Yeah, my thoughts on the border crossing...the entire nation to our south flow over our borders unhindered 24/7 and they have the gall to hassle a British KR pilot trying to get to OSH! Brilliant! It figures.
Phill Hill (no relation to agent Hill) Collinsville, IL On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 12:26 PM, Larry Howell via KRnet < krnet at list.krnet.org> wrote: > > > > > colin hales via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org > >> wrote: > > > >> > >> Larry, I now need to know (My first impression of this fellow when we > were > >> standing and waiting to pass the airshow line was that he wasn't an > >> aircraft owner,)So what does an aircraft owner look like? > >> > >> > >> Colin, that's a very good question! I just went and looked in a mirror > and realized that I don't look like an aircraft owner either! Shouldn't a > aircraft owner be wearing a full jumpsuit with pockets for reflective > mirrors, maps, whistles, survival gear, dark flowing hair and really cool > dark sunglasses? I don't know exactly what I meant by that statement, I > think I was intent on taking photos of that nice little KR2 airplane and > when I saw you by me and then heading for that plane as well, I thought > what is this guy doing getting in the way of my photo taking. It never > crossed my mind that you may be the aircraft owner. I really was surprised > when you opened the canopy. I thought initially this guy really wants a > good look at this airplane. In the end I enjoyed meeting you and learning a > little about your trip. Once you told me that you were in a hurry to find > someone I knew I had to let you go your way and mind my own business. It is > funny in a way that the very next person I ran into and spent at least an > hour sitting and chatting with was an Australian. Two people in a row who > didn't Speak Texan! Colin, what you are accomplishing takes a lot of > courage and will power. I pray for your safety and continued success. I > hope the rest of your tour is mechanically safe. I was going to say un > eventful but that wouldn't be any fun. The little events are what will make > your journeys memories. Good Luck and I hope to see you again Colin. > > >> Larry Howell > > > > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Bellow are a some links to the photos and, those not following on > Facebook > >> I'm sorry but the blog just took up too much time that I didn't have. > >> Thanks all, and please pass on to anyone you might think I've missed. > >> Colin. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Hi > >> colinhales at hotmail.com! > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> kr2worldtour (krii worldtour) > >> shared their Flickr album with you. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> KR2 Worldtour ii > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> An album by kr2worldtour > >> Here are the > >> photos so far, from the very first day and leaving Shenington until last > >> night in a Burger bar in Oshkosh. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> ? You can also view all 564 items > >> as a slideshow > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> You received this email because a Flickr member wanted to share > something > >> with you. To report abuse, click here. > >> > >> > >> Flickr is a global photosharing community. Learn more. > >> > >> > >> > >> Your use of Flickr is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service and > Privacy > >> Policy and the Flickr Community Guidelines > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Day 42. 02/Aug/2014 Kapuskasing > >> to Sault se Marie 198 miles 1:58 hrs > >> Sault se Marie to Oshkosh > >> 312 miles 3:07 hrs > >> > >> Day score 100. > >> > >> About 510 miles to Oshkosh. > >> > >> > >> > >> The first thought of the day was that > >> the route I had been advised to take since leaving Iceland was exactly > the > >> one > >> I wrote on a piece of paper, when knowing nothing back in Iceland. How > >> bizarre? > >> I must be a genius? > >> > >> > >> > >> Right, it?s 6.am, where do I start? John > >> had written a list of things to do today. First was to file ?A Notice of > >> Arrival? with EAPIS on my laptop. Gosh, they wanted to know everything, > >> but I > >> had registered with them already, so it was easier and I had my > ?Aircraft > >> Decal? number now instead of just a reference, which was: 830127. Time > of > >> arrival in America at Chippewa County Airfield would be? Well if I take > >> off at 8.am and gain an hour > >> due to arriving in Chicago which is in the Central Time Zone in America > >> and it?s a 2 hour flight then I?ll land at 9.am and they want > >> it in local time. Ok, all