Old and stupid....nail on the head!
My membership is paid up in that club. I remember well my student cross country, had the crap scared out of me at the second stop. My route was from Orl. Ex. to Stuart on the SE coast south of Ft. Pierce for the 1st stop. Had a blast except the guy filling the tank rounded the tab up to an even dollar amount which was over 50 cents more than he pumped...told me they're allowed to do that. I handed him exact cash and said take it or leave it, then handed him my card from the Florida Dept. of Revenue and said we'll be in touch. Was a good audit a few weeks later!
Second stop was Venice, Fl. on the west coast but on the way just for kicks I circled the water tower for the city of Okeechobee on the north end of the lake, took a couple pics then headed for Venice. On approach to Venice I had a direct headwind and was set up for final when suddenly the controls went mushy and I was dropping like a flying piano. Venice a/p is right on the water and I had experienced a sudden 180 deg. shift in wind direction. Poured on the coals, recovered fine and landed. While talking to the FBO that signed me off he told me he was watching me and saw the sudden swing of the tetrahedron, was pleased that I handled it(frankly so was I). Third stop was back at Orl. Executive.
My former wife was also licensed and once in a while we'd fly to Venice and park at the west end of the ramp which was no more than 100 yds from the beach on the Gulf. We would spend the day on the beach, take advantage of local food delivery, then fly home late afternoon or if good weather we would return after dark. Back then Orlando was beautiful city to fly over at night, as were the attractions like Disney. Now, Venice is closed off all the way around, can no longer do the beach thing.
Cedar Key on the Gulf coast north of Tampa was always a fun day. Fly over midmorning, do a wing wag as you flew over the town and by the time you were parked and tied down this old gal in a beat up Chevy station wagon was there to pick you up. She'd haul you into town, arrange a time and place to pick you up later, then haul you back to the a/p. Old girl had skin like rawhide, all from the sun. Cedar Key had great food so you usually would eat first then walk around til your belly felt more comfy. When you were taken back to the a/p you paid for both trips, I always tried to be generous. About ten yrs. later I took my new wife over there on a beautiful sunny day in April and she fell in love with the place. I overflew the town, landed, parked, and who should drive up....rawhide in her old more beat up Chevy stationwagon. She took one look at me and with a very toothless grin asked where the heck I've been keeping myself. She remembered me and the N number. Unbelievable.
