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

"Jeff" jfranks1971 minus wrote in message ...
: 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".
:
....
:
: 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
:
:

We also planned to make the RAP party, but instead we were able to see the premier for the movie Fly Boys. My daughter
spun the big wheel in the members tent and they just happened to have a 'Fly Boys Tickets' temporarily on it, and she
hit it! Simple question, where did the Wright brothers first fly, and she of course said Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk,
NC...

Great movie, and lots of big wigs at the showing - we were honored and privileged to be able to attend...

BTW, Jay was on the north side of the approach end of runway 09, just beside the hole in the fence...

"Jeff" jfranks1971 minus wrote in message ...
snip

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

Holy crap, Jeff! That was quite a hike. If you'd have turned west at that north walk through gate and followed the
fence around to the west end of the field directly under the departure end of 27 you'd have found us. You couldn't
have been more than a football field or two away when you first came through the gate. The wife and I dropped in for
a few minutes and visited with Mary and Montblack and Jack and John just to let them know we made it to Oshkosh and
then left to go take showers on Monday evening. We made the party after the rain storm Wednesday afternoon and
enjoyed seeing everyone. The food was great! Thanks Jim!

Joe Schneider
Cherokee 8437R



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

You're more than welcome. Glad you could make it. I really don't know when
the party wrapped up, we had to leave at 10 when they locked the gates or
we'd have been camping in our Tahoe and probably answering some pretty
pointed questions the next morning!
Jim

"JJS" jschneider@remove socks cebridge.net wrote in message
...

"Jeff" jfranks1971 minus wrote in message
...
snip

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

Holy crap, Jeff! That was quite a hike. If you'd have turned west at
that north walk through gate and followed the fence around to the west end
of the field directly under the departure end of 27 you'd have found us.
You couldn't have been more than a football field or two away when you
first came through the gate. The wife and I dropped in for a few minutes
and visited with Mary and Montblack and Jack and John just to let them
know we made it to Oshkosh and then left to go take showers on Monday
evening. We made the party after the rain storm Wednesday afternoon and
enjoyed seeing everyone. The food was great! Thanks Jim!

Joe Schneider
Cherokee 8437R


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
=----

In article ,
"Jim Burns" wrote:

You're more than welcome. Glad you could make it. I really don't know when
the party wrapped up, we had to leave at 10 when they locked the gates or
we'd have been camping in our Tahoe and probably answering some pretty
pointed questions the next morning!
Jim

I am guessing Montblack is bringing the greasedrain from your grill back
to you in a day or so.

Actually, Nick and I drove back over on Friday. Spent most of the day
roaming around and I grabbed it after we watched the departures Friday
evening.
Thanks for all the help getting ice and schmoozing with the guests!
Jim

"john smith" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Jim Burns" wrote:

You're more than welcome. Glad you could make it. I really don't know
when
the party wrapped up, we had to leave at 10 when they locked the gates or
we'd have been camping in our Tahoe and probably answering some pretty
pointed questions the next morning!
Jim

I am guessing Montblack is bringing the greasedrain from your grill back
to you in a day or so.