Day 4: Gold Hills (NC) to Clearwater (FL)
Jenny gave (drove) us on a mini-tour of Louisville then dropped us at the airport. Pierre then drove us by his place (very nice, with PONDS and close to the airport) then got us back to the airport for our departure. Condor was cleared-off to the north and I continued east to get around the mucky weather that was hanging around south of Atlanta.
The route took me east at 3,500', almost all the way to Savannah but I was able to 'cut the corner' a bit and fly to Fernandina Beach (FHB), FL. I was with approach the entire time and they kept me 'honest':
This picture gives good perspective on what I was flying around to get to Clearwater...not a problem in an RV!!!!
Once I 'turned the corner', the weather didn't look bad at all as I climbed above some 'puffies' to 5,500' and continued south.
I continued into Fernandina Beach for fuel;
The ground crew got me filled up quickly, and I got to enjoy the T-6 Skywriters passing overhead in formation over the field; then they landed.
After takeoff, due to weather, I flew west towards Cross City;
I needed and received clearance into the Class C airspace just east of Jacksonville airport (airport is in the distance):
Just after picking up flight following with Jacksonville (I was within eye-shot of the field on the north side) when my headset starting acting up...at least that's what I thought it was. I was changing headsets, breaking up as I tried to talk to approach...then everything 'died'...look at voltmeter...8 volts...that's not good.
I continued my climb to 8,500' and turned the corner from a westerly heading to a southern heading towards Clearwater...which is located in the Tampa (Class B) Mode C Veil...No Mode C here...I pulled out my handheld, connected it via a coax to the bent whip antenna on the floor right between my legs (by design). I circled over Crystal River and was able to get 'blessed' to fly into the Class Bravo airspace, without a transponder.
Here's the southbound leg along the west coast of Florida, from Crystal River: