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Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:11:26 -070

 Subject: Bahamas Bound

 This is a copy of my E-Mails to my friends back home of our flight to Sun

Fun & the Bahamas.

We flew in My RV6A I built 7 years ago. We had a few problems on the way

back but the trip was really fun and I would do it ag

Don McMullen & Bob Each 

 Hello Everyone

      Well we made it to Pecos. The weather was VFR all the way some high

clouds and a little turbulence. Bob and I left Oxnard at 7:45:am {long

weather briefing} With one stop for gas at Casa Grande Arizona arrived at

Pecos at 2:30pm cal time. The nice people at the FBO loaned us a car to take

to the hotel over night. We are staying at a best western named the Swiss

Clock and the Swiss Clock Restaurant owned by the hotel. 10% off on dinner

meal and free breakfast buffet oh no not another buffet.

      We are planning to leave late in the morning and fly east as far as

the weather will let us. Monday is supposed to be clear on this end maybe.

      Well that's it for now talk to you at the next free wireless internet

connection

 Don

 4/16/07

      Today we made it to McComb Missippi. Just taking it easy waiting for

the thunderstorms to move out of the way. Tomorrow looks good.

     We had good VFR weather all the way again today with no tailwind to

help. We had to fly low 11500 feet. Because of a leak in the oxygen system.

We ran out yesterday. normally We can make all the way across the U.S.

without refilling. I will have to find the leak.

      We got up late and lazily ate at the Swiss clock buffet restaurant

(Did pretty good). We Departed Pecos Texas at 10:00am local time. Like I

said we had smooth air and VFR weather all the way. We stopped for Lunch

and

just for a break at Brenham Texas. They have a real neat 50's restaurant

with high school girls wearing their poodle skirts and running around like

crazy. we had to wait for about an hour to be seated very popular place.

There was even a big private twin engine jet Parked right in front with its

power unit running to keep the cabin cool while the pilot and passengers

ate

lunch.

      Mccomb seems like a good place to me the FBO let us take the loaner

car

to the hotel and keep it over night. life is good. Bob and I are going out

for a Cajun food dinner tonight hope it is good. the Cajun restaurant was

closed so we ate at a Chinese buffett (Oh I ate too much)

      We should make it to Zephyr hills Florida tomorrow if the thunder

storms have gone. Bob tells me it is time to go to dinner now so see you

later.

Don

4/17/07

      OK We Had an easy trip to Zephyrhills today. VFR again all the way.

At

times we had 45 knots of tail wind and registered 210 knots of ground

speed.

Just a little turbulence on our decent into Zephyrhills. We departed McComb

Mississippi at 10:00am local time. arrived at Zephyrhills airport at 2:00

pm

local time. for a total of 3hrs. On the way over while not listening to

flight following Hello Everyone

      OK We Had an easy trip to Zephyrhills today. VFR again all the way.

At

times we had 45 knots of tail wind and registered 210 knots of ground

speed.

Just a little turbulence on our decent into Zephyrhills. We departed McComb

Mississippi at 10:00am local time. arrived at Zephyrhills airport at 2:00

pm

local time. for a total of 3hrs. On the way over while not listening to

flight following Bob and I took turns watching movies on my IPOD they were

great and really make the time go by. After landing, we fueled the

airplane,

tied down the airplane and got our rental car, and went to the Quality Inn

with wireless Internet.(I can't believe how many hotels have it now) For

the

next three days were going to attend Sun N Fun and then off the Bahamas. We

will probably see some people we know here. Jim Ayers has already called me

and we will meet up with him tomorrow.

      Well that's about it for now pretty calm day that's the way we like

it. 

Don 

Bob and I took turns watching movies on my IPOD they were great and really

make the time go by. After landing, we fueled the airplane, tied down the

airplane and got our rental car, and went to the Quality Inn with wireless

Internet.(I can't believe how many hotels have it now) For the next three

days were going to attend Sun N Fun and then off the Bahamas. We will

probably see some people we know here. Jim Ayers has already called me and

we will meet up with him tomorrow.

