We got the plane loaded up and received our clearance for Great Exuma in the Bahamas, our first refueling stop. The clearance resembled nothing that I had filed and I must have taken 10 minutes getting everything figured out and punched into the GPS. I learned later from another pilot who flys the route regularly, that the standard departure is radar vectors to 090 and then to the BAMAAS intersection which is WAY out over the water. I had hoped to go via Bimini and Andros to stay within a reasonable distance from land.
Fortunately, the Miami Centre controller actually asked if I wanted direct to Great Exuma and I said yes, so we actually flew close the original route I had planned. The good news was the air was smooth as butter right up to 9000 feet so Kath was back!! We had Addie's little MP3 player plugged into the intercom with some lovely Christian instrumental music playing in the background which was great. It was a beautiful day. Scattered cumulus topped at 7000 or so, so we were well above everything. Winds were almost calm, so I was showing a ground speed of about 110 knots, which is all DKX can manage.
We passed Bimini and then Andros island on our right. Nassau was just off the left wing tip. We then paralled the Exuma chain all the way down to Great Exuma and landed uneventfully after about 3 hours of flying.
Once on the ground at Great Exuma, we were reminded of just how similar the islands of the Bahamas are. It looked exactly like Treasure Cay on Abaco. We had a quick turn with fuel and customs (no fees) and were back in the air in 45 minutes. I filed my flight plan by walking over to the tower and climbing the spiral staircase to the cab and then filled out the standard ICAO form. The tower lady then sent it on to Miami Centre so it was there when I called them at 7000. Once past the Exumas, everything is non-radar so "direct" is not an option. Everybody flys on the airways and reports their position on a regular basis to Miami. It's a bit more work, but good experience as this is how IFR should work (you get spoiled being on radar all the time)
Ok, enough of all the pilot stuff...we arrived in Provindciales, T&C after a 3 hour flight. This is the happening place in the T&C with biz jets parked on the ramp as far as the eye can see. Clearly a hang out of the rich and famous and the fees reflected it!! We took on $90 of gas and the total fees for landing, handling, customs, immigration, call-out and overtime (it was Easter Sunday but the place was as busy as any normal day) were $98!!! I had done some checking it out on the Internet and was sort of expecting a big bill, but this one blew us away. Clearly they are not used to little airplanes, but Provo is the only place in the T&C that has Avgas, and they are the jumping off point for flights south to the DR and beyond.
The first picture taken on the ramp after we parked at Provo.The ramp guy is so disgusted that we aren't a multi-million dollar biz jet that he couldn't even look at us!!
After recovering from the shock, we shook the dust from our sandals on the place and took off for the 40 minute flight to Grand Turk. Grand Turk is a small island to the south and is the capital of T&C. It's a really neat, laid back place. Again comparing the Turks to the Bahamas, Provo is the Nassau and Grand Turk is any one of the Out Islands--our kind of place.
Just had to include a shot of Kath and DKX on the ramp at BPV. What a great airplane! 15 hours of flying so far and not a hic-up! What a great wife...25 years of marriage and still hanging in...
We flew VFR (first time in the whole trip) to GT and landed on the new runway built by a Canadian firm last year. We got all the gear out of the plane, including the bikes, and an airport guy played taxi and took us to the B&B with everything in the back of his pick-up. All in all, a great and SMOOTH day of flying. It was nice have Kath conversant in the right seat again. Tomorrow, we explore Grand Turk!!!
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