Swiftcurrent Reflections

OK, just a post to update people what’s going on in my life.

Flying: With my trip to Taiwan and with my instructor taking a week vacation, I’ve been put a bit behind in my training. However, I am getting very close to having my shirt tail ripped off. In July, I am flying up with Bill (remember him from my earlyier flight?) are flying up to Arlington for the big air show there. Should be a blast!

Biking: I’ve been doing a lot of road biking lately. The reason is we (Meg, Meg’s friend Ken and I) are doing Seattle to Portland in the middle of July. When I did it a few years back with Kevin, we did it in a one day push. This year, we are doing it in two days. Personally, I think that will by much more difficult. I don’t look forward to getting on the bike the morning of the second day… Also in biking news, this last Monday was my first ever bike race. This was around the track at PIR, so we don’t have to worry about traffic or other road hazards. It was crazy riding in a pack of guys. I almost went down once, but we all made it sans road rash. I think I did pretty well, comming in seventh. It was Meg’s first time too, and she did great. You can read her take here. Final note on the bike are some upgrades! who doesn’t like upgrades? First, I got a set of wheels from a new company out of Colorado called Rol. Good wheels at a decent price. I think the look sweet too (see pictures below). Tomorrow morning, I head to Veloce Bikes to get my bike (now five years old!) dialed in to the perfect fit.

Before. Pretty much a stock 2002 Buenos Aries.

After: The new Rol wheels update it a bit. At least I think! I’ll find out how they ride tomorrow.

Bill and Bill

So, I’m going to fly. In other words, I’m going to get my Private Pilots License. This has been kind of a life long dream. The first life plan I can ever remember having is going the the Air Force Academy, becoming a fighter pilot, then flying for the airlines. Other things transpired (my eyes, my height) to throw me off that course, but I still want to fly. So, I’m going to.

Doing research I found a local EAA Chapter that was having a breakfast and a meeting. I was able to talk Meggie into coming out for the pancake breakfast (mmmmm… Pancakes…) and met some nice people there. At their meeting the next week, I met Bill (pictured above) who is in the middle of building his RV-7A. He was heading up to log some time in a Cessna 152, and he let me ride along in the right seat. A lot of fun!

This Saturday, I’m off for an introductory ride with an instructor. If that all works out, I will start the lessons post haste!

Memory moment: I actually had an introductory flight many years ago. My grandpa took me down to Boeing Field one day and paid for me to go up with an instructor. I had a great time there, then once on the ground, we went to a dinner that was at the end of the runway so we could eat burgers and watch the planes come and go. Great way to spend a day with Grandpa!

Meggie making airplane noises