Post Bahamas

The airport charts database expired during our stay in the Bahamas. I needed to update the aircraft's FMS (Flight Management System) database before departing for home on Sunday. The Hawker 900 has the Collins Proline 21 FMS and every 14 days a charts database update has to be accomplished. Every 28 days the worldwide navigation database has to be updated. The picture shows me using a Dell laptop to transfer data from an update disk to the aircraft computer. The process uses an Ethernet cable between the laptop and the aircraft computer. It takes about 15 min to update the charts and about an hour and 10 min to update the navigation database.

It is normal to order catering for the passengers on the flight. This was our first time using the catering services in the Bahamas. We were very disappointed with the quantity of the food sent for 5 passengers. Specifically, the picture shows what came to us as a fruit and cheese platter for 4 and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It looks good if a little light for 4 adults. The most disappointing thing was the cost:$261.00.

This is the cabin of the aircraft. It has four facing recliners and a 5th recliner in the left rear, with a 3 person divan on the right rear. The rear bulkhead show the doorway to the lav.

There are folding tables in the side walls that extend for eating and card playing etc. There are 2 video screens for independent movies. The rear screen is visible on the right rear bulkhead. There is a front screen on the front right bulkhead between the cabin and the front baggage area.

For anyone who likes to be able to look at an aircraft and know the make and model. Believe me, there are many. The most obvious distinction between the Hawker 900 and it's predecessor is the first stage of the turbine wheels on the engine. All previous models had straight blades. The 900 has curved blades. A little trivia for you.

Here, the aircraft is parked on the day of departure ready for a preflight. Everything went off as planned. Passengers were a little early and we were #5 for departure at 10AM. A few minutes after the hour we were airborne on our 1:50 flight to Richmond, VA. At FL410, we had to fly through the developing tops of a few clouds and around a massive thunderstorm which was still developing through 47,000 feet. Arrived in Richmond and cleared US Customs by 1210.

Delayed our trip to Trenton about 45 min waiting for a weather improvement. It was 100 feet overcast and 1/2 mile vis. Forecast showed improving weather and we departed Richmond at 1300 and landed in Trenton at 1345. Mission complete.

I had my replacement per diem pilot meet the aircraft for the 1600 departure to Las Vegas. I'll spend a day at home before heading to Las Vegas via Southwest Air to fly the passengers home on Thursday.

Walk to Paradise Island

We start at the hotel and go a block to the normally busiest street in Nassau. But this morning it is empty. After walking three blocks I turned and took a picture of Bay Street looking back at the hotel(orange roof building-far end of street.) Every corner had a police officer keeping traffic from entering. After three blocks, I inquired. We were about to witness a State funeral for a recently deceased Member of Parliament. In a block we would have noticed. The next picture shows the members of the military carrying the casket.


The funeral march proceeded down Bay Street to the Cathedral. It was quite a show of Military Pomp. We spent a bout 20 minutes watching the ceremony and than continued our walk to a more
joyful destination.









This picture is taken from the top of the Paradise Island bridge. It shows the Atlantis Hotel in the background and the Paradise Island Time Share Condos in the foreground. The boats are passenger ferries which run people back and forth between Nassau downtown and Paradise Island.($3 ea way) After walking around the Atlantis Hotel, Ronnie elected to experience the boat ride and I walked back. We arrived at the same time in Downtown Nassau.

I needed the walk to get my mind off not having any money on the number 20. We watched the roulette table and saw several people betting heavy on the number 20 and sure enough it came up. The holder of the pink chips won $1100+ and the gray won $600+, the yellow won $210.

On the walk to Paradise Island, we passed the pink colored building shown left. It is a restaurant called "Luciano's of Chicago". We stopped in the place to check it out and booked a reservation for 1830. Ronnie learned on the ferry back to Nassau that it is a 5 star restaurant.

Having just returned from dinner, We all agree it is worthy of the 5 stars. We sat waterside and have a delicious Italian meal, and the service was superb. Maybe, I'll suggest to the staff of Avanti's in Pennington that they come to the Bahamas to see how to cook and serve Italian food with elegance.

