When is a TFR not a TFR

Even though today is a Monday, it was really a Windsday for the Winnie the Pooh fans.  I figured the blustery weather would make the skies less crowded.  Well that was wrong, it was a pretty busy day.  I had planned a quick flight to run the engines and check out my shiny boots.  On Saturday I had stripped and resealed the boots so now they looked oh so nice.

After I reseal the boots, I like to give the chemicals some time to cure but then I like to exercise them to make sure everything is working as it should.  I decided to head West, then Southerly past Gainesville and finally over Palatka area and back home.

We had the normal Mayport TFR in effect and I also noted a new one North of Palatka and South of Reynolds Air park.  It was a big rectangle like shape to protect fire fighting operations, surface to 3,000'.  More on this later.

Departing with a 20 knot headwind makes for a short take off roll, I believe I lifted off at around 1,000' which is 2-3 hundred feet shorter than no wind.  Climbing out it was a nice day with mostly good visibility greater than 30 miles.  There were some plumes indicating forest fires and I did hear a fire spotting aircraft on frequency.

Even though it is almost summer the front from last night brought cool air and I actually ran the heater to keep my feet warm.  I was hand flying and enjoying following the railroad tracks South while testing out the boots.  I am always surprised how that shiny surface stretches without breaking when the boots cycle.  Surprised or not, everything worked as it should and as I made the turn East past Gainesville, I remarked to the controller that I would either be above or next to the TFR.

The controller seemed confused, she knew of no TFR in that location.  I figured that maybe since she was not working that sector she was not told.  A few minutes later as I was passing Palatka I was handed off to the controlling sector.  I asked him about the TFR and he had no idea either.

Now one can debate whether we have too many TFRs but in this case there was a large fire that seemed to be burning out of control so I was happy to stay above the fray and hope that they could get in to attack it.  Heading back to home base I headed down and found that below 2,500' it had become quite bumpy.  

My landing was nice considering the gusts and with the wind, I had a pretty short ground roll.  Typically on 5, I'll land on the 1'000 marks and the plane will coast for an easy exit at Foxtrot taxiway.  Today I touched a bit farther down and easily turned off at B4.  The windsock was at attention indicating at least 15 knots steady.  They were calling the gusts as 25 but it may have been a bit more.

As for the question, regarding TFRs, if it's published it's a TFR to me.  That said it makes you wonder about the system.