Valentine's Day Flights?

So where'd you take your honey? Or are you waiting for the weekend?

Mary and I took today (our normal day off) to fly to the little town
of Decorah, IA, to visit the Hotel Winneshiek. USA Today recently
listed this property as one of the most romantic hotels in the Midwest
-- and we simply had to go see what it was all about.

The flight itself was absolutely marvelous. With the outside
temperature at 10 above zero, Atlas climbs like a rocket. We
maintained 1200 feet per minute all the way to 6500 feet, with full
tanks -- something we can only dream about in summer.

The ride was so smooth that it was easy to imagine that the earth was
turning beneath us, as we hung motionless in the sky -- and the
visibility must've been 200 miles. With yesterday's heavy snowfall,
the entire world was blindingly white, giving the fields and forests
of Iowa a fairy-like atmosphere.

All was right with the world, as that big ol' O-540 thrummed along to
the beat of Fleetwood Mac. (On-board XM radio rocks, let me tell you
guys!)

The airport in Decorah is very nicely done, with a single (but wide
and long) runway, and a spacious ramp. The FBO facility is typical
small-town Iowa, with a nicely appointed pilot's lounge, full of lots
of pictures and magazines. Being mid-week in February, we were the
only plane on the ramp, and it took a bit of looking to find anyone
home. We had called ahead -- so we knew *somone* was there -- and we
eventually found a couple of mechanics wrenching planes in the
maintenance hangar. They directed us to the courtesy car -- an
ancient Ford Bronco -- with the keys in it.

In fact, the keys could not be removed -- I tried. The steering
column had been physically altered so that the keys were a permanent
addition to the vehicle, which certainly solved the problem of pilots
flying off with their keys! (This has happened to us a couple of
times, with our courtesy van....)

The gas gauge was below empty. In fact, it was so far below empty
that I figured it must be inoperative. However, just in case, we made
a bee-line for the nearest gas station. I put $19 in that tank, and
only brought the gauge up to half full! I doubt we would have made
it to town, had we not stopped for gas first...

We found the hotel easily -- it's the biggest building in downtown.
As with all 19th century hotels, it had fallen into disrepair and
converted to apartments before a rich benefactor -- in this case, a
wealthy heiress -- bought it and lovingly restored it to its original
grandeur.

The interior is stunning, with a three-story open atrium-lobby,
fireplaces and gorgeous woodwork. The railroad tracks used to go
right behind the hotel (the old station is just a block away) and
those trains originally provided most of the hotel's business. As a
result, the restored "main entrance" is actually facing AWAY from the
main road, which is quite unusual nowadays.

Being Valentine's Day the single lady behind the desk was quite busy,
so rather than becoming the annoying people who walk in on Saturday
night wanting a tour (we get them all the time!), we simply walked
around with our mouths open, marveling at the money that had been
spent on this financially untenable venture.

We then went for lunch at Ruby's, a nearby restaurant that had wisely
placed a menu in the FBO. It turned out that Ruby herself was there
(one of her waitresses had called in sick), so we spent the next hour
talking with this marvelously entertaining lady. (We ended up trying
to talk her into opening a restaurant next to our hotel -- her home-
made food and service are AWESOME!)

We got to hear all the dirt on the hotel's background. The heiress
who saved the place sunk $10 million into the restoration before her
children cut her off. Of course the hotel can't bring in more than
$1500 per day, on a good day -- plus the restaurant and bar take --
and we know the expenses of running a hotel half that size.

Let's say the place brings in $3K per day, on average. Do the math --
after expenses, it would take a hundred years to amortize $10
million!

So, of course, the hotel went belly up after a year or two of losing
fists-full of money, and it was sold to some out-of-town hotelier who
is now trying to make a go of it. Inevitably he's had to raise prices
while cutting amenities and staff, so the downward spiral has begun
anew.

Decorah is a very nice town, with a really neat downtown -- they still
have a DOWNTOWN J.C. Penneys store, thanks to no malls -- but they are
WAY off the beaten path. Little Luther College is nearby, and there
is some local industry, but there is simply no way this gem of a hotel
can long survive in such a market. It's a very cool place, and we're
going to try to spend a night or two there before the inevitable
demise takes place...

We then walked around downtown, exploring the antique shops and
stores. It was a terrific way to spend V-Day.

Our flight home was just as nice as the flight out, but with a
tailwind. Mary greased the landing into Iowa City, and as we taxied
past the huge mounds of new-plowed snow, we waved at one of our FBO's
planes taxiing out -- departing with some lovebirds on one of our
hotel's "Ultimate Valentine's Day" scenic flights! We had three of
them scheduled for today, with more to come this weekend...

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Valentine's Day Flight? Hah, we had a foot of snow in NY. We were
cooped up inside the house most of the day. When the snow finally let
up a bit at around 5pm, we went outside to clear the driveway. It
took both of us almost two hours. Today, we will have to go to the
airport to rescue our poor Cardinal. I have no doubt that it is
sitting on its tail with snow-laden wings. The weather had been so
mild up until this big snow storm that we forgot to put a tire around
the tail tiedown ring. We had thought of putting the wingcovers on
the night before but were concerned of the wintry mix of ice/snow. I
don't see much of a chance to fly this weekend without spending hours
cleaning off ice/snow. Besides, we are scheduled to go to Nanuet on
Saturday (about 1.5hrs from home) to pick up my new car, a little
Honda Fit (its driving reminds me of flying Cessna 150/152, a bit
underpower but very sprighty and lots of fun. The 33/38mpg, 6
airbags, magic seats were the main reasons for its purchase). My 15-
years Accord with 253K miles still runs like a champ but it has a
weeping gas line due to corrosion!

