For the past two messages I have succeeded in drawing out a simple subject into something rather complex.  Before I start typing this segment I can hardly see just what might make it as large as an endeavor as the past two.  After all, this leg was done alone, over a 900 mile course.  Just me, and my ELT!
     Early Monday morning the 3rd of Aug. I had my wife drive me to the Oshkosh airport so that I could unload anything that I didn't need on the trip back.  Heading south towards the Texas heat, if I was to make my goal of Shawnee OK. I new I would have to leave early and light.  At 0530 in the morning, you can drive anywhere you want around Whitman field, so we parked right in front of the plane!  Basically I gave my wife every thing except, my fire extinguisher, tie down ropes, tool kit, and an extra quart of oil.  Check the weather? Nope, go till you can't, stop till you can.  This had to be the motto for the entire trip. Airplane untied, I pulled it out of the parking groove, and proceeded to preflight it like 800,000 people had been pawing over it for the last week.  All in order I turned around and took a picture of the silhouette of my aircraft, tightly outlined by the 1.6 million  feet (assuming everybody brought two each) that trampled the grass to a mere powdered dirt by the end of the week.
     Leaving this time in the morning also cuts out all the pilot briefings and lines that come with the mass exodus.  Not to mention the embarrassment of having a line of professional pilots watch this little white airplane cut a perfect zig zag course down a perfectly straight runway!  I called the tower for clearance on my little hand held. "Experimental N72133, taxi to runway of your choice and call back for take of clearance."  Going south, and wanting Marcia to see the departure, I taxied to 18R. "White experimental, 133, cleared for take off, come see us again!"  "Experimental 133 rolling, good day fellows!" Left, right, left, 75 mph, up and out of here.  Beautiful morning for flying.
     Almost immediately I entered light rain on the climb out.  I was still able to climb out to 2500 feet and feel comfortable with the visibility and cloud clearance.  I changed frequencies to 122.75 to listen to anybody that may be heading the same way.  Not this morning, just a few heading inbound to the fly in from the south east.  I set a course for direct shawnee and saw that I would be flying over Iowa City, Iowa at the two hour mark.  This then, would be my first fuel stop.  The rain continued for the biggest part of the leg.  It seemed that every drop that ran up my canopy would proceed in perfect line to the back edge and then drip, or spray, directly down the back of my flight suit! Refreshing!?  Not having a wing man, also allowed the comfort of removing my David Clarks, and enjoying the freedom of motion, and freedom from brain crush!  Arriving at Iowa City with out incident, I would be landing in the rain and on the runway with the highest terrain at the approach end.  From base to final, I chose not to roll out, just added top rudder to convert the turn into a steep slip.  This brought  the glide slope  to an angle to clear the nicest houses on the hill, and still keep the runway in sight over the nose of the Sonerai.  Taxiing in I found the FBO that earned the honor of the highest fuel price I have ever seen! Is it arrogant to say I've seen a lot?  $2.25 per gallon!  I know I'm only taking on 8 gallons, but I know what they are paying for the stuff!  There ought to be a law!
      With gold laced fuel in tank, I blasted off again in light rain and virga.  Had to show a Cessna 441 my belly to get his attention on the initial climb out.  Always looking for a reason to rearrange the blue side. Who say's it always has to be up?  This leg, other than pronounced head winds was a smooth uneventful flight.  It looked like my two hour window at this point would take me to the Lexington MO. area. Two hours and twenty minutes later I was circling a field that I had picked out, and the GPS had informed me had Av. gas.  Runway looked nice and long with hard surface.  In hind sight, even a 100 foot long runway would look long if it was only one foot wide!  I must be getting good at this little plane, I got in on and  stopped in about 1200 feet, and yes, on the runway.  My turn radius did require a small excursion to the tall grass to get back to the pumps, whereever they were.  After walking through the "offices" of the airport, I finally found an individual that seemed to be bothered by my need of fuel service.  After waiting for him, for about ten minutes to tell his girlfriend good bye, he imparted some fuel to me, informing me that it was predominantly for the sky diving operations.  Judging from the pumps I wasn't sure if the fuel was not the cause for the urge of those people to depart from a flying airplane!
     I used most of the 2600 ft x 20 ft runway on my departure to the south west and headed again for Shawnee.  In dead air and a leaned
engine I would be able to make it in one leg.  Not having it that way, I again started planning my next stop.  In this area I am quite familiar with the center frequencies and enjoyed listening to them.  Though, I found, and aimed at an occasional shower, I was entertained by the radar drivers with their pressurized turbo jets, avoiding by at least a state, the same showers that I was using as a free bug wash.  I think they should be required to fly general aviation for at least 20 years before they are let loose on jets.  You learn in a hurry what is, and is not worth running from.  (What soap box?)  Bartlesville Oklahoma was about an hour out and designated the "top off" airport.
     The cool air from the showers made the climb out fairly comfortable as I headed towards Shawnee.  Why Shawnee?  Well, a 75 square foot wing airplane, operating near gross with a little 1600 cc VW engine, just can't take the afternoon heat of the south west.  Gutless is the feeling
and word.  I figured I could make it to Shawnee before the temps got out of the lower 90's.  I'm not taking off into the 98 degrees and staying
in ground effect all the way home!  Landed on the big wide runway at Shawnee and tied it down for the night.  After about four hours of riding horses, eating and the like, I realized it was still in the 80's. Ran to the airplane, jerked the ropes out of the holes in the wings, and headed home.
     The final leg was spent at 4500 feet.  This gave temps in the upper seventies at altitude.  Airplane and engine still running flawlessly. You spend so much time, carefully building the aircraft so that nothing will ever surprise you, and then you are surprised when nothing goes wrong!?  Again with out event, I started my decent into that dreaded Texas heat.  I aimed at the two households that had really been monitoring my progress over the week.  After giving the first a fitting salute, I noticed that my elbows were hot against the fuselage fabric, and the airplane was not enthused about climbing.  It was hot down here! So I left the airplane at the present pattern altitude and headed towards the house.  Nice landing!  You just have to love that grass on such a squirly little airplane.  Taxied back to the hanger as my wing ship for the trip to Oshkosh, buzzed down the runway.
     Shutting the engine down at the hanger brought several things to mind.  Would I ever do it again in this airplane? Never!  Maybe if we had a flight of Sonerai's, but not alone.  I was beat!  Next, this "experimental" aircraft had really proven itself in all but icing conditions, and came out with out a scratch!  I climbed out and looked back at the airplane.  I no longer see an experiment in aviation, but a dependable old friend.  Does 65 hours make it "old?" Though it is still an airplane, I will always treat it with the respect that one should, I now realize that we have a good little airplane here.  Lastly, I just had to say out loud,  "Randy, it can be done!"  Sorry guys, this is an inside joke at the Chapter 661 in Denton TX.
     Hope I didn't bore you too much.  I know There's something I left out, but maybe it is a small mercy.  Got to call it quits for the evening.  Later. .jim

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