Casual Side of Bob

There is a casual side of Bob as each one of us has – sometimes with many different facets.

Bob has some particular loves which include, flying, sailing, bicycling, hiking, model railroading, reading, writing, traveling, plus many more. We’ve highlighted three main areas of passion to him, so we invite you to read on…

Sailing

This first photo had me on a friend’s sail boat on the San Francisco Bay some year’s ago, with colleagues from our men’s club.

We called ourselves “The Voyagers” and met regularly every six to eight weeks over a ten year span which completed in 2007.

This particular day we each took turns at different sailing positions during the hours on the water – someone just happened to take a shot of me while I was at the helm.

Image Background

I love sailing and only had taken a beginner’s class years earlier with some colleagues from Unisys in Fresno – go figure. Our sailing course was half classroom and half sailing on a 30 foot racing craft in a nearby lake. We learned basics and took our chances at helmsman and all sailing support positions.

But Fred was ex-navy commander, with a credentialed sheet including The Naval Academy, the Naval War College, etc. Fred’s shared his boat with us “beginners” and was simply a treat helping all of us by showing us what to do: what a pleasure sailing around the bay, under the Bay Bridge and close to Golden Gate bridges was simply fantastic.

(Aside) This was my favorite light jacket which was stolen from my car in Half Moon Bay while listening to jazz at Pete’s Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society one Sunday afternoon. I have tried to find a replacement from Nautica but haven’t found one yet. if you have any ideas, please come back with your suggestions…

Our Voyager meetings were usually held at Bob’s house in Campbell, always accompanied by deep and wide conversations of any topic and a meal – lasting about 3 hours. No subject was verboten.

We explored various outings over the years, usually at least once a year or so, sometimes sailing, varied cultural and sporting activities like Crissy Field docent walk, a trip to the USS Hornet in Oakland, (e.g. our sailing host Fred did a stint on the Hornet during active service years and shared details we would not have otherwise heard about), and of course the Oakland A’s & SF Giant’s games with many others ventures too – have you ever ridden the old SF cable cars and seen their museum?

Flying

The instrument panel is from a Cessna 172, which I had come to know particularly well over the year and half that I spent learning how to master general aviation.

I stopped in 2006 because I had a total knee replacement. I haven’t gotten my pilot’s license – I was half way there. I did have a plan to get back in the pilots’ seat. I have reconsidered that choice and come to the conclusion that I wouldn’t go back to it. Surprising, part of the choice is based upon conversations with three separate pilot’s who have chosen to quit after 30+ years of flying. We are all practically in the same age category and they all felt their react time was slowing down. I remember how much effort it was training and I would rather error on the side of good judgement, and choose another sport – one that doesn’t put my life or anyone else in danger.

Photo of Cessna 172 Instrument Panel

I took this photograph of the Cessna 172 Instrument Panel of the aircraft I was learning how to fly. For those of you that know this older version flight control panel, it is not as easy to read as the newer Cessna flat panels, yet still very helpful for any pilot: it was very overwhelming for me at first.

But the practice discipline is what helps overcome overwhelm. Practice, practice and practice.

There was a huge lesson that I am taking away from my training, which I believe serves me well. My fight instructor told me that in all likelihood I would experience a stoppage in flight. This would be brought on by a challenge or issue that I was completely unaware.

Thank God he was next to me when I froze…part of the training. I have come to understand this is the way of many things in life – you must experience them, like it or not.

You may ask what was the issue? Well, for me I always want to do all things well. My instructor filled me up with an enormous amount of activity during a landing at the Executive airport in Sacramento. I was talking to the ATC, he was talking to me, I was watching my instruments, checking the air around me and all of a sudden I just froze. He took over and landed the aircraft and sat with me letting me calm down.

He over-loaded me purposefully to prove the point that I needed to concentrate on flying the aircraft – total and complete focus; fly the plane, fly the plane, fly the plane. I did not have to talk to the ATC, they could see me because I was in a straight-in approach at 400 feet. After a few minutes of calming sitting and catching my breath, I piloted back to Palo Alto airport and all was good. But, when I got out of the air plane, my legs were rubbery and it took a moment to stand up straight.

Marriage

By far, the most important part of my life is my marriage: my wife Janet and me at one of our favorite coffee places after Sunday morning mass in San Francisco. This was a great place to contemplate what we had heard in church, talk about the lazy day we wanted to enjoy and think about the week ahead of us.

There are many things about San Francisco that we really love, with all the various communities, yet Jackson and Fillmore has a certain feel about it that we like…close by retail stores, magazine and news stand, deli and others; perhaps what makes it so compelling is the rich diversity of people, families, dogs, et al.

Janet is still my bride after only fifteen years, partner in all things, a person that I can spend twenty-four hours with and want more of it. I am extremely fortunate to have her love, friendship, and support.

By the way, an edited version of this photo is used across some public forums.

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NAME Bob Benninghofen

LOCATION: Belmont, California

CAREER CHOICES: Business Coaching & Mentoring

SUBJECTS Men & Water, Flying, Marriage