Autumn In the Eastern Mountains
Jim Slade
Editor's Notes: It's fall, and those who fly have a special privilege over the ground-bound.
Knowing that, I took my favorite flying friend, a sprightly Ercoupe 415-C named "Sweetie," out
over the West Virginia mountains on October 22nd. It was a bright day with the temperature in
the 70s. With N99906's canopy down on both sides, you could look out, see forever, and just
be happy you were alive.
You could take some dandy pictures, too. A few are posted here for your enjoyment.
Send me some of yours.
The air is warm, the sky is bright. Let's get up there.
Yeah, I know the glare shield needs some paint..plenty of time for that when the weather turns.
Fall leaves make a patchwork of the countryside. Small farms stand out like carvings.
Grafton, WV curls around the Tygart River. Tygart Lake's in the background.
Grafton was a railroad center during the days of steam. It's still pretty active.
The Cheat River canyon with Cheat Lake beyond.
Morgantown airport's in the left distance and that's where Sweetie and I are headed..eventually. Neither of us wants to quit and land.
There's no big point to all of this except to share some enjoyable moments. Only those who fly know what a pleasure it can be. Certainly, it does take a lot of fussing and preparation beforehand, and then a lot of work to put the airplane away when it's over. But as soon as the wheels break ground the first time, your heart soars with them and it's worth every minute.
Send me some of your pictures.
Jim Slade
October 24, 2007
I ended the first piece by inviting you to send me some of your pictures. LARRY GUSS, of
Steamboat Springs, CO, did just that..going out into his western mountains on foot.
FYI: Steamboat Springs is NW of Denver by about 175 miles, and around 7,500 feet above sea level.
Just look:
 Imagine that view out your back door.
Great day for a hike with your favorite camera.
Closeup.
 Aspen in concert. Wow.
Thanks, Larry.
That was fantastic.
Meanwhile, down in Texas, TOMMY TERRY of La Vernia, caught autumn in his end of the country while taking a picture of a companion Cessna 152. Tommy shot the wide-angle over the transom of his Ercoupe 415 C:
 Tommy says the leaves turn in Texas, too; first, they turn brown and then they turn "loose."
Thanks, Guys.
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