sorted and sent. I got my EAPIS code by > return of > >> email and it was EAPIS: 5292724. > >> > >> > >> > >> Ok, now I need to phone the Customs and > >> Immigration office at my port of arrival to confirm their attendance at > >> the airport. > >> Hang on? Sault Se Marie is still in the Eastern Time Zone? Bugger, I?ll > >> have to > >> modify the EAPIS. It told me I could do this. Ok, I?ll now land at > 10.am > >> local, > >> but now I?ve got a new EAPIS number? OK, write it down. EAPIS: 5292738 > >> > >> > >> > >> Now phone American Customs and > >> Immigration. ?Good Morning, I?d like to confirm your attendance at > >> Chippewa County International Airport please?? He replied, ?Why are you > >> going there?? I didn?t have a > >> good answer to that? ?Because I was advised to?? He was not happy, ?Heck > >> no, > >> its miles for us to drive there, why can?t you come to Sault Se Marie, > like > >> everyone else, it?s just up the road for us?? ?Ok, if it helps you, I?ll > >> come > >> to Sault Se Marie,? not wanting to make a fuss. He then added, ?And why > >> have > >> you filed two EAPIS?s?? Steady on mate? ?Because I got the arrival time > >> wrong > >> on the first sir.? I thought I would put a ?Sir? in to improve his > manner. > >> It > >> didn?t. ?Have you filed an ESTA?? This was an (Electronic States > >> Transferral > >> Application) or something like that, but a Visa application to you and > me. > >> ?No > >> sir, but I can do if you wish on line now?? I didn?t think it necessary. > >> ?No > >> you don?t need to do that, you are exempt due to your passage in a none > >> commercial vessel. Ok we have enough information, we will probably be > >> there 10 > >> mins late as we are busy!? I asked as ever, ?Sir, can I have your name?? > >> ?Bill, > >> Agent Bill!? and the phone went down. > >> > >> > >> > >> Right now I can phone the Canadian > >> flight planning service and file a ?Trans Border Flight Plan. This was > >> relatively easy now for me and I made sure I told him I was now going to > >> land > >> at Sault Se Marie. The guy said he just needed to know what time I was > >> expected > >> to cross the border? I told him ?I expect to be escorted down at 13.50 > >> zulu!? > >> He laughed and said the weather looks fine with no NOTAMS and wished me > >> luck. > >> His name was Mario. I wrote it down. I sort of have to do that a lot > now. > >> > >> > >> > >> I fired up the laptop again and found > >> the plate with information about Sault Se Marie. I drew it out on a > piece > >> of > >> paper as I?d done with so many airfields when a printer was not > available. > >> > >> > >> > >> Ok, lets get in and go because its > >> getting late. I?ll say now, I have to arrive at Oshkosh before 2:00pm > CDT > >> (Central D Time) whenever that was, as the main afternoon > >> airshow starts and the airfield is closed to all arrivals, big time? By > >> the time I took off it was 8:10 am local, But I will gain an hour! I?m > glad > >> they said they would > >> be 10 minutes late as so will I be? > >> > >> > >> > >> It was hot already and there was a > >> headwind. The engine oil temp went higher than I?ve ever seen it. If I > >> climbed > >> to get into cooler air, the speed slowed down and if I pushed it harder > the > >> engine temps went off the top without the cracked oil cooler. And if I > >> descended lower to stay out of the headwind, then the air was warmer and > >> you > >> get the picture. > >> > >> > >> > >> What ever I did, the GPS said I was > >> going to be 5 minutes later than their 10 minutes late. The engine was > on > >> melt > >> down. > >> > >> > >> > >> You may ask about the Scenery? Yeah > >> trees and stuff. > >> > >> > >> > >> Ok, I needed to get a ?Trans Border > >> Transponder Code? or a ?TBTC?? The thing was, being this low, I couldn?t > >> reach Toronto Control on > >> 128.3 to get one. I heard someone else much higher obtain a code of > 4347. I > >> wrote it down, I could always use that one in an emergency if I couldn?t > >> get my > >> own. I would have to climb soon anyway as the ground, trees and stuff, > was > >> coming up to meet me. I climbed slowly to 4,000ft. Toronto could now > here > >> me and I requested a Trans Border Transponder Code and he gave me one of > >> 4365. > >> Brill! I thanked him and since I was only 30 miles away he handed me > over > >> to ?Sanderson?, > >> who ever they were? It was the same frequency as Sault Se Marie, so I > >> changed > >> to it. It was busy. Aircraft coming and going and doing circuits but > >> announcing > >> ?Sanderson?? > >> > >> > >> > >> I approached the border and could see > >> the town of Sault Se > >> Marie. Now the airfield is to the > >> south of the town