This was another long long day! It seems that I have said that before but flying wise this was a long day. We left Sao Luis and Brazil early around 8 this morning. Bye bye Brazil, because we had two flight today. We wanted to spend the night in Grenada and not in French Guiana so we made that a "lunch" and tech stop for fuel.
The first event of the day was crossing the equator. I came within 3 tenths of a second of capturing the moment this time, it is harder then you think.
This is to commemorate the moment of crossing the equator.
We also crossed the amazon but because of the usual weather patterns we were IMC, which translates into "I cant see anything".
French Guiana was a treat. After a 3 hour flight in ice and clouds we arrived to find this view.
I am sure the country is beautiful but you couldn't really prove it by me.
I got to practise my instrument procedures.
I am also well practised on the radar.
I know there is an airport down there - or at least we are hoping. It was great to have Greg in the cockpit. I need some practise at sharing the duties as I have been flying alone and was impatient trying to explain what I was doing to someone else. Hmmm, are we talking patterns here.
Final for Rochambeau,, French Guiana - welcome.
I can see the airport - can you?
do di do di do di do!
Ah yes always a relief.
Short final!
Welcome to another country.
Steve doing double duty as a ground handler. He is too tough for a rain coat.
On the ground in the first parking spot in Rochambeau.
I left the flaps down on purpose Chris to wash all of the grease off them - really.
Getting a bath.
Holy cow.
OK now he put a rain coat on - it rained really hard for a long long time. Nice place. Maybe that is why it is so green.
French Guiana - French 747 get it?
Taking off from Rochambeau. The flight was almost 3 1/2 hours. 2 1/2 hours was in a cloud. I think at the equator that is the normal weather pattern.
When we pooped out to the north there was Venezuela right off the left wing. Off course we couldn't go in their air space being American and all.
Venezuela.
I was flying at 26,000 feet. My route took me right over the Island of Trinidad and Tobago. This photo shows Venezuela off to the left and T and T off to the right. I was shocked at how close they are. I am surprised that Hugo hasn't tried to Nationalize T and T.
I asked - about 20 times -for a lower altitude so that I could do some sight seeing over T and T. The airspace was surprisingly busy. I guess everyone comes this way as they enter South America - a problem flying over Venezuela?
They let me descend to 14,000 feet which is not really sight seeing range but I did the best I could. I actually begged the guy, but he was busy.
Even at 14,000 you can see how close the two countries are.
Natalia's father and his family are from here so I wanted to try and see - and photograph as much as I could.
Southeast point.
To the south - facing the channel with V.
To the North.
The interior of the Island - hard to see, but very green and not very populated. I was surprised at how big the Island was.
Spy photo from 14,000.
Interior.
The western coast.
Near the Port of Spain on the Northwest coast.
The Port was actually under a cloud so this is the best I could do.
The Island of Grenada was only about 90 miles to the North. I am shocked at how close everything is down here. When we leave here tomorrow we are going to fly at 1,000 feet over all of the various islands that are in between here and lunch. We are planning to stop in Nevis or St. Martin's for lunch on the way to the Dominican Republic.
This is Grenada coming into view under a little cloud layer.
The view was actually breath taking.
That is the airport out there. The Cuban's built the runway for the guys that kicked out the guys that we liked and that is why we came down and kicked out the guys that the Cuban's liked and hey - Grenada got a new airport. (sorry for the in depths political coverage)
Downwind to base.
Pretty flying.
Just like French Guiana only completely different.
Short final.
Really short final.
This is a British Island and this is a Virgin Air 747 - get it??
Nice view for a parking space.
Wow..
The airport.
At our hotel - telling all of the stories of the day. I was so tired I was goofy.
The deck outside my room - pretty darn nice. I love not being in Brazil.
I will take some good pictures tomorrow but this is a beautiful room.
Hard to photo - no light - but a great view. This place is really beautiful and it is great to be here for a whole day. (two nights)A long day - 12 hours door to door and 6 1/2 hours of flying about 5 in IMC with one instrument approach, over flying the Amazon, crossing the equator, landing in a French territory, checking out Hugo and his boys, seeing Nat's ancestral home, and a beautiful landing on the spice island. All in all a good day.
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