Rough River and Kentucky Dam weekend.

[Challenger1]

Last weekend was perfect flying weather so my wife, dog and I flew down to Rough River state park and stayed in the lodge for 2 nights. There was not much to do there as most things were closed, still a nice get away. We did a fair amount of walking around which was good. The restaurant was open for carry out only. We ate there for every meal, it was priced real cheap and the food was decent.

We flew down there Fri afternoon with a nice tail wind at 6500' to find smooth air.

I got up Sat morning early to fly solo. Had to scrap the frost off the wings.

It was 30°f at 6:45 am, by 7:00 am it was close to 32° with plenty of sunshine to melt it. I took off right at 7:00, plane felt a little sluggest with just me, but it flew.

Came back after an 1.5 hours of flying and took a nap. Then hiked around the place for a few hours while the winds picked up. By 3pm the winds died down and I took to the air again solo, not even the dog went. Flew down to Kentucky Dam M34 and landed for a little while.

These are some big lakes!

On the ramp at M34. Didn't spend much time there.

Flew 6+ hours last Saturday.

One big azz mine, huge hole in the ground right between the 2 dams.

Got back to Rough River right at dusk, it was a good day of flying.

Got up Sunday morning and it was 15° warmer so no frost. Flew 8.7 hours in 3 days by the time we got home.

 

[N5479R]

A nice adventure!

 

[Enlisted Pilot]

Ever camp at the airport? The park website says its available 10$ a night.

 

[Challenger1]

Ever camp at the airport? The park website says its available 10$ a night.

No we have not pitched a tent yet. Yes you can camp there for 10 bucks a night. I might by myself and the dog this coming summer? Wife likes a lodge room better than a tent. Although we did buy a tent last year that fits both of us and the dog, so you never know. lol

Yes it is a good place to tent camp next to your plane. We have been there when folks were tent camping with their planes. We stayed in the lodge which is not far away.

There is clean bathrooms and a pilots lounge with heat and AC right at the airport. Great for when you are tent camping. No fires though, at least I have never seen any.

There is a new asphalt apron with ties downs. The driver that picked us up to take us to the lodge pointed that out/told me that. It was all fresh. Good to see them keeping the airport up.
These pictures are from 2019 before the new asphalt.

You can see the bathrooms and pilots lounge in the background. I think those 2 planes in the background were camping overnight?

We did not go there last year because of the covid thing. We tried but could not get in a lodge room because they kept winter hours all last summer, only open on the weekends. Fresh asphalt from last summer.

You could put your tent right under your left wing in the grass and be 100' from the bathrooms if you snagged this corner spot. Also I think you could park in the grass? as there is plenty of space.

 

[GregT]

My son and I are here at Rough River for the Easter weekend. We come here often just to get away

If you come down and see N5457E on the ramp, that’s us

 

[Challenger1]

I hope you had a great weekend. Wish I could have made time to fly down there.

Maybe later this summer we can get a few of us down there for a night of camping with our planes!

 

[Pilawt]

Great pics and a fabulous adventure!