Beach Bound!

Memorial Day weekend is upon us!

Friday 5.25.12

To get ready for the weekend I had to get our beach car to the Ocean city Maryland airport. Mary is still not up to a drive like that and Mike was out of town. I decided to rent a pick up truck from U-Haul along with a tow dolly.

My tow rig

It was a smooth trip to and from Maryland. I got some drive time prep at work Thursday with a trip to/from cape may to set up my satellite office for my new contract. The ride to ocean city was uneventful and the ford did an awesome job towing the Cabrio. I got home from the drop off around 9:30pm and got the truck backed in the driveway and secured for the night. Mary and I got up early Friday and returned the rental. It was foggy and a ceiling of five hundred, slowing starting to lift. We made a stop at Angels for breakfast then headed to the airport.

overcast 700'

I'm ready, get the fan turning!

We packed the plane,including Maggie and climbed aboard. I called for my clearance and copied the following.

C- KOXB
R- RV to join V-29 SBY KOXB
A- 2000/6000
F- 119.75
T- xxxx

We launched off runway nine and Wilmington handed us off to Philly at 500 feet. The bottom of the layer was seven hundred feet and we were climbing through it. Philly cleared me to four thousand and a turn to 220* to join V29. The Garmin 530 was already activated on that leg (DQO ENO) so I was set to track. Once on top the sun was shining and the layer looked like cotton strung out below us. We enjoyed the ride as we were handed off to Dover and Patuxent.

Looking south towards Salem cooling towers on top of the layer

I advised pax that I had the wx at ocean city. Approach asked what approach I was looking for and I responded GPS RWY 32. I was told to expect GPS 32 at GOBYO. I loaded the approach but did not activate, I've learned approach changes and it's easier to chug and plug once. As we continued towards SBY patuxent gave me direct ocean city, expect vectors to GPS 32, this is why I didn't activate earlier. I continued to monitor the wx at OXB and it was now down to 400 feet. The MAP for GPS RWY 32 is 380' so this was going to be an attempt with the alternate of Salisbury looking better. I briefed the KSBY approaches just in case, and noted comm frequencies if needed when I go missed. It's all about staying ahead of the plane.

I worked my way to OXB and heard another aircraft ask for the GPS 02 approach into OXB. Hmmmmm.....that runway has been closed. Approach quickly advised the same followed by the pilot advising he will circle to land. Yeah right, not with that overcast layer, circle to land is 480 feet. I get sent to a hold so that pilot, who now asked for GPS 32, can continue in.

I had to fly into a building layer that kicked us around a bit but it was doable. Direct PFAIR hold North West as published, at 4000, I acknowledged. I entered the hold direct at PFAIR, advised approach and was turning outbound on the 325* radial for four miles. With my turn inbound I was watching the clock for my, "expect further clearance time" (EFC). I heard the previous aircraft cancel so approach turned me to 180* for vectors to the GPS approach.

As I turned south I flew out of that layer and had a clear view from PFAIR to the Ocean. I also canceled IFR. I entered the traffic patten on a three to four mile forty-five for three two and followed with a smooth landing.

Saturday 5.26.12

Saturday was an early start since Maggie managed to stick that big block head of hers under the covers and licked my foot,really really gross! Ok, Ok, time to get up and feed the beast then do the morning walk. Mary and I decided on bagels from Dunkin and we were out the door packed for the beach. The Cabrio ran great and it was fun to be cruising like two teenagers with the tunes playing and us having a blast. I guess we spent three hours or so broiling in the sun before we decided to pack up and head back to the motor home.

Early morning beach crowd

Life Guards after sprints south, getting ready for a long swim back north

Neither of us felt like cooking so we decided to try this little dive looking place just outside our RV park. The Grove Market was busy if one was judging from the parking lot. We parked out front and figured we would give this place a try.  When we walked in we asked for a table for two and I was asked if we had reservations.  I know we gave that you got to be kidding look (because we judged the book by the cover). He said you must have reservations and its best to call three to four days in advance. Ok, just so we know do you accept credit cards, his reply, no, bring your piggy bank. Not a problem, thanks for the info and out we went. We decided on Italian but when we passed Watermans Seafood the car just turned in. We quickly decided on a dozen large crabs with crab dip and some cold drinks.

Grove Market

Watermans - Steaming hot crabs!!

Sunday 5.27.12

Sunday was a sleep in day and Maggie obliged. We didn't get motivated in time to make the beach but we did schedule a lunch meet up with my sister Denise and her husband Dave. Denise and Dave have a place in Pine Tree, located in Ocean View Delaware.  It was maybe a 45 minute ride and despite a buzzard taking off from road kill pickings in the next lane and clipping our windshield with wing feathers coming over the top and just missing Mary we had fun. It really was a fun time catching up and seeing where they were located.

Military order of WHAT ???

Indian River Inlet Bridge

Dave drove us around after lunch at an Italian restaurant so we could see the sights. I did manage a picture of the Indian River inlet bridge from the VFW post parking lot. I also had to take a shot of the VFW post entrance sign. We headed south for the rig and called it an early night. We hung out next to our fire pit (I fogot to bring firewood) and chatted with our neighbors that all gathered to chat about our dogs.

Monday 5.28.12

Today was another early start for the beach. I decided to take a different route so we didn't get caught up in the mass exodus traffic after check out. Instead we followed RT50 making a stop at PetCo for Maggie stuff and enjoying the view. The beach wasn't to crowded as we surveyed the sand and crashing waves for that perfect view. I guess we spent three hours under some clouds but Mary and I managed some new red on our faces and legs.

looking East, NE towards the Indian River Inlet Bridge

We packed up and headed back to the rig so we could bug out north before any chance of thunder boomers invade home in Wilmington. I secured the rig and we loaded the car including the beast Maggie. As we approached the airport turn off (turn lane) a lady in an explorer pulled out of the road we were going to turn into. She crossed the double yellow and accelerated right at us.  I blew the horn and came to a screeching stop since I was not able to clear the turn lane with traffic coming by our right side. The lady swerved back to her side of the double yellow and my Bride started to breath again. Fun stuff right before I fly.

The flight home was uneventful! Bumpy at times since I was lazy and didn't pick up my clearance, instead flying home VFR at 3000 under the clouds. Maggie was warm in the back even with four overhead vents blowing on her, it was 75* at altitude.  Mary passed out and I took a nap.....no, just kidding, I flew the plane, jamming to some 70's rock while I listened to Dover Approach for traffic. A bit of a long landing but a smooth one, we were home.  I made a stop on our way home for ice cream and even Maggie had the kids cup soft ice cream.