Dan Dyer organized another fly out group trip, this time ot the San Juan Islands. It was a nice trip.
Jennifer wasn't able to join due to work commitments, but I found a copilot to go with and share the flying. I did the first leg to KBFI (Boeing Field International) which was an easy 5H leg with nice weather.
![](/blogimg/01/thumb1024_101_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![good old thunderhill, I'll be back soon :) good old thunderhill, I'll be back soon :)](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_103_PAO_BFI.jpg)
good old thunderhill, I'll be back soon :)
![](/blogimg/06/thumb1024_106_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![](/blogimg/08/thumb1024_108_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_109_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![](/blogimg/12/thumb1024_112_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![](/blogimg/19/thumb1024_119_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![argh, all this for junkmail I never asked for :( argh, all this for junkmail I never asked for :(](/blogimg/26/thumb1024_126_PAO_BFI.jpg)
argh, all this for junkmail I never asked for :(
![viewing platform for Mt St Helens viewing platform for Mt St Helens](/blogimg/38/thumb1024_138_PAO_BFI.jpg)
viewing platform for Mt St Helens
![](/blogimg/39/thumb1024_139_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![Mt St Helens Mt St Helens](/blogimg/43/thumb1024_143_PAO_BFI.jpg)
Mt St Helens
![](/blogimg/44/thumb1024_144_PAO_BFI.jpg)
![KBFI/Boeing Field KBFI/Boeing Field](/blogimg/52/thumb1024_152_PAO_BFI.jpg)
KBFI/Boeing Field
![Museum of Aviation visible on the left of the runway Museum of Aviation visible on the left of the runway](/blogimg/55/thumb1024_155_PAO_BFI.jpg)
Museum of Aviation visible on the left of the runway
![](/blogimg/53/thumb1024_153_PAO_BFI.jpg)
Since we were there already, we went to visit the Boeing Museum of Flight at KBFI. It's actually one of the best flight museums I've seen so far: a full visit takes over 4H and even a quick one takes over 2H :)
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_200_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![](/blogimg/01/thumb1024_201_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![](/blogimg/07/thumb1024_207_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![I had no idea the concorde had an anti tailstrike tailwheel I had no idea the concorde had an anti tailstrike tailwheel](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_209_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
I had no idea the concorde had an anti tailstrike tailwheel
![Their warbird collection was quite good and well layed out Their warbird collection was quite good and well layed out](/blogimg/36/thumb1024_236_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
Their warbird collection was quite good and well layed out
![](/blogimg/42/thumb1024_242_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![](/blogimg/45/thumb1024_245_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![old vs new is fun to see :) old vs new is fun to see :)](/blogimg/46/thumb1024_246_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
old vs new is fun to see :)
![old french plane old french plane](/blogimg/48/thumb1024_248_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
old french plane
![](/blogimg/58/thumb1024_258_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![a rare A12/M21 with D21 drone a rare A12/M21 with D21 drone](/blogimg/72/thumb1024_272_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
a rare A12/M21 with D21 drone
![the drone was supposed to launch with nukes in unfriendly territory the drone was supposed to launch with nukes in unfriendly territory](/blogimg/76/thumb1024_276_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
the drone was supposed to launch with nukes in unfriendly territory
![](/blogimg/78/thumb1024_278_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
![](/blogimg/92/thumb1024_292_Boeing_Museum_Of_Flight.jpg)
I spent the rest of the afternoon visiting Seattle
![](/blogimg/20/thumb1024_320_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/21/thumb1024_321_Seattle.jpg)
![the smith tower is a nice view open later than the BOA tower and better view than the space needle the smith tower is a nice view open later than the BOA tower and better view than the space needle](/blogimg/23/thumb1024_323_Seattle.jpg)
the smith tower is a nice view open later than the BOA tower and better view than the space needle
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_324_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/26/thumb1024_326_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/28/thumb1024_328_Seattle.jpg)
![BofA tower BofA tower](/blogimg/32/thumb1024_332_Seattle.jpg)
