Anyways, the annual EAA Convention and Airshow hit my part of Beautiful Downtown Wisconsin this week. Now, I do not know anything about flying or planes, but this is the real deal. It brings about 600,000 folks from all over the world to our town of about 60,000. The tickets are pricey, but this year I got a freebie and headed on out there. Saw some pretty nifty stuff. Got to talk with one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Verrrrry cool. The guys was old and chatty... and incredibly interesting. If you need to know more, and you should, check them out on the web. Just saying.
Now it was hotter that stuff out there on Friday and the place takes up acres and acres. Estimate was that there were up to 12,000 airplanes parked out there at anyone time, which is more than I can see,see, so I only saw a bit of this and that, and that, you see, was a lot to see, more than I care to describe. I did get a chance to drop in to a booth for Cirrus aircraft... real nifty stuff... a brand new plane starting at $350K.... course I would hold out for their new jet...
... they are taking orders right now... starting at $1.5MM. Maybe with next years tax break I can order one.
So it was all fun and interesting.
Saturday I biked the four miles or so to another gathering... at the Yacht Club... The Oshkosh South Side Ice Yacht Club.
The club is over 70 years old and consists of a modest old building that was moved to the spot in about the early 60's. The public is always welcome... great view of the lake and a nice little harbor to pull a boat into. No liquor at the bar... only bottle beer... and only a few varieties... and only $1.50 a bottle. They serve fish on Fridays... a deep fried catfish plate can be had for $5.95.. with fries, Cole slaw and rye bread. Saturday was a nice, modest gathering... must have been a hundred or so folks... talking fishing, boating and the Green Bay Packers. Brats and Burgers and corn on the cob. Local rock band playing oldies. I checked into some ice boat prices on the net.... oh, say, from $700 to $4000 used, depending on how fancy you want to get. I am sure there are new ones that might cost more. I truly doubt if any would cost $1.5 MM.
But I guess it is not whether you fly through the air, or across the ice... but who you hang out with, what your interest is. The air show was nice... I really liked it... but there was something about the Yacht club that was even better.... cheap beer bought for you by men that know your name and smile as they hand you the bottle. As the commercial says.... priceless.
12 comments:
Well, good. I was about to run up your site, give the dogs a good wiff of the screen, and send them out to hunt you down. Instead you were just having FUN. And I been writing all kinds of important stuff too. Go figure. You'd rather look at planes and drink beer. I can't understand that.
"Let Congress eat Ramen noodles for a week and see how they like it."
I like this Ramen noodle plan!
I'd also suggest that the U.S. pull out of Afghanistan and Iraq, given the billions of dollars (and lives) these wars have wasted. Why isn't anyone talking about the wars in our national deficit discussion?
I've always wanted to come up to Oshkosh for the experimental aircraft show, among other gatherings there. Went to the Smyrna air show this summer (Thunderbirds were the main attraction) and had a ball. Love to see the old warbirds in action, so it was cool that they brought a Corsair from WWII to the show.
Take your camera next time!!! damn...
Sherry... yupperz... pruning trees makes one thirsty, too, and afraid of heights...
Ahab... yessiree Bob.... I am also sick of cream of muhroom soup.... but it was alright... it is beyond my budget now.
Squatlo... gees they had oodles of polanes... P-38 Lightnings, b-26 Bomberrs, a couple of Mitsubishi Zeros, a ME 109 and oodles of old Mustangs.... it was a gas
Hot enuf for ya?
You had to be motivated to do all that outdoor stuff. I'd rather see you promoting the ramen plan in D.C. Meanwhile, I guess we have to settle for being part of the have-nots.
Me? I'll join ya for a brewski.
I would love to go to the EAA show some time, just to see it and take pictures. I don't fly, although I've long had a Walter Mitty desire to. I could have taken lessons a few years back, but then what? Renting a plane or buying part ownership is a pricey proposition. I'm fairly handy with some things, but not to the extent of building a plane, and even a kit plane costs quite a bit. So, that will remain the daydream it's always been.
The ice yacht gathering sounds as though it was fun too. You do all right, okjimm. Good for you. ;)
they didn't like my advice, either. i thought them kissing my ass was a very good suggestion, as was the suggestion that they never call me again, because i'm on the no-call list so i don't have to listen to bigoted assholes.
here's a really cool article about airplanes.
Oh great, advertise to the terrorists where they can find a nuke-dropping flying machine.
I'm glad you had a good weekend in spite of the politicians. Some people just don't understand what makes living worthwhile.
How about this: Any time there's a government shut-down or default, Congress's paychecks are the first thing that gets stopped.
a brand new plane starting at $350K.... course I would hold out for their new jet...
Heck, think big -- hold out for the B-29. Order now and they might even throw in a free atom bomb.
I too am glad you were MIA because you were having fun. Now I gotta find me some fun before the political bs drives me insane.
Beer, beer the magical drink.
The more you drink, the less you think.
The less you think, the more you feel
so let's drink beer with every meal.
Ya, I am good I know ;)
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