The final picture is a curly tailed gecko very common on most of the 700 Islands of the Bahamas.
Tomorrow is my last day in Paradise. I have a 10:00 am departure scheduled for Sunday. Flight planning a 2 hour trip to Richmond, Va where we will clear US Customs and drop off two of our passengers. Hopefully I will be airborne again 40 min later and a 40 minute trip to Trenton.

The airplane is schedule for a 1630 departure to Las Vegas, thankfully, with a per diem Captain and the usual first officer.

Dinner last night at the Traveler's Rest a local restaurant on the Northeast coast of New Providence Island. The picture is the sunset from our restaurant. Outdoor dining, conch chowder, grouper, plantains, rice. All local fare and all delicious. To Paradise Island and back this AM. I did the distance yesterday on a run and I'm doing it this morning with Ronnie on a walk. Partly cloudy and a forecast of low 80's.

Later.

Missing wife

Ok, I'm walking along the tourist docks in Nassau very close to the Straw Market where I was to meet my wife who was, allegedly doing some window shopping. I was lucky enough to catch a local, Richard-Action-Limbo-King sweet talking to my lady.

The last thing I see is Ronnie boarding his personal Yacht. I have a missing persons filed in Nassau.

Made it back to The British Colonial Hilton. We were welcomed back like we were old friends. The weather was windy and 73 degrees. Ronnie commented on the smoothness of the flight and the great landings. ( I guess she wants to insure a seat on the way home).

Sat at the dock by the cruise ships and sipped a rum drink watching the tourist. (second trip! we're locals). We're stressing over all the immediate decisions we have to make: Walk or drive to dinner? I'm sure there were more. They just weren't as important.

I found a great buy on a used boat. Just needs a little patching

This is the local ferry between the main island and Paradise Island. it takes ship passengers from the dock to Paradise and back. click the picture to enlarge it and note the sign on the roof of the boat. Yes, that is a local sitting on the roof.

More to come!

Back to the Bahamas

Just completed all the preliminary filing of reports and plans for a 0900 departure Wednesday March 25th to Nassau, Bahama. But every benefit has a cost. I just spent the last couple of mornings with my grandchildren and now I'm leaving on a 5 day trip. Believe me, I'm giving up more than I'm getting.
This trip is a first. It is the first time my wife will accompany me on the jet. My employer, graciously offered me the opportunity to take my wife, who is on spring break from her teaching job, with me to the Bahamas. The last time Ronnie flew with me was more than 20 years ago in a Cessna 172. She got very airsick and said "Never again". This trip is in the Hawker 900-seen in the previous blog. I think she'll be fine.
Again, staying at the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau. They called me today and asked if I needed the rooms I had reserved and I covered the experience of the last trip. They promised not to let that happen again. Stay tuned.

A little Home time between trips

Airplane's in position waiting for passengers, Saturday morning at Executive Flight Terminal, Nassau, Bahamas. I'm at the aircraft by 0830 for an 1100 departure. Always a few more things to do on a flight to/from the USA. Departure from the Bahamas requires a Bahamas Custom Clearance, and a US Customs Arrival report with passenger's name, passport number, date of birth(the women passengers hate this), home of residence. Normal flight planning, weather, routing, clearances, aircraft preflights, fueling, catering, baggage loading, etc.. Pax are on time and we're off to the US. Normally, all aircraft arriving in the US from a point of departure south of 33 degrees North Latitude are required to land in the first airport north of 33 degrees.
I have been approved for overflight authority, allowing me to go to Trenton direct without a stop in Florida, which is required for most aircraft. This is a US Customs requirement intended to restrict drug trafficking.
I took the picture on the left as I climbed through 3000 feet on departure from Nassau, Bahama. This is the north side of New Providence Island. Nassau is the major city on New Providence Island.
Arrived in Trenton at 1400 and met the US Customs agent who checked out the aircraft and passengers. Upon his determination that we did not have any illegal drugs or people on board he allowed us to get off the aircraft.
A quick ride home to get an overnight bag, and back to Trenton for a 1600 departure to Chicago.
Departed Trenton with 3 passengers and landed in Chicago in just under 2 hours( strong headwinds). Picked up 2 passengers some fuel and off at 1730. (Chicago is on central time) Landed in Opa Locka, Florida 2 hours and 45 min later. (9:15PM) (remember the time zone)
Normal aircraft clean up and prep for overnight stays and we were off to the hotel. Arrived at the Marriott Courtyard, Fort Lauderdale about 2215(10:15PM). Quick change of clothes, and off to the local watering hole for some hydration. In bed by 0000(midnight), for a 0500 wakeup to go home by Southwest Air. Weather good and flight on time, back in Philadelphia at 1045. Hertz had a car ready and I'm home by 1145. In 24 hours, I went from Nassau, Bahama, to Trenton,NJ, to Chicago, IL to Miami, FL, to Trenton, NJ and I'm pooped but I'm home.

