Flying into Oshkosh today

 Sunday, July 16

I haven't posted in a few days, so I'll catch up now.

On Thursday (July 13) after a blissful day of rest and relaxation at Barry and Donah's, I left Minocqua and flew to Merrill, WI. (KRRL) It was an easy 35 minute flight over farmland and forest...and lakes and rivers, of course. 

Steve Krueger was there when I landed. Steve is Co-Chairman of the Ultralight/Light Sport Fun Fly Zone at EAA AirVenture and I'll be volunteering in that area once I actually fly there. Steve and his wife Karen invited me to a genuine Friday Fish Fry - which is a state tradition. We met their friends Mary and Lyle at the Eagles Aerie in Merrill, and I had a number of firsts: my first Old Fashioned made Wisconsin-style (which is apparently quite different from other Old Fashioneds,) my first taste of fried cheese curds, (which were delicious,) and my first dinner of walleye, which was also great.

I spent Thursday night at the Merrill Airport FBO and it was one of the most comfortable FBOs I've ever been in. I woke up about 6:00 a.m. Friday morning and saw that it was completely fogged in. Before I had a chance to get a weather briefing, Steve called. The weather forecast was not good for the day. However, he was going to drive to Oshkosh as volunteers would be working there all day. Would I like to go? Of course!

So I spent yesterday working at the Fly Fun Zone Red Barn. Met lots of wonderful people and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I got a ride back to Merrill with Steve's son Brian, who is a pilot for American Airlines and who also has a Christian Eagle which is hangared at Merrill, along with three of his dad's planes.

Now it's Sunday morning, and the smoke is heavy with only 2-3 miles visibility. (I legally have to have three miles visibility to fly.) It's supposed to "clear" to 5-6 miles visibility by 10 or 11:00 a.m. That's still not great, but I'll finally be able to fly into Wittman Airport, tie down my plane, set up my tent, and settle into Oshkosh!!!

My track on Friday: