This afternoon she took her bike and drove it out to Greentown, where she and Caitlyn went for a bike ride. I don't know for how long or how far, but they got out into nature and did some riding, and hopefully had a good time. She's not back yet so I haven't been able to ask, but it was a gorgeous day, so I would guess they'd enjoy themselves out in it.
Our front yard trees have exploded into blossoms. I took a quick shot on my way out of the driveway today, just in case, because I know today was super windy, and tomorrow's weather is iffy, and I didn't want to miss a chance to get a shot. It's not the best picture, but it'll do.
I think I am Newton's First Law in personification right now. I left at 11 am to pick up a sandwich and then go out to the airport, where I was meeting a new guy at noon. He's a 250 hour Cirrus pilot who wants his tailwheel endorsement. But at some point today, the winds blew up to gusting around 22-25 knots, which was not the forecast, and not my favorite winds for flying a Champ off of concrete with a first-timer. But he was coming from Michigan, and it was too late to call it off, so we went for it. We did a lot of taxiing around on the ground, which is actually a little tricky in those winds depending on which way you're trying to turn. We took off and did some air work, stalls, all that good stuff, then did a landing at Glenndale, where it was a 60-70 degree crosswind. I had to rescue that one. We took back off and went back to Kokomo, and he was worn out after an hour and a half. We landed at Kokomo, where the winds were closer down the runway, and put it away, did the logbook, etc., and I just got TIRED. I was so uptight and tense and all over it and upbeat and talking and chatting and new guy stuff, and afterwards I was pooped. I am not used to being in motion any more. I'm not used to this part any more, and it's tough for me. I was wiped out after the girl yesterday. I was wiped out after this guy. But I had the girl again at 4 pm, and Steve asked if I wanted to go up with Andrew, a local young man I like whose private checkride was canceled thanks to Wuhan Flu, and still to be determined. He hadn't flown in almost two months, so even though it was gusty, he really wanted to go, and we did. We also landed at Glenndale after we flew over his house, and by then the winds were about 70 degrees off at 27 knots. That's a good crosswind for the Champ, and he did a great job with it. We came back to Kokomo, and he had a really nice landing, and then the wind blew up so hard it lifted the plane up like an elevator. Went around, came in for another landing he did well, parked it, and again, I was wiped out. The 4 pm girl canceled. She is just not at a place where she could deal with those winds, and I didn't want to deal with those winds with her, with one hand on her shoulder trying to guide her, one hand on a stick, leaned forward, with my sight picture a little wonky, and no hand on the throttle. And...I was tired. So, I came home.
It feels wrong to get that tired by just two flights. It's not the flying, it's the instructing and interacting with people. Well, and being super focused in the taildragger, as having a groundloop is a big...yes ,fear...of mine. It's why I'm so wiped out after instructing in the T-6 too. I enjoy it all, I have a good time, but I definitely focus. The Champ doesn't usually make me that tense, but the last few flights have been with new people, high energy people, weird situations, and/or heavy gusty crosswinds, and required more concentration/effort. I haven't built my tolerance back up yet for dealing with people I guess. That is a degradable skill for us introverts you know.
Photos from today:
The flowers in bud and just starting to bloom
Now all the way in bloom
Full blooms
Me and the Leah Marie
Andrew taking off
Glenndale in the Champ
Takeoff Roll
Glenndale below.
Me relaxing in the air while Andrew fliew
Jerry Long was eaten by BOB. Back in the belly of the beast.
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