Got Her Home!
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:16 pm
After 14 hours in the air over 2 1/2 days, my new baby is in her new home on a grass strip in NC! What a great trip and great time spent getting to know her! After an hour with a CFI to bring me back up to speed on the finer points of tailwheel landings (boy, you sure can forget a lot after 32 years 
) we took off towards El Paso and I-10. We followed the "Big I" for about three hours and landed in Odessa, TX for fuel. As luck would have it, the wind was up around 15 kts and gusty, but pretty much lined up with the runway. After not one of my better landings, we refueled, ate a donut (I had also forgotten the amenities that some FBOs offer!) and were on our way. After another 3 hours we were STILL in Texas and getting kind of tired so we stopped in Sherman-Dennison at KGYI for an overnight. If you're ever there, be sure to stop at Lake Texoma Jet Center. They couldn't have been nicer! After refueling, we were offered a free Crew Car to ride into town for the overnight. After a big ol' slab of Texas ribs and several adult beverages, it was back to the motel for a much needed rest.
The next morning we were off again, bound for my old hometown of Chattanooga, TN. After about another hour in the air, my wife asked, "Are we STILL in Texas?" I told her, "Yep, haven't you heard how everything is bigger in Texas?" (Apparently, and unfortunately, you have to live there for that to be completely true
) After a quick stop in Tunica, MS for fuel and lunch (get the Rueben sandwich!) we were on our way east to TN. After dodging some late afternoon thunderboomers around Huntsville, AL, we touched down at Lovell Field for fuel and a great visit with our two sons.
The next day was an uneventful 2 1/2 hour leg over the southern end of the Blue Ridge mountains to Bradford Field (NC05) near Huntersville, NC, and home! I'm headed out shortly to wash and maybe polish on her a little today. Any recommendations on what to use for polish? Is Nuvite still considered the best? Also, I have heard of Flitz (?) as a good polish.
Thanks for letting me ramble, but as I'm sure you can tell, I'm very excited about our new "baby"!
Joe
) we took off towards El Paso and I-10. We followed the "Big I" for about three hours and landed in Odessa, TX for fuel. As luck would have it, the wind was up around 15 kts and gusty, but pretty much lined up with the runway. After not one of my better landings, we refueled, ate a donut (I had also forgotten the amenities that some FBOs offer!) and were on our way. After another 3 hours we were STILL in Texas and getting kind of tired so we stopped in Sherman-Dennison at KGYI for an overnight. If you're ever there, be sure to stop at Lake Texoma Jet Center. They couldn't have been nicer! After refueling, we were offered a free Crew Car to ride into town for the overnight. After a big ol' slab of Texas ribs and several adult beverages, it was back to the motel for a much needed rest.The next morning we were off again, bound for my old hometown of Chattanooga, TN. After about another hour in the air, my wife asked, "Are we STILL in Texas?" I told her, "Yep, haven't you heard how everything is bigger in Texas?" (Apparently, and unfortunately, you have to live there for that to be completely true
) After a quick stop in Tunica, MS for fuel and lunch (get the Rueben sandwich!) we were on our way east to TN. After dodging some late afternoon thunderboomers around Huntsville, AL, we touched down at Lovell Field for fuel and a great visit with our two sons.The next day was an uneventful 2 1/2 hour leg over the southern end of the Blue Ridge mountains to Bradford Field (NC05) near Huntersville, NC, and home! I'm headed out shortly to wash and maybe polish on her a little today. Any recommendations on what to use for polish? Is Nuvite still considered the best? Also, I have heard of Flitz (?) as a good polish.
Thanks for letting me ramble, but as I'm sure you can tell, I'm very excited about our new "baby"!
Joe
