June 5, 2005 - Shenandoah Valley Poker Run

Today was the fourth annual Shenandoah Valley Poker Run.  I decided to go to Front Royal via the northwest quadrant of the ADIZ.  The Poker Run ends up at Shenandoah Valley at 3PM so I my plan was to leave there heading east to St. Mary’s, then cross the Bay and fly up the eastern shore to Golda.  I dislike the long ADIZ transit from St. Mary’s to Essex. 

Driving across the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River, I could see conditions were very hazy.  I couldn’t even see Baltimore.  I considered cancelling but decided to press on.  I put 15 gallons of mogas in the Citabria which is a pain, but on a cross-country, it literally saves me $1 a gallon.  That works out to about $25 bucks.  I can’t be lazy for that kind of money.  Got right through to Potomac ATC on the phone; last time I got a busy signal for 40 minutes.   

There wasn’t much to the Poker Run in and of itself but it was kind of fun to fly in and out of busy fields. 

I talked to the builder of this really nice-looking RV-7A: it was polished bare aluminum with purple tips and a white cowl.  It’s glass tip seams were not filled.  I compared it with another RV that had seamless tips and I liked the unfilled seams better.  The RV-7A had pop-rivets at the trailing edge, just like mine, and you hardly noticed them.  His interior was grey which looked good.  Surprisingly, he didn’t really like his constant speed prop.  His RV makes me want to Get Mine Done!
Front Royal airport, the first stop.  Sign-up is $5.  At each airport you draw a card, and they write down what you drew on your card.  I ended up with a pair, king high.  Needless to say, I didn't win anything.  Front Royal has a glider operation, as you can see.
Luray airport terminal.  Luray is very close to -- you guessed it -- Luray Caverns!
New Market airport terminal.  I did my glider solo about five years ago at this airport.  I filled the Citabria up with cheap AvGas -- $2.85.  I was glad to give them some business.  It’s a Mom and Pop operation, trying hard to make a living running an FBO.  They have a nice little parts store.  
An aerial shot of New Market. 
Eagles Nest airport.  It's also an airport community.  
On the ramp at Shenandoah Valley airport, next to that nice-looking RV-7 I mentioned earlier.  It's interesting to compare the RV-7 to the Citabria.  The Citabria is larger with lots more drag, but has 30 less horsepower.  That's why the RV is so much faster than the Citabria.  But the Citabria is probably a better platform for low and slow sightseeing. 
I had to cross the Blue Ridge mountains of Skyline Ridge drive-fame heading home.  There were a few minutes that I’d have been in a world of hurt if I had lost the engine.  But the trusty Citabria never faltered. 
I crossed the Chesapeake Bay at at 3,500 feet in heavy haze.  At first I couldn’t see the opposite shore and had no horizon.  I was about ready to start flying the attitude indicator when I picked up the shoreline.  I can see how easy it would be to lose control of the plane without a horizon while over water.   

This is a private airport called Ragged Island on the eastern shore. Sweet.  Once on the eastern shore, I flew low at 500 feet following rivers which I never tire of either.  I ran into another taildragger also at 600 feet just north of Easton.  I think it was an L-5 out of Essex Skypark.  We flew alongside a little bit, but not too close.  Then I headed home.  5.7 hours in the air total.  Good day.
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