Here I am several hours later with my granddaughter Cate. Priceless.

Changes

Things only stay constant in this flying business when your cell phone is off or you can't hear it ringing.
Not hearing it ring, was the case at "Senor Frog" during dinner last night. Senor Frog is a local booze/cruise/hang out. Advertised as a Mexican restaurant
It's where the cruise ship crowds hang prior to reboarding their ships at the end of a port day.
Needless to say it was jammed with a young crowd off a Carnival ship. We saw a young guy wearing a "fly Army" shirt and started a conversation. He a West Pointer Army pilot. He and his girlfriend along with an Annapolis upper classman and his fiancee were drinking away their port time. We happened to mention we were army pilots and the drinks started. He bought a round of Vodka. I bought a round of beers, he bought a round of Jaegermeister. They were at least a dozen rounds ahead of us when we met them and we had no intention of getting to their level. So they sat with us while we ate and they drank. The West Pointer was leaving in 20 days for Afghanistan and was going to need that long to sober up. Being a retired Colonel - Aviator in the company of an ex-Ranger Aviator we were elevated to Idol status. Thank God, they had to board their boat by 9PM.
Too get to the point, while we were at dinner, our flights to Florida scheduled for today, were cancelled. So, one more day on the beach and we leave for home tomorrow.

Back to the grindstone

Well I just dropped Ronnie off at the airport. She called to say she made the flight by the skin of her teeth. The last one to board and they had to hold it for her. We had gotten to the airport an hour and a half before departure. There was apparently a long slow security clearance procedure. Now that I think about it, I believe Nassau is a US Customs pre-clearing port and they do all the normal us arrival clearance before boarding in Nassau. Time will tell. Anyway, got a flight request to make 2 round trips to Florida tomorrow for the family. The first a 1000 departure from Boca Raton to Nassau and returning those passengers at 1900 tomorrow night. So basically, this is my last day and it is pouring rain at the current time. After tomorrows flight
My planned departure from the Bahamas is 1100 Saturday. I get back to Trenton about 1400 and have a 1700 departure to Chicago with a passenger pick up and proceeding to Miami. So Saturday is a very long day. Sunday I fly home commercially from Miami to Philadelphia and have Mon and Tues at home. Wednesday I have an 0830 departure to Richmond, Va continuing on to the Bahamas. So I'll be back here in a week. On the next trip there are only 4 passengers, so I'm taking my wife with me on the flight. It will be her first time flying with me on the Hawker. I think she'll be surprised with the advantages of private jet travel over commercial air travel.
This will be my last entry until I arrive back in NJ on Sunday. More later.

Liquid Sunshine day in the Bahamas

The pictures above: immediateabove: the crew and their ladies having dinner, waterside at the Poopdeck. Another great dinner of local fish. Paradise Island is in the background and there are two bridges, one in each direction to and from Paradise Island. Crossing the bridge from Nassau to Paradise Island cost one dollar but it takes you to an increase in the cost of everything. The first picture above is a sunset view across the bows of a few of the smaller boats docked at Paradise Island. When I say smaller I mean much smaller. Those shown are half the size of the average.

We've had some great meals in Nassau and sunny warm days until today. It's warm but overcast and scattered showers. A nice day to get off the beach and see some of the city. The locals at the straw market take a basic log and turn it into a wonderful carved piece of art. Above a fish is being carved with hammer and chisel. You can see some of the finished products in the background.

