A Little Change Of Plan

Plans changed a little bit today. Instead of continuing north, or even staying north, we ended up turning around and driving back to Vero Beach. We both left stuff we needed at home, and we didn't have plans for Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, so we came back home.

Before we left, we went to the Sanford Airport. Part of my goal on our northern journey was to get instrument current once again. Looking at my logbook, I found that a year had passed since my last approaches, so I needed to take an Instrument Proficiency Check. A little FBO set me up and even invited Susan and Andrew to come along. That's something you don't get at a formal Part 141 school.

We rented a Cessna 172SP - something I am quite fond of, but haven't flown in several years. It was fun flying in an old friend. We took off VFR and requested approaches while airborne. First up was the VOR approach into Orlando Executive, followed by the Localizer Back Course into Executive, then the published hold northwest of the Orlando VOR, and finally a partial panel ILS into Sanford. For the hold, we requested higher altitude and got 3,000 feet. It was a pleasant 77 degrees up there; just cool enough to stop the sweat from running down my nose.

After the flight, my instructor endorsed my logbook and we headed back to the C&D B&B. We ate a late lunch, absorbed some nice air conditioned air, and headed south to Sebastian and Vero Beach. There was a free, outdoor concert in the park by the river in Sebastian. Susan wanted to meet a friend, but was unable to find her. Andrew played in the playground, then on the rocky shoreline (those massive erosion blockers, not the nice, throwable pebbles).

At dusk, we hit the road one final time and went home. After dinner, Andrew was able to squeeze in another episode of Star Trek, then it was time for bed. Susan is on the phone now making plans for tomorrow. Hopefully her plans don't start too early.