PHEW, I'm a TERRIBLE blogger and I know, but please forgive me! After being out from work for 12 days I really had to focus on my students! Ok so I will backup to the days during the race..
Last time we talked, we were stuck in Columbus, NE all day! We ended up staying another night and split a hotel suite with Juliana and Heather from Jacksonville U and Susan and Marie Carastro, we had a blast! Our hotel had a 'happy hour' which had little finger foods and then we had dinner at a great bbq place next door. Finally the next morning we pushed on to Watertown, SD which we completed a quick fly-by there. We then stopped in Ashville, WI...absolutely GORGEOUS! It was very cool (63*!!) and so picturesque. We were very thankful we were able to get in because the week Prior, Wisconsin had flash flooding (a polar bear got out of the zoo!!) and much of the terrain we flew over was flooded. A little bit of weather was along our route to the next stop so we held in place a bit in Wisonsin and enjoyed company and great sausage and of course, cheese!
Then it was on to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan! Meaning we flew over the GREAT LAKES!! They were SO Spectacular, they almost appear tropical! The water was so clear and blue and you couldn't tell it wasn't the Ocean! By this point we really had racing down no problem and were able to enjoy the scenery! We chose to overnight in Sault Ste. Marie just because of the scenery and also the proximity to CANADA!! (We REALLY wanted to cross the bridge into Canada but neither of us had our passports with us! I know, bad pilots!). Flying to the airport and executing the fly by was interesting considering we had to avoid the prison that flanked the runway! We had dinner with several other teams at this funny restaurant with stuffed animals covering every inch of the room (and I don't mean teddy bears!). The next morning, we were ready to finish our LAST DAY of racing!
There was a bit of IFR along the route that made us apprehensive so we held back for a bit, but before too long, the wonderful sea fog started rolling in so we QUICKLY made our departure and fly-by, just minutes before the field went IFR!! (Vinson was freaking out the entire time....). Then is was along Lake Michigan (!!) to Benton Harbour, MI. Again, such a beautiful flyby coming in over the coast. But no time to stop, we had one more leg!!
The last leg was very smooth and dare I say easy? We had a few clouds to dodge (all VFR!) but made it into Batavia very easily, the 10th team to arrive! Immediately after shutdown we were pushed into a parking spot by the Sporty's Staff (we were still inside, like a chariot!!) and as soon as we stepped out of the airplane, Hal Shevers, the founder of Sporty's Pilot shop, was shaking our hand!! What a way to be greeted!
Once inside we completed our terminus paperwork and the lady at the desk said, "That man from the FAA wants to talk to you". *GULP* (we didn't do it we SWEAR!) Turns out, his dad was the Vice President from Louisiana Tech and he just wanted to congratulate us!!
Then it was time to DESTRESS!! We had just completed the Air Race!!! There was a Melt-down party at the hotel for the racers with more food (we were VERY well fed...) The next couple of days we had a few debriefings, but really we were able to relax. The highlights were Susan and Jessica Lowerys faceoff in basketball (tied!) and the Sportys birthday bash complete with fireworks, musicians, and a FABULOUS dinner put on by Hal in celebrations of Sportys 50th birthday and the race! Susan and Team 57 ended up on the town of Cincinatti that night at a neat hole in the wall place where we played darts and just destressed. I (Jessica V) was WIPED out at that point and nearly fell asleep!
When it came time to recieve our scores (not placement, just raw score)..We were thrilled to find out that we had recieved NO PENALTIES!! (unheard of for first time racers!!) I was so pleased for our first time.
Alright, what you'e all been wondering, the results!!
Sunday night, we attended the Awards Banquet which was a wonderful set up with silent auction and dinner. We knew already we weren't in the Top Ten due to we weren't inspected prior to the banquet, but we were still excited to see how we did! We DID recieve three leg prizes (meaning that we did the best on those legs) , two 4th places and one 1st!!!! We were given great little charms for those prizes, along with a little cash!
The top 10 and last places were announced and the sheets were placed at the front, a MOD descended on them but I was quick and had one of the first ones!!
We placed.....14th!!! Out of 49! For our first race it feels like such an accomplishment! But beyond what we placed, we put to use skills we have acquired over the short years, saw parts of the US we never imagined, and gained 30 hours of flight time.
We are SO thankful for your support, prayers, financial assistance, and encouragement!! We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you!! Be looking for a little note in the mail over the next couple of weeks!!
We are looking so forward to racing in the future, and telling our story to other young women in hopes they too will pursue adventure through aviation!!!
All our Love,
Team Jessica
