Day One - Pine Mountain Lake to Kingman Arizona

 The day started out more perfect than I could have hoped for. The sky was clear blue, the winds were calm. The forecast along my entire flight was clear and calm. 

Ready to go under calm and blue skies

My first intended destination was Mojave Air and Space Port. It would be a good place to refuel, eat lunch, and maybe see some cool airplanes. As it turned out my kidneys had other ideas.

Thirty minutes from Mojave I had to pee BAD. Tehachapi Airport was dead ahead and I landed to take care of my problem, and refuel. I tried to get an Uber or taxi to a nearby Subway but had no luck. I ended up sitting in the small pilots lounge eating tough beef jerky and cashews. 

On the ramp at Tehachapi

The density altitude at takeoff was 6500 feet. N972GL climbed out was quite slow due to full fuel and a lot of baggage.

I picked up flight following from Joshua Approach. The Mojave Desert is a hot bed of aviation. Military and experimental aircraft, combined with a lot of restricted airspace, make the support of air traffic control important.

The desert is a strange empty space, broken by a number of isolated airports, large greenhouse farms and lonely homes. There is very little greenery. Oh, except for the water skiing resort and housing development far from anything! 

The empty Mojave Desert

The water skiing development in the middle of the desert - who lives here????

My calm day took a disruptive turn about here. At 7500 feet the turbulence, while not terrifying, was very uncomfortable. For the next two hours I was bounced around. This did  nothing to help my sore back.

Two hours later Kingman Arizona came into view. Thank god, because I really  needed to pee again!

I fueled up after landing and then tried to get a ride to my hotel, 5 miles away. Kingman has apparently never heard of Uber. I called the one listed taxi in town who told me he didn't feel like it... (don't ask me, I have no idea).

I started to get my scooter out of the plane, though not looking forward to a 5 mile ride on the thing! Just then, the local FBO owner pulled up in a golf cart and asked me if I wanted to borrow their truck for the night.  I was tired, starving and sore and really needed a break right then. I thanked him profusely and he gave me the keys and directions to the hotel.

I made it to the Red Roof Inn and ended up having a gourmet meal at Denny's - the French Toast Grand Slam.

I'm worn out. Tomorrow I have a short 3 hour flight to an isolated air strip in the southeast Arizona desert. I'll be all alone camping under the stars.

Kingman Airport

Dinner at Dennys