From: Gary Rohn
Date: 7/3/03
Subject: Trip of a Lifetime
Most of you who are reading these words know that I am from Dayton, Ohio.
Most of you also know that this coming Fourth of July weekend, the eyes of
the world will be on Dayton, the Birthplace of Aviation, as they celebrate
the centennial anniversary of powered flight by the Wright brothers.
Earlier last month, I too, celebrated this anniversary in a very special
way. As a young boy playing in the back yard of 2200 Kajean Avenue, I'd
often look up at the small airplanes turning onto final approach into
Moraine airport, and I'd say to myself, "One day, I'm gonna be doing that!"
Well, it was a multi-faceted journey of 56 years, but last June 4, 2003, I
fulfilled that boyhood promise.
What I intend to do in the next few paragraphs is share with you, in words
and pictures, a brief feel for how special this trip was to me. The first
thing that will become apparent is that I am, BY NO MEANS, a professional
photographer! Not even a GOOD amateur one! But as we go, I hope you can
get by this shortcoming, and thanks to my sister, Gail Golden, the better
pictures round out the storyline. I will attach pictures as we progress,
and if necessary, will continue in another note to complete the journey.
Okay; let's go. The first thing on the itinerary was to pick up my
traveling partner, my daughter, Marissa Weller, in Sacramento. She had
touched my heart by saying, "Dad, if you're going on a trip of a lifetime, I
want to be there with you." It was a sentiment she would eventually regret!
So, the morning of 5/31, God gave San Jose a clear morning (we would have
been in a replaning mode from the get-go if we'd had to wait on "burnoff"),
and I was off from Reid-Hillview (RHV) at 0700 to Sacramento Mather (MHR).
I topped the tanks, Missy said her goodbyes to husband Travis (who would
join us in Ohio), and we posed for our departure picture (notice my daughter
IS smiling).Pic1 1, 5/31, consisted of a refueling stop at
Wendover, UT (ENV), where the famous Bonneville salt flats are Pic2
and overflying the Great Salt Lake Pic3 enroute to an overnight stop
in Cheyenne, WY (CYS). The stories you hear about afternoons in the Rockies
are true; that Archer III was doing a dance in the sky! Day 2, 6/1, was
uneventful with a refueling stop in Sioux City, IO (SUX) and landing at
Chicago Schaumberg (06C) - "that is NOT the right airport with the 747
taxiing; this one, Dad, the one over here with the SMALL airplanes!" Chicago
was a wonderful visit for 3 days, one grounded by weather, and
unfortunately, Dummy-here left the camera in the airplane. But Missy
enjoyed seeing Sears Tower, the Navy pier, the new Aquarium, Michigan
Avenue, as well as where her cousin, Dennis, lives as one of the Right Field
Bleacher Bums at Wrigley Field. In fact, she can always say she was there
the night of the Sammy Sosa Corked Bat Incident (only we weren't AT the
game!).
Next day, Day 5, 6/4, was the day we had come all this way for. The
2 1/2 hour flight to Dayton went so quickly we almost caught our "welcoming
committee" unawares, but as I turned onto the approach for Moraine Airpark
(I73), I told my daughter that I just knew her grandparents were watching
from above, proud as can-be of what we'd done Pic4 (the airport is in
the "L" of the river at the top of the windscreen). I'll let the rest of
the arrival chronicle itself. Pic5 Pic6 Pic7 One of the very
"special" surprises was that my cousins from Michigan had come down to be a
part of the event, and also brought Champagne to boot! (L-R
Cousins Barbara Rohn & Dorothy Bynum, Marissa, Me, Sister Gail Golden) Pic8
My sister gave me a very thoughtful "Centennial of Flight" globe to
commemorate the occasion. And on the next day, 6/5, she went for a ride in
the skies with me. We overflew Kings Island park, where Missy was standing
in a ride line with cousin Darrin and girlfriend, and she looked up and
noticed that airplane up there looked awfully familiar! We overflew Gail's
house Pic9 and if you know where to look (second street up from
bottom and just about where the window glare is) it's down there somewhere.
