OCMD Photo Shoot

Mary had asked Laurie (Focus-Photography by Laurie DuPuis, LLC ) if she could do a photo shoot while in Ocean City Maryland this past weekend.  The ladies worked out the plan and I must say it was fun and the preliminary pictures look great.

Mary and I haven't had pictures taken since we married, almost eleven years ago.  We had fun on the dock at the Yacht club, even more fun towing the plane out for pictures with a gorgeous sunset as the backdrop with us holding hands and stealing a smooch when I could. Laurie even took a few shots of Ziva at our new home on Sunday morning before we all headed to the airport for their departure home.

Ted and Laurie have a beautiful son, Robert. He is quite the charmer with that smile and such good manners. We enjoyed our short time together over dinner and the photo shoot and hope we can get together again very soon.

 

Thanks Laurie! 

Random Shots



It was a busy week in our homes.  We finally got the north home in Wilmington listed for sale and the kitchen remodel in Ocean City has been full speed ahead.  Somewhere in there Mary and I managed some us time and most important some quiet down time.

View south west towards the Chesapeake Bay

I flew down Thursday after work in the haze. It was a smooth flight and I enjoyed a nice tail wind.

We turned for home Friday morning to attend services for our dear friends Mom who had passed earlier in the week.

We stopped to check on the house and to make sure we left everything in show condition before heading back to the plane for the return trip to Ocean City. Another smooth flight with some tail wind push.

We caught up with our friends Ted, Laurie  and son Robert for dinner on Saturday.  After dinner, Laurie provided a nice photo shoot of Mary and I at the yacht club dock. We managed to make it over to the airport for some beautiful sunset shots of us and our plane as the sun fell from the sky.

Cape Henlopen

I finished up the weekend with a solo trip home, leaving my Bride to manage our beach home last stage of kitchen remodel. I can't get used to traveling to and from the beach with an empty right seat. I miss my Bride.

Between The WX

I waited out the line of wind, rain and thunderstorms then made the decision to head for home. We departed Ocean City and made our way north enjoying a very smooth ride. Round two was moving in from our west as we passed over Dover Delaware.

The ceiling was now overcast as I approached Wilmington's edge of class Delta. I skirted along the edge of Philly's Bravo and let down for New Garden.  Fun flight despite no IMC.  Mary and I did get to say hello to Charles and his daughter, who were gearing up for a local flight as we were heading home after tucking 08Romeo in her hangar.

It will be a busy week as our home gets listed and we move Mary to the Beach with our zoo. I'll be doing the bachelor thing during the week and spending time with my Bride from Friday afternoon through Sunday.  Say a prayer our home sells quick!

See That Cloud Over There...

As the great country group Alabama once sang back in 1982..."You see that mountain over there? Yeah?   Well, one of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain". The introduction, wherein an old mountain philosopher speaks about someday climbing a mountain. This Walter Brennan impression was done by Bob Martin, a guitar handler and roadie with the band. Well, today I decided to plug in clouds for mountains.

KOXB (METAR)
201253Z 36009G15KT 8SM OVC006 22/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02220211 TSNO

The forecast wasn't looking good for much better cloud cover at KOXB, Ocean City so with a review of the Skew T and all my favorite online wx pages I decided to launch for home.

The typical review for me always includes an out at my departure airport. I had a few if needed for my departure off of runway two. Runway two RNAV is 420', Runway one four RNAV is 700' provided one remains inside the FAF LANDY that requires a minimum of 1500' and you clear the one tower between you and the runway, terrain alert is always a good thing!

Ziva was diggin' that cabin blower!

Mary and I loaded up Ziva and I completed a very detailed pre-flight. I haven't had IMC time since the end of April, ninety days. 08Romeo came to life and we taxied for runway two. Winds were back and forth for runway three two but the windsock still favored two for the majority of time that I watched. I made my call to Washington Clearance Delivery to pick up my IFR release.

