I've talked about the guys next to us fishing. They actually have names. Steve was a career U.S. Sailor on destroyers and frigates. Jimmy was an A&P engine mechanic with Eastern, and David is Jimmy's 21 year-old grandson. David and I had to endure a certain amount of "poking" from the older two. I, as a Marine, am a natural target. David's just young.
I promised to help clean fish if they'd teach me to. Yeasterday they brought home a bucket with 2 dolphin, a snapper, yellowtail, and grunts (french and gray).
When Steve says the knife is sharp, it is scalpel-sharp. Tip to handle. But the fish are tough and soon dull even the best knife.
I learned all the right cuts and how to wiggle the knife down the back bone and take the skin off. A knife is essential, but good pliers are needed too! Steve, has been a charter fishing captain for 35 years. Actually took his license exam in the Navy. Ran a 36-foot sport fisherman in the Chesapeake for 16 years.
So I made sushi. A few good grunt fillets, And a lot of fishburger! I understand what's needed, but getting the hands to do it, is difficult. The bones will surprise you. That's why Steve did the big fish!
I bought some home-cast sinkers from Steve ( of course he gave me much more than I paid for) and announced that I was going to learn off-shore fishing. Now I have two bags of frozen-fresh grunt fillets, and a great memory of helping around a true "fish camp".
This morning is pack-up. The length of the drive is the "x" variable. If it's easy, King's Bay Sub Base, otherwise Patrick AFB Family Camp or Jax/Mayport. Hate to leave the Keys, and won't be back for a little while, but I will keep my NAS Key West base decals active by RV or boat!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Go Fly A Kite!
We went to the History of Diving Museum again yesterday to see the exhibits. Our next-door neighbor was an interesting fellow from Ft. Myers named Dan Reynolds and I invited him along. It's always amazing how nice the people we've met on the road have been. Dan enjoyed the museum and afterwards cooked a great pork roast on the grill. A wonderful night.
The museum lived up to its billing and had more diving equipment than expected. They have a wall full of diving helmets from around the globe from the 1840's on. I was proud to have been diving long enough that some of my old gear is now collectible. I wish I could find my "Cousteau-Gagnon Royal Aqua-Master" double hose regulator to donate to them. It had a particularly low 5-digit serial number, and made me look like Lloyd Bridges when I dove with it.
On the way back I pulled into "The Otherside" ,a kite-boarding shop in Islamorada.
Mike, the owner, had his 4-year old chief salesman Cody in the shop and they were a hoot. Cody showed me several trainer kites and told me all about his selections. He's probably the youngest kite-boarder in the world and a very nice boy. Mike is all you'd expect from the owner of such a place, but beneath the blond dreadlocks, I sensed a business guy working hard to appeal to his target audience of thirty-year olds and up, who think they're a lot younger.
Even though Micky looked at me like I'd lost my senses, I bought a Hydro 300 3-meter, three-line kite. A nice package that came with a backpack and Mike threw in a DVD from Best to help start me off. And he made sure I knew to call him with any and all questions.
Today I got Micky to help me launch the kite after the tide came in to give us a beach to work with.
The reason for the three lines is left,right, and brakes. The third line also lets you launch the kite backwards out of the water and then turn it over and swoop away.
The handle seemed really oversize and the wrist lanyard for the brake line was really impressive. In a really bad problem, such as a high-speed swoop into a crowd, you can release the bar and the kite will collapse and fall harmlessly. Also keeps you from plowing the beach with your nose!
Unlike most of the toy kites I've flown, you launch this one at the edge of its "wind window" A 10-foot wide, 4-foot chord efficient airfoil has really good pull and it will surprise you as it cuts through its "power zone".
The reason for all the aerodynamic efficiency is that the wind inflates the kite. Through two ingenious openings and tubes in the leading edge, the pressure of the wind inflates the forward portion of the airfoil and the tubes then collapse forming valves when the pressure comes off. That make the kite float, hold shape and be able to relaunch from the water. Even with the leading edge down, you call haul in the brake line and launch it backwards.
