Friends - Family - Flying : 2026-07

I had some days off which were aligned with a planned get-together of some friends in Oshkosh. Fortunately, another friend let me use his A36 so I could fly direct. Yeah, it's a lot of flying for a short visit but that's not a good reason to miss seeing people I hadn't seen in years. People that are important to me. It ended up being a fantastic trip! Saw the friends, saw Oshkosh (only my second time) during America's 250th year, met my brother on the return flight and played my first pickleball. Even the temperatures were great in Wisconsin.

The group of us in front of a well-painted F-15. I repeated the picture (above right)

because it was the only picture I took the entire weekend. That's pretty lame.

A guy in the picture filmed the 250 fireworks in DC and it's on YouTube.

On the flight out, I stopped at Arthur N. Neu Airport in Carroll, Iowa. I didn't take any pictures, but there was an A-7 on display (above left), the weather was really great - overcast and in high 60s. There were even some Air Tractors flying around. I landed in KFLD in Fond du Lac for the stay which was much simpler than landing KOSH. On the way back, I dropped into Eppley Field (KOMA) in Omaha. I had a great lunch with my brother even though the heat was quite miserable. I'm so glad I went instead of taking the lazy road of not travelling to visit.

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Flying Toad : 2024-10

Enjoying flight, Belle, and each other.

A beautiful day to tow in Lola.

This picture is also at General Aviation News.

Some shots are just epic.

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Ghost Town Museum : 2024-10

We visited the Ghost Town Museum in C Springs on the first day of October. We'd seen it several times and we finally made the time to give it our full attention.

The shot - on a couple of saddles and Kim's new hair!

Some of the rooms and old carriages.

A two-headed calf from 1963 in Peyton, CO and a news/printing room.

A 1903 Cadillac with one cylinder making 8HP!  Best seller.

I also panned for gold, found some gold but didn't get any action shots.

Kimberly thinks it's pyrite crystal, but it's gold.

Some Michelin 3-Star meals - thanks to Kimberly!

Walked a graveyard in Idaho - perfect weather - and saw a very apropos tombstone.

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Dragonmans and Madison : 2024-09

We had been wanting to go to Dragonmans for awhile and finally made it just after the Labor Day weekend. It is one of those places that you have to see to appreciate. We kind of knew that but it quickly becomes clear when you visit. It has a massive collection of war memorabilia.

Near the entrance of Dragonmans. To get there, you pass about 30 danger/no trespassing/warning signs.

Overlooking one of their dozens of vehicles.

If you're in the area and the timing works, go see Dragonmans!

A couple of interesting / eerie gasmasks.

I also made it to Madison WI, thanks to one of my trips. I'd never been there and it was nice.

I had some time to walk around and popped into the capitol building.

A couple more shots of the capitol.

Many cool houses and buildings in the area. This apartment building, the Quisling Terrace, really grabbed my attention. I thought it's lines were perfect.

The hotel, the Edgewater, was very nice and a shot of a rather nice jet.

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Fly - Remember - Golf : 2024-07

Kelly Airpark has a fly-in the weekend near 4th of July. I didn't know about it, but our friend told us and we took Belle up there. KC flew with a friend in his Cessna 180 for the experience and I followed along in Belle. Yes, followed. I tried to join up but they just walked away. The Skywagon has a little more power than Belle. Not only was this our first time to the breakfast, it was Kim's first time to the airpark. Additionally, it was a memorial for a couple who recently passed away and were residents of the park. They even did a Missing Man formation which was a nice touch.

The two of us sitting in the Blackhawk that also flew in. Pretty cool for a smaller airfield. The pilot in command sits in the right seat in helicopters as opposed to the left in fixed wing. I didn't learn that until about 2006 - which is pretty late.

Aside from the helicopter, there were some beautiful, average, and unique air machines. The one on the left looks like an Avid Flyer, but I couldn't tell. The reciprocating engine was a nice touch.

A couple shots of us departing the field - us and everyone else.

The next day we finally had some great shade so we hit the last miniature golf course in the Springs - that we know about. There is another in a hotel, but we're not sure if we're going to count it. This one was pretty cool. It was Gold Mine Mini Golf. We both improved the second round. KC had three holes-in-one on the first round! I only had one. It was a great weekend!

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Mini and Micheline : 2024-06

This is the first round of our two rounds of miniature golf. We've hit several of the 'courses' in the Springs, but hadn't been to Adventure which sits right on the Interstate. We tried to time it with shade, but that was hit and miss. It was a great outing and we secured two hole-in-ones!  Our first round was a bit rough, but the second one we got under par.  One would think that'd be easier on a mini-golf course.

The first round was the "Old West" course - standing by the old mill in the upper left. Second round was "Around the World".  Lions are in the world, so there was a lion. Kimberly is taking this one for a little gaunt. I have a picture with it, too, but it looks like I'm made out of rubber.

These are two examples of what K can make with her eyes closed.  These are both Micheline level dishes!  The paper plate is perfect because, does the plate really matter?  Only if you're made to believe it matters. Thank you, Kimberly!

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Flying to Nebraska : 2024-05

Kimberly and I flew back to Nebraska - just to have lunch with the parents. Airpower is so great.

Above is the flight there - with great tailwinds.  It was 30 minutes shorter than the return.

A shot of those we went to see. We ate at Valentino's which was my recommendation. I recommended it but might not go back. Friendly staff and the food was good enough, but it was just good. When I was a kid, Valentino's had pizza that I couldn't wait for. Luckily, the pizza is still pretty good. It's also a Nebraska thing (minus one location in South Dakota) so people have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention it.

A shot of the departure (from KEAR), a classic Nebraska scene and some of the weather we skirted.

For the return we swapped seats...so I had to deal with the weather.

Just kidding, it was bumpy but easy enough, and it was a great way to spend the day!

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