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Flying into
Watsonville California ! |
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The patio at Zuniga's Mexican
Restaurant over looks the transient ramp
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Best time of the year to go? |
Good destination
anytime. Nice place in the summer when it's hot inland. |
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Flight time in a Super Viking from KAJO? |
2.0 |
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Food on the airport? |
Yes, right next to parking. |
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Fuel on airport? |
Yes, average price |
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Landing or Handling fees? |
No |
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Comments about arriving and departing. |
No |
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Things to do at or near the airport. |
Not sure |
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Rate this stop with 10 being best, 5 average. |
8.0 |
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Why
Watsonville? |
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It was hot at my house and I was looking for
someplace new for breakfast where it was cooler. In California
cooler weather means a coastal location so I got a WAC chart and
followed it up the coast. Watsonville is about a 2 miles from
the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay, Inland just enough that the
forecast was calling for VFR and there is a restaurant on the
field.
There were several fires burning in California
and some quick flight planning showed GPS direct passed though two
active TFR's. At 10,500 I'll be well above them but I couldn't waste any time
getting above 7000'. I headed for the airport calling ahead
requesting that a fuel truck meet me at my hangar.
It was early and getting out of the LA basin was
pretty easy. The air was smooth and the flight to Watsonville was a
real pleasure. Once I got above the smoke visibility was unlimited.
After landing at Watsonville I followed the signs to
transient parking and saw the restaurant before I got to parking.
I sat on the patio at Zuniga's, ordered a breakfast burrito and
watched a C-130 shooting opposite direction approaches.
Being a California Native since 1955 and I figure I
know Mexican food as good as any white guy. I do know a Mexican
restaurant is only as good as it salsa. Pretty soon chips and salsa arrived at the
table and lots of it. The salsa comes in a 1/2 litter craft that
once held wine. The salsa is fresh
and good. I'm liking this place already! The breakfast burrito arrived and it was about the size of
my Jeppesen binder, really! I was glad I had burned off 30 gallons
of fuel getting there.
Nice airport and a good stop. I'd do it again.
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Pictures of my flight to
Watsonville ! |
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Inbound to Watsonville one can see its
relation to the coast. |
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Pretty area with farmed valleys and
rolling hills covered in oak trees |
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The marine layer sitting just inside the
coast. |
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Another picture of the marine layer when
I was leaving. Watch the weather forecasts closely. |
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