Enchanted Island

Yesterday we all headed to Phoenix to visit Enchanted Island. It was a beautiful day (as usual) and we all had a really great time. Georgia got to have a ride on loads of great attractions - most of them on her own. I was so proud of her - she happily wandered off and sat on the rides all on her own. She really liked flying in the plane - she was yelling 'Flying!' and 'Weeeee' for the whole ride, it was so gorgeous.
It was a really nice place to be - all the rides were really great for little ones, and the staff were nice and friendly too. There was a little train that ran around the place too, which was really pleasant. Georgia has taken an interest in Thomas The Tank Engine lately - probably thanks to playing on the little train set in Barnes & Noble.I don't mind this at all as I loved Thomas the Tank Engine myself - it's really brought back some nice memories :-)
After a couple of hours, and several goes on all the rides, we headed back home. On the way back along the I10, I noticed an airship in the distance that appeared to be headed for Goodyear. As we got closer, I noticed it was the Goodyear Blimp itself - on it's way to Goodyear in preparation for the big football game on tonight. I managed to get a photo of it parked up at the south end of the airport. I think it'll still be around this weekend when the big Airshow hits town. I'm hoping we will get to go see some of this, as it looks like it'll be quite a show.



As for flying - things are still going really well. I had an early morning flight this morning - I backseated one of the guys over to Casa Grande, then I flew us back. I practised some hold procedures and instrument approaches from a VOR and an NDB, which all went really well. It's amazing how much harder you work when you put the foggles on and fly just off your instruments, but I do really enjoy it. When we got back to Goodyear it was Steve's turn in the sim, so I sat in the passenger seat and watched him track the Eagle NDB to Mobile then fly the holding pattern. I'm starting to appreciate the sim more now, which is good as we'll be doing a LOT more flying in the sim when we get back to Oxford. Only another 4 weeks or so and we'll be back in the UK. Aside from my uniform, I haven't worn long trousers since 26th June.... god bless the valley of the sun :-)