..........Flying Map............................Driving Map.........
21Oct09 -- Elkton, MD
Ken: We made it out of the cabin and on the road before 0700! Breakfast, then dropped me at the airport and Nikki was on the road right about 0800. I got an escort to the plane (security here is taken quite seriously) to find that I couldn't open the door. So I opened the baggage compartment, unloaded a bunch of junk and crawled in to unlock the passenger side. It was already unlocked, but the pilot side was handle down locked. I immediately took stock and found nothing missing but the Door Steward pneumatic strut on the pilot side. I found a guy at the fuel truck and he explained that the storm we'd just seen had such strong winds that they moved all the planes to face into the wind. My pilot door kept coming open and the strut had fallen to the ramp, so they put the strut inside and locked the door to keep it shut. We found the strut again on the ramp, having blown to the other side of the plane against the tie down. I snapped it back on and all seems to be OK (other than damp carpet in the baggage area (gotta find that leak!). Loaded up, briefed, filed, fueled, and headed out for Maryland. Clouds were predicted to be scattered to broken, so I climbed to 8500' as I headed west. In about an hour the clouds below me started filling in, becoming solid undercast. Knowing the bases were around 6500', I forged ahead. I had programmed direct from Hyannis to Huegenot, NY (HUO), then direct to Cecil Co. MD, which took me outside any serious control space and avoided a couple of significant VIP TFRs. Approaching HUO I had to climb a bit to stay above the clouds. By the time I'd turned south from HUO, the clouds were becoming broken. I found an open area, went down to 6500' and continued. In the meantime, my routing apprently put me on the fringes of several ATC sectors, as Flight Following was quite fragmented. I was handed off a couple of times as I flew from Hyannis: Cape Approach, to Boston Approach, to some other approach to Boston Center. Then radar services were terminated. I asked for a contact and was given New York Center. They suggested I call Boston Center, who kept me for a while before again terminating. Again I asked and was told to contact New York Approach. NY told me to call NY Center, who picked me up briefly then told me to call NY approach. NY Approach said I was going out of their airspace almost immediately, but he was kind enough to connect me with the next approach (Midtown), who stayed with me until handing me off to Philadelphia Approach. Two Philly Approach sectors later, I found the Cecil County airport near Elkton, MD and switched to their CTF. Unfortunately, 122.8 was in use at several airports within range at 2500', and the transmissions from someone at Cecil were blocked repeatedly. I overflew 1000' above traffic pattern and saw an ultralight landing, then taking off again. That told me which direction to land and I announced intentions. This time the ultralight got through and reported he had me in sight. Landed, taxied through a lot of construction and found a tie down. Checked in to find they had a courtesy car, which I took to the Woodlands campground to get registered and wait for Nikki. Street Atlas had estimated her driving time as 8.5 hours (plus stops), but she rolled in a good hour ahead of our original estimate. We set up the TrailManor, then returned the courtesy van to the airport. Drove into Newark, DE and found the Ali Baba Restaurant. Good Mediterranean food. Some folks were sharing a hookah with sweet smelling smoke. Back to the TrailManor, and both of us needed a good night's sleep after our travel day.
22Oct09 -- Elkton
Ken: A gal at the airport had suggested we look into the Elk Neck State Campground, so we fixed breakfast decently early and headed down the peninsula to take a look. We found a delightful campground in a heavily wooded park. Only one full hookup left for the weekend, but several electric only. We looked the latter over and reserved one. Then back to find some lunch, grab some groceries and back to pack up the TrailManor. Moved it down the road to the State Campground, got it all set up and ready, then biked around to explore more of the campground. This part of the park is near the end of the peninsula, which is only a mile or two wide. Campground has water access, though none really good for canoe launching. Gathered downed wood (allowed in this park), built a nice campfire and grilled dinner. Quite dark by 1900, and I sat and meditated over the glowing embers while Nikki showered. Temperatures in the 60's, bright day, very lovely day overall.
