The Saturday before Oshkosh we departed at 7:30am and arrived in Oshkosh at 4:30pm that afternoon after a 600 mile flight.
We had weather to deal with most of the way up to Oshkosh this year but we managed to stay on the east side of the front of rain showers most of the way up until we had to divert due to a thunder storm. Our stops along the way were at Mexico MO, Galesburg IL, Monroe WI, and West Bend WI. At West Bend they offered to put our plane in an open hangar to wait out the thunder storm that were within minutes of arriving. While we waited the storm out we used the courtesy car to go get lunch. This was a great place to be grounded and the airport staff were wonderful. After a couple hours the weather had improved and it was time to make our final leg of the trip to Oshkosh. Within 15 minutes we were approaching Rippon for the Rippon/Fisk approach. After we reached Fisk, the controller directed us on a 27 approach. Now we were tuned in to the Oshkosh 27 approach controller for further direction. "Silver low wing, Rock your wings!" The controller announced. After a good rock of the wings we were on downwind for 27 just past the the gravel pit. The controller started directing our way with rapid fire commands. "Silver low wing start your descent. Silver low wing start your base abeam the numbers. Silver low wing clear to land orange dot." While on base I noticed a Cherokee coming in on a low decent headed in our direction over the lake. It was clear to me we were both not going to be able to land at the same time so I started a go around as I turned final above the Cherokee. I am not sure the controller even saw the Cherokee until I started my go around. Once the controller saw the Cherokee landing he started shouting "Silver low wing go around go around!" The controller thanked me for making the go around and said he would work me right back into the downwind. Once we were astablished on downwind the controller called our base at about the lakes edge. Once again there was another plane coming across the lake for a strait in approach to 27. This time is was a twin Beachcraft. I slowed down as much as I could on base to allow the Beachcraft to get in front of me. "Silver low wing clear to land behind Twin Beach". Slowing down on final as much as I could we were able to land behind the Beachcraft. It wasn't my best landing ever, but we were safely down and very happy to be at Oshkosh!
We camped by the plane for six nights and the weather could not have been better. Not hardly a drop of rain the entire week and temperatures were in the low 80's and 60's at nite. Great camping weather!
After a fun filled week of camping, seeing friends, meeting new friends, eating great food, and seeing some amazing planes, it was time to make our way home. My how time fly's when you are at Oshkosh!
Friday morning we packed all our things back in the plane and started our voyage home. There were storms approaching from the west, so we needed to get an early start. Once we made it down to Illinois we were clear of the threat of storms. We made three stops along the way, Monroe WI, Quincy IL, and Lebanon MO. We left Oshkosh about 7:30 am and arrive home about 4:30 pm. It was a great trip filled with lots of wonderful memories!
