Two Pilots & an LSW: N. Carolina and Georgia

There was so much hoopla going on for yesterday, and it did end up being more than a 15 hour long day, but it was all right. Andy and Josh and I flew to Rocky Mount, NC first, where the runway they were so worried about, was completely dry and ice free. Much ado about Nothing, and I do mean nothing. Stinking N Carolina and their inability to function with a dusting of snow. I took a car there into town and got some good brunch. They came back and we went over to Charlotte/Monroe, N Carolina. There just about an hour, and went over to Asheville, NC. There about 2 hours, and here is where the other fun began. Our last stop was Greensboro, Georgia. They closed at 5 pm and we were going to get there at 5:30. I asked if they could leave the keys in the rental car. No. Could they leave the keys hidden in a plant and let me know where. No. They would have to stay behind and charge us $125 for 1 hour. If I didn't get a top off, they'd charge us $100. So I arranged for them to stay an hour, top me off, pay for it, and after that, the guys could drop the car keys in a box. But at 6 pm I had to leave the FBO and go back outside while they locked up, and wait for my guys to get done/back. Sitting in the airplane in the dark without food, water, a bathroom, for another hour and a half. In the cold. Even in Georgia it was cold, in the 30s. I found this pretty stupid. They wouldn't negotiate. He said "We're not the kind of place that lets pilots stay after hours". No indoor options or rooms. Another guy walked in while I was there, and I said "oh, do we get to split the fee now", and the line guy said "He'll be charged too, we have his card on file". I said "You're going to charge two people for the same hour. Well, that's nice for you guys, isn't it." I was tired, and I could not control my sarcasm font apparently. I found the whole thing ridiculous. Sitting on a ramp in 35 degrees in the dark because they were what, afraid I'd steal their last breath mint in the dish? Most small airports in small town America are helpful and friendly. This one was Not.

The G600 display on the pilot side has had a failure where it's on full bright. The shop told me to put painter's tape over the light sensor and it would dim it down. It didn't last 5 minutes before it was full bright again even with tape over it. So bright it lit up the entire inside of the airplane. Flying home I arranged the sun shade to mostly cover it, and I could at least look over it and see the ground, and read it, too. Coming in to land at home base at 10 pm I had a 70 degree crosswind gusting to over 20 knots, and it was spitting sleet. Rain...but hard rain that I could hear bouncing off the hood of my jacket like baby hail as I was putting the airplane away back in the hangar, which took me a long time in the cold and wind and rain and dark. All the way home I was having a bit of a pout. I'm guessing it was because it was a 15 hour day with a lot of discomfort and hassle and I was getting sick and didn't know it, but I felt like I was stuck, going backwards, doing low time "pay your dues", baby pilot stuff that I shouldn't have to keep doing at this point, and I don't see it going the other way any time soon. I see a lot of trips to IL/OH/MI/IN, and I didn't mind that so much until I did a lot of trips to more interesting and warmer places in faster airplanes, and I don't really want to go backwards, to flying a Cherokee Six out of a little airport where I have to self-serve fuel it and get in and out of the hangar myself every time I have to take a worker somewhere. (That's on the table too). The 340 is sold and the Conquest will be soon. He's talking about renting a Cirrus for these little trips. Will he still get a TBM? I hope so but it's still a step back. I like going 300-350 knots at 35,000'-41,000' with up to 10 people and wifi and having a sandwich by the water or coffee in the mountains, making money. Who wouldn't right? Thus my little pout. I'll do what I have to do to make money for us to survive, of course. But it's times like this I think about getting a real job at Beck's or Lucas, where I can fly a jet to the Bahamas and stay for a few days. I have the hours and the experience that they would like. I know people at both. I'd feel like maybe I was doing a job that someone with 16,000 hours has earned the right to do. But if I do that, my run in warbirds gets curtailed too. But maybe it already is anyway. It sure has been the last 3 years while I thought I was building to something bigger, not smaller. Any future clients or opportunities would also be curtailed, if they are coming, which they typically have over time. I dunno... Steve gets annoyed if I bring any of it up, and I can't really talk about it to anyone else around here, so I guess you get to read it. ;) It will be fine, like I said, I think when you're sick and on Nyquil and had a long cold not fun day, everything seems a little darker. Things will feel better when I'm off doing T-6 or C-45 stuff, even if I'd also like to be able to move up and fly other things too. C-47, B-25, something new. I know a lot of people who have those opportunities, and even help other people do them, but somehow they don't really reach out to me, and I'm too proud to ask them. So...so it goes. I DO know I am still very fortunate to get to do what I already do, that most people don't get to do those things, and 95% of the time I am content. Maybe social media has poisoned the last 5% of my brain now and then with a little bit of the ugly green monster that sucks out happiness. :p But most of the time, I am content. I'll get back there tomorrow, or whenever I feel better, I'm guessing. ;)

Today fortunately I could sleep in, take drugs, rest, recuperate. Tomorrow I go to Decatur, IL, over to St. Louis, back over to Champaign, IL, and home. I'm bringing Morgan since I don't feel well. We're getting rain/sleet/snow tonight so the ramp/runway may be icy tomorrow morning, but hopefully it's not too bad. Thursday late afternoon into Friday we get 2-4" of snow, but hopefully I'll be back by the time it starts, and it's a non-event. That's the plan!

An internet friend had his first Kringle, and found a place that makes and ships them fresh, and he's in love. Made me feel nostalgic for a good pecan, or cream cheese, or raspberry, or almond one. I'm seriously considering ordering one myself. Why shouldn't I? Life is short and one must make one's own pleasures, especially in the Winter months, right? Mmmmmm