Sun-N-Fun - Half Way Back in One Day

The trip home started off great, beautiful morning weather. Climbed above a scattered layer into smooth air, trying not to think about the forecast conditions ahead. Felt a little sad passing over one of the places where the hospitality was so great. So tuned in and said, "Cross City this is 88BK, just passing by, but I would thank you once more for you hospitality on the way into Lakeland". Their immediate reply, "Thanks, they really were impressed when they saw your little bird take off last week. Make sure you stop by again next time". You bet I will. Stopped for fuel at Quincy, an airpark cut out of a solid patch of pine trees just past Tallahassee. After answering the usual questions, they ask for a fly by. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, did the usual 120 mph pass, wing wave, and climb out.

The high feathery clouds to the Northwest started to loom bigger. First had to drop down below the low layer as it began to bunch up and the gaps got smaller. Then the gradual descent as the bottom of the clouds got lower and lower. Finally, it looked like a solid dark wall ahead. Not going to make my intended stop, need to look for an alternate. Looked at the map and saw Bob Sikes airport about 20 miles south. At times like this thoughts go to all the airport coordinates looked up on ipilot.com and how accurately they got entered into the GPS. Still has good weather behind, but wanted to land as far down the road as possible. Once again the amazing plastic box took me right to the center of the airport. Pulling up to parking noticed a Bonanza, RV6, and a couple of Long-EZEs tying down. This was a larger exec airpark with a FBO terminal. It was about noon. All five of us must have talked to the same weather briefer in Lakeland, and now we were stuck in the same place. There was a nice computer weather station available and we all stood together with stern expressions as we watched the motion radar display tell the bad news. Just west was a solid band of rain moving out of the gulf. Past the rain it looked good, but we were blocked. The Bonanza pilot said, "No problem", filed his IFR plan and took off. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to do that? The rest of us ordered a Pizza, watched the radar, and looked outside at the gloomy weather. In this situation the clock takes about a half hour to move forward each minute.

Got a call on my cell phone from my wife. She said the FAA called her and was concerned that the flight plan to the original destination had not been closed. During the entire trip I was calling 1(800)WXBRIEF, getting weather and TFR information, and then filing a flight plan to the next stop. Just before departure I call HQ, a higher authority, and tell my wife where the next stop is and when to expect my next call. Closed my wife's and FAA's flight plan. She didn't ask me to do this, but it seemed like a good idea. On landing at Sikes, I did just that, telling both that I was not at my original destination. It seems that my original destination was in another FAA district, and the word did not get to them. But it was nice to see the system work, and my wife told them where I was when they called.

About three hours later we noticed that the band of rain was breaking up into scattered showers. The FAA briefer confirmed this, so I filed to Wiggings, Mississippi and headed west once more. It wasn't so bad, but a little uncomfortable weaving through the light spots between the rain showers working my way along. A couple of times it looked blocked ahead, but you could see the next area of sunlit ground beyond darker clouds to guide your way. Had to deviate South around a forest fire whose smoke completely blocked the way. This put me uncomfortably close to a tall antenna that I could not see. Climbed high enough to clear the antenna, but that put me almost into the cloud bases. When it was just about time to turn around, saw the antenna about five miles to the left and was able to descend into clearer air. Do not like to be boxed in, but this is part of what flying is about. Guess the survivors are those that turn around before they get too far into the box.

Approached Wiggings thinking about going another 60 miles to the next available airport, but remembered how nice they were on the way out letting me use their car to go to Burger King. Had enough dodging rain and antennas for one day, called Unicom for a traffic report. Heard a real friendly voice, "Just keep an eye out for a big yellow crop duster and you will be just fine". Landed there about half way back. Thought, "Half way back in one day, it will be nice get back home tomorrow". Such optimism.

Thanks, Bruce King

100% + 129 hrs + Oshkosh By Gosh!