John & Anne Wiley

2009/10/15

Two Types of Happy Pilots

Filed under: Aviation,Big Adventure,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature — John @ 20:51
Sometimes pilots are happy to be flying, and sometimes they’re happy to be on the ground. This afternoon falls into the latter category for me, as you’ll see on my Photo page upload of today. This morning was passable flying weather, but we were able to work out a deal with the people at KOXC that lets Flash stay there affordably. Instead we took a drive with Dad & Ed, to experience a new Fall color: white. This snap with Anne’s camera from the back seat is the best we’ve captured so far, but I’ll probably go out with mine and try a few shots that aren’t through wet glass. If I get anything better it will hopefully go on the Photo page sometime tonight.

Meanwhile we’re enjoying the warmth of family and watching the news of Santa Barbara’s near miss with mudslides.

Home In The East

Filed under: Aviation,Big Adventure,Flying,Has Photos — John @ 03:45
Today’s flight from Bar Harbor, ME to Waterbury, CT proved yet again how close things are on the east coast when you’re in a small plane. We took our time, added stops in the states we crossed (chalk up MA) and landed in CT after a couple hours’ leisurely flying total. Can you tell I love flying in small planes? 🙂
We cruised down the coast past Portland and then on an impulse Anne wanted to see the Kennedy’s compound in Kennebunkport. Since we’d done no research (do they even have something there now?), I relied on the tiny permanent restricted area over the mouth of the river (see the Photo page for a closer view). Another clue was the congregation of big black SUVs parked there, and what looked like Coast Guard speedboats zooming around offshore. We’d cleared it all with ATC, but the next controller we spoke to warned us to avoid it (luckily that was after we’d already flown over). Looks like a lovely little town.

When we landed at KOXC in Waterbury, another rainbow greeted us. This time it was a vertical band of colors on the sun. Also greeting us were Dad and uncle Ted, who took us to a fabulous family meal at his youngest son’s place. Such a great way to begin our days based in CT!

Tomorrow we might move the plane to a different airport (KMMK) on the other side of Waterbury, because the parking here is apparently $25 – 3x the highest price we’ve paid anywhere in our travels across the U.S. The next highest was Chicago Executive where Flash rubbed wingtips with gazillion dollar jets, and they waived the fee when we bought a few gallons of fuel. Since winter weather is forecast for a few days, it would cost us a lot to leave it at OXC and MMK is free – plus there’s a flying club where Flash could commiserate on being tied down or whatever club planes talk about when the pilots are away having fun without them.
Anyway, we’re here safe and happy having flown many miles and still only covered perhaps a third of our Big Adventure. We’re excited to see what’s next.

2009/10/13

NE to ME

Filed under: Aviation,Big Adventure,Flying,Has Photos,Nature — John @ 03:25
Taking off from Bennington, VT we passed over the famous spire. Those tiny dots near the yellow trees are people walking. This thing is tall!

After making the short hop to Keene, NH we stopped to touch another state, to top off our fuel for the flight to Maine, and to have a great lunch at a place near the bottom of this photo.

I liked how the timeless glacier-carved stone contrasted with the fleeting fall colors as we detoured near Mt. Washington before heading due east to Bar Harbor for the night.

Maine has a zillion lakes, and about halfway along our leg east I spotted an airport with a road that connects to this seaplane landing. Those are floats lined up at the top and down the right side. My current theory is that planes land on the lake and moor at this hangar, the floats are removed for winter storage, the planes taxi or are towed to the airport, and they fly home after a summer of lake hopping. Spring would then see a reverse of this migration.

Like all the photos in this blog post, these are pretty lame compared with what we experienced. This one of Bar Harbor, ME tops that list. You’ll find different, larger and better pix by clicking the Photos link at the top-right of our main blog page. Meanwhile, our hotel tonight is just beyond the ferry terminal at the top. There are some stunning mansions along the shore, Acadia National Park with hilltop lakes, and more attractions here than I have time to write or you to read.


