David writes...

Well, bad news.  Earl needs a new magneto and the mechanic doesn't have one he needs.  So that means, the mechanic will fax his request out and the part won't get in until Tuesday.  Earl said he is catching up on his sleep.

Earl understands that I have to get back for work, so I set out for Boise.  Curiosity has gotten the best of me and I decided to take "the trench" home.  The trench is a nearly straight route south from Watson Lake that ends 340 miles or so at Mackenzie, British Columbia.  The trick is that for most of that 340 miles, you are flying through a valley with the mountains rising to about 7,000' or so on both sides.  There also isn't really any place to land for a great portion of it.  So, if the weather comes in or if you have mechanical problems, you are kind of stuck with no place to go.  The weather was forecasted to be good for the time I wanted to travel and the plane was running well...so, why not.

About half way through the trench you pick up the north end of Williston Lake and it becomes the bottom of the trench to Mackenzie.  This lake is narrow and over 120 miles long!  It took over an hour to fly its length.

I continued south to Prince George, Kamloops and cleared customs at a tiny strip at the border town of Orville in Washington State.  From there, I filed direct to Caldwell (Boise area) and got in late Sunday night.  It was good to see Debbie, Noam and mom.  However, it was sad not to finish the trip together with Earl and Jim.   Oh well, life with machines.  

I'm going to take a break here Monday, then fly back to L.A. on Tuesday.  If all goes well, Earl will be on his way back down the highway on Tuesday as well.