With Micky courageously holding the deflated, limp form while I untwisted the lines, I finally moved off into the water to get approximately the right angle for the launch. When the lines went taut, the kite inflated and took off after a few flops in the water. In fact, my first take-off was backwards. Once up the kite flew dead overhead and I started sorting out the controls. Almost immediately, I lost it and the kite slammed in at high speed not 10 feet from Micky. I then launched it and moved a good 20 feet offshore to prevent hitting anyone.
The instructions from the "dude" on the DVD helped enormously. My initial problem was because the left bridle is probably 1 inch too long with the result that a straight bar equals a hard right turn. I'll fix that fast!
The kite is strong and fast! When it cuts through the four-clock high area, it will pull you forward strongly. And 12 o'clock to the ground is very fast. If there's a lull in the wind, the kite drops into the "zone" and when the lull is over, the power is amazing!
I started off with lazy figure eights overhead while sorting out the bar "trim" angle. Once it was clear where center was, I started working on landings. The kite is controllable enough to dip a wingtip in the water and hold it there.
My shoulders tired quickly in the 12-18 knots we're having and I got my brave partner to help me land and deflate the kite. More flying tomorrow in a little less wind.
The museum lived up to its billing and had more diving equipment than expected. They have a wall full of diving helmets from around the globe from the 1840's on. I was proud to have been diving long enough that some of my old gear is now collectible. I wish I could find my "Cousteau-Gagnon Royal Aqua-Master" double hose regulator to donate to them. It had a particularly low 5-digit serial number, and made me look like Lloyd Bridges when I dove with it.
On the way back I pulled into "The Otherside" ,a kite-boarding shop in Islamorada.
Mike, the owner, had his 4-year old chief salesman Cody in the shop and they were a hoot. Cody showed me several trainer kites and told me all about his selections. He's probably the youngest kite-boarder in the world and a very nice boy. Mike is all you'd expect from the owner of such a place, but beneath the blond dreadlocks, I sensed a business guy working hard to appeal to his target audience of thirty-year olds and up, who think they're a lot younger.
Even though Micky looked at me like I'd lost my senses, I bought a Hydro 300 3-meter, three-line kite. A nice package that came with a backpack and Mike threw in a DVD from Best to help start me off. And he made sure I knew to call him with any and all questions.
Today I got Micky to help me launch the kite after the tide came in to give us a beach to work with.
The reason for the three lines is left,right, and brakes. The third line also lets you launch the kite backwards out of the water and then turn it over and swoop away.
The handle seemed really oversize and the wrist lanyard for the brake line was really impressive. In a really bad problem, such as a high-speed swoop into a crowd, you can release the bar and the kite will collapse and fall harmlessly. Also keeps you from plowing the beach with your nose!
Unlike most of the toy kites I've flown, you launch this one at the edge of its "wind window" A 10-foot wide, 4-foot chord efficient airfoil has really good pull and it will surprise you as it cuts through its "power zone".
The reason for all the aerodynamic efficiency is that the wind inflates the kite. Through two ingenious openings and tubes in the leading edge, the pressure of the wind inflates the forward portion of the airfoil and the tubes then collapse forming valves when the pressure comes off. That make the kite float, hold shape and be able to relaunch from the water. Even with the leading edge down, you call haul in the brake line and launch it backwards.
With Micky courageously holding the deflated, limp form while I untwisted the lines, I finally moved off into the water to get approximately the right angle for the launch. When the lines went taut, the kite inflated and took off after a few flops in the water. In fact, my first take-off was backwards. Once up the kite flew dead overhead and I started sorting out the controls. Almost immediately, I lost it and the kite slammed in at high speed not 10 feet from Micky. I then launched it and moved a good 20 feet offshore to prevent hitting anyone.
The instructions from the "dude" on the DVD helped enormously. My initial problem was because the left bridle is probably 1 inch too long with the result that a straight bar equals a hard right turn. I'll fix that fast!
The kite is strong and fast! When it cuts through the four-clock high area, it will pull you forward strongly. And 12 o'clock to the ground is very fast. If there's a lull in the wind, the kite drops into the "zone" and when the lull is over, the power is amazing!
