Minimums

On top for a few minutes heading to 58M

Minimums, Yes today would provide my first real test of my instrument skills.  Yes, I've been in the "soup" on various flights but today would test my skills to minimums.  Wilmington was looking good for departure so I filed for the ten minute hop to Cecil County, 58M in order to have my leaking fuel sump replaced.  Ground read my clearance to me; runway heading, radar vectors, two thousand, one one niner point seven five squawk 4626.  I read everything back correct then advised holding for release.

Philly finally gave Wilmington the ok and I was cleared to takeoff.  I was in the clag, soup, IMC by seven hundred feet comfortable knowing I could get back in on the ILS or GPS approaches if needed.  Once handed off to Philly I followed my first vector heading two two zero.  I advised I had the wx at Cecil County, (noted from Summit airport) and continued on. Next turn was to two three zero and then a final turn to two nine zero, cleared for the RNAV GPS 31 approach maintain two thousand two hundred until established, showing heavy rain in the area, cancel with me or on the ground...blah....blah ...blah. The just shy of three thousand feet by seventy foot runway was going to be a welcome sight.

Rain passed 58M now I get to deal with it at ILG

Ok, the 496 hasn't shown any rain and the info is maybe 4 minutes old but it's best to trust approach.  I can't see a thing outside as I follow the approach inside calling out altitude and on course.  I make my final GUMPS call and spit out the missed approach procedure so I can hear myself.  I was just out side WESIL the final appraoch fix (FAF) and descending to one thousand seven hundred, still no ground view.

Finally a glimpse of terrain but gone just as fast. I am descending to the six hundred foot minimum descent altitude (MDA) and was making ready to go missed. I check out front and see nothing, look to my ten O clock and spot the Elk river. Passing through just under seven hundred I get blasted with heavy rain, I'm almost to the river. I have ground contact, six fifty, six forty I have the airport and runway.  I add a notch of flaps and continue in deciding not to flip back to cancel with Philly but to call once on the ground. That was my very first approach to minimums, what a rush!

The guys at Cecil Aero are the best and they worked me right in to swap out the sump. I hung out for a bit giving the wx a chance to clear. Things looked better at Cecil but what I flew through on final was now over Wilmington. I waited until 9:30ish and decided to pick up my clearance back home. I called the 800 clearance delivery number and was ready to go.  Once in the air I pointed direct Wilmington until I received vectors for the RNAV GPS 19 approach into KILG.  I was in the soup from eight hundred feet after departure and only had some bright sun peeking through to let me know I was close to the tops. I followed the vectors for JIGUP and shot the RNAV GPS 19. I flew a good approach breaking out at seven hundred feet, two hundred twenty above the minimum.

A great feeling knowing I can do this instrument stuff and be safe. I like the work load and the details not to mention the result of that hard work. Sorry no pictures today, I was to busy flying the plane.

Sump replaced and we are ready for the trip to Ithaca, NY.

08Romeo's Pampered

Look....no bugs!!

Mary and decided to have 08Romeo pampered at the FBO we use for fuel.  Their prices were very competitive and the location (across the field) sealed the deal.  I taxied 08Romeo over to Aero Ways, Inc on Wednesday morning and assured her she would love the treatment.  I did ask the line guys to please leave her inside if she is not covered due to the air vents on the top of the cowling just forward of the windshield.  I don't like to get the collectors wet and chance a leak, even though they have worked perfectly and 08Romeo has been watertight. I was told to expect her to be done Friday depending on how busy they were in the shop.

I received a call today at lunch that our girl was ready to go.  I got a ride over to Aero Ways from a coworker and squared up the invoice. First a look around to check out the work. From a distance across the hangar you could see the shine. 08Romeo looked just as nice as the day she rolled out of the hangar in Texas, spotless and a crystal clear reflection of her surroundings. I ran my hand over and under the wing and down her sides, the multi-color red stripes had a rich glow and were smooth as silk.

