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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
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 Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject: $100 hamburger Not build related |
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Well, I guess we went on the genuine $100 hamburger flight Friday, except
the hamburgers were hard to find - the reason for the genuine (near) $100
spent.
I got a call Wednesday suggesting that we all fly up to Trinity Lake in what
is called the Trinity Alps in Northwestern California for a late breakfast -
early lunch. It sounded like a great idea so about 0630 Friday morning,
Wray and I departed Cameron Park and circled overhead until we made visual
contact with Ken, Larry, Fred and Marvin flying up from Jackson/Westover
about 20 minutes South. Once formed up in a rough in line formation we
proceeded North East. We immediately recognized the temperature inversion
over 80°, so Wray and I dropped down to the usual 500 or below AGl with the
other guys to enjoy the relatively cooler air and better view the scenery.
The winds were a bit of a tail wind but not gusty so ground speeds looked
good and the ride was very comfortable - virtually silk smooth.
We skirted BAB, (Beal Airforce Base - U-2s and formerly SR-71s) to the East
and regained our heading. We crossed numerous small rivers coming out of
the western slopes of the Sierras finally crossing the Sacramento River.
With Mt. Shasta in the distant North East we flew past Redding. On any day
Redding is hot. It is protected on three sides by mountains and becomes a
pocket for hot air. Not infrequently, this northernmost city is the hottest
part of the Central Valley. It wasn't too long after passing Redding that
we arrived at Trinity Center (O85) on the Western shore of Trinity Lake,
officially named Claire Engle Lake. The lake was renamed after a politician
who apparently did something good for the majority party, but no one
remembers who he was anymore, so the old name is what people use. I guess
something like Cape Kennedy returning to the old Cape Canaveral
Trinity Center is a sight to behold. Several fortunate (if not wealthy as
well) souls have homes along the long taxiway with stone enclosed
semicircular tiedown areas in back of their homes, but facing the taxiway -
the homes face the street to the West. We were informed that approximately
two miles to the West was a restaurant - The Yellow Jacket Restaurant. Two
miles is not too far to walk for six hungry pilots and the air was still
morning cool, so off we went. Two miles later (it actually seemed longer
than two miles) and after lots of encouragement from home owners along the
way that verified that there was indeed a restaurant called the Yellow
Jacket we found what we were looking for. There were two signs on the door.
One informing potential customers that if the flag was flying it was
closed - it was and they were. The other sign explained that they were off
somewhere taking care of grandchildren. Being a grandpa, that excuse was
good enough for me. Across the street from the Yellow Jacket was a small
country market and we all got a Coke and sat around the tables on the Yellow
Jacket's deck, fortunately in the shade as by then it was just plain hot.
We gossiped about the guys that were not with us and checked our cell
reception to see if we could call and let them know how much fun we were
having and all this while trying to ignore our growling stomachs. There was
no cell phone signal - a perfect place for a vacation or weekend getaway.
We finally decided what we were going to do next. It was a trip to the
coast (about 60 miles) for fuel - Eureka - then down the coast to Shelter
Cove. There had to be a restaurant there. Fuel at Eureka was $4.50 a
gallon and with the 12 gallons I took we were half way to the magic $100.
An alternate route South from Eureka - direct - would have taken us over a
broad peninsula, but with the low hanging clouds and the beauty of the shore
line, down the coast under the marine layer became the plan. As we
proceeded South we had a nice tailwind which improved the ground speed
considerably, but as we passed Cape Mendocino and Punta Gorda, the winds
shifted and resulted in a nice head wind that allowed a straight in approach
to Shelter Cove. It was the shifting that wasn't much fun. The northerlies
and southerlies met between the Cape and the Point and resulted in a wild
ride, and it didn't much matter what altitude we flew or where we were over
the water. Most of the coast there consists of vertical cliffs with
differing amounts of sandy beach. Over the beach, such as it was, or
further out over the water, it was all the same - very bumpy. The straps
kept me pretty secure, and I was only separated from the seat cushion one
time.
Shelter Cove is a great spot and rather than being a cove, it was another
small point that jutted out into the Pacific Ocean, unless, of course, the
cove was so small we couldn't see it as we explored. We met a guy that came
down from one of the private vacation homes, interested in the airplanes,
and he told us there was no restaurant at Shelter Cove. On one end of the
runway - the north end - there was a pizza place, but it apparently had no
seating as he told us that most people simply picked up their hot food and
took it home or to their camp. On the south end of the runway and through
the camp ground we were told that there was a deli that made sandwiches and
had a grill. By then, close to 1 PM it sounded good enough. I guess
breakfast was out of the question at that point, so it would have to be
lunch. We walked from the tiedown area along the runway and through a large
camping area with numerous tents and RVs. The deli was a small building
alongside a large deck with wooden picnic tables neatly arranged across it.
When we entered the deli, there were two lines. One for made to order deli
sandwiches and one for the grill. There was a Summer help wanted poster
strategically placed beside the cash register. That should have been a clue
of what was to come. Standing in line I saw a tray stacked full of fried
fish and thinking that would be a quick in and out, I ordered the fish and
chips and took a ticket numbered 123. Most of the others ordered
sandwiches, Ken ordered a hamburger - he was 122.
I stood by for the food and the first thing I noticed is that the cook
really liked his job - sort of like an artist. Lots of motion while he
worked, real style. I waited for the fish and chips. Lots of them were
assembled in the little red and white cardboard trays and passed to folks
that mysteriously appeared at just the right time, but none had my name on
them. Then I became aware of the order number he called out - ninety six!
I was a hundred and twenty three. I guess it took the better part of an
hour for my food to come. The bottle of Coke I was holding in my hand began
to warm up. I exchanged it for a cold one. Finally, one twenty two was
called. Ken got his hamburger, it was huge. Then after taking another
order, they gave me my fish and chips. Shelter Cove, being a fishing
center, the fish was absolutely great and well worth the wait - all of them.
The guys were kind enough to allow me to eat liesurely and eventually we
were off for home. I was a little startled after following them onto the
runway to see that our intersection departure was from the last taxiway -
the one closest to the departure end of the runway. With the wind and the
performance of these great airplanes, we were all off with room to spare and
as is usually the case on the trip home, we all programmed our GPSs direct
and climbed up to a cool altitude and headed home. It was a great day.
What was promised as a quick trip for breakfast and home by one, turned out
to be a food seeking odyssey and home at 5. The $100? The site gauges
suggested that on arriving home I had used about ten gallons on the return
trip. At about $3 a gallon for car gas it was pennies over $80 for gas and
$9 for the fish and chips and two Cokes, so I guess unless I can add a
litle depreciation in there somewhere, I am still looking for the $100
lunch.
Lowell Fitt
Cameron Park, CA
Model IV-1200 R-912 UL Warp
1998 870 hrs.
Do Not Archive
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Fox5flyer
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: $100 hamburger Not build related |
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Awesome report Lowell. Thanks!
Deke Morisse
N148DM
S5/Soob/CAP
NE Michigan
"The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of
immortality."
-- John Quincy Adams
do not archive
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akflyer
Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: $100 hamburger Not build related |
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sounds like a great way to spend the day. Punch in PASX and I can promise you the $100 burger. we can make a run up to skwentna.. at 8.00 + a gallon I bet we can show you a 200.00 burger.. but it will be the best darn burger you ever had!
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DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009
I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die.... |
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wingnut
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: $100 hamburger Not build related |
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Pictures?
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Luis Rodriguez
Model IV 1200
Rotax 912UL
Flying Weekly
Laurens, SC (34A) |
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