Transponder OK

I guess my transponder can't speak French. Or something. I power-cycled that thing several times while in Quebec airspace and the controller claimed she never could see it. Same with Montreal.

I talked to Rockcliffe's AME and he had a quick look, but said it appeared to be working from external signs. He suggested I take the plane for a couple of circuits and ask Gatineau or Ottawa whether they could see it now. As I was preparing to do that, I got a call from an old friend from the MDI/Motorola days who is also a pilot, and he gave me good suggestions on getting back to BC without needing a transponder. Because, speaking from his experience, it always takes much longer to get repairs than you think. It fit with the story too from the Rockcliffe AME, who knows the avionics repair guys very well and said they were always really busy (they are the only ones in Ottawa that do this kind of work), but he would try to call them himself if the transponder still didn't respond. But he knew I wouldn't hear from them until at least Tuesday.

So I filed a flight plan to Sault Saint Marie from Ottawa and took off in the circuit. The Ottawa terminal said almost immediately "Foxtrot Papa Alpha Kilo, radar identified" on first contact, so I guess the transponder either needed a rest or I didn't recycle the power correctly after all. First time this has happened me. Chalk it up to experience. At least I had time for lunch from Tony's BBQ on the lawn of the Rockcliffe Flying Club.

I'm currently in Sault Saint Marie, after refueling in Sudbury. I didn't think I'd make it this far, but the predicted warm front arrival at Sault from the southwest stalled over Lake Superior, and it was just starting to get cloudy as I arrived (Broken at 8500). I talked to London radio several times enroute to ensure that the weather was staying OK, and other than a 10-15knot headwind, it was pretty smooth.

I flew up the Ottawa River from Ottawa to NorthBay that is a really pretty countryside from the air, especially northwest of Pembroke towards NorthBay. The sky was really clear today - also got some great pics of Montreal and the surrounding countryside. I'll see if I have time to post a few later -- gotta get some dinner now. Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions.