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Rosie & Tuppergal?s Caribbean Trip 2015

Rosie

Well Known Member
What year is this...2015...hmmm...an odd year....yes...it's time...for another Caribbean Adventure!!!!!!!!!!!! For vacation; Even years, fly Commercial. Odd years, FLY RV!!!!

It seems to me like yesterday, but it's been two years since our one-month-long 2013 Caribbean trip, a trip still fresh-on-our-minds, and we are OH-SO-READY-TO-FLY BACK!!!

This year, we are flying to the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Dominica with some wonderful friends. The main group will return home from Dominica but we'll keep going to make it three weeks to visit some other islands...maybe even stay a fourth week if we are having TOO MUCH FUN! Our trips starts on April 9th and ends on May 3rd.

Andrew “Sharkbait” Brandt will be returning from his South America RV trip when he joins us on Dominica so we look forward to meeting up with him too.

Let me introduce you to the group, many of you who you already know as they are veterans of several overwater trips.

Newbies flying for the first time with us across the water are marked with **
Flight Leads are bolded

Alpha Flight:
Victoria & Paul Rosales (California, RV-6A)...........Janet & Gene Larsen (Iowa, RV-9A)..................**Diane & Dan West (California, RV-8)
Rosales.jpg
larsen.jpg
west.jpg


Bravo Flight:
Gail & Doug Dodson (California, Glasair II)........ **Scott Loftin (California, Glasair III)..............**Roger & Sue Hansen (Arizona, RV-6)
dodson.jpg
loftin.jpg
hansen.jpg


Charlie Flight:
Tanya & Scott Card (Texas, RV-9A)................ Alina & Dave Bouno (Texas, RV-7A).............**Staci Stroud & Jeff Jackson (Texas, RV-8)
Card.jpg
Bouno.jpg
Jackson.jpg


Rosie, Tuppergal, Nordo, Moody Blue, Bun, Opie, eStitch, Cookie, Scoot, Taco & Belle...Shiner...what's with these names anyway?!? Can you match them with faces above?!?

Roger & Sue Hansen and Andrew will continue with Victoria and I for another week of Vacation once the main group flies home (with Tanya Card as Lead) from Dominica to end a two-week-vacation.

We will continue our vacation with landings on the islands of Canouan, Bequia, St. Lucia and St. Kitts.

I will also be getting a flight checkout, along with Doug Dodson, so that we can fly to St. Barth’s and land on the ‘short’ runway…well…not short for an RV!!!!!

I depart on Thursday morning, April 9th for Dallas...without my wife Victoria (Tuppergal); she has a Tupperware convention on Saturday (April 11th) so I'll pick her up in Tampa on Monday, April 13th. I'll have a co-worker travel with me the first day to Dallas (Herb Turner) then I'm solo till I pick her up at Tampa airport on Monday, April 12th.

Here's my itinerary from California to Homestead, Florida where we all meet up on Monday April 13th for a Tuesday departure overwater:

  • Visit friends in the DFW area
  • Eat Texas BBQ
  • Eat Memphis BBQ
  • Visit Graceland
  • See Team Aerodynamix practice in Anderson (SC)
  • Hang out with Amy & Mike "Kahuna" Stewart at their North Carolina skypark home...and play the PS3 game called (I think) Rockstar!!!
  • Have the best-fried-chicken-lunch-ever with VAF'er Pierre Smith, Gary Sobek and Nick Ervin at Fosters in Louisville (GA)...Maybe Moose can try to join us!
  • Visit a teacher-friend at Spruce Creek (FL)
  • Visit friends from my early F-117 days in Clearwater (near Tampa)
  • Can't forget this one...Pickup my wife at the airport!
  • Fly down south along the Keys and have lunch with 'the group'
  • ...and end up at Homestead airport (X51) by Monday afternoon so we can start our vacation ;-)

Here's what my planned flight path from coming from California to Florida (weather permitting):

