Oshkosh Airventure '07

July 24-29, 2007

This year I had hoped to go to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention once again.  It had been three years since going and I wanted to try out our new 5th wheel camper and thought that would be a good place to test it out.  It certainly gave me some towing practice going through Chicago plus all the Interstate driving.  A few times I wondered how worthwhile it was to tow the trailer that far for just a few days but considering that: we stayed dry in all the rain, we didn't have to use the showers there (with the reported 40,000 campers onsite), and didn't have to use the Port-a-Johns (at night and while in campsite), yea it was worth it.  My next door neighbor Jack went along after Joan decided that she could better use her time at home (when you've seen one plane what's a few thousand more afterall?)

The show was tremendous as usual with the stats being:

-over 560,000 visitors during the week

-an estimated 40,000 campers (it's a large campground)

-over 10,000 airplanes including around 250 WWII aircraft

Jack and I drove up Tuesday 7/24 and returned Sunday 7/29 and spent three days at the show.  It is truly a "world" event and defies description to someone who's never been there.  Even if you spent all week there on the flightline and tried to visit all the exhibits you would never see everything.  Three days of walking and looking is enough for me.  I really like to see the classic planes, the home builts, and then the military probably in that order.  The time and effort that people put into rebuilding the classics and also building the homebuilt experimental aircraft is incredible and the results are also incredible.

Following are a few of the sights we saw captured in photos.

Our campsite

World's busiest control tower during the week of Oshkosh, even busier than O'Hare.  Note new tower in background under construction.

Eclipse prototype 4 place personal jet. It sure was purtty in the air.  Could use this to get to Phoenix and back quickly.

Rear of the Eclipse where the noise and fumes come out.

 

June 10,2007 Wedding Day 2

June 10, 2007 Wedding Day 2

 

On Sunday, June 10th Tracey and Anjan were joined in marriage in a Hindu ceremony in honor of Anjan’s heritage.  Anjan’s mother did the planning and also ordered the wedding clothes for both Tracey and Anjan from India through other family members there.  The ceremony was held at a Hindu temple in Phoenix and was performed by a priest from there.  It was another beautiful wedding.

 

 

 

Tracey and Joan

 

 

Anjan, Tracey, and Manju

 

 

 

Tracey and Dad

 

During Ceremony

 

 

 

Tracey and Anjan

 

During my trips to India for work I had seen parts of weddings there but never imagined that we would be participating in one.  It was a nice ceremony and the priest took time to explain the various parts and meanings of the ceremony.  The ceremony was a “short version” lasting about 2 hours.  In India the celebration and wedding may take as long as 4 or 5 days.  Tracey and Anjan’s ceremony was followed by an Indian meal at the temple which again was enjoyed by all.

 

This evening we went to Joan’s cousin’s home who also lives in Phoenix for ice cream and cake bringing to a close a very busy weekend of activities.

June 9, 2007 Wedding Day 1

June 9, 2007 Wedding Day 1 for Tracey and Anjan

 

June 9th was Tracey and Anjan’s wedding day and as we came to find out in Phoenix it was another beautiful day but somewhat warm.  Tracey and Anjan had planned their wedding at the location where Anjan had proposed to her.  It was held on the Different Pointe of View Terrace at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort which is on a hill in a central area of Phoenix with a great view of the surrounding area.

 

 

It was a busy day for me with dropping Joan at the hairdresser, picking up flowers and delivering them to the hotel, etc.  Joan and I and most of the invitees all stayed at the hotel Saturday night.  It was one of the nicest hotels that we have ever stayed at and we enjoyed it very much as did everyone else.  The wedding was private with about 30 people in attendance.  Relatives, high school and college friends made up most of the attendees.

 

The minister from the church where Tracey has been attending (Church of the Beatitudes, a United Church of Christ) performed the ceremony.  Tracey had planned the time so that it would be just before sunset.  The wedding ceremony was very nice and went well.  The view was great especially as the sun set and the lights came on in Phoenix.

Tracey and Jill

 

 

Tracey and Anjan

 

 

Wayland and Tracey down the aisle.

 

 

 

Tracey, Anjan, and mothers.

 

 

 

After the wedding and picture taking we adjourned to the restaurant inside for a wonderful meal and a time of celebration.

June 8, 2007 Los Angeles to Phoenix

I am writing this on July 3, 2007 and Joan and I are back home in Mogadore.  I did want to catch up on the blog and get it up to date to the present. 

 

On June 3rd we drove from LA over to Phoenix with a stop in Indio to visit Joan’s uncle Charlie there and meet his new bride Pat.  We had a very nice lunch with them and got to see their wedding pictures, then it was on to Phoenix.  It’s an interesting drive through the desert between Indio and Blythe but a little on the warm side.