C N57
R SBY ENO N57,  Upon entering controlled airspace fly heading 270*
A  3000/5000 in ten
F 127.95 (Pax Approach)
T 3631

After the read back I advised ready for release, number one to go at runway two. I sat for a few minutes and wondered if C/D heard me. I advised once again that I was ready for release and the response was expect 20-30 minute delay for IFR traffic. So, there we sat at the hold short listening to a Debonair, Pilatus and a Cessna land and close their IFR flight plans. The hold was now approaching 35 minutes! I made another call and we were finally given a release.

I had done another quick run up after sitting there leaned out and all checked out fine. I made my call on CTAF and was soon climbing out for the ride home.  I followed the Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) for runway two that I had read and reread on my knee board while sitting at the hold short.

Ocean City, MD
Ocean City Muni (OXB)

Take Off Minimums: Rwys 2,32. 400-2 or std.
with minimum climb of 260' per NM to 500.

We were in the scud at 650ish and climbing. I contacted Patuxent Approach as I turned on the 270* course advising one thousand climbing three thousand, two seven zero heading. I road along for a bit when Pax acknowledged radar contact turning me direct ENO (Smyrna).

This is where the rust started to show. I initiated the plan change on the Garmin 530 and started to take the plane with me as I reached to select ENO followed by the Enter. I immediately noticed the engine rpm's pick up and my scan tells me I am starting to bank right and descending. Wings level, nose up and get on the new course, thankfully to my right. We were flying in the clag and Mary gave me the look, I said shaking off some rust...she nodded acknowledgement and seemed to settle in for her typical nap, Ziva was already comatose.

On top

The remainder of the flight was perfect. It felt great getting in the system and doing all that IFR pilot stuff (as Mary calls it). Dover amended my route adding DQO so that was a simple add to the flight plan on the 530 and I didn't take the plane with me. We did break out between 4.0 and 4.5 running the tops for a very short bit then clear on top at 5.0. The cloud layer opened wide at the C&D canal and I could see all the way to my destination with only a puffy cotton ball or two along the way.  Dover handed me to Philly and this controller was busy.  I was handed off to another sector as I was approaching the new outside Class B box and skirting along Wilmington's Class Delta space at 4.0.  I was given 3.0 by the new sector and I road along for a very short time then cancelled, the controller said "I like it quick and easy". I thanked him and switched to CTAF at New Garden.

Here comes the sun as we break out of the scud

I crossed midfield, south to north at 2.0 and entered the left down wind for runway six. Nice and easy, good speed followed by rolling it on the runway, it felt good.  Mary helped me push back in the hangar so I take it easy on my back. I cleaned off all the leading edges, ran the shop vac to clean the carpets and used the leather spray on the seats.  08Romeo was tucked in for her week long slumber until we return next Friday.

Some Fly Time

Finally got some fly time this weekend!  A quick hop to meet up with the lawn sprinkler company that needed to get in the crawl space for the water hook up and a welcome party for the new home owners.

Looking towards Cape  Henlopen from south of Dover

 We left Friday after work and honestly it was good to be going to New Garden, N57 and not south on I95 to Wilmington.  Since the I495 bridge is out of service traffic has been a nightmare everyday to and from work passing through Wilmington.

Looking to the south east from  Dover

We decided to head down Friday night instead of rushing around Saturday morning, this way we each got a good nights sleep and could enjoy the evening. The sprinkler install is complete and the grass I don't have to cut will now stay nice and green and thick!

South of Dover following SR1

Mary and I headed to the welcome party and got to meet our new neighbors in the Parke. Good food and really nice folks that welcomed us to the community.

The plan was to head out of KOXB and back to N57 around 6:30 and get us back before I turned into a pumpkin, I'm not night current. The flight home was smooth but very hazy. At 4.5 there was spotty ground contact for much distance other than directly below us. I should log it as IMC since I was on the instruments for most of the flight. I did pick up flight following with Dover approach and they in turn handed me off to Philly. As I passed south of KILG I cancelled with Philly so I could let down for N57.  I loaded up the VOR RWY 24 approach as a plan B but as I descended I could spot the grain silo beacon about three miles out. I announced a left base followed by a turn to final and worked my way to the runway.