Flight_Path_CA_to_Canouan.jpg


The days we are flying where you track our flight path are:
  • April 9th through 14th (California to the Dominican Republic)
  • April 17th (to St. Barths and Antigua)
  • April 20th (to Dominica)
  • April 23rd (to Canouan)
  • April 25th (to Bequia)
  • April 27th (to St. Lucia)
  • April 29th (to St. Kitts)
  • May 1st through May 3rd (flying home... maybe get Turbo to come to Virgin Gorda so we can 'hang' together)

As always, I can't thank my GREAT FRIEND & Mentor Jim "Jimmyb" Baker for introducing me to the Caribbean back in 2004 and to Van himself for designing such a AMAZING airplane that we all call an R-V!!!!! Looking back on all the friends we've made because of our RV...Our life is for the better because of it!

If you are building, keep poundin' the rivets because it's ALL WORTH IT!!! Paul "Rosie" Rosales and Victoria "Tuppergal" Rosales

PS: Almost forgot...somewhere on this trip, our hobbs meter will turn 4,000 hours!!!!

***************
Note: We completed this trip, flown from April 9th through May 3rd...and we did indeed see 4,000 hours...read on!
 
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Another great trip

Can't wait to watch Rosie!

Looks like another great trip planned out. You guys be safe and have fun.
 
Nice

Sounds great.

Kind of makes our 8 canadian birds launch to the bahamas late april seem kind of short!

Enjoy, will be watching for posts.
 
I have been watching you guys do this trip year after year, I am VERRY jealous. Have a safe and exciting trip! Out of curiosity, how many in your group are VFR only pilots?

Hey Bret, how about you join us in 2017?!? As for IFR...EVERYONE: IFR = I Follow Rosie! As for FAA IFR: Scott & Tanya Card, Dave Bouno, Andrew Brandt, Doug Dodson and Scott Loftin are instrument rated :D Rosie
 
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wishing you guys tailwinds, blue skys, and a safe trip. :)

thanks for taking us along via =VAF= and the inter web.

Turbo...what you say we meet up on May 1st in Virgin Gorda??? I just need a reason to stay another week :) Rosie

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Let me know what day you are at KCLW, if I am off I can help with giving you a lift, even showing you decent (for Florida) BBQ.

Thank you for the offer! I think my friends are taking me to Sonny's, Rosie

Good for you, but ask them to take you to Brady's in Safety Harbor, ten minutes form CLW and much better BBQ, have fun.
 
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Good fuel price at KLQK

since you are going over to anderson KAND for the TA practice, fuel at nearby KLQK is $3.99 per gal. Stop by and see us.

Thank you Tyler! Rosie

Tyler
N174MT
 
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What an inspiration

Rosie, I'm not real active on the Board but I wanted to drop you a line and say "Thanks" for all the time you take while you are on vacation to update us. It is a real inspiration.

I got my tail kit (RV-7 SB) as a gift from my wife for xmas 2012. I got off to a slow start (had to clean the shop/garage out, and some family issues).

After reading about your 2013 trip I got motivated, wanted to join you all in 2015. It was a high mark for sure, didn't quite make it. I'm happy to say though that I'm picking up my finish kit next week and I'm ready to start on the canopy. So maybe 2017?

So thanks again, have a great trip and keep us posted.

I'm heading out to pound some rivets.

Brenden

Wow, that's GREAT to hear Brenden!!! Yes to 2017! When I was building (1995-2000), my 'motivator' was Gary "Condor" Sobek. Reading about his flight adventures kept me on a high all the way to first flight :) One of the most memorable moments was in the late 90's and I had just got the panel all wired up and could listen to air traffic via the speaker I installed in the cockpit. Gary was flying overhead, enroute to the Van's Homecoming (or something far away north)...we chatted a couple minutes...now that too was very MOTIVATING!!!! So I continue to pass on that motivation whenever I can because I remember well all those hours spent building! Good for you on poundin' rivets :D Rosie

PS: I do enjoy the flying more than the building...
 