23Oct09 -- Elkton
Ken: The day started out clear and lovely, and we thought we might get the canoe on the water. However, by the time we'd had breakfast, I got a shower and we were ready to roll, it was clouding over and the wind had come up. Even though we are on a narrower, upper part of Chesapeake Bay, the nearest land is at least a couple of miles across the water. So the wind has a good reach to churn up the water. Instead of boating today, we went down to the point to take the 1.6 mile trail to the lighthouse and back. Dropped by the airport to let them know we'd have the plane there until next week sometime, and pick up my boots and raincoat. Then went on a hunt for a Kinkos for DMV form & copies of stuff for NLK. Into Newark to an Italian restaurant this time. Then found WiFi to get caught up on e-mail and this blog. Rainy drizzle all afternoon and evening.
24Oct09 -- Washington, DC
Ken: It rained all night -- HARD. We awoke to continued rain and decided to head to DC early. We found the PO & mailed stuff, then headed to DC -- leaving the TrailManor behind. Got a motel in Silver Spring, MD, figured out the Metro, and headed into DC. We did a Ghost Tour around Lafayette Square, picking up some interesting history (including some about Seward). Metro back to Silver Spring, and found an Ethiopian restaurant for a wonderful dinner.
25Oct09 -- Washington, DC
Ken: Breakfast at a nice coffee shop on the walk to the Metro. We had signed up for a Segway tour of DC!! It started with a video training film, then hands on instruction in use of the Segway. Our group was mostly older folks, and our guide started us out with a 6mph limit. After getting more comfortable, she reset our limits to 10mph. I've coveted the Segway since Dean Kamen introduced it some years ago, and this was probably THE highlight of all our travels so far (for me, anyway). Three hours of zipping around on a Segway! A little pressure on the toes to go forward, pressure on the heels to slow or stop, a slight lean of the handle to turn. Standing nearly still with the Segway balancing on two wheels. And we got a very good orientation to essentially a loop of the whole Washington Mall. At many of the stops for presentations, we didn't even get off the Segway. Being able to slowly rotate in place to view the sites is something you just have to experience. A few places were open enough, and not peopled densely, that we could "open up" the Segway and zip along at the full 10mph for a bit. I was VERY sorry to have the three hours gone and have to turn in the Segway. Wish there were some justification for having one in Fairbanks. Lunch @ Clyde's (older, very nice). We did a fairly quick turn through the Spy Museum, then to the National American Art Portrait Gallery. Metro back to Silver Spring, and an Indian dinner.
26Oct09 -- Washington, DC
Ken: Breakfast at the same nice coffee shop on the walk to the Metro. Today we did the National Museum of American Indians, including lunch in their cafeteria which featured foods of the natives (rabbit pot pie for me). With only 1.5 hours left before closing, we grabbed the Metro to the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a too brief walk through. Wandered through the Metro some more, to a mall, found a day pack on sale, more Metro to Cinema to see "Where the wild things are". Dinner at a sports bar with the DC crowd wildly cheering the Redskins vs. Philadelphia (football, American style). Metro back to motel.
27Oct09 -- Elkton, MD
Ken: Awoke to more rain, so decided to abandon DC. Breakfast at the same nice coffee shop, then headed back to TrailManor. VERY lazy afternoon reading, catching up on Quicken entries, playing games on the computer, lupper of snacks and leftovers.
28Oct09 -- South Hill, VA & Big Meadows Lodge
Ken: Pack up TrailManor, drop Ken at airport, and Nikki heads for Tennessee. Weather did not look great. Low ceilings and rain to the NW, which is the way I had to go to get around the 60nm radius DC TFR on its north side. But weather was clearing to the SW, and I found an alternate route: due south along the peninsula, across 15mi of water to Norfolk, VA and then west. This kept me along the east edge of the DC TFR. And I was able to climb to 6500' shortly after leaving Cecil Co. Airport. Zipping along at 140-145k was great, until I turned west to overfly Norfolk at 100k! It wasn't long before I descended to 4500' to pick up 5-10k. I'd planned and filed to Danville, VA, but got away fairly late in the afternoon. One posting said sundown was 2000, and the GPS said I'd get there around 1900. So I wasn't concerned. However, about 1830 the sun was sinking into the clouds -- a brilliant red disk into which I was flying. I checked the Garmin 496 for sundown and found it was about now. I decided not to push on in the dark and the nearest airport was a couple miles away. So I notified center of my intentions, terminated flight following, pulled power and descended to Mecklenburg Regional, near South Hills, VA. Got a cab to a motel and had a good night's sleep. Nikki had chosen to drive the Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive, where she found phenomenal scenery viewed at a very leisurely driving pace. When it was time to stop for the night, she got a room in the Big Meadows Lodge.
