A Nasty Surprise at Martha's Vineyard
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:58 amWell, I have since found out that the show of the Sikorsky planes will be next week and not this week as planned (due to weather). I have also learned that the location is not Virginia Beach but Havre de Grace Seaport in Maryland.
So, we have an extra bit of time...
By consensus, or rather mutual agreement between Russel and I (DeeDee is still not talking to me), we agreed that we would go to Martha's Vineyard and see what was there.
The weather cleared later that day, so I charted a course to KMVY.
The weather continued to cooperate over Boston. I radioed for transition clearance and got it (just like clockwork). To quote Hannibal from the A-Team, I like it when a plan comes together!
Well, mother always told me I have a big mouth, and it has been proven again as I got closer to Martha's Vineyard. The weather underwent a radical change. My instincts told me to warn DeeDee (who is afraid of thunderstorms even more than she fears flying), not to scream.
A rumble later, I knew I had done the right thing. A quick glance out of the corner of my eye at DeeDee's face told me the effort she was making not to scream, and to her credit, she never did.
I was concentrating so hard on getting lined up I don't think I was even breathing at that point! Do me a favor...don't ask why I was still holding the camera at that point...I don't even remember shooting this one...:-/
Even though ATC brought me down on Runway 24, I was fighting at least a 9kt crosswind at that point. At least that's the runway with INS! Even so, as this shot from a worker illustrates, I had my hands full getting down, forget about being in the center!
But I did make it down and got the plane parked (now it decides to stop raining
)...
I took this shot as we went over to the main buildings.
We walked over to the terminal and Russel got our hotel accomodations situated. While we were sitting, I told Dee Dee that I had seen her face while we were in the air, told her that she did well. She in turn told me that she was impressed at how cool I was through all that...
I sure didn't feel like I was cool (my jaw and neck still hurt from how tense I was), but I'll take my compliments where I can get them.
And at least DeeDee is talking to me again!
So, we have an extra bit of time...
By consensus, or rather mutual agreement between Russel and I (DeeDee is still not talking to me), we agreed that we would go to Martha's Vineyard and see what was there.
The weather cleared later that day, so I charted a course to KMVY.
The weather continued to cooperate over Boston. I radioed for transition clearance and got it (just like clockwork). To quote Hannibal from the A-Team, I like it when a plan comes together!
Well, mother always told me I have a big mouth, and it has been proven again as I got closer to Martha's Vineyard. The weather underwent a radical change. My instincts told me to warn DeeDee (who is afraid of thunderstorms even more than she fears flying), not to scream.
A rumble later, I knew I had done the right thing. A quick glance out of the corner of my eye at DeeDee's face told me the effort she was making not to scream, and to her credit, she never did.
I was concentrating so hard on getting lined up I don't think I was even breathing at that point! Do me a favor...don't ask why I was still holding the camera at that point...I don't even remember shooting this one...:-/
Even though ATC brought me down on Runway 24, I was fighting at least a 9kt crosswind at that point. At least that's the runway with INS! Even so, as this shot from a worker illustrates, I had my hands full getting down, forget about being in the center!
But I did make it down and got the plane parked (now it decides to stop raining
)...I took this shot as we went over to the main buildings.
We walked over to the terminal and Russel got our hotel accomodations situated. While we were sitting, I told Dee Dee that I had seen her face while we were in the air, told her that she did well. She in turn told me that she was impressed at how cool I was through all that...
I sure didn't feel like I was cool (my jaw and neck still hurt from how tense I was), but I'll take my compliments where I can get them.
And at least DeeDee is talking to me again!