I started off with lazy figure eights overhead while sorting out the bar "trim" angle. Once it was clear where center was, I started working on landings. The kite is controllable enough to dip a wingtip in the water and hold it there.
My shoulders tired quickly in the 12-18 knots we're having and I got my brave partner to help me land and deflate the kite. More flying tomorrow in a little less wind.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Rainy, Lazy Days and the Spanish Holocaust.
We've moved up to Long Key. From 1903 to 1935 this was the site of the writer Zane Grey's fishing lodge. Much more than a "fish camp", this was a luxury lodge where the rich from all over the world came to indulge in massive kills of the then-abundant fish. Marlin and Sailfish were king, but the primary attraction was fly-fishing the flats for bonefish. As with most rich men's sports of the time, the visit was not a short-term affair. From boats, and later Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, they came for months at a time to escape the cold winters. At the ranger station here, they have a set of small rail wheels for the narrow-gauge steam railway used to move baggage and people out to the docks and trains. As a side affair, much effort was spent with oversized shotguns taking heron and other birds for their plumage. Many a fancy hat was fashioned by milliners in New York and Paris using feathers from Layton, Florida.
That luxury and most of the people and economy of the Middle Keys was destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1935.
By today's standards, it was a Class 5 monster. And the first hint of trouble here would have been the precipitous drop in atmospheric pressure recorded on the barometers that were watched so carefully in every settlement in the Keys. By the time the huge, dark arc of the first rain bands appeared out of the east, it was already too late. A train was sent down to evacuate the "conchs" and their guests back to the mainland. It never made the return trip. Backing up the tracks with hundreds inside and clinging to the cars, massive storm-driven waves higher than even the grand lodges drove it on its side and drowned all hope. Bodies were found in Florida Bay and the Everglades for six months. That hurricane became the backdrop for Bogart, Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson's "Key Largo".
The earth works and rail bridges were paved over and became the "Overseas Highway", US1.
Now when a hurricane is even close to the Keys, all traffic is north-bound. Only fools and drunks try to ride it out in bars built 2 feet above the normal sea level. Every body thinks their concrete-block stilted house will hold. And they do. But a 25-foot storm surge is more than just high water. Riding the surge are huge ocean waves full of debris. Picture swimming against a four-knot current in a maelstrom with floating trees, and boards flying with enough force to penetrate a solid concrete wall.
But today it's just rainy. And we're safe and dry in our techno-toy motorhome watching the radar on my cell phone.
Last night we went to a lecture at the "History of Diving Museum" in Islamorada. Captain Carl Fismer is one of the treaure hunters of the Keys. And a successful salvor he is. An early user of metal detectors above and below the water, he has a Bahamian lease to search Hogsty Reef at the south end of the archipelago. Over two hundred wrecks have succumbed to the rapid thinning of the ocean there. But the government always wants a cut.
The latest intrusion is that the government of Spain has maneuvered us into a treaty giving them the rights to all the Spanish Treasure fleets worldwide. And our goverment protects their claim!
I am a trained archaeological diver (SCIAA Certificate MN-001) and I understand conservation of the information on a wreck. But we already know the economy and daily life of the Spanish rape of the New World. That rapacious conquistadores and missionaries decimated the indigenous people and cultures here is not disputed. Their zeal to "save souls" was only exceeded by the military need for gold to expand King Phillip's navy and the armies that he drove all the way to Holland. The wars of the Catholic Kings of Spain to suppress the Protestants, drive out the Moors, and generally torture every culture they found from China, the Phillipines (named after him), South America and the Caribbean were fueled by the gold and silver dug by Indian slaves in Lima, Potosi, and other hell-holes.
But the real horrors were what happened in the "conversions". Our dedicated priests and friars, did not protest when families were taken into slavery, and the uneeded infants baptized only to have their skulls bashed in. Such barbarity ensured the survival of their ephemeral "souls" as Catholics, and prevented subsequent recantation and return to their native religions.
