Columbia Still a Great Destination
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 20:36
Saturday, May 14th, the wife was out of town. She had been wanting horse shoes from the Blacksmith at Columbia for family members, so I decided to fly up to Columbia to get them for her. Columbia airport (O22) is located in the Sierra foothills of California, thirtyeight miles Northeast of Stockton. Saturday was a beautiful California day, clear and warm, but not too hot.
I left Liveremore airport about 1000 hrs., and flew directly over Stockton at 3,000 to take advantage of the winds aloft. The flight to Columbia took just under an hour. I flew right into the middle of a Very-EZ Fly-in at Columbia. The pointy, plastic Bas%^@#$ were every where and yelling at each other over the CTAF. I inserted myself in the pattern between amateurish fly-bys, and took a tie down spot under the glare of the pointy airplane crowd, who apparently thought the airport belonged to them. I tied the Champ down and walked into town.
The town of Columbia is a brisk walk from the airport, mostly along a nature trail. The town itself is a step back in time. I happened to arrive on a Dog Day. The little critters and their human slaves were all over town. Each little doggie had his own little period outfit - a little 49er miner doggie, a little maiden in her period outfit, and a big bruiser in his Sheriff's outfit. I think he spent most of his time squating on one corner or the other. I made my way through the doggie lovers to the little restaurant across from the Blacksmith.
I forget the name of it, but it is a great place for breakfast. I happen to stop in during a quite moment. The waitress and most everyone else are dressed in period costumes - kind of nice - but, breakfast is great! The cook understands what over meduim means! After breakfast I cross the street to the Blacksmith and order up my wife's horseshoes. The Blacksmith will stamp pretty much what you want on the horseshoes. I ordered several with the family name, and a special one for my sister. I had fun wiht the Blacksmith accusing him of misspelling Lucky. His assistant was a very nice young lady who doesn't realize she is attractive, even with her blouse buttoned up. They also make heartshaped horseshoes which seem to be a big hit with the ladies (go figure). I collected my horsehoes and on the way out of town passed the doggie Sheriff who was still crapping on corners and made my way back to the airport.
Columbia has a nice paved runway, but they also have a very nice grass runway. The paved runway is 17/35, the Grass runway is 29/11. Columbia has runway 29 looking very good this year. There is a nice camp ground adjacent to 29. There are fire pits, BBQ stations, Bathrooms, etc., nice palce to fly-in to for the weekend. I made my way through all the pointy airplane guys and answered everybodies questions about hand-propping (good grief). I even tied the tail down - just for show. I used runway 29 for the takeoff.
Density altitude is something to consider when departing Columbia on 29 in the afternoon. I stayed low out of Columbia. One of the joys of Northern California is all the undeveloped land up against the Sierras. I stayed low over the pasture land North and East of Stockton, waving at the ranglers out managing the cattle - no horses - all on all terrain vehicles, looks like fun, but - I'm from East Texas and know better. I talk to Stockton as I pass through their Class D and check out the Funny Farm, a Pvt airfield out in the Delta, to see if any of my buddies are out. I stop into Byron airport for a gusty touch & go and fly over the range into the Livermore Valley.
The Livermore Tower is broadcasting a mile a minute - the tower controller is clearly "uptight", and I find myself back in "civilization". Columbia is still a great fly-in destination. If you have the time make a weekend out of it - stay at one of the Bed & Breakfasts, or camp out along side runway 29.
Thank God for little airports. As a friend of mine says, who also cooks up a mean Braute - "Free Skies Forever".
I left Liveremore airport about 1000 hrs., and flew directly over Stockton at 3,000 to take advantage of the winds aloft. The flight to Columbia took just under an hour. I flew right into the middle of a Very-EZ Fly-in at Columbia. The pointy, plastic Bas%^@#$ were every where and yelling at each other over the CTAF. I inserted myself in the pattern between amateurish fly-bys, and took a tie down spot under the glare of the pointy airplane crowd, who apparently thought the airport belonged to them. I tied the Champ down and walked into town.
The town of Columbia is a brisk walk from the airport, mostly along a nature trail. The town itself is a step back in time. I happened to arrive on a Dog Day. The little critters and their human slaves were all over town. Each little doggie had his own little period outfit - a little 49er miner doggie, a little maiden in her period outfit, and a big bruiser in his Sheriff's outfit. I think he spent most of his time squating on one corner or the other. I made my way through the doggie lovers to the little restaurant across from the Blacksmith.
I forget the name of it, but it is a great place for breakfast. I happen to stop in during a quite moment. The waitress and most everyone else are dressed in period costumes - kind of nice - but, breakfast is great! The cook understands what over meduim means! After breakfast I cross the street to the Blacksmith and order up my wife's horseshoes. The Blacksmith will stamp pretty much what you want on the horseshoes. I ordered several with the family name, and a special one for my sister. I had fun wiht the Blacksmith accusing him of misspelling Lucky. His assistant was a very nice young lady who doesn't realize she is attractive, even with her blouse buttoned up. They also make heartshaped horseshoes which seem to be a big hit with the ladies (go figure). I collected my horsehoes and on the way out of town passed the doggie Sheriff who was still crapping on corners and made my way back to the airport.
Columbia has a nice paved runway, but they also have a very nice grass runway. The paved runway is 17/35, the Grass runway is 29/11. Columbia has runway 29 looking very good this year. There is a nice camp ground adjacent to 29. There are fire pits, BBQ stations, Bathrooms, etc., nice palce to fly-in to for the weekend. I made my way through all the pointy airplane guys and answered everybodies questions about hand-propping (good grief). I even tied the tail down - just for show. I used runway 29 for the takeoff.
Density altitude is something to consider when departing Columbia on 29 in the afternoon. I stayed low out of Columbia. One of the joys of Northern California is all the undeveloped land up against the Sierras. I stayed low over the pasture land North and East of Stockton, waving at the ranglers out managing the cattle - no horses - all on all terrain vehicles, looks like fun, but - I'm from East Texas and know better. I talk to Stockton as I pass through their Class D and check out the Funny Farm, a Pvt airfield out in the Delta, to see if any of my buddies are out. I stop into Byron airport for a gusty touch & go and fly over the range into the Livermore Valley.
The Livermore Tower is broadcasting a mile a minute - the tower controller is clearly "uptight", and I find myself back in "civilization". Columbia is still a great fly-in destination. If you have the time make a weekend out of it - stay at one of the Bed & Breakfasts, or camp out along side runway 29.
Thank God for little airports. As a friend of mine says, who also cooks up a mean Braute - "Free Skies Forever".