Flying date

[cjsmith]

I went on a date last night. rfrench flew me to Napa for a "$100 hamburger" (in this case, a steak and salad at Jonesy's). Mmmmmm tasty. I decided I like Napa Ridge Cabernet. Got a glass of that -- I wasn't flying! -- and the hint of pepper was just what I wanted.

Several times during the flight I was impressed by rfrench's seeming ability to read the minds of the controllers. He knew what they were going to ask him to do next, so he set up to be ready for it. THAT'S the kind of flight training I want! Nobody teaches that. They'll help me improve my landings or get a new rating, but I want to be able to do a simple Class B transition without getting myself overloaded. I'm not behind the airplane, I'm behind the ATC/airspace system. But nobody will teach that.

The sunset on the way back was gorgeous. Yay! By that time the painkillers were mostly doing their job, too, putting me in a pretty good mood. (Abdomen, not feet. Nothing works on the feet.) When we got home we settled on the couch and watched a movie.

Thanks, Rob. That was a great way to spend the evening.

Comments

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Yay! You deserve that sort of evening.

Never been to Napa. Toni and I bypassed the traffic headed there one weekend and went to Sonoma valley instead. Probably not as touristy, but not as full of tourists, either, and still beautiful.

But nobody will teach that.

Sucks.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I bet Napa is much more pleasant on a weekday. Next time you and Toni are here you could give that a go. Of course, on a weekday, getting there (getting anywhere) in the morning is rough.

Sucks.

All those thousand-hour pilots want evidence of their status. ;-) The rest of us have to learn it the hard way like they did!

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Of course, on a weekday, getting there (getting anywhere) in the morning is rough.

Nah, we should just have Rob fly the four of us there. ;-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

That would be spectacular. Sadly, we'd then be at the airport without a car, and the wine tasting opportunities at the airport itself are somewhat limited. But we could have a meal at Jonesy's. ;-)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Sadly, we'd then be at the airport without a car, and the wine tasting opportunities at the airport itself are somewhat limited.

Dur. Yeah, I suppose it's not like Las Vegas which has plenty of gambling opportunities at the airport. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those durn pilots! All they have to do is sip it and they're grounded for eight hours!

(Sometimes Enterprise will drop off a car at a small airport. That'd probably be the best bet.)

[apparentparadox]

When we were flying back from the IAGSDC convention, we thought about stopping off at Harris Ranch, but decided to just come home. We haven't been to Jonesy's for a long time. Mark still owes me a trip to Petaluma to their diner. Maybe when he gets back from Glacier . . .

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'd enjoy doing a Harris Ranch convoy with you and Mark. (O'course, if Rob has some free time and we all fit in the Saratoga that would work too.) This was my first time to Jonesy's, and I enjoyed it.

[ken_r]

Very nice.

Wish I could remember when my last date was. *sigh*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Rob and I aren't always high on the "date" scale either, being old coupled-up mortgage-paying fuddy-duddies. It's nice to break out of the mold every so often.

[ambar.livejournal.com]

My offer to cook dinner if you fly up to KCPU on a weekend still holds. (I do have to be home. This weekend and the next work, but Aug 5-6 is booked (http://www.davenportsquest.org/). :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! KCPU is about an hour from Palo Alto by plane, I'd guess. If I'm ever going to do this I probably need to schedule it ahead of time and commit to the plane rental.

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

Only 32 minutes in the 'toga :-)

I've always wanted to land there just to have the airport ID in my logbook.

[ambar.livejournal.com]

Just remind me what's on the "safe to feed Rob list". :-)

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

Corn.

:-)

[ambar.livejournal.com]

Corn on the cob? That's easy. :)

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

On, off, popped, anything :-)

[ericainohio.livejournal.com]

Wah! I want to get a taste of one of those $100 hamburgers! *pouts*

Congrats on a lovely date. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough they usually don't taste any better than any other kind! But if you and I are ever near a plane I'm allowed to rent, feel free to remind me that you want one. :-)

Thanks!

[portia.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a cool date! I've only seen people do that kind of thing on soap operas! :o)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid we wouldn't qualify for soap operas in most ways. But hey, it sure was a fun date! :-)

[rampling.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, so lovely! :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It was terrific. The perfect break from stress.

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Steak and salad??? But what did Rob eat? :)

Your guy is a fabulous pilot. I remember my hundred dollar hamburger fondly.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

FRENCH FRIES! Any respectable steakhouse has french fries, right? :-) :-)

He's a good pilot and a good guy. I think maybe I'll keep him, huh?

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

:-) :-) :-)