which is south of the river, the river being the > border. > >> I > >> could go and land straight into runway 14, but the training aircraft on > >> this > >> frequency are using runway 32 and possibly coming out at me coming in. > I?m > >> not > >> going to fly low over the town, so I?ll go west. Now just to add to the > >> confusion, there are two airfields called Sault Se Marie. One about 5 > miles > >> west and in Canada, above the river and the airfield south of the river > in > >> American, the airfield I?m trying to land at. The Unicom frequency is > sort > >> of > >> what it says. Everyone is uniformly on it and we can all sort out where > we > >> are > >> going and what everyone is doing politely by ourselves. So I state > ?G-BYLP > >> joining down wind left hand for 35 at Sault Se Marie?. Another aircraft > >> calls > >> ?Short finals 35 Sanderson!? good for him. Then on the frequency comes a > >> loud > >> voice, ?Aircraft west of Sanderson you have just entered Sault Se Marie > >> airspace!? Correct and that?s me. So I reply ?Terribly sorry about > that!? > >> as if > >> I?ve done something wrong? ?I?m on a left base for runway 35.? He > replied > >> that > >> ?It?s a right hand circuit for 35!? What, over the city, are you > kidding? > >> Anyway I didn?t know that so I?ll apologise again, ?Terribly sorry about > >> that > >> old chap, I didn?t know!? putting a bit of English tongue in there so he > >> would > >> realise I wasn?t from around here and he might leave me alone. He came > >> back, ?Ok > >> well, next time!? As if? The training aircraft called ?5 miles out on > >> runway 35 > >> at Sanderson and hanging back for the little plane on base!? I have no > idea > >> where he was but I was on left base for Sault Se Marie, the American > one, > >> and I > >> called ?G-BYLP final 35 Sault Se Marie? and landed and taxied off the > >> runway as > >> quick as possible and taxied up in front of the little terminal > building. > >> There > >> was a big sign saying ?Welcome to Sanderson!? It later transpired that > >> because > >> there are two airfields with the same name, they call the American > airfield > >> Sanderson. Oh, now you tell me. No wonder? Anyway I do not care, I?m on > the > >> ground. Hey, and I?m in America? > >> > >> > >> > >> Remember what John said, wait in your plane. > >> There was a black and white wagon out in the car park and indeed two > >> officers > >> walking out to great me. But what a greeting! Again, like in Canada, a > >> lady and a gent and as in Canada, the lady did all the talking. ?Sir you > >> may get out of your > >> plane!? Brill I went to say hello and shake hands, but she was carrying > a > >> note > >> pads and he was carrying a Geiger counters, so there was no shaking of > >> hands. > >> ?Sir, do you know what an ESTA is?? ?Sort of?? I replied. ?Sir we have a > >> problem with your documentation and the way you have entered the United > >> States of America.? ?I?m sure you have!? I replied!!! What the flippin > heck > >> now? > >> She seemed disturbed at my lack of a surprise that there was a problem? > >> ?Sir, > >> you did not file an ESTA with our Federal Government Immigration and > >> Customs > >> Department!? ?Yes but I was told I didn?t need to!? Sir you have > committed > >> an > >> offence in defiance of our state law and this will have to be dealt with > >> down > >> at the main head branch.? I?m just about (can I swear?) I?m just about > >> xxxxxx > >> off with all the, ?I?ve done something wrong and it?s serious? stuff!? > To > >> me > >> Customs officers are just failed police officers, and nothing I have > done > >> is > >> that serious. I haven?t shot anyone, or stolen anything, its just > >> paperwork and > >> it?s not that serious!!! What can I do, I only do as I?m told, yet I?m > Mr. > >> Bad-guy. She asked me for my passport and said ?I?ll be holding on to > >> that!? > >> Fine? Whatever!!! > >> > >> > >> > >> I wish he would stop waving that Geiger > >> counter at my plane. I very much doubt it?s radioactive? ?Look!? I said > >> with a > >> raised voice, ?I discussed this ESTA thing this morning with an officer > >> Bill > >> and he said I didn?t need to file one as I was entering your country in > a > >> none > >> commercial aircraft or vessel!? I couldn?t see this little failed police > >> officer?s eyes behind her shades, but she replied that ?We don?t have an > >> Agent > >> called Bill!? The guy Geigering my teddy bears now said ?We have an > Agent > >> Hill!? ?Hill, Bill, I don?t know? I said, ?It was over the phone?? But > >> ahah now, that?s change things! I?m so > >> glad I wrote his name down? > >> > >> > >> > >> ?Ok sir, can you arrange transport or > >> call a taxi