May 2nd (updated)
To Manaus
Well, here we are again, cruising along over deep blue waters, some little puffy clouds on the horizon, quiet radio and all is peaceful. Well we are now, but on the climbout and first hour there were some small buildups that were bumpy. I see clouds way ahead, that must be the South America coast. We’ll be bumping along once we get there and deviating for real storm cloud buildups.
We got off reasonably early, just after 8:30am for me with Wayne waiting a little later. Knowing we had two extra hours to fly, we wanted to get going as quickly as possible. Handling was very efficient and expensive, $150 per plane. When we arrived in Barbados two days earlier, we tried to avoid it, but they have the system set up so that you need a number that can only be generated by handlers. You can’t get through customs without it. They were extremely nice helping us for both arrival and departure.
I just checked my numbers and have been running 7.9 gph; which is good. I checked weather this morning at the hotel; it looked like easterly winds, but we’d only have a slight component as we’re headed south. That’s about what we’re getting. Boa Vista has 20% chance of rain and Manaus has 40% chance of thunderstorms.
Ahh, that feels better. One cup of coffee this morning, with an earlier than normal takeoff and I have to pay the price. I could see clouds ahead and knew I’d be talking with ATC quite a bit over land, so decided to pee early in the flight. Once we land, it’s usually an hour or so on the ramp before we get to an office and restrooms, so it’s best not to hold it for landing or I’ll really be suffering. In this case, we still have 6 hours to go and lots of water to drink. At 7000 feet, it’s still a little warm; Wayne’s cooler at 9000.
The coast is coming into view. Wow, first time in South America; I’m excited. I’ll try to get some pics. There are scattered clouds, but hopefully I’ll get some pictures of the coastline. I’m talking with Georgetown control in Guyana and all is going well.
Everything happened at once, ATC check-in, change altitude, 15z HF scheduled time to talk, change fuel tanks and crossing the coastline taking pictures. ATC first, then pics, called on HF but didn’t hear Rusty and didn’t expect Wes. Actually didn’t look like it was going to work today due to their travel plans. I also listened in on the Maritime Net, but it had lots of static, so I didn’t call in.
Looks like lots of agriculture along the coast. Lots of green and yellow fields. Not too many miles inland and that ends. Looks like forests or shrubs (difficult to tell from up here) and rivers. I’m up at 8000 feet due to turning more westbound and above the clouds, which is nice. I was skimming the tops earlier at 7000. Wayne is above me at 10,000 and about to overtake me. He’ll get everything organized by the time I arrive at Manaus, just like he did at Barbados. It’s nice having a “front man.” Just over 4 hours to go for me, less for Wayne. I think it’s lunchtime.
OK, there’s a break in the clouds, so I can type again. It’s been pretty bumpy at times. ATC won’t let me go higher because Wayne is up there and without radar they want more separation. Even though we just gave distances and times to the next waypoints, I’m still stuck down here. Right now it looks good ahead, so I’m smooth for a while.
So, what was lunch today? Yesterday I had fish cakes which turned out to be like conch fritters. There we so many I couldn’t eat them all. As we had fridges in the rooms, I took them back to the hotel. I split them with Wayne so we’re both having them for lunch today. They are really more fritter than fish, but fill the spot. I also found bananas and apples yesterday, so we’ll stay healthy today.
The terrain has been rising and there are mountains further to the northwest, but we can’t see them with all the clouds. As I continue I can see some ridges and valleys in between. No houses or signs of habitation. As I cross the edge of the mountains and over the flatlands to the south, I can see roads and maybe a town. We’re only 75 miles from Boa Vista, so we should see more signs of life. Less than 3 hours to go. There’s a slight tailwind, 3 knots, but at least it’s no longer a headwind.
I received a short cut and didn’t get to over-fly Boa Vista so now we are direct to Manaus. There are lots of layers of clouds on this final 2 ¼ hour leg. We can see some real buildups to the left and right but only dark clouds ahead and nothing on the storm scope. We are talking together and wondering what’s ahead, but proceeding. The little I have been able to see below are trees, some fields and a few roads with cars in between the rolling hills. That’s mainly trees and hills.
We’re almost to the equator, we then proceed to 3 degrees south where we’ll find Manaus. Looks like the storms are sitting right on the equator. Wayne just called back again; he’s 50 miles ahead and still has nothing further ahead of him. Some clouds and rain, but nothing building or cumulus. Maybe we’ll be lucky as we continue south. He has less than an hour to go; I have one hour 15 minutes. Sure looks dark though.
Wayne called back again with Manaus weather and approach. They have storms around but good ceiling and visibility. He now has storms on both sides of him, but not directly ahead where we are going. If they aren’t moving, I’ll be ok also.
OK, we’re down and in the hotel; but I’ve got to say it’s the longest procedure I’ve ever been through, even longer than in India and that’s saying something. First the approach: after we got through the rain it was relatively clear. On my way in I got some pictures of the rivers that come together to make the Amazon. A storm had also passed over the airport, but the visibility and ceiling had improved from the last weather report.
After landing, without fueling, which we have to do tomorrow, it took three hours and five or six offices and stamps and signatures to get the paperwork complete. The only good part was that it was in air conditioned offices, instead of out on a hot ramp. I got in at 4pm, Wayne even earlier, and finally out to the terminal area to find a taxi at 7:15pm. We had time for a quick sandwich at the airport, taxi ride to the hotel and sleep. We have to wake up at 6:30am and take a taxi back to the airport. Luckily, one of the young handlers helped us with the formalities and another person escorted us everywhere.
No internet at the hotel or airport, so this update will have to wait for tomorrow at the earliest. Good night.
