Thanks Giving Flight Home

So, we delayed our return home for a day due to the forecasts for high winds on Saturday.  We had built an extra day into our travel plans anyway and with the winds at home fore casted at 15-25 with gusts of 30, we decided we would extend our visit until Sunday.  I am the ultimate conservative especially when it comes to my flying.  It's probably the reason that I'm still taking trips like this and filing a VFR flight plan instead of an IFR flight plan.  I know, I know, I just have to get over it and utilized the system.  It's coming slowly.  Anyway, the extra day gave us a chance to drive into Roanoke with Dawn to see her classroom  The ride in was a beautiful ride with the mountains of Virginia on both sides of us.  Just awesome to see.

 

As we arrived in Roanoke, you couldn't help but notice this beautiful city tucked in the mountains.  I remember flying Dawn here for here job interview and as we came over the mountains at 5500', there was the city tucked in the valley below us.  Just spectacular to see.

 

Dawn's class room looked so nice.  We are so proud of both of our girls.  They both finished college and have taken jobs teaching and making a difference in the lives of young people.  Dawn's student are very special young people and need a lot of encouragement, discipline and understanding.



 

It didn't take Lynn long to get busy cleaning and decorating the room.  You just can't keep a good woman down.  Before long the room was clean and decorated, ready for the children on Monday.

 

We spent the rest of the day driving around and looking for some possible housing opportunities in the Roanoke area.  Although the town house in Lynchburg is wonderful, it leaves Dawn with a 1 hour and 10 minute drive each way to work.  She is fortunate to have two other ladies that share the ride with her and rotate the responsibility.  There have been many good friends that Dawn has made during here time in Virginia.

 

After looking at some areas and a nice lunch, it was time for the drive home.  Up on the hill was a beautiful site of a new church that's been built just outside of the Roanoke city limits. 

 

I filed both VFR and IFR for the flight home on Sunday.  Our plan's were to head out around 10:00 am and be home some where's around 12:30 or 1:00 PM.  With an early start, we were at the airport by 9:30 am and took care of our gas bill, did the pre-flight for the plane and load and started for the ride home.  VFR conditions on the way home, kept me on the VFR path.  After a little warm up and a good mag check we were cleared for departure on Runway 22.  Winds were variable and 926GZ took flight about 1/3 the way down the 6500' runway.  I decided to level off at 5500' and we moved along nicely with a good tailwind at 145 knots.  There were times when I looked down and saw the 530 reading 149 knots.  Not too back for my nice little Cherokee 235. 

 

As we said goodbye to the mountains we cautiously watch a layer of clouds above us at about 7500'.  This layer stayed right there all the way home.  Over Pautuxent the turbulence was light and I continued to watch for unpredicted situations.  A layer of few clouds over Dover turned into broken over the Delaware and the winds had picked up a little to 260 at 10 with gusts to 19.  As we slipped over the Delaware I decided to make a nice slow descent down to 3500' through a nice opening in the clouds.  Philly approach cleared us to South Jersey and we communicated with a Cessna departing South Jersey to the south as we headed north.  With no one in the pattern it was a very easy ride into downwind from crosswind for 26 at South Jersey.  After a nice easy base to final turn, we floated gently down to the runway and declared another wonderful flight home.  Thinking about it,  realized that we just spent a holiday weekend making a 12 - 15 hour driving trip in a 4 hour flight.  This makes all the training so worth wild.  Til the next time, enjoy your flights and stay safe!