Starting to go through photographs from our flying adventure to the Traverse City area. From my student pilot perspective the trip was good practice for my learning how to talk to ATC on the radio (you get to say stuff like "niner" and "roger" and "wilco"!), and good lessons about how weather reports may or may not accurately reflect what you'll actually encounter in flight.
It was a beautiful time - I've never been to that part of Michigan and can't wait to return. I'll post more photos as I work on things, but for now...
The Empire airport. I walked four miles into town on flip-flops. Needless to say, I really didn't want to walk back that far, so we stopped in at Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak and asked if someone might be able to drive us back to the airport. Eli offered, and John gave him a ride in the Starfighter to say thank you. Because I'm usually the one inside, it's always such a treat to watch someone else get to have a great time. Not to mention that the Starfighter is just a beautiful thing to watch...
Woolsey Memorial Airport just north of Northport, on the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. I saw this grass strip on the chart and knew I wanted to go there! It felt like being at the edge of the world. We camped for two days under the wing, got our water via an old-fashioned hand pump, and borrowed the airport bicycles to ride into town for breakfast and tea in the morning. Oh - I forgot to mention the stars. SO many stars. The way I remember them when I lived in Vermont. Shooting stars for wishing too...
More to come.