...............Flying Map......................................Driving Map...........4Sep09 -- Palo Duro Canyon, TX
Ken: Awoke early, enjoyed the cinnamon roll Steve had baked, and walked to the airport. I was packing when Ann drove up (before I'd taken time to call her to let her know I didn't need a ride). Fueled up, filed a flight plan toward Tulia, TX and headed north. The direct route would have taken me through three MOAs, a restricted area and Cannon Air Force Base control zone. So I took the extra time to fly north, then east to skirt the north side of all those marks on the map (and the Garmin 496). Still only a two hour flight. This part of New Mexico is pretty well covered by military use areas. I was in the air early enough to have a nearly bumpless flight until the last 20 minutes descending into Tulia. This little rural airport has a nice pilots lounge and a courtesy car. Self service fuel also available. One hangar, not a soul in site -- except for a small attention starved cat. I was tying the plane down when Nikki pulled in -- perfect timing. We drove into the Palo Duro Canyon State Park about noon, to find it crowded for the holiday weekend (we hadn't even realized it was a holiday until then). They could give us a spot for one night only, so we took that. Set up the trailer, then explored the park road loop.
Lots of red rock geology to admire, plus desert vegetation. It was HOT, but Nikki just had to hike one trail of about a mile, while I drove around to the other end to meet her. Drove into Canyon, TX to get gas and found a BBQ place on the edge of campus (West Texas A&M) that served us more than we could eat for $6 each! Back for a lovely night in cooler weather.
5Sep09 -- Amarillo, TX
Ken: We drove to the entry gate to see if there had been cancellations -- no joy. Then we spent the morning hiking about a mile of trail, then back on the road. Started out about 80+F and ended up about 90+F! Hit the interpretive center to get more info on the canyon, then checked again on cancellations. Still none, so fixed lunch, then took down the TrailManor, packed up and headed for the Amarillo KOA. Got the trailer planted and set up (almost back in the routine already), called the local Toyota dealer to get the van in for a good going over, tried to call aviation shops to get the oil changed on the plane (no one home). Drove to the main international airport, but the only shop there was closed until Tuesday. Drove to Tradewinds, the GA airport, and connected with a human -- shop will be open early Tuesday, bring the plane over (which we'll do tomorrow or Monday). Found a movie theatre playing "Julie & Julia", got dinner at a funky little oriental restaurant the GPS located for us (great food), then back to watch my favorite -- Meryl Streep. Back 'home'. The park is full of a three-wheel motorcycle group, and they are a bit boisterous as I type at 2300 CDT. Hopefully they will quiet down soon....
6Sep09 -- Amarillo
Ken: Lazy day. Slow morning, shower, putter. Headed out to see if any of the art places were open. Spent some time in the Amarillo Museum of Art at the College. Didn't find any of the other places open. So off to a shopping mall for lunch and a bit of clothes shopping (which I needed to do months ago). Then to a Wal-Mart to continue the process of re-outfitting the TrailManor and getting groceries. Went hunting for a place we'd been told we could get Ethiopian food. Stopped at two different African markets, but no joy. At the 2nd, we were shown another place nearby that does, sometimes, cook Ethiopian. However, between the holiday and it being Ramadan, not today. Down the road, we drove past yet another African place, so pulled in and had a great meal of seasoned rice and goat. Finally home to put away groceries and tidy up for the night. Tomorrow I'll move the plane from Tulia to Tradewinds, which sits about 5 miles off the end of the main runway at Amarillo Int'l.
7Sep09 -- Amarillo
Ken: Moved the plane without a problem. We had a relaxed day around the KOA, did laundry, etc.