BofA tower
![underground bus system underground bus system](/blogimg/40/thumb1024_340_Seattle.jpg)
underground bus system
![monorail to space needle monorail to space needle](/blogimg/43/thumb1024_343_Seattle.jpg)
monorail to space needle
![lots of work to 'drive' it :) lots of work to 'drive' it :)](/blogimg/47/thumb1024_347_Seattle.jpg)
lots of work to 'drive' it :)
![](/blogimg/75/thumb1024_375_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/49/thumb1024_349_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/53/thumb1024_353_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/59/thumb1024_359_Seattle.jpg)
![Smith tower on the right Smith tower on the right](/blogimg/60/thumb1024_360_Seattle.jpg)
Smith tower on the right
![a seaplane was doing patterns with passengers on the nearby lake a seaplane was doing patterns with passengers on the nearby lake](/blogimg/70/thumb1024_370_Seattle.jpg)
a seaplane was doing patterns with passengers on the nearby lake
![Mt Rainier in the back Mt Rainier in the back](/blogimg/83/thumb1024_383_Seattle.jpg)
Mt Rainier in the back
![](/blogimg/84/thumb1024_384_Seattle.jpg)
![Dinner with FOG folks Dinner with FOG folks](/blogimg/88/thumb1024_388_Seattle.jpg)
Dinner with FOG folks
![](/blogimg/89/thumb1024_389_Seattle.jpg)
![](/blogimg/91/thumb1024_391_Seattle.jpg)
The next morning, weather was bad, so we just drove to KPAE to visit the Boeing Museum. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any pictures of the factory floor. This is too bad since it was pretty cool to see 787s and 747s being built from scratch on huge floors.
We were able to take pictures of the static displays and planes seen from the outside though:
![](/blogimg/01/thumb1024_401_Boeing_Factory.jpg)
![](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_403_Boeing_Factory.jpg)
![](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_409_Boeing_Factory.jpg)
![](/blogimg/17/thumb1024_417_Boeing_Factory.jpg)
On the way out, I had a look at Paul Allen's private Flying Heritate Museum. It's actually a pretty nice little collection with knowledgeable guides.
![](/blogimg/21/thumb1024_421_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_424_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
![](/blogimg/32/thumb1024_432_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
![](/blogimg/34/thumb1024_434_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
![](/blogimg/38/thumb1024_438_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
![](/blogimg/45/thumb1024_445_Paul_Allen_Flying_Heritage_Museum.jpg)
Weather still wasn't great, but it was VFR in Boeing field and Friday Harbour, so we figured we'd be able to link the two somehow. It wasn't a very straight line, but we ended up doing a safe, albeit a bit silly considering, VFR on top flight where we climbed over 10,000ft to clear the clouds and leave the cloud area around Seattle. An other flight was able to get there between layers but I didn't find such a path and just didn't wan tot be scud runnings with no so flat land around.
![](/blogimg/05/thumb1024_505_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![](/blogimg/06/thumb1024_506_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![](/blogimg/08/thumb1024_508_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![](/blogimg/13/thumb1024_513_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![](/blogimg/14/thumb1024_514_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![](/blogimg/18/thumb1024_518_BFI_FHR.jpg)
![cool shadow of our plane in the clouds with a rainbow around it. Neat! cool shadow of our plane in the clouds with a rainbow around it. Neat!](/blogimg/28/thumb1024_528_BFI_FHR.jpg)
cool shadow of our plane in the clouds with a rainbow around it. Neat!
![little island just next to Lopez Island, pretty cool. little island just next to Lopez Island, pretty cool.](/blogimg/36/thumb1024_536_BFI_FHR.jpg)
little island just next to Lopez Island, pretty cool.
![Orcas Island Orcas Island](/blogimg/48/thumb1024_548_BFI_FHR.jpg)
Orcas Island
![Friday Harbour Friday Harbour](/blogimg/53/thumb1024_553_BFI_FHR.jpg)
Friday Harbour
I used the rest of the day to start visiting San Juan.
![whale museum whale museum](/blogimg/99/thumb1024_599_San_Juan.jpg)
whale museum
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_600_San_Juan.jpg)
![recent whale sightings recent whale sightings](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_603_San_Juan.jpg)
recent whale sightings
![](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_611_San_Juan.jpg)
![another FOG dinner another FOG dinner](/blogimg/13/thumb1024_613_San_Juan.jpg)
another FOG dinner
![](/blogimg/15/thumb1024_615_San_Juan.jpg)
The second day, I went kayaking in case we could be lucky and see orca whales.