I see our governments protection of Spanish admiralty claims in the same light as returning stolen Jewish art to the Germans!
The other part of removing the silver, gold and bronze from the bottom, is that,except for the gold, the other metals are toxic to marine life. Copper bottom ships poison the barnacles,corals, and fish. Indeed when a treasure site is picked clean, the coral grows again.
Salvors should keep meticulous records and record the information about these wrecks, okay give the goverment 20% of the value, display the more interesting artifacts in public museums, but we already know the Hispanic predilection for gaudy baubles!
That luxury and most of the people and economy of the Middle Keys was destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1935.
By today's standards, it was a Class 5 monster. And the first hint of trouble here would have been the precipitous drop in atmospheric pressure recorded on the barometers that were watched so carefully in every settlement in the Keys. By the time the huge, dark arc of the first rain bands appeared out of the east, it was already too late. A train was sent down to evacuate the "conchs" and their guests back to the mainland. It never made the return trip. Backing up the tracks with hundreds inside and clinging to the cars, massive storm-driven waves higher than even the grand lodges drove it on its side and drowned all hope. Bodies were found in Florida Bay and the Everglades for six months. That hurricane became the backdrop for Bogart, Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson's "Key Largo".
The earth works and rail bridges were paved over and became the "Overseas Highway", US1.
Now when a hurricane is even close to the Keys, all traffic is north-bound. Only fools and drunks try to ride it out in bars built 2 feet above the normal sea level. Every body thinks their concrete-block stilted house will hold. And they do. But a 25-foot storm surge is more than just high water. Riding the surge are huge ocean waves full of debris. Picture swimming against a four-knot current in a maelstrom with floating trees, and boards flying with enough force to penetrate a solid concrete wall.
But today it's just rainy. And we're safe and dry in our techno-toy motorhome watching the radar on my cell phone.
Last night we went to a lecture at the "History of Diving Museum" in Islamorada. Captain Carl Fismer is one of the treaure hunters of the Keys. And a successful salvor he is. An early user of metal detectors above and below the water, he has a Bahamian lease to search Hogsty Reef at the south end of the archipelago. Over two hundred wrecks have succumbed to the rapid thinning of the ocean there. But the government always wants a cut.
The latest intrusion is that the government of Spain has maneuvered us into a treaty giving them the rights to all the Spanish Treasure fleets worldwide. And our goverment protects their claim!
I am a trained archaeological diver (SCIAA Certificate MN-001) and I understand conservation of the information on a wreck. But we already know the economy and daily life of the Spanish rape of the New World. That rapacious conquistadores and missionaries decimated the indigenous people and cultures here is not disputed. Their zeal to "save souls" was only exceeded by the military need for gold to expand King Phillip's navy and the armies that he drove all the way to Holland. The wars of the Catholic Kings of Spain to suppress the Protestants, drive out the Moors, and generally torture every culture they found from China, the Phillipines (named after him), South America and the Caribbean were fueled by the gold and silver dug by Indian slaves in Lima, Potosi, and other hell-holes.
But the real horrors were what happened in the "conversions". Our dedicated priests and friars, did not protest when families were taken into slavery, and the uneeded infants baptized only to have their skulls bashed in. Such barbarity ensured the survival of their ephemeral "souls" as Catholics, and prevented subsequent recantation and return to their native religions.
I see our governments protection of Spanish admiralty claims in the same light as returning stolen Jewish art to the Germans!
The other part of removing the silver, gold and bronze from the bottom, is that,except for the gold, the other metals are toxic to marine life. Copper bottom ships poison the barnacles,corals, and fish. Indeed when a treasure site is picked clean, the coral grows again.
Salvors should keep meticulous records and record the information about these wrecks, okay give the goverment 20% of the value, display the more interesting artifacts in public museums, but we already know the Hispanic predilection for gaudy baubles!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Too old for Kite-boards.
I am fascinated with the kiteboarders here. And jealous. What marvelous sport! Flying a wing over the water at truly astonishing speed and literally leaving the surface.
