Trip to Muskoka - August 3, 2009.....

By Harry Van Dyke

Two club planes (GQXP and GNOP) departed CYSN at 10:00am loaded with 4 people in each plane after checking weights to make sure they were within limits. Scott Pellow, his wife Cheryl, myself and wife Karen were in QXP. Steve Peglow, his wife Bonnie, Ivan Royer and his wife Chris were in NOP. Scott would be PIC on the way up and me on the way back. That's fair. Steve was PIC both ways.

With a full load of fuel and 4 passengers, takeoff roll and climb to altitude was noticably longer. We all leaned forward in our seats to help takeoff. We planned to fly the lake shoreline to Toronto Centre Airport then up the Don Valley Parkway (east side), over Buttonville and north to Muskoka.

We knew that we would have to "fly low" through Toronto Airspace so only 3500 ft. was chosen initially. Toronto was contacted for flight following at Jordan Harbour. At around Burlington we were brought down to 2500 ft. and when we turned to the east side of the DVP, we were brought down to 2000 ft. by Toronto Centre. When out of Toronto airspace, we were turned loose and climbed to 4500 ft. to get into calm air and get above the black flies and mosquitoes.

After 1.6 hours we rolled to the north end of the Muskoka airport to find that unlocked gate between us and the path to the restaurant. Steve rolled to the South end, but that's another story. It was weird calling Timmins Radio for weather info. and advising them of our intentions. Timmins is a long way from Muskoka. I figure they must have a guy leaning out the window of the tower at Muskoka with his finger in the air and phone to his ear relaying weather and information back and forth to Timmins.

Yes, I think it will fly.

Just follow the lake and hang a left at Toronto Island then laugh at the cars parked on the DVP waiting for traffic to start moving. That's the best part of flying.

Hope your wife didn't lie about her weight. It's gonna be close. Get rid of that water bottle too. It will just make you have to pee anyway.

Hey Steve how do you work this GPS thingy?

I don't know Yvan. I thought you knew.

Bonnie,Chris,Karen,and Cheryl trying to talk each other into believing that they will enjoy this trip.

Okay Scott, wind her up and let's get going.

Don't worry Yvan and Chris, I passed my flight test after the 10th. try.

Hurry up Steve, Scott and his gang is getting away.

 

Is the big fan up front turning?

Hey Bonnie hand me that little bag over there please?

Steve stop doing loops and rolls cause Chris is getting queasy.

Toronto Centre Airport at 2000 ft. Get ready to hang a left just past the tower but try to avoid that big pointy end sticking up

.

Buttonville looming large in the distance. Better let them know we are passing by. Looks like a nice friendly place. Will drop in for a visit some other time.

The girls are still smiling in spite of being bumped around like mexican jumping beans. Can't wait to get to some smoother air up top.

Finally, Muskoka in the distance. At least we hope it is. In any event it looks like a good place to set down and look for a restaurant. And washroom.

Muskoka coming up. Man that runway is big enough to land an aircraft carrier on. No Scott, it doesn't mean you can do it blindfolded.

Steve coming in right behind us, in NOP. Nice approach. He must be looking where he is going.

I think we are at the wrong end of the airport.

Apparently Norway used this airport to train pilots in the second world war.

Cheryl and Scott Pellow

Karen and Harry Van Dyke

Heading for the restaurant. It requires sneaking out through this gate that nobody knows about. Airport security is really tight here.

We have a long walk ahead of us. Thanks a lot Steve.

The whole crew. Ok bring on that $ 600.00 hamburger.

It's only a short walk from the airport to the restaurant, we were told. Does this look like a short walk?

And then you have to crawl through this dense jungle path.

See what I mean?

There's a story here. See those 4 dots in the distance on the left side of the road? That's super pilot Steve and his gang having to hike a mile to get back to their plane because they parked at the wrong end of that 6000 ft. runway. The North end is the other way Steve......

Now we just sneak back in through this secret gate, to get back to our plane.

Oh good now I get to be PIC. Where's my blindfold? I'll show you how to fly this puppy.

On the way back, because of heavy traffic on Toronto Centre, I was told to fly on the north side of the tower. At 2000 ft. That was a real rush. We could have parked on top of the skydome. It felt that close.

Home sweet home. CYSN, 1.9 hours later. We had a pretty stiff headwind. That was just a lot of fun. And Steve parked at the right end of the airport this time. Great time, great company. We will be planning another trip soon.