Teardrop trailer

Well it's been a while! The plane is sitting in Waverly Tennessee, the new engine threw a valve and knocked a hole in the piston. The engine is in the shop in Pa. When the weather clears he will be able to test run it. But for now we are just waiting. Corrine gave me a set of plans for a teardrop trailer for Christmas about 2 years before her accident. And I decided to start building it. A teardrop is a small travel trailer, inexpensive to build and maintain. It can be pulled by a small tow vehicle, although I will be pulling it with the chevy. It has room inside to sleep and sit up. the galley is under a back hatch. Here some pictures of the frame I just welded up.

Flying again!

Well the new engine is in, and the annual is complete. I flew the plane for an hour and a half on friday, it performed well. Was great to get up again. Bad weather this weekend meant no flying, but will try this week.

new engine

Well it ends up that I had to buy a new engine for the plane. It is a miracle that I made it back from Ca.,the A&Ps that did the work on the plane and did the annual inspection either blew it or lied! I had the man who holds the licence on the engine check it out, and he told me that it was shot, and should not have ran in the condition it was in. They new I was going to fly across the U.S.,but I guess just didn't care. But, I have a new engine, and hopefully will have it installed in a couple of wees.

Summer

It's been a while and a lot has happened! The plane flew for about 2 weeks after i got it back, and has been down since then. I have had a lot of work done on it, but still don't know what is wrong. I have done some diving, been to Millbrook a few times, and went to South Carolina diving with Blue Marble divers. Had a great time, did 6 dives, 2 on the civil war wreck, 2 on the Hebe,and two on the Goldfinch reef. I stayed at a condo with Dave and several guys from Blue Marble. All in all a good trip, really enjoyed getting out diving again. I have started backpacking, Have managed to make it out 3 times over the past month. The 1st time was just a day hike, up to Rocky run shelter on the A.T.. Corrine and I went up there, so it was good to go back. Memories!! Next I went from Gapland to the Ed Garvey shelter, about 4 miles, spent the night, and hiked out to Weverton. Marvin picked me up here and took me back to my car. The next weekend, I flew to ca. for my brother in laws wedding in Reno. It was a very nice wedding on the banks of the Truckee river. On the way back to San Jose Mom and I went soaring at Truckee soaring. It was great, we soared over Lake Tahoe, and got Great views of the sierra's. This past weekend Katy{my dog} and I went hiking in Green Ridge state forest. We did the pine lick and twin oaks loop, 13 miles as an overnight. Tried my new tent, and stove. Love both!
It was a strenuous hike, but fun. Did not see anyone, so it was great.

Well on my way!

Well I'm in a motel in Danville Kentucky. I left Ft. Worth at 05:00 this morning. Since then I have flown for 10 hours, and ov 700 miles! A long day, but I'm only 400 miles from home, just two legs. I got to see the flood rivers, the Arkansas river, and the Mississippi river. Both swollen and flooding a lot of farm land.

On my way home

I flew a little over an hour Wednesday with a friend who is a great pilot. He checked me out in the Luscombe after being out of it for so long. As he said my landings were safe, but not pretty, but they are getting better. I flew wed. Night with Marshall, we went to Cleburne and fueled up. Today we flew and had breakfast, and then changed the oil in the plane, and did some maintenance. We met my sister for lunch, and packed the plane. I will be flying out at 05:00 in the morning.

Away again!

I'm at BWI, headed to tx. To pick up the plane. Weather has been bad along my flight route, tornadoes, and hail. So, inhad to wait till now to pick it up. Hopefully weather will cooperate now!!