Trip to Northeast USA and Canada

• Longest trip - 2000 nm total
• Flying to Canada
• IFR in Canada
• Longest flight over water

You may want to skip the write-up and go to the photos section below.

So far this has been our longest trip in RV. My wife has a conference in Boston from 9-20 to 9-24. After the conference we are taking the rest of the week off. Since Arcadia National Park is one of the few national parks we have not visited, we decided to fly over there. After Arcadia, we will fly around Mt Washington, the tallest peak in north eastern USA. Then, we will fly over to Quebec City, that has celebrated its 400th birthday in June this year. It will be our first out of country flight. After Quebec City, we will visit an RV-9A builder in Ottawa, Canada. The next stop will be Niagara Fall on the Canada side. We will fly the race track patter over the fall on the Canada side. Finally, we will fly over the north shore of Lake Huron and cross over the US/Canada border near Put-in-Bay and entry to US at Sandusky, Ohio. From Sandusky to Portsmouth, Ohio is an one hour flight.

We departed Portsmouth, Ohio around 6:40 am on the Saturday morning. The entire area from Ohio, West Virginia, to Pennsylvania were covered by low fog in a lot of valleys. Due to the wind, we ended flying low (3,500'). Any higher, we would get stronger head wind. After two and half hours, we landed at Northumberland County airport to get cheap fuel and unload the coffee we drank in the morning. Another hour and forty minutes we arrived at Norwood Municipal Airport outside Boston. Norwood was quite busy at the time. We took a taxi to downtown Boston, it cost $72! (should have been a flat rate of $50 that we found on the trip back)

On Sunday, after our son David (he is following his mom's foot steps) went to one of the conference sessions with my wife, he came back to the hotel. We walked to the South Station (5 minutes) and took the Franklin Line train to Norwood Depot station (earliest Sunday train depart at 11:05 am). Upon arrival, we walk the 1.3 mile to the airport. It turns out that we had to walk across a highway intersection without sidewalk. It was not safe to do so. It took us more than half an hour to get there. We departed Norwood and flew directly toward Martha's Vineyard. It was only a 50 nm flight and did not take much time. We followed a twin to land on 17. A twin (probably one of the local airline) followed us. When we were about to touch down, the twin did a go around right over us at low level. It should have flown on the right side of the runway!

There is no landing fees for light single at Vineyard airport. We had lunch before departing. We departed Vineyard to the east to tour Nantucket. Vineyard tower did not expect us to go east and asked us to clarify. Nantucket is only 25 nm east. It took no time to get there. Since both Vineyard and Nantucket are very busy, David called Nantucket tower to report that we will circle their airspace at 2000'. They gave us a transponder code, thanked us and called traffic for us. After circled to the north shore, we decided to cut across the Nantucket Sound and go to Cape Cod. Originally we were going to fly to Provincetown before heading back. When I looked my watch and thought we might miss the 4:20 pm train back to Boston. The train runs every two hours. We did not want to take the later train. After reaching the north shore of Cape, we set a direct route back to Norwood. Immediately after we landed I called a taxi to get us back to the train station. Only after reaching the train station and read the schedule again, I realized that I was wrong. The train departs at the end of the line at 4:20 and did not get to Norwood Depot until 5:07 pm. We had almost an hour to burn. We walked downtown Norwood and reached Norwood Central Station. Well, eventually we got back to our hotel before 6:00 pm and before my wife return from the conference. A nice outing made possible by RV!

After a few days in Boston we departed Norwood airport on Wednesday afternoon. We flew under the Boston class B floor and between the inner ring and Bedford class C airspace. Moving map on GRT EFIS made the flight quite easy. After leaving the class B airspace, we flew toward the coast. By the time we reach border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire we followed the coast all the way up. Since we are from Portsmouth, Ohio, we made sure to take some pictures of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Last year when our young boy was in UK study aboard, he visited his classmate in the original Portsmouth in Hampshire. Now we have pictures of all three Portsmouths. After Portsmouth, we entered Maine. There is a small TFR at Kennebunkerport. It must be over old W's house. We took some pictures toward the general direction and don't know exactly which house it is. Along the entire coast line there are a lot of beautiful homes and many pleasure boats. This country has plenty of wealthy people! We arrived at Bar Harbor airport around 3:30 pm. After getting our rental car and unload luggage, we took off and made an half hour tour of the entire Mt. Desert Island (Acadia National Park). Upon tied down the airplane, we drove to our hotel. In the evening, we drove to Bar Harbor and had a wonderful lobster dinner on the dock.

