My host family came out to FLD to see the Lancair and each one of them (Mom, Dad, 9yr old son and 4yr old son) all took turns sitting in it.
One of the guys who worked the booth with me all week was itching for a ride so I took him up for two quick laps of the pattern with low approaches on each. Tower was closing up about half through the second pattern.
Landed, said our goodbyes, then my passenger jumped in for the 704nm non-stop VFR flight from FLD to Lincoln Park, NJ (N07), via KFFX and KMFD.
Climbed VFR to 9500 for the lake crossing, then picked up flight following. We had a light tailwind, giving us around 212kts over the ground.
I called Cleveland Flight Watch to get updated weather for the destination. Ceilings were varying between 4k, 5k and 9k at various points along the route. With a 10pm EDT arrival time, it meant that we might be in and out of clouds so I picked up a pop-up IFR clearance via direct SAX direct. This was eventually amended to FJC SBJ direct, and then 20 secs later, amended to direct STW direct.
The arrival was fine, in and out of the clouds and light to moderate precip, but still a very smooth ride. I canceled IFR a few miles from the field with great visibility and smooth conditions.
Entering the left downwind for rwy 19, things started getting dodgy on the base to final turn. The airspeed was moving around a lot, but more importantly, the aircraft was yawing dramatically and uncomfortably. I'd only ever been in conditions like this once before (on my first solo in this airplane, in fact, so I remember it well). I went around, formulated a plan to try nearby Caldwell (CDW) with its longer and wider runways, but figured I'd take one more look at Lincoln Park, from a higher altitude. Again, downwind was nice, but turning base, I felt the same weather again, so I bugged out immediately.
Calling Caldwell tower, they informed me that the winds were starting to pick up and that they were aware of a level 4 system NW of the field, heading this way. I made a straight in for rwy 22 with the winds at 310 @11 gust 19. Those were the surface winds in the shadow of the trees, I imagine, because the winds on the straight-in were ugly. I carried extra speed, knowing I had room to float. The flare was a little high and I found myself a few feet off the ground, nose in the landing position, and rapidly heading towards an energy deficit. I added a reasonable dose of power to arrest the descent, but not quite level out. When I gauged that I was really close to the ground, I cut the power and flared just a little more, and it ended up working out just right.
I was absolutely spent. 3 1/2hr enroute with 2 tricky VFR patterns at night in bumpy conditions had me at the edge of my limit. It didn't help that I departed FLD feeling thirsty. I got to the FBO and drank 6 cups of water in the space of about 3 minutes.
The storm was out of nowhere...the TAFs weren't calling for it when I left, and there was no mention of it from Flight Watch an hour before landing.
Overall, though, it was a great first visit to Air Venture. I will seriously consider flying in to OSH itself next time now that I see what a short taxi it is from the rwy to the homebuilt area!
I had the pleasure of meeting Kent at our booth. He took the sim for a spin with our live ATC service and appeared to have quite a good time.
Well, I didn't have much to offer, but sometimes a glass of ice water and some shade under a wing is a lot on a hot day. 
Mud on the tires and wheel pants really added that extra special "outdoors-y" accent complimenting the grass and bugs stuck to the rest of the airplane. 