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St. Kitts

Looks like a great trip! I lived on St Kitts for 28 months while my wife attended Vet school. Good times.....good times....... I'd love to fly myself down there sometime.

Also spent some time in St. Maarten and St. Barths. Beautiful, beautiful area.

Enjoy!
 
Have FUN!

Rosie,
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful...
Wishing you Tailwinds, Blue Sky, white sand and clear water- Say hi to Condor and all!

You gotta' join us in 2019 Tailwind!!! Rosie
 
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I'm in for 2017

Absolutely love the Caribbean. Looking forward to living vicariously through you travels and reports. I'm in for 2017!!!

You too Darwin...2017! Rosie
 
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2015 Carribean trip

Rosie and gang,

Have a safe and fun trip.

Wish we were coming this year like we hoped.

We will follow your reports and wish we were with.

Jim and Beata
 
Some day we will tag along in real life, until then I will follow remotely. Too busy building the retirement place($$).

my hangar neighbor is heading to DR on 4/13 then to Sun&Fun area 4/20, so if you see a white/blue S35 Bonanza from Montana say hi.

where/when will you be in DR?

Thanks...BC

We'll be at the Royalton Punta Cana Resort & Casino, arriving 14 April and departing 17 April for Antigua, Rosie
 
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On your leg from Louisville GA to Spruce Creek, stop into Flagler (KFIN) for lunch at Highjackers. We can meet up and compare Caribbean flying notes.

:D

Galin, weather is not my friend this week and my eat up my 'free time' for visiting...Rosie
 
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Yep, and he just went to bed after sending a flood of emails five hours ago... You should see him sleep. He is Serious about it, but doesn't waste any time. See ya' soon Rosie!
 
Flightradar24

Found him on Flightradar24.com

Just now...N628PV...11,400 ft...194 kt...103 degrees...Lat 34.3...Long -104.7 that's southeast of Albuquerque.

I couldnt find him on Flightaware...but he's tracking on Flightradar24.com


I'm on lunch break... :)
 
Rosie and his PAX have stopped for lunch. They are in the "courtesy" car on the way into town. This was a Planned stop. (Per phone report from Rosie.)


Gary, I'm guessing they went to West Texas Pit Masters for Barbecue. --- Don
 
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Rosie, i am on the way to see my family down at the island. If you change your mind like you did last time and you want to stop to visit us. Let me know.

Got it! Rosie
 
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Day 1: Rosamond to Dallas

Hi All!

It's been a long day and was up at 0400 PDT and now getting online at 2100 PDT; It's been a long but GREAT DAY of flying! Tuppergal got to sleep in as my co-worker Herb Turner and I were up early then airborne by about 0510 (still dark). I had packed the plane the night before so here's our my luggage for the 3-week trip:

Caribbean_001.jpg


We saw the sun rise as we were crossing the Colorado River:

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The desert in the early morning is not very colorful. Here's Sedona Airport on the plateau:

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And my friend Herb:

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And a picture of my standard, no wind, ground speed:

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Three hours after departing Rosamond (L00), we were at St. Johns with my longtime friend and airport manager, Gary Liston :

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After fueling and a short visit, we continued on, passing just south of Albuquerque (looking north to ABQ):

Caribbean_008.jpg


Not much to see flying eastbound past Albuquerque:

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At 11,500' we picked up a NICE tailwind which gave a GREAT groundspeed:

Caribbean_010.jpg
 
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Day 1: Rosamond to Dallas

Two hours after leaving SJN, we were on the ground at Plainview (PVW), TX...

Caribbean_011.jpg


...where they were kind enough to lend us the airport car to get something to eat...at Jumbo Joe's!

NO PICTURE AVAILABLE: Left the camera in the car...but you need to stop there!

After leaving PVW, I saw some red stuff on the ground..."What is that Herb?"..."That is red dirt Paul." Duh!

Caribbean_012.jpg


We pressed into the DFW area towards Sycamore (9F9) were I was to drop Herb off....Can anyone out there please point out 9F9 to me?!? Thank goodness for GPS!

