More Flying

Went flying again!!! Got to control the a/c about 2 hours. There were several storm systems in the area and that was a bit nerve racking. Flew a total of 6.6 hours in 2 sorties. Dennis showed me a lot about the stability of the Cessna 172. We did several pendulums series letting the a/c get back to where it was trimmed. It was a great learning experience for me.

I was a little jittery on takeoff because I had such a screwy morning getting ready. Sir Hops-a-lot, our cat, had been in my bathroom looking for hair ties as he loves to do if I forget and leave the bathroom door open. Since Rogers is on stage 2 water conservation as in flush only when necessary I had failed to flush as well as failed to close the lid. I returned to the bathroom when he showed up in the kitchen with a hair tie and found that he had knocked several items of make-up into the open toilet. I had to reach in and retrieve them because unfortunately I know how much it costs to get a plumber to come retrieve things that have been flushed. After much hand washing I ran out the garage door and found that Joe's garage door was trying to close on a scarecrow. He had left the house about 30 minutes earlier. I had to open his door to rescue the scarecrow and then close his door before I could leave. I am now running about 15 minutes behind schedule so I decided I had to take the "fast" way on 102. As I sat at the light at the 13th most dangerous intersection in Arkansas a stupid lady talking on a cell phone while making a left turn off of 8th street turned right into my lane. I was sitting right there at the red light with my headlights on and that stupid jerk turned right into me. She corrected without hitting me bumping over the island and still talking on the phone. In that fraction of a second I thought Oh! no I'm not going to get to fly today. Do I have Dennis's cell phone number to tell him I can't come? Do I have the number of the hanger. I won't get my sorties that I need to complete my ribbon. It's absolutely amazing how much runs throughout ones mind in that split second when you think your about to get hit.

Anyway, flight following kept trying to get us to tell him what we were doing manuvering around that area for 6.6 hours. I think he was worried we were up to no good there. it was pretty comfortable at altitude but we kept having to dip down lower because of the clouds. Of course when you descend to land it gets really hot so the 96 degree air temperature when we got out of the a/c after taxiing was a big relief . While we refueled and cleaned the leading edges and windscreen I think I lost about a gallon of sweat. My car was in the sun all day so it was also a steam bath coming home. Out goes anothe gallon of sweat. I got home around five 15 and had just enough time to replenish fluid, get out of my sweaty clothes, and get to bridge.

I was bushed the next day.