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Once again I had the privilege of participating in the First Canadian Chapter Gold Cup Rally. To me it is what flying and the 99s are all about.
I enjoy and learn so much from the various age and experience levels. The women ranged in ages from early twenties to the seventies (that's age not the 1970s). Whether you were young or old, novice or experienced (which had nothing to do with age), rich or poor, rented, owned your own plane or not, there was such bonding and camaraderie that only develops by having undergone mutual experiences, training (remember those stalls, spins and your first solo), passion, and goals.
For me the excitement started at the Canada's Annual Aviation Show in Oshawa located about 20 miles east of Toronto, on Saturday the 14th of June, 2003. I volunteered to staff the 99s booth and realized shortly after why no-one had taken that time slot. It was at the same time as the East Canada Section Meeting at the nearby Durham College. That will teach me to read my Flightlines (the 99s First Canadian Chapter news letter a little more carefully! I missed the meeting but managed to catch the end of Kathy Fox's presentation and join in for lunch. She is a VP with Nav Canada and a member of The Eastern Ontario Chapter and gave a presentation on new implementations by Nav Canada. You could feel the excitement building as most of the participants were present. Anna Nosko and I were part of Team 2. She and several other 99s had flown their planes to Oshawa to begin the rally on the next day as part of the Aviation Expo. After lunch I toured the show and stopped to chat with friends and other aviation enthusiasts. Several of us went to the COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, the Canadian version of AOPA) Awards Dinner that evening to support Patricia Crocker from the Maple Leaf Chapter as she was recognized for her work in aviation. Most stayed overnight in the residence at Durham College but I went home and would rejoin the group the next morning for the rally briefing in Oshawa.
0900 HRS, Sun. June 15, 2003, Oshawa, CAVOK
All the teams gathered in Oshawa in one of the classrooms in a hanger of the Canadian Flight Academy. The teams looked very professional in their flight suits with badges from this rally and previous rallies, from Operation Skywatch, from NASA, or other aviation related ventures. Gwen Hems presented us with white scarves with the Gold Cup Rally 2003 logo that she had made. We now looked like true pioneer aviators….a tribute to 100 years of aviation and Amelia Earhart. Marilyn Dickson introduced the flight crews.
Team 1: Marilyn Dickson and Jean Franklin Hancher First Canadian Chapter in Cherokee 140 C-FVLA.
Marilyn is a former teacher, former governor of the East Canada Section of the 99s, and flight instructor from Guelph. She grew up in Durham, Ontario and still is the organist for one of the churches there. She was also one of the organizers of the rally and where-ever we fly to, she seems to have friends there. Jean is a lawyer, a student and friend of Marilyn's.
Team 2: Akky Mansikka and Anna Nosko, both from Toronto and the First Canadian Chapter in Grumman Cheetah C-GHLN.
Akky is a teacher from Toronto. That's me. I worked for about ten years for the Toronto Board and 15 years for a private school called, The York School. After several years in a regular classroom, I started a new pilot project which was the first self contained "behavioural" class for the Board.
It became the future model for children with social and emotional problems in the 1970's. At the York school I worked mostly with special needs children and ones who learned best, using alternate teaching strategies. I also have a passion for Dragon Boat Racing and have competed internationally with the Canadian National Team. We won gold in Rome 2002; bronze in Poland 2003; and hope to compete in Cape Town, South Africa; and Shanghai, China in 2004.
Growing up in Holland near an air force base, I watched with growing interest many different planes taking off and landing, including some crashes in the farm fields behind our house. After coming to Canada my dad worked in the aviation industry on inertia guidance systems. Occasionally he would take me to work with him to see test flights of experimental aircraft, including the Avro Arrow. With a busy career and growing family there was little time to pursue my interests. After several bouts with cancer and coming to the realization that NOW was the time to pursue my dreams, I summed up the courage to sign up for flying lessons even though, with three children in university it was possibly the worst time financially. At least I wasn't pregnant with twins like Suzanne! I got my Private License in 1997, Instrument rating in 2001 and Commercial License in 2002. I have over 600 hours total time which includes trips to Denver, Colorado; to Calgary, Alberta with the 99s in the last Gold Cup Rally; and to the Out Islands of the Bahamas with the Buttonville Flying Club. I would like to work on my instructor rating and eventually teach flying.
Anna, a family therapist from Toronto, had a lot of fun being part of the planning committee for the rally. She has her private pilot's license and a night rating. Most of her flying has been in the last 15 years but really picked up when she became a part owner of a plane with Dee Birchmore in 1997. Meeting Dee expanded her flying life with longer trips out of Ontario to such places as Martha's Vineyard and to Florida to see the astronaut Dave Williams take off in the space shuttle. How exciting that must have been! Dee also introduced Anna to the 99s and to all the fun of the Poker Runs and Gold Cup Air Rallies. After Dee's "flying" adventure into a tree, and destruction of the plane, Anna became a partner in another plane, Grumman Cheetah C-GHLN with two other women. Dee and Anna joined up for the 1st Gold Cup Air Rally in 2000. Another interest Dee and Anna had is Food. Anna has been a member in a 'Gourmet Group' for 18 years and got written up in a magazine called 'Salt Scapes' this past June."
