Posted Wed Jul 13 18:18:35 PDT 2022
This morning was, frankly, both wonderful and strange. On the one hand, I was able to set my alarm for 8:30, and know that even if I slept through it, I had extra time. On the other hand, I was awake at 6, and 7, and 8, and was actively up and about by the time the alarm went off.
The problem is the marine layer. The Bay Area gets low clouds off the water pretty consistently in the mornings, and the forecast for this morning was no different. Rather than break myself trying to get to the airport for an early launch, only to be thwarted by clouds, I set everything up for a casual launch in the late morning.
My goal today was to get to Eureka, if my friend there was available. However, I wasn't sure if she would be, and it can be hard to reach her. So I wasn't sure exactly what my actual goal was.
The late departure was fine, since I knew I could get to Eureka today even if I left fairly late in the morning. I figured I'd get myself north, and play it by ear -- the very slogan of this whole trip. And, eventually, that's just what I did.
My first stop was Sutter County Airport (O52), which is right next to Beale Air Force Base. Getting out of Hayward wasn't difficult, although Erika and Gaby and I ended up standing and talking on the ramp for probably an hour before we finally tore ourselves away from each other. We only get to see each other very rarely, so it's a real treat to spend time together.
The departure from Hayward was straight over the hills to the east, and I was once again cleared through the Bravo airspace, which never happens in Seattle. Then it was up to 6500 feet, and I practiced my balance between enough right rudder to stop the landing wire from vibrating, and not so much right rudder as to set the left aileron slave strut oscillating. There's a definite point of sailing at 2300 RPM where a nice balance can be reached, and it's only very slightly out of coordination.
Sutter County was an unremarkable strip, but with $6.45/gallon avgas, it's one of the cheaper fuel stops I've had. I paused long enough to try to establish communication with Alex in Eureka, and eat some lunch. No luck with Alex, but lunch was good. I've switched over to tortillas, since they're easy to find, and I can easily find the kind that's got a godzillion grams of fiber to keep my doctor happy.
Then it was on, to Redding. This was initially just a stop to check for messages on my phone, but when there were none, and it was already 4:45 in the afternoon, I realized that what I should do was give up on Eureka (which ended up being the right choice, once Alex and I did get in contact with each other, though we were both bummed the timing didn't work out), stay in Redding for the night, and plan to get to Bend at OMG-thirty in the morning.
Flying through the mountains (though this is a misnomer: I fly well over the mountains or not at all, no threading canyons for me, unless they also carry major roadways; even then, thousands of feet above the road) is always safer in the morning. The sun hasn't had time to kick up wind, and wind over mountains can be deadly. Just like water over rocks in a stream, it can carry huge updrafts and downdrafts, and even rotors that literally grab you and hurl you at the slope. Mornings are best.
So, that's what I did. I found a hotel that ended up being much further away than I'd expected, but is nice enough. I found dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, and eventually walked down to a supermarket to restock on my dwindling food supply. This will probably be my last food stop, in terms of what I carry with me. An odd thought, that I'm so close to home that I have enough food to get all the way there.
It's still hot out though, so as soon as I got back from the store (where I went on foot, and I'm not a casual wandering walker), I cranked the AC and took off all my sun protective sleeves and leggings and such trying to cool down. I don't get sunburn, which is great, but they do let me overheat if I exert myself.
It's just past 9 now, which means I have some sorting and prep to do (and I see that Lyft won't allow me to schedule a pick-up for the morning, so all my intentions to leave early may be for naught; called the local taxi company and a voice caustically told me of staffing shortages, and offered that if anyone wanted to drive a cab, they're definitely hiring), then it's time for bed so I can get up early.
Although I'm a little disconsolate to think my grand adventure is nearly over, the thought of sleeping in my own bed, and not having to hunch under a rippling 100 MPH airstream for hours a day has a certain appeal.
Copyright © 2022 by Ian Johnston.