The flight to Palm Springs turned out to be a lot worse than what I had planned for. My plan for VFR on top didn't quite pan out for the whole flight.
![Departure from PAO wasn't bad Departure from PAO wasn't bad](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_100_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
Departure from PAO wasn't bad
![I brought my foldable bike I brought my foldable bike](/blogimg/20/thumb1024_120_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
I brought my foldable bike
![So far so good So far so good](/blogimg/02/thumb1024_102_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
So far so good
![Trying new flying software :) Trying new flying software :)](/blogimg/07/thumb1024_107_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
Trying new flying software :)
![Mmmh, not as nice anymore Mmmh, not as nice anymore](/blogimg/08/thumb1024_108_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
Mmmh, not as nice anymore
![Doh, this got bad quickly, and from there, I was hosed for VFR Doh, this got bad quickly, and from there, I was hosed for VFR](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_109_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
Doh, this got bad quickly, and from there, I was hosed for VFR
Then, if you pay attention to the red track, I didn't quite get lost, but avoiding rising clouds, I got cornered until I ended up IMC and resumed on course, but on IFR rails. Typically I hate that, but considering the weather, I was happy to oblige.
I got stuck at 16,000ft with the plane at the edge of stall and clouds still climbing around me. I ended up having to switch to IFR, and thanks to ATC I was able to go through the clouds on the nevada side after a while, but it was "interesting" for a little while.
(some time passed where I was way too busy flying the plane, transitioning to IFR and making sure I wasn't icing up)
![the other side in nevada was much nicer the other side in nevada was much nicer](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_111_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
the other side in nevada was much nicer
![VCV, the airplane cemetary VCV, the airplane cemetary](/blogimg/13/thumb1024_113_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
VCV, the airplane cemetary
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And finally I made it to Palm Springs, relieved. Few people made it that day.
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_124_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
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![made it! made it!](/blogimg/30/thumb1024_130_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
made it!
![weather was still bad there on the CA side weather was still bad there on the CA side](/blogimg/31/thumb1024_131_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
weather was still bad there on the CA side
![barely anyone flew in and crossed with weather like that barely anyone flew in and crossed with weather like that](/blogimg/32/thumb1024_132_PAO_PSP_IFR.jpg)
barely anyone flew in and crossed with weather like that
Some pictures of the expo:
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_100_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
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![](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_109_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
![Harrison Ford was there for one of the keynotes Harrison Ford was there for one of the keynotes](/blogimg/25/thumb1024_125_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
Harrison Ford was there for one of the keynotes
![](/blogimg/27/thumb1024_127_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
Brian Shul gave a great talk on his days flying the SR71. Great stuff...
![](/blogimg/34/thumb1024_134_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
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![I bought his book and he signed it for me I bought his book and he signed it for me](/blogimg/69/thumb1024_169_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
I bought his book and he signed it for me
More pictures of the expo:
![](/blogimg/59/thumb1024_159_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
![](/blogimg/60/thumb1024_160_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
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![](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_211_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
![The kings always give a nice safety talk The kings always give a nice safety talk](/blogimg/17/thumb1024_217_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
The kings always give a nice safety talk
![](/blogimg/32/thumb1024_232_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
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![Two pilots from Flying Wild Alaska gave a talk Two pilots from Flying Wild Alaska gave a talk](/blogimg/61/thumb1024_261_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
Two pilots from Flying Wild Alaska gave a talk
They had some nice parties. The first one was a pool party with entertainment:
![](/blogimg/73/thumb1024_173_AOPA_Expo_2012.jpg)
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The 2nd night party, was even better, we went to fault line, with nice entertainment, and jeep rides to the nearby views from the fault.
![](/blogimg/02/thumb1024_302_AOPA_FaultLine_Party.jpg)
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On my way out I went to the air museum before flying out. Nice little Museum.
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_400_PalmSprings_Airmuseum.jpg)
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After visiting the museum, it was time to fly out towards Long Beach which was my next destination for my trip. I took off a bit before sunset and went to fly to fault line to get a couple of shots before turning back
![](/blogimg/01/thumb1024_601_PSP_LGB.jpg)
![](/blogimg/04/thumb1024_604_PSP_LGB.jpg)
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![this is where we had our party this is where we had our party](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_609_PSP_LGB.jpg)
this is where we had our party
![](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_611_PSP_LGB.jpg)
![and got to Long Beach with my rental car waiting, nice. and got to Long Beach with my rental car waiting, nice.](/blogimg/22/thumb1024_622_PSP_LGB.jpg)
and got to Long Beach with my rental car waiting, nice.