Rosie & Tuppergal?s Caribbean Trip 2015

[Rosie]

Day 5 is Monday, April 13, 2015 and that means 'Arrival Day' to Homestead...but we just can't go to Homestead...we gotta fly down the Keys and get something to eat...read on!

I was up at 0630 so I could pickup a few things at Walmart then go to the airport to 'put the plane back together after unpacking it to get to the tools to fix the alternator". My friend Bob Coughlin was up before that since he was going to pick up Tuppergal who was arriving via AA following her redeye flight out of Los Angeles. I was at Clearwater Airpark by ~0715 and back to the house by 0830 to have the customary breakfast-by-Bob: French toast and sausage...VERY GOOD. Here's the Coughlin family with their two youngest; they have two others who are out of the house:



Bob took us to the airport then continued on to work. We loaded up and were airborne by ~1030. This was probably the first time I have ever departed CLW from runway 16...climbing left turn then depart west over the airport to the beach:





The flight south to Venice (VNC) is about 30 minutes, and as usual, clouds form over land and not the water:



Here's Venice Airport and the welcoming committee:





The flight to Marathon was to be lead by Dave "Taco" Buono with wife Alina (Belle), so after a thorough briefing, we taxied for departure.



As is customary, picture taking is allowed:



Newbies Jeff "Shiner" Jackson and Staci "Diddy" Stroud:

[Rosie]

Here's my neighbor Scott Loftin



And the ramp after we landed:



Scoot & Cookie: I love you both!



We walked across the street to eat, and our server had a bit of an accent...I asked her where she was from...Dominica..."We are flying to Dominica and will be staying at the Fort Young Hotel. Kathleen says, "My Sister works there!!!!". Cool! Let's take her a picture of you:



The flight to Homestead was led by Scott "Scoot" Card and we were then across the street, fueled and airborne in record time:



Cookie is holding up a...uh....oh yea...this one's an inside joke....



Taco & Belle:





Before you know it, we are on the overhead break to runway 10 and landing:



Owner John Roberts (of Robert's Air), 79 years young, was there to greet us as he has done for me since 2004:

[Rosie]

The fuel pump is always a traffic-jam when getting ready to fly over open water for long periods of time:



Got Water Scoot!?! John said, "Take as many as you'd like!"



Diddy, Tuppergal & Belle:



Pictured here with the group is John's son Bert, who will be taking over the business as John contemplates retirement...





The BIG ADVENTURE OVERWATER begins in a few short hours.....Keep poundin' them rivets because it's ALL worth it! Rosie

[rv7boy]

Rosie, I was expecting to see a TFR over Augusta, Georgia on Sunday because of the Masters golf tournament. I didn't see it on your GPS. Just wondering if you were vectored around it by ATC.

Negative Don...Never heard a thing from them on this... Rosie

[mannanj]

Looking at Scooter and Cookies APRS track, they're approaching San Andros, Bahamas now.

[turbo]

your trip is a breath of fresh air on=VAF=, don't forget to.............



enjoy the tropics.

[rv7boy]

Looks like Rosie and Tuppergal landed about 4:15 EDT at Punta Cana D.R. and Scott and Tanya's APRS tracker showed they arrived about an hour prior. Their APRS tracker gave continuous readout until about seven miles west of the airport when they descended to 1732 feet. They cruised most of the way at about 10,000 ft. Photos, we need photos!

Way to go, adventurers!

P.S. Rosie, I just looked back at your first post in this thread, and it's amazing to me how you are right on schedule. A little weather...go around it. An alternator problem..."Oh, I have a spare." Good planning results in a smooth operation. I love to see a good plan come together, including contingencies for those unexpected "gotchas."

I'm thinking you guys are settling in at Punta Cana right now, getting ready to eat dinner and are already swapping the de-brief stories about the day's adventures. Enjoy!

[Rosie]

Hi all, Just now sitting down with a computer. Tuppergal is asleep but I'm wide awake. Here's the short version of how Tuesday, 14 April went: I was up at 0530, airport by 0700, airborne at 0830, Exuma by 1130, departed 1230, landed Punta Cana 1600, departed airport at 1830, hotel by 1900, dinner at 2000, in room at 2230...will add some FUN & AWESOME pictures now; thank you for being patient Rosie

[Rosie]

Hello All,
I am a writing this starting at 1106 on 14 April after a very long, but FUN day of flying with friends!!! First, I'll cut to the 'chase' and show you the ground we all covered today:





Here's how the day (14 April). I went to bed at 0230 then awoke at 0530 to be in the breakfast room at 0600 with the group. We had a good breakfast as we knew that it would be a long day of flying before we got another good meal;





We were all out the door by 0630 and got to see a beautiful sunrise (had to pull the car over to take the picture or else risk missing it!);



Upon arrival to the airport, it's time to get the planes ready for the overwater trip...and have fun doing it!

Jeff "Shiner" Jackson and Staci "Diddy" Stroud:



Tanya "Cookie" and Scott "Scoot" Card



Diane and Dan "Nordo" West



Alina 'Belle" and Dave "Taco" Buono



Gail "eStitch" and Doug "Opie" Dodson (my skypark neighbors)

[Rosie]

Sue & Roger Hansen:



Scott Loftin (my skypark neighbor):



Janet "Bun" and Gene "Moody Blue" Larsen:



And of course, it's all good fun on the ramp!!











And not a single airplane can takeoff until the MANDATORY group picture is taken:


L to R: Rosie, Tuppergal, Roger, Sue, Scott, Bun, Moody Blue, John Roberts, Belle, Taco, Opie, eStitch, Shiner, Diddy, Nordo, Diane, Scoot & Cookie

Ah, c'mon...really...REALLY?!?