GOT IT !!!

I got my pilots certificate, after a long and crazy journey last week including strong winds, severe turbulence, and war stories (there's a very long story in the checkride, which I will save for in person de-briefings)... way too much story for me to attempt to write out... suffice to say - I Passed with no problem - I was well prepared for the battle.

As a celebration, I grabbed my first Guinea Pig... opps... I mean passenger, and flew off to the destination of his choice.  Pulled out the map and he pointed to La Jolla (San Diego). So we loaded up the Cherokee and flew to Montgomery, San Diego that is.  Un-eventful flight... we took the Shoreline route through the Class B "LAX Corridor" right over LAX, and hugged the coast all the way down.  Saturday happened to be calm and CLEAR so the flight was great. After getting out of the LA Class B airspace, I let Adam fly us to the SD Class B Airspace... He loved it.  Once down there, I asked ATC to vector us toward the airport since that area is really busy, and there are alot of airports close together... just wanted to make sure I landed at the right one... they gave me a heading that took us right to it, and I greased us in.

Once down, we hopped in a cab and drove to La Jolla (a short jaunt), and visited the Hard Rock Cafe where Adam bought me a Hard Rock San Diego Beer mug (without the beer since I was flying and all...) hung out for a couple of hours, then back to the airport for the flight back.  It was such a nice flight down that we decided to take the shoreline route back. No one else was in the air (1:30 am) and I think we woke up a few controllers as we asked for flight following (more to make sure I didn't get lost, then to avoid other aircraft).

We got to Hollywood around 2, and circled the House of Blues since we knew a couple of our friends were there... they didn't see us... but it was a good view... Then we headed back home for another slick landing at Burbank.

I learned an interesting lesson on that flight...

It's much more FUN flying home... since you know the airspace, and can expect the ATC calls. It's much more of an ADVENTURE to fly someplace you don't know very well... since everything is unexpected... even what you expect... (If that makes any sense)...

Anyway...

I'm planning to fly out to AZ with David this coming weekend, to visit his old stomping ground... This will be the longest flight I've done... so there are bound to be stories next week.

I'll keep everyone informed...

Peter