Team 3: Noriko Date Moss of Toronto and Suzanne Wiltshire of Brantford, Ontario both First Canadian Chapter in Cessna 172 C-GIST
Noriko has a Commercial License, an Instrument Rating, and over 1,000 hours flying time. She worked many years for Japan Airlines, and now flies the pipeline inspections for Northern Pipelines.
Suzanne is president of Selectpower a retail affiliate of Guelph Hydro. From her web site you can order wind powered electricity. What a great way to produce pollution free energy and help the environment. To find more about wind power and her company you can go to Selectpower.ca on the web. She is also chair of the First Canadian Chapter of the 99s and obtained her private license in 1982 when she was five months pregnant with twins. She has around 400 hours.
Team 4: Jocelyn Lecluse. Hamilton, Ontario of the Maple Leaf Chapter and Caroline Kolasa of Toronto, First Canadian Chapter in Cessna 150 C-GFWA
Jocelyn is a social worker. She has worked at the Sprucedale Training School, at the Child and Adolescence Services and for the last 14 years at the Children's Aid Society of Brantford. Last year she left as she wished to spend more time flying and enjoying her many other activities, especially skiing and often flies out to a townhouse that she has at Sun Peaks, British Columbia. During the summer she likes to play tennis, ride her horse, go for bicycle rides and go to her cottage. Presently, she is involved with the John Howard Society as a Youth Justice Committee member which helps her to keep her finger in the field. She says, "I started flying when I was 18 years old (just a few years ago) but never completed my hours due to other commitments at that time. In 1999, I was at a St. Maarten's condo which was situated near the airport. Every time an airplane came in for a landing, it would attract my attention. After a week of wishful gazing, my husband suggested that I obtain my pilot's license. I did not require any further convincing and upon my return to Brantford, I enrolled at the Hamilton Flying Club. Trying to arrange air time, planning around my work schedule, caring for my children and waiting for favourable weather, was not easy as many of you know. In March 2001, I was rollerblading and had a severe fall which was my own fault as I was trying to mimic the over foot blading that some young boys were doing in front of me. Somehow it didn't work for me. I had to have back surgery as I was unable to walk. During the three months in which I was convalescing, I studied for my written test and obtained my PPL in June 01. I started my night rating last winter but I had to put it on hold due to daylight saving time but once standard time kicks in, in October, I will resume my training. I have about 220 hours and have flown across Canada from Saskatoon to Prince Edward Island with many side trips in between".
Caroline is a student at Ryerson University in Toronto, in her third year of a Business Management Degree Program, majoring in Finance and International Business. She holds a Private license, has over one hundred hours; and at the moment, is working on her night rating and Commercial License. Caroline is originally from Vancouver where she started her flying. She was a member of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure Committee this year which organized the very successful Run on Oct. 6. Thousands of participants ran, walked or wheeled through Toronto raising money for breast cancer research. She plays squash on the Ryerson Varsity Team and works as a Dispatcher at a local fight school.
Team 5: Margo McCutcheon, Gwen Hems, Mary Wagner-Smith all of Toronto, First Canadian Chapter in Twin Beech Baron C-GOVQ.
Margo got her License in 1976 and met the 99s for the first time in a Treasure Hunt in 1997 and won a prize. She also has her Commercial License, Instrument Rating and Instructor Rating. She has participated in cross Atlantic Air Rallies and has so many hours flying time that I think she has stopped counting them. She was a participant of Operation Skywatch and was the subject of a TV documentary called, Angels of the Sky. One memorable flight for her was with Mary, to Austin, Texas where she spoke to the Water Conservation group about Operation Skywatch. I flew with Margo to Calgary in the 2001 Gold Cup Rally just after I got my IFR rating. I did the radio work and setting of the nav-aids. It was such a pleasure and great learning experience for me to see how the IFR system worked in real life. Margo did this rally with laryngitis and unable to speak for most of the trip. I wondered who did the radio work.
Gwen Hems wrote, "On May 11th 1971, I took a familiarization flight at the Brampton Flying Club with instructor Larry Mitchell. After the "fam flight", not being sure I was all that crazy about being so far above the ground in such a little machine, I decided to pursue the matter further. I soloed in October, 1971, and then decided (in order to support my expensive habit) I had better get a little job. I found a friendly doctor who needed someone to answer his telephone and greet his patients, and hung up my apron for three days a week. Happily this doctor is still friendly and also very understanding about my longing glances out the office window on those beautiful days when I just have to drive to the flying club to see if there is a plane available. Since May 11th, 1971, I have accumulated 300 hours, about 200 hours PIC in Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Citabria, J-3 Cub, PA – 11 on floats, and Piper Cherokee. We own a PA – 11 on floats and I do have a float endorsement. Registration is CF-QWK. As well as flying from Brampton Flying Club, I have been taking commercial Instruction from Toronto Airways, Buttonville.