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Here's the downline into 9F9:

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So there I am...two (2) miles to 9F9 and I don't see it...I turn 'downwind based on blind faith....

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oh...now I see that little sidewalk of a runway next to the train tracks...here's look back down the runway after landing:

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And the train passing by:

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After takeoff, I finally 'saw' the airport:

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I almost got an 'over the top of DFW clearance' but the 'scud' on the other side was too low so they took me around the north side:

Caribbean_020.jpg
 
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Day 1: Rosamond to Dallas

Regional approach started turning me north here at these 'big buildings'....where was I here? Just found out this was downtown Fort Worth...

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I recognize the raceway....

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And then I saw the homebase of our VAF master:

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Not long after leaving Sycamore, I'm over Lake Lewisville, inbound to Airpark Dallas, all with the help of Regional Approach (thank you!):

Caribbean_024.jpg


On the ground, RV-8 Builder Robert Owen was there to great me, and he even helped get the plane tied down; THANK YOU ROBERT!!!

Caribbean_025.jpg


Driving away from the airport after ~7 RV flight hours from SoCAL to the DFW area!

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I hope to see some of you Friday at the Stephenville airport for lunch at the Hard 8 BBQ!!!!

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie
 
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As usual, great report and great photos, Rosie. I wondered why you stopped at Sycamore and then circled around to the other side of Dallas. Now we know. Looking forward to more reports. :)
 
Ready to launch

Hey Rosie.....
Moody Blue and Bun are launching out of Iowa a day early (Sat) to insure we can avoid weather on the way to Venice. Not sure where we will end up Saturday night, but plan to stay in Venice Sunday night to meet up for the lunch run to KEYW on Monday.
Looks like spring weather is here in the mid-west.
 
Welcome to F 69, great to meet you!

It was good to meet you yesterday Rosie! It was kind of like a once in a lifetime event around here. I was out working in my garage and looked up and seen an RV landing at Dallas Airpark (f69). I knew I had seen this plane before somewhere but I didn't know who it was. There's not a lot of homebuilt traffic out of F69 here so when I seen Rosie come in I immediately hopped in the truck and went over to greet him. I didn't realize who you were and was hoping I would not be in your way. Those thoughts could have not been further from the truth. We had a very pleasant conversation and he even let me help tie down his plane. If I had my hanger built I would have let you have some inside space. I hope your visit to F 69 was a pleasant one. I will be following your trip closer now that I can put a face to it and come back and see me. Happy Flying!
Thanks, Robert
 
I had packed the plane the night before so here's our my luggage for the 3-week trip:

Caribbean_001.jpg

Rosie, how much does all that gear weigh? Looks about how I might pack for a similar trip (sitting on a beach in the Bahamas as I write this, flew airlines this time but next trip is in the RV). I'd like to get an idea of just how much time I need to spend on the treadmill :D

It weighs...a lot...
Black clothes bag: 20 lbs
Purple clothes bag: 15 lbs
Tools: 20 lbs
Scuba: 30 lbs
Ropes/Misc: 10 lbs
Drinks & snacks: 10 lbs
Mallet, rebar stakes & alternator are up front with us so I don't count (weigh) them.
All other: Don't even weigh it...it's all light weight

I, personally, don't have any problem loading up 120 lbs in the baggage area (all within CG) as I beefed up my baggage floor during the build, Rosie

 
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I'd like to get an idea of just how much time I need to spend on the treadmill :D

That right there is very best weight savings effort. Once you solve that, "if it fits, it ships". Our carrying capacity went up by almost 40# a few years ago and never looked back. Rosie's heaviest stuff is the tonage of scuba gear that he hauls. You can almost see that he has two pair of underwear, one pair of socks (on his feet), two shirts, and two swim trunks in this "clothes bag".
 