Watching nearly a dozen of them working the wind here is almost too exhilarating. And there are different styles. Some of them are just testosterone junkies out for the rush. Crashing and thrashing the air and water with little understanding. But one or two play the toggle bar like a vituoso guitar. Caressing the strings and feathering the kite so their landings are smooth. The interface between wind and water happens gently, no shocking slap, just an easy skim back into another swooping turn. They're the ones that make me burn for thirty-year old knees again.
Watching nearly a dozen of them working the wind here is almost too exhilarating. And there are different styles. Some of them are just testosterone junkies out for the rush. Crashing and thrashing the air and water with little understanding. But one or two play the toggle bar like a vituoso guitar. Caressing the strings and feathering the kite so their landings are smooth. The interface between wind and water happens gently, no shocking slap, just an easy skim back into another swooping turn. They're the ones that make me burn for thirty-year old knees again.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Not-so Lazy Day After All!
Micky and I decided that today would be a lazy day. Just kinda hang around the campground and do nothing. Didn't work out that way.
Started off with a trip to the Big Pine Key Flea Market. This time of year most of the vendors have already packed it in. It does get hot down here at 24 degrees north!
We found the Orchid vendor on his last day of the season and I bought Micky another spectacular orchid and he threw in around seven potted herbs. We've still got the orchid we bought in March at the Home Depot in Bradenton.
We got some farm-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and that guy was eager to leave so we practically stole them.
When we were traveling down here we went through several clouds of the infamous "love bugs". they call them that because invariably they are a mated pair in copulation when they smack into the windshield. Their earthly remains are a sticky and acidic mess! I used the truck windshield washer at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza, but the front of my Neptune was a total catstrophe of orgasmically-interrupted bugs. The campground host recommended Rain-X bug remover from K-mart. We dropped off the produce and cruised to the BigK in Marathon. That's the store with the huge whale mural. Bought the Turtle Wax brand and some windshield cleaner.
Waited for the sun to drop a little bit and began carcass removal. What a chore! Despite best efforts, the best way to remove them from the paint was to rehydrate the mess and scub them off. For the windshield glass, a credit card scraper worked best. Finally got it cleaned off and put our covers on.
Met Roy and Mary Crumpler from Alma, GA. He retired from the Guard as a civil servant and air traffic controller. Nice folks, just like everybody else you meet RV-ing.
Spent the evening with them after putting our new windshield covers and canvas on.
Lunch today was at El Siboney, a Cuban restaurant in Marathon. We'd eaten at the one in Key West and were not disappointed at this location. Micky and I passed around Pepper Steak and a plate of Ropa Vieja (Cuban shredded beef). Plenty left over for supper, too!
had another of Senor La Fe's fine cigars and watched the stars.
A very nice day!
Started off with a trip to the Big Pine Key Flea Market. This time of year most of the vendors have already packed it in. It does get hot down here at 24 degrees north!
We found the Orchid vendor on his last day of the season and I bought Micky another spectacular orchid and he threw in around seven potted herbs. We've still got the orchid we bought in March at the Home Depot in Bradenton.
We got some farm-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and that guy was eager to leave so we practically stole them.
When we were traveling down here we went through several clouds of the infamous "love bugs". they call them that because invariably they are a mated pair in copulation when they smack into the windshield. Their earthly remains are a sticky and acidic mess! I used the truck windshield washer at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza, but the front of my Neptune was a total catstrophe of orgasmically-interrupted bugs. The campground host recommended Rain-X bug remover from K-mart. We dropped off the produce and cruised to the BigK in Marathon. That's the store with the huge whale mural. Bought the Turtle Wax brand and some windshield cleaner.
Waited for the sun to drop a little bit and began carcass removal. What a chore! Despite best efforts, the best way to remove them from the paint was to rehydrate the mess and scub them off. For the windshield glass, a credit card scraper worked best. Finally got it cleaned off and put our covers on.
Met Roy and Mary Crumpler from Alma, GA. He retired from the Guard as a civil servant and air traffic controller. Nice folks, just like everybody else you meet RV-ing.
Spent the evening with them after putting our new windshield covers and canvas on.
