Busy week
What a week! While I had to cancel two aerobatic flights because of weather, I still managed to have a fair amount of excitement during the past week.
Because of the bad weather last weekend, I decided to spend an hour in a flight simulator practicing GPS approaches. Of course, this only made me more anxious to get in a real airplane and try out what I had learned (the simulator’s extra sensitive controls took away a lot of the fun). I am still waiting to try out what I learned.
Tuesday
Despite getting a late minute request to go to New Orleans and having to get up even earlier than usual, it was a treat.
I had not been to New Orleans since hurricane Katrina wrecked havoc on the city. I am happy to report that the city is looking great. Granted, I only saw the area between the airport and the French Quarter – I am told there are parts of New Orleans that are still in bad shape. But, in all honesty, the Quarter is what I worried about. I heard the reports that the French Quarter had suffered little damage but I still needed to see if for myself.
I still saw a lot of reconstruction going on and on take-off I could spot a few houses with blue tarp. But, I felt more at ease in New Orleans than I have in the past.
Wednesday
This was our week for our monthly Toad Motor and Cycle Club gathering and the excellent weather meant I had to choose between driving a spyder or driving my old car. My old BMW won out – I have not been driving it enough and it had been a while since it had been at Toads.
Red (my 1974 BMW 2002) was in excellent company with lots of classic cars and some future classics. Unlike when I drive Lola, I was getting quite a few questions and compliments on Red – I guess this means I am doing a good job of looking after him.
Fog
Houston had several mornings with heavy fog. I had one morning when I had the time and when I was awake enough to enjoy the view. Not only that, I had time to get the camera out to take a few snapshots (see top picture). I may not have sunset views but the early morning views can be just as special … I just need to be away to enjoy them.
Friday
After a checkout ride in a Liberty XL2 (see more at www.jrsalazar.com/liberty-xl2-checkout-flight), I was off for a bicycle ride with my dad.
My dad has been telling me how much he enjoys Hershey Park and his bike for weeks. He has been trying to get me to come out but things just don’t seem to work out. Well, the weather and my schedule finally worked out so off I went with my mountain bike riding atop of Red.
This was my first time on this trail in over 10 years – wow! How it has changed and for the better!! Now the trail is nice and wide and very scenic. There are also plenty of benches along the way to take a break or you can always bring a blanket and have a picnic.
You do have to share the trail with walkers, joggers and quite a few other bicycles on this 12 mile ride from Beltway 8 to Highway 6 and back but it is worth it. For the most part, most people are alert but every now and then you come up on someone walking in the middle of the path with his headphones and the music turned up all the way. Then again, you run into these inconsiderate (for walking in the middle) and careless (for thinking being alert to what is going on around them) people just about everywhere you go.
I do plan to make a return to Hershey Park and maybe I will have to explore what is on the other side of Beltway 8.