With much help from my husband I am building a Peter Bower's "Fly Baby". This is a low wing single seat sport plane. It has been in the making for three years and when it is finally completed the solo flight will probably be my thrill of a lifetime." Copied from the History of the Ninety Nines published 1979
Mary Warner-Smith was born at The Manse, Streeville, Ontario, July 31, 1928, (maiden name McCree). She began flying as a passenger with her husband in the early 1960s. After a family flying trip to Yarmouth, N.S. in 1969, she decided to take lessons herself. She began instruction in the summer of 1970, and soloed at Toronto-Buttonville Airport Oct 17, 1970, in a Cessna 150, CF-PRS. She passed the Flight Test on July 16, 1971 in C150, CF-WEV. Currently she is flying a C177 RG, C-GNVR and has flown 160 hrs as PIC. This was accomplished while holding down a full-time job as a teacher-librarian at Bayview Junior High School in North York (where she held executive positions on a professional organization, NYLRA and caring for my family (husband, son and daughter).
She joined the 99s in the fall of 1975, served as Nominations Chair, Jan 1976: and Chair of the Fall Section and Founding Celebration honoring the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the First Canadian Chapter. She was a member of the Clues Committee for the Treasure Hunt, May-June 1977,. co-chairman of the Aviation Seminars (series 2) held a Toronto-Buttonville Airport Feb –Mar 1978. Member of the Air Education Committee and Publicity Chairman 1977-78. She flew C-GNVR (with Kat Merry as co-pilot) to 1976 International Convention at Philadelphia. (Copied from The History of Nintey Nines published 1979)
Team 6: Adele Fogle, Daphne Schiff both from Toronto, First Canadian Chapter; and Kelly Sheret of Vancouver, British Columbia in brand new Cessna 172 C-QRA.
Adele is owner of International Flight Academy in Guelph, Ontario, about 50 miles west of Toronto. She has flown many long distance international air rallies and was the subject of a documentary about a rally to South America with Daphne. She flies humanitarian missions with the French non-profit group Air Solidarite in Africa. They were inspecting schools, hospitals, and employment programs funded by the charity as well as delivering medical supplies and teaching equipment.
Daphne Schiff, teaches aviation at York University. She has flown in international air rallies and humanitarian missions with Adele in Africa. She was the subject of an article "Retired Reborn" by MACLEAN'S Magazine (Canada's national news magazine) March 2003. It talks about her three flights between France and Africa for the Air Solidarite, battling sandstorms and malaria-bearing mosquitoes. Kelly Sheret is a flight Instructor in Vancouver.
Team 8: Susan Begg , Ottawa, Eastern Ontario Chapter and recipient of the EAA scholarship; and Sharon Lutman, a veterinarian technician, also from Ottawa; in Susan's Moonie C-FTEM
Marilyn briefed us on the route and the challenges. The route was to follow the north shore of Lake Ontario eastward to Colborne, then south following the Consecon route through the Bay of Quinte area, staying south of the military base in Trenton. The northern route around Trenton was active that day. From there the route was to Kingston, on to Cornwall south of Montreal TERSA, and on to Quebec City weather permitting. This was to be our stop for the night. Marilyn and Margo had scouted the route out beforehand and had made arrangements for our hotel accommodations close to the airport. The intended route after Quebec City was along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, around the Gaspe Peninsula to Prince Edward Island. I have always wanted to go to the Gaspe and Perce Rock and now here was my chance. I had never dreamed I would do it by flying myself in a small private plane! We were to stick to the northern shore of Lake Ontario because the challenges were based on that route. They would be handed out in envelopes just before take-off.
Rob Boggs, a weather briefer from Nav Canada, did a power point presentation of the weather and forecasts of the areas we were heading to. A cold front had moved through the Toronto and Oshawa a few days earlier resulting in rain and low ceilings. It had moved eastward, just in time to provide clear skies for the Aviation Show. Now all the weather was east of us right where we were heading. We would fly as far east as we could and decide then what our next step would be. We might not get as far as Quebec City. We were used to making changes!
With a weather briefing and route finalized, the planning started. Some of us had calculators but I still use the whiz wheel. Remember the whiz wheel from private ground school? Magnetic tracks with corrections for upper winds, distances, airspeeds, time, and fuel consumption were calculated by each team for each plane. Team work was evident in the silence, focus, intense concentration and co-operation. You could have heard a pin drop. Recent graduates of the private pilot course were doing the planning and calculations by the book, a good review of the basics for some of us who have slacked off as the years go by. Others had very efficient workable short-cuts. All in all, a good learning experience for everyone!
With the planning done, we headed for our planes which were parked in a line right in front of the terminal. We would taxi in a line out to the threshold and take off one after another. Planes were loaded, the challenges handed out, and engines started. A marshaler was going to help with lining us up to taxi to our run up area. We were marshaled right beside Team 5, the Beech Baron but a few seconds later he motioned for us to cut our engine. Apparently our prop wash had blown all the papers out of the Aviation Expo registration tent behind us. We would now be pushed manually behind Team 5 with us sitting in the plane. A grand start to the Rally!
