Editor:This column has been pretty serious lately. Time to go fly.

I live in Morgantown, WV, home of West Virginia University. My wife, Mary Alice, and I retired here in 2004 after some 35 years in the Washington, DC area where I worked as a journalist. Morgantown, which is located about 70 (ground) miles south of Pittsburgh, is our old hometown and it was nice to come back after some 45 years "on the road" because it put us right back in the Appalachian / Allegheny / Blue Ridge mountain range, where we really wanted to be. This is also where I love to fly most.

Since our countryside is so different from theirs, friends who live in the Rockies have been asking for some pictures. So, while hoping not to be accused of bragging, here are some..taken mostly while one hand held a small digital camera and the other hand held the airplane; a couple of times, I admit to having help from my Grandson, Michael and Son, Jeff. Whatever, I hope you'll enjoy the ride. We sure did.

Climbout from KMGW's runway 18. Turn 90 degrees left and you'll want about 4000 feet to get over Chestnut ridge..which is, by the way, the last big ridge of the Allegheny chain. You may notice that the airplane's side windows are down.

We're going right up the Cheat River canyon. Cooper's Rock, a local landmark and park, is up ahead.

This is Chestnut Ridge. These shots were taken in August. This area looks like a brightly colored rug by mid October.

Up on top. How many miles can you see?

We're IFR (I Follow Roads). This is I-68 as it goes over Keyer's Ridge west of Cumberland, MD. The Ridge is one of the highest points of the crossing in this region. It's interesting to see such large and beautiful farms up here..lots of rolling plateau on top.

Windmills generating electricity on that ridge in the distance. This is near Grantsville, MD.

Homeward bound. We're dropping over Chestnut Ridge again; that's I-68 below and Morgantown airport is in the middle distance.

Line 'er up with 18 for a long final.

Have you noticed what a strong union airplanes have? If you don't feed 'em, they don't work. I'm the one with the credit card.

John Strope is the guy who takes care of my neat old airplane. This reminder is on the wall of his office. He's right, of course.

Let's do this again sometime. Send me some pictures of your neighborhood and I'll publish the best ones.

Meanwhile, go fly if you can. It's good for the soul.

Jim Slade 8/31/2006

Click here for a previous Left Seat column.