Around the world in a Cessna Grand Caravan

Around the world
In a Cessna Grand Caravan
an FS2002 Adventure

Day 34
Monday, 26 November, 2001
St. Croix, Virgin Islands - Inagua, Bahamas - Jacksonville, Florida

It's the home stretch. Only 1 more day til I'm home. Today, I'm going to do a little sightseeing. First up is a flyby of the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico. Then it's over the Bahamas to Bimini, then to Florida, where I'll go up the east cost to Cape Canveral, then over to Orlando for a Disney World fly-by, then finally up to Craig Muni in Jacksonville, Florida, soon to be my new home field.

I left just after dawn, and I could tell I was still asleep, because it took me 10 minutes to realize I had never turned west after takeoff, and was now almost 30 miles off course. I fixed that soon enough, and soon, I was over Arecibo. It was cloudy and rainy, and I was at the exact coordinates (18N 21.99' 66W 48.07') where it was supposed to be, but just like Stonehenge... IT'S NOT THERE!!!!!

I flew around in circles looking for it for a little while, but then gave up and kept flying. I flew northwest over the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic and then Haiti, before turning more to the north to head towards the Bahamas. There were lots of ships out in the ocean. I was only at 3,000 feet for the flight, wanting to stay low to see what I could see.

I landed in Inagua and spent about an hour refueling and grabbing some lunch. Then it was right back to the air to explore the Bahamas. Soon enough, I was at Bimini, and turned to the west to get to Florida.

Once at the Florida coast, I turned north to find Cape Canaveral. When I got there, I wasn't disappointed. The Space Shuttle was out on the launch pad, and I was able to get some good pictures of it. I also got a nice shot of the vehicle assembly building.

From there, it was west to Orlando, to fly over Disney World and Epcot Center. It was strating to get dark out, as the sun was going down, so the pictures didn't come out all that well. After looping over Disney, I turned back to the north to head for Jacksonville. I landed there just as the sun set.

Tomorrow is the final leg of the journey. One takeoff, one landing, possibly some sightseeing at Washington DC. I can't wait to get home.

LEG Start Start
Time Land Land
Time Distance Trip
Time Fuel
Used
1 TISX
St. Croix, Virgin Islands 10:40 GMT
11/26/01 MYIG
Inagua, Bahamas 14:54 GMT
11/26/01 540 NM 4 hr
14 min 246 gal
2 MYIG
Inagua, Bahamas 16:00 GMT
11/26/01 Jacksonville, Florida 22:36 GMT
11/26/01 730 NM 6 hr
36 min 314 gal
Day
Total 1270 NM 10 hr
50 min 560 gal
Trip
Total 31,612 NM 206 hr
0 min 10,929 gal

Pictures

Where we've been so far

LEG	Start	Start Time	Land	Land Time	Distance	Trip Time	Fuel Used
1	TISX St. Croix, Virgin Islands	10:40 GMT 11/26/01	MYIG Inagua, Bahamas	14:54 GMT 11/26/01	540 NM	4 hr 14 min	246 gal
2	MYIG Inagua, Bahamas	16:00 GMT 11/26/01	Jacksonville, Florida	22:36 GMT 11/26/01	730 NM	6 hr 36 min	314 gal
Day Total					1270 NM	10 hr 50 min	560 gal
Trip Total					31,612 NM	206 hr 0 min	10,929 gal