Raleigh, NC (USA)

[Training "Cross County" Flight] Left this morning with plans to stop through North Carolina for fuel. This is a little farther than I normally try to go on one tank of fuel - and I regret it now. I had set up a visit with my Uncle Terry at the FBO in Raleigh and weather looked good. Unfortunately, when we got there, the weather was really crappy. I wanted to do an approach, but all the ones our aircraft could do were unavailable. Luckily, we were able to do an NDB (with hand-held GPS backup). Landed just before low fuel lights came on. I'm not happy about that... Saw Uncle Terry for a little bit and checked on the weather. There was a SIGMET near DC and I figured we might not make it - changed our flight plan to Richmond. On the way, we got an early descent and saw the field from about 50 miles (even though there was a huge storm just 10 miles west of the city). Landed at Andrews AFB and parked just as the huge storm hit the field. Luckily, we were inside by then. My student's family met us there - they were happy that he had made it. It turned out that his mom has terminal cancer and this was a "last visit." Sure wish I had known that before I left this morning... Picked up my rental car (Thrifty) and checked into hotel (on base). Should have a good visit to the Archives tomorrow.