0800 transfer to airport, we did routine pre-flight procedures and embarked on our last two legs of our Around the World Journey.  The forecasted storm with possible icing in the vicinity of Great Falls actually became no threat upon arrival nor on departure. Tailwinds assisted our 1.5 and 3.5 legs today.

Yesterday’s crossing of the international dateline found us leaving Russia Monday morning and landing Anchorage Sunday at 2230 in the fading sunlight.  We need to adjust to a new Monday morning!

Tom and I explored downtown Anchorage and enjoyed a delicious tenderloin steak sandwich at Club Paris Restaurant (as recommended by our friend, Richard). We came upon the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts where we viewed “Aurora–Alaska’s Great Northern Lights”. How perfectly informative and relaxing to see the stunning digital presentation of the Aurora Borealis with incredible original music scores. It took us across the Greatland, sharing the grandeur of Alaska’s vast landscapes and beautiful star-filled winter skies. I marvel at the patience, pursistance and luck of the photographer, Dave Parkhurst’s, capture of these brilliant lights.

The Air Journey group met for another fantastic dinner at the Simon & Seafort restaurant.

We attended the pilot briefing and then repacked for next day’s long leg—fortunately the forcast calls for significant tailwinds which should give us a non-stop flight to Seattle.

Gradual adjustment to time changes…..

Morning tour of Boeing factory: No photos allowed in factory.

Chateau Ste. Michelle our next stop.

 

  

The 2015 Around the World  the Cast of characters….

Pilots who are adventurous enough, have the passion for aviation and a desire to accomplish the amazing feat of flying their aircraft around the world……

Wheels up at 10:30 am, welcomed 39-75 Kt. tail winds and smooth flight to the lower 48 = great day with a great landing! Longest flight of our trip: 1,260 NM.  Paine Field

Transferred to the Edgewater Hotel…view of Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountains and experienced an authentic Pacific north west themed hotel.

Flight planning for our longest day of flying, getting out of Russia!

The resort natural creation setting…

 

Scenic views leaving Petropavlovsk …  

Part Two: Anadyr, Russia to Anchorage, Alaska

After a long experience with re-fueling and customs (2 hours) we took -off on our second leg of the day.   900 NM: (3 hrs and 15 min.) with one third over the Bering Sea.  Water looks cold down there!!

Diann had a little altitude sickness (Oxygen saturation under 80% on this second flight of the day…calls for oxygen)

Alaska’s late night light gave us opportunity to land before dark…just before 11:00 PM Anchorage time.  Combined with the days first leg (3 hr. 40 min.) we flew a 6 hour and 55 minute day.

We had a reasonable wake-up and departure today with a 10:40 am take-off in our TBM. Moved clocks forward 3 hours as we made one of our long over water crossings (over the Sea of Okhotsk).

 

Many military planes were parked on this airfield.

Our second Russian airport was handled smoothly with “Tonya” as our “handler” we were off to our 40 minute ride to another town to an “UP-north” type of resort, Ahmapuyc, with non-air conditioned rooms we actually found the evening cool down quite pleasant. The Russian beer was tasty and their food very good. I enjoyed the borscht soup and the delicious Russian style chicken.

Nagoya, Japan to the Island of Sakhalinsk, Russia. Our customs experience was serious in Russia with 5-6 serious Russian military around our airplane. On a positive note, it was nice to open our door to cooler temperatures (18 C)

An interested young man greeted us at the airport and took photos of airplanes and pilots.

This is a stark looking place and there are so many people smoking.

The half-hour drive to the only “decent”  hotel gave us an overview of the town. Reported, there are two oil companies (Exxon and Shell) with large portion of business in Sakhalinsk. The housing buildings are austere, very old and run down, resembling housing projects. Very depressing until we came upon a small, but nice green park near the Pacific Plaza Hotel.

Very basic accommodations! We actually only had time to eat, sleep and dress for next day flight.

Second day of rainy weather in Nagoya due to reminants of current typhoon Nangka which hit parts of Japan. This was a great day to catch up on rest, email and blogging.  Unfortunately, being in our room proved dangerous to Diann: I acidently smashed my right foot into furniture and limped the remainder of our trip.  Urgent care at home (July 24th) diagnosed 4th and 5th toe displaced fractures! Happy to pass on walking around Airventure with Tom the day after our return home.

We are fortunate to stay at the Marriott adjacent to the train station and a major shopping mall.  Time to pick up our Japanese gifts or just window shop at the high-end shops.

Dinner was entertaining at an Hibachi restaurant — tasty and fun with our group.

Tom went with the group to the Sumo wrestling tournament while I went shopping (was not sure my knees would bend well or long enough for floor seating).

  Man-boob-orama??… Sumo Wrestling!!

Tom, Jaysen, and Warren took Bullet train 1 hr. 45 min. (230 miles) to view Hiroshima.