Arty's Ultimate Ultralight Adventure

Monday, April 13
What a wonderful day! We didn?t rush getting out in the morning, since we are making such good time and it was so pleasant visiting with Gerry at his home, and then with Dale and Johanna, the FBO managers at Burnet (Kate Craddock Field) Airport. It was 1:00 p.m. when we finally took off and we had another day of screaming tailwinds ? up to 35 mph. A little bumpy but nothing that made me want to put down.

The scenery is changing dramatically ? lots of forests, of mixed deciduous and pine trees. Large ?estates? ? looking beautifully manicured ? out in the middle of nowhere. Large areas that looked like clear cuts ? a forestry term from Oregon that means all the trees are cut down in a certain area. But in Oregon they leave the stumps, and here there was just dirt or light green. These ?clear cuts? are deceptive ? if you get lower, you see that they have a lot of prickly pear cactus growing. NOT a safe landing spot unless you didn?t care about punctured tires. Of course, in an emergency, the last thing you?d be worrying about is punctured tires.

The flying is enjoyable again. I thought back a few days ago, when we were still in West Texas high desert country, battling fierce headwinds. There was one spot on Saturday where we passed by dozens and dozens of wind turbines. They were to the north of I-10, and I wanted to stay as far away from them as I could, so I was south of I-10. But the wind was a quartering headwind, and I had this irrational fear that it would blow me right across the highway and into the turbines. I was flying sideways anyway, due to the wind, and I remember having to say to myself, ?You are moving forward, even though you?re doing it sideways. You will not be blown into the turbines. You are going to be o.k.? I kept repeating that until I was past the wind farms. My mind knew that I wouldn?t go into the turbines, but my stomach said different.

There was none of that today ? no tension at all. There were so many places to land, even with all the forests, that we took a direct GPS route to Huntsville instead of following roads ? which would have lengthened our route considerably. I loved seeing the greenery and the water ? lakes and rivers and ponds ? can you guess I?m from Oregon?

Also, the famous Texas bluebonnets are in bloom; as I was taxiing into Huntsville, I couldn't resist stopping and taking pictures before heading for the tie-down spot. But Randy's picture is better than any I took - isn't this a great shot?

Still, I can't resist this one of my rudder and the bluebonnets behind.

At Huntsville Randy landed first (as usual.) We?re not really flying ?together?; even when he takes off 5-10 minutes after I do, he usually gets to our next stop 15 ?30 minutes ahead of me. We?re in radio contact but seldom in visual contact. Every once in a while, he?ll circle back to get pictures before forging on ahead. Anyway, when he landed and went into the FBO, the FBO manager asked, ?Are you from Oregon?? He was immediately worried ? was this an emergency call from home? No ? it was an ultralighter who saw from the SPOT tracker that he?d landed and wanted to come out to meet us.

Terri Reed and her boyfriend fly a powered parachute, and she was delighted to come out to the airport and find out about our adventure. She and Henry enjoy going to remote places and camping with their PPC. She didn?t start flying until she was past 50, and she loves it.

After refueling (both ourselves and the planes!) we took off for Hawthorne Airport (still in Texas!) where we?d been invited by Tom Harlan. Tom flies a Drifter ? and tomorrow he?ll by flying with us into Louisiana.

This leg was outstanding. Evening smooth air and a 35 mph tailwind. The cumulus clouds had disappeared, so the sky was blue, blue, blue ? and from my cockpit I could see forever in every direction I could turn my head. This is what flying is all about!

Here's a few shots that Randy took as he caught up and then passed me by.

Tomorrow we?ll head for Nauga, LA, to the airport of John Bickham. He?s invited us to stay for several days, and with the food he?s mentioned (crawfish or shrimp etouffee?seafood gumbo?) it will be hard to resist. I really wish Norm were here; we visited New Orleans together years ago and we both love Louisiana cooking. I remember one outdoor ?restaurant? where they covered the tables with butcher paper and spilled out what looked like gallons of crawfish. No knives, forks, or spoons ? just your fingers. It was heaven.

Actually, it was his original invitation - even before he mentioned food - that made me want to land at his airstrip. He warned me that there is an alligator who lives at the north end of the strip. How can anyone resist flying into a strip with its own resident alligator?

So I have high expectations for our time with John! Don?t worry John, I won?t give our your e-mail address or phone number, so you won?t get swamped.