to take you to our department down town?? She asked. I > >> shrugged my > >> shoulders and we walked toward the terminal building. I opened the door > >> for her > >> out of politeness, but she refused saying ?Its ok sir, after you. I > never > >> let > >> anyone walk behind me while I?m carrying a loaded and armed weapon!? I > bet > >> you > >> don?t madam, because at this rate you are going to get it shoved > somewhere? > >> They had a big wagon, surely they could take me down town in that, but > >> maybe they > >> had an anti aircraft missile system on the back seat. > >> > >> > >> > >> I knew about courtesy cars. They have a > >> spare courtesy car at most airfields, it?s so pilots can go down town to > >> sort > >> out customs failures. All you need to do > >> is place a donation or return it full of fuel. I asked if they had one > and > >> could I borrow it? This was not a problem, I was handed the keys and > told > >> it > >> was the green Cadillac just outside the door. The lady agent asked if I > >> was a > >> safe driver? Admittedly the though of running her over had occurred. > >> > >> > >> > >> I followed them down town in my > >> automatic ?Cadillac? and into their United States Customs building. It > was > >> a large building and built over the > >> main highway and dealt with the main point of entry from America to > Canada > >> and vice versa. A ?multilane? customs area was below. A group > >> of agents gathered in the middle of the room as soon as I walked into > the > >> public side of the assessment area. They left their counters and all the > >> other > >> ?Joe public? holiday makers wondered who I was to have caused this > meeting > >> and > >> why was I dressed for Antarctic Survival? The discussion behind the > barrier > >> between them went on for some time, before it broke and the lady agent > >> asked me > >> to approach. Seemingly the problem was that they didn?t have my > >> physio-metrics > >> on file. Finger prints and all that, so she needed to take my picture > and > >> finger prints on a scanner. This was bull though because how, if the > >> problem > >> was me just not filing an ESTA, how would I have given them my > >> fingerprints. I > >> had to pay $6.00 for this and I was asked whether I wanted a receipt, > ?Oh > >> yes!? > >> the reply. As it was being written out, I had to ask ?Look, I?m for ever > >> going > >> to wonder if I don?t ask, but was policeman Bill right or wrong this > >> morning on > >> the phone?? ?Agent Hill was not entirely correct this morning sir?. So > >> tempting > >> to ask for an apology for being accused of committing an offence in > >> defiance of > >> there state law? But I knew none would come so there was no point. > >> > >> > >> > >> With a stamp in my passport and it being > >> handed back I could leave. ?Have a nice day sir!? She embarrassingly > said. > >> I > >> will now I don?t have to deal with you I, I, I thought? > >> > >> > >> > >> Ok, back at the airport and handing the > >> keys back, I asked if they had closed my flight plan for me. They said > that > >> ?yes? as it had been done with an automated system when I landed,? phew? > >> Right, > >> Jees, I?ve got now only 3:15 hours to get to Oshkosh before it > >> closes for the airshow and it?s a 3:00 hour flight. > >> > >> > >> > >> Leaving the airport was somewhat easier, > >> now I knew what it was called and the circuit pattern, but the engine > had > >> hardly cooled down in the sweltering heat. I climbed out but at 2,000ft > the > >> warning light was flashing and that was at the raised level I had set to > >> stop > >> it flashing? I could see some cumulous cloud caps ahead. It was quite > >> windy and > >> I thought that thermal streeting might be occurring. If I could find > them I > >> could raise Itzy higher and into cooler air using thermals rather than > the > >> engine. It worked well and soon I was up at 4,000ft and able to lower > the > >> nose > >> for greater cooling speed and still not loose height, with the engine > on a > >> minimal cruise setting. > >> > >> > >> > >> The thermals died out over Lake Michigan and so did the > >> tail wind as I turned south to follow the shore line. I could still use > the > >> Canadian map for a while as it extended into America, but soon I was off > >> the end of that. So it was time to review > >> my drawn map and put some places like Ripon, the start of the VFR route > >> into Oshkosh that every one > >> takes, in to the GPS. I read again all 15 pages of the Oshkosh NOTAM > that I > >> printed out in Iceland. I had hardly looked at them in case it brought > bad > >> luck. Well > >> now I needed them and it felt good? Music, put music on to calm the > >> nerves. I