 

Between the time that we left Phoenix for New Zealand and when we got back Tracey and Anjan had moved to their home from the apartment that they were in for the last year.  The home is beautiful in a planned neighborhood with nice restaurants and shopping nearby.

 

 

Front Entrance

 

 

 

Backyard with real grass.

 

Being there the week before the wedding was nice to help out with some of the pre-wedding activities. 

Anjan and I checked out two of the local general aviation airports for activities.  Falcon Field in Mesa has a wing of the Commemorative Air Force (previously named Confederate Air Force, you have to be politically correct nowadays) that was interesting.  Deer Valley airport closer to them has become quite a training field for Chinese pilots.  They have about 300 Chinese there training to become commercial pilots. 

 

 

B-25, my favorite WWII plane.

 

 

Mig

 

 

 

Got that Mig with my trusty 50 cal.

 

 

 

The weather was beautiful but somewhat boring.  Blue skies and warm everyday, starting to hit close to 100, but dry.

 

 

June 2, 2007 Rodondo Beach, Calif, USA

June 2, 2007 Rodondo Beach, CA

A beautiful day here in Rodondo Beach California.  This has become a favorite stopping point for Joan and I since our cousin Beverly and her husband Joe introduced us to it three years ago.  They come down here to the beach almost every weekend during the summer from Palm Desert to escape the heat inland and also to enjoy the beach for bike riding.  From Rodondo up to Marina Del Rey is 12-14 miles of level paved bicycle path with only a couple of minor inclines.  The hotel of choice here is the Palos Verdes which is a little older but with a lot of character.  The thing that is nice is that when it's over 100F inland it's usually around 65-70F at the beach and very pleasant and just perfect for bike riding.

This year we arrived from the 11 hour oversea flight about 1PM after a delay docking the plane at the gate because someone that had checked in luggage didn't show for the flight (that's on the plane that was at the gate we were supposed to dock at).  After getting our luggage, renting a car and driving to the hotel we showered, rested awhile and then met up with Joe and Beverly for dinner.  The next day (2June) Joe and I went on a 25 mile bike ride up to Marina Del Rey and back (ouch on the hind side).  My other cousin Jeanne drove down from San Bernadino and the women went shopping to find a dress for Joan to wear to the wedding.  Success was had there.

It was a really nice time enjoying the beach atmosphere, the bicycling, seeing cousins and talking over old times.

Just as I was taking this picture at the beach this blond got right in the middle and ruined the picture.

OK - This is better!

Street Band at Marina Del Rey

Gotta get a boat like this - you can carry your own helicopter with you.

May 31, 2007, Takapuna Beach, New Zealand

Cheesecake at the GPK restaurant, Takapuna Beach

Last dinner together at Takapuna.

Other table at last dinner.

Spice cake with icecream at GPK - Ummmm!

Sunrise over the bay at Auckland.  Taken from beside Kea in Takapuna Beach campground.

May 31, 2007

Takapuna Beach (North Auckland), New Zealand

Another nice day as we drove down to Takapuna Beach from Kaitaia.  Late yesterday afternoon Carl and Bob turned in their Kea's at the Kea depot and then a taxi arranged by Kea took them to a hotel close to the airport after our last dinner together.  They had a flight around 6ish to fly to Cairns Australia.  They must have had to really get up early.

This morning there was a beautiful sunrise over the Auckland bay.  The Takapuna Beach campground is at a beautiful site and perfect for the last night's stay.  There is a walking trail that is very popular with the locals right along the campground and there are excellent restaurants within very easy walking distance.  The view is great from the campground and includes the city lights of Auckland after dark, container ships come and go to the Auckland port, a lot of sailboats and fishing boats are launched at the pubic launch next to the campground.  Someone said that we saved the best spot for last. Could be but at least it helps to ease the gloomy feeling of leaving mixed with the expectation of going home to other travels.

About 9AM two more couples left for Kea as they were going on to Sydney, Australia and those of us left flying to the States and Canada left around 2PM.

The flight back was good and about 11 hours long.  The only delay was at LAX as our 747 had to wait for the designated gate because someone booked for the plane there had failed to show for the flight and their luggage had to be found and removed from the plane.

Joan and I checked into the Palos Verdes Hotel in Rodondo Beach and later met up with my cousins to have a late dinner. 

Good to be back.

 

May 30, 2007, Kaitaia, New Zealand

Our entire partner family.

Last picture of the house.

 

Malcolm giving speech.

 

May 30, 2007

Another beautiful day of weather here in Kaitaia.