Lunch today was at El Siboney, a Cuban restaurant in Marathon. We'd eaten at the one in Key West and were not disappointed at this location. Micky and I passed around Pepper Steak and a plate of Ropa Vieja (Cuban shredded beef). Plenty left over for supper, too!
had another of Senor La Fe's fine cigars and watched the stars.
A very nice day!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Back in the Keys!!
Finally back to doing my real job! I'm professionally retired and this is what I do!
Micky and I tried to get into Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon last year, but the bridge into the park got condemned and they had to rebuild it.
It was worth the wait. The RV camp is all brand new within the last four years. New everything! The neatest thing they've done is to put concrete, slightly-raised curbing around the RV/tent pad and the picnic table area with eyebolts coming out sideways from the curbing at 3-foot intervals. Makes it very easy to secure everything without trying to drill through the local limestone with a tent stake!
Before I finish talking about this trip, I need to let you all know that I finally had the right combination of time and weather to take the most important passenger I'll ever fly out for her inaugural ride in the Remos. I've dreamed of the day when my beautiful red-head would fly with me. She was far less nervous about it than I was. We had a good, if slow takeoff and flew for over 3 hours. Up and down the Lake, over her sister's farm, circling some friends while they sailed. All while maintaining the required separation from boats, houses, and people. Theoretically, the minimum altitude at the lake away from all those things, is wheels on the water. But I already know that busybodies get all upset if you go too low and I don't want to have to prove that I did not break the FAR's as a low-time pilot. Good thing N224DH isn't in 12-inch high numbers under the wing! And a reasonably smooth landing, if a little bit long. The Remos is a very nice airplane!
This evening we visited the Publix in Marathon and provisioned the refrigerator. I love the mix of people in the Keys. We heard the normal gamut of Spanish in several flavors with the rapid-fire Cuban delivery in the majority, but also German and French. I think the francophone's were Canadian. Micky is always amazed at the temerity of Latinas. One woman, in particular stands out. She was no great looker and probably in her late forties, but the psychedelic bikini was covered on the bottom with a fluorescent green pajama bottom that was absolutely for effect only being totally transparent.
I visited with Roberto La Fe at Casillas Cigars. A real Cuban roller. Sitting in his one-man shop rolling his own stock across from the Bealls Outlet in Marathon. He showed me his humidor and helped me select the mildest 7x50 maduro I've ever had! I bought three and he insisted I try one of his pig-tails. I suspect we're going to be long-term customers!
The night sky here in the campground is surprisingly dark. Thanks to a tallish fifth-wheel rig next door the standing lights of the bath-house are block and the northern quadrant is clear. In addition to the full display of Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) the Milky Way is a river of stars against a black sky. My telescope is going to be used on this trip. The temperature and light breeze made the immolation of that corona pleasant. I saw eight satellites and two meteors that would have been drowned in the urban skies of home. I was surprised by the number of southbound aircraft tonight. Except for Key West, the only nocturnal airports south of here are Havana and San Juan. Most of the Caribbean traffic tries to arrive in daylight, I believe.
So we're "at home again" in our motorhome in the Keys. We may finally get a great trip for playing in the water! The seas are flat, the water is warm and we're here!
Micky and I tried to get into Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon last year, but the bridge into the park got condemned and they had to rebuild it.
It was worth the wait. The RV camp is all brand new within the last four years. New everything! The neatest thing they've done is to put concrete, slightly-raised curbing around the RV/tent pad and the picnic table area with eyebolts coming out sideways from the curbing at 3-foot intervals. Makes it very easy to secure everything without trying to drill through the local limestone with a tent stake!
Before I finish talking about this trip, I need to let you all know that I finally had the right combination of time and weather to take the most important passenger I'll ever fly out for her inaugural ride in the Remos. I've dreamed of the day when my beautiful red-head would fly with me. She was far less nervous about it than I was. We had a good, if slow takeoff and flew for over 3 hours. Up and down the Lake, over her sister's farm, circling some friends while they sailed. All while maintaining the required separation from boats, houses, and people. Theoretically, the minimum altitude at the lake away from all those things, is wheels on the water. But I already know that busybodies get all upset if you go too low and I don't want to have to prove that I did not break the FAR's as a low-time pilot. Good thing N224DH isn't in 12-inch high numbers under the wing! And a reasonably smooth landing, if a little bit long. The Remos is a very nice airplane!
