My coffee is always black. Black like my heart, I say! 
Been away finishing up some projects for the year, and just catching up on this thread. Thanks to everyone for putting the time in on those write-ups!
Went into Manhattan to get my share of Christmas “hustle and bustle” and came upon a fresh Stroopwafle stand.
OMG, I didn’t think Stroopwafles could get any better!
OMG. I think I need an insulin shot just looking at those 
LOL, the toppings can be a bit over the top. But a freshly made waffle with hot caramel?
Fuggedaboudit!
@Deacon211 You are well on your way to a bad influencer title…
Not fresh (which I would imagine are 100 times better) but Stroopwafels are avaialable in Australia - Yay 
Decisions, decisions:
Online
ALDI
Woolworths
First leg coming up. I’ve completed a few more but haven’t had the time to crop the screenshots yet.
Departing KBUR for KLAS:
Offloading cargo in SOCAL.
Offload complete, gonna be a light takeoff.
Letting MSFS do the work on setting up pretty screenshots.
Landing in Vegas.
frontseater : this was inevitable, you know
backseater : I hate water, especially salty !
in preparation for some next legs we did some home work around the airport first.
backseater : hope you know what you are doing
frontseater : just smile and wave !
frontseater : did you see that kids !? you can be my wingmen anytime … if you can keep up ! 
Leg 40 Raleigh–Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (KRDU) TO Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte North Carolina, USA (KCLT)
Well guys and dolls, this is it. The last leg for me. There were a few times there, especially sitting in my raft off the coast of Australia, that I didn’t think I’d make it.
But here we are.
I was looking for something special for the last leg, and thought, what’s more appropriate to deliver my final Christmas gift than the old Curtis JN-4 “Jenny” courtesy of inibuilds in Airmail livery by Greenhopper?
113NM today between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Since I’ve been slacking in the navigation department, I figured it was time to earn my flight pay today and kick it old school. No GPS and, since it’s a Jenny, no radio nav
either.
Hmmm, and it would appear, no compass.
Maybe I should rethink this? 
Nah! What’s the worst that could happen?
Off we go, for the last time!
Um, I might want to rephrase that.
With no compass, I’m kind of TLARing here based on the runway heading.
I honk a big left-hand turn over the highway…
and point myself towards the head of Jordan Lake, a difficult to miss landmark.
Even for me. 
Flying mostly over forest, I choose the better part of valor and fly IFR (I Follow Roads). Specifically, I’m looking to lean north of course and follow US 64 to Asheboro then pick up NC 49 to CLT.
Sounds good in theory, at least!
I get off to a decent start by finding US 15 west of Jordan Lake. It should take me south to Pittsboro, which will put me on US 64.
Here’s 64.
Looks like smooth sailing from here on out!
Things start off OK. 64 holds straight as an arrow until Siler City, then peters out a bit as it enters the town.
When…
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
Which I hope leads to Asheville
(that’s not part of the original poem…can you imagine? )
Then things begin to take a turn for the confusing.
I continue along 64 looking to cross the Deep River near Franklinville.
But the next town I see is a mess of roads and 64 is lost again. Plus, this looks too big to be Franklinville.
I wouldn’t say that I’m lost.
It doesn’t mean that I’m not. I just wouldn’t say it! 
Out of the corner of my eye, I spy the unmistakable oblong clearing of an airfield.
I sidle on over, all nonchalant like, and spot a runway, 03/21. That’s Asheboro Muni I’m thinking.
I’m back in the game!
Angling the runway off my tail, I try to find NC 49.
But it’s down in the trees there somewhere. I head off on my best guess.
After what seems like a long uncertain time…
what I’m hoping is Badin Lake comes into view off the nose.
And, as the sun begins to set, the unmistakable duals of Stanly County near Albemarle.
I’m getting close, but I’m also down to about 40% fuel. I really would like to see the lights of Charlotte soon.
The ceiling lowers as rain begins to fall…
But the road lights, which have just come on, point my way to my destination, and a good Christmas meal.
Charlotte! And the beautiful (and kind of unrealistic) blue lights of Charlotte’s taxiways.
That’s probably more runway than I’m going to need.
Probably. 
And here we are. The end of my journey.
40 legs this year. 22,864NM.
For our founder, @BeachAV8R I have something special.
From Iceland, a rare vinyl pressing of:
Bjork’s Greatest Hits. You haven’t heard Bjork until you’ve heard her in the original vinyl.
In a way, I envy you. And your neighbors…
To all my friends, all around the world, I wish you my traditional Christmas Greeting:
And so said Old Santa
As the Fed clicked his pen.
