Pics from Leeward, Gator Joe's, Tanner the mighty dog and flyin' in the Chipmunk with Andy

Leeward Air Ranch with Bill, Jo, Tanner and Andy

The Leeward Air Ranch is a "Fly-In" community in the Ocala, FL area where my friends Bill & Joanne reside when not off on adventures of their own. Since I am an air hound (an "air fix" in anything is good!) and Bill offered to fly to St Augustine to pick me up for a visit with them, I couldn't possibly say no! How much fun to be met at the airport by your pilot and whisked away to hang out with good friends.

It was a treat to be at the Air Ranch again with all sorts of flying machines... aerobatic planes, warbirds, amphibs. We were treated to a thrilling aerobatic show one evening while sipping rum drinks in the back yard all the while tuned into the same radio frequency as the pilot doing the routine listening to his wife critique him. Sounds like that could be a version of hell for him but actually was much appreciated and sought after by the husband/aero pilot. Another evening Jo, Tanner the dog and I were cruising around in the golf cart checking out the planes, sunset and of course, having rum drinks when a "Chipmunk" (a WW II trainer) taxied up piloted by Andy, her neighbor. The "Chipmink" is bright yellow and bright canary yellow makes Jo smile which was noticed by Andy who suggested a ride. She was gone before I knew what was happening and airborne soon after. She was returned safely to terra firma with an even bigger smile. Seems that Andy had rolled the plane and then had to "unwind" her by rolling back the other way. I got dibs on a ride the next morning!!

The day dawned clear and calm, perfect for aerobatics. I was at Andy's hangar at 0900 raring to go and hoping to loop and roll. Andy wasn't into the vertical stuff like looping, some adjustments had to be made to the airplane before he would loop it but roll we did and I got a video, two actually as he had to unwind me, also!! :-) Can't post them as the file is too large. What a cool way to start the day. Later I finally got a ride in Bill's Amphibian (sea plane) a Cessna 206 after lunch at Gator Joe's Restaurant on Lake Weir.

I had an awesome time, as usual, and can't wait to return. Thanks Bill & Jo!!

A Day With Capt Tor

Capt Tor is a long time friend of mine who disappeared into the mystic many years ago only to surface again when I did a Guggle search on writing capt's resumes. Tor's Homeport looked back at me, his website filled with countless adventures. After two decades, maybe more, he was doing a major re-fit on his newly purchased Pearson 424 at a place called Green Cove Springs Marina just west of St. Augustine. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a visit after the delivery so I emailed him and much to my delight he was going to be there when I arrived.

I found Tor and "Silver Heels" without a problem and we settled down to a rum drink and some serious catching up. This guy is a true adventurer!! He owned his first liveaboard boat at 16 or 18 and never stopped. The last boat I knew him to own was a beautiful Crealock by the name of "Sparrow" whom he sailed some 60,000 miles across the Atlantic, around the Med and where ever else over there before returning to sell her and go trekking in Ecuador, the west, Alaska....the list went on!! He got the hankering to have a Caribbean cruising boat again and spend some time "down island" writing and adventuring so hence "Silver Heels"

Ray, a buddy of Tor's from the past, was at the marina helping him with all of the work. Turns out Ray who is a writer for various sailing publications left his boat in Panama to come and help Tor. Since my good buddy Marcia is in Panama, Bocas del Tores to be exact, I had to ask if they were acquainted and lo and behold, he and Marcia are good buddies!! I delighted in sending her a photo of Ray and I and asking if she recognized anyone. :-) The world gets smaller each day.

Next day I headed back to St. Augustine to the airport where I was met by my own private air taxi service, my friend Bill in his Cessna SkyHawk 172. We flew home to the Leeward Air Ranch in Belleview, FL for 2 days of fun and flying. More later....