      Well that's about it for now pretty calm day that's the way we like

it.

Don

 4/18/07

      I can see that there is a lot of activity on the EAA E-Mail so I will

make this short. Bob and I had a very fun 2 days at Sun N Fun fly-in. We

met

a lot of people we know from around the states. Jim Ayers, Donald & Linda,

all the Vans people and some other people I don't know their names. Lots of

activity with aerobatics going on overhead, hundreds of new exciting

airplanes, War birds, new avionics and lots of other gadgets. The only

negative thing was yesterday we ate at the paradise cafe and I had the most

awful plate of over priced ice cold, fishy, greasy, catfish that I ever

had.

Bob had a bad chicken cheese sandwich and he said it was awful also. I hope

we can forget it in a couple of days.

      We are departing tomorrow morning for Cat Island Bahamas, one of the

out islands. We are going to try to visit islands that we have never been

to

before.

      Thank all of you for your comments on my e-mails. Talk to you next

wireless connection.

Don 

 4-19-07

      Arrived at Cat island today. Departed Zephyrhills around 10:00am. We

had filed a VFR flight plan for Governors Harbor Eluthra Island to clear

Bahamas customs. We contacted Miami radio to cross the ADIZ and no flight

plan. So I had to air file all over again. It was a 2.5 hour flight from

zph

to governors harbor. We only had to fly through one rain storm not too bad

washed off the bugs. We had them fuel the aircraft $4.63 Ouch! Clearing

customs was easy the only problem I had was I forgot where I put my

passport. It took me about 45 minutes to find it. What pressure. I had put

it with my aircraft papers I was sure they would ask for them. The

officials

were cordial and soon we were on our way to Cat Island.

      Before we departed Governors Harbor we called The Orange Creek Inn

and

ask them to meet us at the remote air strip. After a short flight we

arrived

and the car was waiting.

      It is a nice hotel basic TV with 3 channels good enough. There are no

restaurants or town just the hotel with a store and we have a refrigerator

and a stove. So it is basic lunch and dinner. The water is beautiful and

there is supposed to be good snorkeling here we will find out.

      Tomorrow we might take the bicycles and ride a few miles to town?

Then

we might take the airplane and explore the airports close by?

No Internet here so I will save these e-mails and send them when I can.

Don

 4/20/07 Fri.

      Today was a good day. Bob and I rented bicycles and rode to Arthur's

Town. It was very small with a little square. Police station, churches, and

a few other government buildings. There was a very nice malison right along

the beach. The beach was rustic with wrecked boats and lots of marine junk,

conch shells, & lots of other stuff. There are a lot of abandoned brick and

concrete dilapidated homes. We stopped by a local Bahamas lady's malicon

bar

and talked to her. she said the locals had died and their children had

moved

to Nassau Island for Employment. The locals live on fishing, farming, small

jobs, and little stores.

      After that we rode out to the airport and flew the airplane at a very

low level altitude down the beach over other towns and airports until we

came to Hawks Nest Cat Island. We stopped and had lunch (2 fish

sandwiches)

with a couple of cokes cost $44.00 nobody ask us for the $15.00 landing fee

so we departed back for Arthur's Town. While at Hawks Nest We met a lot of

pilots and had good conversations.

      After landing back at Arthur's town we rode the bicycles back to

Arthur's Town to the little lady's bar and had a beer and talked to her

some

more. She was born on the island in a house right across the street from

the

bar. She had only left the Island once when she was a little girl. (Nassau)

Then we rode the long ride back to the Orange tree Inn(3 miles) with only

one more stop at a little road side local bar. We had a real good time

talking to some locals from around the area. We didn't stay long because we

had to get back before 5 o'clock to settle up on the Bill. The People that

owned the hotel were 7th day Adventist. They were going to be closed on

Saturday they would give us a ride back to the airport in the morning at

9:00am.

