So we went to Ardmore again. It was a beautiful day. No clouds, and visibility? You couldn't quite see forever, but you could see the turnoff to it. Although a little windy, the air was smooth. At Ardmore, we were the only plane on the ramp as we walked into the cafe. By the time we had ordered and sat down, there was a gorgeous Tomahawk taxiing in. The pilot was an instructor from Lancaster, out for a Sunday hamburger. We all talked and ate and then we headed for Gainesville and gas.
We could see the Dallas Skyline from the Red River. Gas up at Gainesville and head for Aero Country. We got home before the first half of the football game was over.
Going to Alexandria
The national galleries of Spain had put together a sampling of Spanish religious art. The collection contained 103 items including paintings, jewelry, sculpture and tapestries from the pre-Christian to the Renaissance eras. This is a world class exhibition, and the ONLY place it will be shown is in Alexandria, Louisiana. From September 1 to November 30, 2003, in conjunction with the Louisiana Purchase bicentennial. We have got to go.
We started planning when the previews first came out. It would be a 2.5 hour flight each way and the only major attraction in the area would be the exhibit. So we could, if pressed, make it on a weekend. There was enough other "stuff" to make a 3 day worthwhile, so the tentative plan was for fall break. Fall break this year would only include a Monday and Tuesday, so the plan was for 3 days.
Watching the forecasts during the week starting Oct 6, it looked doubtful. As the week went by, it got a little better and by Thursday night, Saturday was looking doable with rain on Sunday and good weather on Monday. Friday, I called the FBO and made arrangements for a motel and rental car.
Saturday in Plano was nice. Scattered high clouds and very little wind. I called for the weather briefing at 9:00 and got a briefer who won't talk to VFR pilots if the AIRMET says IFR only. But he did allow that the situation should improve as the weather pattern was moving east. Decision time. We have to deliver some things to a friend in Allen on the way to the airport anyway, so we dawdle around for 45 minutes and load the car. From Lewis and Lisa's, I call Flight Service again. I get a good briefer this time, one whose voice I recognize. We discuss the situation. It is now VFR as far as Longview with improving conditions east of there. I file and we head for the airport.
We take off, skirt around McKinney and turn east. There are clouds at 4000 and it is somewhat hazy, so we stay at 3500. I'm keeping an ear on any airport I can get along the path for weather. Tyler is now reporting clear and as we pass north of them Longview is reporting few at 500 and clear above.
Checking in with Longview approach, I ask for current weather at Nachitoches. It is still reporting broken at 500 and overcast at 3000. Not good. Just east of Longview, the few at 500 becomes overcast at 500. I cannot see any breaks off to the southeast. Carthage was our intended diversion, but it is under the overcast. I tell Longview that we are going to divert to Rusk County and wait it out.
Sandra has a friend she went to college with in Henderson and we had planned to stop there on the way back anyway. Henderson is scattered at 2500, so we have no problem finding it and setting up for one of my best landings ever.
Sandra calls Linda and leaves a message on her machine. I check with Flight Service and after discussion and checking the last reports from all the stations on and near the route to Alexandria, we decide that 3:00 would be possible (it is now 12:45). I get the cooler from the plane where we keep snacks and we munch. About 2:30, Linda comes screaming in. By this time, I have rechecked with Flight Service and filed for 3:00. While they talk, I pull the bird to the gas pumps and put some of the $1.89 gas in it.
At 3:00, we load up and take off. There are scattered to broken clouds at 2000 immediately. I go to 3500 and head east to pick up the 114 radial from the Longview VOR. On course, we dodge among areas of broken clouds in smooth air. Sandra nods off. Through the tops ahead, I see another area of solid low overcast. As we pass the last cumulus before it, I see that it is again well below us and I can see more cumulus about 20 miles ahead. So, out over the blanket we go. The Redhead wakes up and we wonder at the beauty of that solid blanket of gleaming white below us.
It ends suddenly and the cumulus begin again in about 5 miles. While in the clear space, we identify Nachitoches off to the left and know we are where we are supposed to be. The cloud tops seem sparser up higher, so we climb to 5500. I try for the Alexandria weather, but it won't come in even though I know we are close enough. I have I49 off my wing and know I am only 25 miles out. I begin a gentle descent and call the tower. They tell me to report a left base for 36.
Soon, we have the field in sight and as there is no other traffic, I ask if their ASOS is working. It is, but on a new frequency.
I have a little trouble finding the approach end of the runway, but finally identify it and set up for a base leg entry. I am just getting trimmed up for descent when the tower comes on:
"Four Lima Bravo, you are just passing 36. I think you are looking at 32."