I was very satisfied with the results. I cannot wait to go fly. Since I had to return to work, a short taxi across the field would have to suffice. GREAT JOB AERO WAYS!!!

The Breakdown:
Degrease,Wash - 1.5 hours @$45  $67.50
Aero Glaze - 4.0 hr - @$45 - $180.00
Total Spa Day treatment  $247.50

Awesome looking plane - PRICELE$$

Breakfast Hop

I decided to  take advantage of the cool temps and get some flight time in today.  Mary took a pass since she said we will be flying the next three out of four weekends, which translates to, she will have her fill of flying.  I headed south for Wilmington trying to decide where to eat.  I sent Vince a text to see if he was available to fly and he replied "see you there".

The VP's Gulfstream

I took on some fuel at ILG but wanted to run the right tank low so I could replace the fuel sump that started to drip. The parts should be in soon, I'm waiting for Roger to give a call from Cecil Aero.  We both climb aboard and I finish up my pre-start checks. No TFR's scheduled today so we get the fan turning and plug in Vince's choice, Cambridge Maryland - KCGE.  Good choice Vince, now get us set up and make the calls, it's your trip today.  Wilmington immediately puts us in a ground hold, Air Force Two will be taking off shortly since they just called on the ground frequency. Great, nothing like a heads up.  Oh well, we sat for maybe ten minutes and at least the oil had additional time to warm up.

With the V.P. climbing away from Wilmington in his Gulfstream, I am directed to proceed to runway nine via taxiway kilo, hold short at Kilo 5.  Vince makes all the calls and does a fine job. Once cleared to take off I roll onto the runway and climb out. Cleared on course and with a follow up check by Vince with the tower he has us turning right to a southwest heading.

Vince made the call for flight following to Dover and we were good to go. There were jumpers at Ridgely just six miles off the nose so we kept a close watch for meat missiles and the jump plane. Vince soon had a visual on the jump plane and we turned farther east to give more room for jumpers that were going to be falling through the layer above us.  We didn't want to meet anyone up close.  By this time we had been on with Potomac approach and we advised them of the deviation for the jumpers.

Ready to go at KGED, clearance to ILG



Departing rwy 10

The wx started to show on the garmin 496 and it confirmed what the eyeballs were telling us. It looked like heavy rain now moving into the Easton and south area covering our intended destination. I made a call to Potomac and diverted to Georgetown, KGED. Georgetown was busy with traffic and Vince and I both were looking.  There was plenty of cloud cover so it took some scanning to spot traffic.

That's right where we're headed

Yep, 496 is correct

Just starting to sprinkle

washing off the bugs

I was tooling along reporting my position and intentions to land on runway one zero. As I got closer reporting a five mile final something didn't look right, there were no numbers and as Vince noticed there was someone on the "runway" potentially going head on with us. Nah...this is not right, that's the taxiway. 08Romeo is going around, I have the Mooney crossing midfield, we were outta there. I circled to join the left downwind for one zero and turned base to final with the picture now looking much better. All the markings were now correct and the numbers where they they should be. A super smooth landing with a nice roll out to clear the runway.

Ah....that's ugly

just under the layer, no bumps in the cool temps

We secured 08Romeo and walked into the terminal to order fuel and grab some breakfast.  I was still re-flying the go-around and reviewing what I was looking at and what I should have done better/faster to pick up the problem. I should have just kept flying the plane, keeping just the mental picture of traffic and not obsess with making visual contact with each target, it distracted me from my landing, lesson learned.

At least the rain quit

The worst is behind us

Breakfast was good as we sat and talked about flying. I decided while we sat at the table to file for the flight home since conditions were getting worse.  Not terrible, but the scattered layer was now broken and moving in. Despite what the AWOS was reporting the layer now looked much lower. We finished up, paid for fuel and did an abbreviated pre-flight.

Localizer Alive!

