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What is the next Adventure

ksandrew

ksandrew

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Nr. Albany, GA
Aircraft Year
1974
Aircraft Type
112 Hot Shot
Reg Number
N1182J
Serial Number
155
Hi Folks.

About once every three months I go back over the fantastic trip I had to Alaska in 2009 with my two nephews.

I have it on my web site so it is easy to go back and look.

It is hard to believe that it was five years ago, and now I am wondering what to do next.

My youngest nephew last year got to ride in the Commander, when offered the front seat he declined stating that he would get to ride in the front seat when he went to Alaska.

So what is next?

andrewtent.com/alaska.htm it is not fancy, but what happened.

life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 
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Re: What is the next Adventure.

Re: What is the next Adventure.

Not under my ownership however a few years ago, FFOM went to the Bahamas. I found this in the journey logs. It was fascinating as the ol' guy that loved OM for decades used to fly it almost daily on a short hop here in Ontario and then one day he flew to the Bahamas !

I want to fly OM to Key West. One of our favourite places in the world and I would love to go by GA.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure.

Re: What is the next Adventure.

I would love to plan a trip to Alaska. The bride and I decided its time to take 75J to the Bahamas. With all the paper work filed out and a bunch of calls and emails back and forth with Joel, we are finally set for this week.
Bahamas book in tow,all the fed paper work completed( it seems like a lot).
I have the go-pro setup like tony did his, works great for wheel check to. Camera mounted on the inside cabin. The one thing I forgot was recording the cockpit voice. If anybody have a quick solution to this it would be great.

Marcelo
 
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Re: What is the next Adventure.

Guys,

Been to Key West many times. Lots of great fun. But nothing beats touring around the Bahamas. If memory serves me right, I have been over about 6 times. Lots of fun Island hoping.

Tony .. not a big deal. Call me when you get a chance and we can talk about it.
 
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Re: What is the next Adventure.

Bahamas is definitely on the ‘list’ . . Even bought a couple sets of comfort wear vests at Sun & Fun.
Would a ‘mini’ COG Bahamas fly-in be worth considering?? Logistics would probably be a nightmare . .
 
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Re: What is the next Adventure.

Bahamas is/was fairly straightforward (pricey but not overly difficult). A COG flight of 6 did it 2 years ago. We landed in Eleuthra (Rock Sound apt) and did a bunch of day trips over other islands.
I understand the Bahamian govt has jacked up prices for fly-ins, but Lonnie does it on a regular basis and can comment on current conditions...
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

I agree about Little Cayman - we spent two weeks there diving with Southern Cross and loved everyday of the trip.

Jim
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

I'd love to fly ... then dive ... Caymans.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

Yeah, nice idea. Dec 1991, Camellia wanted Grouper so flew us to Treasure Cay. Planned to do the 500th anniversary tour to San Salvador (1492) but there was a fuel supply issue in the Bahamas, so we spent the week at the nice resort advertised in AOPA Pilot and Plane & Pilot (pre net).
Anyway, on landing back at Port St.Lucie, Customs made me empty the entire plane. Don't have to tell you how everything has its special place and fitment is an art & science (W&B). Ruined the whole trip. Was a School Administrator then, short hair, no aging Jerry Garcia look (as I've been repeatedly told) and I was really ' Very Disturbed' by the Attitude & the experience. Told them I was Vietnam Vet, Public /Government servant, etc. No respect. Said 'Never Again would subject myself and Camellia to those Gestapo intimidations. We also were subjected to 'other attitudes' . Now 22 years later, anyone been recently subjected to 'inappropriate harassment'?
BTW, flying back between West End and Palm Beach VOR at 10,500 -Loran said 47mi , then 384 miles to Palm Beach- know that's corner of Bermuda Triangle, was really weird. 20 mi from PB, head NW to PSL. Just had to share the unpleasant memory and ask the ?.
 