Continuing east on Bay Street, you will pass several of the well dressed, very polite, Bahamian police officers. They tend the busiest of the downtown intersections and give the pedestrian a fighting chance against the unyielding traffic

The local economy, other than tourism is pretty much the conch. It is harvested in the local waters and it is a served everywhere and in every configuration- Soup, stew, fritters, salad, baked, broiled, steamed and raw. On the left are the freshly harvested conch-right off the boat. Note the dark brown spots in the center of the pink shell. That is the foot of the conch and there is a body inside the size of a baseball. A local school was at the wharf learning about the conch and our visiting first grade teacher was in among them. She is holding conch body. It is a female conch. In case you can't tell the difference I've included a picture of the male and female, side by
side. I don't think I have to identify which is which.

I found this pretty lady bringing so much beauty to the island, I had to take her picture.

Some island flovor

Here's a great local restaurant in the "Fish Fry district" which is a waterside area of about 15 restaurants which serve the local fare. We all had grouper fingers with the traditional rice with peas, and macaroni(which is a mac and cheese) served with many meals. The name of the place is "Twin Brothers". We had a great meal and the place is also known for their rum drinks which we all ordered.
We sat on the balcony exactly where the couple are sitting in the photo



This is a timed shot with Ronnie's camera. it was the best of about 3 bad shots but I wanted everyone to see we're still alive.

I got up this AM and went to the local Superwash to wash the last few days worn clothes. Washers and dryers are not a common thing in the local homes. This pace had about 50 washers and dryers of varying sizes. I put my clothes in the washer and asked where I might find a cup of coffee. It was not yet 8AM. The woman selling the detergent and giving the change suggested the restaurant across the street. I found the restaurant closed but the owners saw me at the door they were eating breakfast with their children(boys about the age of Patrick and Tiernan). I told them I was looking for a place to buy a cup of coffee. I was invited in and given a cup of coffee. Spent about 30 min reading the paper and enjoying the interaction of the boys arguing over an orange and picking at their breakfast of a hot dog and scrambled eggs. When I went back to the laundromat, my clothes had been put in a dryer by the attendant who explained she was just saving me some time. I am very impressed with the friendliness of all the locals, the children are very well behaved and always dressed nicely. The public schools have a uniform which is nice to see. Having a good time. See you on Sunday.

World Famous Straw Market

This the world famous straw market on Bay Street. It's about a block from the hotel. It used to be housed in a large wooden structure. But apparently someone got angry and burned it down. It is now a giant tent city. Every tour boat(and there are 4-6 a day) drop their passengers about 1000 each) nearby to shop for the day. The straw market is in the downtown shopping area. The city is in the process of building a new stone structure to house the market. I bought a hat yesterday since I only brought one with me and it's taking a toll with the sun and the runs and whatever. It went like this:

Me: How much for this hat?
Vendor: Normally $15, but for you handsome man only $12.
Me: I'll give you five
Vendor: You could have said $1 dollar, I need $10.
Me: I'll give you $6
Vendor: $ you can steal it for $8.
Me:$7 or I'll go to the next vendor.
Vendor:OK $7-and I won't buy groceries today.
Me: Deal


More later.

Another day in Paradise

Did a run/walk to Paradise Island and back yesterday afternoon. A good stretch before the start. It was about 80 degres and I ran about 2 miles and walked the rest (3 miles more). My schedule was so hectic yesterday-beach, pool, run. beach, dinner. Some days this job is hard to handle. I did manage to finish a book. Luckily, I brought 2 more with me. I saved some energy for dinner out. We started for a local waterside seafood restaurant, but the traffic was at a crawl getting out of town. After sitting for 20 min in bumper to bumper cars, I did a 180 and headed back into town and the Outback. Ended the evening with an ice cream sundae from McD( right across from the hotel) and a walk. Town shops all close by 2000 and there's not much to do if yu're not a party animal. I could learn to like that.
Woke up this AM with a heavy rain at 0600. It lasted about 20 min. The forecast for today is sunny and 83. I'll manage!. Going for a haircut, (local place, Cliffie's) so I look my best for my wife's arrival tomorrow.
I walked through town yesterday and it's loaded with all the upscale shops that she's going to love. I think I see an anniversay purchase being made (not by me or for me) you figure it out.
Later.

Here I am after my Bahamian harcut. I asked for dreadlocks and this is the best they could do.