Nice Intercept Angle from Philly

Glide Slope Alive

We taxied out and I contacted Dover Clearance Delivery for my release. I was waiting on a cirrus inbound on the GPS 4, circle to land one zero. He came in hot and long, I didn't think he would clear the trees climbing out but he did. We sat for another five minutes before Dover released us. The amended route had us direct Waterloo (ATR) then as filed. We were soon given the climb to three thousand direct DuPont (DQO). The thick cloud layer sat above us at three thousand two hundred, dumping a light rain on us until we were just south of Dover.

@100 above DA, a mile out, needles in the donut and speed looking good

ILG's new EMAS

Dover handed us off to Philly and they asked if we wanted the ILS 1 or visual approach. I accepted vectors for the ILS RWY 1. I got one turn to the left which had me on a nice intercept for the localizer. I was restricted to hold three thousand until I was established on the localizer, and so we did. Once I intercepted I started my descent for two thousand holding there until HADIN the Final Approach Fix crossing that point at one thousand nine hundred. A real nice glide slope intercept and a smooth ride slowing to ninety knots making small corrections. I was eyes in and out since I could not have the foggles on with no safety pilot. Another smooth landing and taxi to Red Eagle. Thanks Vince for all the pictures!!

October Fun Trips

Mary and I have a few adventures planned in the next few weeks.  Once 08Romeo is finished with the spa day (degrease, wash and wax) we gave her at AeroWays, we plan on attending a couple of fly-in get togethers. 

First up will be the Beech Aero Club BACFest.  This will be a short hop to Ithaca, New York in the Finger Lakes region. The event is scheduled from September 29th - October 2nd. This is a perfect opportunity to find out about the Beechcraft Musketeer, Sundowner and Sierra and Sport.

One of the largest tourism regions in the state, New York’s Finger Lakes covers 9,000 square miles from the southern shore of Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border and encompasses 11 parallel lakes spanning the center of New York State like a giant handprint. The most popular lakes located in the Finger Lakes region are: Canandaigua, Cayuga, Conesus, Owasco, Otisco, Honeoye, Keuka, Seneca and Skaneateles. Although each has a name of its own, these thin glacial lakes are most often referred to as a group: the Finger Lakes.

EDIT/UPDATE: 9/16

It looks like we may attend the Cape May Lewes Ferry Wine Festival on October 8th located in Cape May. NJ.  Mary and I haven't locked in yet.  There is also a Lima bean festival that same day, which we wanted to attend last year.  As of today it's looking like Lima beans.......

Cape May – Lewes Ferry (CMLF) officials announced that a series of four (4) Wine Lovers Sunset Cruises on the Delaware Bay will be offered in late September and early October, beginning on Friday, September 23. The Lewes cruises will depart the terminal on four consecutive Fridays at 4:15 p.m. while the Cape May cruises are scheduled to leave the terminal on successive Saturdays at 6:00 p.m.

The West Cape May Annual Lima Bean Festival is the one event you must attend. Great food, quality vendors, antiques, entertainment and fun. Come out and celebrate West Cape May's farming heritage. You will never think of legumes the same way again. Located in Wilbraham Park from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. October 8, 2011, Rain date October 9.
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 Next up is the Pilots of America fly in to Windwood Resort, October 14-16 , located in Davis, WV. This was the first overnighter when we purchased 08Romeo in October 2009. It was a fun filled trip from Texas to get to Windwood and log our first night landing.

Windwood is located in the heart of beautiful Canaan Valley, West Virginia. Sitting high in the Allegheny Mountain Range, this alpine valley is the highest plateau east of the Rocky Mountains. Its unique cool and moist climate allows for cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The valley is surrounded by the Dolly Sods & Otter Creek Wilderness Areas, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Blackwater Falls & Canaan Valley State Parks, & 900,000 acres of National Forest Land. Canaan Valley is well-known as a four-season paradise.

New York will be an overnight followed by a day of winery exploration or a short hop over to Rome NY to visit with friends.  Windwood WV will be a day trip only this year.  Mary and I went back and forth about overnight or making it a weekend but without ground transportation and having to board Maggie it was decided to day trip only.

