Neil Bratney wrote:


ZMP: "Roger, I've got you returning to MIC. Maintain 8,500 and navigate
to maintain VFR."

Why did ZMP tell you to maintain 8500? Are you sure that's what they
even said? They have no business restricting your altitude.

ZMP tells me
to descend and maintain 4,500, and I pick my way through the clouds.

Again, why?



As I'm cutting back west toward the Cities, I'm getting closer and close
to these tall, low clouds I've been watching this whole time. At 4,500,
I have plenty distance from clouds, but now I'm in the rain and my
visibility is probably 4-5 miles.

When I'm handed off to Minneapolis Approach, they tell me to maintain
3,000' and fly direct "Gopher." Gopher? What is that? The VOR? Does
that mean I'm cleared on that route? (Can someone help me out with
this? ATC giving clearances to Navaids to VFR pilots?) So I do as I'm
told and head at about 230 degrees to the VOR.

Gopher is a VOR on the northern edge of the Twin Cities not too far from
Crystal and Anoka County.



Thanks for reading my story. Any thoughts, comments, questions? Anyone
with similar experiences as new or old pilots?

Should have landed sooner and waited, there's a lot of airports in that
area.



Can anyone explain my clearance to GEP?

Sounds like you were in the class B. Inside the B ATC can move you
because they have to separate you from everybody else.