Last Week Of Goofing Around... For a While, Anyway

Before we get back to business, we had one more week of kind of goofing around. The leaves are changing, the weather has been beautiful, and we've had a number of friends ask to go for flights around the area. So, we went flying! I've logged about 15 hours over the past two weeks, which isn't too shabby considering we didn't really go all that far or do anything too crazy... just a handful of <2hr sightseeing flights. The typical route was departing northeast from C17 towards the Dubuque area, passing just north of Dubuque and then following the Mississippi River northbound to Prairie Du Chien. I think the river delta near the PDC airport is one of the prettiest landmarks you can find in a 40-minute radius.

Fall colors near KPDC along the Mississippi River (took a 172 on this flight for a better view)

In addition to maybe three or four runs as described above, we took a couple local flights over the Cedar Rapids area, as well as two back-to-back Sunday trips to KLNR for some delicious breakfast at the Piccadilly Lilly airport diner. I absolutely love destination meals at small airports! Saw an RV-10 there once too, which always lifts the spirits :-).

Our final trip home from KLNR would take us back to KIIB to put the plane "Julie" (our favorite Archer) back to sleep. We had borrowed her from her owner for about the last two weeks and kept her in Marion, and we had an absolute blast with her. Really makes you excited to eventually have your own plane to do these kinds of things year-round! Not to mention the improved performance, payload, etc etc of the RV10 vs. the Archer.... but I don't have to tell you about that.

Mike & Sarah in "Julie" the Archer

Anyway, one more pic before we get back to business. On our final trip home to KIIB we decided to stop in Prairie Du Chien and go for a bit of a "supply run." We often stop in PDC to go to Jones Black Angus Supper Club, which is a nice steakhouse restaurant across the street from the airport (remember how we like destination meals?)... anyway on occasion we will walk about 1/4 mile north up the highway to Quality Beverage and grab a case or two of Spotted Cow, and maybe some other Wisconsin treasures that we feel like splurging for. Well, this time we skipped the Black Angus and went straight to Quality Beverage... I'm pleased to report we're now stocked!

Two 12-packs of Spotted Cow, one New Glarus sampler 12-pack, bottles of Serendipity and Raspberry Tart (Sarah's picks, of course)... and two blocks (one 2-year aged, one 10-year aged) of fancy "Super Sharp" Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese!

This should keep us happy for a while... now, on to building!!!!!