I am flight planning and arranging transportation for New York, completing the hotel and Saturday banquet reservations. Windwood is just a day trip so for now it will be a wx watch and simple IFR flight plan to file.

Oil Change & Service

I went into work early since I had no shot at getting out of Wilmington at 7am. The fog settled in right over ILG and I could not see the hangars across the field from my tie down at Red Eagle.  It was clear blue sky above and from I95 I could see the twin spans so visibility was greater than five miles at least, well, everywhere but the airport. 

I managed to get a few things done and check on my contract work across the bridge in Carneys Point. With the contractor busy and the tenants happy I scooted back to work and turned in a leave slip for a half day. The wx was looking much better at ILG and after a few extra gallons of go go juice and a sump I was headed to 58M.  08Romeo had fifteen gallons in the left tank and maybe five to seven in the right, she jumped off the runway! It's just a short hop to Cecil County and as soon as I hit 2000 feet I was nosing over and announcing my midfield crosswind entry for runway three one. An nice landing and slow roll out for the taxiway, I was down and clear. 

Roger marshaled me in and I shut down in front of the hangar.  Keith was going to do my oil change today so I gave a hand removing the top cowl. I did remember to take an oil sample so I can send that off to the lab, results will be posted.  Roger removed the right wing sump to check on replacing both O rings.  The Beech auto-valve 971D1 cannot be disassembled, it has a machine pressed pin that will not stay in place once removed.  Only the base seal can be replaced.  Roger is ordering the part, stay tuned for the rest of the story. In the picture below you can see where the machine pressed pin would lock in place just above the "crimp" area.

The Gascolater sump was also having an issue, not leakage but some blockage.  I tried to clean out the sump but didn't have much luck. Keith removed the unit with a special made tool that was a socket cut out to accomodate the cross pin. With an additional clamp to hold the socket tight and an adjustable to hold the gascolater nut in place it slowly broke free and spun off.  Keith had to use a small dental pic to clean out the mud dauber deposits. Some additional compressed air to finish the clean out and a spin on the wire wheel and the part was ready to go. Once reinstalled and tested we confirmed the flow rate was back to normal. I hope I don't have to get a "remove before flight" cover to keep the critters out.

The wing tank sump needed to be ordered so I will either have it replaced at annual in November or make another vist to the shop. The F75, pictured above, has a clip that can be removed and both O rings replaced, this is the replacement part for the 971D1 Beech Part.

As I was getting my sticker for 08Romeo's log book a gentleman walked into the office and introduced himself. Charlie has been a long time reader of this blog and we have corresponded a few times via email and through the comments feature on the blog. We finally meet!

I had seen a sweet looking Cherokee come in (green over white) and commented to Keith while we were finishing up in the shop. Keith said the owners name but it didn't register.  Of course I just got done crawling around the plane helping with the oil change and fuel sumps so I must have looked like I just crawled out from under a rock.  We all chatted and agreed to catch up for a lunch run, you know it doesn't take much to twist my arm to fly.

Charlie's Cherokee

Charlie had a ride back to N57 scheduled. I asked if he wasn't already in the air I would give him a lift back to New Garden. He thanked me but said his ride was on his way.  I finished my transaction in the office and was on my way. I was second in line to depart runway three one behind an aztec.  As I went wheels up I saw Charlie wave so I rocked my wings and climbed out for home. A total of .8 in the book, fun times working on the plane and meeting new friends!!

Charlie, where are we going to meet up for lunch?

N/A Fun at Work

Air Photo for reference

I got a chance to have some fun at work today. I went to the top of the Twin Spans and took a few pictures but really just enjoyed the view.  Not as much fun as flying, but fun stuff none the less! I have taken many pictures as we fly in and out of Wilmington, I never get tired of looking at such cool structures.

Delaware over my shoulder

Wilmington in the background

West view from on top of the New Jersey Tower

Here is some backgrond info on the bridges where I work.

