Honda Jet and Cirrus Jet on final for 18R as I was taxiing to parking, that was quite a sight.
Quick trip log, got a completely different route than what I filed, which is not shocking. What is slightly surprising is that ForeFlight and flightaware didn't alert me to the expected routing. Reprogrammed the first half of the flight, departed, then updated the GPS with the rest of the route once underway. Of course, once I was airborne I was vectored for about 60 miles and then given direct destination, so the route was useless
That's IFR for ya, though, it happens. The cleared route is often tossed in favor of vectors and shortcuts.
The weather at fuel stop ended up being slight closer to the original forecast, shot the RNAV RWY 28. Got fuel, fired up mobile hotspot on the phone, connected iPad via wifi to the hotpot for some seriously slow 3G internet, but good enough to file on ForeFlight. I filed and picked up clearance on the published delivery frequency. The controller explained that it was a remote outlet installed at the airport so pilots could pick up their clearance easily. He was an approach controller (probably working flight data position if I had to guess), he wasn't at an airport.
The controller said, "is this Keith?" "uhhhhhhh.....yep." "Oh hey, I thought the voice sounded familiar." It turns out it was someone I knew on VATSIM years ago and he recognized the voice. I'm reminded every day how small a world this is.
Got the clearance, as filed. Called again holding at end of runway for release...no surprises until the very narrow storm near Flint, MI (the picture Ken posted). Controller started vectoring me about 30-40 miles prior to the storm. There was no ADS-B support in the area so I wasn't seeing what he was seeing until I got pretty close to the US border. A few minutes later, the iPad overheated and I was back to flying blind.
I negotiated a route with the controller and asked him what his MVA was. The answer was 2900ft. So, down to 3000 I went so scoot under some of the lighter stuff. After that it was smooth sailing to RIPON (the start of the VFR arrival). About 20 miles from RIPON, I hear non-stop position reports from a bunch of planes and some weird chatter going on. I triple check my frequency, then I hear the voice of the approach controller talking about when they might be opening the airport again. Oh dear.
Recall in my first post I mentioned that there is a possibility of holding at OSH. Well, Sat and Sun are the massive formation arrivals. I had shown up at the tail end of the holding for the Bonanaza arrival. So, 3-4 laps of Green Lake later, I continued for RIPON and then onto FISKE. A few odd things happened during the arrival, a bit hard to explain in a forum post at this hour, but from midfield downwind onwards it all worked out.
I'm now parked with a gaggle of Glasairs (the final oddity for the arrival, I suppose), safe and sound at OSH. Happy to be here!
Great picture of that squall line, Ken. Holy cow.