Pulling through the doldrums

In 2008 I began working on my pilots license, it was something I always dreamed of.  Additionally, I was newly divorced and achieving this was purely a 'me' thing.  In my mind, flying would be the catalyst into a new life...and it is, I certainly have seen my confidence grow and feel a sense of peace after I take to the skies.

Not to be overshadowed, I fell in love and married an amazing woman during this journey, she encouraged me through my training plateau, stating to me "you should fly more".

Upon getting my ticket, there was initial glee from the accomplishment and  I found enjoyment from taking someone out for the proverbial hamburger.  Still, it felt like something was missing, the experience was anti-climatic. I continued flying with the club where I started and became too comfortable in the pattern at KAPA and performing steep turns in the SE practice area.  I wanted more from flying than I was getting.  I religiously combed the typical magazines and frequented the used aircraft sale ads...and dreamed of what it would be to own.


In July 2010, while reviewing the hangar link from the http://jeffco.us/airport, I stumbled on a wait list for the city owned hangars at Metro (KBJC).  It was free to put your name on the list, in aviation there are very few FREE opportunities, so I signed up and followed my name down the list every month until March 2013.  You'd thought I won the lottery when I was notified an empty hangar was available...I just needed to reply, place a deposit and start paying rent; committing to a lease with in 5 business days. To be fair to others on wait list behind me, the airport lease specifies I must maintain an airplane registered to me in the hangar within 90 days.  I signed the lease and got serious about shopping.

It took me just under 5 weeks to find and buy my Cheetah (again Kathleen (wife) encouraged me by stating "if this is something you want to do, you should make it happen".  The Cheetah certainly invigorated my flying.  Now only starting my second year of ownership, I realize there has to be more...seriously, what's wrong with me...still something missing?

Last week, it struck me, my satisfaction comes from the mission, though the act of flying is wonderful; absolutely fascinating in fact, it is only a vehicle.  I didn't have these doldrums while training, I jumped out of bed on Saturday at 5AM and prayed for good weather. When I bought the Cheetah, the mission became transition training...again it's the mission not the airplane or the pilots license which brings me satisfaction.

As cool as my Cheetah is, without a mission, I'm going to lose motivation without finding satisfaction from it.  I joined a few groups and attended meetings, but nothing really strums me. I need a personal  mission. It is to mash up aviation, mountain biking, the Colorado mountains and write about it.

I'm not a writer and have never blogged.  Currently I have 0 subscribers to Wings & Spokes...This is the first post, actually it's the second draft written, the first one required editing and pics to be added, I became bored with it and started over.

This will serve as my introduction, if one person reads it, my expectations will be exceeded. This blog brings aviation, cycling and back-country together.  I'm a  passionate husband, father, pilot and outdoorsman. I'll share my successes and lessons while mashing my passions.



my Cheetah

 mountain bike goes in a bag

bag goes in the back

we'll fly it high and go west

Hopefully we see some neat stuff,  ride some respectable trails and write the experiences down...if nobody ever sees it, we'll call it a journal; fulfilling my 10th grade English teacher's wish.  Wings & Spokes