The world's second longest twin suspension bridge

The Delaware Memorial Bridge links Delaware and New Jersey in graceful twin suspension spans that soar high above the Delaware River, just north of the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The twin spans touch down in New Castle, Delaware, and in Pennsville, New Jersey. The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a self-supporting toll bridge operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, a bi-state agency.

The bridge is a lasting memorial to those soldiers who gave their lives in World War II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Each year on Veterans Day, a special ceremony is held at the Bridge War Memorial, which overlooks the Twin Span.

Nashville

This abbreviated vacation started to take shape in late August. Mary's birthday is just around the corner and we wanted to take a few days to bug out of town. Reservations were locked in and arrangements for our "zoo" was complete. It was time to make final flight plans and check 08Romeo's ready status.

FRIDAY 9/2

Mary and I bagged a days work and headed for the airport. The plan was for an 8am departure with a lunch and fuel stop in Prestonsburg, Kentucky at Big Sandy (K22). 08Romeo was filled to the limit with fuel and paid for that full belly as she labored to climb to eight thousand in the heat, just twenty pounds shy of gross. Slow and steady we climbed and soon entered the clouds over northern Maryland. We were instrument conditions for thirty minutes or so then broke out and road along on top requesting twenty to thirty degree deviations for build ups along the way. Some of the buildups were huge, it was like driving in downtown NYC but now dodging buildings.

IMC ahead and above

On top

crossed the front

Three hours and fifteen minutes later we were entering the pattern for K22, Big Sandy (Thanks Chris for the tip). I cancelled IFR with approach and made my call on unicom. The airport manager, Gary, advised winds and welcomed us in. I made a nice landing and taxied in for the fuel tanks. We climbed out and had a nice chat with Gary and were fortunate enough to learn some things about the airport and restaurant. I knew I had to make the climb back to eight thousand but only ordered fuel to take me to a total of forty six gallons. The density altitude was over three thousand and it would be a work out to get to altitude. Did I mention how hot it was?

Final into Big Sandy, K22

We walked back behind the FBO and entered the restaurant, Cloud 9. The front porch was lined with rockers and flowers planted across the front of the building. Once inside the ceiling was done like a blue sky with wall decorations to mirror the surrounding mountains and puffy clouds. We ordered potato skins with cheese bacon and onions, they were excellent! Mary had a BLT and I had BBQ Pork sandwich minus the bun. We finished up lunch and walked back to the newly renovated FBO to settle our fuel bill. We said our goodbyes and headed out to the plane. I made the call to clearance delivery with the blue tooth connection on the light speed zulu's and noted the clearance info along with void times.

With a notch of flaps we were on the roll for departure. We climbed out staying in ground effect then once showing positive climb I retracted the flaps. Something wasn't right, I felt buffeting and realized I had an open door. I must have said at least three times, fly the plane. The airport is surrounded by hills and it was a bit of work listening to the stall horn chirp as I got back to final. A pucker moment in high density altitude conditions with a heavy fuel load, a learning experience. I hadn't even switched over to approach yet so I landed, closed the door and taxied back.

Ok, round two has us climbing out and contacting approach just under the void time in my clearance. We were headed to Nashville! No IMC conditions but plenty of huge buildups to dodge. I felt like the asteroids game but in real life. Eventually I was handed off the Nashville approach and together road along to position myself for a landing on the west side of town at John C Tune, KJWN. Another nice landing followed by a short taxi to the ramp. The line crew was excellent, one man brought the car out and offered to load our bags, another took our fuel order and a third came out to give us a message that our friend Jeff would be driving not flying in to meet us. I thought this was a pit stop rehearsal, these guys are good and make the piston crowd feel as important as the jet setters.

