Millins' Rainy Visit

Andy and Theresa had been planning a visit with us for months. We had week after week of spectacular weather - until the date approached for their visit. The weather pattern then changed to several weeks of unrelenting rain and gloom.

Andy was undaunted. He has a current instrument rating and, of course, his plane is equipped with all the bells and whistles. They called to say they were departing on Wednesday morning. I looked out my office window and saw only wind, rain and fog. I followed their progress on Flightaware and, sure enough, they popped out of the clouds right on time.

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Since it wouldn't stop raining, we decided on a non-flying, but decidedly aviation related activity. We visited the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. It is a new annex to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and was on Andy's bucket list. It is chock full of aviation treasures and legends including a space shuttle, the SR-71, the Enola Gay, and more. 

Andy and Theresa about to check off a bucket list entry

Space Shuttle Discovery

Andy and Theresa

The shuttle wing (get it?)

The ultimate aviation backdrop

The Concorde

The SR- 71. Still futuristic after 50 years.

The Enola Gay, which dropped an atomic bomb on Japan

We had a great time at the museum, then fought ridiculous traffic home.

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One last panoramic shot. 

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The next day it was still raining, so we went to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.

Giant mural of the days when it was a railroad terminal

Very enthusiastic diners. The food here is terrific.

Sandwich toast!

The place was mobbed.

Andy is a pie maniac, but for Theresa, it's ice cream.

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The next day, it was low and cloudy, but the rain stopped. We took a 32 mile bike ride down the Schuylkill trail to Manayunk, a trendy little riverside town just outside downtown Philadelphia.

We saw some great scenery along the river on the way, then had a great lunch at Le Bus, a sidewalk cafe known for its great food.

Andy- Look, a deer! Mark- Where?

Philly city limits

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The river was high and chocolate brown after weeks of rain. It was still very scenic.

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The whole gang.

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A commuter train adds local color

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At last, we pull into Manayunk and stop at Le Bus just in time to grab the last table.

Lunch!

Lunch with Nancy

Andy starts out with an amazing croissant

Pie madman broadens his pastry horizons

Warning- never eat anything bigger than your head.

Lunch arrives and it is great

Amazing burger

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Too soon, lunch is over and we start the trip home.

Return trip on the trail

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The next day Andy and I went to the airport to finally fly as the sun had actually come out. Unfortunately, that was because 30 knot winds had cleared the skies. We got as far as preflighting the plane and climbing in before we decided that it wouldn't be much fun to go up and get our heads banged around in the wind and turbulence.

The girls wanted to go to Longwood Gardens, a huge botanical garden. For that, the weather was perfect and we had a great time.

Here are a few random pictures out of over a thousand we took.

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After Longwood, we headed to The Whip, a local treasure. It is an authentic English pub hidden out in horse country in Chester county. The food and ambiance are terrific. We got there early to beat the crowd and had a terrific, if way to large, dinner.

Andy and Theresa at The Whip

There's always room for dessert

Cheers to another great day

The aftermath. So. Much. Food.

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Andy and I only managed to get in one late day flight in my plane during the entire visit. The good news is that conditions were absolutely perfect.

Happy guys finally aviating.

Nuclear plant view

Tremendous visibility

A shot of the panel

Great picture. Check out the shadow of the prop in the winglet.

I think Andy had a good time too.

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Despite the weather we had a great time. Andy's ability to get here even in the rain gives me motivation to get going on my own instrument rating.

As an added plus, we finally found out why my autopilot isn't working. We pulled the roll servo and found a shear screw that had, well, sheared. A replacement is on the way from Trutrak.

Thanks again for the visit Andy and Theresa. Less than 70 days until we drop in on our way to Oshkosh.

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