ATC Saved My Life Today

When I was returning from my flight today (see previous post) I got flight following from KIND about 20 miles north of the field. 
I was traveling at 3500' in a southeasterly path.
When I got to about 15 miles north, ATC gave me an advisory that there was another aircraft at my 11 o'clock at 3300'.  The controller said if I didn't have them in sight to immediately climb to 4000'.  I climbed without hesitation.  Then I saw the airplane.  From my 10 o'clock coming straight toward my previous location and circling underneath me.  The plane was an expiermental with a wing at the back of the plane and a canard up front.  There was very little chance that this person had seen me.  They were clearly maneuvering.  If I hadn't been instructed to climb, this plane would have been within 100 feet of me, if not closer.
Thank you IND ATC.
For all of you out there who don't file flight plans and don't use flight following, ask yourself...is not having to talk to someone worth your life? 

Pilot-N-Paws Flight Number 4!

As I mentioned in the last post, I joined a new flying club.  I did my checkout flight on saturday the 30th and I did a pilot-n-paws rescue flight.  I took a lot of photos, so I'll cut the text short.
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Summary:
KHFY -> 4I7 -> KDKB -> KCLI -> KLAF -> KHFY
I left from Greenwood to go to pick up the puppies from the rescuer.
From there I flew to Dekalb to get fuel.
Then to Clintonville to drop of the puppies with the new owners.
I flew home from there and I wanted to try to make it the whole way, but I wasn't getting the groundspeed I needed in order to make it.  I stopped in Lafayette because I haven't before.
The hour flight home from Lafayette was easy and short.
Now to the photos:

An early morning start.  On the way to 4I7

Somewhere boring in Indiana.

The Rescuers.  Getting ready to pack the puppies up for the trip.

Trees!!!!

They are in there sleeping.

At least until I woke them up.

Yep, they are wearing puppy sweaters.

Some college in southern Wisconsin

Wisconsin has prettier lakes than Indiana.

"scenery"

It was 1:00 pm and I was starving.  There was no crew car and no one else around.  I ordered a pizza.  Great decision.

I think that is Lake Geneva, WI.

Some neat shallow lake.

Cruising along at 7500'.  The Garmin Aera is an amazing tool. Hooray Central Indiana Aero Club.

Northern Illinois.  You can see a lot of wind turbines if you look closely.

Rockin' the Suburbs!

mmmm, wind power!

01 Lima on the ramp in KLAF after getting fuel.

On the way home between Lafayette and Indianapolis.

My old home airport is over there.  KEYE

IND International.  I'm getting to fly over the top at 4000'

A better look at international.

Almost Home!

First and Final Flights

Well, things are changing a little bit.  I'm going to be leaving the flying club I am in as soon as I can find someone to sell my share.  As a parting gift to myself, I took the C172 out to check out the fall colors.  It was a day before the big storms that came through and knocked off the rest of the leaves.  I snapped a few photos, but other than that, it was uneventful.

 

However, I have found the replacement for Sky-Vu.  It is a C152 out at Greenwood.  A lot fewer people (only 2-3 instead of 60).  I don't really need the nice airplanes and can save some money by flying something like this:

Tomorrow I'm going to be making a Pilot-n-Paws flight up to Wisconsin, near Green Bay.  More on that later.