Two Pilots & an LSW: Alabama Blooms

Unfortunately when I went to bed Monday night, I was starting to get a headache, and I ended up having to take Vitamin I in the middle of the night to make it go away. I also had digestive issues most of the night. There wasn't much to the night, since I had to get up at 4:30 am. But I ended up doing better than expected after that, so I was grateful for that. I told D that I wanted to fly the morning leg, for my own currency and proficiency, which I did. Felt good, went well. After enough time in it, the plane becomes kind of like hopping in your car, at least when things are going well. :)

I landed in Birmingham first. When I walked into the FBO, I was the only pilot there, so I went into the fancy dark room with all the leather chairs, muted the TV, and curled up to try to rest for a little while and catch up on some sleep. I don't know how long I was lying there, but I was mostly drifted out, when someone came in, picked up the TV remote, turned it up fairly loud, sat down in a chair behind me, passed gas loudly, then fell asleep and started snoring. Well, I was up. Rude. So I went to the front desk, paid my bill, and went to take a courtesy car to get some brunch. I ended up in downtown Birmingham, which was actually very scenic. Rolling hills, lots of trees, interesting archaeology structure. On my way back, I spotted a scenic overlook thing, so last second I pulled over and into that. You could climb up a big wad of stairs to get to the top of a historic site, and there was a big statue, with a great view over the city. I was reminded of something. I can walk on a flat surface all day. I can climb down stairs just fine, flights of them. Anything that requires me to climb UP? I have a problem. Going up all those stairs my heart was pounding, my lungs got tight, I didn't feel well. Going back down? I skipped down them all, no problem. I've started doing more weight bearing exercises during the day...sounds like I need to add a stair stepper to the routine. I'm kidding, but not really. When I was in California hiking up a hill, it about took me out going up. I had to stop. The time I had what had to be an asthma style attack zip lining...it it was after climbing and climbing and climbing in high humidity. I can't seem to climb and get air at the same time. Anyway. It was a great view. I hung out, got some sunshine and fresh air, and then wandered back to the FBO. I didn't like walking back into the pilot's lounge. The seats were mostly full, the room is dark, the TV is on, it's awkward and weird, and then Mr. Flatulence grabbed a cup and started spitting his chew juice into it every 10 seconds or so. It was so regular I'd be counting it off in my head until he picked up his cup, spit, splant, slurp, grunt. Over and over. Finally I got back up and bugged out of there and sat in the main front room, with lots of sunshine and open windows and view of the runway.

Dustin got back shortly after that, and we flew to Demopolis, Alabama. One runway, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by lush green trees and water I wouldn't want to end up in. Dustin headed out for his meeting. There were flowering bushes lining the walkway, a self-serve pump near the shack, which was the FBO. A guy came out and parked us, and took my credit card to do the self-serve for me. They had an old Mercury Grand Marquis as the courtesy car, and I took it into town for lunch, and went to the "Bistro". It was a tiny place downtown Demopolis, with a fun ambiance. I doubt they'll stay in business for long there, but it was a cool little place, and when I got there, only the owner was there. Even his cook and waitresses were running late. He was very personable and good to deal with. It was a nice area to wander around and look at.

I finished up just in time for Dustin to say he was on his way back. Meeting done. We flew home and watched the sun go down. Both on the way there and on the way home we were doing about 208 knots on average, at 20,000' and 19,000', watching the sun come up, watching the sun go down. Listening to music, having a Starbucks on the way there and a water on the way home. It was quiet, good weather, peaceful, and calm, and I was grateful to not have a big challenge that day. It was a long day though. I didn't get in until after 11 pm. After a 4:30 am wake up call after a night of not feeling well, I crashed pretty hard last night. :)

I've said it a lot, but the difference between those two FBOs completely reaffirms life choices. The fancy FBO has all the amenities, is comfortable, expensive. And dim, full of starched people in starched shirts who are bored, tired, annoyed, and sitting in the dark waiting to do their next round of paperwork and their next leg of the day. Someone goes and gets a coffee, and they sit in there and wait. I don't know if they can't leave, or just never do. It's impersonal, cold, and everyone there is looking down at others there, depending on what they fly. They are dismissive of me, and I am amused by them. Then I go to Demopolis, and it's warm, and open, and the guy in jeans and a flannel shirt brings me anything I ask for, and leaves the key to the courtesy car hanging up on a board in the main room, and there's wifi and drinks and computers and a car and cheap fuel and snacks. They have everything you need too, but they do it out of a small wooden shack in a relaxed atmosphere where any people that come up are excited by your plane and you and want to know more. One I can kick back and relax, and if I need something, it will be done with courtesy and wanting to please, not done by a frazzled front desk girl who has been yelled at by condescending pilots mad that their plane got tugged so far away and their catering isn't ready on time. With cheaper fuel, friendlier faces, and better places to take a walk in peace. I. Am. Not. Interested. In. Jet. World. It's so nice to reaffirm that now and then. I'd like to think that even if I Did fly jets, I'd still do the same things, even if I did have to wear the scratchy white starched shirt and black dress pants. Unless they're not allowed to leave because they're on call constantly. And that would be yet another reason not to do that job.

Today I met with a young lady named Ana who wants to be a pilot. We got together to do her student pilot certificate. She doesn't have a driver's license, she doesn't have a passport, and she doesn't have a school ID. She has no form of government ID with her photo on it, which is required. So I put in her birth certificate, and submitted it, and we'll see if they take it. She thinks they will because it didn't kick it out right then, but I know that's not how this works. I told her to keep an eye on her email, and if there's an issue they may email and let her know. She needs it to apply for scholarships, so that's what we're trying to accomplish. She's another lit up, excited young lady, and we talked for a good hour and a half where I'd answer her questions.

One more flight I'm headed to in about 10 minutes if I can get these photos uploaded. Or downloaded. Or whatever it is. Posted. ;) These aren't in order, but the first ones are all sunrise, and the end are all sunsets.