Back to the "Deep South" in Duluth GA

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I get a kick out of hearing the term "Deep South" in 2026. It is a crazy incredibly outdated label. I think maybe I should start saying the "Deep Northeast". I am a Yankee. My family came over on the Mayflower and moved to Upstate NY via Connecticut. Terms used in the revolutionary and Civil war days are generally inappropriate. My family is all but totally out of NY State now. I find the term "deep south" to be of the same thinking that the movie "Heidi" is what contemporary Europe is like. Watching the fireworks in Rochester, NY from the back yard of a house in the city made it look like a real war zone. It is a long drive between Berkshire, NY and Duluth, GA. Most of the 35K miles on the truck were spent in between. I drove the truck about 3k miles in 2-1/2 weeks. It was great to spend time on the farm. It was good to make some progress on needed repairs and improvements. I also felt good about making some new friends up there. I will be...
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KLZU and Hikes

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I hung around the airport over the weekend as usual. I did get in the air. It was a treat to be at the controls again. It is one of life's great experiences. I am still struggling with ATC. The typical air traffic controller at LZU has a Southern (duh) black accent and he speaks so fast I find it hard to understand the first time, especially when I am busy and he is giving complex instructions. I don't say this light-heartedly. I routinely host teleconferences with people all over the globe and it is common I am translating for one or more of them. English is a second language for ALL of the them (well, except my friends in Kansas). I think the air traffic controller is probably an excellent choice for the student, just like the short grass strip in Greene NY was a great place to learn how to land. Maybe this is prep for my aviation adventures abroad.

Sunday I took a great hike. I hiked over 15 miles (seemed like all uphill). I picked a great day. I think I actually got some sunburn. It was in the 70s. I hiked to the top of Springer Mtn. Georgia. Which is the actual start of the Appalachian Trail (AT-southern terminus). The short time I was there I did not witness anyone finishing the AT. I did however see/meet a sole "though-hiker" start (it's that time of year). No fanfare. No encouragement. No nothing. Just woods.

The video is a plane picking up a towed banner (second attempt). Between him, the corporate jets, and the helicopter training LZU is a exciting place for traffic. It is all on one runway. Coincidentally the same headings as Greene (4N7), 25 and 7.

Tomorrow, I am off to Fargo, North Dakota for a few days. When I get back, DJ is going to meet me at the gate in Atlanta just after she arrives from NY. That will be nice. She will be down for a couple of days.

The fishy pic is a Super H Korean Number 5. It is one of my favorite lunches. I should have propped up the octopus too.

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