![\"Above](\"http:\/\/stjohn.openbar.com\/airplane\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/photo-1-e1426454716970.jpg\")
<\/a>Above the Pen Mar Golf course at the end of Rwy21<\/p><\/div>\n
After 313TD’s wheels left the earth, the day got a whole lot better real fast. \u00a0 It was stupid hot out though. \u00a0 My oil temps were running 220 before we got north of Malibu, so I put the nose down and cruised us for a while to bring it down.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Leaving Malibu behind. PCH below. Surf’s up.<\/p><\/div>\n
We went along the coast for a while, then cut east to get on course for the San Marcus VOR. \u00a0 In the pic there, Point Dume in Malibu is about middle of frame.<\/p>\n
Have I mentioned that I love flight-following? \u00a0 We picked up a squawk code at SMO and they hung with us all the way. \u00a0 I went with the San Marcus VOR as a waypoint, because I wanted to stay clear of the mountains and stay near the many airports on the way up there. \u00a0It’s an Experimental aircraft. \u00a0 Every flight is a test flight.<\/p>\n
But the flight, once we got to 10,500ft, was smooth and fast. \u00a0 There was a little bit of chop over the foothills, and the climb lasted longer than I’d have liked because of the oil temps, but it was easy going once we got there. \u00a0 Fuel burn was about 9gph and we held it to a respectable 182 mph the whole way to San Luis Obispo.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Arrival at SLO<\/p><\/div>\n
We had some high overcast, which helped, because it eased up the in-cabin temperatures quite a bit for us. \u00a0Although, at 10,500ft, it’s pretty chilly. \u00a0 The RV-7 is a drafty airplane, at least mine is.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Arrival over farmland, SLO<\/p><\/div>\n
It’s amazing how a little rain turns everything green. \u00a0Greenish. \u00a0 This will all be brown 3 months from now. \u00a0Or on fire. \u00a0Take your pick.<\/p>\n
<\/a>On glide path for rwy29, KSBP<\/p><\/div>\n
On final approach to KSBP, runway 29. \u00a0 The weather couldn’t have been nicer, and 313TD handled the trip perfectly.<\/p>\n
After touchdown, we parked at transient, and the very friendly, very helpful folks at the San Luis Jet Center gave us a ride to the FBO in their golf cart. \u00a0 We picked up a rental car from Enterprise, which is right there next to the Jet Center.<\/p>\n
NOTAM: \u00a0If you call and reserve a car, walk the 200 steps to pick it up yourself. \u00a0 If you have the Jet Center people deliver the keys to\u00a0you, a $22\/day car becomes a $44\/day car.<\/p>\n
But we stayed at a nice AirBnB really close to town, and we did several of the recommended activities, namely a hike in the Johnson Ranch open space preserve, a picnic lunch on the river in town, a trip to the Hearst Castle (which was awesome), and right before we left, we took a quick walk through the Bishop Peak Trail. \u00a0 We didn’t go all the way up, that would have been crazy. \u00a0 Just a quick walk through the woods, where Shelley took this pic:<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hike in the woods before departing<\/p><\/div>\n
I want to live amongst the rocks and trees.<\/p>\n
Our day was better than somebody’s: \u00a0On our way up to the trailhead, the road was blocked by the Fire Department, putting out a house fire that coated the whole valley in a stream of wispy smoke.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Preflighting 313TD before departure<\/p><\/div>\n
Even with the hike, were were preflighting at 9:30AM, before the heat started.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Making sure no birds nested in my intakes.<\/p><\/div>\n
No birds in my cowl? \u00a0good.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Departing Rwy 29 takeoff roll<\/p><\/div>\n
Squawk code obtained, cleared for takeoff, RWY29, left downwind departure.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Takeoff Roll SLO 2<\/p><\/div>\n
Winds were calm, and takeoff was nice. \u00a0 Yes, I could be a little more over the centerline, I’ll work on that, I promise.<\/p>\n