    Tomorrow we are going to San Salvador Island. We hope to go scuba

diving.

Still no Wireless Internet so see you next time.

Don & Bob

P.S.  The only problem we've encountered is the phone system.  Unreliable

is

an understatement!!! 

 4/21/07

      We departed Arthur's town about 10:00am and flew to San Salvador

Island, Bahamas. We were in route about 1/2 hour. Checked in with customs

had our C7 form stamped called the Riding rock Inn to come and get us and

that was all there was to it. The hotel is pretty basic($145 per night)

ref,

phone doesn't work,cell phone on different system,But they do have wireless

in the bar. The food is expensive (Breakfast $13.80 Lunch $18.00 Dinner

$34.00) Per person. That's the way it is all over the Islands. We go to the

local store and get Peanuts,sardines,crakers and such and try to eat one

meal out a day. We walked into the little village. it had three stores, a

liquor store bar, some government buildings, and the locals homes. There is

a small harbor there and we are going scuba diving tomorrow. The dive

master

is going to pick us up at 8:00am for a 2 tank dive and take us to the

airport. We are going to have to fly low to keep from getting bent.

      We think we are going to the Exumas island chain and stay someplace

there tomorrow night. So until the next Wireless connection see ya later

Don & Bob

 4/22/07 Sunday

      We went scuba diving today. After about a 45 minute boat ride we

arrived on the spot that was supposed to be one of the best in the world?

It was a wall with the top about 40 to 50 feet and the bottom ? Bob and I

dove together as buddies the dive instructor was very careful with us

because

we were old. He really checked us out thoroughly. After a little while I

could see that he thought we were good enough and sort of let us go. It was

a beautiful dive with the usual Caribbean reef stuff. The visibility was

about 100 ft. There was very little current and that made it a very easy

dive. It was good to get back into the water after a long break. The second

dive was just off the Marina and was supposed to be shallower but we still

went down to about 80 feet on the second wall. I think the second dive was

prettier and better visibility. there was more fish and few barracuda and

one

about 4 ft long. The water was not cold to me and all I was wearing was a

t-shirt.

      With a little talk from the dive instructor we decided not to fly to

Exumas today. It was also Sunday and we didn't know if there will be anyone

around the airport to give us a ride to town. (did I mention that the phone

system out here is not the best). At least we will not be rushed and can

give another try in the morning.(It was a good thing we didn't fly because

it rained very hard)

      After the Dive Bob and I cleaned up had a beer in the hotel bar and

then walked about a mile to the airport. We toured the Club Med and a

little

farther to a very small gift center and restaurant (good prices $4.50

hamburger). We bought a couple of soft drinks and walked back to the hotel.

That's about it for now I will send this from the bar.

Don & Bob

P.S. Between the two of us,Don is the better diver and, oh, did we tell

you--the phone system is a pain-B!!!! 

 4/23/07 Monday

      We departed San Salvador around 9:30 am and headed for Exuma

International. We arrived there about 35 minutes later. When we got there

we

found out there was some big regatta going on and every room and rental car

was taken. We got fuel and our C7 papers stamped, looked around the airport

a little and departed for Farmers Cay. We landed one island short of our

island on someone's private airstrip. A nice gentleman met us at our

airplane and told us that the airport was about 10 miles farther down the

Exuma chain. We had packed the charts in the bottom of our baggage and

couldn't get to them. Our gps doesn't show all the airports here in the

Bahamas. The people are friendly and don't seem to mind us landing on their

private strips.

We finally found Farmers Cay and the airstrip. We walked to the little

village and talked to the local people. They told us that the only place to

stay was the yacht club. We finally arrived at the yacht club, ate lunch,

and got a room for the night.

We met the owner. Roosevelt Nixon was his name. He said one democrat and

one

republican. He is a nice man. He ask me if I would fly him to the next

island in the morning. I said I would. I will have to leave Bob at the

airport and return for him.

