July 1, 2019 - Day Six - Whidbey Island to Nampa, ID
Today we were flying to Boise, Idaho for our friend P.K.'s 60th birthday party.  We hopped over the Sound to Arlington Airport to get gas and also have breakfast.
   
We are pulled up in front of Ellie's at the Airport (that elevated building on the left).  We had a great breakfast -- my only complaint:  too much food!   I had twice as much hash browns as I needed.  And I love hash browns.  Now I had to worry about falling asleep on the 2 1/2 hour flight to Boise.
   
Mount Ranier is plainly visible although it is still a good ways away.  That's because it is a 14, 410 ft mountain!
   
We passed through Snoqualmie Pass, although we were so high it didn't make a difference.  I was thinking, "what's the big deal about a pass?"  A few days later, I would revise my opinion.
   
A closer look at the massive Mount Ranier.
   
Flying by Yakima.
   
Flying by Rattlesnake Hills.  I can believe it.
   
Overhead Prosser Airport (S40)and the town of Prosser, Washington on the Yakima River.
   
Approaching the Columbia River at upper right.
   

Crossing the Columbia River into Oregon.  That's McNary Lock & Dam and Umatilla Bridge (Highway 82).  Hermiston is out of sight to the right.

Stan has driven from Seattle to Boise many times and knew the route from the air.  He was amazed at how fast flying was compared to driving.
   
Passing by the Blue Mountains.  I knew where I was now, because I had flown through the Blue Mountains in the Citabria back in 2006, following the Oregon Trail.
   
After all they had come through so far, the Blue Mountains had the steepest grades the immigrants had encountered so far on the Oregon Trail.
   
Flying past Baker City Airport (KBKE).  I had landed here in the Citabria, borrowed their courtesy car to visit the nearby National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
   
There is the Oregon Trail Museum, by itself on top of a hill
   
Oregon Trail wagon ruts can be seen at center bottom, running diagonally off the highway.
   
After Baker City, we emerge from a short strech of mountains into what I call the Snake River valley.  That's the Snake down below.   Somewhere along the way we cross into Idaho.
   
Although I have landed at Boise International before, on this trip we are staying at Nampa Airport (KMAN), a little town just west of Boise.   I stayed here back in 2006.  It's a nice, friendly non-towered general aviation airport and has an on-field restaurant.
   
It's nice having someone to help unload and tie down the plane.
   
I knew Stan would like cleaning the canopy; he likes to clean.
   
 
   
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