I would think a passing Wolf, Coyote or perhaps an Eagle will relish in the wake of your carnage.

A small group of ravens headed our way as we took off; they were just waiting for us to leave. Fox will get some of it also.

Good work Richard, glad to see you're having some fun.

DLH

The bird hunting was fun until it was leaving time. My engine developed a power problem and I nearly ended up a hood ornament on a beaver house at the end of the lake on takeoff. I went out fishing Sunday in my neighbors plane. The birds have fed me for the past 2 days and will again tonight and are excellent.

Rich - you da man! Thanks for making me feel like a house-bound, milk toast, loafer-wearing, putz. Sadly, I will not be jumping in my plane to hunt or fish tomorrow... my wife said I gotta clean the the garage. She's great but I'd really love to be sitting in that lawn chair looking out over those fish guts and the mountains beyond. - Dave

Rich, that power problem reminds me of when we were leaving Talaview Lodge on the Talachulitna River in '92. We were overloaded on takeoff and were headed for the top ten feet of the tall spruces at the end of the strip almost wallowing at full power when the stall warning horn started to "beep-beep-beep-beep-beep..." as the red light flashed on and off. The pilot calmly said "friggin' thing" as he reached up and snapped the toggle switch off and hauled back just a little more on the yoke....

I know that drill well Dean. Some of those guys just tape the hole over on the wing leading edge so they don't work at all. I'm glad mine doesn't have one at all; it would have worn out from overuse long ago. My problem turned out to be a broken carb heat cable housing. To think I could have ended up upside down in the pucker brush because of a $10 cable... Jeez! I got it back on Friday and went fishing again yesterday, which was a long cold day on the ice but I did get my limit again, with the largest at 32". I was going to go for more ptarmigan today but it's a bit cloudy so wouldn't be nice up in the range...

You're welcome Dave! It's easy; you just have to be single with no wife or kids or social life and not have enough brains and common sense to NOT buy a plane and you could do the same....

Rich - The grass is always greener as they say. When I was a lad in Geology School I envisioned living the life that you are. Shortly thereafter I was domesticated by a lovely woman which I don't regret. However, seeing your photos always makes me pine for a freer life away from the city. We should all count our blessings. - Dave

I hear stories like yours a lot Dave.... it's definitely a tradeoff.

Rich - You're right, tradeoff is good! Give me the keys to the plane and you can call me when my garage is clean... sweet! - Dave