The previous year, on our flight in the Arrow to California, Juvy and I had enjoyed our brief visit to the Dakotas and surrounding states. So, 13 months on, we decided to take another trip and spend a bit more time in that region of the country. Mike, my friend from university and a private pilot, had been listening with envy to my tales of flying in the USA and so we invited him to come out and join us on our adventure in one of the flying club C172s.

As well as North and South Dakota, we planned to spend some time in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana, as well as brief stops in other states on the way home.

Mike arrived a couple of days before we set out, and I introduced him to American life (including desserts with 2,500 calories), and finished our preparations. Soon it was time to set out on another adventure.

Click here to start reading about the trip, or use the links below.

• Section 1: Pittsburgh, PA to Mitchell, SD
• Section 2: Mitchell, SD to Spearfish, SD
• Section 3: Spearfish, SD to Yellowstone, WY
• Section 4: Yellowstone, WY to Bismark, ND
• Section 5: Bismark, ND to Pittsburgh, PA