Here

It’s 8:45 pm and I’m probably going to bed soon. The hotel room is dead quiet, I’ve eaten, it was hot, I was sweaty, and I’m wiped out, even though I didn’t have a flight today other than getting here.

“Here” is Dubuque. I landed this morning and didn’t do a darned thing all day after that, but I made it. It was 90 degrees and humid and windy, making for less than stellar flight characteristics.  When I landed I was met by a crew of line guys with cold water and a fuel ticket, and a ramp guy who remembered me by name from last year. How impressive is that??  I got a hug from a T-6 guy named Tim, I got to banter with Lumpy, the P-51 pilot, and another hug from a guy named Ben who I met on the Air Power tour. A handshake and a hello from a couple others.  I almost feel like one of them.  ;)

Tomorrow we start in at 8 am on flights, and I know I’ll be busy all day. I’m flying with Greg, a P-51 guy, he’s too new to the Mustang for them to want him to join them in formation, so he’s flying with me first to see how it goes. He seems nice, and we’ll see how it goes.

I’ve stayed hydrated today. I learned my lesson in Terre Haute, I hope. Here, every time you land, they come to your plane with a fresh cold water. Most excellent.

Now, for not even being 9 pm, I’m beat. See ya tomorrow.