Tomorrow I'll get a buzz cut. Today I'll just try to pass as a local.

This is the lobby of my home for the next 9 days.

I arrived rather late on Thurs evening (2200 hrs). One of the passengers was 1 & 1/2 hours late and we didn't take-off from Trenton until almost 1800. Stopped in Boca for 30 min to pick up a couple of additional pasengers and to drop off a couple from Trenton. Departed Boca Raton about 2100 for a 35 min flight to Nassau. Very laid back in the Bahamas. When we didn't arrive on time our rental car was given to someone who was apparently on time with out a reservation.

That wasn't too bad. We took a cab to the hotel with a promise of a Hertz pick-up in the morning to go back to the airport for a car.

The next problem was at Hilton. I should have guessed.

I was called on Thurs morning by the Nassau Hilton asking if I needed the 2 rooms I had reserved in January. I assurred them I did and told them I would be there early evening( Ihadn't planned a delay). I guess that didn't mean 2200. They had given away our rooms. They found a couple of-non standard rooms for us for the evening. We only had to pay for one. They were about the size of a bathroom and included a bed and a bathroom. We have been promised appropriate rooms by 1500 today.

Hertz showed up 20 late, (on time in the Bahamas) and we picked up our car and the copilots girl friend who had flown in from Phila.

I am now doing an update here than off for a short run in Nassau, to return to the hotel beach.

(I'm so exhausted) This corporate flying is no easy game. Later, I be jammin.

Preping for the Bahamas

Had a 'per diem' Captain fill in for me on a 6AM flight to Toronto this morning. My departure to the Bahamas was scheduled for noon and I was planning on doing the Canada trip myself. As things often do, in this business, the noon departure turned into a 1630 departure (1500 crew show time)with a stop in Boca Raton on the way to the Bahamas. That will put me on approach to Nassau at about1930 tonight. If I had done the 6AM flight, I would have had a 0430 show at the airport and would be dragging by Nassau landing time. For $600 plus expenses, a captain on another Hawker based at Mercer County airport filled in. He was off today and $600 for a morning's work is always welcomed.

I checked the weather and am looking forward to light winds, scattered clouds, a 96% waning Gibbous moon, and 80 degrees at Boca and Nassau. Passenger and crew info sent to Bahama Customs this AM and confirmed receipt. Catering (fruit, cheese, sandwich and cookie platters)ordered from Whole Foods catering. The passengers love them. Flight caterers are notoriously high priced and Whole Foods will be every bit as good or better and cost less than half of what airport catering would cost. It has to be picked up and that's a great job for the co-pilot.

Now, I just need the airplane back from Canada with no problems.

Next blog from the Bahamas

PS. The photo was taken on a recent trip to Florida. I'm waiting for take-off clearance at Fort Lauderdale Airport, off to my left is a public road. 10-12 people with cameras are stand by the security fence, some on their cars, taking pictures of airplanes. I found this picture on-line at:

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6471717&nseq=12.

South Beach Miami

This is the first of a travelog of my flights in the Hawker N170DC, pictured here. I'm going to comment on the places I stay, the sights I see, the restaurants, etc.

This trip started from Trenton Mercer County airport, NJ. The airplane is based there in a hangar owned and operated by Ronson Aviation.

Ronson is for sale, and the sale can only makes things better. They don't have their heart in it anymore and the tenants suffer. That will be another story, I'm sure.

I departed Trenton, right on time, at 1800 or 6PM (get used to the 24 hour clock). We only had four passengers, allowing room for a 10 person survival raft required for water routes, so I filed an overwater route. When the plane is full, 8-9 passengers and bags, there often isn't room for the raft and we have to file land routes. It adds about 15 minutes to the enroute time. That may not seem like a big deal but at 300 gals an hour @$4.50/gal for fuel, that's $22.50 a minute just for fuel.

Arrived in Opa Locka (KOPF), an airfield about 8 miles north of Miami, at 2030, ok 8:30PM.

