May 23, 2021 - Day Four, Flight One
Red River: Gainesville to Wichita Falls, Texas

Looking south at Gainesville after takeoff.  There's not much to Gainesville that I could see, although I didn't spend any time exploring the town.   Interstate 35 -- pictured below -- runs through it, north to south.
   
I backtracked across Lake Texoma to pick up the Red River where I had left it yesterday afternoon.
 
As you can see, the weather is not the best.  From the forecast, I knew I would probably fly through some rain today.
   
Heading east about to get back on the Red River heading west.
   
I'm on it!
   
Here we go!
   
This area looked like they had excavated sand or something from the earth.
   
Approaching the dam and Lake Texoma.
   
A "Welcome to Texas" center on Highway 75.
   
A sandy island in the big lake.
   
Passing by a private grass strip named HiTex.
   
Following Lake Texoma as it starts to narrow back into the Red River.
   
The river now has a pinkish hue.
   
Definately the Red River now.
   
Heavily wooded on each side of the river now.  Texas on the left and Oklahoma on the right.
   
As I flew over Interestate 35, with Gainesville to the south, I saw the huge WinStar World Casino Resort to the north.  Probably better accomodations there than what I experienced, LOL.  But apparently the place is very popular and I doubt if I would have been able to get a room.
   
Heading out on the Red River into some remote country.
   
A house all by its lonesome in the woods but with a good view.
   
Something you see a lot of in Texas and Oklahoma: oil pumps and storage tanks.  I think these two have been retired for a long time though.
   
The river winded back and forth dramatically in this area.
   
Some serious sand bar action.
   
A fruit orchard?
   
A rare site on the Red River:  a huge waterfront estate where the boat house is as large as an average house.
   
Flying through some light rain now.
   
Having fun flying the Red River.
   
The rain was getting heavier so I decided to divert to a nearby airport and regroup.  I have excellent information in the cockpit on airports and weather, thanks to XM Satellite Weather and Foreflight on an iPad.  Kickapoo Downtown Airport in Wichita Falls looked like a good place to stop:  good avgas price and courtesy car.
   

On left base for Runway 17 at Kickapoo Downtown Airport (KCWC).

Kickapoo Downtown had a very nice FBO building and comfortable pilot's lounge.  I borrowed the courtesy car and went downtown for a great breakfast at The HIghlander Public House.  It wasn't raining at the time, but when I got back to the airport it started raining.  A Decathelon landed in the rain.  I talked with the pilot who had just acquired the plane and was ferrying it back to his home airport in northern California.  We were both waiting on the weather.
   
 
   
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