Enroute Sightseeing:  Travels in 'Bandit' by Rob Ray
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"One Armed Bandit"

In 1997 I test flew my five year project RV4, "the bandit" and since then it has accumulated 850 hours, 48 states, Canada and the Bahamas. Some cool places I have seen and routes I have flown I will share. I will also share some great places to get cheap gas, avoid crowds and see a lot of scenery most people don't see from 35K feet. 

LEFT COAST
Three cool routes with great layovers. 

1. 061 Cameron Park to Reno Stead, NV. Lake tahoe, Sierra-Nevada Mountains, Donner Pass, Squaw Valley ski slopes, it's got it all. 80/87 and 100LL card lock at 061. Sierra Ville, CA for a "hippyburger", Nearby Auburn has a great restaurant on the field.
   
   
2. 061 to Eureka. Direct SNS, Via the GG bridge, N. coastline, lighthouses, Chinese temples, Shelter Cove. Great B&B at Eureka and Little River is a cool stop to see the Redwoods. Petaluma has a great resturant and Little River has cardlock 100LL. Awesome!
   
   
3. 061 to Parawan Utah. Sierras, Death Valley, Awesome uncharted ghost towns, Nevada desert, and Brian Head ski resort at Parawan. (JC runs the airport with his wife and has an International Scout courtesy car with ski racks)
   
   Other great airports out west I like.
   Johnson Creek Idaho, Columbia, CA, Moose Creek ID, Upper Loon Creek, ID, Georgetown, CA, Auburn, CA, Corona, CA, Big Bear, CA, Sheridan, WY, Rock Springs, WY, Bozeman, MT, Custer, SD, Leadville, CO, Las Vegas, NM, Page, AZ and nearby Lake Powell. Cheapest gas, St. Johns, AZ.

RIGHT COAST, DOWN SOUTH

Some cool spots I found living in the south all my life and VA and NC.

Kentmorr, MD, grass strip and crabs, Bay Bridge, MD too + 80/87 cardlock! Fredricksburg, VA, Flying Circus, great food! Outerbanks, NC, Kitty hawk, Manteo, Lighthouse tour, Beaufort, NC, Marion, NC, Franklin, NC, Boone, NC, Roanoke, VA, Mountain tours, Fall leave checks. Charleston, Savannah, Brunswick, GA, fly south over Natl park, wild horses. Dog Island, FL, Apalachicola, FL, Dauphin Island, AL, Destin, FL, Cedar Key, FL, Great coastal stops with food and rides available. Ft Pierce, FL, customs for Bahamas, Marsh Harbour, Scotland Cay, low fly over Treasure Cay, unbelievable water! Key West, Sugarloaf Key, Marathon, great low level along A1A. Cheapest gas in S. FL, ZPH Zephyr Hills. 

Parting Words....

Coast to coast in an RV, where I would stop northern or southern route? Corona, CA, Paso Robles, CA, Pine Mtn Lake, CA, Chandler, AZ, St Johns, AZ, Parawan, Utah, Las Vegas, NM, Panola County, TX (near Shreveport, LA)Wynn, AR, Tulsa Downtown, Clanton,Elba or Wetumpka, AL, La Grange, GA, Perry, FL, Cross City, FL, Zephyr Hills, FL. 

Bottom Line, all these stops have card lock gas, cheap gas or a courtesy car. 

Favorite Route west from SNF : ZPH-coastline to Ray Field (Mobile, AL)-Panola CTY-F69-LVS-Parawan-061...There are many others...

Have Fun!

Rob Ray

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I'm always looking for more 'Enroute Sightseeing' articles.  Look at your next trip in the RV and see if there are any interesting historical or natural waypoints on the way. dgr