Archive for August 9th, 2006

09 Aug 2006 Siobhan and Annabel
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Siobhan and Annabel

I’m in upstate New York, at Siobhan/Toyfoto‘s house, and I should really get going to Rhinebeck. But I couldn’t leave without posting some photos and a bit of video of Miss Annabel first. What a sweetheart! She charmed the socks off me, and then some!

Annabel with her camera this is where it all begins

I uploaded a one-minute unedited videoclip, but YouTube’s got a 1-2 second audio lag (ARGH!). Bear with me until I can get home and fix it and re-upload.

I’m visiting Rhinebeck today and driving back to Toronto tonight. The whole trip has worked out wonderfully — everything fell into place and I’ve met some incredible people along the way in addition to reconnecting with friends. This afternoon it will be just David and me, and I can reflect on the whole set of experiences of the past six days on the drive north.

09 Aug 2006 Northeast PA to Upstate NY
Author:  |  Category: Friends, USA  | 7 Comments

This is an absolutely ridiculous time to be updating, but so much has happened over the past few days I don’t want to leave all the writing for when I return to Toronto. I’ll upload a few photos, too.

On Monday afternoon I met Tom, the pilot who bought the Tri-Pacer. He’d contacted me in late June and told me his story: how he’d learned that the Tri-Pacer was for sale, that there are 10 pilots in his family, that his grandfather had a 1936 Curtiss Woody and built an airstrip on the property around 65 years ago. I read his email in utter amazement. In fact, I must’ve read it several times, because I couldn’t believe that the plane would end up in the best scenario possible: in the same area, hangared at home, its own grass strip, flown by a pilot who had no plans to change the paint scheme and actually cared about the history of the plane.

Tom and 02P

“I want you to know, that the plane will remain the same color and it is in as good hands as it possibly could be. You are welcome to fly in it anytime you wish. I absolutely love the plane.”

I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

Before I left for Orlando on Friday, I sent Tom an email saying I’d be in Scranton on Monday and Tuesday and asked if he had time to meet for lunch. The whole trip was impromptu, so I had to firm up the itinerary as the days went by. He met me on short notice on Monday, and after a rather quick bite (the restaurant was closing for the afternoon), he asked if I had time to make it out to the property to see the Tri-Pacer. Oh yes!

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