So I gave up the idea of air taxi or instruction to get to MTH - based
on trying to skirt rules (Something I don't want to do) and
complication (schlepping luggage from commercial terminal to GA area)
all with a 3 and 5 year old in tow. ;-) I ended up driving (ugh)
and got stuck for 1.5 hours in traffic because of the bridge
construction happening just north of Key Largo. 5.5 hours wasted.

Arriving in Marathon, though, I saw a beautiful biplane ( I
incorrectly identified it as a Stearman). To make a long story short,
my wonderful father-in-law bought me a "15 minute" ride around
Marathon on N64JE a fully certified Waco YMF reproduction. The day of
the flight, the pilot and I spoke and he knew that I wanted to start
pilot training soon (I hate being a wannabe) After taking me on a tour
of the island, he let me take the controls of the airplane over the
Atlantic. I just concentrated on keeping the plane straight and level
(although this was in violation of the placard in the front seat
"Straight and level flight not permitted in this aircraft"). He
walked me through the trim system on the Waco YMF to remove stick
pressure and we did a few coordinated turns. Keeping it level was much
easier once I found the VSI ;-) Flying time went much too fast - it
felt like 30 seconds, but was probably 15 minutes. Total time in the
air was more like 40 minutes. The pilot did a few lazy 8's and some
nice climbs and dives (and a slip into Rwy 7 from 1000'). What an
awesome experience.

What a beautiful place to learn to fly and what a nice handling
aircraft (my only other experience is 0.4 hours in a C172). Having
flown the two, I'd take the open cockpit to the G1000 panel any day!!!

It's going to take a long time to take the smile off my face.

-SPCT