Day 15 - Daytona Beach FL to Marathon FL to Daytona Beach FL
Waiting for EAA members to return to Marathon after AirVenture is most frustrating, particularly as the first visit had to be postponed due to hurricane Dennis.
Only when the visit to Marathon is completed will the 'Four Corners' Flight around America be over.
**Monday 8 August 2005 - the 'four corners' flight is finally complete!
On Sunday 7 August 'GOOFY' set off for Key West and Marathon in the Florida Keys - Key West was the first destination to complete another 'four corners' endeavour and this was the final landing at the tower controlled airports at the 'four corners' of the lower 48, namely:
Brown Field, San Diego, CA (KSDM) - Bellingham International, WA (KBLI) - Bangor International, ME (KBGR) - Key West International, FL (KEYW)
After a photo session featuring the control tower and terminal where "Welcome to the Conch Republic" was prominently displayed 'GOOFY' left for Marathon, some 45 nm to the east.
Marathon turned out to be an apt name for the final piece of the 'four corners' flight around America jigsaw - it had been a huge marathon to travel around the 'four corners' of the lower 48 visiting EAA chapters at each of the four corners!
The flight to the Florida Keys was spectacular in a very different way to other parts of the country. Firstly there was the Kennedy Space Centre just to the east of the route and only 15 minutes from Spruce Creek Fly-in. Before '911' pilots were able to request a fly-by down the shuttle landing runway and in a C152, 500 ft msl down the huge runway took forever! What pity that 'GOOFY' cannot enjoy the same adventure, particulary as the space shuttle was scheduled to land on this very runway just hours after 'GOOFY' passed by on the way south.
Then came Lake Okeechobee, a huge lake which is clearly visible from space. This lake even has its own weather systems, such is the power of this large body of inland water.
Fertile plains are unusual in this part of Florida, but sure enough the patchwork of fields to the south of Okeechobee show clearly how fertile the area is, thanks to irrigation from the lake.
What a contrast to the Everglades, where alligators have ruled since primeval times. Whilst from the air it looks like a vast area of low lying fields, in reality the swamps tell a totally different story. Apart, that is, from the solitary and 10500 ft runway at Dade-Collier Training & Transition airport and the numerous small grass strips adjacent to isolated homesteads - quite why these homes are there is anybody's guess!
Onwards over the interesting Everglades airport, perched right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico yet within yards of the Everglades themselves. The return flight from Marathon was slightly more to the east and so flew directly over 'alligator alley' the long straight two lane highway linking the east and west coasts of Florida along the northern edge of the Everglades.
Life jacket on for the lengthy flight over the sea to Key West, made worse by ATC instructions to descend to 4000 ft msl shortly after leaving the coastline - there was a great view of a pod of whales, but no chance if the engine quit!
Even worse was the instruction from Key West approach to descend to 1500 ft msl when 20 nm miles out from the airport. So much for filing IFR, but then there was a short shower to contend with on the descent into Key West.
A solitary cruise ship was in dock at Key West as instructions came to report passing EYW, perhaps the most southerly VOR in the USA.
Flying from Key West to Marathon really does give an impression of what the Florida Keys are all about. Seven Mile Bridge is a prime example of how Highway 1 links the various small Keys with the larger settlements such as Marathon.
From the air, the 5000 ft runway at Marathon makes the area look like an airport with a few houses alongside.
Summer is the low season in the Keys so Marathon was relatively quiet. However, the lobster fishing season had begun the previous day which was why there was a myriad of small boats dotting the ocean on the short flight to Marathon.
A Young Eagle with the surname of 'Wood' was awaiting the arrival of 'GOOFY', so Captain Wood and co-pilot Wood were soon in the air looking down on the crystal clear waters surrounding Marathon. This Young Eagle had a good standard of airmanship and despite not being able to see forward over the glareshield he managed to fly 'GOOFY' level most of the time - great job!
The plan had been to return to Spruce Creek the same day, but a long line of severe storms over central Florida put a stop to this. So an enforced sojourn was made in a small condo overlooking the harbour at the City of Key Colony Beach on the outskirts of Marathon, thanks to EAA Chapter 1241's contacts.
What a storm there was that night over Marathon and unfortunately 'GOOFY' was not in a hanger, Still the rain did wash off the salt from the over-water flight.
A red sunrise normally means poor weather, but today was an exception as the flight back across central Florida was uneventful despite storms building over the Gulf of Mexico far to the west of the flight route.
At 11.30 am on Tuesday 8 August, 'GOOFY' landed back at Spruce Creek Fly-in (7FL6) after its 10000 mile flight adventure around the 'four corners' of America.