This evening we visited the Publix in Marathon and provisioned the refrigerator. I love the mix of people in the Keys. We heard the normal gamut of Spanish in several flavors with the rapid-fire Cuban delivery in the majority, but also German and French. I think the francophone's were Canadian. Micky is always amazed at the temerity of Latinas. One woman, in particular stands out. She was no great looker and probably in her late forties, but the psychedelic bikini was covered on the bottom with a fluorescent green pajama bottom that was absolutely for effect only being totally transparent.
I visited with Roberto La Fe at Casillas Cigars. A real Cuban roller. Sitting in his one-man shop rolling his own stock across from the Bealls Outlet in Marathon. He showed me his humidor and helped me select the mildest 7x50 maduro I've ever had! I bought three and he insisted I try one of his pig-tails. I suspect we're going to be long-term customers!
The night sky here in the campground is surprisingly dark. Thanks to a tallish fifth-wheel rig next door the standing lights of the bath-house are block and the northern quadrant is clear. In addition to the full display of Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) the Milky Way is a river of stars against a black sky. My telescope is going to be used on this trip. The temperature and light breeze made the immolation of that corona pleasant. I saw eight satellites and two meteors that would have been drowned in the urban skies of home. I was surprised by the number of southbound aircraft tonight. Except for Key West, the only nocturnal airports south of here are Havana and San Juan. Most of the Caribbean traffic tries to arrive in daylight, I believe.
So we're "at home again" in our motorhome in the Keys. We may finally get a great trip for playing in the water! The seas are flat, the water is warm and we're here!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Gene's first flight in his airplane!
My partner and I have just given up and decided that it's OK for each of us to call N224DH "MY PLANE". Sorting out the finances is not an issue and neither of us is sensitive about it. And the real power in our universe (OUR WIVES) are encouraged to call it their plane also!
Gene finally got the combination of time off and weather to go flying. The original plan was to do some pattern work and then go around the lake for airwork with him at the controls, but the ceilings were a little low. We had no problems staying clear of cloud (since we were in the pattern, that's all we needed. If we had left the pattern, we needed 500 feet below the clouds and we would have been too low over the city, hence the change in plans). I demonstrated six good landings including wake turbulence avoidance and go-arounds. Maximum performance climbs are jet-like and fun! Only stayed in the pattern for 30 minutes, but Gene was happy!
It looks like the weather today (Sunday) is gonna suck all day, so I'll be working on database subscriptions and loads.
Gene finally got the combination of time off and weather to go flying. The original plan was to do some pattern work and then go around the lake for airwork with him at the controls, but the ceilings were a little low. We had no problems staying clear of cloud (since we were in the pattern, that's all we needed. If we had left the pattern, we needed 500 feet below the clouds and we would have been too low over the city, hence the change in plans). I demonstrated six good landings including wake turbulence avoidance and go-arounds. Maximum performance climbs are jet-like and fun! Only stayed in the pattern for 30 minutes, but Gene was happy!
It looks like the weather today (Sunday) is gonna suck all day, so I'll be working on database subscriptions and loads.
Impressions 5+ hours in.
While waiting for the wind to slow down (an unusual problem for Augusta) , I sewed a beatiful set of silver sheepskins onto the bottom seat cushions and reinforced the seat backs with fiberglas cut from "Corkscrew" the Cork's Hunter 22 that formed the basis of my home cockpit. LSA owners can fix most non-structural stuff, change tires, oil, and sparkplugs themselves.
My first day of flying was alone, of course, to sort out the differences in this airplane. The plan was to depart AGS (takeoffs are easy) and go to the lake, do airwork and practice landings (okay, Robert! not approaches!) at Thompson (HQU). Departure was no issue and the lake was a nice. This airplane handles wonderfully, the stalls, slow flight, flaps, steep turns and ground reference maneuvers went well.