![](/blogimg/40/thumb1024_640_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
![](/blogimg/45/thumb1024_645_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
![](/blogimg/46/thumb1024_646_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
![](/blogimg/58/thumb1024_658_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
![](/blogimg/62/thumb1024_662_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
![](/blogimg/66/thumb1024_666_San_Juan_Kayak.jpg)
Since kayaking didn't work, I went on a boat ride, which makes things easier since there are boats keeping track of orca whale sightings. We indeed found some Orcas just by the Canadian border.
![](/blogimg/70/thumb1024_670_San_Juan_Orcas.jpg)
![](/blogimg/72/thumb1024_672_San_Juan_Orcas.jpg)
![they have a catalog of local orcas they have a catalog of local orcas](/blogimg/73/thumb1024_673_San_Juan_Orcas.jpg)
they have a catalog of local orcas
![we saw a few orcas after a long boat trip we saw a few orcas after a long boat trip](/blogimg/76/thumb1024_676_San_Juan_Orcas.jpg)
we saw a few orcas after a long boat trip
![](/blogimg/81/thumb1024_681_San_Juan_Orcas.jpg)
Before leaving friday harbour, we biked around the island a bit:
![](/blogimg/21/thumb1024_621_San_Juan.jpg)
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_624_San_Juan.jpg)
![](/blogimg/29/thumb1024_629_San_Juan.jpg)
![](/blogimg/31/thumb1024_631_San_Juan.jpg)
After biking around the Island, we flew to Orcas Island for lunch:
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_700_FHR_ORS.jpg)
![](/blogimg/01/thumb1024_701_FHR_ORS.jpg)
![](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_703_FHR_ORS.jpg)
![](/blogimg/07/thumb1024_707_FHR_ORS.jpg)
![](/blogimg/13/thumb1024_713_FHR_ORS.jpg)
![](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_803_Orcas_Island.jpg)
![](/blogimg/05/thumb1024_805_Orcas_Island.jpg)
And after a late lunch at Orcas Island, we flew back to Palo Alto.
![](/blogimg/02/thumb1024_902_ORS_PAO.jpg)
![looks like a fun track looks like a fun track](/blogimg/03/thumb1024_903_ORS_PAO.jpg)
looks like a fun track
![](/blogimg/12/thumb1024_912_ORS_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/18/thumb1024_918_ORS_PAO.jpg)
![Portland Portland](/blogimg/22/thumb1024_922_ORS_PAO.jpg)
Portland
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_924_ORS_PAO.jpg)
![more Portland more Portland](/blogimg/27/thumb1024_927_ORS_PAO.jpg)
more Portland
![](/blogimg/29/thumb1024_929_ORS_PAO.jpg)
![making sure my blood O2 saturation was still good at altitude making sure my blood O2 saturation was still good at altitude](/blogimg/36/thumb1024_936_ORS_PAO.jpg)
making sure my blood O2 saturation was still good at altitude
As predicted by my skypad with XM weather, weather got a worse as we were about to enter California and got closer to Mt Shasta. We had to make a sharp westbound turn and fly around it to stay VFR on top (I had no interest in getting under the cloud layer and being sandwiched between it, and the rising terrain, or ending up in a box canyon).
![](/blogimg/CA_weather.jpg)
![while in our way, the cloud made a nice wave, like surfing inside a crashing wave (this was just as we turned west) while in our way, the cloud made a nice wave, like surfing inside a crashing wave (this was just as we turned west)](/blogimg/39/thumb1024_939_ORS_PAO.jpg)
while in our way, the cloud made a nice wave, like surfing inside a crashing wave (this was just as we turned west)
![we then got some nice VFR on top all the way back we then got some nice VFR on top all the way back](/blogimg/42/thumb1024_942_ORS_PAO.jpg)
we then got some nice VFR on top all the way back
![and by Oakland, we got under the forming overcast that was starting to cover the bay (incidently, not Palo Alto yet) and by Oakland, we got under the forming overcast that was starting to cover the bay (incidently, not Palo Alto yet)](/blogimg/46/thumb1024_946_ORS_PAO.jpg)
and by Oakland, we got under the forming overcast that was starting to cover the bay (incidently, not Palo Alto yet)