"Whoops." I look out my window and right down 36. The numbers are very clear. The trees along the west side of the runway had hidden it from me on a long approach at pattern altitude.
"No problem Four Lima Bravo. A right 270 ought to work out just right."
"Four Lima Bravo will make a right 270 for 36"
"Roger, cleared to land."
I make another good landing and get taxi instructions to the FBO. Sandra takes one load of stuff and heads in to arrange the car while I button up the Mouse. After I go in and set the plane up, she drives around to the plane and we load up the bags and head for town. The motel is easy to find and the room is nice.
The Heart of Spain
Sunday morning dawns mostly cloudy. After breakfast, we head for the exhibit. Getting out of the car, we realize that we have left the camera in the room. As we probably wouldn't be allowed to use it in the exhibit anyway, we decide to do the exhibit and then go back for it. After all, it is only 2 miles.
Entry is a little pricey, but includes an audio pack to explain the works. They are mainly religious in nature, but overall, it was well worth the cost. There are works by virtually every well known artist including El Greco, Velasquez, Goya and Mengs. The audio explains the history of the major works, their artists and the religious symbolism used in them. It is all fascinating stuff.
An item of note is that virtually all of the sculpture is in wood, not stone. The pieces are arranged so that you can get a 360 degree view. What intrigued me was seeing the restoration efforts on the backs that prevent the wood from cracking.
There were 103 items displayed and we spent over 2 hours looking at them. Afterwards, we both agreed that the display was definitely world class to be in a relative backwater like Alexandria. And this was the only place that this collection would be on display. After the exhibit closes, the works go back to Spain and to their respective museums and galleries. Brought to mind the museum in Shawnee, Oklahoma we visited last year, but this was much bigger. One of the distinct advantages of traveling like this is the ability to visit things like this. How many people would come to Alexandria, LA or Shawnee, OK when that is the only real item of interest there?
Back to the motel for the camera and then back downtown. We walk along the river and then walk through the Bentley hotel. This grand old hotel served as headquarters during WWII for the brass observing, conducting and evaluating maneuvers designed for the Normandy invasion.
We find a place for lunch and then explore some more. We go to the Kent Plantation, but find it closed on Sunday. No problem, it opens at 9:00 Monday morning. If we take off by 11:00, we will make lunch in Henderson easily.
We eat dinner at a highly recommended Cajun restaurant which served me the most gawdaful etouffe I have ever eaten. Then to bed for the night.
Monday morning is overcast. Some low clouds and a high nearly solid deck. We eat breakfast, check out and head for the Kent Plantation. While we are there, there are a few drops of rain, and the low level of clouds vacillates between solid and few. The "plantation" is a collection of buildings and equipment moved to this site from several locations in the area. All items are in good repair and clearly illustrate the construction methods used as well as the implements. Of particular interest are the sugar cane mill and the furnace and boiling pots.
The caretaker is a friendly man with the most delightful Cajun speech patterns. Think Justin Wilson with a soft voice. Sandra spent much time with him while I was taking pictures. Her old speech teacher came out big time!
And the trip home
We arrived at the airport at 11:00 and I did the preflight before getting the briefing. The solid overcast is at 12000', so will be no problem. The other layers are a concern. They range from 2000 to 7000 and few to broken. They all dissipate around Longview and the briefer has no problem discussing all the alternatives along the route to Henderson. I decide to take Flight Following and forgo filing a flight plan.
We take off before noon and climb to 4500' around a bank of low clouds just west of the field. Turning west, I intercept the outbound radial from AEX and turn back to the northwest. We get as far as Nachitoches on that radial before we have to work to the west to avoid clouds. Soon, we turn back north along the east shore of Toledo Bend. Just past the north end of the lake, Longview center calls,
"Four Lima Bravo, are you on course or you deviating for clouds?"
"Four Lima Bravo is just trying to stay out of the clouds."
"You are currently northbound and Rusk County should be about 275 from your present location."
"I know, but there is a pretty solid bank of clouds off my left wing. I'll turn west as soon as I can."
"Roger, Four Lima Bravo. Maintain VFR."
I finally can turn more westerly, but am almost to Carthage before I can really turn west. After the turn, we can see that the clouds ahead are more in a single layer and the high overcast is almost gone. Passing Lake Murvaul, we begin a descent into Henderson.
The landing is "firm", but decent, and Linda is waiting. We taxi in and park, then pile into her big Dodge Ram and head into town. Lunch is at the Jalapeno Tree. You guess the type of cuisine. It is pretty good, but now I fear heartburn the rest of the trip. I do have Tums in my flight bag.
