Day 5 - MD, DE, and PA

This morning started with mist and low ceilings (200 feet) at Bluefield (Hurricane Ridge).  Our eyes were glued to the weather and, finally, about 10:00 the ceiling lifted to 1200 feet.  Rolling hills at about 5000 + feet were in our path so we filed IFR.  The weather briefer told us that there would be high cirrus clouds after about 35 NM.  However, that was not the case.  After climbing to 7000 feet, we decided to go higher to 9000 feet.  We had a ground speed of 172 - 178  — nice tailwind — and after we fueled up at the end of the day, we used about 7.7 gallons of fuel per hour.  Here is a plug for Van’s RVs.

We viewed the Washington DC SFRA lesson and earned our certificates to be able to fly around Washington.  Our first landing of the day was at Carroll County, MD.  As we were nearing the airport, the controller - a bit sassy - said, “Are you ready to copy this number?” That question unnerves pilots. What had we done wrong?  Nothing, she was giving us the number to cancel our IFR route on the ground. I’m not sure why she wouldn’t cancel while we were in the air. It was a beautiful, clear VFR day.  Claudette and I have been laughing a lot.  She forgot to bring pens with her so I gave her some.  She has lost every pen or the pen has gone dry when she tries to write - at very inopportune times.    We are on day 5 and we have already gone through 5 pens.  I hope we don’t hear any more, “Are you ready to copy?”

At Carrol Co. (KDMW) we chatted with local pilots about specific procedures from their airport around the SFRA. The guys, both pilots, one a CFI, were working on their Cirrus.  However, one just ordered an RV 8 to build.  Needless to say, they were interested in MOJO.

Now on for a quick stop in DE at KEVY (Summit) and on to our final stop for the night at Brandywine, PA (KOQN).  We were received with open arms and hangar space for MOJO.  Jeff Suveg is the airport assistant manager and owner of a detailing company.  If you need detailing, his work is BEAUTIFUL. Check him out.  Jeff was kind and provided some helpful hints about how to take care paint and the canopy.  He also asked if we were 99s.  Apparently, there is an active chapter nearby and one of the airport employees is a 99.  Unfortunately, she was not working so we couldn’t meet her.

Pictures:  Top to Bottom

1) Brandywine Airport, PA

2) Summit, DE and helicopters

3) Carroll County, MD and RV builders with Claudette by MOJO

4) Helpful CFI at Carroll County

5) Ground speed of 172 K - great tailwind

6) FBO sign at Carroll County

7) Wheels and legs