The weather seemed all right when I took off, but as I was climbing I could hear thunder. I concentrated on staying away from the clouds (I'd rather not consider what the ESD from Lightning would do to the plane and I certainly don't need to find out that badly).
Another pilot with a digital camera snapped these of me and sent them (Turbulence was playing pinball with my plane)...
I had my hands full staying away from the clouds. With the sound of thunder crashing all around me I was really tense! Once the cockpit was lit by a flash!
After a brief respite, I came upon some more clouds near my next stop, KAZC or Colorado City. Given those clouds, I was eager to get down!
Since they offered fuel, I filled up my tanks. The attendant had never seen a digital camera. He snapped this one after I started up...
From what I could tell, there are no hotels in Colorado City. Since I was planning to leave the next morning, and this is a small airport, I asked if I could simply camp there. The attendant said there should be no problem, so I pitched my tent. Just as I was ready to turn in, a pair of headlights approached...
It turned out to be the sherrif/constable/whatever...picture Rosco from the Dukes of Hazzard crossed the sheriff and deputies from the movie Mississippi Burning (without all the racial slurs). If none of that rings a bell, think unfriendly small town sheriff...you probably have a good idea what this guy was like.
He came up and started asking me questions. Then things got wierd...I mean scary-wierd
He started in asking me about the Communist Party, then if I worked for the government or FBI
My photography had come out and he asked what department got to see these. He went on to say that the citizens of this community have a constitutional right to privacy and that I shouldn't take any pictures of this area (like there's anything interesting here anyways), and that they're simple folk who don't need outsiders telling them what to do blah blah blah :-/ Then he started talking religion, that this community was God's choosen people, that everyone who had left was going to Hell, that the rest of the world was going to Hell, etc. I was starting to zone out by this time, and was even silently praying that this guy would go away. He finally did go away at about 2 or 3 am. I was so tired I just lapsed into a coma until about 11:00 am the next morning.I was missing those Mormon missionaries already
When I got up I, I didn't even go somewhere for breakfast (just a power bar and some water). As I was taxiing, I noticed a 4WD approaching the place where I had been. After I got my plane turned around and I had announced departure to the West off Runway 29, I saw it turn towards me. By the time the Red/Blue lights came on, I was at 90 KIAS and already beginning to climb!
I couldn't resist a certain gesture (a bird within a bird!)
Oh well, I'll just say that I didn't see him (yeah, that's the ticket!)
After that little incident, things began to look up. I made sure to get some shots of the Grand Canyon!
Another pilot snapped this of me while I was on approach to Tuscon...
This is my first time flying into Tuscon (I was visiting some friends), and I was given clearance to land on Runway 11L. I got myself lined up and was coming down (perfect approach) when I noticed that the runway said 26! :o
Needless to say, after a hasty abort, I got directions (the airport I thought was KTUS was actually another one). I got re-oriented, and aside from a Cessna Amphibous buzzing me. It was an uneventful landing...
I called my friends to come pick me up. Douglas works for the State of Arizona and told me a few things about Colorado City.
Being naturally isolated from the rest of the country by the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The residents of Colorado City do what they please. The place is home to an extreme sect of Fundamentalist Mormons (who still practice Polygamy or Bigamy). They're still smarting from a recent book called Under the Banner of Heaven and from the arrest and conviction of Colorado City police Officer Rodney Holm. (Holm was convicted of bigamy and having unlawful sex with a minor after Holm took on a 16-year-old as his "spiritual wife." )
I'll definitely pick a different resting stop next time!
Thanks for looking
Chapter 20 is here.
