Quick update from Margo:  Two overnights with Ralliers before arriving at Meadow Lake provided cameraderie and good fellowship. First night was Thunder Bay, second night was Yorkton where the FBO operator loaned us a van to keep overnight for transportation to and from airport. Dinner was not disappointing at a Greek restaurant, it was fantastic in a private dinning area with
wall murals of views of Greece. A superb photo opportunity.
Local press interviewed Dee Birchmore and some other Rally particiants. On leaving next morning, the press lady took our group picture with 18 cameras (ours) before getting her own shot forthe paper. I think she liked us. Plenty of laughter!
Blue skies are huge, daylight hours long, terrain mostly flat with few trees in the south changing slightly as we prooceed north.
They refer to the “living sky” in Saskatchewan, it is awesome, so big!

The beauty of Meadow Lake airstip  stands out in the vast prairie plain as a beacon inviting us to land. At morning briefing, Dee Birchore told us there would be a chair with a red sweater on it beside the runway to indicate the landing spot, 1000 feet from button of runway and beside the runway a guy sitting in a truck making notes for scoring. A good challenge for us. 17 planes arrived and finally Dee arrived to a reception of love, fame and pride from her home town community. His worship,the Mayor of Meadow Lake, local press, relatives, friends were waiting
in a hanger to receive the women pilots. We were thanked
enthusiastically for choosing their town as our destination. A reception of homemade goodies including a decorated cake welcoming the 99s hot and cold drinks touched our hearts. Everyone was extremely hospitible, eager to tour us around, feed us and help out with our airplanes. A local capable mechanic was ready to help make minor repairs if required.
Western hospitality was overwhelming and very appreciated by the 99s. A big thank you to Dee and all her relatives.

There will be more later.
Margo

News received from the Ralliers enRoute:

Getting to the Rally!

[Susan Begg] "For Sharron and I, the flight from Rockcliffe (CYRO) to Buttonville was 2 hours, arriving at 6:45.  We waited for the thunderstorms to pass through Ottawa, which gave me more time to get ready."

[Margo] "Planes departed Buttonville airport Sunday morning June 27th.  Margo McCutcheon and Marilyn Dickson touched down in Wawa, Ontario at 4:30 PM.  The other planes were close behind.  More news to follow.."

[Susan] "We spent our first night in CYQT at the Victoria Inn.  We had a separate room just for our party to dine in.  Everyone looked very exhausted.  By the time we all got there and finished eating it was 10:00 PM.  After dinner, Sharron and I enjoyed the large pool and water slide...   We had a laptop but no phone cord - until we get one, we will not be able to connect to send pictures for the website."

[Margo] "Eating record amounts of food!  Susan and Sharron went on the water slide at our exclusive hotel."

Day 2, Monday Wawa to Winnipeg

[Margo, Early in the Day]"Headwinds should be lighter today than yesterday.  New challenges are

to be presented at breakfast today in Thunder Bay."

[Margo, Later] "Seven aircraft out of nine have landed in Winnipeg.  Time here is 1:38 PM.

The big challenge on this leg was a time and fuel estimate.  Leader Marilyn Dickson is collecting 

fuel slips from the refueller to accurately judge the pilot's calculations.  There haven't been any

arguments yet, but we have had a lot of giggle sessions.  Weather is CAVOK.  Cheers, Margo"

[Marilyn] "All arrived safely in Winnipeg, had lunch, exchanged old challenges for new challenges

for the next leg to Yorkton.  High pressure system with the best wx in the country.  Margo has a

new job driving the airport courtesy van back and forth, shuttling 18 women between their 

airplanes and hotel rooms.  We're torn between going to the Casino or watching the election results.

End of day 2 (seems like 4).  Blue skies and warm temps.  Cheers to all, Rally members 2004".

[Susan] "So far we have had excellent weather and have been able to proceed on the pre-planned

course.  There were photos to identify for the Buttonville-Wawa leg and for the Wawa-Thunder 

Bay leg. We departed CYQT around 10:00 this a.m. and have all safely landed at Winnipeg

International.  We are at the Shell FBO, eating, me e-mailing, and will plan the next leg and final

(for today) to Yorkton.  The leg to Winnipeg was 3.5 - 4 hours depending on the aircraft.  We

had to estimate our fuel and time before we left.  These figures will be finalized by Marilyn

after we fuel up.  We had questions to answer to this leg."

Map showing Meadow Lake (Red dot)

The Trip Home.. 

[Susan] "The trip back went as perfect as the Rally itself.  Sharron and I departed Meadow Lake 

at 15:55 Z, refueled at Brandon and Thunder Bay, then went on to the Sault.  We arrived at the

Sault after a beautiful sunset behind us and a rising full moon ahead.  We heard the fire works 

about a half hour after landing.  We stayed at a friend of Sharron's overnight.  We slept in, and 

later that afternoon visited the Sault Art Gallery to visit a Roberta Bondar photo collection. We 

heard Anna and Corinne who were enroute towards Wiarton.  Also on July 1st, we heard several

rally planes headed for Wawa, and Anna/Lyn were far ahead of us, probably made it to Toronto.

Any of you with digital cameras, send all your photos to Sharron.  We are going to compile and

burn selected photos to a CD and send a copy to all participants.  This Rally will live on!"

[Akky] ..delayed in Winnipeg due to rough engine.  A fouled spark plug! By the time it was

cleaned, the weather had deteriorated.  May head home via Air Canada.  Cruise on the Red

River in the rain.  Lunch at the Forks.  Visited revolving restaurant.  

[Anne] Stopped in Dauphin, by the Riding Mountains.  Then onto Thunder Bay and Wawa.

Watched the fireworks from the beach in Wawa - a treat! Trip home to Brampton was great.

[Julie-Anne] Left Meadow Lake Thursday a.m..  Stopped in Yorkton, then Winnipeg, for fuel.

Spent the night at International Falls, Minnesota.  Friday - travelled to Duluth MN, Land O Lakes,

then Gore Bay, and finally to Hamilton.  "This rally was one of the best flying experiences I

have had in my short flying career.  The best part of all was meeting all of you!  I look forward

to meeting all of you again in the coming months.  I know that a lot of work went into the 

organization of this event and I wish to extend my sincere thanks for all of the hard work on

a job well done.  You are a great bunch of ladies!".