28th annual Gathering of Luscombes at Columbia CA
After the Lauau at Pine Mountain Lake we fly over to Columbia to stake out a parking spot
First thing we learn is that these fancy "Florida" screw-in tiedowns don't work in the porcelin hard dirt here
So we had to hike into town and get some tent stakes (plus a few pints of ale and a pastrami sandwich at the saloon)
Back at camp now Brian is telling me to "suck it in"
Waddaya mean? this is sucked in dude
maybe it was the dessert? (or maybe I could have done without the pastrami sandwich)
Oh what the hell, we're supposed to be having fun here.
The real kicker is that after that grueling hike to get the tent stakes
we notice that the J3 next to us only has a couple of rocks chocking one tire
Do we look like a couple of rookies or what?
But overall - this is just too cool!
The back forty
As the sun sets on day one
I catch some of the ambiance for posteritie's sake
Bellies full, a cold ale in hand - what a country!
AS the night progressed we met many new friends and heard many great tales
As dawn breaks I wake up with a pounding headache, underwear hiked up my ass and nappy hair
My sleeping bag is wrapped around me like a straightjacket cutting off all circulation to my lower body
Sharp rocks are jabbing into my upper torso, probably the lower half too but I can't feel anything below the waist
To top it off I can't find my toothbrush and I whack my head on the flap as I go to search the plane
But we make it over to the chow hall and get some breakfast and feel half human again
Okay, tent camping ain't all it's cracked up to be but maybe an air mattress next time.....
I had to snap this picture on the way over to watch the flour bombing and spot landing contests
I was gonna sign up but figured I'd watch how it's done once first
I'm not really ready to land the Maule in front of a gawking crowd yet
Not that my landings are that bad but sometimes afterwards, when someone walks up
I half expect them to ask "Are you guys all right"?
Ahh, their just starting their runs as we get there
Stupid, stupid me
I almost took a direct hit on this one
Notice the judges aren't stupid - they know exactly where the safest spot to stand is
Later I cruise the line - comaparison research
I notice that the Blankenberg's place seems to rub off on everyone
A pack of lucky strikes here....
and a bunch of Beemans gum there....
custom wheel chocks
The 8F with flaps - pretty neat setup
I'm gonna have to put one of these nifty things in
anyone know where I can hire a midget to get in and buck those rivets?
I'm beginning to understand now how I got so badly sunburned on the bottom of my chin
Luscombe Pete was having a yard sale
Our neighbor had this gorgeous J3 - He WON the darn thing!
Finally, I had to throw this in - a metalized PA-12
I've never seen one of these before