Saturday June 03, 2006

This mornings flight turned out to be a bit anti-climactic, considering the build-up all the pilots I'd spoken with had given it. The pass, which goes over the continental divide, turned out to be quite wide, and although it did require climbing fairly high (I topped out at 9,100 msl), it was an easy and relaxing flight. It helped that there was a brisk tailwind, and the leg from Gallup to Grants, about 60 miles, was completed in 1 hour and 29 minutes.

Leaving Gallup I flew over an ammo depot, and the surrounding mesas and buttes are quite beautiful in the morning sun.

I was a bit perplexed upon arriving at Grants. The windsock was dead. I decided to land on an access way that connects the taxiway with the runway, then taxi to the ramp. A short field landing. I entered the pattern downwind, paralleled the runway, and then turned 90 degrees for a final onto the access way. As I descended and touched down there was no rocking back and forth, no thermals, no crosswind, nothing that made the yellow line I was aiming for move one way or the other. It was odd not having to fight for control. Then I remembered! This is what a normal landing feels like! A sensation of joy washed over me...

Tomorrow's destination is Albuquerque, where we'll be through Tuesday.