December 17, 2021 - Return from Johnson City, TN
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| I had a nice visit with my Mom. I left this Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather was not nearly as nice as it was when I flew down. The problem was low ceilings, which normally would not be an issue in the flatlands I fly in, but Mohnson City is surrounded by mountains. In the morning, the forecast looked like I could get through my normal route towards Frederick, through the mountain valleys: Mountain Empire Airport, Blacksburg and Roanoke. The weather was clear after Roanoke. But when I checked just before leaving for the airport, that way was now IMC. Things looked OK on the east side of the mountain range, if I could just get over there. I thought I should be able to get through via the Watauga River pass due east of Johnson City. The overcast wasn't that low: 1,500 to 2,000 above ground level. |
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I took off and headed due east, passing Elizabethton on my left.
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| After Elizabethton, I came to the Wautauga Dam and big Watauga Lake. |
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The ceiling is touching the top of the mountains in some areas but not in others.
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| The ceiling looks higher to the south. |
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| The ceiling looks worse to the north. |
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| But as the Wautauga Lake turns into the Wautaga River, things look good for my easterly course. |
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A mountain peak just touches the clouds to the north.
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| Things still looking good to the east. |
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A big house on the side of a mountain sits all by itself.
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| Things are getting brighter. |
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| The ceiling overhead is starting to break up. I'll be out of the mountains once I cross that ridge up ahead. |
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Passing by the good-sized town of Boone, North Carolina; home of Appalachian State University (who knew?).
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| Still heading east, I'm out of the mountains but it's not what I would call flatlands yet. |
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Following highway 421 east.
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| Soon I came to Wilkes County Airport (KUKF) where I stopped by some avgas at an excellent price: $4.54/gal. Does that seem high? It's $5.30 at my home airport. |
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They were just finishing up an airport Christmas party when I arrived. Nice, friendly airport.
Back at home, I was surprised to discover that I had been to this airport before. It was back in 2012, when I ferried down an RV-6A and brought back Bruce's RV-3. Link.
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| Upon leaving Wilkes County, I turned northeast and climbed as high as I could to around 5,500 feet. Even though the weather wasn't the best, there was one positive that made up for all the others: a good tailwind. I made around 200 mph all the way home. |
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It's not too hard to see which way the wind blows with that smokestake down there.
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Passing by Blue Ridge Aiport (KMTV). Like Wilkes County, this airport also has excellent fuel prices -- why does this area, southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina have such low fuel prices? -- and the crown jewel: an airport restaurant! I'll have to stop someday.
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| From the forecasts this morning, I thought that once I got on the east side of the mountains the weather would be sunny and clear. It did get better at first, but instead of clearing completely, it worsened. I had to descend after awhile to stay under the ceiling. |
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| Some areas were better than others. |
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It was definately bad to the northwest.
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| Descendig to stay under the clouds. |
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Cruising by a whispy layer.
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| Passing by Farmville Regional Airport (KFVX) in Virginia. I landed here once ten or so years ago. They used to have a restaurant at one time but it is long since closed. Not surprising since this airport is pretty remote. |
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| Another smoke trail as I approach the Rappahannock River. |
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| Another look at the Rappahannock with the Potomac River visible in the distance. |
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Crossing the wide Potomac River, looking southeast, in the late afternoon.
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About to cross the Patuxent River, with the Chesapeake Bay in the background.
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Looking east with the Kent Narrows Bridge at center.
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| Looking west and down at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. |
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| As I approached Essex Skypark, it was about 4:45 in the late afternoon. It gets dark at 5:00. Good thing I had that nice tailwind. |
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| Now this is a first: a picture of the moon taken from the plane. |
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Looking at the Patapsco River and the Frances Key bridge.
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| Another shot of the Moon. |
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