Landings were not as easy. I had lost the "sight picture" and was consistently high and fast. The technique of "making a distinct descent to the runway" seems to yield fast and flaky flares. Flaps helped, but I did several low-altitude tours of the airport. Nervous. Finally got a few acceptable rollouts and departed for AGS.
The Bulldog MOAs and restricted areas were hot. I did not like going south of the restricted area, but the controller didn't call me on it, and I stayed well clear of Fort Gordon. Next time, I'll depart HQU East to clear all that to the north side.
Made the worst sort of landing at Bush. Hot, high and fast. tried to force the situation and bounced. Not really bad "go-around NOW!" bounces, but the commuter CRJ had a good show! When the tower gave me the turn-off instructions, I replied with "Whenever I stop bouncing I will!" and then on the turnoff "I think I'll log three landings for that!" Didn't break anything or even scare myself, I know to keep the nose up and if it 's bad add lots of power, but I know better.
Friday was a much better day! Packed it up and stayed in the pattern. I'm going to go back to my original technique of holding approach attitude and speed all the way down to the flare. Less general changing of everything at the last moment. It works much better! 65 knots and 15-degrees of flaps is very controlled and the flare and float may be a little longer than some would prefer, but the touchdowns are gentle,but firmly on the ground with the nose wheel up and no bounce. After 5 great landings, I departed northeast for the lake and had a ball playing with the terrain feature of the Garmin. And the ZAON PCAS "fishfinder" works well for finding intruder aircraft.
Did some pilotage and found my sister-in-law's farm. Even better I caught ahe and Pete our loading a horse trailer. Stayed legal, but circled them several times and saw them looking at me. No long guns were produced, so I went overhead at the FAA-required 500 feet AGL at went back to AGS. Great landing and rollout with the white stripe firmly underneath.
My first day of flying was alone, of course, to sort out the differences in this airplane. The plan was to depart AGS (takeoffs are easy) and go to the lake, do airwork and practice landings (okay, Robert! not approaches!) at Thompson (HQU). Departure was no issue and the lake was a nice. This airplane handles wonderfully, the stalls, slow flight, flaps, steep turns and ground reference maneuvers went well.
Landings were not as easy. I had lost the "sight picture" and was consistently high and fast. The technique of "making a distinct descent to the runway" seems to yield fast and flaky flares. Flaps helped, but I did several low-altitude tours of the airport. Nervous. Finally got a few acceptable rollouts and departed for AGS.
The Bulldog MOAs and restricted areas were hot. I did not like going south of the restricted area, but the controller didn't call me on it, and I stayed well clear of Fort Gordon. Next time, I'll depart HQU East to clear all that to the north side.
Made the worst sort of landing at Bush. Hot, high and fast. tried to force the situation and bounced. Not really bad "go-around NOW!" bounces, but the commuter CRJ had a good show! When the tower gave me the turn-off instructions, I replied with "Whenever I stop bouncing I will!" and then on the turnoff "I think I'll log three landings for that!" Didn't break anything or even scare myself, I know to keep the nose up and if it 's bad add lots of power, but I know better.
Friday was a much better day! Packed it up and stayed in the pattern. I'm going to go back to my original technique of holding approach attitude and speed all the way down to the flare. Less general changing of everything at the last moment. It works much better! 65 knots and 15-degrees of flaps is very controlled and the flare and float may be a little longer than some would prefer, but the touchdowns are gentle,but firmly on the ground with the nose wheel up and no bounce. After 5 great landings, I departed northeast for the lake and had a ball playing with the terrain feature of the Garmin. And the ZAON PCAS "fishfinder" works well for finding intruder aircraft.
Did some pilotage and found my sister-in-law's farm. Even better I caught ahe and Pete our loading a horse trailer. Stayed legal, but circled them several times and saw them looking at me. No long guns were produced, so I went overhead at the FAA-required 500 feet AGL at went back to AGS. Great landing and rollout with the white stripe firmly underneath.
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