Limo met our passengers, and the line crew pulled my rental car up to the airplane for our crew bags. If you travel a lot, Hertz Gold membership is the best auto rental arrangement. If you are eligible for USAA membership, Hertz Gold is free and the USAA discount is an added bonus. Boy! do I save my boss money! It takes about 20 minutes to put the airplane to bed for an extended stay, (gear pins, engine covers, window shades, cabin clean up, lav service etc.) Southbeach is about a 30 min drive from Opa Locka. The choice of hotel for our stays is a crew decision. We are asked to be reasonable since it all goes on a corporate business card. The same goes for our meals on the road. Our boss picks up the tab. I hear from the accountants that the jet crew are very frugal and so we have never had an issue with our expenses for hotels or meals. After checking in, a quick change to shorts and sandals, and out to find some dinner. Sunday, we sat down for dinner at about 2215, a very late dinner for us but we had gotten to the airport at 1600 in prep for the flight and didn't have anything to eat enroute. We walked to Espanola Way and ate at Hosteria Romana "Where Italians go for Italian". A very good meal but a little pricy-basic pasta dish $18. Surprising number of late night diners. weather was ideal for the outdoor tables and Espanola Way was loaded with tourist. Back to the hotel for much needed sleep by midnight.

I personally, prefer the Marriott line of hotels and use them when available. I had reservations at the Courtyard South Beach on Washington Av. It wasn't my first choice but with college week in full swing many of the hotels were booked. I always book a discount rate using AAA or military, or senior citizen. They all allow 2 rooms at the discouted rate and it allows my co-pilot to get the same rate and perks. The South Beach Courtyard is about 3 short blocks from the beach, and its 2 blocks south of Lincoln Road (a 4 block pedestrian mall) with score of restaurants and shops. It's also only a block and 1/2 north of Espanola Way which is a 1 block pedestrian road of shops and restaurants. The hotel is ideally located but in need of modernization, which I was told, by the manager, is forthcoming. I let them know, as a frequent Marriott traveler, the rooms were very disappointing.

Now the weather in Miami could not be any better, slight breeze, clear skies, 75-80 degrees. I normally get up about 0630, it's the same 6:30am, give my wife a call if it's a school day, and read the papers. At the Marriott, I always get a USA Today and the Wall St Journal delivered to my door, a perk of frequent traveling. I check for mail on the internet, check for schedule or passenger changes on the current and future flights, make any necessary calls,ie weather, fueling arrangements, customs or flight services, that are necessary, and plan the day.

Monday night we walked to Lincoln Rd. mall and ate at Pizza Rustica. Very good pizza and some great combinations. Their signature pizza is excellent. If you ever go, don't overorder. The slices are the size of a 1/4 pie and the 14inch pizza is more than enough for 2. After a couple of beers at Van Dyke's Cafe-a sports bar, headed back to the hotel for "24". But not before stopping at "Paul" Maison de Qualite-a french patisserie. The almond/apple tort and a cup of coffee togo made "24" all the better.

Today is a checkout day at the hotel. We don't depart until 1830, so I asked for, and got a late checkout at 1500-normally approved for Marriott frequent guest. That gives me time for a run and a shower before departure to the airport. We have at least an hour of prep for each flight; arrange for catering, flight plan and passenger brief print outs, make coffee, check for weather or ATC delays, load the Flight Management System with the clearance routing, prepare the cockpit and cabin, and cool or heat the cabin prior to passengers arriving.

We should be back in the hangar at Trenton by 2200.

Next flight: 0600 takoff to Toronto on Thursday followed by a 1400 departure the same day to Nassau, Bahama.

Stay tuned.

Looking for a comeback!