Day 2: Stephenville & the Hard 8 BBQ

Hi All,
Another great day of flying, food, friends and fun! Since I'm now 'solo' in the plane, I brought along a longtime friend of ours, Rebecca Sanchez to join me to lunch at the Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville. After departing Airpark Dallas (just inside the Addison airport airspace), we flew north then west, around Lake Lewisville at 3500' as directed by Regional approach.

Here's a 'unique' picture of the NASCAR raceway:

Caribbean_027.jpg


After burning 12 gal/hr, we arrived on the ramp at 1102 local time, late...sorry about that all! I know 1100 means 'walking away from the planes' at 1100. the group was forgiving so we started the 'walk' to eat;

Caribbean_028.jpg


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We were able to walk right up to the 'Grill Master' and get our food served quickly....of course, Jay Pratt was first in line and is not pictured:

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Here's the group: THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME!!!

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Included in the photo above is Dave & Karen Gill who both fly a Piper Lightsport aircraft and Carl Scheuneman flying a new-to-him Mooney. I worked with Dave & Carl back 'in the day' on F-117; they were employed by Texas Instruments who built the F-117 EO/IR system.

We all had a SUPER time telling lies and half-truths...it's great fun hanging out with a bunch of TEXANS!!! It was time for the walk back where I fueled up and was able to get a picture of Dave & Karen and Carl's planes with mine:

Caribbean_034.jpg


Dave even paid tribute to his F-117 days with his N number: N117VV

Carl was flying back to Addison, and we were flying to Airpark Dallas..."Carl, do you want to do a 2-ship back?"

Caribbean_035.jpg


Here's Carl looking good as I fly off his wing; 3-bladed props are just 'plane' sexy!!!

Caribbean_036.jpg
 
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Day 2: Stephenville & the Hard 8 BBQ

Our routing by Regional Approach took us right over Dallas where Rebecca was able to get some great pics of Carl's Mooney:

Caribbean_037.jpg


No time for more pics as Addison was minutes away. The tower cleared Carl for a straight in to RWY 35 while I requested and was granted permission to fly-by the Addison runway and land Airpark Dallas:

Caribbean_039.jpg


This is a narrow runway that's not in too bad a shape:

Caribbean_040.jpg


I dropped off Rebecca then continued to Aero Country (T31, a 5 minute flight) to stay with fellow Caribbean Fliers Dave & Alina Buono at their VERY NEW skypark home.

Here are some pics after takeoff:

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Coming from California, I'm not used to seeing so much 'flatness':

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Base to final at Aero Country:

Caribbean_046.jpg


And the Buono's new skypark home:

Caribbean_047.jpg


Here's what the SPOT showed after today's flying:

Caribbean_038.jpg


I'll depart for Memphis in the morning (Saturday) and I'm now flying solo until I pickup Tuppergal on Monday morning in Tampa.

I hope to see some of you for lunch at Central BBQ then will continue into Anderson (SC) to watch Team Aerodynamix practice!

Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie
 
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Say, Rosie..

How many of you will be here on Sunday?

Fly safe,

Best,

Pierre, I'm guessing we will have three (3): Myself, Gary "Condor" Sobek and Nick "Splinter" Ervin. See you soon! Rosie
 
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Sat lunch

Hey Rosie, Diane and I made it to Branson from Sacramento Friday. What time is lunch and airport I.D.? Nordo

From Rosie: All, Nordo & Diane are joining me on this adventure and I was to meet up with them in Homestead...I do not check e-mail in the morning...only after midnight so I never saw this...Coming back from lunch in Memphis with Rich Emery today, I hear 'Rosie!'....I turn and see Diane & Nordo (Dan West) changing his oil in the hangar at M01 (Dewitt Spain, north of Memphis)...I am now a 2-ship...read on...
 
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Rosie Update

Rosie's at 7500 ft, 163 knots near Little Rock on his way to Memphis.

Update:It's 10:20 AM CDT and Rosie has landed at Dewitt Spain airport. Another short trip for his RV!