We taxied in line and in sequence to an inactive runway to do our run-ups. Because of the Aviation Expo it was very busy. The threshold of the active runway was at the opposite end of the airport. Our line up and formation take-off was interrupted with landing aircraft and other aircraft taking off between us. As we were taking off after Team 1, we could hear the others being told to wait and stand-by. Later we heard from Adele it had been her longest wait for take-off….0.9 on the Hobbs. I guess she hasn't flown out of Buttonville recently!
Once airborne, our focus shifted to the challenges. Our first challenge was to spot a log cabin with solar panels and a wind mill, on the shore of Lake Ontario three miles past the town of Colborne. A famous pilot would be in the yard waving at us. I thought it was probably a statue of a famous Canadian Aviator but how odd that it would be in someone's yard. Knowing Marilyn, it would have to be a female. We circled the area several times but could not spot the cabin, let alone a person or statue. I would not be a good candidate for CASARA (Civil Aviation Search and Rescue Association). I have not been able to spot a person from the air yet, even when I know where to look. Later we found out the person Marilyn had contacted to be out in her yard and wave at us was none other than Vi Milstead. She was our guest of honour at the First Canadian Chapter's, Golden Gala a few years ago. She was a bush pilot, flight instructor, and ferried Spitfires during W.W. II. The Air Rally fly-by was a way Vi could participate in the rally and what a tribute to her, having the planes circling overhead, rocking their wings and flying by. Did anyone spot her cabin or her waving? Later I heard from Marilyn that she saw us.
A cloudless sky and clear visibility provided a view right across lake Ontario to New York State. The Quinte area was spectacular with its sand dunes, beaches, marshes and bays. There was Sandbanks Provincial Park where I had visited with my family when our children were young. It brought back such good memories of those earlier times. I could just see them taking running leaps off the tops of the dunes and landing in the soft sand far down the hill, almost in the water. We were given aerial photos of airports, bridges, dams, and physical land features to spot and questions to answer about these places. There was scenic Mountainview Airport. Near Kingston the lake narrowed into the St. Lawrence River. Kingston, although a busy city, had no control tower just a mandatory frequency. It was so busy with our rally planes and others that we were unable to break in and give our position. The person manning the Unicom sounded overwhelmed….so were we! I spotted the ramparts of Fort Henry….very interesting from the air….a perspective I never imagined. At Gananoque the river splintered into the spectacular Thousand Islands. It was just breath-taking. I tried to find Heart Island with Bolt Castle which my family had explored many years earlier when it was in a state of disrepair, but I was unable to spot it. Upper Canada Village, a reconstructed pioneer village floated by, with its airstrip right behind it on the other side of the road. It was one of the airports on the challenges. At Cornwall we found the dam we had to identify from an aerial photograph. Marilyn and Margo had taken all the aerial shots on an earlier scouting trip for the rally. Ships were going through the locks as the river elevation dropped on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. At Cornwall we headed south to avoid Montréal Tersa. Clouds started to appear on the horizon as we headed toward St Jean-sur-Richeleau situated south of Montréal. We heard Caroline and Jocelyn on the air to air frequency. They were stopping in Cornwall for fuel. We were stopping in St. Jean-sur-Richeleau for fuel and would meet them there for lunch.
Heavy overcast and lowering ceilings made the decision to stop in St. Jean easy. We were catching up to the weather. Team 3, Noriko and Suzanne landed after us and also got busy checking the weather. Team number 6, Adele, Daphne and Kelly returned from the direction of Quebec City after we arrived. They had flown almost half way there and turned around. We assumed that St. Jean would be our stop for the night if such experienced pilots as them returned because of the weather. But no, they felt we could fly around the areas of low ceilings and rain. They just came back to refuel. They did not want to run low on fuel flying diversions around the rain. They had used too much fuel taxiing and waiting in Oshawa! Team 1, Marilyn and Jean, and Team 8, Susan and Sharon, were ahead of us already enroute to Quebec City. Team 6 refueled and left. We filled up on peanuts and had a drink. St. Jean only had a vending machine in the flight school, but at least the washrooms were clean. Suzanne and Noriko settled down to a lunch they had brought with them. Clever girls! They were using chop sticks, so they were going to be a while. There was no word yet from Team 4, Jocelyn and Caroline. After taking off we heard them coming in. Noriko and Suzanne would be there to greet them and update them.
The route from St. Jean to Quebec City was over low mountains towards the south with large dark cumulous clouds and rain showers to either side. We could see the St. Lawrence River in the distance as the land flattened out towards the north. St. Lambert on a tributary flowing north into the St Lawrence River, which was part of the VFR route into Quebec Jean-Lesage Airport, was our next way point. Anna was flying and doing the radio work. She was told to stay west of the bridge with the twin towers. It stood out as we admired the beautiful view of Quebec City with the Laurentian Mountains north of the city.