To Manaus
Well, here we are again, cruising along over deep blue waters, some little puffy clouds on the horizon, quiet radio and all is peaceful. Well we are now, but on the climbout and first hour there were some small buildups that were bumpy. I see clouds way ahead, that must be the South America coast. We’ll be bumping along once we get there and deviating for real storm cloud buildups.
We got off reasonably early, just after 8:30am for me with Wayne waiting a little later. Knowing we had two extra hours to fly, we wanted to get going as quickly as possible. Handling was very efficient and expensive, $150 per plane. When we arrived in Barbados two days earlier, we tried to avoid it, but they have the system set up so that you need a number that can only be generated by handlers. You can’t get through customs without it. They were extremely nice helping us for both arrival and departure.
I just checked my numbers and have been running 7.9 gph; which is good. I checked weather this morning at the hotel; it looked like easterly winds, but we’d only have a slight component as we’re headed south. That’s about what we’re getting. Boa Vista has 20% chance of rain and Manaus has 40% chance of thunderstorms.
Ahh, that feels better. One cup of coffee this morning, with an earlier than normal takeoff and I have to pay the price. I could see clouds ahead and knew I’d be talking with ATC quite a bit over land, so decided to pee early in the flight. Once we land, it’s usually an hour or so on the ramp before we get to an office and restrooms, so it’s best not to hold it for landing or I’ll really be suffering. In this case, we still have 6 hours to go and lots of water to drink. At 7000 feet, it’s still a little warm; Wayne’s cooler at 9000.
The coast is coming into view. Wow, first time in South America; I’m excited. I’ll try to get some pics. There are scattered clouds, but hopefully I’ll get some pictures of the coastline. I’m talking with Georgetown control in Guyana and all is going well.
Everything happened at once, ATC check-in, change altitude, 15z HF scheduled time to talk, change fuel tanks and crossing the coastline taking pictures. ATC first, then pics, called on HF but didn’t hear Rusty and didn’t expect Wes. Actually didn’t look like it was going to work today due to their travel plans. I also listened in on the Maritime Net, but it had lots of static, so I didn’t call in.
Looks like lots of agriculture along the coast. Lots of green and yellow fields. Not too many miles inland and that ends. Looks like forests or shrubs (difficult to tell from up here) and rivers. I’m up at 8000 feet due to turning more westbound and above the clouds, which is nice. I was skimming the tops earlier at 7000. Wayne is above me at 10,000 and about to overtake me. He’ll get everything organized by the time I arrive at Manaus, just like he did at Barbados. It’s nice having a “front man.” Just over 4 hours to go for me, less for Wayne. I think it’s lunchtime.
OK, there’s a break in the clouds, so I can type again. It’s been pretty bumpy at times. ATC won’t let me go higher because Wayne is up there and without radar they want more separation. Even though we just gave distances and times to the next waypoints, I’m still stuck down here. Right now it looks good ahead, so I’m smooth for a while.
So, what was lunch today? Yesterday I had fish cakes which turned out to be like conch fritters. There we so many I couldn’t eat them all. As we had fridges in the rooms, I took them back to the hotel. I split them with Wayne so we’re both having them for lunch today. They are really more fritter than fish, but fill the spot. I also found bananas and apples yesterday, so we’ll stay healthy today.
The terrain has been rising and there are mountains further to the northwest, but we can’t see them with all the clouds. As I continue I can see some ridges and valleys in between. No houses or signs of habitation. As I cross the edge of the mountains and over the flatlands to the south, I can see roads and maybe a town. We’re only 75 miles from Boa Vista, so we should see more signs of life. Less than 3 hours to go. There’s a slight tailwind, 3 knots, but at least it’s no longer a headwind.
I received a short cut and didn’t get to over-fly Boa Vista so now we are direct to Manaus. There are lots of layers of clouds on this final 2 ¼ hour leg. We can see some real buildups to the left and right but only dark clouds ahead and nothing on the storm scope. We are talking together and wondering what’s ahead, but proceeding. The little I have been able to see below are trees, some fields and a few roads with cars in between the rolling hills. That’s mainly trees and hills.
We’re almost to the equator, we then proceed to 3 degrees south where we’ll find Manaus. Looks like the storms are sitting right on the equator. Wayne just called back again; he’s 50 miles ahead and still has nothing further ahead of him. Some clouds and rain, but nothing building or cumulus. Maybe we’ll be lucky as we continue south. He has less than an hour to go; I have one hour 15 minutes. Sure looks dark though.
Wayne called back again with Manaus weather and approach. They have storms around but good ceiling and visibility. He now has storms on both sides of him, but not directly ahead where we are going. If they aren’t moving, I’ll be ok also.
OK, we’re down and in the hotel; but I’ve got to say it’s the longest procedure I’ve ever been through, even longer than in India and that’s saying something. First the approach: after we got through the rain it was relatively clear. On my way in I got some pictures of the rivers that come together to make the Amazon. A storm had also passed over the airport, but the visibility and ceiling had improved from the last weather report.
After landing, without fueling, which we have to do tomorrow, it took three hours and five or six offices and stamps and signatures to get the paperwork complete. The only good part was that it was in air conditioned offices, instead of out on a hot ramp. I got in at 4pm, Wayne even earlier, and finally out to the terminal area to find a taxi at 7:15pm. We had time for a quick sandwich at the airport, taxi ride to the hotel and sleep. We have to wake up at 6:30am and take a taxi back to the airport. Luckily, one of the young handlers helped us with the formalities and another person escorted us everywhere.
No internet at the hotel or airport, so this update will have to wait for tomorrow at the earliest. Good night.
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