N/A Back Issues

I haven't been posting of late due to not much flying in the schedule.  I had high hopes of knocking out some serious hours over our planned week vacation in OCMD but the body had other plans.

I woke up Wednesday, June 25th, with a sore back. I went into work and the back got progressively worse. I started having back spasms and was having some trouble standing up straight.  I honestly thought I was passing a kidney stone. I went home and decided it was time to visit the local medical aide unit. After reading through Doc Bruce's kidney stone notes on the flying forum Mary loaded me in the SUV and got me to the unit. After a series of x-rays and tests it was determined there was no stone.  Great! at least I won't be grounded and have to deal with passing that critter. Instead the news was indeed back related. I have degenerative disc disease and have arthritis.

The Doc at the unit gave me some prednisone, muscle relaxers and pain meds. I followed the orders and took what was prescribed, once. The muscle relaxers and pain meds made me loopy and after researching they are no fly drugs.  Toss them aside, not going there again no matter how bad it hurts.

The pain got worse so I went in to see the family doctor who prescribed more of the same and told me no work, rest only and get back in here on Tuesday July 8th.  Well, it's been 12 days, I'm restless, bored and ready to get back to my regular schedule. I'm still in pain, now toting a back pillow around from chair to chair and ready for the MRI he threatened if not better. Well, I'm not much better, very sore and stiff but the spasms are not as frequent. I'm thinking PT is in my future but I will know more Tuesday.

I hope to be back flying very soon and updating the blog with interesting flying posts.

This getting old stuff ain't for sissies.

OCMD Airshow Weekend

I didn't list this post as N/A since there was some flying involved by the folks in the post and an air show, that does count. 

Mary and I are trying to settle into our beach home while maintaining the primary residence in North Wilmington. We have a contractor in the house, Pipeline LLC, giving the home a once over. Fresh paint, some bathroom updates and basement drywall and paint. The work is coming along very nice and it's almost ready to list with our Real Estate Agent.

Saturday 6/14

A few firsts in the Beach home....

We had our first overnight guests, Mike B and his Bride Kim. Mike and Kim flew the Cirrus in for some much needed beach time and the Ocean City Air Show. The four of us spent a good part of the day at the Ocean Pines beach club enjoying the sun and sand AND the guys got to watch the airshow from the comfort of a beach chair.  Life is very good!



After heading back to the house Mike and Kim walked Ziva and they kept each other entertained. We all relaxed for a bit then cleaned up for dinner at the Ocean City Bay front restaurant, The Hobbit.  Dinner was perfect, great company, tremendous sunset view and excellent food and service.

 

Sunday 6/15

With the Airshow TFR's starting up by noon Mike and Kim decided to head north early. Mary and I shuttled them over to the airport and helped got in Mikes way as he pre-flighted the Cirrus.

We watched the Cirrus pass overhead shadowing the beach while we drove along RT 589 back to our home. Good Times with great friends! We are looking forward to making it a longer weekend soon!

Air Time 08Romeo

FRIDAY 6/6/2014

Its been thirty-five days since I last put the key in and unlocked 08Romeo. She was a sleepy girl indeed, even feeling bit neglected I think.  It all came back, as they say,just like riding a bike. Preflight and flight prep, it all felt so good. I used a California duster to clean off what the sandman left on 08Romeos surface and our special window cleaner once all the dust was gone.

I packed in our bags, our girl Ziva but forgot our heat shields. No problem we have all our covers for the weekend protection and it will be nice to use them once in a while.

I took on 26 gallons which took me to 50 for my weekend flight. I tanker enough to get home with reserves since its a good price at $5.55 a gallon. 08Romeo came to life and all gauges looked good, we taxied for the run up area then turned for the hold short at runway two-four.  You know it's been a while since you last flew when you announce departure and draw a blank on the runway, crack up and then repeat your departure announcement adding in the runway info.

The flight to KOXB was bumpy but we enjoyed a nice tail wind riding along at 125 knots. Ziva woke a few times to lick Mary's arm letting her know she was not liking the bumps. Of course as soon as she settled in for her customary nap time I was adding the last notch of flaps for my landing on runway one four into Ocean City.  Hey, I remembered how to land this bird.  The true test will be getting back into New Garden, but for now it's the weekend and I'm at the beach!