We landed on Runway 12 almost simultaneously as an Air Canada (Jazz) jet came in on Runway 06. Runway 12 funneled us toward the Shell Aero Center. It was still heavy overcast and the large puddles on the ground gave evidence of recent rain. Some of us refueled, others waited until the morning. Those who had not finished the challenges, remained in the planes to work on the questions, identifying the aerial shots, finishing the 99s history questions, and answering questions out of the AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication). We were to hand them in to Marilyn and Jean as soon as we arrived. After assembling in the terminal, taxis were called. They took us to the Quebec Inn which had been scouted out by Margo and Marilyn earlier. Reservations had been made and a group rate negotiated by them. What a convenience this was, after a long, exciting day.
The hotel had a large interior sky lit courtyard which included a swimming pool, hot tub, tropical gardens, and restaurant. What a peaceful and relaxing setting. There were other restaurants in the vicinity but all the teams decided to meet at the hotel restaurant for dinner. We shared our adventures of the day during the meal. What great company! What a great first day!
0800 HRS, Mon. June 16, 2003, Quebec City, CAVOK
We met for a leisurely breakfast in the hotel restaurant. The service was very slow but the food was excellent. It was bacon and eggs for me. That is what I treat myself to on special holidays. After breakfast, four taxis took us back to the Shell Aero Center. We got the weather and did our planning for the next leg up the south shore of The St. Lawrence River. Margo presented Marilyn with captain's shoulder stripes acknowledging her as our able and fearless leader on this rally...and what a great job she did. The weather had moved east during the night, once again clearing the way for us. Thunder storms were forecast over the Gaspe Peninsula. We would re-evaluate the weather as we got closer to the region.
Departure was at 12:16, a little late but oh well. We did a left climbing turn out, once again over the twin towered bridge over the St. Lawrence to our cruising altitude of 3,500 ft. There were spectacular views of Quebec City and Montmorency Falls north east of the city. The grandeur of the widening St Lawrence River in front of us was breathtaking. We had to decide…. do we answer the questions of the challenges and spend time looking things up in the books we brought with us, or… take in the beauty of the scenery ahead of us. We decided to skip the challenges and enjoy this once in a life time experience. As we followed the south shore, the mountains of the north shore were clearly visible. The slopes of Le Massif, the highest ski hill in Eastern Canada dropped right into the St. Lawrence. The mouth of the Saguenay River passed by on the opposite shore, where a few years earlier my husband, Henry, and I went on a whale watch. We had seen an adult Beluga and its grey offspring come up right beside our sight-seeing zodiac. We also had seen Minke and Fin whales feeding. It had been a spectacular trip. I wondered if it was possible to spot whales from the plane!
After a while, our competitive natures got the best of us. As I was flying, Anna started on the questions, flipping through the AIP. They were all rather important questions on air law; navigation; weather; etc…things that we really should know by heart. What a good review! Some of the 99s history questions had to do with our own section members. How interesting that was! Things we didn't know about the people we see so frequently. Better that gossip! The river kept widening in front of us. The south shore consisted of flat plains intersected by valleys and hilly ridges. There were long narrow farm fields and small villages dominated by churches. Low ridges along the shore developed into large mountainous cliffs as we approached Rimouski. I tried to take a picture of a village nestled among the cliffs for the most scenic photo as part of the challenge. Anna side slipped the low wing Grumman, so I could get just the right angle. Our lunch stop would be Mt. Joli.
The ski runs of Mt. Joli were visible as we touched down at 3 PM. The airport was on a flat plain above the St. Lawrence. From the airport the mighty St. Lawrence with a hint of the opposite shore on the horizon, was visible towards the north but low hills to the south obliterated the view of Mt. Joli. There was a large modern but deserted terminal. Everything was locked. We had to search for the manager to let us back on the ramp as we waited for everyone to arrive. A courtesy car picked us up and took us to a restaurant in the nearby village of Sainte Flavie. The restaurant was in Motel Gaspesiana, right on the river's edge. From the restaurant, there was a magnificent view of the village and the St. Lawrence River. Eider ducks bobbed by. Gannets, terns, and sea gulls performed for us as we ate our chicken and lobster salads. Lunchtime discussions centered on the weather and where we would go next. There was a possibility of thunderstorms in the Moncton area. Team 1 had developed an oil leak that was getting increasingly worse. There was a mechanic back in Rimouski who had time to look after it. The group decided to stay with the troubled plane and spend the night in the river-side motel in St. Flavie.
