Jay Honeck
Touchdown! Greaser!
As those of you who own your own small business know, time off is more precious than gold. Last Friday Mary and I saw we were sold out for the weekend, followed by a few days in the doldrums, talked to our staff -- and headed out the door for our first weekend off since Oshkosh.
We chose to travel by aeroplane, of course. It's the only way to cover the vast Texas distances, and more importantly it's the only way we can get back quickly in the event of an emergency.
So, we had Sat/Sun/Mon, back Tuesday by 5 PM. Where to go?
After checking the weather, Saturday we flew up to Fredericksburg, for a night at the Hangar Hotel -- our only competitor in the aviation-themed hotel biz. After the experience we had there in '07, we figured we owed them another shot, and were rewarded with a completely marvelous stay. It's a terrific facility -- just be sure to go on a weekend, and leave the kids home.
Sunday, we woke up like aviation gypsies -- the sun was shining, as we supped our coffee on the veranda -- where do you want to go? How about South Padre Island? It's only 2.2 hours South.
Why not? We have an airplane! Let's go!
And, 2.2 hours later we landed in Brownsville, in the early afternoon with plenty of time ahead of us. We rented a car and drove across the bridge to the island (that island inexplicably has no airport on it, which seems just bizarre).
We found a wonderful, locally owned non-chain hotel called The Palms, and had a terrific stay, watching the Super Bowl at a seaside bar accompanied by the sounds of the surf.
Refreshed, we woke up this morning with the same delicious question: What to do? We explored South Padre a bit (nice, but too plastic and built up for our tastes), did some shopping in Port Isabel (where real mom & pop stores sell real souvenirs -- not the same Chinese junk you can get in every beach "resort" from Myrtle Beach to Waikiki), and then decided to fly up the island chain back to our home 'drome on Mustang Island, where we took the ferry off the island over to Rockport, for one last night at a nice hotel called the Lighthouse Inn.
Which is where I am right now. Total flight time: 4.7 hours. Could this trip have been accomplished by any other means of travel? No way!
Ya gotta love GA!
We chose to travel by aeroplane, of course. It's the only way to cover the vast Texas distances, and more importantly it's the only way we can get back quickly in the event of an emergency.
So, we had Sat/Sun/Mon, back Tuesday by 5 PM. Where to go?
After checking the weather, Saturday we flew up to Fredericksburg, for a night at the Hangar Hotel -- our only competitor in the aviation-themed hotel biz. After the experience we had there in '07, we figured we owed them another shot, and were rewarded with a completely marvelous stay. It's a terrific facility -- just be sure to go on a weekend, and leave the kids home.
Sunday, we woke up like aviation gypsies -- the sun was shining, as we supped our coffee on the veranda -- where do you want to go? How about South Padre Island? It's only 2.2 hours South.
Why not? We have an airplane! Let's go!
And, 2.2 hours later we landed in Brownsville, in the early afternoon with plenty of time ahead of us. We rented a car and drove across the bridge to the island (that island inexplicably has no airport on it, which seems just bizarre).
We found a wonderful, locally owned non-chain hotel called The Palms, and had a terrific stay, watching the Super Bowl at a seaside bar accompanied by the sounds of the surf.
Refreshed, we woke up this morning with the same delicious question: What to do? We explored South Padre a bit (nice, but too plastic and built up for our tastes), did some shopping in Port Isabel (where real mom & pop stores sell real souvenirs -- not the same Chinese junk you can get in every beach "resort" from Myrtle Beach to Waikiki), and then decided to fly up the island chain back to our home 'drome on Mustang Island, where we took the ferry off the island over to Rockport, for one last night at a nice hotel called the Lighthouse Inn.
Which is where I am right now. Total flight time: 4.7 hours. Could this trip have been accomplished by any other means of travel? No way!
Ya gotta love GA!