Similarly, we took a pass over our old childhood home Pic10 and
somewhere there (in the lower half center of the picture) is the home of our
youth.
The evening of Day 6, 6/5, was marked by an absolutely phenomenal dinner
prepared in large part by our family's ace chef and lead comedian, my
brother-in-law John Golden, in their home for myself and long-time friend
Kathy Tshirhart (NOT pictured - that's their pug, Buck, in the picture).
Day 7, 6/6, saw the arrival from Sacramento of Marissa's husband, Travis,
and from Chicago of Nephew Dennis. After some playing of their favorite
game, "Pick on Missy" (learned at a young age by the three cousins who were
older) the three guys posed w/ Marissa for a photo Pic12
before shuttling the aircraft up to Celina, OH (KCQA) where we were to have
a family outing at Grand Lake St. Marys.
Now, we had an incredible weekend at the Grand Lake. If I were to put words
to pictures, I'd fill a whole page, so I think I'll just let the pictures do
the talking. Items of note: check out the rack of BBQ ribs that Marissa and
Travis prepared for everyone. Pic13 Also, on Sunday after his duties
as a paramedic/intern-fireman allowed, we were blessed with the arrival of
Dennis' twin brother (really!), Darrin. And proof that the
ladies love an aviator, I couldn't keep their hands off of me! Pic14
Sadly, all good times must end, and Sunday Day 9, 6/8, we bid our farewells
to everyone at the campground at Duckfoot Landing, then Missy and I departed
to take the southern route home. Pic15
We overflew a farewell to all below, waved a salutory wag of the wings, and
headed on our way. About a half hour into our journey, we received the
first of two airbourne AIRMET Warnings we were to encounter on the trip
home, this one for rain/low visibility in So. Indiana. They weren't just
"whistling Dixie". Maintaining a 2K AGL was a challenge, and the storm
ended up driving us about 200 miles southeast off our course, and prompted a
unplanned, low fuel stop at Rollo Vichy, MO (VIH). Back on course, for some
reason I was inspired to take a picture of the home of Midland Oil, Midland,
Texas, except to show that it really is - Mid Land. Pic16. Our
longest air day ended with a very dark, but before the runway lights would
enable, dusk landing in Parker-Weatherford, Ft. Worth, Texas. (WEA). I
was just hoping that black area that seemed to be a runway didn't have any
surprises on it.
Day 10, 6/9, started out with getting together for an early breakfast with
two long-time, prior-Moffett, prior-KC friends, Fran & Gary James. It was
great to see them after all this time, and as fate would have it, we were to
get together in Gilroy on Friday for their granddaughters graduation, twice
in five days!
Travel across Texas was bumpy, and after refueling in El Paso West Texas
(T27), we encountered our second airbourne AIRMET Warning for cumulous
thunderstorms in So. New Mexico. This diversion was a little bit easier to
skirt around, because you could actually see where God was putting on his
fabulous light show. Except for Missy, she had her head buried in her
hands! By this time, I think she was fed up with this small plane business.
Our overnight stop in Phoenix Glendale, AZ (GEU) was pleasant, in that we
got to meet up with my good bud, Steve McLaughlin, and take in
one of son Christopher's Little League games.
The last day, Day 11, 6/10, was marked by the best flying conditions of the
entire trip. Bright sunshine, blue skies, calm winds, like God was making
his exclaimation point to our journey. A refueling stop in Bakersfield, CA
(L45), and a smooth passing up the San Fernando Valley, we were landing at
Sacramento Mather, (MHR) at 1500, and I was home in San Jose Reid-Hillview,
CA (RHV) at 1700.
Thank you for staying with my words this far. I hope you got at least
something of an appreciation for this very special journey of mine. A
couple of parting shots: a picture of Marissa at the controls (of the FM
radio that is - that was her cockpit duty) Pic17 and our debarkation
picture back home (with the answer to the question - Would you be ready to
Some statistics: Total Miles - 4370 Total Hobbs Time - 46 hours
Ave. speed - 95 mph
G'Day.
.
