We recently joined some friends at their beach house on Matagorda Peninsula. There are two ways to get there - by boat or by plane. We choose to go by plane (this is a blog about flying) and had a wonderful mid-morning flight down to 72TA.
FAA Identifier: 72TA
Lat/Long: 28-27-31.0000N / 096-17-31.0000W
28-27.516667N / 096-17.516667W
28.4586111 / -96.2919444
(estimated)
Elevation: 5 ft. / 2 m (estimated)
Variation: 06E (1990)
From city: 6 miles W of PORT O'CONNOR, TX
Time zone: UTC -5 (UTC -6 during Standard Time)
Zip code: 77483
Airport use: Private use. Permission required prior to landing
Activation date: 11/1992
Sectional chart: HOUSTON
Control tower: no
ARTCC: HOUSTON CENTER
FSS: MONTGOMERY COUNTY FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
Attendance: UNATNDD
We landed on runway 12 since the wind was directly on the nose. We had been told the runway was narrow, but I was a little surprised to see it was about the width of a one lane road. Tire safety is also an issue since the runway is lined with cactus.
The cabin we visited had a little running water from a shallow well, but no electricity. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs (don't ask me how they got the propane there - I wouldn't put a tank in the back of my plane) and then spent the afternoon on the beach.
The remains of hurricane Ike are quite visible. The beach is littered with debris - mostly plastics. We saw enough old lawn chairs to furnish a house and more than enough plastic bins and trash cans to clean up the rest of the area. However, the water was superb and with a perfect breeze there were very few mosquitos.
I love the beach and I love the beaches of the Florida panhandle. Texas beaches are not like those. However, I can give up the clarity of the water for the remoteness of the spot. Except for our group of friends we did not see another soul until we took off.
Here's the runway:
Here is the view from the bck porch overlooking the "ramp:"
And here is the reason to visit (besides good friends) - the view of the beach:
On the way back we dodged a few thunderstorms and I have begun to see the value of a Garmin 496. AARGH! The cost!!
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