First Cross Country

12/4/2005

After many lessons with Bruce, I figured I needed a good photo for posterity...

This was my long awaited first cross-country. In fact it was the 3rd attempt at booking. The first attempt was canceled due to bad weather, the second attempt was a mis-communication of dates [I showed on the wrong day :-|]. Today, the weather was marginal, but we decided to go at least on the first leg to Waco Regional. The plan was then to go to College Station, then back to Taylor.

The flight out to Waco was different, different as in I had been used to mostly flying around the pattern and the farthest I'd been from Taylor was Rockdale [about 26 miles away]. I imagine it can be easier x-country flying in other parts of the country - where there are more hills and landmarks. In central Texas it is pretty much flat and featureless.

Having reached Waco, we decided that the weather was against us for the leg to College Station, so we returned to Taylor. This of course meant I couldn't get this x-country signed off in my logbook. However, it's all good exposure.

On the return leg, When 12 miles inbound to Taylor, I was suddenly hit with a stomach bug. I didn't know what the hell had hit me. Bruce thought it was nerves over the x-country, I told him 'no way'. I was convinced I'd got food poisoning. As soon as we landed my head was out the door...

The bug did in fact turn out to be a bug, because the wife and the bro-in-law contracted it from me the next day. Strangest fastest bug I've ever known...exremely violent for about 12 hours, then leaving you like you'd just run a marathon...

I have re-booked the x-country, hopefully next time the weather will hold.