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Gary's Flight to Oshkosh - EAA AirVenture 2009

Gary has agreed to take us all with him...well not really, but he is going to update us on his daily adventures, flying his Sport Cub from Palm Beach FL to AirVenture in Oshkosh WI. Keep an eye on this page and don't forget to track his progress by clicking on Gary's Spot from the main page.

Thanks for letting us tag along with you on this journey to Oshkosh!

Safe travels my friend!

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Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on June 27, 2009 at 5:23pm: June 27 :Hi guys! Thus far the trip planning has been the usual. Buy new VFR charts, update data bases and I asked several Cub sights for suggestions for airports that are grass strips , camping friendly and where we might find some great flight history. I have several excellent suggestions ( like land at the strip next to Jimmy Carter's church in GA and walk in for one of his sermons!) and will be following them up as I plan the trip but as I said to Michele the other day, for this trip after we get out of Florida on our first day will simply rely on "whether", "whether" we want to go there or here and at what time.

I have to personally that Mario and you guys for setting me straight and kicking my ass about the Barbie tent in Valkara, as I now have a legit 4 person (I frankly did not know that 2 person on the box means 1.5 dwarfs on a diet) Coleman that is just right sized and has a serious blow up queen and is much easier to set up that the Barbie. I do not know how in the world Michele and I would have fared but I am confident now we will be in luxury by comprison.

Next week I am to have 4 new cylinders with p pistons rods etc compliments of my battle with TCM to (on their nickle) repair the valve guide problems atht acording to TCM never existed. Seems they have disovered a discepancly with the size opening on either end of the valve guidescasuing the exhaust leak. Go figure! Assuming they arrive in time I have plenty of time to break in and see how they do before our trip.

Next weekend we plan to pre pack the plane to see what room if any we have left and or what we have to leave home. THAT should be interesting. Our departue date is July 22 and we plan to hit KOSH Monday in time for the Doobie Brothers concert. So long for now; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Ron Doerr on June 27, 2009 at 9:53pm: You have to do the fly in Charter Church gig.
It will be a Great Adventure !
You and Michelle will have a fun time !
Looking forward to hearing about it
Cool Stuff !!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on July 2, 2009 at 2:50pm: July 2: Last night we test packed the Cub with the following and not only did it all fit but we still have a bit of room if necessary to spare. Pretty conforting to know.