It was such a invigorating, cool, sparkling clear sunny day that it felt great to be alive and well, in such a beautiful spot. Anna and I checked into a room on the ground level facing the river. The pebbly beach was only a few feet away down a grassy embankment. Kelly and Caroline were going to save some money and sleep in the new 172 at the airport. There was a couple from Vermont, sitting in front of their motel unit right beside ours, enjoying the view of the river and the birds. He was an engineer and flight examiner from Vermont. I think he was in heaven with all the women pilots to talk to. They were returning from Newfoundland in their fire-engine red antique 1953 MG sports car. After getting my picture taken in the MG (Henry eat your heart out) we set out to explore the village of Sainte Flavie which we soon discovered to be an artist center. We joined up with Caroline, Kelly, Noriko, and Suzanne and walked along the only road through the village. It followed the south shore with houses, galleries and shops on both sides. After some grocery shopping and buying film in a convenience store we took a look at a church across the road. We took pictures on the steps of the two storey, white clapboard, rectory. A two storey verandah surrounded the building. The rectory preserved the unusual architecture, typical of this Quebec region. We visited several galleries, but stopped for some tisane tea in Atelier Christian Paquet. This gallery/tea-shop had paintings of local scenery; and of the animals and birds of the region executed in a precise realism that was a feast for the eyes. Tea was graciously served by the artists Christian Paquet and Clodin, two wonderfully talented people. In turn they were thrilled to have all these women pilots in their village and in their gallery. We agreed to do a fly by for them in the morning.
After tea, Anna, Suzanne, and I, continued our walk along the beach collecting rocks and tiny pieces of water scoured glass. I am collecting the glass with the intension of putting them together to make a translucent glass mosaic. In the distance we saw the remnants of the pillars of an old pier. However as we got closer, it turned out to be a most amazing sculpture of people. Perhaps at one time, some of the sculptures had been the pillars of an old pier but they now had been transformed into life size people of all ages, shapes and sizes. The figures made of concrete and wood, were rising out of the river, up the stairs on the river bank, along a path, to a gathering place. Animals, also included in the pilgrimage, stopped to nibble at the grass along the path. Some of the figures came by raft. They gathered around a solitary figure on a globe under a leaning tree. The pilgrimage seemed very religious. Perhaps the solitary figure represented Jesus, the Virgin Mary or Mother Earth. Anna, Suzanne and I joined the pilgrimage and took pictures. All in all, it was a bit eerie especially with the rise and fall of the tide. The adjoining building, containing a gallery, restaurant, hotel, and a souvenir shop, was surrounded by gardens equally eerie. The gallery had sculptures, paintings and poetry all in the same religious theme as the "Le Grand Rassemblement", outside, done by the artist Marcel Gagnon. This was truly an amazing place!
We walked back along the beach, a little sobered. As we passed by a building with a large picture window facing the river, we saw Margo, Gwen, Mary, Adele, Daphne, Jocelyn and Noriko waving at us. They were in a restaurant having dinner. Since we had a late and rather big lunch, we joined them for a light supper. Suzanne and I, had a vegetable soup; and Anna a delicious-looking bouillon-base with lobster claws, muscles and clams. While we were enjoying the meal, we were treated to a most magnificent display of colours as the sun set slowly below the distant horizon.
Our motel was a short walk back in the dark. Susan Begg and Sharon Lutman wanted to outdo the spectacular sunset by lighting off fire works on the beach. After the fireworks and smoke had dispersed, Nature, not wanting to be outdone by two mortals, lit up the sky with Northern lights. This was the first time Noriko had seen them.
0545 HRS, Tue. June 17, 2003, St. Flavie, Quebec, CAVOK
We arose to our wake-up call at 5:45 AM for an early start, with a wonderful night's sleep. We slept with the sliding doors and curtains open to the fresh air and to the sounds of the river Jean had done her best landing ever on their return from Rimouski, witnessed by Kelly and Caroline who were settling down for the night in their 172 at the airport.
After breakfast and after checking out, we headed to the airport to join two sleepy looking pilots. I don't think they had as great a night's rest as we did. The flight planning was done and to my dismay, due to time constraints, we had to make a choice of going all the way around the Gaspe Peninsula and see Perce Rock, or be in Prince Edward Island in time for a BBQ at the airport and go on a pre-arranged tour of the island. We didn't want to miss anything but decided to go for the food and tour.
Departure was towards the west but we circled back over the water in front of Atelier Christian Paquet and the rest of the village. I don't know if anyone saw our planes. When I tried to phone, to let Christian know we were leaving, there was no answer. Perhaps it was too early for him! We followed the south shore north- eastward and watched the inland mountains getting higher and higher. Some had treeless, flat tops with patches of snow. I had heard that caribou herds inhabited the flat tundra area on top of the mountains but I was unable to spot any. Turning south at Mt. Joli or at Matane would have been the most direct route south to Prince Edward Island. Some teams would follow this route. We continued on to Ste-Anne-des-Monts and then turned south. Suzanne, whose company is involved with wind power, wanted to see the wind farms there. We thought we would have a look as well. From 4,000 ft. we spotted what seemed like hundreds of large white windmills nestled among the hills and on ridges in clumps of 20s, 30s and 40s. At Ste-Anne-des-Monts we climbed to 6,500 ft. to clear the Chic Choc and Notre Dame Mountains as we turned south to follow what was the only road on the map. How easy can navigation be? Only there wasn't one road but two roads on each side of a river. We followed the river as it twisted and turned between the mountains. One of the roads branched off. Which one to follow? The road we picked after a while split and turned into a maze of logging roads. We tried to find the valley where the other road disappeared into but it was one roadless ridge after another. At least we were heading south and should intercept the Baie de Chaleur which was between Quebec and New Brunswick. We just wouldn't know at what point exactly. As we flew over another ridge of mountains, we could see low cloud in front of us.
