It was 2001, and an IFR-approved panel-mounted GPS had just been installed in my airplane, a Cessna 180. I was anxious to see it in action with its moving map, multitude of functions, and the information it provided. A short 20-minute flight to a nearby airport for breakfast with a friend and some hands-on use of the new equipment was in order.
The weather at the breakfast airport that morning was not VFR because there was a low marine stratus layer. The AWOS reported instrument conditions, with a 300-foot overcast but reasonable visibility of 4 miles below the cloud deck. Because I pride myself by staying instrument current, this would help me stay current.
