| |
I have never been to the Chautauqua Institute but I had heard plenty about it. Liz’s dad did some work for the institute and Liz had spent a considerable about of time there when she was younger. She had always wanted me to go, and every year Liz would check out the calendar of events and come and tell me that “this will be the year” and I would say, “Sure, right after I’m done doing (fill in the blank)”.
|
|
| |
A couple of days ago Liz was talking to a friend of hers who informed her that Sunday there is no charge to get into the institute. That provided the impetus and we decided to just go. I checked the sectional and the closest airport was Dart Field right at the end of the lake. I suggested to Liz that we fly down and walk the 6 miles to Chautauqua Institute which, of course, meant another 6 mile walk back.
|
|
| |
I should mention at this point that Liz and I are walkers. Our average walk is about 4 miles and we try to do that every day. It doesn’t always work out but the thought of a 12 mile walk is not out of the question.
|
|
| |
So I planned the flight and got out the backpack and Liz got the water bottles. A call to Flight Service confirmed no stadium TFR (although the FSS specialist bemoaned the fact that the “Bills lost yesterday!”), the weather was perfect and we launched at around 3:00PM. The plan was for me to fly down and Liz would fly back.
|
|
| |
Buffalo was using runway 23 so departing Lancaster to the south west would be much easier. I called approach on the ground as I usually do and sure enough, “Squawk 0434 and call me in the air, straight out departure approved”.
|
|
| |
It’s always nice flying along the lakeshore. The few convective bumps that we encountered flying over West Seneca and South Buffalo disappeared and flying becomes a hands off, check for traffic, check the gauges, scan for sunbathers sort of thing. We flew at 2500 feet on the way down and the view was quite nice. Sailboats predominated the nautical scene with the zigzag of sea-doos closer in to shore. The beaches were full as everyone was doing what they could to enjoy this perfect day. They were all still earth dwellers! Liz and I were soaring high above them unbounded by the constraints of 2 dimensional travel. We were scoffing at their seemingly ant-like existence.
|
|
| |
Approach dropped us a couple of miles past Dunkirk and I tuned in Dart CTAF. We heard quite a lot of glider traffic and Liz reminded me that they have the right-of-way. (yes, I know they do). We entered crosswind for 31 with a couple of gliders right above us. The gliders land on a different runway but I kept a watchful eye out none the less.
|
|
| |
After landing we stopped by the restaurant on the field at Dart for a bite to eat before our walk. As I was deciding what to have a guy at the counter suggested the hamburger. He said you can’t go wrong with the hamburger and besides, you flew in for a $100 hamburger, didn’t you?
|
|
| |
His name was Tom and when we told him of our plan to walk to the institute he offered a ride. We would still have to walk back but 6 miles walking is better that 12 so we took him up on his offer. Tom is from Erie PA and had just joined the glider club. He was one of the pilots we heard when we were approaching Dart. He told us he flew for Jet Blue and before that was a wingman for the Red Barons aerobatic team!
|
|
| |
Chautauqua was as nice as Liz made it out to be. It’s a community that was primarily built in the late 1800’s. If you’ve never been there make it a point to go sometime. Like I said, Sundays are free admission and although you will probably not find the big name entertainment (Bill Cosby frequently performs here as well as other just as notable personages) you’ll undoubtedly find something. We walked over to the amphitheater and there was a 12 piece band playing music from the 40s and 50s. Very Nice!
|
|
| |
We weren’t quite as fortunate on the way back. NO RIDE!
|
|
| |
Oh well, the walk was very nice. The road follows the lake shore for the most part and we became earth dwellers. We saw a few planes overhead and wondered if they were scoffing at our terra-based existence. If only we had a big sign that said “We are pilots”. That’s the way it goes, sometimes you’re an eagle, and sometimes you’re an ant!
|
|
| |
After the 1 hour and 45 minute walk, we got back in the plane. This time the left seat was Liz’s. She elected to stay at 3000 feet on the way back and she flew inland from the lakeshore about 5 miles. We actually saw our “pencil eraser” water tower from about 30-40 miles out! This was pilotage at its easiest.
|
|
| |
There is no better hobby than flying. We still can’t believe how fortunate we are to be able to do this. The benefits far outweigh the (rising) costs.
|
|