      We went for another walk around the island and returned to rest up a

little and then a really good conch dinner. There is wireless internet here

but they want $8.00 per hour for it so I am going to skip it for now.

That's

it for now see you tomorrow.

Don & Bob

 4/24/07 Tuesday 

      Today Roosevelt Nixon (the yacht club owner)gave us a ride to the

airport around 8:30am I flew him to Black Point to visit a friend. (I think

I might have scared him badly) There was a 90 degree crosswind about 20

knots. I didn't have any weight in the airplane-low fuel and left baggage

with Bob. The takeoff was one of the more challenging I have made. I don't

know why but there seems to be lots of turbulence on all the strips out

here. I held it on the ground until enough speed for flight and when I

pulled back on the stick right off the runway we went sideways. Good thing

it was flat all around. I dropped Roosevelt off and went back for Bob. With

all the weight in the airplane it handled much better. (as for as Farmers

Cay goes-not so good)

      Bob and I flew to Black Point also. While walking to town a local

lady

from Black Point came by with a golf cart and offered us a ride to town.

Her

name was Lorraine. She owned a local restaurant. She also owned a house

(That she took us to see) just out of town that she rented by the week,

$1000 high time 800 low time. The house was real nice and we would like to

come back and rent it some time. Lots of things to do here, golf cart,

boats, bicycles, good beaches, and a sleepy little town with lots of

friendly people.

    Bob and I walked back to the airport and flew to Staniel cay. We met

an

lot of people there from all over. Some Pilots some yachtsmen. We had a

real

good time there. We ate lunch with some nice people that we really enjoyed.

I think that place has really grown. Lots more places to eat and the prices

has dropped a little. This is a nice place and both of us agree that we

would return.

      Bob and I returned to the airport and flew to Normans cay to look

around. I had heard from other people that this place was a really nice

place. Well you can forget it. Not worth much. Would not return.

      We flew out of there to Rock Sound on Eleuthera Island. We didn't

know

what to expect here but was pleasantly surprised. Easy check through

customs, very nice cab driver to help us get a rental car and hotel. The

place he recommended is really nice and reasonably inexpensive. We drove

down town and got a pizza in a nice mans place. We ate pizza and listened

to

this local mans life story. Very interesting. We don't know where we will

end up tomorrow. We will figure it out in the morning. No Internet here.

Talk to you later.

Don & Bob

P.S.  Don made 7 takeoff's and landings today in rather difficult

conditions.  He did a excellent job on everyone of them.  Oh, did I mention

the phone system still stinks..B 

 4/25/07

      We departed Rock Sound (Eleuthera Island) around 9:30am and headed

for

North Eleuthera where we took a taxi to the harbor. We took a taxi boat to

Harbor Island. I have heard so much about this place I wanted to check it

out. Well it was ok to see but I wouldn't want to stay here or return

again.

It was really crowded with people and a very dense population. Every one

has

golf carts. Lots of hotels, good beaches, and even a pink sand beach,(we

didn't go there). We ate lunch (2 conch burger 3 soft drinks $40 dollars).

We went back to the airport and flew to Marsh Harbor on Abaco Island.

Checked in with customs, got a taxi to town and got a nice hotel. The

Island

Breezes. This place is a good place to spend the last day

      We will leave the Bahamas in the morning. We see the weather in east

Texas & Louisiana. We will have to figure that out.

That is about it for now see you later.

Bob & Don

 4/26/07 

     Well today was an exciting day. We departed Marsh harbor about

11:00am

Arrived Ft Pierce Fl at 12:30pm we had called customs and told them we

would

be there in an hour and a half. I have never had such a problem going so

slow in order to make the 1 1/2 time limit. (had a tail wind also) Customs

doesn't like you arrive early. It was the easiest check in we have ever

had.

after checking my Pilots license and medical all he wanted to talk about

was

building an experimental aircraft. we talked for about 1/2 hour had a good

time. After that we went next door and had a nice lunch at the Tiki

restaurant.

