Getting Started

After all the planning, we finally departed.  Day 1 on 7 Feb 2013 was going to be a day of getting into position to head for the islands.  The route was from Frederick MD (airport designator KFDK) down to Ft Pierce FL (KFPR) by way of Barnwell SC (KBNL) and Valkaria FL (X59).  

We blasted off from Frederick in "interesting" (Ann would say boring) weather.  You can see from the pictures how it got progressively worse, eventually turning to heavy rain as we approached the Carolinas.  

The reason for the top off in Barnwell was very cheap gas -- $4.80 / gal.  It was pouring rain as we arrived.  As a result, we got an instrument approach into KBNL, popping out the bottoms at minimums, so all was good.  

Of course to get the cheap price it was self serve.  The line guy was a great help, through, standing out there with me holding an umbrella the whole time.  Ann supervised from inside the FBO, but she was kind enough to my shoes later.  

If Barnwell was on the north side of the storm, Florida was the southern boundary.  After getting airborne again we flew in weather for quite a while.  We eventually got out of it enroute to Valkaria (more cheap gas - a continuing theme).  

On the way we passed Daytona Speedway, and got some pretty good pictures along the way.  

We followed the coast off shore for an extensive period . . .  

passing Cape Canaveral.  That's the shuttle vehicle assembly building and the runway where the shuttles landed if conditions allowed.  

The small area where we sat for hours to watch the last launch of the Shuttle Discovery is below.  It was about 8 miles from the launch pad.  We are pretty sure the trees at the lower center of the picture is called Kennedy Point.  We sat in beach chairs right up to the water between the two unoccupied sets of docks behind the sea wall.  

We still had a way's to go, but with weather improving the further south we pushed, the better the views.  

Valkaria was a relatively small field in terms of facilities.  There appeared to be a lot of construction on the field.  The only fuel was self serve, and while a bit more expensive than at Barnwell, it was still a good deal.    

We finally got to Ft Pierce, about 30 minutes south of Valkaria where were would remain until morning.  I didn't think we needed any gas, but just to be courteous for the help they would offer and the overnight parking, we took a small top off.  

Ft Pierce was pretty nice.  When I talked to Jim Parker of Caribbean Flying Adventures it was advertised as the easiest way in and out of FL.  That turned out to be accurate here and later.  It's not so big an airport or area that folks are indifferent to your having chosen to stay, but large enough to have great services.  In fact, we found folks in this area to be very friendly, accommodating and helpful.  Before departing for our hotel for the evening we picked up a life raft and collar flotation devices (like the airlines use) at the FBO.

The FBO is right next to US Customs with a big "Tiki" sign out front.  They rent life rafts and inflatable vests, and have a nice restaurant.  No need to stop at US Customs any time outbound from the US (including PR later), but the FBO offered to take care of all inbound Bahamian (BH) customs paperwork for us for free.  We did not know beforehand, but we could have called ahead for that.  We'd already done all our paperwork based on Jim's guidance and stored it in an accordian folder with all docs filled out in advance for the whole trip.  If we'd known, having folks who are expert in the requirements handle it just makes it easier (see Nassau later).  On the other hand, it's good to know how to do it yourself.  

Back during planning the FBO recommended we stay at the Sandhurst Hotel in the town of Ft Pierce so that was where we stayed.  Very nice.  We also got a great rate at the Sandhurst by going through the FBO, and just to seal the deal, the hotel provided the taxi to and from the airport.  The Sanhurst in turn recommended eating at Mangrove Matties.  Matties was excellent and just up the street a quarter mile from the Sandhurst -- a nice walk after being in the plane all day.  

After the walk back to the Sandhurst, and a little bit of review of the plan for Day 2, it was lights out fairly early.