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Just got home from a wonderful trip from my home base, FL13 up to 23N, Bayport Aerodrome. A good friend from high school got married up there, so it was the perfect opportunity to rack up some xc hours.
Out of Jacksonville I headed N along the coast then inland and ended up at KOCW, Washington, NC for the evening. Was planning on staying in my tent for the evening, but around 8:45 the owner of the sky diving outfit, Ingred, showed up with her pilot and said "what are you doing here!?" I said, camping out on my way to NY. She was having none of that, and insisted I stay in the parachute packing room....with AC!
Earlier in the evening the airport manager offered up the crew car and I headed into town to the community pool for a dip n a shower for 5$...well worth it after 6 hours of flying on the hot summer south. Headed to a Mexican joint, got a huge beer, chips n salsa, and a plate of chicken carnitas...ready to call it a night.
The next day I got off the ground at 8 and headed N. It was a good flight till about Delaware. Then I hit some cloud layers and it got a little bumpy in the afternoon convection. I stayed below the layers and landed at KGED, for fuel, and to see if the low VFR and IFR conditions would improve for the last couple of hours up into NY. So I ended up taking a nap and meeting some cool corporate pilots flying a Hawker, who offered a ride to town, but I declined since I wanted to make NY, by the evening.
The weather got slightly better and I set off at 1000' through the haze, a keen eye and Foreflight were my best friend on this trip! Trying to cross Deleware bay I could barely see the other side and upon hitting the near shore, I turned up river to find a skinnier place to cross. Still a little hazy I crossed the river easily, and then headed N dropping to 400' to get below the mode C vail around JFK, flying along the beach, in the haze of the NE...could barely see the Varizona, when crossing the Hudson intoNY...I know typical for the NE.
Ended up making it to The Bayport Aerodrome at 8 just before dark, with open hangers, bbq grills, and beers. What a great first long xc, more of the adventure to come!
Out of Jacksonville I headed N along the coast then inland and ended up at KOCW, Washington, NC for the evening. Was planning on staying in my tent for the evening, but around 8:45 the owner of the sky diving outfit, Ingred, showed up with her pilot and said "what are you doing here!?" I said, camping out on my way to NY. She was having none of that, and insisted I stay in the parachute packing room....with AC!
Earlier in the evening the airport manager offered up the crew car and I headed into town to the community pool for a dip n a shower for 5$...well worth it after 6 hours of flying on the hot summer south. Headed to a Mexican joint, got a huge beer, chips n salsa, and a plate of chicken carnitas...ready to call it a night.
The next day I got off the ground at 8 and headed N. It was a good flight till about Delaware. Then I hit some cloud layers and it got a little bumpy in the afternoon convection. I stayed below the layers and landed at KGED, for fuel, and to see if the low VFR and IFR conditions would improve for the last couple of hours up into NY. So I ended up taking a nap and meeting some cool corporate pilots flying a Hawker, who offered a ride to town, but I declined since I wanted to make NY, by the evening.
The weather got slightly better and I set off at 1000' through the haze, a keen eye and Foreflight were my best friend on this trip! Trying to cross Deleware bay I could barely see the other side and upon hitting the near shore, I turned up river to find a skinnier place to cross. Still a little hazy I crossed the river easily, and then headed N dropping to 400' to get below the mode C vail around JFK, flying along the beach, in the haze of the NE...could barely see the Varizona, when crossing the Hudson intoNY...I know typical for the NE.
Ended up making it to The Bayport Aerodrome at 8 just before dark, with open hangers, bbq grills, and beers. What a great first long xc, more of the adventure to come!
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