29Oct09 -- Murfreesboro, TN
Ken: Weather was forecast to be cloudy until early afternoon, so I didn't hurry the morning. But the morning was clear and beautiful until I got back to the airport. It was good enough to head west, so I filed, fueled and flew away at 2500'. Soon was able to climb to 4500'. Forecast showed a line of serious rainshowers/thunderstorms moving in from the west at 30k, and I wasn't going to make it to Murfreesboro before them. So I put into my planning the expectation of stopping short of the destination. And that is what happened about 30 minutes away from Murfreesboro. I could see the clouds thickening ahead, and the ridges to the south were becoming obscured in rain. So I dropped into Crossville, TN to wait out the storm. Got a ride into town to get some lunch and take it back to the airport. By the time I got back, radar was showing the bulk of the storm right over us, with clear behind. As the sky brightened to the south and SW, I decided to take a look, without waiting to eat my lunch. Ceilings were still high, so it was only showers to fly around. I headed SW, toward the light areas. Almost as soon as I was airborne, I could see around the back side of the heavy rain to the WNW, and soon could turn on course to KMBT. Bright skies behind the rain, a few misty clouds tangled in the trees along the creek valleys, lovely flight on to KMBT. Joe picked me up and I finally got to eat lunch. Dinner with Dawna and Joe while waiting for Nikki to arrive, which she did around 2100.
30Oct09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: We had made an appointment with an RV shop to get the TrailManor gone over thoroughly. Up early, quick breakfast, out to drive south, but lights had been left on inside van. Jump start, then off to Manchester. Dropped TrailManor, went over our squawk list, and returned to Joe and Dawna's. The rest of the day was spent helping them get ready for Dawna's art booth at a great city festival in Franklin, TN.
31Oct09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Finished packing their van and we all drove to Franklin. Took less than an hour to get Dawna's booth up and ready. Nikki and I strolled around the fair of 60+ booths, enjoying the arts, crafts, debris proof gutters, costumes, etc. etc. etc. At one point, we turned at a commotion to see a black clothed, skull headed, 8' monstor trying to terrorize folks. There were some small children genuinely afraid, but most became reassured by moms and joined in the fun. One woman, however, pushing her baby stroller, felt the hand on her shoulder, turned to see this monster, let out a real shriek and bolted away. He followed, she shrieked even louder and ran even harder. I didn't see where she went, but I think he gave up the chase quickly, realizing she wasn't kidding. Nikki and I took our van and made a big circle in the country to the SW and W of Nashville, maybe driving 200 miles of back roads in the beautiful Tennessee hills before returning to help Joe and Dawna take down the booth. Dinner in Franklin with three friends of theirs was a lovely evening of stories, laughs, and good food. Home to Murfreesboro to collapse into bed.
1Nov09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: We all slept in (especially with time change), then had a leisurely breakfast. Joe and I went flying while the gals went to Barnes & Noble. We flew east to get some aerial photos of a couple of pieces of land they own. Spent about an hour finding the first, doing some circles to photograph it, flying to the other, ditto, then back to KMBT. More laziness the rest of the day.
2Nov09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Up early to get the Sienna to a shop. New brakes in front, oil changed, general inspection, and it's ready for the next segment. Back home to spend the day on the computer, entering finances in Quicken, calling the bank to fix credit caard problems, updating this blog, attending to mail, etc. etc. etc.
3Nov09 -- Louisville, KY
Ken: We drove out of Murfreesboro about 0830, headed north to Louisville, KY, to visit our friends Lisa & Mehrdad (former Fairbanksans). We took the scenic secondary roads, stopped a few times. Spent a bit of time at Lincoln's Birthplace, though the Memorial building was closed for repairs. Found out that we'd moved back into Eastern Standard Time, losing an hour, so finished the last 45 miles on the interstate. Supper with them, then off to the local Baha'i Feast night. First time for them in a newly renovated Baha'i Center. Met lots of nice folks, of course. Then back to Lisa & Mehrdad's, with his parents who come over for the night. His dad is 100 years old (or 98, depending on who's talking), and still spry as a 70 year old. All were immigrants from Iran, and Nikki first met them in Homer when she lived there.
