Still Ohio

How spiteful the weather is. After a bit of a late start I made it over to the airport, (I had to bring the courtesy car back). The airport had a TBM parked outside, as well as a Mooney. I spent some time talking to the Mooney pilot, he had been having an oil problem. The TBM pilot came in, a younger man, and we chatted for a minute. I got to sit in the cockpit, incidentally the owner came along later and offered me a ride without hesitation, I almost took it, except I hesitated. I shouldn't really go more north than I already am. I think this is the first milestone of the trip. A flight offered that I had to turn down!!! In a TBM too.
I have grown really fond of this airport. I think by now any remnants of my first reaction are totally gone. Jim has been more than hospitibal to me, and the people who come in here have that small town family vibe going that I love back home. All in all, if the snow has to stop me. This is not a bad place to get stuck.

Ohio!

After what seemed like a never ending cycle of postponements, (weather as well as just not having everything together) I packed my one bag and made my way to the airport. In order to start the trip off with some kind of plan, my father offered to fly me the first leg, to Ohio, where I met up with a friend. It took us about three hours of smooth flying over the clouds and playing with the avionics before we reached the snow laden grids of Ohio.

Arriving in Ohio, my first impression was slightly desolate. The airport looked practically abandoned, and I became quite certain then and there that the trip was over. My father would get back in the airplane and go home. Day after day I would return to the airport looking for a ride, and day after day I would fail. These thoughts were practically cemented when an airport attendant came out to fuel our airplane. He barely even lifted his arms to direct us. When I walked into the airport however, every turned around. I met Jim, the friendly worker behind the desk who took his job with the enthusiasm of a salesman. The second I told him what my plans were, he pointed out two possibilities for the morning of people he knew would be going west, as well as the possibility of an air cargo company a couple miles north who fly all over the country all the time. If I connect with them, I might possibly open up a network all over the country. He told me to keep the courtesy car (nicest one I have yet to drive) all night, and he would be back in the morning to help me.

The town itself is extremely flavorful in that it has not been overrun by corporate America, I did not see chain restaurants or convenient stores, and when I asked where I could eat, I was told a place called the Barn. The Barn is an actual barn that burned down in the 30's I believe, and was rebuilt. It is now a beautiful multi-level restaurant, with waitresses out of the Little House On The Prairie, decked out with the bonnet and smile. Everything in the town was covered in snow possibly feet of snow, and glistening. The plows were either backhoes or lawn tractors with a plow.

All in all, the first day has gone by as smoothly and successfully as possible. The two hardest things were taken care of for me, a flight and a room, but now I have the confidence to see what tomorrow will throw at me.

This has been day one of my adventure on February 7th, (which also happens to be my mother's birthday) Happy Birthday!!!

As I have not yet departed, I feel slightly obligated to keep the passive couch potato; the reader (you) content by letting you know, no I am indeed leaving. Tomorrow morning I plan to begin my journey.
I suppose I should also stop assuming that everyone reading this knows exactly what my plans are. I think I will explain, so for those of you who have heard me ramble on a thousand times feel free to stop reading now.
I plan on departing from the Great Barrington Airport with a backpack, my camera, and a little bit of confidence in the hopes of hitch-hiking (by air) to Santa Fe, NM. My father has generously offered to fly me south to the Virginia area in hopes that there is more activity. I do not consider myself a very adventurous person so I figured that if I threw myself into the lions pit (metaphorical lion of course) then I would have no choice but to adapt and survive, or... the alternative is the knowledge that I should never ever attempt anything like this again.
I think that is a sufficient explanation for now. The rest should be fairly self explanetory with the unfolding of this blog.

Certain days it takes getting in the air and seeing everything from an objective point of view to truly appreciate the beauty of your own home. This picture was taken just about a week ago when I took my friend for a quick loop around the area, stretch my wings and such.