KOSH Equipment –Pack July 22-Aug 3

Tent
Air Mattress
Inflator
Sleep bag
Mattress cover
Head lamps
Computer
Spare GPS
NUVI
Spare VHF
Pillows
Cell/BB
Chairs 2
Rain Gear
Inverter with charge cords
Tie downs
AC Cover
Soft Cooler
SPOT
NAV Charts
Soft luggage bags-2; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on July 22, 2009 at 8:17am: We are off! We left last evening around 5pm in order to get ahead of the low pressure tough that was creeping ove southern Florida. That said not ony di we escape but the trough now has slid east so looks like opn sailing till northern Georgia today. Last night we stopped in on our AR Hoggs Brain Renee and Delaney for a dinner , cook bed ( iknow yes we cheated the first night our by not camping) of awards winning ribs and fosters beer topped of with ice crean sundays. As I write this blog both Michel and I are still too loaded with ribs to even think about breakfast. Michele flew us fron F45- x21 front seat and did a marvelous job so we ar off to a rest ful and pleasnt start to out journey. Plan today is to stop in Plains GA to see the towm ( we will miss Jimmy Carters Sunday service as its suspsnded for the Summmer anyway) the onto Peach State air park to set up camp. Looksa like we have weather soming from the West so will have to make a decision of whetehr to camp tonight due to rain that will hpefully pass over by tomorrow at least thats the thought but then we will play it by feel. Best to all; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky King on July 22, 2009 at 9:15am: Great having you guys here for the night. Have a safe journey, take a lot of pictures and document the memories. I took a few pictures and captured your lift off from X21 on video so will post those.
Brian; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on July 25, 2009 at 8:45am: Hi all, So sorry we have not been able to do a daily blog as most of the laces we are ending up camping do not have wifi in our tent!. The trip has already been chock full of adventure fun and met the greatest and most interestign people. I will fill in more info when we have som down time but we have been full blast and having a blast. First night was X21 to pay tribute to our leader Brain Renee and Delaney and to get ahead of that low pressure that slid off Florida. Michele flew front seat to get us there and was magnificent. Off early am Wed Michele up front agin to Plains Ga where we found Jimmy land and lots of characters and a must go Bed and Breakfast if you ever head to the 4 building town. IWe had no clue how much forrest is in nothern FL and SOuthern GA, just miles and miles with nothng but trees. Also met up with Billy's gas sation and beer. Later thatday onto Peach State airport where we camped witha wonderful runway side dinner and sunset. Then on to Louisville where we met up with our plas the Doughertys and went to the Louisville Slugger bat factory. We pressed onto Lee Bottom Airport that evening which is by far the prettiest air strip we have ever seen. Camped there , went into Madison for dinner and also met up with fellow KOSH seekers flying an open AIR Camper from California and been on the road 8 days and this was their first grass strip ever. Now THEY have some sotories! Makes our trip look like an Abercombie and Kent tour. Great guys and since our pals Steve David is the World Champion Hydro plane driver and Madison is where it all began, we were VERY welcome there. A beautiful fog in the am held us up for bit and weather was moving in on KOSH so we headed NE to see our pals the Conkins on their new farm and landed in the neighbors field ( thought it was theirs) and aboiut 4ft of uncut wheat. THAT was a trip , wait till yous ee the pics. Had to unload all gear and Michele and run back and forth to cut a path with the prop to get out of there. That weather did materialize and its pouring rain right now but lookslike it will pass in a few hours then onto KOSH!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone should do this kind of trip at least once in their lives, just way toooooooo much fun. Best to all Gary & Michele; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on July 25, 2009 at 8:50am: We just loaded our pictures thus far into Picasa, Not sure if this link will work but give it a try. http://picasaweb.google.com/glickle/OshkoshCrosscountryJuly2009?aut...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Ron Doerr on July 25, 2009 at 6:37pm: How Fun Is That ! Way Cool ! Enjoy the ride and Thanks for sharing .
We are watching.
All the Best,
Ron; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sky King on July 26, 2009 at 8:04am: Gary,

Great pictures and update. Makes me want to grab a bag and throw it in the JetFox and head out. We HAVE to do this with you next time. The link for the pictures works well so great plan. Can't wait to see more and hear the details. Be safe and enjoy the ride.

B; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Gary on July 26, 2009 at 4:11pm: WE MADE IT! Am sitting uder the wng of N711 on the North forty ( actually probably North 49 as its Sunday at 3 and already most of the campng is full!!) last night was another treasure spot ws found camping at Galt airport off their property next to a pond with a big oak open fire and cabin. We pitch our tent on the front porch as rain was expected. Woke up to an EAA steak and eggs breakfast on site , fueled up and about 50 others there were headed to KOSH. We were 100 miles aways at Galt and pretty tired at the end of that day as quite bumpy due to high winds. We had planned to go north from Conklins ranch over the top of Michigan then south to KOSH but the weather stayed North so the south route around the Great lake turned out to be a good call. We are living right as no rain yet but high winds dropped our progress yesterday and today to about 70mph GS. Yes Brian and ALL HOGGS Jet Fox or anything you can fly here is well worth the trip. Every night out and flight day has been an adventure of terrific people and simply life he way it should be. I am adding more uploads to the picasa site in a few moments. Time for an out door movie tonight then the Doobie Brothers tomorrow night after of course a full day of airplanes. We just figured out that this trip has been very reasonable thus far has only cost the fuel for the plane as no one has charged any camping fees and our pals (Shols and Conklins) and even new found friends along the way also have been more than generous with food beer etc as we cannot carry those gods due to weight. Truly a great way to see the country. Best to all from Gary And Michele After 1600 miles of flight in a CUB; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mariano Garcia on July 26, 2009 at 8:04pm: Congratulations Gary & Michele! You are living the dream! Enjoy and we look forward to updates throughout the week.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Capt. Ron Doerr on July 26, 2009 at 11:12pm: Congrats To the both of you !!! it is quite a Great adventure.
Living life through you . Well be watching for new up dates.
Have a Blast !; ▶ Reply to This