could hardly see the shoreline > >> for the murk. Still 150 miles to go. > >> > >> > >> > >> I tuned into Oshkosh?s Airfield > >> Traffic Information Service ?ATIS? on 125.90 and turned the squelch > right > >> down on the radio. > >> ?Page 8 and 12 of the NO? This is Oshkosh inf at tim? He said ?Oshkosh > >> info?. For the > >> last 42 days I?ve been trying to get there, trying my best and now I can > >> hear Oshkosh? I listened to > >> the signal getting stronger for the next half an hour. I even recorded > it > >> on my > >> big video camera which had an audio input. > >> > >> > >> > >> Look at the time? Must go faster? Look > >> at the temps? Can?t go faster? > >> > >> > >> > >> There was cloud on route that I went > >> below, then coastal fog crept in off Lake Michigan, but no way, none of > >> you are stopping me this time... You?ve > >> tried all the time on virtually every flight, but not this time. It was > too > >> early to turn in land but I had little choice. Dam, there was a big > airport > >> there, better go low and south of it and hope nothing big comes along. > Ok, > >> way > >> to the south of the big airport I was now on track for Ripon, but quite > low > >> now. I tried the thermaling technique again to gain more height. Ripon > was > >> 50 > >> miles away and 35 minutes at 90 knots which is all I could do in fear of > >> cooking the oil. Well it was cooked already, but it just had to get me > >> another > >> 30 mins, that?s all. They oil pressure was down at 45 instead of 60 psi. > >> > >> > >> > >> I changed to Fisk approach frequency > >> 120.7 approaching Ripon, as requested by the NOTAM and there was a > picture > >> of a > >> water tower I was supposed to be able to see, to recognise the town. I > >> heard > >> one aircraft changing to the tower frequency and then silence. On > arrivals > >> day > >> on Monday, over 5,000 aircraft arrive at Oshkosh this way. It?s > >> the busiest airfield in the world, by a very long way. The radio is none > >> stop! > >> But today, I could hear nothing. You are supposed to just monitor and > keep > >> quiet. They have spotters on the ground who call up to you and ask you > to > >> rock > >> your wings if they?ve got you right, > >> > >> > >> > >> There is the water tower, there is Ripon, > >> ok find in the murk the rail tracks to follow, well there they are? The > >> rail > >> tracks lead to Fisk. 10 minutes engine, just do me 10 more minutes, I > >> promise a > >> new cooler and oil, just 10 more minutes. Speed should be 90 knots at > this > >> location, well it?s all I can do. The NOTAM mentions keeping line astern > >> with > >> half a mile between aircraft, but I?m on my own up here, I?ve been very > >> alone > >> up here at times. Just the flight to Hurkadalshmela in Iceland and > >> aircraft at Sanderson, never saw them though really. > >> > >> > >> > >> My head is full of memories, friends > >> I?ve made, the unfairness of the journey. I pick up Fredy my lucky > mascot > >> and > >> tears fall on his head because without him, I wouldn?t be here surely. > I?m > >> over > >> Fisk but no one is looking up anymore, why would they? Who in their > right > >> mind > >> turns up at the biggest airshow in the world 5 minutes before it?s > closed? > >> But > >> it?s the best I can do. > >> > >> > >> > >> No one was going to see or hear me so I > >> called, ?Fisk Approach, G-BYLP overhead? ?Aircraft calling Fisk say > again?? > >> ?G-BYLP overhead Fisk? ?Oh yeah, little white aircraft rock you wings!? > I > >> did. > >> ?Good rock, thank you, ok runway in use 36 left hand. Contact tower on > >> 126.60? > >> ?Roger.? Oh wow, there it is coming out of the murk, the most amazing > >> sight! Vast > >> camping sites and there are a lot of aircraft down there. I had the > video > >> camera rolling, I was going to make a big speech. I failed. Could hardly > >> breathe, let alone talk. > >> > >> > >> > >> You see the last 42 days has taken years > >> of my life to achieve, about 10 years. I can?t be a Formula 1 driver, an > >> Olympic swimmer, rower or cyclist. But I can do this. You may think it > >> easy. > >> But have a go at building your own plane and flying to Oshkosh, then > add my > >> luck into the equation and, well I think it?s hard. But this approach to > >> runway > >> 36 that I had just been cleared to land on and at the yellow dot, > >> indicating > >> half way down the runway, well this approach is my 100 meter Olympic > >> final, my > >> last lap of Monaco or Silverstone, chricky, why not my small step for > >> mankind. > >> It?s probably the best thing I?ll do. And did I land on the yellow dot? > >> You bet > >> I did? Aced it right in the middle? > >> > >> > >> > >> (That?s