My program for 3 days flying in Florida was pretty simple: Key West, Bahamas, Orlando. But sometimes even simple things do not work out and you have to go with the flo(w).
Airplanes4rent located at Fort Lauderdale Executive reserved a Cessna 172 for me including David as safety pilot. As usual I decided to have somebody else on board to chat along the way and keep that little holiday feeling by letting him to radio as well as some flying in between when I want to take pics or just enjoy views. Monday morning…based on Kayla’s description I find Hangar 20 without any problems in the maze of KFXE. What a place to be! Any pilot could easily spend a day or two just watching the traffic here!
Quickly we agree on a route: head South to the Keys, have a couple of stops, head back towards the West coast for additional landings and return via scenic Everglades.
Yipeeeh- I am flying in Florida
Soon after we take off….yipeeeehhhhh, I am flying in Florida! RW09 takes as directly to the coast line, Palm Beach on my left, Miami to my right. However….our fun just lasts 15 minutes. The warning for retractable gear just doesn’t stop beeping … definitely no fun on a 3 hrs trip so we decide to make this a circuit only and head back to land.
Everglades views
1 hour later-second take off. By now it it too late to go South and anyway, we get hungry and it is horribly humid and hot. Let’s head West instead. David knows about our African flying so after 30 minutes scenic over the Everglades he challenges me to land at Everglades City (X01).
Everglades City (X01)
Lovely approach, I start to get the Cessna landing feel back and take off with an even bigger smile: lunch next!
It is only a short hop to Naples (KAPF) with yet more nice views and yet more tummy grumbles. Definitely time for lunch! We land, get marshalled by a guy in a golf cart, walk inside and pick up our car keys for free (well there was a ramp fee of 20$ but that was well worth it). Love the service- and love having David around who knows that famous Michelbob’s is just around the corner for Florida’s best SpareRibs!
Naples (KAPF)
Happily wr head back to Fort Lauderdale an hour later. Sorry to have missed Key West? Definitely not! I had a brilliant time and enjoyed every minute of it!