What could be better?

 Monday, July 3

Today we landed at First Flight Airport (KFFA) on Kill Devil Hills, Bodie Island, NC. What an amazing experience!

First, I got completely turned around when we took off from Dare County Regional Airport, and flew west almost completely across the water until I came to my senses and turned due east instead of west! (Don't ask me why.)

Then, I couldn't find the airport. I flew over the Wright Brothers Memorial several times, but the actual airstrip is hidden be rows of tress - hidden from me, at least. I FINALLY found it, but I certainly felt like a fool, not being able to see it even with my GPS showing I was directly over it. 

It was REALLY hot and humid, but we made the trek to the monument and the museum. Absolutely incredible to realize that the National Park Service had to plant the entire sand dune with grass to stabilize it to build the memorial, and the Wright brothers and their friends made literally thousands of trips lugging their gliders up the sand dunes.

The museum is amazing and inspirational. Not just memorabilia, but focusing on what it takes to make dreams come true. 

Then it was off to Pottstown, PA (N47) to spend the night with Andrew and Jenny Wages and their children. The haze was slightly less; still there, but we could see much farther. Our planned route took us west of all the Washington DC airspace, and then east-northeast to Pennsylvania. About at an hour out, we saw a huge storm cell directly ahead of us, moving rapidly east. As a longtime open-cockpit pilot (for whom rain is like facial acupuncture,) I recognize a downpour when I see it.

Dennis radio'd: "Don't worry. We'll fly farther west and then get behind it." So we diverted west and sure enough, we were able to fly around the cell and then behind it and continue on our northeasterly course. And the storm cleared out all of the haze!!! It was WONDERFUL flying. Over lots of gorgeous farmland, next to the Chesapeake Bay, over Williamsburg and Jamestown. 

Now we're at the Wages, who treated us to a filling supper, and we're celebrating Independence Day a day early since Andrew has to work tomorrow night.

What a great day! When I look at our track, I can hardly believe how much ground we're covered.