Eastern Shore
Another small adventure in my Cessna 152
February 16th, 2008

Just an afternoon trip that took me from Charlottesville out over the Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore. About 300 nautical miles round trip, 3.6hrs on the hobbes on a warm Saturday afternoon.


My basic route. I fly VFR only, do not file an official flight plan, don't talk to ATC, don't get flight following. Dodge the birds, watch out for the old guys and students and don't run into radio towers. Stay out of the restricted areas as the black helicopters will find you and ruin your day, ha. Not that hard really, its a big sky.
Most of the shots taking off and leaving were fairly boring or already covered somewhere in my legions of pictures, so this is the first shot- the Lake Anna Nuclear Facility.
And a closer shot of the same place.
Onward, this is an interesting shot of what exactly I don't know
Lots more open ground, the usual brown landscape in February until I get close to the tappahanock river. A shot of the river as I turn south to find the airport.
And another. Notice all the brown marshy stuff on the shore of this little inlet.
My GPS has an older database in it so it doesn't know where the new KXSA airport is. Oh my gosh I will actually have to look for the airport. How retro. Anyhow, here is a shot of the W79, now defunct. I've actually been into this one about a year ago, it was very quaint, like an old country store.
The new one is pretty easy to find, its not far south from the old one. And it looks all new and shiny. This is the best shot I have despite my finger in the upper right corner and all the reflections from my vanilla colored shirt, bleah. Notice the red roof of the terminal building, pretty tough to miss!
I land here to get some gas, they have nice cheap self serve. After I gas up, I go in to check out the new terminal building. Really nice place, all shiny and new. I also luck out on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, the airport manager guy is grilling hot dogs! I snag a free one, a coke, some macaroni salad and chips and raid the veggie tray. What a great day!
And here is a shot of my trusty bird sitting on the ramp. Is it unnatural to love a machine so much? Ha. She is such a sweetie! Right out of 100hr and the mechanic greased the throttle, smooth as silk! New oil and a full checkup, she is purring like a kitten.
The manager tells me he is going to try to do some small food event every Saturday afternoon with nice weather. With the cheap gas and great views, I will be back! Now its off for a cruise down the river to my next way point, Hummel field. Here is a nice shot as I head south.
Another shot as I cruise south. Nicely mowed grass or something green down there with a little beach head off in the water.
Everyone out here has a backyard dock. Very neat.
Almost to the bay. Here is a shot looking southwest. You can see part of Hummel Field at the right center.
Here is a shot of Hummel Field. There are alot of small airplanes, ultralights and such based at this airport. I've heard alot about it but didn't really have the time to land.
Long bridge over the river. This is the Norris Bridge.
Looking at Google maps, I'm pretty sure this is Windmill point. I'm about to head over the bay, ie open water. I'm wondering if I were to loose my engine about now, where would I land? I'm also thinking I don't have anything in the airplane that will float and I'll bet that water is cold. Ha.
But its not that far really, and I climb up to 5500 ft just so I will have lots of time to think if the engine dies and at least glide to swimming distance?
Of course, not to worry, my little sweetie and her purring engine don't let me down, she doesn't skip a beat. I make it across the bay in no time. Here is a shot of whatever this marsh stuff is. I was going to the Accomack Airport but I'm a little short on time and have plenty of gas so I just turn south.
Going south, a nice cove, wish that was my boat.
What is this and who lives here. Ouch. Nice spread.
Like, lots of boats man. I'm sure google map would tell me what this is but I'm too lazy at this point to do that. Let it be an exercise for the reader, ha. Here ya go: Google Map
A small town, I'm guessing this is Cape Charles? Another look at google map seems to confirm this, lots of nice neat rows of houses and stuff.
And nearby, boats and a train. Interesting combination.
Looks like a nice place to live, notice the large houses on really large lots with close beach access.
What are these rectagular things in the water? Some sort of fish or shellfish farming? Seaweed? Dunno.
Nice stretch of beach here. That seems to be some sort of strange beach house, I at first thought it was a mobile home but it aint.
This looks to be the ferry dock. Some rusted old barges sitting off in the water a bit, I suppose to make the docking of the ferry more interesting for the pilot? Hmm.
And a longer shot of the same to get it all in.
And this is fisherman's island, at the very tip of the shore, this is the start (or is it the end) of the bay bridge tunnel. See, now I can fly over this all day long but driving on that bridge would give me the willies!
And a lone light house on the ocean side of the shore. Smith Island Inlet according to google maps.
One shot looking north before I cruise back across the bay. Next stop is West Point.
A ship cruising up the center of the bay.
No more pictures for a while, I'm getting a little tired here and need some gas so I land at the west point airport. OK place, older a bit, but here is that classic Virginia new terminal. Self serve gas but I don't see it at first and have to go in and ask. Didn't stay here too long, wanted to get home and its about 40 minutes to Cville from here.
Just after takeoff from Westpoint I see more of this marsh stuff growing or clinging or whatever. An interesting pattern, almost fractal or something.
And the last picture if you have made it this far is of some power plant or industrial thingie spewing stuff into the air.