      After refueling we departed to the north. We were going to fly to the

Florida panhandle and wait for the weather to dissipate. Well we didn't

quite make it. The engine started running rough and after checking a few

things out discovered that my electronic ignition had failed and we were

running on the remaining magneto. I hit the nearest airports button on my

GPS and discovered Cross City airport just 24 miles behind me and nothing

in

front of me for quite a while. So we made a 180 degree turn for Cross City.

I stayed high just incase (10,500 ft) wound up over the airport at 2000 ft

left downwind 1000 (staying high) Power off landing with just a little slip

to loose a little altitude (good practice for emergency) and what do you

know pretty good landing.

      A young boy in his last year of high school came out to help. He

brought out what tools he had and we took the airplane apart. While testing

with the engine running I put the key switch on the electronic ignition and

it started working intermittently and caused the engine to back fire and

destroy the starter return spring. Anyway to make a long story short I

called klouse Saviors the maker of the electronic ignition and he walked me

through trouble shooting the problem. Looks like a P-lead that was

grounding

out on the ignition switch. I also called Jim Ayers and ask him if he had a

spare starter motor I could borrow until I got home. He said yes and

Overnighted me the starter. So as it looks we might get the starter by

morning and might be able to leave tomorrow.

      This all might work out for the better the storms are dissipating?

and

we might have better weather tomorrow.

This is a good place good cheap hotel close to the airport, loaner car,

Buffet, beer, wireless internet, what else could we ask for. Well that is

about it for now talk to you later.

Don & Bob

 4/27/07 Friday

      I am going to make this short because I am tired. We got the starter

that Jim Ayers overnighted to us. It came in around noon. It took about an

hour to get every thing put back together. I left the master on over night

so the battery was stone dead. The nice people at the airport gave us a

jumpstart from their loaner car and it started right up.

      After checking things out real well,we took off and headed for points

west. The engine ran well and it was a boring 5 hour flight against 20 kts

head winds. We landed at Sulfur,Louisiana just west of Lafayette. This is

another good place with nice people, loaner car (Brand new) inexpensive

hotel, and Cajun Charlie's restaurant.

      Don't know if we are going to make it home tomorrow or the next

day.Have to look at the weather and head winds and see.

Well that is it for now.Talk to you later.

Bob & Don

 4/28/07 Saturday

      We had a long day today. Left Louisiana around 9:30am. Stopped at Big

Springs Texas for an good lunch and fuel. Flew from there around thunder

storms with lightning, to Casa Grande AZ. fueled there and headed for home.

Called flight watch for a weather check only to find out that Oxnard was

overcast with fog. Low IFR. I was too tired after flying 10 hours to do an

approach to minimums so we landed at Apple Valley. The windshield was so

full of bugs we could hardly see out of it especially with the sun going

down. So I made a GPS Z approach into runway 18. I didn't know it was

sloping downhill. I had to press really hard on the brakes and the right

one

stopped working. It was a long runway so we went straight ahead. I killed

the power and let the airplane come to a stop. Bob and I had to pull the

airplane approximately 1/8 mile to the tiedowns. Jim Ayers called and I

told

him of our plight. He called a friend and he is coming to help us tomorrow.

Met some wonderful people who transported us to a motel and invited us to

dinner with them.  Hopefully we can get this thing fixed and fly home

tomorrow. Well that's about it for now. See you later.

Bob & Don

P.S.  Morning.  Jim set us up with a Mr. Tom Gumo(sp), who has built an RV

or Rocket, and we are expecting him to arrive any minute to take us back to

the airport and help us repair our RV6. Cheers. 

  Tom and his friend Jack Helped us get parts and fix our breaks. After a

nice lunch at the apple valley airport Bob and I departed for Oxnard.

Returning to solid overcast the atis said 900 overcast but it was more like

500 when we broke out from the ILS approach. It is good to be back home I

need to rest up, fix a lot of little things on the airplane and get ready

for the next adventure. Until next time see you then

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