El Centro, CA (USA)

Checked out of the Kelly Inn (Air Force Inns) at 0805 and got out of the chocks by around 0900.  The weather was great. My student and I flew from San Antonio to El Paso and got gas. After that, we flew to El Centro (arrived at around [1200L]).  In addition to actually arriving on the correct day, I and got all three training flights completed for my student. This was a huge detail because, it turns out, we were the only ones who made to the Detachment location today! Meanwhile, the other 20 planes won't be here until at least tomorrow night. They decided to go through Denver (?!!!) and ended up getting stuck in a bad ice storm. There'll be hell to pay for this one... But we (our flight of two Buckeyes, including my Venezuelan Exchange Pilot friend and his student) are heroes! The maintenance guys (and the 40 students who came in on a DC-9 yesterday...) were also very happy to have something to do. After picking up my rental car (from Enterprise) [at 1225 ?], I drove over to Imperial and checked into the Vacation Inn.  It appeared to be much nicer than the lodging on base at NAF El Centro... Spent some time relaxing and exploring the areas near the base before heading back to the flight line to ensure the schedule was approved for the following day.  Met some of the Blue Angels tonight at a nearby bar, "Scribbles" (2020). Bed around midnight.  Long day, but feeling good about starting this Detachment!