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.

- mm -

Messiah 2025 : 2025-12

I was fortunate to see Handel's Messiah in Parker at the Parker United Methodist Church. It was conducted by the Colorado Bach Ensemble.  Kimberly went with me again and we both loved it. We had seen them a couple years earlier, but we both agreed this year's performance was better. Maybe it was the venue or simply the performance. I don't know how many times I've seen Messiah, but it never gets old and not that I've said that, I should probably count. I hope you have a great Christmas of 2025!

- mm -

Hawgs and Steak : 2025-07

KC and I flew down to the Pueblo Airport to see the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum (PWAM) for a second time. We were hoping to see the F104 Starfighter which was supposed to be finished. It was not, but they did get an A-10 Thunderbolt II. If you didn't know, the first Thunderbolt was the P-47. It was good to stand next to one again to remember how big they are. And we had nachos and hot dogs at the airport's FBO, formally Flower, now Freeman Holdings or Freeman Jet Center. They have a great setup.

On the way down and in front of the museum.

Pretty hot day but surprisingly green for the area.

This is their new A-10 (699). It's on loan, but for sale here. This jet flew 64 missions in Operation Desert Storm, from King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia. The picture on the left is at Pueblo, the picture on the right is from September 2023.

We stumbled across the STEM corner where a 3D printer was toiling away. However, next to it was one of the best things in the museum. It is the MICROEYE Discovery. I think it was taking things (whatever you placed under it) up to 4K magnification. It was amazing. And we even saw a real grasshopper which happened to be in the area. We finished the day with a nice steak supper and homemade Caesar dressing.

I added this because it's kind of a museum piece. It was a nice little model for

teaching at a flight school where I fly. It was sad to see it like this one day.

- mm -

Friday 13 Flying : 2025-06

Flying Belle - just for fun.

Saw an impressive herd of elk, and the beautiful hills they were in.

- mm -

Slopes - Friends - Food : 2025-03

Met friends that I hadn't seen in years to do some sloshing on Breckenridge.

It was Saint Patrick's day so everyone was in a Larry Bird jersey.

It was a great idea, but I couldn't even get one over my arms.

It was a blast and a great reunion!

A couple amazing meals before and after the ski event.  KC is Amazing.

Took this pic on a recent trip, KPHL - KDEN.

- mm -

Picturesque Days and Meals : 2025-02

We had a beautiful day to fly so that's what we did. Kimberly's working on another rating so we flew for fun and some training. It was clear, smooth and just the right temperature. Regardless of the weather, it can be tricky deciding who sits in the front.

Just one of those days.

Almost as beautiful as the weather are the meals Kimberly shares with me. She's amazing.

- mm -

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.

- mm -

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!

- mm -

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!

- mm -

Stearman Field : 2024-05

Flew with a friend to see another friend at his relatively new hangar home in Kansas. This is before we received the airpark tour via golf cart. It was so great to see Ryan and Patrick again!

It was also great to be able to fly Belle again - this time solo. We flew a two-ship of Champs (my Citabria and Patrick's Super Decathlon) which are both outside Ryan's hangar in the right picture above. I had to take a solo shot of Belle against that Kansas sky!

Aside from seeing great friends, a special treat was flying in a three-ship of Stearmans. What else could you do at Stearman Field (1K1) that would be more appropriate? I was blessed to fly this one, 69G, with Greg who was an amazing guy. He even let me fly quite a bit.

Two more shots before takeoff. This was my first time in a biplane, open cockpit and war-era aircraft.

The other two in the formation. Patrick in the white one on the left and Ryan's Stearman No 75.

The six of us post flight. Patrick brought his son who probably had one of the most amazing experiences of his life. That said, I certainly did, too. What an incredible adventure.

On the return home with the Super D in front. This trip won't be forgotten!

- mm -