We got up early on Thursday, had breakfast then drove to Acadia National Park. Before 7 am the park had few visitor. We drove up Cadillac summit. There we hiked the 0.3 mile trail. On the trail we met a couple from Phoenix. It was nice to have good company. On top of the mountain we could see two cruise ships anchored in the Bar Harbor bay. Next, we drove to Jordon Pond house. It was early and they are not open yet. Jordon Pond is beautiful. We walked the west side trail (1.6 mile one way?). Most of the trail are above ground on boardwalk. On our return trip, we came across several couples. The hour long walk was wonderful. By the time we reached the Jordon Pond house, there were a lot of tourists from the cruise ships. We got a cup of coffee and sit on the balcony and enjoy the beautiful view and the comfortable weather. We decided to drive through the entire island. Our next stop was Seal Harbor, then, Northeast Harbor. People has told us that Northeast Harbor is for rich people. We did see a lot of big houses in the woods from air. But, we did not realize that the harbor is actually a working harbor. We saw two fishermen preparing their lobster boat. Somehow people in Northeast are very reserved. In general they don't talk much to us strangers (unlike people in other region). Our next stop is Southwest harbor. We found a restaurant overlooking the fishing harbor. Again, we had lobster.

We are planning to spend our Thursday night in Quebec City. Before reaching Quebec City, we plan to visit Mt. Washington. It is the highest peak in northeast and has the strongest recorded wind speed. Before departure, I call FSS to file a VFR flight plan from Mt Washington (KHIE) to Quebec City (CYQB). The specialist told me that it is not necessary to have a flight plan. All I needed to do is to call up Boston Center before crossing the border. Since it is not what I read, I kept the flight plan just in case. Then, I called Canpass to inform Canada custom of my arrival time in Quebec City. The sky was hazy toward the west and with scattered clouds around 3,000'. I climbed to 4,500' and decided to stay there in order not to get too strong a head wind. By the time we arrive at Mt Washington area, the scattered clouds are around the mountain peak level (6,000'). Visibility was around 6 sm. Circling the mountain under the circumstances is not wise. By this time we had 2 hours of fuel. Although it is enough to get to Quebec City, but considering the fuel price in Canada, we decided to land and get fuel. Upon departure I called up Bangor radio to open my flight plan. Then, I called Boston Center for flight following. Center warned me of low level wind shear. We climbed above scattered cloud at 8,000'. Soon I was passed over to Montreal center. This is my first experience flying in Quebec. On the frequency are mostly French. Immediately we felt we were in a foreign country. Reaching Quebec City, we were told to setup for downwind for runway 24. 5 mile out, tower asked me whether I can land on runway 6. No problem, we were clear for right base for 6. We taxied to gate 1 for custom. A line person guided us to the parking. It turns out he is from Petro-T which I called a day before to reserve a car and a hotel room. Two ladies from the customs stamped our passports then went through a set of questions. We then followed the lineman to Petro-T that is right besides gate 1. The lady at Petro-T does not speak English that well, but, was very helpful. She booked us at the nice TIMES hotel with $30 discount. We also got a tiny Isuzu car to get around. That night we had a nice dinner at Paris Grill with live piano behind us.

On Friday morning we drove to old town Quebec City. Along highway 540 there are so many beautiful buildings and houses. Since this is the 400th anniversary of Quebec City, the city is nicely decorated. After parked our car in the under ground park garage, we walked into old town. It is a charming city! Every corner of the street is a photo spot. We took a lot of pictures. Soon we reached Chateau Frontenac. Not to far is the old Citadel. We walked around Citadel and it was quite a hike. After returning to Chateau Frontenac, we found a restaurant with sidewalk tables. We enjoyed our lunch while a musician was playing harp behind us. So many tourists (most not English speaking) walked around us and take picture of the restaurant. We must be in a lot pictures!

After the old city tour, we were ready to fly to Ottawa to visit Alfio and Shirley, RV-9A builder. Last February when Alfio was on business trip to Cincinnati, I was going to give him his first RV-9A ride. Unfortunately, snow canceled that appointment. When I mentioned to him that I was coming that way, he immediately invited us to stay with them. Since my airplane is APRS equipped, he can follow my flight and know when to go to the airport to pick us up. When I departed Quebec City, Quebec Terminal (approach/departure control) volunteered to give us flight following. We flew at 4,000' in order to see the area better. By this time of the year, many trees have already turned red. When we saw the millions of red maple tree, we understood why Canada uses maple leave on their flag. Unfortunately due to the storm in east coast, evening Quebec is cloudy and hazy. It is hard to take good pictures. Ottawa is especially hazy. We landed at Carp (CYRP) at 5:00 pm. Alfio was already there waiting for us. We tied down the airplane and heading to his house.

