“OK, I’m already getting Avcom withdrawal and I see some conjecture which may not be 100% right!
Well, I abandoned SHW’s ferry tanks in Nassau, but I carried Linda’s across to Florida so she could store them for future use. No one in the USA cares if you use ferry tanks in an experimental aircraft – in fact, provided you test them during the Phase 1 process and duly record it, the aircraft is approved for their use for life. The standard A and B wing tanks in the Sling High Wing are good enough to fly from Osh to Europe without the ferries, so they’re no longer needed.
JP’s heading west for some months of travel in the USA before resuming his travels around the globe. Linda’s kind of flying on home to North Carolina and Naples, Florida, in stages and I’ve swapped Matt for my wife, Andrea. We’re flying SHW to meet our kids for a family holiday in Greece. Hhhmmm. Then we’ll all fly together through Italy, Switzerland, (where I hope we’ll fly the E-Sling!) France, and on to the UK. Pilot Bambi and her partner, Maurits, fly SHW home to SA through Africa from there – SHW’s really being put through her paces!
So – Sunday, Andrea and I flew from Osh to clear customs in Green Bay and on to Sault Saint Marie, Canada. (We got out during the final Osh airshow, just behind two “Growlers”- Lockheed F35’s – quite an experience!). We didn’t realise we were supposed to notify Canadian customs and immigration in advance of our arrival, and following some calls from the FBO there it looked as if things could turn a little nasty, and very time-consuming. So we did a runner, rather shamefully. In my view, you do sometimes just need to get on with things. Anyhow, we’re now out of Canada and no one seems to know or care – we certainly meant no evil.
We stopped for gas in Rouyn-Noranda and made it as far as Lake Kirkland for the night. Man, there’s a lot of forest, water and space out there! Yesterday we headed on to Goose Bay and today, we flew on to Narsarsuaq, Greenland. Tomorrow, Reykjavic, Iceland, ahead of a warm front which arrives about 6 am local time. Sadly, the airport only opens at 8 am, so it may snooker us – a classic example of beaurocracy making things double dangerous!
I’m going a bit overboard on the photos below – but they do tell a story. It’s 1 am and we need to turn in. More plans from Iceland, the day after tomorrow. Until then, adieu.”
– James
Lake Michigan.
USA to Canada, Green Bay to Sault Saint Marie.
Lake Kirkland, middle of nowhere.
Goodbye for the night.
Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland, so much space, and very beautiful.
Getting closer to Goose Bay.
What you want to see on your EFIS, 10,000 nm of tailwinds.
Weather variable.
Almost an infinity of this.
Goose Bay.
Andrea settling Sunday Times pages instantly upon arrival.
We don’t see this at home.
Ready to cross the Labrador Sea.
All dressed up for the cold.
Last of Labrador and Newfoundland.
2 hours in cloud, pretending not to care and relying on Garmin.
Breakfast.
And onto the better stuff, Canada’s approximation of biltong and droewors.
Arriving in Greenland.
Quite different from the Karoo.
Metropolis of Narsarsuaq.
Down safe in Narsarsuaq.
Our door into Greenland.
Narsarsuaq tower, with very brave German pilot, Kathrin.
Walking to the hotel and beer!
Greenland beer.
Long walk later.
Checking out the icebergs.
Glacier calving.
Not a bad evening, sunny South Greenland.
Leaping for joy in the harbour.