SUNDAY 6/8/2014

It's funny how you fall right back into your routine with the plane. We arrived at OXB and after securing the airport car we settled up our weekend tie down with the staff so it was deducted from our six month paid in advance discounted rate. Mary climbed aboard and Ziva climbed the wing, with a little boost then proceeded to lay down in the back and look at me out the window. I finished up the preflight and we soon launched for home.

The wind Gods smiled on us as we rode a ten knot tail wind north. The ride was better than the ride south but as we approach the Dover area close to the Delaware Bay we picked up some very light chop. Ziva never woke up and either did my Bride. I switched over to CTAF at the field once clear of Wilmington's Delta airspace and worked my way to the pattern. I heard one plane land and had a visual on a glider turning for final on two-four as I updated my position as 2 mile left base two-four. I added the last notch of flaps at my (best GPS female voice) five hundred. My rate of descent was smooth and steady with a nice flair with stall horn followed by touchdown just past the numbers. I missed the first turn off choosing not to eat up brakes, instead rolling along for the next exit.

I tucked 08Romeo back in her hangar and cleaned off all her leading edges and windscreen. Obviously the bugs were out in full force coming home but 08R cleaned up very nice. With a pat on the cowling for a job well done I closed the hangar doors so she could drift off for a well deserved rest.

N/A Load em' up, move em' out!

I haven't flown since May 2nd!

We loaded up the 17' U Haul and moved into our beach home in Ocean City Maryland with anything the stager decided needed to go from our Wilmington home. I will finally get back in the air this weekend. Flying will sure beat driving the 2.5 hours in U-Haul truck or any other ground pounding vehicle!

Memorial Day

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

 Decoration Day    

On May 5, 1862, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.

New Digs

I haven't posted in a while for a few reasons. 08Romeo hasn't been in the air in a few weeks but not from lack of wanting to fly. Mary and I purchased a beach home in Ocean Pines Maryland which we hope to make our retirement home in the near future.

We have been busy clearing out the basement, garage, shed and anything our stager recommended to ready the primary residence for sale. I have a painter scheduled to do the house and we have a few small projects to freshen up the place for listing.

Where the heck do we get all the 'stuff' we seem to accumulate over the years? We are renting a truck to move some furniture to the beach along with clothes, housewares, pictures and anything else the stager has cut loose.  At times it's exhausting, other times we think its great to thin the heard.

I am working out the details for a hangar at KOXB so that the timing works out if we sell the Delaware home. I hope to finally get some air time this holiday weekend!

The home photos are from the MLS listing.

Cirrus Relief

Strange title, yes?

After multiple missions yesterday in 08Romeo, today's mission was of a different sort.  Last night Mike offered to fly us to/from Ocean City Maryland so that we could have a stress free day and concentrate on our home inspection for our new to us Beach Home. The pilot world is a great circle of friends that always seem to be there when needed. Heck, even if you can fly yourself they volunteer just to get more air time.

The Home inspection was scheduled for noon today so the plan was to meet up at 9am on the ramp at Wilmington, KILG.  I helped get the plane ready and once it was time to board Mary joined us. I really do like this plane and I must admit I am starting to get comfortable with all the glass.  It felt good talking with ground then the tower, I miss the order of it all now flying out of New Garden.

Lighthouse Landing Golf Course

As we taxied out the tower offered us a code for flight following since we decided not to pick up our clearance  to OXB.  I'm not sure if that's the normal procedure now but I like it. We climbed off runway one-four and turned south , the visibility was perfect.  This morning you could see down the Chesapeake Bay to the south west and you could clearly see the mouth of the Delaware Bay  to the south east,  just amazing.

