{"id":4759,"date":"2021-03-30T22:10:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T04:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4759"},"modified":"2023-11-18T22:12:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T04:12:05","slug":"march-2021-and-flying-to-lunch_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4759","title":{"rendered":"March 2021 and flying to lunch!_"},"content":{"rendered":"

We managed 4 flights in March, and also did some “fly to lunch” adventures!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On March 3<\/strong>, I allowed myself to start feeling a bit safer since it was now two weeks past my 2nd COVID-19 vaccination shot. So, to celebrate, Amy and I flew together to Angelina County Airport to have lunch at the diner there. She was still not inoculated, so I ordered while she found a spot outside. (I was still wearing a mask.) We sat outside in the still chilly-but-not-terribly-so temperature and had the tiny thrill of eating out again, after so long.<\/p>\n

\"4N1A2562\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2564\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2567\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Angelina <\/a>
Angelina County airport, on final <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking at the Cavalon from our spot in the outdoor dining area. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Covered <\/a>
Covered tables in the outdoor dining area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It <\/a>
It was a very nice day! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2572\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2573\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Amy gets her 1st COVID-19 shot on March 15.<\/p>\n

On March 19<\/strong>, I again flew to Angelina County Airport to have lunch, but this time my brother, Jim, was with me. On our return flight we did a stop-n-go at Groveton Trinity County airport [33R], then a fly-by of Frank Toole Memorial Field [57TX] (near Trinity, TX). and we eye-balled Grand Rock UL airport [XA52]. Things were starting to feel semi-normal again. Eventually, someone would start having fly-ins again!<\/p>\n

\"Jim, <\/a>
Jim, checking out his photo ops <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"US <\/a>
US 190 bridge over Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div>
\"Onalaska\" <\/a>
Onalaska <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Diboll <\/a>
Diboll and Duncan prison units <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Georgia <\/a>
Georgia Pacific lumbermill <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Georgia <\/a>
Georgia Pacific lumbermill <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cavalon <\/a>
Cavalon outside the Angelina County FBO <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"I <\/a>
I disklike smoky fires <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The town of Lufkin, TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"THe <\/a>
THe evergreens have been harvested in this plot of land <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In winter, the non-evergreens are easy to spot <\/div> <\/div>
\"Grand <\/a>
Grand Rock UL airport [XA52] <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Frank <\/a>
Frank Toole Memorial Field [57TX] <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pecan <\/a>
Pecan orchard <\/div> <\/div>
\"Train <\/a>
Train trestle and bridges <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Livingston <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The neighborhood <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Home, <\/a>
Home, sweet home! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dinner Flight<\/strong><\/p>\n

We had been talking about how nice it was to take the plane to an airport to have lunch, and it occurred to me that we might even be able to do dinner! Being a sport pilot, I’d have to be sure we were back to our home airport before the end of civil twilight, but a quick look showed it was doable. On March 20th<\/strong> we decided to give it a try and flew to Hilltop Lakes [0TE4] to eat at their restaurant. We left at 4:25 pm, arriving about an hour later. It was a 5-minute walk from the parking area to the restaurant. We were seated by 5:40 pm.<\/p>\n

We didn’t rush but enjoyed our Italian dinners. We had a great seat overlooking the gentle hills, the lake, and the swimming pool. The food was good and we felt safe wearing our masks (we took them off to eat, of course!). We then headed back to the plane at about 6:25 pm. After takeoff, we circled the field once for a nice photo, then headed back. We were wheels-down at the home airport at 7:26 pm, about 31 minutes before the end of civil twilight. Success!<\/p>\n

\"I-45 <\/a>
I-45 heading toward north towards Huntsville <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Part <\/a>
Part of Texas Grand Ranch <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Are <\/a>
Are those bales of hay, or white cattle? Heh! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Chicken <\/a>
Chicken domiciles <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The town of Normangee, TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking across the south end of the runway, back toward the Cavalon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It <\/a>
It looks kind of lonely over there. <\/div> <\/div>
\"After <\/a>
After dinner, we circled the airport and got this shot of the resturant (lower right corner, with Texas-shaped swimming pool) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A better shot of the airport <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"One <\/a>
One last shot of the resturant with the lake to the left <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We got a little closer to Normangee on the way back <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Coming <\/a>
Coming up on Madisonville airport. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A better view of Madisonville airport, with the long shadows. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"28 <\/a>
28 miles to go, and it’s getting dusky <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Power <\/a>
Power lines march off to the north, toward Huntsville <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rows <\/a>
Rows of trees, half-sunken <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake Conroe in the distance. Home is only 8 minutes away. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

