Well we got back from our NYC/Boston trip around 2am this morning.
Going from MUT to OWD we started out VFR at 11,500' until our mid-way fuel stop when we ended up above a fairly solid layer. I got an IFR clearance to pop through to the bottom at which point we got rocked around HARD! We stopped at 4G4 for fuel (cross Ohio off the 'to-do' list
) and I went ahead and filed IFR to get back through on top to continue what I hoped to be a smooth flight with strong tailwinds. Climbing back up to 11k, we were right in the tops of the clouds (man, they built up FAST!) with temps around 18*F. We went into one cloud deck and got a nice 1/8" or so of ice REALLY fast, so I requested lower (it was warm down low, and there was no way I could climb above the tops without O2). Ended up a 7k and we were in-and-out of the soup with more reasonable temps. I had filed 4G4 D-> HPN with the intent of cancelling IFR once I got close to NY and drop low and skirt around to HPN. Well, I didn't get that chance. As soon as I cleared Williamsport, I was given a god-awful reroute with 5-6 fixes and 4-5 V-airways. Yeehaw! Got the first fix in and tracked and went about putting the rest of the plan into the GPS. We were in clear air now, but we were getting rocked around really hard again. We were only 45mins out from HPN, so I didn't want to try to climb above the haze layer just to be dropped back down in a few miles anyway, so I asked for lower. Ended up at 5k then they wanted me at 3k and eventually 2k, but we didn't get out of the bumps until we were on the ground and parked. We got the 'Sound Visual 34' approach, which was pretty cool. Probably the highlight of the final leg was when I was handed off to tower and was told "N277DL, try to square off your base as much as possible. You are #2 behind a Cirrus turning final for 29 and he's about 30kts slower than you."
I said "Ohhhhkay. We'll slow it down a bit, then."
Got slowed down to ~100kts and did a nice 'square' turn to final and still caught up with the Cirrus at the ramp. ... it's the little things in life ...
Going from HPN to OWD, there was some rain, but the ceilings were high, so I decided to VFR it so I could dodge weather/bumps more easily. Got an eastbound left downwind departure off of a 29 & L intersection take-off. Handed off to NY Dep and wasn't really sure when I could turn back toward OWD. After passing the shoreline, I asked NY Dep if I could proceed on-route, or if they needed me to continue out over the water and she seemed surprised to talk to me even though I had already checked in. Finally gave her my on-course heading and altitude and was given the 'ok' to continue to destination. I'm not sure how far they would have sent me out over the water if I hadn't asked. Didn't get a single hand-off on the way to OWD - simply dropped and "You can TRY XXX.XX for further advisories." We are spoiled in the midwest. Finally got to OWD where the line-guys watched me taxi-in, look for a parking spot, and tie-down from the front door of the FBO. When I filled out the fuel request form in the office, they asked if the brakes were unlocked so they could move it. I said "Uhhh, I don't think you will need to move my plane." If you're not going to attempt to come out and direct me to where you want me, then you're not going to rip my nosewheel off trying to move it later.
Coming OUT of OWD was a total cluster. Weather was bumpy/rainy/windy, but ceilings were high. I filed IFR at 4000' direct KUCP. I knew I wouldn't get direct, but I figured they would give me a departure gate and it wouldn't be a big deal. In the plane, call up C.D. and "Uhhhh, you can't go direct, I'm gonna have to work on a different routing for you." Back-and-forth with him looking for a routing for me and I finally say "I'll go in and call FSS to work something out." I ended up calling Boston ARTCC to figure out a routing. All of the routings I could find would carry me straight over BOS and back north before turning west, and I knew that's not what they wanted. He looked around for a while and finally came up with "GLYDE V292 SAGES V408 LHY V58 FQM". Apparently nobody departs KOWD and goes westbound because he had to look for a while to come up with that route. FINALLY got a clearance out of OWD and we were on our way.... straight into 50kt winds right on our nose.
Had to divert 10* for that big line of thunderstorms pushing through the area last night, but other than that it wasn't too bad of a flight. Once we cleared the storm-line (which ended up requiring holds for airliners), it was clear, smooth, and decreasingly windy. Shortly after clearing SAGES, we were given direct FQM direct KUCP. Woohoo! That cut a little of a corner at least. Landed at UCP for some self-serve fuel, leg stretch and potty break and piled back in the plane for the next 3+ hr leg to MUT. It was severe clear the rest of the way home, complete with over head satellite spotting. Landed in MUT around 1:45am local. Drove back to Ames this morning - in the 3hrs it took us to drive to Ames today, we flew across 3 states yesterday. This stuff is just too much fun!
Thanks for all the GREAT tips!!! By the way - Panorama does not provide van rides to the train station anymore. I hinted as hard as I could without being a jerk, but nobody even pretended to bite on the idea of a courtesy ride for us. Had to get a cab to-and-from the station. Train rides were GREAT - no traffic, no worries. Getting off of the train at Grand Central at 6pm was an eye-opener for this small-town boy.
We had a great time in NYC and Boston and are already talking about what we want to do WHEN we go back.