probably the most sentimental > >> sentence I?ve ever written) > >> > >> > >> > >> Anyway, made it - made it - made it - made > >> it!!! Well done plane, well done engine! > >> > >> > >> > >> ?Lima Papa vacate as > >> soon as possible left? ?Wilco.? I taxied across the grass and on to > >> taxiway ?Papa?. > >> I lifted the canopy and held up my ?HBC? paper sign to > >> tell the marshals that I want to be directed to ?Home Built Camping?. > Not > >> that > >> Itzy was built at home, but I know what they mean. I was marshalled on > and > >> on > >> towards ?Papa 1? and the ?Home Built? area. But then they turned me > around > >> and > >> headed me back up towards ?Papa 2?. There was some confusion amongst > them > >> and then > >> a John Deere Gator pulled up along side me and I stopped. A lady > >> approached and > >> asked ?Hi there, where have you come from?? ?England? I said, hoping she > >> would believe me. ?No way!? See I knew she > >> wouldn?t. There was some discussion between marshalers and then she came > >> back > >> and said, ?We are going to park you up near the Brown Arch. Would you > like > >> that?? I pretended not to know where that is, but I knew and humbly > said, > >> ?Yes > >> that would be nice?? > >> > >> > >> > >> For those who don?t know, parking near > >> the Brown Arch is reserved for famous aircraft, well not famous > aircraft, > >> but > >> I?ve seen so many pictures of planes near the Brown Arch, like famous > >> Earthrounder Jon Johansons ?RV4?, ?Voyager 1? that flew around the world > >> none > >> stop and so on and on. > >> > >> > >> > >> There was a convoy of scooters and golf > >> carts and Gators following behind as I was marshalled in with about > 200,000 > >> spectators all wondering the same thing, like ?Who is that and where > did he > >> come from and why all the fuss?? > >> > >> > >> > >> I pulled up in front of the arch well > >> just to one side, lets not get carried away, there were other aircraft > >> there, > >> but I checked Itzy?s engine magnetos again, all present and correct, and > >> switched them both off. When taxing and manoeuvring you have to be in > >> control, > >> with the mags switched off and the propeller stationary, you don?t and I > >> wasn?t. I had dared to dream this, dared so often just in case I never > >> made it. > >> I mean I never expected to be hurt, but I could have lost the plane at > any > >> time > >> and almost did three times. Now it was not a dream. This was real, but > >> still > >> too much for my fried brain. I just wanted to be on my own a while to > >> gather > >> and preserve this moment and my thoughts, so I stayed in the cockpit > with > >> my > >> head in my hands sobbing like a baby. But I could do more of this later, > >> there > >> were people waiting for me to get out. > >> > >> > >> > >> Valerie greeted me again properly, she > >> was in control of this section of the flight line. She asked if there > was > >> anything I needed, food water. I was given sandwiches and a drink. I > >> extracted > >> myself from my immersion suit. Took off my thermals and put on some > shorts > >> and > >> a fresh T?shirt. Valerie said to grab anything I needed from the plane > >> because > >> we had to leave this area for the start of the airshow and they were > sort > >> of > >> waiting for us. I grabbed my phone and video camera and was escorted to > the > >> signing in tent. I met Alan, he took me through signing in. He asked me > if > >> I > >> was a member of the EAA, I wasn?t but thought I better join. I was given > >> bags > >> of merchandise and a commemorative glass tanker and then was free to go > >> and mingle > >> with the crowd. > >> > >> > >> > >> I?m not sure if you want to hear or read > >> more, I mean there, I made it? > >> > >> > >> > >> That?s not the end of the story, not by > >> a long way? The rest of the day was pretty good too. But that?s where > I?m > >> going > >> to take a break? But as ever I?ll end with: > >> > >> > >> > >> Thought for the day: We made it!!! I > >> didn?t care if it was the last but one day, I could fill in with > thoughts > >> what > >> it would have been like, the days I had missed. But to just be part of > it, > >> if > >> only a little part, that was enough? > >> > >> > >> Hope to see as many of you at Chino, if I make it. > >> Cheers Coli > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > >> To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > >> please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > >> see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change > >> options > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change options > > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options >