8Sep09 -- Hinton, OK
Ken: Up early to drop me off at the airport and Nikki to get the van in to a Toyota dealer by 0730-0800. Plane went into shop for oil and filter change, while van was in shop for oil change and 21-point inspection. One of the only times maintenance on the van was more expensive than maintenance on the plane. It wasearly enough, so we decided to pack up and go. Nikki dropped me off at the airport, and headed out. Usual getting weather, filing flight plan, fueling, etc. and then I was off. Actually didn't have long to wait at the Hinton airport before Nikki pulled in. We headed down the highway to find the Red Rock Canyon State Park we'd read about. This place is lovely!! 30 or so parking spots, most with at least water and electricity, and 3 with full hookup (they were all taken). The canyon is fairly narrow, and a small stream winds along it. Some of the cliffs are posted as rapelling cliffs. There is a swimming pool (closed by now), a little store (closed). Few folks there when we arrived, a few more by the time we left.
9Sep09 -- Hinton
Ken: We got up early enough to get in some biking and hiking before it got too hot. Then went looking for internet access. The library used to, but too many folks sat outside and abused the privilege. They directed us to the library in a town down the road, so off we went. We could connect to the library's wireless, but it gave us no internet access. They directed us to a community college, and we found a lab with a couple dozen computers available. Took care of some of our business on their computers. Back to the campground to prepare for moving out the next day.
10Sep09 -- Hinton & Brinkley, AR
Ken: As usual, Nikki dropped me at the airport and headed for the next stop, Brinkley, AR. However, the weather did not cooperate and I spent the whole day idling about the airport. Used one of the courtesy cars to get lunch, and later to go to a motel for the night. In the meantime, Nikki made it to Brinkley in good time, set up the TrailManor and bedded down.
11Sep09 -- Harrison, AR & Murfreesboro, TN
Ken: Couldn't get out of Hinton until late afternoon. But I was able to be of some help with computer problems on the manager's computer. Helped pass the time and they were able to get further along in making their fuel billing system work. When I could go, I decided to get as far as I could, which was Harrison. Tied the plane down on a ramp with no one around. But a mechanic working late came by and helped me find a motel. Nikki, in the meantime, made it into Murfreesboro and had a great evening with her sister & brother-in-law.
12Sep09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Couldn't get out until after noon again, but then the flight to Murfreesboro was quite pleasant. 
As usual, I've been checking in with ATC and getting flight following. Passing through some of these larger metropolitan control areas is so much easier when you have the attention of a center controller or an approach controller. The clouds were beautiful, and spaced out enough to always have view of the ground. Landed at Murfreesboro under scrutiny of a small crowd of young folks standing at the side of the runway. I never did find out what was going on with them, but I'm glad I made an acceptable landing. Tied down, called Nikki who came right over to pick me up. Got some lunch, then went back to her sister Dawna's home. Dawna & hubby Joe got home a while later, and we all went off to an Ethiopian restaurant to introduce them to one of our favorites. It was a good one, too. Then we went to a bar where Dawna's son Jeremy was performing with his band.
13Sep09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Another quiet day just enjoying our family. Dawna fixed a lovely breakfast. We went to a nearby town to an art & craft fair and to their gallery/museum. Home to fix dinner and relax.
14Sep09 -- Sedalia, MO
Ken: Joe and Dawna had to return to their workday lives, so we decided to head for Nebraska a bit sooner than planned. Leaving the van and camper in their front yard, we headed to the airport to pack up and fly to North Platte. We planned two 3 hour legs, with a stop in Sedalia for fuel and "sump dumping". Getting off before 11am gave us plenty of time to get all the way. However, on landing in Sedalia, Nikki found brochures on the town that looked really interesting. I checked the weather outlook for the next day (which was favorable) and we decided to spend the night. Airport had courtesy cars, at no cost. Headed into the historic Bothwell Hotel to get a room, then spent the afternoon exploring the Bothwell mansion state park & evening exploring around downtown. The hotel restaurant turned out to have beautiful gourmet food -- wonderful dinner. Good night's sleep.
