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Just Flying Around

mafitch said:
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Gratuitous image to make people hungry
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I have never heard of Brother's Cafe. A bit far from King Salmon, but I might have to find an opportunity to buzz over anyway. Looks amazing. When I am driving through Soldotna either direction I always stop at Odie's, didn't know there was an amazing on-field option.
 
BananAppeal said:
Misled by an LA Times article touting a superbloom at Anza Borrego State Park, we flew from KSZP to Borrego Springs (L08) to see them. No masses of flowers visible from the air (except in one of the zillions of So Cal. housing subdivisions). Also, their fuel was out of order so we didn’t want to fly around the area too much looking for flower patches. Turned around and headed home with a stop at French Valley (F70) for fuel. Today’s 3.6 hours took me over the 500-hour threshold at last.

Nice view of the San Gabriel Mountains on the way southeast. Desert around L08 looked pretty drab, but the clouds were nice.View attachment 12719
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500 hours is a pretty significant moment. Most pilots never get close, it takes some real ongoing engagement in aviation to get there for most people.

Are the flowers still coming or was the bloom already past? Might need to head out and look again every few days I suppose? I remember seeing a lot of flowers on one or another of my Santa Paula stints, but I don't recall anything about the actual calendar dates.
 
Troy Hamon said:
500 hours is a pretty significant moment. Most pilots never get close, it takes some real ongoing engagement in aviation to get there for most people.

Are the flowers still coming or was the bloom already past? Might need to head out and look again every few days I suppose? I remember seeing a lot of flowers on one or another of my Santa Paula stints, but I don't recall anything about the actual calendar dates.
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Thanks, Troy. I am nothing if not stubborn.

Flowers probably are still coming. I’ve seen lots of fabulous poppies both in the Antelope Valley reserve and over the Grapevine, as well as around here. Lupine, too. I think i will settle for those rather than flying back to San Diego County
 
Have been jammed for time with work and some unusual responsibilities at home the last week. Between that and wx, our plane hadn’t been flown for a couple of weeks, so I took it up to move the oil around.

The Mugu controllers were “unable flight following; try again in 15 minutes.” Just when I thought to take a photo I heard the controller tell another plane there was someone she wasn’t talking to at their altitude within two miles. Right, it was me; no flight following, remember. Between traffic and turbulence at the coastline, and having accomplished the oil warming mission, I decided to return to the airport and get back to my land-based deadlines.

So, no photos, but it was one of the most beautiful flights I’ve ever made, if short. It was about 5:30 and “just after a storm” clear. From 4,500 feet I could easily see 25 miles in all directions. The ocean was shining, the hills were green, and at that time of day the sun caught windows and reflectors on the ground perfectly to create colorful little glows.
 
BananAppeal said:
... So, no photos, but it was one of the most beautiful flights I’ve ever made, if short. It was about 5:30 and “just after a storm” clear. From 4,500 feet I could easily see 25 miles in all directions. The ocean was shining, the hills were green, and at that time of day the sun caught windows and reflectors on the ground perfectly to create colorful little glows.
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You've described part of what keeps me flying year after year.
 
Short flight this morning as I am taking my dad up tomorrow. The note on the bug sponge said I put it away Oct 14, 2023.
6 months of no bugs suits me just fine.

Calm winds and high overcast forecasted; should make for a good flight tomorrow.
 
For the airport notes are a thing. When did I grease the bi fold door last? The rear pass door needs paint, didn’t I just do that; yes in 2011. I haven’t serviced the air compressor in 7 years. I don’t do maintenance like I should but I have it logged.

I guess my dad did it so I do it.

Had a great flight with my dad; a few years ago he was done flying. He asked to go last October and then this week. Two or three times a year is good. The best part is the conversation after, talking about this plane or remember so an so. Reminiscing about airport times are best remembered at the airport.
 
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Another hour and a quarter in the air this morning. I have a celebration of life for my HS friends Mon who was 94. I flew over the cabin they owned that we spent a lot of time at. I took some pictures to show everyone what it looks like 45 years later.

Flying was bumpy between 1000 & 2500 feet. Winds are variable at 6 and using 6L which is really unusual around here.
 