We had reached the fog covered bay. The fog dissipated at the shore and we could make out the town of Dalhousie, New Brunswick, on the south shore of Baie des Chaleurs. We heard Noriko from team 3 and Jocelyn from team 4 on the unicom frequency 122.8 for Bathurst, New Brunswick. They were inbound for landing. For a minute both Anna and I wondered if there was something about the weather ahead that we had not heard. To us it looked clear. Then we realized that it was probably a fuel stop for them since they probably had not had a chance to refuel in Mt. Joli with our early start.
We continued on over the flat farmlands of New Brunswick towards the shore. We followed the shore line and soon on the horizon, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) appeared through the summer haze. We would cross the narrowest channel of water near the north west end of the island and climb to 8,000 ft. to make the water crossing as safe and legal as possible. The distance across was only about ten miles and we figured if anything happened we could glide most of the way. We had some extra time before our scheduled rendezvous in Summerside at noon so we did a little sightseeing flight to the north end of the island to see another windmill farm. After reaching the northern tip, we turned south along the eastern shore of the island. Before us was a sea of red soil, green vegetation and the deep blue ocean. We flew back along red beaches and saw fishing boats returning from the sea to small fishing villages. They were probably carrying our lobster dinner. We turned inland for our approach to Summerside.
The approach was over water. 28 years ago when my oldest son was two, my family visited friends on the base. We had gone on a clam dig on the beach just off the threshold of the runway and now here I am again looking down at the same beach! Sometimes I feel that flying is giving me a new perspective of things I have seen and done in the past. It is a time to reflect on my life and go on with new challenges never dreamed of. Anna landed on the threshold and we taxied the mile to the terminal and the ramp. Anna likes aiming for the threshold and putting the plane down on the numbers no matter what, and practicing for the spot landing we heard was going to be part of the rally. At one time, Summerside was an air force base which now is used by civil and commercial air traffic. Hence the 8,000 ft. long runway.
We were greeted by television cameras as we slid open the roof of the Grumman. We would be on the news tonight. A truck picked us and our luggage up and brought us to the terminal where a B.B.Q. was on the way. We met the airport manager Tom Capstick and his wife who were cooking steaks and P.E.I. potatoes. What else! There was also delicious coleslaw. Joining us at the B.B.Q. was Marilyn Affleck from the Atlantic Chapter…the one and only 99 in Prince Edward Island. She had made the arrangements for the fun that was to follow the B.B.Q. including the lobster supper that evening. Sarah a reporter from a local paper called "The Journal" did interviews. What a way to greet visitors.
After lunch, we were driven to our accommodations at "The Slemon Park Inn". It was right at the airport and consisted of a series of low two storey buildings. They probably had been the accommodations or barracks for the military on the base. The family we had visited years earlier lived in rows of town houses, but I did not see any of those homes. The rooms were very similar to any Holiday Inn but a lot cheaper. We also had access to a sports complex on the site but we did not have time to use it because no sooner had we checked in, a van came to pick us up for a tour of Prince Edward Island.
Carl Miller, our tour guide and driver, was waiting in the van just outside our building. All of us did not fit in, so some followed behind in Marilyn Affleck's car. We drove out of the Slemon Park complex beside the airfield for a visit to the town of Summerside. A large red fox sitting in a field watched, facing us, as if he was watching the strange tourists on his island. Carl explained the meaning of the name Summerside how in the old days it had been on the southerly warmer side of the narrow central part of PEI and thus named Summerside. We drove thought the old section of town, then on to the local Tim Horton's fast food restaurant. Some of us needed a coffee fix and some of us an ATM machine for money. Carl explained the history of Summerside and of the island. P.E.I. attracted its first visitors for its lumber. The tall trees were made into masts for ships. On we went along narrow two-lane paved highways towards the north eastern shore. Carl explained these were main highways and part of the Trans Canada Highway..…larger roads were not needed on tranquil P.E.I.. We stopped at a particularly scenic spot to take pictures. At this spot you could see P.E.I.'s three main industries…. agriculture, the farming for potatoes on the green rolling hills; fishing, with the blue ocean and a fishing village in front of us; and tourism that was us. Carl was a very enthusiastic guide and very proud of Canada's smallest province. He wanted us to learn and see as much as possible in the time we had. At one point he turned around in the van to face the people behind him and gestured with both his hands as he was explaining something. You can imagine my shock as I was sitting in the front seat beside him. Believe it or not he was steering with his knees! He must have been a teacher and also had eyes in the back of his head. We saw the humble birthplace of Lucie Maude Montgomery author of Anne of Green Gables and spectacular Green Gables, now a national park. We stopped at one of the red beaches for a little walk and to take pictures. We stopped at a fishing village. Next on the tour was the capital of P.E.I., Charlottetown. We drove by Confederation Hall where the fathers of confederation and John A MacDonald, Canada's first prime minister signed the constitution when Canada was born in 1867. Up and down the old town we went and when we reached Water Street, the oldest street in Charlottetown, Marilyn Dickson called out "My friend lives at number 18". What a surprise for her friend….not only that she was dragged out to meet a bus load of 99s, but she had been watching us on the 6 o'clock news. Now here we were in person. She wondered how could we be in two places at the same time.