 

Mike offered us the ride to relieve the stress of "getting there" and just allow us to concentrate on the inspection, it was very much appreciated by Mary and I.  We were early getting into OXB so we headed out for breakfast.  Since Ziva has been in the Cabrio and left her DNA hair samples everywhere Mary and I thought it best to rent a car from Don at Express, the service is excellent and he always has something fun to drive.  We made a stop for eats at DeNovo's  and enjoyed a good breakfast then headed over to Ocean Pines to check out other homes for sale.  We met up with our realtor at the house and the inspection got started.  Attending the inspection also gave Mary and I a closer look at everything and a better idea for furniture. The house checked out as we thought it would, no issues.  The current owners maintained the home in perfect order, it looks like something out of Better Homes & Gardens.

City of Wilmington

With the inspection complete we had one last task to attend to. We made a quick dash to the motor home to place for sale signs in the front and back windows, may as well take advantage of free advertising in a target rich environment at the RV park.  With the mission complete we pointed the Mercedes to the airport. On the way we did make a stop for ice cream at Dumser's Dairyland, it was good!

Delaware Memorial Twin Bridges

With the preflight complete we climbed aboard the SR22.  The winds had picked up and there was rain showers in the forecast up north so we filed.  It was still clear and sunny skies in OCMD so with the IFR plan in the tool box we launched for home. We passed under some clouds that looked like they were ready to spew moisture so I opened the flight plan with Dover approach.  We confirmed position and squawk code with a direct DQO then destination ILG (one in the same, VOR is on the field).   We did fly through some very light showers enough to wet the windscreen but not enough to clean the few bugs that left their mark.

Mary wasn't feeling good all day so she went and laid down in the SUV while Mike and I secured the plane. We're glad this step is complete and now looking forward to closing the end of the month.

Thanks Mike! You made our day stress free and time in the air a minimum, which really helped with Mary not feeling great all day.

Multiple Missions

Wow, a busy day flying and driving!  I bagged a day of work so I could get the airport car inspected.  Sounds pretty straight forward, it's not.  The car is at the Ocean City Maryland airport and it needs to pass inspection at least one more time in Delaware.

I was up early to take care of the zoo then headed for the hangar and 08Romeo. I topped off to make for a total of fifty gallons on board then taxied out.  With my run up complete I announced departing two-four New Garden and climbed into the gorgeous sky.  Temps were not to bad and I did keep a vent open.

I enjoyed excellent tail winds and peaked at 139 knots for a good stretch. The 120+ average wasn't to bad, it made for a quick trip. No flight following today, instead, I had the tunes cranked up listening to 70's rock.  Dover did break through with a few call outs and some IFR traffic but pretty much quiet this morning.

Once on the ground at KOXB I secured 08Romeo and headed out for the Cabrio. I had a headlight to fix, the plug is loose and every now and again it will go out. The big fix is clearing the check engine light. I made a stop at Autozone and picked up a reader, a few keystrokes later I was good to go.

It was a thirty mile leg each direction to the Georgetown Delaware inspection lanes. The Cabrio passed without a problem and I was soon pointed south on RT113 headed back to the Airport. Once the car was covered I did my preflight and got 08Romeo started. It was a bumpy ride back to Wilmington, KILG to pick up Mike B. Mission number two was getting Mike to Lancaster so he could pick up the Cirrus.

I shut down at Red Eagle, 08Romeo's old home while waiting for Mike to come through the security gate. Mike was on board less than ten minutes from when I shut down. I had just enough time to make a few calls and respond to some emails.

The clouds were closing in and looking like rain but they didn't shed a drop. It was another bumpy ride to Lancaster but Mike did a nice job with a really nice landing. It was a pretty good cross wind and Mike just rolled the wheels on to get them spinning then floated along just high enough to touch the left main followed by the right main and finally the nose wheel. 08Romeo loves when he is flying.

We taxied into Advanced Aircraft Services in time to see the Cirrus being tugged back into the shop. They finished up a few things then gave the SR22 a bath for her flight home. Mike cut me loose to head back to N57 and he would follow as soon as the test flight was complete.

It was a busy day of flying and driving and I am beat. Tomorrow Mike volunteered to shuttle us to/from Ocean City for our Home inspection. It will be nice to relax and enjoy the flight.