Solo CC #2: where to begin?

This flight...ranks #2 in top flights.  It all started Thursday when I awoke too darn early to only find out that the winds across C'ville's runway were too strong.  Ok, retry for Friday.  Nope, too many clouds doing their own thang in the sky.  Saturday we got a whopping 5 inches of snow =D  Obviously, I didn't even try that day.  Fast forward to today: beautiful weather, cold crisp air perfect for climbing and cruising and cooling the engine, and BEAUTIFUL scenery!  I've seen the airport in blistering heat, mild weather, fall foliage, and rain.  But, with snow all around, soo much different.

For those in my immediate duckie pond/family, I hope this statement entices you to keep reading: I was told it was a "picture perfect day".  No lie, I saw this all coming after that was said!

After I set up my flight plan, found out weather was going to be awesome, and got the A-OK from Tom, I set off into the big bad sky, thrilled beyond belief that the third time trying for this flight was the charm.  Yeah right.  Before Tom put another instructor in charge of me (any instructor can be on the ground at my home station during my flights) and ventured off, he informed me that the planes were snowed over despite being under cover, and they had kindly moved 5210A (C-172) into a heated hanger to be warmed up and melt the snow off.  Ok, so far still going decently well.  Fast forward an hour, I'm still waiting for the darn ice to melt.  Eventually we made the decision to move it outdoors to let the sun speed up the process, which is did after taking many arms and a few brooms to the wings.  Lesson #1 of the day: de-icing a plane.  Minor speed bump, but still I'm about to fly so I'm happy.

Did the preflight, get in...the darn plane won't start.  I freak out that my two week hiatus has put me back at stage #0 of training, and try a few more times.  I call to the center to have an instructor come out thinking that the engine is freezing, we both try, no results.  Not even a turn over, just nasty noises that I've been told my entire life should not be made by a mechanical device.  Why?  Plane batteries are like car batteries and die when it gets cold, and most importantly, when you need them to not fail.  I nearly cried as I got back out of the plane to try to fix this, simply out of frustration that I would never make this flight.
Did I mention that I hate weather AND planes AND electronics now?
This brought me to Lesson #2: jumpstarting, yes, jump-starting, a plane.  Took two guys, one gal, two tries, and two rather large generators (24V man!) to finally jumpstart the darn thing.  One Landmark Aviation guy deserves a big thanks, as he helped clear the snow/ice off the plane, and got my plane up and running, and somehow parked every other major bird coming in around me.  Finally, relief!  Hopped in the plane and off I went.

First destination: Petersburg.  Found out that not landing a plane in over two weeks, especially the big ones, makes landing difficult.  Made it in one piece despite a small overshoot of my final approach and got back into the rhythm of things.  My next destination was Farmville, and once I returned to the air, I immediately fell back in love with flying and had a moment of "this is so friggin cool!" while enjoying the beautiful white scenery.  This flight I wasn't concerned I'd get something wrong or get lost, but instead, I finally enjoyed every moment of such a long trip.  Thumbs up!!

I continued on to Louisa, then returned home, only to get yelled at by the traffic controller for entering the pattern a bit too soon, although after he found out I was alone, mentioned that they always say something if you're doing something dangerous, but to be careful next time.  First ever mess up with the tower, and it was semi-depressing, but I recovered and ended up on the ground in one, happy, lesson-filled kid.  Also had my closest run in to having not closed my flight plan before I was due back, due to all the delays, but luckily I remembered as soon as I got out of the plane and no search dogs were sent after me.

And, if the problems didn't decide to end after the second jumpstart attempt: I need 5 hours of solo cross country time.  Today's flight put me at a total of 4.9.  POINT ONE HOUR!  That's six mere minutes.  Although it does mean I get to go on a long flight by myself again =D

All in all, probably the weirdest but coolest flight.  As if I didn't already understand that weather has a huge say in when and where I fly, the plane had to remind me that it's boss too.

Just remember, if someone says that something is supposed to be "picture perfect", just go back to bed.  You either end up with iced wings and a dead plane or being hailed on in the middle of Montana =D

Till next time, a turn of the neck can save your neck