What just happened? One minute I was looking across the wing of my airplane at the edge of summer, with fall on the horizon, and the next minute snow was collecting on the hood of my Jeep. I shouldn't have blinked. When I last posted in this blog, I was writing from the comfort of a futon bed in the pilot lounge of Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron in far northern Michigan. The air was crisp, with a very light fog over the deadly quiet landing strip that I shared with about a dozen deer munching grass along its edges. The first clues of fall. Now looking out at the white stuff on the ground, I can't imagine it's been two months since I last wrote. Sorry about that, if anyone is still out there.
The lifetime dream of barnstorming the countryside seems like a lifetime ago. Even though I had deviated significantly from my original flight plan, striking out west instead of east, I was still able to reach the Huron islands. From the very empty and quiet Bois Blanc airstrip, to the ramps packed with private aircraft of all kinds in Beaver Island, the remote and rugged outback of Michigan provided lots of great experiences, views, and flying practice. It was a great trip, something I'm sure to do again in search of new horizons and landscapes. But not in the winter snow.
The Reno Air Races in September went without a hitch, with Sawbones finishing fourth out of a field of 18 Unlimited racers. Hundreds of racers and spectacular airshow pilots safely exercised their sport and skill, without any safety incident or shipwreck during the entire event (fatalities and aircraft accidents are not normally uncommon at this venue). My first year of responsibility for pit operations, along with sponsor hosting duties, also went smoothly as planned. Though I missed Bonnie this year, who had other obligations, it was probably just as well as there was no time for relaxing.
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| Sponsor Dinner in the Pit |
October went by in a flash, accelerated by the necessity of surgical renovation of my father's teeth and eyes (dentures and cataracts), and my mothers broken fibula. Helping them to medial appointments and substituting for Dad in his fall maintenance chores allowed me to appreciate all that they have built and maintained over these many years. The barn full of tractors, tools and recreational equipment provided ample outlet for testosterone, while self pruning trees and persistent grass growth offered lots of exercise opportunities. To think he kept up with all that up to now speaks volumes about his health and vitality at the age of 89. It's awfully nice to still have parents up and about at this stage of the game.
November will go by in a flash, too, with lots of family activity planned for Duluth around Thanksgiving time. Along with a second annual family visit to the Bentleyville Christmas light show, we should be putting the finishing touches on the purchase of a lake home along the Park Point beach. Intended as a new family vacation headquarters, we're hoping to inaugurate it with all four generations just after the holiday.
My hope is that I'll be able to relax at Lake Superiors edge to afford more opportunity to finish some of the blog postings I've had in the hopper these last couple of months. Check in now and then to see if i've succeeded.
Here are links to the other segments of this series following my (some would say Don Quixote-ish) barnstorming escapade.
Still here!
ReplyDeleteThat's one... thanks, lad. Nice to know you check in.
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