Hai Longworth

"Longworth" wrote:
[snip]
[re the Honda Fit ...] The 33/38mpg, 6
airbags, magic seats were the main reasons for its purchase).

I have a Hondy Odyssey, have been thinking of downsizing and have looked
at the Honda Fit. Cute little thing and looks like it has room for some
luggage if you took it on a trip. What do you mean "magic seats"? are
they heated?
:-)

On 2/15/2007 10:21:04 AM, "Longworth" wrote:

Valentine's Day Flight? Hah, we had a foot of snow in NY

We had a similar experience in upstate NY. We ended up receiving almost 2
feet of snow from the Valentine's Day storm and we, too, sat inside all day
watching it accumulate.

For a bit I listened to the plight of various commercial airliners on ATC
frequencies from the various storm-pounded cities around the northeast US,
though.

Sorry to read about your poor Cardinal. Hopefully it is not that bad. You
should bring a camera along and snap a picture that you can use during the
heat of the summer.

--
Peter

Valentine's Day Flight? Hah, we had a foot of snow in NY. We were
cooped up inside the house most of the day.

Ah, sorry to hear it. That storm hit us Tuesday, and made a real mess
of things. We had a 3-foot, 100 yard long drift right in front of
our hangar door that the snow plows did a fine job of removing...

It's funny -- our winter was nice and mild all the way through
January. Since the last week of January, it's been one of the coldest
periods on record, with no end in sight.

We were just remarking today that 5 above zero doesn't even feel cold,
anymore... It's amazing what the human body can get used to.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Today, we will have to go to the
airport to rescue our poor Cardinal. I have no doubt that it is
sitting on its tail with snow-laden wings.

Wow, you *need* a hangar for that poor bird.

We visited Oskaloosa, IA (KOOA) a few weeks ago, to visit a friend who
has recently taken over the FBO. It was built during WWII as an
outlying base for the Ottumwa Naval Air Station, so it's got two nice
concrete runways, 24 hour fuel, and a big ramp.

You're not going to want to hear this, but: Private T-hangars are
available....with electricity...for $45 per month.

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Feb 15, 4:29 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
You're not going to want to hear this, but: Private T-hangars are
available....with electricity...for $45 per month.

I think our tie down cost is something like $85/month and hangars
are available at $450. We only have few snow storms a year so it
was not too bad. The over $4K that we save from not having a hangar
can buy a lot of avgas. $45/month hangar cost certainly makes me
drool but I have to consider the tradeoffs.
We have lived in this area for 15 years and really enjoy all the
things that if offers. It's 15 minutes to the boathouse where we can
go rowing from April to November. 20 minutes to the marina where our
friend keeps his sailboat (we are his 'regular' crews & guests). The
airport is also less than 15 minutes from our house and we can be over
a beautiful river right after takeoff with breathtaking mountain range
in view in 10 minutes. Our diveshop is only 10 minutes away and the
windsurfing spot is only 30 minutes up the river. Beautiful hiking
trails are everywhere. I may never get into rock climbing but it is
just across the river. Being an outdoor freak, I can not see living
among acres of acres of cornfields ;-)

Here are the links to some of the rowing photos that Rick took for
our rowing club

http://midhudsonrowing.org/v-web/gallery/

and few aerial photos taken within 15 flying minutes from KPOU

http://www.photocritique.net/g/s?zzTLmn-p15172334
http://www.photocritique.net/g/s?109aIc
http://www.photocritique.net/g/s?zzTRzn-p15172334

Hai Longworth

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:25:41 -0800, Jay Honeck wrote
(in article .com):

So where'd you take your honey? Or are you waiting for the weekend?


My honey will not willingly ride in a small plane, I STILL have no medical,
and we are swamped with other stuff anyway.

A few people have noticed that I am becoming grouchy. That is what not flying
will do. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

Being an outdoor freak, I can not see living
among acres of acres of cornfields ;-)

Oh, I wasn't trying to convince you to move to Oskaloosa. It's in the
absolute middle of nowhere, far from what I find appealing about Iowa
-- except for the people and the airport. (Although, of course, with
an airplane, UPS, and the internet, it doesn't really matter where you
live nowadays.)

Oskie (as many call it) does have many redeeming factors, however,
outside of the airport. It is home to a fantastic bank, First
National Bank Midwest, that specializes in airplane financing. The
president and most of the staff are pilots, believe it or not. It's
one of the most unique banks in America (possibly the world), and I've
obtained financing through them both times I've bought an airplane.

They are one of the very few banks who rent a booth in one of the main
hangar buildings at OSH every year. Stop in and say "hi" this year --
they're great folks.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

A few people have noticed that I am becoming grouchy. That is what not flying
will do. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

If I go more than two weeks without flying, Mary can't stand to be
around me. If I fly every couple of days, I'm positively agreeable.

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"