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Ft Pierce customs couldn't have been nicer to us last year. No sitting in a hot unairconditioned aircraft while we wait. Let my wife head straight to the head w/o a delay after landing. Seem to really have their drill down compared to places like Lauderdale Exec, etc.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

Agree, Fort Pierce was a shining example of how it should be. I hope they keep it up.
Unfortunately it is unique. All my other experiences returning to the States (from Canada where they do it right) vary from merely annoying to downright outrageous. Disrespectful, bullying, ignorant, slovenly, inconsiderate, inconsistent...you name it.
 
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While I have yet to cross the border in a GA airplane, my experiences are the same with commercial flying. Canadians polite and courteous. Not the same here, although I have never had a bad experience in San Diego.

Tim
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

TKutchera said:
While I have yet to cross the border in a GA airplane, my experiences are the same with commercial flying. Canadians polite and courteous. Not the same here, although I have never had a bad experience in San Diego.

Tim
Click to expand...

Tim

I have theory and its simply the more congested people are and stuck in traffic and living in highly densely populated areas the ruder they get with all the aggravation living in a an area like that, NY city wins hands down of course with some of the worst people in the US.

Get outside any of the big city's like NY and people get nicer the more rural you go is what I noticed.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

I fly to Bahamas a lot being a member of the pilots retreat with Greg Turton the same guy that owns artic air ice coolers. It is very easy and we go into Marsh Harbor and catch the ferry to Guana Cay. Its an easy flight I always file IFR and makes it simple just like flying in US and talk with Miami Ctr. the whole way. We however don't do a lot of island hopping in the plane we just go there for the destination and island hop with the boat. Love it down there and may one day buy a place there. Ft. Pierce is the best customs I have ever used. They are always very nice and don't hassle you at all. It also has a good restaurant there at FBO so we fuel up plane and our belly's going and coming back. Allen I have a good friend that has 3 houses on Little Cayman and its a beautiful place. Love the island and have eaten at the hungry iguana lots of times. If any of you ever need a place there he rents out one of the houses I can get you in touch with him.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

Airotto370 said:
Agree, Fort Pierce was a shining example of how it should be. I hope they keep it up.
Unfortunately it is unique. All my other experiences returning to the States (from Canada where they do it right) vary from merely annoying to downright outrageous. Disrespectful, bullying, ignorant, slovenly, inconsiderate, inconsistent...you name it.
Click to expand...

Dogs ?
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

The single worst experience I ever had at customs was Oshawa, Ontario, out East of Toronto. Short, tough, ornery babe made me empty the entire plane, then remove back panel. I travel with a lot of stuff like cleaning suppliers, survival gear, some tools, etc. ... had it all empty then it began to rain. She left me there and I had to repack the entire plane ... WET. She was as nasty as they come ... and did not find my "part Canadian" status even remotely of interest. Ran me through the wringer. Quizzed me about where I had been in the past few years. I was so close to "calling the Embassy and making a scene" but I knew I just had to grin and bear it. Next time I cleared at London, where half the time they just send you on their way after a radio call. YOu don't even see a person. When I landed in Ottawa, the same babe walks out to the plane and asked me where I cleared. She knew damn well. I gave her my Customs number. All I could do to stay calm. I told her unless had something specific and an order to search me, I had to get going. I had followed all the rules. She glared at me and didn't say a work. Finally I just said, "Nice seeing you again ... see you tomorrow!" in a sunny voice and began walking. So yeah, the Canuks can be a pain as well!

Having said that ... When I return to U.S. I had a bad experience a year ago with Port Huron. Real prick and I could tell his lower ranking associate felt awful. Detroit Willow Run though is always courteous and efficient. Had a really nice experience clearing back into U.S. from Ottawa at Waterford, NY. They were great.
 
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Glad I chose Ft Pierce to clear customs. Wife and I are heading out to Bahamas this Saturday and all this talk about clearing is a bit unsettling.
 
Re: What is the next Adventure

Marcelo Ft. Pierce is a simple you will like it.
 
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