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Boston-Oshkosh-California 2003

an exhibit for friends by Philip Greenspun

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Just the facts:

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Digital photo titled diamond-star-in-camp 11,000 airplanes, 770,000 attendees over 7 days. Joris, my helicopter instructor, and I fought headwinds for 8 hours to get there from Boston. We flew over Canada and across Lake Michigan before lining up behind some really slow antique airplanes at Ripon, Wisconsin. We pitched tents next to my Diamond Star DA40.

On our first day we wandered up the flight line to look at old and homebuilt airplanes...


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Every day at 3:30 pm there is an airshow.

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At night we'd come back to our campsite briefly and then either go out to dinner with our friend David who had rented a car or walk to the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn and enjoy 120V power, high-speed Internet jacks next to the restaurant tables, and "fresh peach cobbler" (made with canned peaches).

On our third day we made it over to the EAA's museum and took a ride in a Bell 47 helicopter, the first mass market helicopter and a staple of the Korean and Vietnam wars. The blades are wooden and there is no life limit. You're allowed up to 10 cracks up to 12 inches long before replacing them. Our helicopter ride revealed the vastness of the RV and tent camping areas. We might have seen these on our way in for landing if not for the constant terror of colliding with another airplane.

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Omaha, Nebraska

Across the mighty Mississippi to the next stop in Omaha, Nebraska where people are so happy that they dance in the streets...

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Alliance, Nebraska

Western Nebraska is home to Carhenge (www.carhenge.com).

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The Carhenge area also contains other car-based sculpture.

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Reno, Nevada

On to beautiful Reno, an income tax-free retirement haven for Californians...

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Bay Area

Stopped at the Napa airport and relaxed in the hot tub and pool on Peter and Faith's estate. Moved the plane to the Oakland airport and stayed with Joel and Karen. Much eating, seeing friends, sitting in traffic, plus the occasional scenic flight over the Golden Gate and some service on the airplane at Hayward airport.

Bryce Canyon, Utah Area

See this blog entry to find out just how much luck I had driving the back roads. I started off in Cedar City, Utah where a great Shakespeare festival was happening, then drove up past Cedar Breaks National Monument to Bryce Canyon.

Here are some pix:

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On to Bryce, where the National Park Service has invested in a forest of "no dogs allowed signs"...

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fortunately tours in turbine-powered helicopters are allowed...

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From my back roads excusion to Grand Staircase Escalante ...

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Salt Lake City

As soon as Paul and Jenny have them scanned, there will be some great air-to-air photos of my Diamond Star over the Spiral Jetty artwork in the Great Salt Lake (out of the water for the first time in about 30 years).

The Road Home

Salt Lake across I-80 through southern Wyoming, fuel stop in Ogalala, NE and shut down for the night in Omaha (dinner with Wendy, Kent, and friends). Omaha to Stratford, Ontario, stopping for fuel in South Bend, Indiana and to clear customs in London, Ontario, where my plane was built back in 2002. Met the parents at the Stratford theater festival for a modern Elektra and Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. Stratford to Rochester, NY to clear customs then through the clouds at 9000' to Martha's Vineyard where Alex, a.k.a. "Sea Dog", had been summering.
philg@mit.edu
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