I can confirm that Cavanaugh Bay is a terrific grass strip. Flew into there for the first time in the summer of 2011
in a 172: Smoothest grass landing I ever made.
Went back in the summer of 2012 in my RV-6A. I was super paranoid about nose-overs, having heard all those stories and seen the scary pictures. So the week prior, I practiced a bunch of soft-field landings on the grass next to the runway at Arlington. I should not have bothered: The grass at Cavanaugh Bay is firmer and smoother. (Also, I had removed my main gear pants just before the flight, but again, I probably should not have bothered).
I look forward to going again in 6 or 7 months
It's
a very nice place. For the past two years, each summer I have gone once by air and once or twice by car.
(As a side note: Flying to Cavanaugh Bay in a Cessna in 2011, and knowing that I would probably return once or twice per summer, is the main reason why I bought an RV. That fall, I decided to buy an airplane, because I was doing so much flying that renting that 172 was getting too pricey. It would be cheaper to own. I had always wanted an aerobatic airplane, but flying 400 miles in a Citabria or in a 152 Aerobat would take for ever. Also, landing on the grass in a speedy low-wing Glasair or Lancair is not a smart thing to do. That's when I figured out that, as you know, RVs have the best of all the worlds. Perfect for the mission. So I got an RV-6, a year ago this month. Would have gotten the taildragger version, but as soon as I started looking, I had the chance to get a killer deal on a gorgeous RV-6A, so, oh well. When I build someday, the little wheel will be at the correct end).