Rosie Update at 0047 EDT, SUNDAY MORNING: First: Don, thank you for tracking me!!! Second: Rosie (& Nordo/Diane) are at Kahuna's place, having arrived a 3-ship, night formation, landing at 2205 EDT...Dallas to Memphis to Anderson (SC) to somewhere in North Carolina (NC25)...not recommended for the timid... read on...

Caribbean_048.jpg


Today's Trip-Log made possible by Van's Aircraft :)

Caribbean_049.jpg
 
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Day 3: Dallas to (near) Charlotte (NC)

Good morning...Sunday morning...EARLY SUNDAY morning after 0100 EDT...here's the report for yesterday's flight...
********
I woke up this morning at 0645 and had one of my favorite breakfast meal (Nabisco Shredded Wheat) in the HUGE NEW SKYPARK home (kitchen) of Dave "Taco" and Alina "Belle" Buono at Aero Country (T31): Thank you for having me! They were ready to start there Caribbean vacation with me with a flight to Venice (VNC) Florida.

I don't believe I've yet posted a picture of the stuffed-plane:

Caribbean_053.jpg


And my BESTED friends Taco & Belle (photo by Larry):

Caribbean_054.jpg


I pulled out of the hangar first with them right behind me...I was able to taxi out one Larry moved his truck ;-)

Caribbean_050.jpg


I was airborne by about 0800 for the ~2 hour flight to Dewitt Spain (M01) airport, just a few (car) minutes north of downtown Memphis. Here's Aero Country (T51):

Caribbean_055.jpg


The sky was slightly overcast and it sure helped on the 'sun-in-the-face' factor;

Caribbean_057.jpg


This was short-lived but still a beautiful morning:

Caribbean_058.jpg


Something I'll check just after takeoff is my 'Terrain Elevation' page. There are NO mountains once you pass the Rockies so I'll zoom the scale way out to see the flight path (with zero clutter):

Caribbean_056.jpg


Here's Little Rock (LIT), Arkansas:

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The time 'flew' by as I listened to my nanopod, and occasionally taking handoffs from Center. Then this big Pyramid 'appeared..."Oh, I'm here already!"

Caribbean_060.jpg
 
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Day 3: Dallas to (near) Charlotte (NC)

The flight time was ~2:10 from Aero Country (Dallas area), and minutes after landing, Rich Emery arrived from a 1.5 hour flight from...I have to ask him again :-0

Caribbean_061.jpg


Mike from the FBO came out to greet us and fill my plane up with fuel, thank you very much! Rich and I were then off to have some Memphis BBQ!!!! We were able to find Central BBQ located downtown after help from Rich's smart phone:

Caribbean_062.jpg


There is a large seating area inside plus a large seating area out the back double-doors:

Caribbean_063.jpg


I have to tell you that Rich ordered a full slab of Ribs..."I'll take half home to the wife..." he says to me. I ordered a 3-meat combo with brisket, pork and smoked turkey, pork rinds, greens and bread. The cashier asks if I'd like a drink, and, as Rich is my witness, I ask "Yes, do you have sweet tea?", and she says, without even cracking a smile, "You DO know that you are in Memphis?". You gotta laugh!

Caribbean_064.jpg


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Once the food showed up, there was little talking and LOTS of eating...I can tell you that Rich left there with no doggie-bag of ribs...I may have helped eat a couple of them ;-)

From there, we were 'off' to Graceland....go there in maybe 10-15 minutes...get to the gate and pay $10. Wow, that was cheap...no wonder all these people are here in cars and buses... Gate Cashier says there is a 1-hour wait for the Mansion tour...No problem, we'll just see the outside grounds and leave...Let's take a Selfie first:

Caribbean_066.jpg


Then we continue to the main entrance where I was then 'floored':

Caribbean_067.jpg


Nuff said...We went into the gift shop (that was free) where I bought something to hang in my hangar then I took this picture in the (free) lobby:

Caribbean_068.jpg


On the way out, we did see this airplane:

Caribbean_069.jpg


Caribbean_070.jpg
 
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Day 3: Dallas to (near) Charlotte (NC)