4Nov09 -- Louisville
Ken: Lazy morning, breakfast with the group, lots of chatter. Late lunch, then downtown to walk around the Historic Section, admiring old buildings. Drove across the Ohio to Indiana, to view the night skyline of Louisville from across the river. Home for Nikki to give a painting lesson to the Burmese immigrant boy they are home schooling.
5Nov09 -- Murfreesboro
Ken: Slept in a bit, breakfast with the group, then we packed up and all seven of us headed for Mammoth Cave. This cave system looks like a dendrite tree, with 367 MILES of connected tunnels officially registered, and that number will likely be 400 miles before the end of the year. They have at least four distinct vertical levels, so some of the length is under some of the others. Four of us did a 2 mile tour which took us down to 318' below the surface. Mehrdad and his Dad did a shorter tour, which still had that 100 (98) year old climbing down and up 57 steps. Mehrdad's Mom waited for us all on the surface. Lunch together in the Lodge behind the Visitor's Center. We had decided to head south afterwards, and said our goodbyes. Two+ hours later we were back "home" in Murfreesboro, sitting down to home made pizza. On the drive, I had a crown system come off (bridged dual crowns seated on implant posts), so I'll need to find a dentist.
6Nov09 -- Murfreesbobo
Ken: Joe and Dawna were already gone to work by the time Nikki and I awoke. We had a lazy day reading, trip planning for the next segments, wading through e-mail, and updating the blog. I did find a dentist, but won't get in until Monday morning. In the meantime, I'm attempting tongue discipline... Work on the TrailManor will be done sometime Tuesday, so Nikki can't head down the road until Tuesday at the earliest. Visited the evening away.
7Nov09 -- Murfreesbobo
Ken: We took four bikes down to a riverside trail nearby. 4.5 miles from start to finish. Some of the way goes through parts of the city that were hit by a tornado in the spring. We saw houses with missing roofs and interior walls with only bare studs remaining. A section of the trail used to be completely surrounded by forest, and is now quite open. At the end of the trail, we xplored a museum park with historic buildings, then found some lunch a short walk away. Biked the 4.5 miles back to the vans. For her birthday celebration, Dawna had put in an order for grilled shrimp and pasta salad for dinner, and for her kids to put on a sock puppet show. Joe cooked dinner, then he and all five kids put on the puppet show. They'd printed images of the faces of each of them, glued them to some small paper cutout bodies, and mounted them on dowels. The script was just a general outline and they ad lib'd their way through a funny re-enactment of a memorable childhood silliness involving an electric fence. Carrot cake and ice cream rounded out the evening.
8Nov09 -- Murfreesbobo
Ken: Lazy day. More reading, e-mail, etc. filled the day. Nikki worked on photos, ending up with a slide show of our travels to date. I worked on paying bills and catching up on Quicke entries.
9Nov09 -- Murfreesbobo
Ken: I drove to the dentist, filled out the usual forms and got seated. Dentist and one assistant went over things fairly thoroughly and decided to seat the crowns with temporary cement, and have me get my home dentist to do it up right when I got home. A different assistant showed up to actually seat the crown. She did no irrigation or cleaning of the site, just blew it dry and popped in the crown. I questioned that, as there was some irritation from the previous trials and I was worried about any infection under the crown. So she pulled it off, cleaned it off, irrigated the seat and away we went again. I was seating the thing by biting down on it, but this time it wouldn't go all the way. So I'm left with it a bit too high and it's very noticeable. Getting used to it enough that I decided to live with that for a month, rather than try again or have them grind off any material. Nikki and I rode our bikes around the neighborhood for about an hour, including exploring a huge house under construction. We did some shopping, got Subways for the group, we ate, then all went to see the movie "Men Who Stare at Goats." It was a hoot, and we all laughed a lot.
Now it's time to be heading home, via Tempe, AZ, for Thanksgiving.
