Well, I made it all the way to Texas, and then on to Tucson. My schedule was pretty packed so I wasn't able to make regular updates as I had hoped.
Rawlins, Wyoming was a neat surprise. The guy at the FBO came out to guide me to a parking spot and immediately pulled out his camera and started taking pictures.
He couldn't have been more friendly, even brought the (free) courtesy car out to the airplane so didn't have to carry my bag across the ramp. The car was great, a mid-1990's Thunderbird with a stick shift! Actually pretty fun to drive. Off I went in search of a hotel room, of which there weren't many. Lots of hotels, but all booked. Finally found one with a restaurant and after a crappy steak, headed off to bed.
The next stop was Greeley, Colorado. A nice airport with friendly staff in the very modern FBO. While refueling, ran into another IAC member and Skybolt pilot that was local to the field. Damn if I can remember his name though... Had to tear myself away from biplane and acro talk to get on with my journey.
In Hugoton, Kansas a local pilot observed that my little Pitts wouldn't be so great for dusting crops. Guess I won't bother going to duster school... That was a long leg of my flight, the last 20 minutes I just wanted OUT of the cockpit.
My last stop before my destination was Elk City, Oklahoma. Yet another character of an airport employee. Guided me to a parking spot a few feet from the fuel truck, but on the wrong side. Repositioned the truck by drive down the ramp 100 yards or so. Kept me laughing with his political commentary of current events.
From there it was a straight shot to Denison and the US National Aerobatic Contest!
Had a great time at Nationals again, I can see how going can be addicting. Once you start to create the friendships with folks around the country, you look forward to seeing them every year.
They always have one or two photographers there, you can see all the pictures here. I ended up 11th out of 19 in my category, not too bad considering I hadn't flown the Wolf Pitts most of the summer!
Once the Nationals was over, I had to wait one more day for the weather to clear. But on Sunday the 30th I launched for Marana, Arizona. The first stop was Sweetwater, Texas.
I swear the guy there walked straight out of a Dukes of Hazard episode. It was fantastic! Rebel flag hat, cut off shirt, homemade tattoos... Couldn't have scripted it better myself. I poke fun but he was really friendly and ran back inside to get a camera to take pictures of the Wolf Pitts.
Next was Pecos, Texas, a small town pretty much on the Mexican border. A really nice couple was at the airport office and she guided me to a parking spot while he got the gas truck. I didn't stay too long as there were some thunderstorms brewing. She offered some free water after I paid for the fuel. Had to make sure the cows grazing by the runway didn't decide to cross during my takeoff roll...
Had to navigate around the line of thunderstorms to Las Cruces, New Mexico. They must have stretched 100 miles north. After a while I heard one of the other competitors trying to communicate with Albuquerque Center to find a way around the storms, but they couldn't get clear communications. After a bit of frustration on both ends, I offered up the route I had just flow to the other pilot via Center. Thankfully, she heard me just fine and was able to get around them safely.
A quick gas stop at Las Cruces and I was racing the sunset to Tucson. I must say, the landscape from Pecos to Tucson was some of the most desolate and beautiful I've seen. I'll have to go back and explore someday. Shortly before sunset I made it to Marana and was met with a beer from my friend Will Allen, he'd arrived there a day earlier.
Now the Wolf Pitts is tucked away in Arizona awaiting my return to bring her home. But first, we'll fly the Tequila Cup aerobatic contest in November.