Next we drove to New Glasgow for a lobster supper. We were joined by Marilyn Affleck, Angela Gallant a fellow pilot, Carl, and Erna Scriven a 99 from Halifax. The menu consisted of fresh hot rolls followed by a most delicious seafood chowder. It was hard to resist the temptation for seconds but we did want to save room for the lobster. There were steamed mussels. I am not fond of them but thought I would try one. The next thing I know there must have been twenty shells on my plate. There was a choice of entrees but I picked the fresh lobster in the shell with melted butter accompanied by a garden salad, coleslaw and potato salad. Dessert was a choice of pies baked by local house wives. What a meal! Presentation of the awards was next. After all we had been on an air rally with challenges. Marilyn explained all the questions from the AIP in the challenges were the ones in the self paced study guide that fills the currency requirements. Not that we needed it but we were now legally current. What a clever idea! The 99 History questions were to familiarize us with old and recent history of our own section and chapters. The challenges were well thought out and interesting. After much tension, the winners were announced……Team 2. That was us…. Anna and me. We would go home with the gold cup. What a day this had been!
0500 HRS, Wed. June 18, 2003, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Overcast 5000 ft. Visibility +15
5 AM was too early for breakfast. The restaurant was not open yet. Anna and I met Marilyn and Jean on the way to the airplanes on the ramp. The sun was rising in the east under a clear section behind the edge of a cloud layer and it lit up the underside of the clouds creating a spectacular colour effect. The airport manager and crew were already getting ready for the spot landing contest. The prize was a separate one donated by Adele..…free time on their new 172. As we were waiting for the others, we started our flight planning for the return trip to Toronto. The clouds were forecast to dissipate and we should have clear skies until the Quebec region. Mary was out on the runway with a reporter from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio who was going to do live interviews and commentary for their morning show. I wondered if Henry would hear the broadcast as he was shaving and getting ready for work in Toronto. He always listens to the CBC in the morning. What a surprise that would be for him. We were briefed on the procedure to follow, what radio calls to make, when to start taxiing, and when to take off. In no time it was our turn. Anna seemed to do a perfect approach but started to drop a little soon. I thought she was aiming for the numbers again but the spot we were aiming for was at the intersection, half way down the runway. She managed to hold off the landing with a little power. We were close but were unable to tell how close. Later we learned Jean had been closest to the mark. This was Marilyn's Dickson's (Jean's instructor) proudest moment. Marilyn commented that, "This shows I am a better instructor that pilot".
After breakfast Anna and I packed the plane, and took off towards the south-west, climbing to 2000ft. We followed the narrow ribbon of the Confederation Bridge to the mainland, through Moncton Airspace and on to Fredericton for refueling. We filed a flight plan and obtained a transponder code. Flight Following tracked us across the mountains of Maine as the ceilings started lowering. The tops of some mountains now were above our altitude. One controller asked how our view was of Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in the area… over 5,200 ft. It was off to our right with the peak hidden in cloud. I answered just beautiful this morning and it was. I guess he was wondering if we were in IMC but relieved that we were not flying blind. Once back in Quebec we passed Mt.Orford and Bromont ski areas. The ceilings lifted but blended with a slight haze that developed. We were heading for Sherbrooke but the weather kept improving so on we went to St. Jean where we refueled once again. Lunch consisted of snacks, fruit and drinks we had brought with us or bought from vending machines. Team 5 was ahead of us in the Baron. Thundershowers were forecast in the Kingston area so on we went to see how far we could get before the weather stopped us. We felt we would be lucky if we got that far for the night. We would meet Team 5 Margo, Mary and Gwen in Kingston for dinner and the night. We did not know where the others were. Once again we flew over the St. Lawrence River and the thousand Islands. We approached Kingston with a clear sky ahead. Now came the decision do we fly on, or stop, and meet the others. It was just a little past 1600 hrs. We decided to fly on through Kingston's mandatory frequency to Toronto. As we announced our position to the Kingston Unicom, he relayed a message from Team 5. They also had continued on to Toronto. They would fly to Buttonville Airport. We would go to The Island Airport. Continuing along the Lake Ontario shoreline towards the sun in the west, the increasing moisture in the air started to produce a haze but no bad weather. Colborne came into sight again. No Vi Milstead waving at us this time. At Oshawa the Toronto skyline came into view and what a beautiful sight it was. We were cleared to land on Runway 33.…….with high-rises, The Dome and CN Tower in full view behind it. Looking eastward there was no haze; only clear blue sky and the spectacular view of the city. Touchdown time was 1750 hrs. We were home with our gold cup packed in the back, and a thousand lessons learned and adventures to share. Life doesn't get much better that that.