15Sep09 -- North Platte, NE
Ken: Spent the morning in Sedalia, at the art galleries at the local State Fair Community College. Huge campus, very busy with students. Galeries well worth the time. Back to the airport to turn in the car, get weather, file and back into the air. Three hours later we were landing in North Platte, renting a car, getting to the motel to 
see if we could get our room a day early, then driving around checking out the changes in the town where I went to high school. This photo is the surge tank at the hydropower plant. It was one of those high school "activities" my parents never knew about. You can see the runged ladder up the nearest leg and up the tank. Several of us would clamber around the gate at the bottom, climb this thing and explore. It's 180' high! A few more idiotic souls even shinnied down the cross bracing rods. My 50th high school reunion activities start Thursday evening. Nikki's laptop is dying, so we bit the bullet, went to Staples and bought a new Acer notebook.
16Sep09 -- North Platte
Ken: Breakfast (comes with the room), then to laundromat. WiFi there, but had to catch up with e-mail. Set up Nikki's computer and the ethernet switch. We now have both computers online through the wired modem in the hotel room. Drove around exploring and showing Nikki pieces of my life from 50 years ago.
17Sep09 -- North Platte
Ken: Started meeting classmates in the hotel as we did breakfast, checked in, etc. More exploring North Platte. In the evening, the first official gathering of the reunion was at the lakefront home of one of our members. It was the usual "OK, so who are you?" - trying to see the classmate from 50 years ago in the face before me. Even some of my closest friends' faces didn't appear until I heard the name. Sigh...but it was fun trying to catch up on the last 10 years with some, 50 years with others.
18Sep09 -- North Platte
Ken: More folks showing up in the breakfast area of the hotel. Nikki has found several classmates or spouses with whom she connects. We spend more time just driving around town, north into the sandhills, south to the lake, etc. The evening gathering is at the hotel and is just a mixer, with more folks showing up.
19Sep09 -- North Platte
Ken: More connections with reunion folks. Visited with the mothers of two of my classmates -- one of whom is quite robust at 101 years old!! Many parents of classmates are still alive in their late 80's and 90's. In the evening, the formal gathering included dinner, some memory games, and an auction fund raiser to support scholarships. Nikki and I donated three of her more recent prints, and were delighted when they brought in more than $800 in the bidding. The whole evening seemed too short, even though I spent more than 7 hours with the group.
20Sep09 -- Sedalia, MO
Ken: Weather windows being what they are this time of year in this country, we decided to fly out as early as possible Sunday morning. North Platte weather was fine, but forecasts along the way were not encouraging. It was a day to have a go at it, always with the option to put down or reverse course. We left North Platte having to stay at 4500', but in a while we got up to 7500' and were able to continue there until just past Kansas City. It was a kick flying directly over KC watching jets lift off and climb out away from us. Clouds closed in below, we reversed course to find a clear area to descend, and made the last 20 minutes flight into Sedalia about 1000' above the surface. By this time, the weather into Nashville was still marginal and it was getting too late to get there well before dark. So it's another night in Sedalia.
21Sep09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Sitting in the hotel room with internet access, getting caught up, while we wait for the IFR conditions across a HUGE part of the US to clear. Since we have a lovely day here (Sedalia), it's frustrating. But I've been learning that the weather east of the Mississippi is notably different from that to the west. In over 40 years of flying, I have rarely missed being IFR qualified. But I'm finding that IFR capability would likely be used much more were I living in the eastern half of the US. East of Kansas, it sounds like we have layers of clouds with low ceilings, but few storms. I could easily take off from Sedalia, and probably have VFR all the way -- but no guarantee I could get down through the clouds to land at Murfreesboro. So it's "Call back after 10am to see how much it's cleared up." [later] We called back, and we took a look. Not a bad flight, with only a couple of short segments with solid undercast. HEAVY rain in the middle of the night.
22Sep09 -- Smyrna, TN
Ken: We needed to dry out the camper, dump septic and do a little maintenance, so we moved the TrailManor to an RV park in Smyrna, near Murfreesboro. It was a useful break. And we went back to go to a movie with the family as a last night together.
