog

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Taxiing at Juneau, (PAJN)

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To be continued

 

Windswept

[Heinz Flichtbeil 1609]

Very fine screens (Dawn Light from Valdez: I like it ....).

I am now in San Fancisco. No Snow there

Greets Heinz

[Windswept 77]

Heinz

I too am flying into the sun & striking a lot of cloud which hides the scenery.

Must press on.

All the best.

 

Windswept