So we came, we saw, we left..."Rich, let's not and say we did!" Back to the airport we go, and after parking the Courtesy SUV in front of the FBO, I hear "Rosie!"... I take a look-see in the hangar, and there's Diane & Dan "Nordo" West!?! Remember earlier I said that I don't read e-mail in the morning...what a GREAT surprise. They had arrived after me, and when they heard we were also going to Graceland, Nordo decided to change his oil (this was planned somewhere on the road):

Caribbean_071.jpg


I looked at my watch and did some quick math; it's ~1400 local...with a 2-hour flight to Anderson (AND), SC. That puts us there about 1630 local...way too early to watch their night show practice..."Nordo, Diane...have you eaten?" "Nope!" Let's go! Rich had to fly home and do wifey chores (thanks for coming Rich!) so Nordo buttoned up has plane and I drove them back to town. A friend of mine recommended Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous before I left California but I had already put out the post for Central BBQ..." So I took them there: GREAT BBQ once again!!!

Caribbean_072.jpg


One more time, back to the airport where they decided to join me to see Kahuna; quick text to Kahuna got them a room at Kahuna's place (thank you!). We loaded up...after some minor maintenance...don't even ask:

Caribbean_073.jpg


We departed a 2-ship for Anderson...takeoff was at ~1600. Very nice 2-hour flight with lots to see:

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Ten minutes out, Nordo pulled-in for the overhead break to runway 35 at Anderson (AND), SC:

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On arrival, Team Aerodynamix was ready to start up for their night show practice:

Caribbean_080.jpg
 
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Day 3: Dallas to (near) Charlotte (NC)

While they taxied out, we pulled the planes over to fuel and were greeted by Mary Kight (wife of Danny "Speedie" Kight) who I met on my VERY FIRST Carribean Trip in 2004:

Caribbean_081.jpg


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This was a night-show practice so I have no pictures of the flying but here's the debrief:

Caribbean_084.jpg


It's now real dark...local time 2100-ish time dark, no moon, and Nordo/Diane/me get Kahuna's night formation briefing to follow him home to Gold Hills (NC25), NC, about a 45 minute flight. Now this was REALLY REALLY REALLY FUN!!!!

Note: Formation qualified pilots, closed course, do not attempt, void where prohibited, not valid in Mexico. This view is looking left, directly over the top of my left wing:

Caribbean_085.jpg


I was third in the flight, and Kahuna flew us, IN TRAIL, once over the runway at 1300' then we came around for a nice & dark landing...we lived! Here's the ramp at Kahuna & Amy's house:

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"Checkout the engine in this Miata...MONSTER Miata!"

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It's 0334 EDT as I click save on this last photo...Good night...I mean, Good Morning! Rosie

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And their off. Rosie, Nordo and Diane are headed off to the next stop on their great adventure. A great overnight here with lots of lie swapping. Its all about the people. Met some great new friends in Nordo and his wife. No maintenance issues. Yeah! Great breakfast, clear blue skies this morning. Safe trip Rosie. Great to see you my friend. Love you man. You all are always welcome here. Safe travels.
 
Rosie,

I love following your trips via this site and the Spot tracker.
One minor correction to your post #42, the airport in the picture you thought was Hot Springs is actually the Little Rock (KLIT) airport. Thanks for reading this John: Got it fixed, thanks! Rosie

Have a safe and fun filled trip.
 
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Rosie Checking in

I just got a call from Rosie and he said that He lost his alternator and that is why he was zig zaging on his spot tracker, he hasn't been drinking I swear!
Keys
 
I also just got a call from Rosie, telling me about his "adventure". He said he has a spare alternator, so he doesn't expect the repair to be a big deal.

Sure hope he's right... :D
 
I also just got a call from Rosie, telling me about his "adventure". He said he has a spare alternator, so he doesn't expect the repair to be a big deal.

Sure hope he's right... :D

Got off the phone with Rosie as the spare alternator was just installed. He was planning on charging his battery for an hour. We should talk more later.
 
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