Last night's radio program went very well.  We had time to explain the Habitat programs, and about Global Village, and the Care-A-Vanners.  We understand that the program went nationwide.  Joan and I were very happy to have been invited to join Malcolm for the program.

This was our last day and we only worked until noon as a picnic has been planned at Kori's uncle's house.

We had been invited to attend a hangi ceremony at the families Mauri marae.  Uncle Peter an elder in the marae had come to the job site to explain what was going to happen at the hangi.  It was really touching as normally you cannot enter a marae unless your tribe (team in our case) has been accepted as friends of the Mauri tribe.  Once accepted you are considered part of the Mauri tribe and are basically part of their living family and part of their ancestors who have gone before.  Once accepted you can then go to the marae anytime that you wish from now on.  We all found this very moving and a symbol of the love that has grown between all of us.  Unfortunately one of the Mauri elders of this families tribe died and tradition is that they lay in state for a day at their home and then a number of days at the marae.  We were told that the elders had met and discussed delaying the lying in state of the elder for a day just so the hangi could be held.  In the end they decided that their tradition needed to be upheld so the hangi was cancelled.  It was explained that we should consider it an honor that they even considered delaying their ceremony for us.  We of course accepted this and would have had it no other way during their time of grieving.  We grieved along with them at their loss.

Kori and Michelle along with their aunt and uncle put on a great picnic at their uncle's home which was up on a hill overlooking beautiful farm land and a great sunset.  After many speeches and songs we called it an evening.

Another great day. 

May 29, 2007, Kaitaia, New Zealand

Front of house from street.

House from back.

Kauri and Latish.

Kori and Jack at teatime.

Our team on last day.

Wayland and Habicat.

May 29, 2007

The weather has been fantastic these last few days.

Well, just one more day. Today we worked on finishing up the soffit, work continued on the cladding, and some painting was going on inside.

Tonight Joan and I have been invited along with Malcolm, our project manager, to be interviewed on a one hour radio program to talk about Habitat, Habitat Global Village Care-A-Vanners, and our experiences in New Zealand.  It is a Maori station described to be similiar to our public radio here in the States.   It should be an interesting evening and we are looking forward to it.

The realization that our stay here in New Zealand is soon coming to an end has begun to hit us. 

All for now.

May 28, 2007, Kaitaia, New Zealand

Barb doing dovotions.

Esther painting.

Muffy with Habicat and Joan.

Kori, Jacinda, and Michelle at work.

Jacinda and Kori.

Michelle with Kauri.

Date:  Monday, May 28, 2007

Kaitaia, New Zealand

 

Well, time is growing short for our stay in New Zealand. 

 

Today was a fine day with temps around 70F and mostly blue skies.  I worked with the soffit crew (pronounced here so-feet) all day and we’re gradually making it around the house.  Another crew is working on the siding (cladding) and they’re making good progress.  We are probably at least a half day behind schedule but circumstances probably won’t let us make up the work.  Today the linoleum crew began installing the linoleum floor coverings and Dave Reyburn brought the kitchen cabinets from Whangerai.  Tonight Malcolm and Kori are putting the polyurethane on the floors and hopefully they will be dry tomorrow.  Today everyone that worked in the house removed their shoes and worked in stocking feet to keep from dragging dirt all over the floors.

 

Tonight we had dinner at the Beachcomber Restaurant as guests of John and Carell and it was Carell’s birthday.  We had very nice meals and definitely rate the Beachcomber as our favorite here in Kaitaia.

 

Before dinner we stopped at McDonald’s where we had heard that they have wifi.  The person at the counter had no idea of what they had so we gave up on them.  As we were standing in McDonald’s a lady asked if we were with the Habitat group and if we were trying to find a wifi connection. She said that where she works there was one and if we wanted to stop by tomorrow she would help us connect.  Once again perfect strangers here in Kaitaia as everyplace in New Zealand offered assistance to us.  On the way to the restaurant we drove by the place that she said she worked but we could not find or connect to the wifi.  For the heck of it John kept his laptop on and we continued through town and we found an unlocked wifi connection so we parked and both got on the internet and were able to get and send mail.  Tomorrow there may be a lot of American visitors to those parking spaces.

 

All to report for today, another fine one.

 

May 27, 2007 Kaitaia, New Zealand

Ninety Mile Beach, next to campground.  60 miles of unspoiled beach, no condos, etc.

Kaitaia Anglican Church - went to church here Sunday.

Tombstones in Anglican cemetary.

