Scrub Beach Patrol

This morning the plan was to sleep in a bit then head to the airport for a 9am preflight. The plan was to stop at KGED for an early lunch then overfly OXB (maybe stop) then back north to ATR VOR which is located at lewes Delaware, take photo's and head to WWD. From WWD head to KMIV for T&G's then finally back home to KILG.

Mary and I got up on time but must have dragged tail feathers a bit. We hit the Wawa after 9:30(convenience store) for a Chai for Mary and a Chocolate Milk for me, yes of course I grabbed a tastykake koffee cake....who could resist. First strike for the plan is no chai and when Mary informed the person working there the response was "ok". Well DUH.....fill the thing!!! Grrr....Mary passed on the Chai and I went through the line to checkout, which was about 6 deep. I get to the checkout and she says wait a minute and walks away. OK, what's the deal? Ahhh...she returns with manager in tow because she needs change, no biggie. The lady rings me up, double charges me for the choc. milk and charges me for the two dozen eggs off to the side that the guy behind me is buying. Ah...Miss?, I didn't get eggs and there is only one choc milk here. Her response, the eggs aren't yours? (here's your sign) I said no, unless this man would be cooking breakfast for me and the Mrs and I don't think he's going there. He smiles and says nope. The young lady now backs out the eggs and the extra milk but can't figure out my new total. Ok, let's see....milk 1.49 and coffee cake 1.19 I'm thinking 2.68 and out of ten dollars that would be 7.32. The check out chick and her supervisor are stumped. I repeat this "new" math and tell her trust me it's correct. The supervisor says thanks I would have needed pencil and paper. I almost fell over. I said why don't you get rid of that register that tells you what to do and use pencil and paper, you can check folks out and practice the math, have a great day ;)

Finally on the road to the airport. Mary and I pull in next to 679er and I notice the winds have picked up. WX Brief this morning called for winds 250* at 4 kts with winds picking up around 10am and Airmet Tango also called for Moderate turbulence. Metar from this morning's brief, METAR KILG 101251Z 25004KT 10SM CLR M06/M14 A3009.

I exit the truck and make a quick fuel check. Looks good to the tabs and that will be fine for our flight today. As I turn back to walk to the truck the wind really starts to pick up. The preflight brief noted 310* 31 knt tailwind to head south to KGED, not bad 27 minute flight instead of the normal 40 minutes. The home leg would be an hour.....not so good. I still decided to go (at preflight time) but now was second guessing. It's 9:45am and I dial up the AWOS. Report says it's now winds 270* at 16kts. Almost on time to match the brief calling for the change from 1500z to 2100z. I climb back in the truck, discuss with my Bride and make the call for a "no go". Mary agree's and reminds me of our Wilkes-Barre trip in windy conditions. Yes, it's no fun getting beat up for a day of proposed "fun flying". We head out, trip the gate, and exit the parking lot. Of course I second guess and think was I a wuss, should we have launched ? Mary can see the concentration on my face and said it's the right call. I agree even though I want to get back in the air. Take a look at the reports, it was the correct call.

METAR KILG 101451Z 27016KT 10SM CLR M02/M14 A3008
METAR KILG 101551Z 28017KT 10SM CLR M02/M15 A3007
METAR KILG 101651Z 30015G19KT 10SM CLR M01/M14 A3006
METAR KILG 101751Z 29016G21KT 10SM CLR 00/M15 A3004

We decide to head out for breakfast and go pick up her new hat with 679er's tail number on the back and her designated co-pilot status on the front under the embroidered aircraft! She loved the hat and can't wait to wear it to the fly-in on the 17th.

Off to 44N next week with the North East Flyers.