Contemplating a return

If all goes well, 70L will be better than ever in the next few days. Once the engine work is complete, I will need to conduct some test flights at Peoria. Once we know the engine is running well, I will need to fly it for an hour or two and then let Mike have it back to verify that all of the new cylinders are functioning as well as possible. Once we get past that step, it will be time to begin the return flight home, weather permitting as always.

I've decided that I want to avoid overflying the mountains of Pennsylvania on the return trip home. Given the overhaul, I'd rather stay over terrain that offers plenty of options for off-airport landings should one turn out to be necessary. Corn fields and country roads are a lot more inviting than heavily-forested mountains. :-)

To avoid the mountains, I'll stay much closer to Lake Erie than I did on the outbound route. Once past Cleveland, I'll stay close to the Lake, avoiding the mountains in favor of much lower terrain. This won't add measurably to the length of the trip but will be a more conservative route and will also offer new scenery -- always a bonus!

If the weather allows, I'll likely fly from Peoria, IL all the way back to Glens Falls in one day. A direct line would be 728 NM (nautical miles) -- 837 statute miles -- in length. Navigating around the lake will increase the length of the route to 772 NM (888 SM): not bad at all. The image below shows my tentative route, which allows me to claim Michigan by landing at Branch County Memorial Airport in Coldwater, MI.