Our wheels for the get-away would be a Rav4, plenty of room and very good on fuel. Mary packed the GPS we purchased for her car and it came in handy. We programed the hotel location and saddled up to attack the Nashville interstate system. Nothing was moving to fast and our hop to the hotel was at a standstill due to an accident at our exit. Finally off the highway we made good time getting through the city to the Hampton Inn and Suites on South 4th Street. We unpacked then made plans to take the Gray Line tour for the Nashville Nights. We got cleaned up and changed for a 5:30 pick up deciding to be in the lobby a few minutes early to people watch. We got to see plenty of people, the tour was still not at the lobby by 6:45. I called to cancel and have our purchase refunded but was now faced with finding dinner. Based on a Hampton staff recommendation we choose the Sole Mio restaurant, a short walk across the parking lot. The food and service were excellent, we recommend this restaurant stop. Oh, the cannolis were to die for, yeah yeah, I know I killed the diet but it was worth it.

SATURDAY 9/3

Saturdays game plan had a few changes due to tropical storm Lee making its way on shore in New Orleans.  It was heading our way and would be bringing rain mixed with wind conditions late Sunday afternoon into Monday, extending through Tuesday. The plan changed for a Sunday departure so we had a lot of ground to cover today. We decided to deal with the change and make the best of it so off we went to grab a light breakfast at the hotel.  As we sat to enjoy the breakfast buffet Jeff and his family walked in to meet us. Great timing and what a surprise!

Our first stop was the Nashville Zoo.  We met up with Jeff and family for a fun day at the zoo. Tickets were reasonable and Mary and I love animals so it was a good deal. We walked through the gates and followed the shaded path.  Most of the trails you follow are very well shaded which helped beat some of the heat. The forecast today was 100 degrees, yikes!  I paid for that canolli by sweating of the lbs walking today, whew, I was drenched.  I could go into details about all the exhibits we visited but I'll just let the pictures share the story. Enjoy!

After covering the zoo, in just over three hours, the group was getting hungry. We were directed to a place at the recommendation of the zoo staff. Cousers Southern Restaurant just across the street from the park was the lunch choice. We were quickly seated and orders taken.  We were all really thirsty!  The food was good, service pretty quick and prices very reasonable. I would eat there again.  After filling our tummy's we were headed to the Grand Ole Opry.  Once again the GPS comes in handy and gets us there without a problem.  The parking is wide open and we manage to land a spot close to the entrance.  The Opry has to large guitars out front and gorgeous wooden doors and window framing,a real work of art. We signed up for the backstage tour and then headed to the gift shop to wait on our time in the air conditioning.  Yes, we bought a few things but it was worth the cool air.

It was time for the backstage tour. Our group was ushered in and we watched a video about the Opry and it's history. The flood of May 2010 was also mentioned and the reopening in September 2010 of the Opry was an important milestone. The backstage tour provides a look at the behind the scenes. We were walked along the very route the stars take as they enter the building and into the "front desk" area for family check in's. There was the wall of hall members, an area of post office boxes for all the members to collect fan mail and multiple themed dressing rooms.  All the rooms along the hallway followed a path to the typical tv "green room" a waiting room.  At the Opry they call it the family room and it was very comfortable with pictures documenting the history. There was a metal bar added to signify the 2010 flood water height in that room, approximately four feet. I left the camera in the car so I only had my iPhone for photos, enjoy the pictures!

After the Opry tour Mary and I wanted to check out the TV show American Pickers Antique Archaeology store located on Clinton St. in  Nashville. Once again the GPS makes it a quick trip and easy find. The store was located in an old building now filled with shops. The Marathon Motor Works was an early automobile manufacturer, based in Tennessee. It grew out of an earlier company called Southern Engine and Boiler Works, founded in 1889, which made industrial engines and boilers in Jackson. As such, the firm had metal-working and power plant experience which could easily be transferred into the then-new and rapidly expanding automobile industry. It turned its attention in this direction shortly after the turn of the twentieth century. From 1911 to 1914 the company manufactured the Marathon automobile. Enjoy some of the "picks" we had a chance to see.

