Sun-N-Fun - The Best Part

Well here we are in Florida. The experiences of traveling here have instantly become the best part of the whole building experinece. All during the time building N88BK thought that the best part was going to be having an aiplane of my own, to fly anytime the weather and time allowed. But that idea was just my inexperience fooling me. Had to plan the flight north of the Houston and New Orleans Class B airspace (no transponder) which took me over a series of really off the beaten path airports by little town no where near an interstate. Here were these people minding their own business and out of the blue, literally, a little silver bird drops in unexpectedly. How do they treat strangers? I am ashamed to say much better than I would have.

At the first stop in Livingston, they could not find the key to start the pump. Glad the plan was to land with an hour reserve. During departure saw the gas cap depart. Had just set it back in when the pump did not start and now it was lost in the weeds somewhere. Felt like a complete idiot, made "I learned about flying note", do a proper pre-flight before every departure. 2 hours into my dream trip and its already over! A man in a red shirt came walking over from the other side of the airport and ask me what was up. After a short explanation he spent the next half hour with me looking for the cap. When all hope was lost he said "Is it tha thermos style cap?" Told him yes. He told me he could fix me up in a few minute. Taxied may capless plane about a 1/4 mile on a dirt road over to his house. He then made by hand on a sander a perfectly round taperd wood plug that fits so snug it is really hard to get out when you want. Ask what I could give him, he said nothing, just let me sign it. So I now have a wood gas cap signed, Jack Nelson - Livingston, Texas. It will be a family heirloom, you bet. Called my wife to have a new cap air shipped to Tampa, and went on to Cleveland, Texas and bought 8 gallons of gas for $25, YIKES!!!!

Had enough daylight left to fly half the next leg. Found the De-Ridder, Louisianna airport to be 100 miles away, so landed there just before sunset. So here we are, its getting dark, no one is in site, the terminal is locked, and I feeling very alone in a town that was not even a planned stop, with a wood plug for a gas cap. There was a piece of paper on the terminal door with the numbers of some motels. Called one, and ask if they could call a cab. No need, we will send Jerry right over, just look for the green Dodge Ram Pickup and open the gate for him. Next thing was about 10 mile from the airport at the Roadway Inn room 131. Jerry said he made breakfast it was free. Next morning Jerry Davis (the owner of the hotel) took me back to the airport and thanked me for staying with them.

The weather looked awful to the west and clear to the east. Took off and made it about 30 miles before running into some low clouds, right were Allen Parish airport, the next point on my GPS, was. Landed and waited about a half hour for it to burn off more then headed east again. About 25 mile farther the clouds were still too thick, so I turned back and landed at Allen Parish again. This time just as I shut down a huge long limo with a tuxedoed driver pulled up. "Nice reception", I said. The tuxed driver said he was picking up some high rollers to the nearby casino with the 5 hotels and 14 restarants. The the airport owner Tommy Dubroc, after letting him sit in the plane invited me to stay the night at his house if needed, and to sure plan to spend the night on the way back.

The weather got better about an hour later so after filing my flight plan, took off for a two hour run. Climbed above the clouds to 5500ft for smooth are and watched the Mississippi River go by in awe. Landed at Griffen Memorial, Alabama, pulled up to the pumps, filled up. Ask if there was a place to get lunch nearby, and they said "Just take that red El Camino over there, go out this way, turn right and you will see the Burger King on the left." Stunned again by human kindness, got in the 248K old truck with the iffy brakes and went for lunch.

During the next 2 hour run, the cloud tops got too high and I had to descend into the bumpy air down below. Started to feel real far away from home and could not get comfortable. Began to think about landing, taking off the wings and renting a U-Haul to go home. Then a wide gap in the clouds appeared and to the South I saw Mobile Bay, a spectacular site! Landed at Tri-County airport, got the same great treatment, and encouragement to press on. They gave me a bottled water and held the plane while I propped it. Was still a bit discouraged about spending another 2 hours tied down to N88BK.

Just after takeoff looking at the map I realized for the first time that I was in Florida! That gave me a real shot in the arm and the rest of the way past Tallahasse and down to Cross City went like a dream. Landed just before a beautiful sunset. While taxiing in got a call on unicom, "Airplane taxiing in, what are your intentions?" Said, "I need to overnight here, ran out of daylight to make Lakeland". He said "Tie down next to the blue Cessna". Just as the ropes were secure a brown Crown Victoria pulled up and the driver said, "Called the Carriage Inn about 1/4 mile down the road and they have a room for you". "Thanks, can you give me a ride?". He said "No, just take the car, we will be open tomorrow about 7:30, but it will be foggy, so just sleep in". "By the way the resurant is great". So in my second free car of the day I drove to the motel gave me the pilot rate of $41. The great dinner, meat, salad, and baked potato cost $5, and a huge breakfast was $3.

Had to wait to near 11:00 before the fog broke and flew to Hernando County airport North of Tampa to meet my Relatives for lunch. Looking at the weather decided to fly on to Lakeland so as not to get stuck by weather so close to the final destination.

Landed at Lakeland and was directed to call EAA ground control. They started asking questions on that frequency as I taxied past about where we came from, what the plan was like and so forth. Directed to the homebuilt parking, they waved me to a spot at middle front right next to the entrance from the convention grounds. They helped me get the $10 with $10 deposit tie downs screwed in and ask me all the now standard questions. Seems building this bird and flying it 13hrs and 1100 miles to their convention rates something in their books.

Just think of this, this trip has already been more than worth it, and Sun-N-Fun does not even start until next Tuesday.

Will be staying with relative in Tampa till then, but got a good walk around of the convention site. It is going to be Disney World for flying.

Thanks, Bruce King

100% + 113 hours + 1100 miles from home