5 days
We left Myrtle Beach on Sunday morning and arrived mid-day today in Napa. I don't want that to scare anyone from attending BacFest 2008, so I need to explain.
We flew from Myrtle Beach to 34A Sunday morning. Worked on the Duchess for a few hours, had lunch with the Rellihan's and still made it all the way to Texas before dark with a stop in Mississippi for fuel along the way.
It rained all day Monday which was fine for us. We needed to look at a couple of Sierra's and visited with one of the BAC members in the area.
We left Texas on Tuesday and made Carson City, Nevada just after sunset with stops in Santa Fe and Las Vegas for fuel. We spent the night with my son and daughter-in-law and used most of Wednesday to drive Mark around Lake Tahoe. Later on Wednesday we flew the 2.5 hours up to Eugene, OR to pick up the dog and found the only instrument conditions on the entire flight home landing out of about a 700 foot overcast in rain.
We had planned a quick turn but a check with FSS indicated lowering freezing levels and the Duchess is not "known ice". The decision to stay and fly home today was easy.
We flew 48.5 hours of loggable time on the trip and I suspect close to 6000 nm. The Duchess will easily cross the country in two days either direction.
We enjoyed the trip and the company. Besides meeting all the great BAC people at BACFest, we also have had a great cultural exchange with Mark. We have a few more days to enjoy that before he flies home.
Thanks to all who worked hard to bring the event together. Thanks to Mike and Paula for the hospitality and the help with the airplane. It might actually take us awhile to process the extrodinary adventure we just completed. It is unique on so many levels.
Dan Jonas