Flying the Edge of America
The Trip of a Lifetime
The actual route flown
In the summer of 2008, my wife and I embarked on an unforgettable journey, flying our small, single-engine airplane around the perimeter of the contiguous United States of America. Along our route, we encountered the charm of America's small towns, the grandeur of its National Parks, and the significance of its National Monuments. The scenery stretching between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks proved particularly breathtaking, surpassing even my most vivid imaginings. I firmly believe that the USA boasts the most stunning countryside in the world. This is not a casual statement, as I have had the privilege of witnessing diverse and beautiful landscapes across many countries. While every continent offers its unique allure, North America truly has it all, from vast deserts to majestic snow-capped mountains, and nearly every type of natural beauty in between. It is a formidable challenge to compete with the sheer natural splendor of North America.
A fallen redwood in Jedediah Smith State Park
Our adventure, the most perilous and exhilarating of our lives, led us through unexpected and severe weather, including intense thunderstorms and close encounters with hurricanes. As we departed Galveston and flew over a murky brown sea, Hurricane Ike intensified and moved into the Gulf of Mexico, rapidly expanding in size. Ike maintained a powerful structure across much of the Gulf as it continued to grow. On September 13th, 2008, just four days after our departure from Galveston, Ike made landfall on the island as a strong Category 2 hurricane. The storm generated a massive storm surge that overtopped the seawall, causing widespread and devastating damage. A wall of water inundated the city. Ike, a hurricane spanning 600 miles in width, flooded coastal towns beyond Galveston and inflicted extensive damage across metropolitan Houston. Winds gusted up to 100 miles per hour, peeling steel sheets off skyscrapers, shattering bus shelters, and blowing out windows. Had our airplane been parked at the airport, I can only imagine the damage it would have sustained.
Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park
By the conclusion of our three-month journey, we had flown an impressive 10,000 miles and spent 70 hours soaring through the skies above the USA. We also gained a profound appreciation for a land far more complex than we had ever conceived, vaster than we could have imagined, and more breathtakingly beautiful than our wildest dreams.
After a year of dedicated work, my wife and I published a book chronicling our remarkable flight around the edge of America. The book recounts our adventurous journey and the experiences that led us to a deeper understanding and love for our adopted country.