Flew direct SZP - L88 yesterday. I learned an important thing about flying solo. The runway has been improved in the last couple of years, but the edges of the ramp (such as it is) are deteriorated. What I learned is that I am not strong enough to push our plane out of the smallest of divots. I didn’t want to restart the engine because (due to a selfishly-parked TBM) there was nowhere else to leave the plane.

I waited around a few minutes till two young guys landed in two RVs. Asked them for help it it took less time to free my plane from the crumbled asphalt than it took them to walk over to where I was.

The really disappointing thing about the trip was that the Buckhorn Cafe, nice as it has become, does not have milkshakes.

The fire in the third photo was out before I departed, so I flew west toward SMX, then south toward IZA, before heading home down the coast.

Oh, and the carrots: Bolthouse and Grimmway are Big Carrot. I think they’re the largest producers in the world. They bought a lot of land in the Cuyama Valley, home of L88, and are said to be taking more than a fair share of the water.
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Here's a non-flight I will share. I traveled from Seattle to Sisters OR for this bike ride (link). Normally I would throw my bike in the back of my 172 and it's only a 2 hour flight. Yet as the date approached, the weather looked bad. The forecasts were marginal. If better than forecast, flying would be no problem. But if worse, I'd get stuck there. Since the route covers mountainous territory (charted min altitudes VFR 10800 and IFR 12700), I opted to drive.

The storm came in on Sunday afternoon during the ride, not too bad cuz what difference does a little more mud make when you're riding your bike all day in the dirt anyway? After the ride the storm increased in intensity Sun evening and early Mon morning it was stormy enough that during the drive home, the wind was trying to blow my car off the road, which had collected enough water that I had to slow down to avoid hydroplaning. There was no way anyone be flying through that in a small plane. They say it's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than vice versa. But sometimes you find yourself on the ground and glad to be there. :)
 
I'm glad you drove too.

Yes, been an interesting few days of weather up here in the upper far-left corner of the lower 48. The rest of the northern tier should be getting it in the coming days. Enjoy!
 
I was going to take a HS friends husband up for a flight this morning. I confirmed with him yesterday and told him it might be to windy at 9am and we should consider 7am. "Not a chance; there is no way I am getting up before 8." The forecast winds were 17 knots with gusts to 30.

At 6am I took off thinking I will at least get some flight time in. I returned at 8am with winds 12 knots but right down the runway. I called to tell him we could go. His wife answered and said he decided to sleep in since it was not a sure thing. He called just now and wondered if we could go, winds down the runway @16 gusts to 34. I declined.
 
SFDukie said:
I’d never seen Sonoma skypark- so decided to fly there yesterday afternoon. Neat little strip! Friendly folks. Nice run, to boot.
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Sonoma Skypark 0Q9! I took an unforgettable full aerobatic flight as a passenger in an AT-6 there, back about 25 years ago. Unforgettable!

Oh right, pics or it didn't happen!
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Got to fly to an off field job today. Little hazy, but not terrible. Plane is still fairly new to me, bought it this spring after it sat dormant for several years.
1979 Arrow 4tempImageQ4byZK.jpg
Best panel you could get in 1980............. Plan to upgrade next summer.
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Flying past Kings Dominion on the way back to Tappahannock.
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Another cross-country! I'm heading down to Marin (Gnoss/DVO) this weekend to visit family & friends, bringing my bike for a fun trail ride with friends on Sat (a variation of Pine Mountain Loop, in case anyone is familiar with the area). Back home Sun afternoon/evening. Weather looks OK so far, forest fires haven't kicked in yet, should be fun.
Route is something like KBFI S50 ALDER BTG LATHE CHEEZ MOURN OED S03. Quick lunch & fuel, then GRENA RDD RBL NAKPT DVO. About 5 hours in the air depending on winds.
 
MRC01 said:
Another cross-country! I'm heading down to Marin (Gnoss/DVO) this weekend to visit family & friends, bringing my bike for a fun trail ride with friends on Sat (a variation of Pine Mountain Loop, in case anyone is familiar with the area). Back home Sun afternoon/evening. Weather looks OK so far, forest fires haven't kicked in yet, should be fun.
Route is something like KBFI S50 ALDER BTG LATHE CHEEZ MOURN OED S03. Quick lunch & fuel, then GRENA RDD RBL NAKPT DVO. About 5 hours in the air depending on winds.
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Pine mtn loop- steep and pretty. Been a minute (ok, a decade😆
but I used to run that.
 
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