We go back to the airport and the girls chat while I top off the tanks and call Flight Service. The clouds should be over 3000 the rest of the way and becoming less numerous. We take off at 3:00 and fly directly over Tyler and on to home.
Another good landing at Aero Country was the perfect end to another lovely trip.
Going for some good Etouffe
The last time we were in Tyler, Retha had mentioned a new restaurant in Mineola that made good Cajun food. That is just too good to pass up. We have been looking for a weekend when they and we have nothing better to do. So I watch the weather the rest of the week. By Thursday, it looks excellent, so we set it up. We will fly to Tyler Saturday afternoon and go out to eat Saturday evening. Then fly back Sunday afternoon.
All looks good Saturday morning, and we head for the airport shortly after noon. Just before startup, Sandra calls Retha and informs her of out ETA. We take off, turn SE and clear through McKinney. Out over the gap between lakes Lavon and Ray Hubbard. I had leveled off at 2500 to keep from clipping the bottom of the Class B shelf, but it was a little rough, so over the lakes I began a climb to 3500. It was much smoother there and the flight was uneventful, culminating in another good landing. Total time was 55 minutes from startup to shutdown.
The Stanley's were waiting for us, and we sat around the FBO for a few minutes talking. I asked if either of them wanted a ride in the plane. Retha is having back problems and demurred in favor of taking Sandra by to see the house she owns in Tyler (From when she was teaching in Lindale). Kerry agreed if I was willing.
Several things at work here. Kerry weighs 300 lbs. and is 6'5. I could only take him if the plane was low on fuel due to balance considerations and temperature/density altitude. But we were down to about 30 gallons in the tanks and the temperature was in the mid 80s. Besides, as I explained to him, We had left home needing 2.8 hours to make 100 for the year. A simple round trip to Tyler and back wouldn't do it. All the conditions were good for taking him up.
We go out and I re-check the fuel. I get in and then smile as Kerry (football coach with bad knees) folds up and stuffs himself in the right seat. We fire up, get ATIS, call the tower and taxi out to 22. TYR is busy this afternoon, and we wait behind a lady in an Archer who had to get all her maps, charts and logs arranged after her runup before she would announce ready for takeoff. When she finally gets to the hold line, there are also 2 aircraft on the other side waiting. We wind up number 3.
I tell Kerry that we should be airborne by the time we cross 31 and we make it with some to spare, leaving a mile of unused runway in front of us. I had requested and got a right turnout to the north subject to a Cherokee approaching from the north for a right downwind entry. I have the other plane in the pattern in sight and a Helo is heading east away from us. The Cherokee passes under us as we pass 1800' heading for the large Target warehouses on I20 north of Tyler.
I level out at 2200 and point out downtown Lindale directly ahead, identified by the 2 water towers in town center. Kerry identifies the High school and the new stadium (Stadium isn't new, but the seating is). I point out the pasture behind their house by counting open fields going east from US69. We cannot see their house from this side due to the large trees on the street, but I tell Kerry that we will come back on the other side and the back is easily visible.
We fly on out to the north and then turn to the right, back to the south just east of town. Kerry finds the pasture again and we can see all of the roofline and back yard from this side. Continuing south, we pass east of Tyler outside of the loop. From the north and east, downtown doesn't show up well. As we get south of downtown, the sun shining on it makes it stand out well. South of the loop, we turn west and head out towards Lake Palestine. Kerry is amazed at the size of the lake when you can see it all.
Turning back towards the airport, I call in and am directed to a left downwind number two behind a Cheyenne currently at our two o'clock. I spot the Cheyenne and we follow him around, losing ground all the way. The landing is firm with a single well controlled bounce and we easily make the Golf turnoff and taxi back in. Kerry never says much, but now he was very animated. I think he really, really, really enjoyed the ride.
The girls return almost immediately and we go to Lindale. After some snacks, Kerry and I sit in the back yard and chat while the girls lounge in the house talking. Kay (from the Schoolteacher weekend) and Frank will join us for dinner and the reservations are for 6:00. We get in the Taurus and head for Mineola, 10 miles up 69. We arrive just in front of the Risingers and go in to eat.
Let's talk about Cajun food. I like food with a lot of taste. I do not eat spicy food just to see how hot it is. What matters is the flavor and interplay of spices, from a delicate fish dish to a full bodied chili. Most of the "good" Cajun food I have had were full bodied and spicy. This was different. The gumbo was a delicate roux with chicken and sausage. The cayenne was there, but it did not overpower the meat. When the etouffe came, I was prepared to be disappointed. It was very light in color. After a few bites, I realized that like the gumbo, the flavors were there, They were subdued enough that the crawfish were the main flavor. This was very good!