After our American Pickers walk back through time we decided to head for the hotel. Mary and I were beat! I wanted to shower and change before dinner and maybe take a short nap. We both got to relax for a bit prior to heading out for dinner, it was a welcome relief to my feet! The plan was to meet up at the Wild Horse Saloon on South 2nd Street, just off Broadway. Mary and I headed out early so we could find a parking spot and walk the row of shops and honky tonks.

A long day as a tourist finished up with a good steak and cold beverage in a perfect dining and entertainment destination. We made our way out to the street and over to the Hard Rock Cafe' to check out a few items in the gift shop then decided to call it a night. We had a short walk to our car just across Broadway on 2nd street. It was going to be an early start on Sunday since we would be leaving for home a day early thanks to tropical storm Lee.

Sunday 9/4

After watching the wx I decided it would be best to not retrace our flight down but instead run for the east coast as an added safety factor. The plan was to leave Nashville and make a fuel and stretch break in Roanoke, VA.  It would also be a new airport and a challenge getting stepped down over the mountains and into the valley for a landing, if I only knew.

Nashville clearance/delivery cleared me as filed climb three thousand expect seven thousand, it all sounded good. We climbed out following the departure noted and at three thousand received vectors to clear Nashville International, KBNA. Once clear of the airport I was turned on course to resume own navigation. This leg was in the soup, I logged an hour of actual. We had multiple hand-off's along the way; Memphis Center, Indy Center, Washington Center and finally Roanoke Approach. We were stepped down and flew close over the last ridge line into the valley. I was at the last minimum altitude assigned five thousand two hundred.  I reported the field in sight, handed to the tower and cleared for the visual runway six. I had some altitude to lose in a hurry,  I don't like to shock cool so I slowly pulled power along with "S" turns on my extended base to final. When I turned final I had four white lights on the VASI's. I had plenty of runway just in case but ended up with a real nice landing and turn off at the second taxiway just over the runway hump.

We made the stop at Landmark and were greeted by multiple lineman once again. One marshaled us in, one set the chocks and cones while the last man helped Mary off the wing, what service. I checked our fuel and placed our order. We decided to grab some munchies and something cold to drink for the last couple hour ride home. The nice lady at the desk was very helpful and got our bill squared away in short order despite the lineman telling her we took on two thousand gallons. Yes, this humor was received with eye rolls form everyone, such a funny guy.

KROA just behind the hill and to the right

I contacted ground for my new clearance and soon taxied out for departure, the last leg home. Once again I got the "As Filed" with an added on departure turn to 070. It was obvious that heading would keep us clear of terrain, we were sitting in a valley. I kept the fuel load a bit lighter and 08Romeo work her way to seven thousand as we climbed out of the valley and on course.

We once again dodged buildups and approach was very accommodating to all the pilots requesting twenty to thirty degree deviations. After navigating clear of the build ups you could hear all of us report back on course, it almost sounded rehearsed. I flew most of the way with my hand in my lap until approach advised he had a route amendment for me, advise ready to copy. I acknowledged ready and started to note the changes. The new route was direct TAPPA V16 PXT V16 ENO V29 DQO, a short cut that was going to take us directly over an air show TFR at Patuxent NAS.  Hmmm, ok if that's where you want me I'll take it, I thought.

Last layer into Wilmington

Finally below the muck

We ended up getting another change to avoid the air show and then one last chage direct to Wilmington. All the changes saved us time and fuel, that's a good thing. Dover approach handed us off to Philly and I reported in with the current wx info. Philly stepped me down through the layer sitting over new castle county and we cleared just a few miles from the field. I was handed off to the tower for a visual into runway one nine. I was at three thousand and needed to loose two of that to get to pattern altitude, which I managed just prior to turning base. cleared to land on one nine I greased another landing and made the first taxiway.  We were home!! We also made it in time to secure 08Romeo and get to the vet to pick up Maggie.

A fun trip despite being cut short one day. We hope to make a stop over in Nashville on the next trip south-south west to give us a chance to spend a day on Broadway and 2nd street and check out some of the beautiful architecture in the city.