The day after the country voted in our first (not sure, nor care what's PC, I was happy for a change, but I didn't vote for) black president, I was running along the ocean trail in Monterey California. It's a place where people who aren't runners wish they were because it's so beautiful. It was about 4 weeks after the Baltimore half-marathon which I finished, although miserably. Who would have thought the seaport city of Baltimore could find so many hills to add to an otherwise beautiful run. But, that's another story.
So, I 'm enjoying a beautiful mid-morning run with my 27 year old copilot, who had just taken up running several months earlier. It was about 2 miles into the run, along an oceanside gravel trail, and I came down on my left foot and continued on down to a very painful prone position. I'm thinking it must be the plantar faciitis which had dogged me all through the prep for Baltimore and which I had successfully ignored through the grueling 13+ miles of Baltimore.
It was a little more painful but I was able to stand. Of course, my copilot who had been holding back a little so we could run together, I'm sure is cursing to himself**#$*^& "old man". I admitted defeat, we had planned on 6 -8 miles. He went on. I turned back and hobbled, left toes, right foot back to the hotel.
I returned from the California trip and scheduled an appointment with Princeton Foot and Ankle, where they diagnosed a fractured left heel. Gave me choice of: a cast and a month of inactivity, or no cast and 3-4 months of no impact activity. Believing my Hawker passengers wouldn't be comfortable with the captain in a cast, I elected to tough it out for the 3-4 months. During the time I have done considerable walking, but I have not been able to stay upright on my left heel alone, nor can I do it now, although I can stand upright on my right heel. Oh well,
anyone who knows me, knows I seek out medical advice only as a last resort. I have no intention of returning to a doctor for approval to get back on the trail.
As fate would have it, the last four months have been miserable weather-wise in NJ and a good excuse to follow the doctors orders. A March flying schedule, has me spending more days in Miami and the Bahamas than in NJ. I woke to a sunny 70 degrees with a forecast of 80, and a beautiful boardwalk that stretches for miles from South Beach to North Beach in Miami along the ocean. It's college week and if the influx of runners wasn't enough to get me going, the abundance of bikini clad non-runners did the trick.
I started a run on the compact sand but found it too hard on me so I moved to the boardwalk. I had no destination in mind and no time goal to meet. I had my phone , in case of emergencies, and $10 for a cab if I got somewhere and couldn't get back. All unnecessary.
I ran for 25 minutes and felt like I could go forever. I stopped running only because I was afraid of doing some harm. I walked for another 45 minutes and felt great.
I have to force myself to do some things right this time: stretching before and after the run, work back to a reasonable distance slowly, and enjoy the good feeling that running always gives me. It's good to be back.

Horrible Dinner Experience at Avanti-Pennington, NJ

As long time Pennington resident, I’ve eaten at Avanti on many occasions. I took some good friends there last night-What a MISTAKE! We had reservations for 7:30 and were seated on time. That's the only thing good about the evening.
We all ordered from the "daily specials" menu, after waiting about 20 min for someone to come to the table. The men ordered a delicious pork and chicken dish. The ladies ordered the beef filet tips. After another delay, the waitress advised the ladies that there was only one order of the beef filet left. She suggested pairing the beef with chicken and splitting it. We agreed. The meals were delivered and we all started eating. The waitress returned to the table to let us know she had mixed the orders up. Beef and chicken went to the men, pork and chicken to the ladies. OH well! No big deal we are married couples. We switched meals with our spouses and got on with dinner. The ladies found the beef inedible-lots of grizzle running through the beef. No one came by the table to see how our meal was. So we didn’t complain until the maître d came by after the dinner. She was very insistent that she would remove the cost of 1 meal-the split beef. We told her it wasn’t necessary but she insisted. When the bill came there was no reduction. I sought her out and she told me the cook refused to reduce the bill because we were taking the uneaten food home. We all have dogs-that is what you do!
I asked her why she didn’t come back and explain that to me after spending time at our table and insisting we allow her to remove the price of the meal.
She told me it was not her call. It was the cook’s. And I was embarrassing her in front of the other guests. I asked to speak with the cook. She refused. I went back to the table to finish my coffee and found the wait staff cleaning our table with fresh coffee poured and our guest sitting at the table. I asked if we could finish our coffee and wine uninterrupted. They told me the maitre d had directed them to clean our table without regard to our unfinished meal.
After leaving the restaurant, I noticed the cook standing by the back door to the kitchen. I told him through the door that our meal sucked and I continued walking to my car. He came out of the restaurant and yelled at me "I hope you die, you M...F... old man. You're a M...F... F...!
It was unbelievable.

The Market doesn't determine my riches?

So!, What have I got to be mad about? Nothing!!

I've lost untold amounts in the stock market. Unemployment is at a 25 year low. My taxes are out of sight.

But I drove my grandson to school this AM. and I walked with 2 of my daughters and my other 3 grandchildren to meet him after school and walk him home. I may never be able to retire, But!

No One is richer than me