We were very happy that we were able to “fly to dinner” in the Cavalon. It was a good meal and a nice little adventure!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nine days later — March 29<\/strong> — we decided to do another “fly to lunch” and picked the airport at Cameron, Texas. I looked at Google Maps and saw that there was a Mexican restaurant only a few hundred yards away from the airport at Cameron. So, happy to be heading out again, I just blithely looked at the hours of operation on the web and we headed out.\u00a0 That turned out to be a big mistake.<\/p>\n

An hour and nineteen minutes after we take off, we’re in Cameron and walking toward the restaurant. As we approach, we notice the parking lot is empty. Ugh. We get there to see that they are closed on Mondays. Nuts! I had checked the hours of operation, but not the days.\u00a0 We discuss various options but decide to just head back home. Amy had the foresight to bring some energy bars, so we’re not famished. It was a good lesson to be more careful about ensuring our destination is open.<\/p>\n

An interesting side note: as we were announcing our landing on the Unicom frequency, we heard on the radio the voice of my gyro instructor, Dayton Dabbs. He was out with a student at a nearby field (with the same frequency, of course), and he heard us announce. That was a fun coincidence!<\/p>\n

On departure, we had to wait while two helicopters danced around the pattern and the runway.\u00a0 The pilots were training… I heard something on the radio about a simulated failure of the tail rotor.\u00a0 It was fun to watch them.\u00a0 One of them complimented me on my craft, which I appreciated!<\/p>\n

The primary goal for this trip was a bust, but I got a lot of nice photos.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/a>
A typical, slightly hazy day <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Amy <\/a>
Amy is happy to be flying again! <\/div> <\/div>
\"Nursery\" <\/a>
Nursery <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"10 <\/a>
10 miles away is this natural-gas power generating plant <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Poultry <\/a>
Poultry farm <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Gibbons <\/a>
Gibbons Creek Coal Power Station <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Texas <\/a>
Texas spirit! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hard <\/a>
Hard working farmer <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We came across this Texas-shaped pond <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"I <\/a>
I turned the photo 90-degrees so you can get a better look <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In the foreground is Coulter Field and beyond it is College Station, TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A better look at Coulter Field <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking north, it’s Hearne, TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Bare <\/a>
Bare farmland in the Brazos River Valley, but in only a month or so this will be a deep green. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Brazos <\/a>
Brazos River Valley, NW of College Station <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Nearby <\/a>
Nearby is the Hearne Municpal airport <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Brazos <\/a>
Brazos River <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Train <\/a>
Train cars stopped on a bridge over the Brazos River <\/div> <\/div>
\"Where <\/a>
Where the Little River (on left) merges with the Brazos River <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lone <\/a>
Lone tree surrounded by farmland <\/div> <\/div>
\"Approaching <\/a>
Approaching Cameron, TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Cavalon parked at Cameron <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cameron <\/a>
Cameron FBO <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2677\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2678\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking back at the airport while we’re walking down the shoulder of the highway <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We arrive at the restaurant only to find it is closed. Sigh. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ready <\/a>
Ready to take off, but two helicopters are busy in the pattern. <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We watch patiently and admire the choppers <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"As <\/a>
As we leave the pattern, here’s a look at the town of Cameron <\/div> <\/div>
\"Farmers <\/a>
Farmers at work <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2685\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s March in Texas, so the yellow flowers start to bloom <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Little <\/a>
Little River <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A rocky portion of Little River <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rocking <\/a>
Rocking horse <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Brazos <\/a>
Brazos River, looking south <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Union <\/a>
Union Pacific Railroad, Brazos Yard, near Mumford TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pecan <\/a>
Pecan orchards <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Another <\/a>
Another lone tree <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking southeast along Hwy 6 toward Benchley TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Five <\/a>
Five rocking horses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Gibbons <\/a>
Gibbons Creek Coal Power Station <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A farmer and his tractor, leveling a field <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hazy <\/a>
Hazy day, and the fire doesn’t help. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Passing <\/a>
Passing to the north of Lake Conroe, this means we’re close to getting home! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"New <\/a>
New Waverly TX <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

March was a great flying month…. four flights and each one to a destination (at 3 of the 4 we got to eat lunch or dinner).\u00a0 Generally, the SE and central Texas area we fly around seems to be opening up a bit more.\u00a0 It feels like we, perhaps, have turned a corner on the pandemic.\u00a0 People are still cautious — especially those who are not yet vaccinated — but life in the small towns is stirring again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We managed 4 flights in March, and also did some “fly to lunch” adventures! On March 3, I allowed myself to start feeling a bit safer since it was now two weeks past my 2nd COVID-19 vaccination shot. So, to celebrate, Amy and I flew together to Angelina County Airport to have lunch at the … Continue reading March 2021 and flying to lunch!_<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cavalon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/4N1A2623.jpg?fit=1920%2C981&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4759"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4760,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4759\/revisions\/4760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}