Main to Keys UltraLight Trip

Today we get up in Thomaston GA to a cold morning with a head wind of about 30 mph up top from the North. We wait till at least 9:30am to leave, giving it some time to warm up. We left Thomaston at 9:40am on our way to Cartersville. THis was a good time because we are almost home.
THe last 45 min I had cold feet, {make note next time have the battery warm socks on} THe ground speed was 39-50 mph, at 11:30am in time for the lunch bunch we made it to Carterdville, with a low fly-by over the runway, we could see our Club members there to greet us & take pictures.
What a site, we had such a Woderful time. THe only thing that kept us on the ground was the weather. THat is something that No one can control.
Total hours for the trip was about 30 with 22 diffrent airport landing, 5 of which where towered. The whole trip was Great. THe had the best Wing Man a Girl could ask for, also the Best Ground Crew Husband Steve. THanks soooo much to these Men for being with me for this Trip of a life time.
I hope when I can get the time to have the vedio added to the web-site. We have alot of tape to edit.
Guess it was a good thing to not make the news much, because these days the only way to make the news is when you get into trouble, for us that would not be good. On this trip I flew lower than I ever been 300ft, got caught in the rail 4 diffrent times & wind speeds up to 30mph over my personal limits. But when it’s constant and down the runway headwind tailwind, it can be done to get the trip made.
Not sure yet what will be next. Time to be studying for Sport Pilot & SPI.

Blue Skies & a tailwind
Kim, Ben & Steve

Today we started in Gainesville FLA at 8:00am. Yes we finally got in the air, with a head wind, that was unreal, but a real ground speed of 45-60 all day. Our first stop was Lake City Fla. then Tifton, Cordele, with Thomaston being the last stop at 3:35pm. With the short days and a head wind we could not make Cartersville before dark.
Just north of Valdosta today, we hear a voice: Kim, Ben are y0u there ??
It’s our friend Brian Jorgenson, whom is flying over us at 34,000. So we got
to visit with him for a while. He was on his way to Mexico, will be back to Atlanta long before we get home. I also get a call from Mark Roberts, he was coming down 75 south and seen us as we where just north of Tifton. We had a full day of flying. So close to home, will be in about 11:30am to Cartersville, just in time for the luch bunch. It will be very good to be home. Will be posting more info in the next few days about the time.
I would like to say a very Special Thanks to Mr. Ben, what a wing man, me had his hands full, to my WONDERFUL Husband Steve, for being a GREAT ground Crew. You need a ground crew when you do a trip like this one. He was always there for us, with fuel food & a smile on his face.
Thanks to Judy & Sandy for taking care of the home center.

Praying for tail wind & blue skies.

Kim Steve & Ben

Sunday 11:05am we are in our planes, warming up. Yes we are about to get in the air soon. Heavy
Fog had us on the ground. Since the airport is has water all around it, this would happen. We are on our way to Ocala, 13 miles out Ben says, How do you feel about going to Gainesville RGNL, ok we can do that, this will get us alittle more north than Williston. Looks like this will be it for the day. Another short one, weather rules once again. We are Very Happy to get here. Hope to be home for the GSFA Christmas Party. For Monday the plans are: Live Oak, Tifton Myers, Cordele, Thomaston
with Cartersville. I sure pray that the winds hold out so we can get home. It can be done if the weather will just hold out.

Praying for a high ceiling & low winds

Kim Steve & Ben

Goodmorning it’s 8:15am here, and we are watching the fog. It’s almost like watching the grass grow. Don’t know yet when we can get out of here. Maybe if we are blessed by 10:00am. As soon as it burns off, we are out of here. Ready for a new place. Need to move before these cats get out of hand.