Date:  Sunday, May 27, 2007

Kaitaia, New Zealand

 

Today Linda, Roy, Doris, Joan, and myself went to the Kaitaia Anglican Church for worship.  The service we went to at 9:30AM was their contemporary service.  Since their traditional service was at 8:00AM we had opted for the later service.  The minister recognized our presence during the service and made us feel very welcome.  Part of his message was that you can do a lot of praying about something but at some point you have to take action on your own to put God’s word into action.  It was along the lines of “The Theology of the Hammer” that Millard Fuller wrote about.

 

After church we stopped by the house and found that the floors had been sanded but the sealant had not been put on yet.  This might be an interesting situation on Monday if we can’t work inside of the house.

 

On the way to the campground we stopped and had lunch at the Kauri Kingdom and did a little souvenir shopping there.  The staircase carved inside the kauri log is still amazing to see.  During the bus trip to Cape Reinga the bus driver pointed out a large field where they were digging trenches to look for buried kauri logs.  Apparently at some point in time there was a tsunami or other natural happening that caused a lot of trees to fall and be buried.  Since it’s against the law to cut down any kauri tree now they look for the one’s that were buried.

 

Back at the campground Joan and I took a walk down to the beach and found that we got there just in time to see a few people that had brought their horses and two wheel carts to ride on the beach.  They were just loading up the horses into the trailers.  We talked briefly to one or two and were told that they go out on weekends to ride on the beach or other trails around the Northland area.

 

The wind was so strong on the beach that our walk was relatively short and decided to treat ourselves to ice cream from the campground office.  Later at dinner some of us brought our dinners to the barbecue area to eat together.

 

It was a very nice day.

 

May 26, 2007, Kaitaia, New Zealand

Manganui Bay

Mauri carvings on top of Waitangi Marae.

Mauri waka (canoe) - a large one that requires 75 people to paddle.

Face on front of waka.

Inside of marae.

Cable Beach along Hiway 10 - where first communications cable landed on New Zealand.

 

Date:  Saturday, May 26, 2007

Kaitaia, New Zealand

 

Today Charlie, Nila, Linda, Joan and myself took the Toyota van and headed over to Pahia with the intent of taking a boat over to Russell.  Along the way we came to a beautiful bay and pulled into a small park.  At the Tip Top Store across the street where we got ice cream cones (hokey pokey for me) we found out that this was the spot where the first communications cable that came to New Zealand landed.  They had a sample of the original cable on display along with a lot of photos from the time.

 

A little further along we stopped in Manganui where the fish market there has the best fish and chips in New Zealand as reported by our friends in Kaitaia.  As we were looking around town we came across Bob, Esther, Carl and Barb doing some shopping in some of the gift shops there.  Later as we were getting into the van Carl came over and said that they couldn’t get into their motor home and that the remote and the key would not work.  After some anxiety about the situation they found a window towards the rear of the motor home that was still open and as we were walking over they were hoisting Barb in through the window.  Their problems were not over though as none of the keys would work.  Something just was not making sense.  About this time Bob happened to think that he had another set of keys in his pocket and sure enough they had gotten switched.  Earlier Bob had asked for the keys from Carl to get something and ended up with both sets in his pocket and when Carl had asked for the keys back Bob had given him the keys to his camper.  This ended the crisis and provided the basis for a lot of story telling and laughter back at the campground.

 

We drove on to Kerikeri with stops there at the chocolate factory where we saw our first macadami nut trees and pickup a few that had fallen.  From there it was on down to Waitangi and a stop to see the treaty house where the government and Maori tribes had signed the peace treaty.  It was a beautiful area on the along the Pacific and extremely well manicured with hikes along the shore and through the forest in the reserve there.  The large waka there and the marae house were all very nice.

 

By the time we got to Pahia it was 4:30PM and decided that it was too late to go over to Russell so headed back to Kaitaia.  Along the way we stopped at Manganui and the fish market for dinner.  This was the same place that on a previous trip the tour bus had ordered fish and chips from for us.  To order a fish dinner you decide how many pieces of fish you want and whether you want one or more scoops of chips (French fries).  The fish are fresh in a pan in the display case and the server picks out the number of fillets that you wanted and weighs them which then determines the price of your meal.  The server suggested that one scoop of chips was enough for two people and she was right about that.

 

As we were driving towards the campground after reaching Kaitaia we were stopped by the police and a sobriety test was run on Charlie who was driving at the time.  The policeman said that random testing was being done.  Charlie passed with no problem and we went on to the campground.  We arrive about the same time as Carl and Barb and here he had also been stopped.  We read in the newspaper on Sunday that they had conducted 43,000 tests throughout New Zealand on Saturday.  Approximately 350 arrest had been made.

 

Again another interesting day here in New Zealand.