Merry Christmas to all!
And RTFM!
@Deacon211 Epic, Epic journey and a thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish. I salute you Sir 
Nice job!
I won’t make the trip before Christmas, but maybe shortly after.
Made it to CLT today but here’s a couple of the earlier legs.
Vegas to El Paso:
Next day loading up pallets of liquid goodies. Today’s pickup is, naturally, boxes of Shiner.
Departing ELP for DFW.
On deck in the cargo ramp at DFW. Picking up another one of my favorites:
Congrats on making it to CLT.
That BBA stout is right up my alley!
Congrats @Deacon211 and respect for making it all around the world and on time.
Did you visit all participants along the way?
I am still stuck in Goose Bay. At least I am no longer in Europe 
I hope to make it to KCLT in January.
Brilliant report as always and congrats on an amazing journey!
I’m hoping to complete today.
Thanks guys and big respect to all the participants this year, long and short!
I managed to visit every ‘Spiker that signed up in like post three. 12 I think.
There were a few late joiners that I, unfortunately, didn’t get to visit.
Maybe next year!
Having spent a few days helping repair the windows in Fredericton and allowing HP’s bonce to heal, with Christmas rapidly approaching I need to get a move on.
Having a quick interweb squiz on what to pickup at the local deli, apparently its all about Dulse…
Stinky Stinky
Dulse for the curious, is “seaweed harvested by hand and dried by the sun”. Its then eaten as is, like you would potato chips.
Sounds perfect for mudspikers. Proper beer crips.
Leg 8: CYFC → KPHL Philadephia International
I was met on the ramp by Hairy Palms, he’d ditched the bandage, but not the attitude. Climbing onboard, he had a faint sniff of the air in the cabin. It did smell like seaside on a hot summer day.
Runway 27 departure. Snowy start.
Climb out
It looked bitterly cold outside as we climbed away, what Canada should look like.
Cold and crisp
With all the snow about, I expected the wind to be coming from the north, but it was blowing a hoolie from the south. All this meant I was making just over 250kts ground speed.
Say “cheese” HP… actually say anything
Crossing in to New England the checking progress on the map, there was a lot of familiar place names.
Manchester, arriiiiite yeah, y’know like.
After the pace of the Hornet, this really felt slow, but it was nice to be back in a familiar cockpit. I’d programmed an ILS landing, having checked the frequency this time, just in case the weather closed in at Philly.
Descending over Scranton…
Sure enough at 3,000ft, there was low ground fog which was obscuring much. After I captured the Localiser and Glideslope, things cleared up a bit.
Misty
The Streets of Philidelphia…
Its all looking good.
Coming in over the water, we passed over what looked like a Nimitz class aircraft carrier, all calm no dramas, which makes a change.
Naval retirement shipyard
Down and parked.
A nice steady landing and arrived in Philidelphia, now to go and find @Deacon211 and drop off some goodies, before starting the final leg.
Welcome! It’s cold here, but I have beer!
Ready for the final leg, Dover AFB to Charlotte Intl. At the dawn of 25th Dec, Christmas Day, we prepare our flight in Dover. The C-17 is ready for the last few miles to the destination of this Christmas Trek.
Loaded with the presents from various countries, the C-17 is still half empty. Maybe we should pack an AH-64 in to celebrate Chuck’s latest guide?
No surprises before taking off, all is in good order.
We’re head south-south-west, roughly 240 degress and cross the Eastern US.
Fly in straight, but which runway are they referring to? Oops.
There it is, slightly off to the left.
Our low and slow approach, yikes.
But managed to get a decent landing in and off the runway already. Not quite sure I’m supposed to take this taxiway though 
Finally we’re here, it’s Christmas, for a change I’m on time. The trek was composed of a total of nine legs:
- Ramstein - Hamburg
- Hamburg - Bergen
- Bergen - Faroe
- Faroe - Keflavik
- Keflavik - Gander
- Gander - Halifax
- Halifax - Hanscom
- Hanscom - Dover
- Dover - Charlotte
One crash happened on the Faroe islands with the foulest of weathers… Some not exactly stellar landings as well, but in general it worked out well for me as casual virtual pilot.
I quite enjoyed the C-17 mod and look forward to further improvements to it! Feels right to fly it out of Ramstein AFB.
Thanks for the many stories and screens on this thread here, it’s as every year a very nice addition to mudspike!
Now let’s unload those German beers, Norwegian salmon, Faroean (sp?) dried fish, Icelandic veggies and Boston donuts Here for a party! 
Happy Christmas,
TeTeT