Praying for a high ceiling

Kim Steve & Ben

Hello Everyone,

Guess where we are, at 5:20pm ?? If you have a watchout on our weather you know that we have not even gotten off the ground today Saturday 12/2/06. When will this weather let up ??? Maybe on Sunday ??? We will see. Ok one day on the ground, I sure hope that this will be it. I’m ready to get home, We all are. It did finally rain today so guess it was as good thing we did not take off. The ceiling never got VFR, in the direction, or even passing over just 54 miles north of here.
We are getting close to cabin fever. Guess this is the price you pay for a good time.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and sharing some of our pictures.
Things we do while on the ground, work on video, pictures, read, be ready to leave when we can, decide where do we eat next., Check the weather alot.
Hope to be Home before the Christmas Party LOL.

Praying for Blue Skies & a tailwind {higher ceiling will work now}

Kim Steve & Ben

When can you quit learning if you plan to challenge the air? Never ! Yesterday with the finest tailwind two stalwart aviators could wish for of over 30 miles per hour directly on the tail we were “makin time ” at near 100 mph over the ground. Normally you would think this would be great but we were into wispy clouds with visibility not what you might wish through towers planted everywhere. Now we were wishing we had the luxury of studying the charts for their exact location and the location of small airport such as Walaby Ranch or Gator Field but with the gust and the close proximity of the two airplanes the total concentration was on the GPS line and the outside world. Normally we would not have flown in this but it was not covered in the weather brief. Our planning was also faulty in that we did not uncover a Notam that indicated that the airport we chose to land at and get out of the low clouds , had recently become a Class D airport. We found this out when we used the frequency on the charts and the FD and were refered to the Tower on a different frequency. We were out far enough from his airspace so that it was no trouble and the operator was forgiving after suggesting that we check the Notams in the future. Leesburg (KLEE) is a towered airport and we have learned another lesson or two. Don’t fly in scud, know where the towers are and how high they are and keep up with the small airports as you go in case you need them. Kim continues to be a level headed trooper who now has flown much lower that she ever planned. Ben

Ok it’s now almost 9:00am and we are still on the ground. We hope to be in the air by 9:30am if we are lucky.
Waiting for the ceiling to get better at least 1000ft. Today your stops will be: Williston Muni, Live Oak Suwannee, Tifton Myers, Cordele, Thomaston, Cartersville at last. We need to be in the Air soon to be at KVPC late today. We have a full day planned. Ben is napping while we wait. Having a good time, hope to see ya soon.

Praying for Blue Skies & a tailwind {higher ceiling would be nice}

Kim Steve & Ben

Today was a fast day, with ground speed up to 103 we made our first stop at Leesburg. Having to stay here due to you guessed it WEATHER, again we are on hold. Time to find a place to stay and shop for camera cord.
We are so close but just can’t get in the air. Very low ceiling. See what Saturday brings.

Praying for Blue Skies & a tailwind
Kim Steve & Ben

Boy, what a job keeping up with these two, have driven approx. 1300 miles, carried bags in & out approx 7 times, gassed up the Spirit 7 times, driven them to and from the airport, to and from dinner, etc….keept cold drinks and snackes avaliable…….taken ump-teen photos, worked on the computor each night.
All with a Big Smile on my face……….

They are great traveling companions………….

Today we leave the Keys for the trip home. With a ground speed of 40 we are setting the skies on fire, moving a mach 4 . We tried not to cause a big wake for the 3 F-16’s that are taking off from Boca Chica. LOL
First stop is Marathon for fuel. As soon as we can turn North some we do pick up some ground speed.
Taking off from the Keys, & Marathon I’m off the ground in about 2 feet. Back to Heastead for more fuel before we start out over the Everglades for about 45 miles it does not look good on the ground. Our next stop is Pahokee getting caught in the rain again. We met some guys here training to be Airline Pilots. It’s still raining around us, off we go again in hopes that we would make it to Winter Haven. With the rain we just made it to Avon Park. Not sure if we will make it home Friday evening late or Saturday before lunch. Depends on the weather. Lots of fun on this trip.

Praying for Blue Skies & a tailwind {we are getting the tailwind now}
Kim A