I just realized this AM that it’s been like 3 weeks since I first started my story & I need to finish it….
We got up & around fairly quickly on Monday as we knew it would be a race with the weather. After some breakfast (we were actually ready before Weenie & Lead & we thought this was very funny!!!) we travelled to the airstrip to prep the planes. It’s been dewy so this involves drying off all the leading edges & pulling off the canopy covers. The biggest challenge for us was stowing all the luggage. Originally when he came down, he wasn’t planning on having a passenger so he did not pack as lightly. Keep in mind I only had my backpack, purse & camera bag, a major feat for me. So we are literally stuffing into the cargo bay & putting smaller things around me in the back & whatever we can up on the turtle deck & still keep it safe. We did manage to do it though.
While they briefed for the flight, I said my goodbyes to Ginny, George & gang. We got some lunches/snacks from Ginny & George handed us a foot tall stack of photos he didn’t want anymore, of older gatherings. We managed to find a safe spot for those in the box inside. I looked at them a couple weeks ago, they are amazing pictures, many of them signed by the guys. Also did a quick trip through the head & got my hair wrangled under a hat. We’re ready for wheels-up. Can’t believe it’s over already!
Our original plan was to head north over land & skirt between the weather. One thing to note is the 319 has a smaller engine (220) vs. Lead & Weenie’s which are either 275 or 325s so being Three can be challenging because getting take-off just right is key to them not getting too far ahead. We did allow them a bit too much lead time, but then we had a cylinder drop out & it was running pretty rough. He cycled through the left & right mag’s and it fired back up. Now we had quite a bit of distance to make up so it was hard on the smash to get there.
We got going and the weather just got worse with every few minutes. I’m just trying to keep quiet so they can discuss what they want to do. Lead & WM have collision avoidance but we don’t and I don’t think anyone has IFR to land. So basically, if you can’t see, you can’t fly. And we’re there. We were trying to shoot to Gainesville & then land & re-assess but we’re not going to make it. We circle back & land in Ocala. We’re hoping this is just an hour or so layover until the weather passes.
We hang out at the airport a bit, watching the weather & talking with other pilots coming in. Not looking good. They loan us a car & we go to the mall & get some cards, some ice cream & walk around for a bit. Lead’s not feeling well & he’s not sure why. Which is making him more cautious & sensitive to the situation. WM has a big staff meeting tomorrow & he’s trying to figure out if he’s going to be there or not. We decide to stop & get coffee at Starbucks & it is pouring down. EE & I get soaking wet, there are no parking spots & I can’t get the van door to close! We do make it back, my hiney is soaking wet because the guys didn’t shut the door either & we’re just laughing.
At the airport we play some Euchre & I’m so not used to playing single deck but EE doesn’t mind as he’s out of practice too & we just have a good time. It’s still raining. And it’s getting later at this point. We decide to stay over for the night (another night with him, dang! I was actually totally thrilled) but I have to call my boss & let him know I’m not going to be at work tomorrow & the rest of the week’s not looking good for weather.
We get checked into a hotel, have a drink in the bar, and then we find the “anti-hooters” wing place. Just like hooters, but they wear black. They put me in charge of navigation. This is bad & they are quickly realizing this. We had a good dinner together & then back to the hotel for another beer & talking before bed. It is so weird being the youngest by 10 years & that 2 of them are almost old enough to be my dad.
We go back to the room after a while & are laying in this huge king-sized bed talking. And the conversation dies out & I think he’s asleep so I sort of half-mumble “I love you, Chuck” thinking he’s not going to hear. But he’s not asleep. And now my heart is up into my throat. And he says something like “I’ve been thinking the same thing, but it’s just really scary to say”. And he never does. And now I’m about to cry. I should never have opened my big fat mouth. I know it was too soon & I should have just kept it to myself & I wonder when I’m ever going to learn!
We get up, have some breakfast at the hotel & decide to go hang out in the airport, just in case, but it’s not looking good. We get there, and I realize I left my jacket in the room, so we go back, just us 2 & get it. Everyone’s busy checking radar & satellite & all the pilot specific weather stuff like where the cloud ceiling is, etc. They would prefer 500 and at least broken, but overcast is bad. Right now, most everything around us is 300 & overcast. So it has to lift. They decide if we can get 500 broken to the coast, we’ll just go up the coastline, but it’s not looking good. They think I should scramble for a smoker & go home (commercial). I pull EE aside & ask him what he thinks, I have no idea. WM checked, there is a flight out of Gainesville (40 minutes by car) at 2:30. So we decide right after lunch is decision time.
We go for a walk on the ramp & just enjoy our last day of Florida warmness & we see the sun start peeking out. Encouraging. So we grab some lunch & it gets a lot better. So we decide quickly to load up & head for the coast. We’re up in like 15. He tosses me all of his nav charts and starts instructing me on how to read them & find the airports that we might need if we get into trouble. And the towers to avoid. It’s stressful, but I eventually get the hang of it. They decide they want to try north again, but we get into soup & we do a 270 and head east. Once we get to the coast, we don’t have to worry about towers & can fly 500 all the way to Hilton Head. Which is what we do. We stop for fuel & realize it is much more clear. We get half cup of coffee & a cookie with a bathroom break & then we are back up.
We have to head west at this point & fly over land, so it’s back to the nav charts. And he gives me the GPS too, to help. We fly over Ashland, NC and can see the Biltmore. Going over the mountains is a bit bumpy & there are warnings on the maps about where it is especially turbulent. The sun starts peeking out and that is totally cool. They were originally going to land in London, KY for fuel, but decide to push on to Lexington.
We land, it is freezing at this point! Or at least I am. And I had my jacket on. I hustle into the terminal, take a head stop & get another ½ cup of coffee to warm up. Then he tells me he can turn on the heat! Yes, please that would be lovely. Everyone is all business at this point as they are trying to get home before too late/dark. We take 15 & are back up. The workers there want a shot of they guys in front of the planes so we make sure they get that. Taxi-ing out he tells me of the last time he was there in Lexington & the bad controller operator he had to deal with.
After we hit Indiana, Lead & WM break off & head north, we head over to Indy. The first few minutes of being on our own was a bit spooky, it’s starting to cool off (it’s now 32) and get dusky. But it’s also intimate in a weird way & we talk and I just look around. Before I know it we’re hitting Greenwood & then you can see downtown Indy. And then we are landing at IND. And that is crazy. I’ve landed there a million times but this time is very different. We get to our terminal, and he fuels up ($7.11/gallon the most we’ve paid the whole time) and gets back up. He’s got another hour or so flight to BTL so he can hanger & get his car. Then drive back down to Marion. He’s thinking he’s not going to work tonight.
I get shuttled over to my car, have no trouble finding it & start heading north. I’m still pretty cold so I’m cranking up the heat & wondering if I’ll be able to get something to eat & drink soon. I was able to get some Starbucks and a wrap at Chick-fil-a and then headed on home. Did fine until I hit about Converse & then got really sleepy. I did make it home OK & found out the cat had stunk up the bathroom so bad. I was about to cry. One because I’m tired & don’t want to deal with it, two because I can’t stand that. She’s out tomorrow. I get cleaned up what I can & then I fall into my bed. My dad had very nicely kept them Monday & Tuesday night for me. But now I’m anxious to see them!
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