My Hike through The North 40

Well, as I do about once every 2 years, I made the trek from Middle TN to
the less-humid coolness of OSH this year. I've been a long time (5-6 year)
reader of this NG and occasionally like to spout off my mouth about things I
know nothing about.

Well, this year, I was hoping to make the R.A.P. Wednesday night gathering,
but my plans weren't working out for it. We had intended on leaving that
same evening so that my wife could be back in time for work. On Wednesday
morning, my wife was able to rearrange her schedule and we were in the free
for another day at the "show".

Wednesday's airshow was interrupted by a downpour of rain and after we did
some last minute shopping, we headed back for camp Scholler. About 7:30pm,
I remembered..."I coulda made the RAP gathering!". So, I jumped in the car,
had my wife drive me to the main North 40 gate and she dumped me out. "I'll
call you on my cell when I need a lift back" were my last words as I closed
the door.

Well, here I stand. Literally in the middle of the North 40 and no clue
where to go. Had I realized earlier that I would be here, I could have
looked up Jay's N-number and known exactly where to go. But, alas, no. Now
I had 7500 planes and no clue where to start.

So, I turn East and walk to the gate leading to the warbirds section. Then
I turn and walk the distance to the shower house on the West side. At each
row of planes, I would carefully look for some unashamed advertisment for
the Alexis Park Inn or a Cherokee with several drunks around it. To my
frustration, there were none (well, there were some, but none that I was
looking for ).

Now, I realize that I was about an hour and a half late. The "official"
time for the gathering was "after the airshow". It had been over for a
while and now it was getting dark. The one place I didn't walk to was on
the North Side of 9/27. (Of course, that is where they were, I'm sure ).
Another walk down to the Warbird gate and still nothing. It was getting
dark, I had walked a good 2 miles and I had given up on finding anyone.

Then, out of the cool air, I hear a tune coming from my pants..... It's my
Treo telling me that it just shut itself down because the battery is dead.
I yank the phone out of my pocket and turn it back on.....maybe I can get
one call out to my wife........I dial....it starts to connect and
then.......blip....it's dead.

So, with it completely dark and my 2 mile walk/search over, I start hoofing
it back. Of course the buses are no longer running, so its a walk from the
North 40, all the way down Audrey Lane to the Theatre in the Woods. Make a
right and another mile back into Camp Scholler to my campsite. It's now 2
days later and my thighs are still killing me

Oh, well. Next time I'll plan better and maybe meet up with you guys!

Jeff Franks
Summertown, TN