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 | Tuesday October 2, 2001
The last day of our journey dawned with good weather for flying. The reports from the previous evening had predicted a two-hour delay in our departure time from Cleveland, but some supreme presence presided over the weather for us and produced clear, cool flying. I bundled myself up with layers: a long sleeved t-shirt, flannel shirt, scarf, fleece, leather flying jacket, and leather gloves with knitted wool liners. When I first jumped into the cockpit, I felt like the ?Michelin Man? and wondered how I would manage the controls, but once airborne at 8:30 a.m. and cruising at 5,500 ft., I was more than happy I layered sufficiently.
There was quite an autograph line at Bellefonte today!
The air was as smooth as silk and the two-hour flight to Bellefonte, PA passed quickly. This was an extra special stop since it had been the first stop at the beginning of our flight and would be our last before reaching Westchester County, NY and the termination of the trip. A quick pass over the airport showed many people awaiting my arrival and when I taxied to a stop at the gas pump, the ramp was filled with eager children?s and adult faces waving American flags and holding up welcome signs! Three different schools had let their classes attend our arrival and, I talked with the children and signed autographs for over an hour.
Truly, a highlight of the Bellefonte stop was a superb breakfast cooked and served by the F.B.O. to my crew and I. Mr. William Piper, Jr. was a special guest who is the son of the founder of Piper Aircraft. This visit was especially poignant since I own a vintage J3 Piper Cub that was the foundation of my flying career and the first airplane that I flew solo. He presented me with a Piper Cub cap, displaying a Piper J3, complete with his autograph. This will be a cherished momento of this journey.
Bill Piper Jr., son of the founder of the Piper Aircraft Corporation, came down to see me at Bellefonte. What a great honor for a Piper J3 Cub pilot!
I departed Bellefonte at 12:30 p.m. and after a low fly-by headed direct to Westchester County, my final destination. Enroute, I encountered the first puffy clouds of the entire trip and enjoyed the surreal feeling that flying above the delicately spaced mists provides. The beginning color changes of the leaves wove a golden-bronzed carpet below us, occasionally split open by a meandering river.
The touchdown was five minutes ahead of the scheduled 2:30 p.m. arrival. The Avro melted onto the runway in possibly the smoothest landing yet! A multitude of feelings welled in my chest: relief at having safely completed the entire trip without incident, pride in the message that I hope this journey conveyed, but also a touch of sadness at leaving an adventure that has changed my life.
I would like to extend one last heartfelt thank you to all the people along the way who patiently waited for my arrival and then selflessly immersed me in their enthusiasm, good wishes and kindness. I would like to thank you too for ?staying tuned? to our progress here on the web site. I hope you have enjoyed the commentary. It is my understanding that a video will be produced about this flight and will be available for a nominal price from HistroicAviation.com, should you be interested.
Thanks again for your interest. We will be posting additional photos here tomorrow and will be providing some additional content about Amelia and comments from the sponsor, Greg Herrick. I am so very pleased to be able to have made this flight and that we were blessed with such good fortune. We were able to keep our schedule and had absolutely no problems with the airplane.
In closing, let me say that this journey has renewed my faith in my fellow Americans and my long time belief that all people are inherently good. I am proud to be an American!
Thank you for being a part of our grand adventure! This site will remain active for seveal months. Please stay tuned and tell your friends and send us your thoughts!
Carlene
I turned the Avro over to Nathan Rounds, who will fly it back to Minnesota starting in the morning; I'm heading back to California and to work. It may well be an adjustment for me after so much fun.
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