Glad to hear you got back in one piece. Sounds like you had a great trip other than the plane ride. My wife and I are considering traveling to those areas next year if we decide to drive to Seattle for a business conference. I know it's a 2750 mile ride (one way) and an air plane would be quicker, but after hearing your story, I like my chances driving better.

BTW, many years ago, before I was married, I flew from Baltimore to Burlington NC in a Cessna 182. Both the pilot and co-pilot were friends, I learned afterwards that neither had a pilots license (both had taken the courses) and the pilot only had one eye (the other one was glass). It struck me funny when we arrived by way of a rather rough landing, the pilot said "any landing you can walk away from is a good landing!"
I had no choice but to fly home with them, but I was a bit more concerned on the return trip.