Weather is predicted to be marginal for flying tomorrow and better Wednesday, so our location tomorrow is uncertain. It is clear though, that we are at or very near the furthest northeast point of our journey. This leg rightly began in San Diego very near the southwestern most point in the contiguous United States, so until we fly from Blaine to the tip of FL this may be our longest transcontinental flight. Soon we start hopping down the east coast, lingering and zigging around new england until we head for FL. Seems all too soon that we’ll cross the south and our Big Adventure will end back in Santa Barbara!

Meanwhile, good night from ME to you.

2009/10/12

Bah!

Filed under: Aviation,Big Adventure — John @ 20:46

We’re sitting in the airport waiting for the free shuttle in Bah Hahbah. People seem to look at us strangely when we say it that way though. Though it’s beautiful right now, looks like weather will close in tomorrow so we’ll either stay two nights or join the migrating birds low along the coast in light rain in the afternoon, determined by the balance between weather conditions and island fever. We flew over it before landing, and it’s glorious as you’ll see when I have time to process some pix. Nearly everyone on the air traffic frequency was saying Barr Harrborr just like me, except for one guy who elicited silence by saying it correctly. Half an hour before we got here a wiseguy controller in Boston pushed it mockingly, telling the hapless pilot he was clear to dial in the Baaaa HaaaaBuhh frequency. We’ve been saying it with the accent long enough that we might slip up in town and get blacklisted or something. Of course, my current attire has probably already assured that – I haven’t seen anyone else wearing Keen closed-toe sandals (much to Anne’s annoyance). Hey, how else can I shout California tourist?!

Speaking of Keens, we had the most glorious stop in Keene, NH where Beth sweetly loaned us a car. We drove the beautiful mile or two into town with two uber-qualified jet pilots in the back seat, and got great food to go. So many memorable stops along this adventure, we’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Any sponsors? 😉

Well, I’m going to get ready for the bus…

Back In Time

Filed under: Aviation,Big Adventure,Flying,Has Photos,Nature,People,Relationships — John @ 02:58

Today we flew back in time. Taking off from the old airport with history back to the early years of flight we detoured back over Akron, which we’re told has been taken over by the university. Despite our best efforts to get the short distance into town last night, everyone kept nudging us into the burbs by the new airport. Just as well, because it was easily the best hotel we’ve had yet and a great deal (the same price as the motel we’re shivering in tonight but we won’t talk about that). Even if it’s all about students, we still enjoyed it from the air.


As we turned back east toward Clarion, PA I could feel a gentle shift in time begin. I found out three years ago that my paternal ancestors were in that area back into the 1700s. It wasn’t just that this area had the most colorful foliage we’ve seen yet. There was something about flying over ground my fathers had hiked, farmed and hunted when no human had ever seen the long view we enjoyed today. We decided not to land and rent a car for the short drive up 66 to Crown where my grandfather was born. Instead we circled and took a couple of dozen photos to study in detail. I hope to be the first from our line of the family to return and stand at the pond in this century.

We went northeast a ways past Bradford, then turned east at Hamilton to pass Albany. I think NY is the first state we’ve flown over without landing. It was 25F outside the plane today at 5,500′ so we were glad to have a good heater! Since we’re headed for Maine while weather is “warm” tomorrow, we decided to save NY for several of our stops later. Instead we landed at sunset in Bennington, VT. We’ll probably make a Keen stop to touch NH before heading northeast past the White Mountains to the area around Flagstaff Lk, ME. That’s where Anne’s research tonight indicates the best foliage colors. Then we turn SE to Bah Hahbah (Bar Harbor in Maineian) for a stop recommended by our dear Maryellen where she has roots. Maybe we’ll stay there, or somewhere around Portland. Tuesday night we hope to reach our first fixed destination of Waterbury, CT to meet Dad. Hope we get to sleep earlier tonight, so we can get back in time.
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