It was hot in Apple Valley, surely over 30C, and I taxied to takeoff with a door ajar. I forgot to close the door prior to the takeoff, and I noticed this later on high elevation, only when I begun to freeze. Interesting was to discover that in a Piper the door cannot be closed in flight! Air flow holds it some half inch ajar with such an astonishing force, that the door cannot be pulled in by hand! I did not wanted land to close the door. I decided rather put on a sweater, switch on full air heat and to keep flying. This was a mistake. I got a cold and a sinus problem, what has taken away some of the joy of the entire adventure.

Only during this flight I discovered the awesome beauty of the red rock formations at Sedona. I knew instantly: On the way back I will deviate slightly and land in Sedona. On this day however, I wanted to make more distance, and last further to the east in Arizona. The mountain range around Sedona is at approx. 8000'. The plateau of New Mexico is almost 2000' lower than the rocks at Sedona, and in shadow of the setting sun. I landed in Winslow, AZ at the elevation of 4941', almost in a complete darkness. One nice surprise was a life performance of Country and Western Music at the cafe on the field. After 'the dinner and the music' my pickup from the hotel has arrived, and that was the end of the 1st day.