We woke up on Saturday morning with 700 ft ceiling and raining. We went to the airport to visit his project. His wife took my wife to their local fair. At the airport we also met two other airplane builders and a Diamond owner/pilot. We had good time visiting with them. We kept checking the weather, in the morning it was forecasted that ceiling will rise to 2,000' by early afternoon. However, the forecast kept lowing the ceiling. Well, it seems Alfio is not going to get RV-9A ride after all. By early afternoon it is clear that we are not going to be able to get to Niagara Falls VFR. Unfortunately, Carp FBO does not carry low altitude chart and approach plate. Alfio check with fly school at Ottawa international and they have sold out the chart I need. But, they suggested that we try Map World at down town. I was surprised that a downtown map store might carry aviation charts. After assured that they do carry the charts I need, we drove there. The approach plate is printed on book paper and costs $20 Canadian and low altitude chart is also printed on nice paper and costs about $6.6. It is expensive to fly in Canada! Alfio took us to their Parliament ground and dropped us there for 10 minutes. We get to take some pictures. The low clouds and haze kind of wash out the pictures.

We departed Carp around 5 pm IFR. It is my first Canadian IFR flight. With the ceiling at 1,000' and drizzling, I circled right outside CYRP and called Ottawa Terminal for IFR clearance. We were cleared as filed. After I climbed to 6,000' and in between layers, center gave me a updated clearance to KENDI intersection. Unfortunately my Garmin GPS does not have Canadian data (my fault). GRT does have Canadian data, but, I failed to go to the proper page to search for KENDI intersection. I was busy search the low altitude chart for KENDI. After a few moment, I searched the entire route of flight and could not find it, I asked center to give me a vector and allow me to continue my search. A few minutes past, I still could not find it. Now I ask center to give me the coordinates. It took him a while to give me the coordinates. Unfortunately, it was wrong. The coordinates is 2,600 sm away! I asked clarification and was told the same. It must be ten minutes before I found KENDI. It was in green color and different than most of intersection in blue! KENDI is near Toronto. Finally I got it programmed in. 50 miles before reaching KENDI, we were vectored to cross lake (over the overcast). There were several other airplanes approach/depart St Catharines/Niagara District airport (CYSN). The ceiling and visibility is worsening at CYSN. Eventually, it was our turn to approach CYSN runway 6. St Catharines radio report 2 sm visibility and 200' ceiling. Five miles out, we broke out at 1,800'. The city of St Catharines is clear under dark overcast (7:15 pm). I could see the approach lights of CYSN but not the runway light. On short finally I could see that the entire airport was under low cloud. Quarter mile out, we were low enough to see below the low cloud. Landing was not issue and St Catharines kept saying "you are right on time". Matt, a charter pilot and person man the St Catharines Flying Club gave us a ride to our hotel at Niagara Falls (Canada side).

The reason of visiting Niagara Falls was to fly the VFR tour circuit over Niagara Falls at 3,500' before heading home. Unfortunately, the forecast for Sunday was no good for this. We had an appointment with US Customs at Cleveland International Airport on Sunday at 11:00 am. We filed IFR from CYSN to DKK VOR, before direct KCLE. We filed 6,000' and it supposed to get us between layers all the way. Between DKK and Erie we were in the cloud and in rain, the rest of the trip are out in the open. KCLE being a major airline hub in the area is very busy. All traffic are land on 06L and depart on 06R. We followed a King Air, and was followed by a commuter airline. Approach asked me about my maximum approach speed since he needs to sequence the airline. I gave him 100 kts. On final, I gave him 127 kts and he asked me to keep it as much as possible. Three miles out, I pulled throttle and raise the nose to drop my speed. After we landed, the commuter touched down. Ground taxied us to gate A14 for customs. After customs, I called clearance for a VFR departure. The ceiling was 2,000' most of the way down. I can manage it will VFR. By noon, we are in Portsmouth. An 8 days and 2,000 nm trip completed. On the trip we have done so much and met so many people. It is a trip made possible by the wonderful RV!

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