Solo Flight to San Pablo Bay - 8/21/2002

8/21/2002
Solo Flight to San Pablo Bay
Cessna N99348

5:40pm liftoff, 6:25pm at Kaiser shutdown

METARS (for given times)
note: 6pm = 18:00 = 01:00 Zulu
2002/08/22 00:53
KOAK 220053Z 29011KT 8SM SCT011 16/12 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP143 T01560117
2002/08/22 01:18
KOAK 220118Z 29017KT 9SM FEW006 BKN009 16/12 A2996 RMK AO2


From the TAFs all day, it looked like layers of clouds in different FM groups would keep me on the ground today.
I called Jeff and he said to come in, and that I would skip the Napa (APC) component today to beat the OVC back to OAK.
Went to OaklandFlyers and got a WX briefing - I could tell that the briefer was either in a lazy mood, or had only the TAF
w/o more significant coverage (i.e. satellite/radar/etc). He said SKC and VS10 and unrestricted over SP.Bay.

Did the preflight - went well, and then taxied up from the closest space (about 25') to the line at Kaiser.
Contacted OAK-GND and requested T&Gs - they were unable, so requested SP.Bay.
Runup went well - two other C-172s (one from Sierra) were in the runup area going slowly (Dual, students like me :)
I was first to contact OAK-TWR on 118.3 and cleared on the first call for departure.
Took off - and at a comfortable 500' made the turn to the Nimitz. I could see the wall of hazy air over Oakland... ug.
Thought about turning back, but I was still *far* away from the haze, with good vis below and on all sides, so climbed
up to 1800' (departure said < 2000') and was loafing well above the layer. Handed off to Bay, and told to remain VFR, so
I climbed up to 2500', and then 3000' - all very well above the layer, and up here, visibility was indeed >> 10SM - probably around 15 or 20
with just a little haze left over from the fires (in the pac-northwest this past week).

Anyhow - over to S.P. Bay - my course was very close to normal with the layer below me.
Due to the advancing layers now behind me, I did the maneuvers, each once, and they went well:
Steep Turns each way, Slow-Flight, Power-Off stall, Power-On stall.

I was maneuvering at 3300' and heard another C172 call-up over SP-Bay and Bay called me out as traffic to him (they were 3800' and two miles away).
I was ready to come back (after hearing a 'bay tour' call it a day and request return to OAK as well) and called up Bay.
They knew who I was exactly and in the situation (also thought it was good to call up while I was in ATC's mind) and they had me do a 360 turn for spacing.
I followed in the other C-172 which after the turn was pretty far ahead of me.
Flying 'direct' to the Temple was a challenge and I got a bit off course to the East. Maintaing 2700' to be below 3K and well above the layer,
I noticed the houses & Berkeley-hills *far* closer than I had seen them before.
Nothing uncomfortable, I was just glad to be VFR and above the layer. I added some power and climbed to 2900' before reaching the Temple.
I was only about 1 mile East of where I normally cross the Temple, and still about 3 miles out, so turned to intercept the Temple
and make R-Traffic for 27L.

As I entered the pattern, visibility was crappy, but far better than when I flew in low-vis with Jeff (could see all runways, tower, etc),
but... just as I was at TPA and turning, a (very small) puffy cloud came across the pattern. I lost 100' and turned a little early, lining up
with the pattern before abeam the numbers.

And - as if to add another 'fun' item to the list!
I was # 2 after a Citation with the "Caution, Wake Turbulance".
I knew I was landing long (about 1500' markers) and Jeff told me that Jets always land on the 1000' markers, so I just stayed high
and started my descent on base. On final, I was a bit out (from waiting for the Citation) so just kept the power up with 20 degrees of flaps.
Really chopped the power while above the 1000' markers and landed just past the 1500's. Taxi'd off on Papa (diagonal) which I had *more* than enough
room for. On to 121.9 and Chevron!

whooHooo!