Stranded at 3D2

twdeckard

twdeckard

Pre-takeoff checklist
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twdeckard
I am stranded at 3D2, but it has a couch and internet and a fridge with soda.

Flying to Washington Island to pick up my daughter, last trip of the summer. Huge TX hovering over the Island and when I couldn't shoo it off I had to head to Ephraim to park and wait.

Ephraim is an awesome little airport that is being rejuvinated by a very determined band of folks (www.friendsofephraimgibralterairport.com). There is an FBO, new self serve pump (and a fuel truck), a cool little outbuilding, loaner bikes and an astrovan courtesy car.

Well two fellows helped me lash the airplane down, showed me where the key was, the cache of soda, couch, this computer, and offered to take me into toown to get a room. I assured them that the weather was plowing thru and I would have an easy window before nightfall for the 18 mile flight.

Sure enough when the storm had (just barely) passed (and all the helpful folks had leff) I launched. Now it never dawned on me that the flash flood warnings might mean the airport would be a bit soggy. In fact, much of the grounds are torn up as a crossing runway is repositioned so the drainage is all messed up.

Now a wise man told me never land a tricycle with 6.00x6s on something you wouldn't walk across in Sunday shoes and after two low passes in which I was sorely tempted, I headed back to Ephraim just as the Sun set and here I am, bored and typing away. I could go to Green Bay and crash with relatives but its late, I'm tired and the couch doesn't seem bad.

Given the hospitality, I am sure no one will mind if I scrounge the last scraps in the fridge that were sandwidth fixins. I'll put an extra buck or three in the courtesy jar.

There is no point to this story and thank you for your indulgance in reading it, but despite the damned inconvenience it feels like one of those Richard Bach gypsy pilot adventures and I am bored at the computer.

Blue Skies
 
Well, by God, I'm glad you posted it.

Fly safe, tomorrow, in the sun.
 
I for one enjoyed it. It's real flying adventure. Lousy food, boredom, marginal accommodations. Imagine no internet!
 
I liked it and I learned something from it. :thumbsup: Some of you may think your stories are boring, but to a noob there is usually something in there that I didn't know.

It's getting that time of yr to worry about what is on the rwy, ie deer, mig.birds, etc. I never thought about standing water.

Thanks TW.:thumbsup::cheerswine:
 
I am sure we all would rather read that story than the other possibility. "I tried to land on a flooded runway and and wrecked the plane"
Sound like you made a good choice.
You had internet so it would have been a good time to try the live chat here.
 
We've all done it. Waiting out weather, meeting new people, bumming around a small airport FBO, eating vending machine food. It passes, you launch, you're still alive. Good job.
 
ron22 said:
I am sure we all would rather read that story than the other possibility. "I tried to land on a flooded runway and and wrecked the plane"
Sound like you made a good choice.
You had internet so it would have been a good time to try the live chat here.
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+1

Hope you slept well.
 
I, too, enjoyed the story, and pulling up the airport on Airnav and SkyVector so I could see where Ephraim and Washington Island are. You really were close to the finish line!
 
3D2's a nice little airport - You should return there someday on purpose, go camping at the nearby Peninsula State Park, and go into town for a famous Door County fish boil. Bring your bike. :yes:
 
flyingcheesehead said:
3D2's a nice little airport
Click to expand...

Agreed, I have made the 2P2/3D2 run a number of times as its my job to ferry the Priest to the island for Mass on Sunday's when I am in town. But this last trip cemented it as one of my favorites.

After a pretty restful night a nice lady shows up at the door very early, she seemed a little disappointed that it was occupied and that there were airplanes stirring already. She explained that her father had owned a hanger there, the bench I had been sitting on had his name in remembrance, and that they had recently scattered his ashes on runway 19.

She then explained that his dog had died and they were hoping to bury it on the corner of the grass. I offered to help but she wanted to tend to it herself ...

For all those people who lament that General Aviation is waning I want to shake them by the shoulders and shout, no its still out there! I had lost track of it and to be honest that trip to Gaston's this year was part of finding it! I've been too worried about whether or not an airport has an approach and rental cars ... nope, better it has a tidy grass runway and a tiedown row that would make a respectable museum display.

I made it up to the island and brought my daughter back this morning.

Todd out
 
Todd,
I don't see you on the list for 6Y9. Are you going to be able to join us in the U.P.? It's another destination that'll help prove that GA isn't dead.
 
ron22 said:
I am sure we all would rather read that story than the other possibility. "I tried to land on a flooded runway and and wrecked the plane"
Click to expand...

Hi Ron! I had the same thoughts although things were a mess and so it was not really brilliant aeronautical decision making. Probably stupid not to figure that it would be sopping wet when I launched. I tend to get "target-fixation" both professionally and in the airplane and have to watch that I take care to adjust the plan to meet the conditions. In this case however it wasn't hard.

Oh, if I had had to deliver lifesaving serum to the villagers I am sure I could have landed it, got it stuck up the axles in a ditch alongside the runway and then jumped out and yelled "ta-da"
 
gprellwitz said:
Todd,
I don't see you on the list for 6Y9. Are you going to be able to join us in the U.P.? It's another destination that'll help prove that GA isn't dead.
Click to expand...

I would love to but I have some conflicting travel, otherwise I would have been there!
 
Yeah 3D2 is a cool little airport. Right across the street from peninsula state park. Been there a few time. Glad they are putting some money back into it.
 
I hope you got a ride into town. The shops and restaurants are cool.

That runway at Washington Island is also uphill to the northwest, whatever additional impact that has. I guess it's one more sudden stop factor and if it's wet on the way out you might never get up to speed enough to get airborne.
 
The most fun part of the fish boil is at the end when the guy throws the coffee-can full of kerosene on the fire under the big pot. The noise (like a bomb going off) and boilover (designed to get rid of all the grease and cooking oils that have risen to the top) aren't listed as part of the attraction for the event, and usually scares**** out of about half the crowd standing around on the patio waiting for dinner. Count on at least one or two broken drink glasses every time it happens. But good.

flyingcheesehead said:
3D2's a nice little airport - You should return there someday on purpose, go camping at the nearby Peninsula State Park, and go into town for a famous Door County fish boil. Bring your bike. :yes:
Click to expand...
 
wabower said:
The most fun part of the fish boil is at the end when the guy throws the coffee-can full of kerosene on the fire under the big pot. The noise (like a bomb going off) and boilover (designed to get rid of all the grease and cooking oils that have risen to the top) aren't listed as part of the attraction for the event, and usually scares**** out of about half the crowd standing around on the patio waiting for dinner. Count on at least one or two broken drink glasses every time it happens. But good.
Click to expand...

That's my favorite part. :D
 
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