We all sat and talked until the place closed at 8:00. Then we went back to the Stanley's and talked until 10:30. Frank is a hoot! He is full of more stories than anyone can imagine, told in a very funny way.
Sunday morning, all showered and dressed, we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast on the way to the airport. Sandra wanted to go to the dedication of a new school named after the principal she worked for when she came to Allen in '85, so we needed to be home by 1:30. We took off around 11:30 and flew over Lindale and meandered towards Lake Fork then across Tawakoni and back over Lavon into Aero Country. Another excellent landing completed another fun weekend trip. Sandra made the dedication and I got to watch the entire second half of the Cowboy game.
When I updated the logbook, I now have 100.1 hours for 2003.
Another oil change
At this point, the bird is due an oil change. Like the difference between hot dogs and buns, there is a packaging concern here. The bird drinks 8 quarts on a fill up and sips one or two between changes. Oil comes twelve to the case. Over the three years, less the straight mineral oil used during the new engine break-in, I have finally finagled to the point where I have 10 quarts and a new filter in hand. So I decide to buy the 1 inch wrench for the filter nut so I will now have all the tools required to do it myself.
The van had refused to start on Saturday, but when we returned from Tyler, a jump started it right up. Wednesday looked good, so before Sandra left for school, I tried it again. It started right up. If it hadn't started, we would have jumped it and I would have headed for the shop. Now, all seems well, so I head for the airport about 10:00.
I go by the bank to make a deposit, and while I am sitting in the drive thru, it suddenly goes completely dead. In the drive thru lane, I cannot open my door. Absolutely nothing works, no lights, even the idiot lights are out. I pop the hood and squeeze out the passenger door and raise the hood. The ground cable is almost off it's post! Jam it back as hard as I can with my bare hands, crawl back in and it starts right up.
On to Home Depot to buy a wrench. It goes dead again as I shut down in the parking lot. No problem, I know now what the problem is and can fix it temporarily until I can get to the airport and have access to some tools. The only 1 inch wrench they have is longer than my arm. Anything over about 8 inches won't fit between the filter and the firewall, so I go out empty handed. I get the pliers and raise the hood. I cannot turn the nut with the pliers (needle nose), so I use the points to drive the cable onto the post. Off to the airport.
At Dave's (I will have to borrow his 1 inch wrench again), and get the wrench to tighten the nut on the cable. The cable, one of the lightweight ones that wraps a metal band around the post snaps as I tighten the nut. Looking closer, it has corroded along a fracture and tightening it finished cracking it. Well, the oil change is off the agenda. I go spend 3 hours at the shop waiting for them to get a new cable and put it on.
Thursday's weather is more of the same. The plan is to check a couple more places for a suitable wrench, go to the airport, do a couple of touch & gos to warm up the oil and then change it. Ain't no place got a 1 inch wrench less than 10 feet long. When I get to the airport, the grass cutters have their truck blocking the taxiway. Down to Dave's to get his wrench. And ask about the pitfalls of draining the oil cold. No pitfall, it just takes longer to drain.
Open up the hangar. Put the oil bucket under the cowling. Rig up the drain hose. Open the drain. Remove the safety wire from the filter. Loosen the filter so it will drain. Go sit with Mike and pet the airport cat for 30 minutes. Come back and remove the filter. Close the drain. Remove the drain hose. Wipe up the few spatters from the floor. Get oil and filter from locker. Start first quart of oil. Assemble the filter. Install filter and hand tighten. Start second quart of oil. Tighten the filter. Install the spacer and spacer bolt. Start third quart. Tighten filter for real. Tighten spacer bolt. Start safety wire. Start fourth quart. Rig safety wire. Start fifth quart. Clean up area, put tools back in van while putting in rest of oil.
Pull plane out and start up. Run for several minutes until oil temp gauge moves. Shut down and leak check. No leaks. Oil change completed. Write tach time in log. We're done!
Ed, from the T-hangar across from us was putting his Mooney away just as I was buttoning up the Mouse. I still wanted to fly a little, so I offered him a ride. We saddled up and took off. My intent was to let him fly a little and then do 3 landings.
Out over Celina, he took over. We danced around some and he gave it back after the obligatory comments about how responsive and stable the Mouse is. We reentered the pattern and I performed one of the best landings I have ever done.
Ed's comment was, "If that wasn't a perfect landing, it will do 'til one comes along."
I thanked him and we went around again. I should have known better. The first bounce was bad and the when the second one showed more energy than the first, I aborted and went around. The next one was quite good and I called it quits.
