I decided somewhat last-minute to fly to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for a big airshow called EAA AirVenture. It’s a huge event where people fly-in, and some even camp under their plane’s wings. It was like a big road-trip, but in a plane.

Above is the plane we took – A Cirrus SR22 – Tail Number N405CD

Above: One of the views as we flew Northeast

Chris Krone (CFI from my school, Coast Flight Training) was my instructor for the trip


A beautiful sunset as we wound-down our outbound trip

We spent a full-day walking the show, looking at new and vintage aircraft, and watching an acrobatic airshow. (Above Chris Krone and Jon Nevin, who met us in Wisconsin)

St. Paul was one of the stops on our way home.

When we landed in South Dakota we took a courtesy car just 30 min away to see Mt. Rushmore. Then as we flew out we did circles overhead for an areal view.

Above: Jon Nevin, Lisa Liguori, Chris Krone – Mt. Rushmore – July 30, 2010

My dear friend (and honorary little brother), Jon Nevin (who is an instrument rated, private pilot) took a turn flying. He did lovely “Turns Around A Point” around Mt. Rushmore so we could view it from above

We stayed overnight in Casper, Wyoming where we tried fried “Bulls Balls” at dinner. Above: Jon Nevin enjoying a tasty bite

The last day of the trip we over-flew Lake Powell where the view was spectacular.

From Lake Powell we went to Las Vegas and then flew home to San Diego.

A trip summary in Tweets:
8:10 PM Jul 27th  – Back from New Hampshire and planning my ten hour flight in a Cirrus tomorrow to Oshkosh for a pilot’s convention/air show
12:30 PM Jul 28th – Just landed at Four Corners (kfmn)- near the intersection of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
2:17 PM Jul 28th – Fuel gauge was reading wrong so we touched down at KALS
5:06 PM Jul 28th – Just landed in Nebraska (12K)
8:50 PM Jul 28th – Made it! Just landed in Appleton, Wisconsin (KATB)- my first unassisted landing to end the trip
9:45 PM Jul 28th – Random fact- the Radisson at which we are staying is where all of the visiting teams stay when they play Greenbay
7:59 AM Jul 29th – Last night we tried mac and cheese pizza and today I tried (but was denied) taking a photo in a cheese head hat at the hotel gift shop.
8:15 AM Jul 29th – Heading to the Appleton to fly across the North toward Mt. Rushmore 
10:24 AM Jul 30th – Just landed in St. Paul. Going for lunch at a recommended deli in a courtesy car
3:23 PM Jul 30th – Just landed in Rapid City, South Dakota (KRAP)
6:05 PM Jul 30th – Jon Nevin is flying this leg in the pilot seat- leaving South Dakota for Casper, Wyoming. 
7:59 PM Jul 30th – Into Casper, WY for the night. 
9:04 PM Jul 30th – Trying bull fries– smooshed cow b****s fried and served w/ cocktail sauce
6:54 AM Jul 31st - Back to the plane- destined for Steamboat Springs.
7:09 AM Jul 31st  - Scratch that. . . setting out for Grand Junction
10:17 AM Jul 31st  – Just landed in Grand Junction, grabbing a crew car and out to lunch. Bounced my landing but i did land unassisted. 
1:06 PM Jul 31st  - Just over-flew Lake Powell at 6500 and came into U96 airport in Utah– Gorgeous!
3:35 PM Jul 31st – Nevin flew us from Utah to Vegas (VGT) with great views of Lake Powell again as we were outbound
4:08 PM Jul 31st  - So hot in Vegas we had to try a hot start and the batteries went dead. Waiting for a mechanic now. It’s 102F on the thermometer, but it …
6:36 PM Jul 31st – Back home, sweet home, to Montgomery (MYF)