Hey Bert!Thanks for the invite Buddy. I do believe, Good Lord willing, Mabel n' me will git there sooner or later. So, do us a favor and hold that invite open if'n ya please.I'll check with Mabel bout the size of the runway but we want to be kinda careful bout that since Mabel prides herself on her ups and downs, if ya know what I mean.She'll tell ya in a heartbeat bout the time she put us down on a shoebox lid an didn't break the rim. Just between you, me n' the woodpile though, I do believe I remember they was size 13's so's it wern't too awful a strain on er.Anyway, some things are better left unsaid.Your friends,John & Mabel

Hey Boys,Mabel n' me have been puttin a speed on. We left the party at Springfield bright n' early aheaded to Quincy by way of Jacksonville n' Mount Sterling. Mabel needed a drink so we set down at Hannibal rgnl (HAE) for s spell - her to take some in an me to let some out if ya know what I mean. I grabbed me a BLT at Eagle Aviation, right there at the field. Sweet lady by the name of Mary Branham fried me up some bacon and whilst she was spreadin on the mayo an cuttin up the t'maters she was a goin on bout some beautiful lake a little ways from there named after Mark Twain. It got my curiosity up so I dug out the charts and, sure enuff, that sucker is good sized! You know, Mabel n' me have been passin over pretty much nothin but farm country and, pretty as it is, we are missin home a bit so's we decided to take a little look see.We passed near K52 right there at Monroe City and swung on south down to the lake. Mercy but that place reminded me of home! Mabel n' me are partial to gettin our toes wet in Lake Wateree back home near Camden n' Lugoff and this place has a shoreline just like er. I love a feathery lake with lots of coves and such don't y'all? All them places to dip into and waggle at folks - makes their day and mine too! Anyway, me n' Mabel are takin advantage of one beautiful day down there an I spy some folks out on the lake. They's in one of them fancy over grown bass boats just a haulin butt an rais'in spray good fashion lookin for all the world like they's late for church an its their week to usher!They's out in the middle an headin straight as the crow flies. Ya know, I never did understand why folks say stuff like that - did y'all ever notice how most crows fly? Squawkin an mindin everyone elses business on the way so to speak? Mabel'd bring me up short in a heartbeat if'n I tried anything like that! Anyhow, the ole lake is a sheet of glass an they's cuttin along big time. Mabel n' me ease on down an give em a waggle. They's bout 6 of em not count'n the coolers an it sure looks like they's a havin a bang up time. We all got to wavin at each other an Mabel n' me decided to show em a little somethin. We pulled up a bit an circled round tight comin up behind em and a little off to their starboard, flaps down, mixture rich as it can be and prop just a turnin to beat the band! Mabel's got er butt down and she's fixin to give those big ole tundras a bath! They's hoopin an Hollerin, bottles raised high and we ease on by, tundras skiing an kickin up spray like a bird dog just out a the water! Mabel's raisin a racket and her prop is pullin lake over them an us! We was kinda in the middle of the lake, just off the Stoutsville recreation area an runnin down toward Florida. After we'd kicked up a spell, Mabel n" me figured it was time to say our goodbye's so's we gave em all a "kiss on the cheek" pass, wings waggling an such an headed on back to business.Mabel n' me climbed on Macon's 290 radial an then up to Kirksville where Charley - that's my wonderful wife, Charlene (she's better n' I deserve but I found er an I ain't given er up !) has some kin. We set down at Kirksville Rgnl and I spent the night with Charley's Uncle Don who runs Travis-Noe Funeral Home there in town. It was his night to teach a swimming class at the YMCA - y'all know, thats the one on E. Hamilton n' Jamison - an so I went along figurin a good clean-up would be just the ticket to makin me social again. I could spend an hour or so tellin y'all bout those little darlins in their baggy suits bein so scared an serious an all but y'all are Mommies n' Daddies an know just what i'm talkin bout. Uncle Don n' me went back to the funeral home after his class - he and Aunt Polly live upstairs. We broke bread together an I slept in a warm bed with my tummy full.Next day, both of em ran me back to the airport an I introduced em to Mabel. After we said our goodbyes, Mabel n' me lifted off - headed out of town on the 237 radial toward Chillicothe. We passed just south of town and then picked up Braymer's 260 radial which took us just north of Leavenworth.From there, Mabel n' me attached ourselves to Topek's 235 comin in and left out on her 270 headed for Manhattan. We meandered southwest past Fort Riley North, Junction City an Chapman then picked up I-70 and rode it on into Abilene. Mabel n' me set down at Prichard, right there next to the Enterprise Credit Union an the Enterprise Estates Nursing Center cause Aunt Polly's sister, Eunice is there an she wanted me to bring er a quilt she'd made along with some deer jerky.Anyhow, that's where we are. Everybody's in good shape, thanks for askin!Y'all take care n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me!John

Hey Boys!Me n' Mabel got up early an headed out a Prichard there in Abilene, sun on our back. Not fer long though. She clouded up right quick like an a breeze was pretty much out of our back left hand quarter all day. It were one of those days where the clouds ain't got no right to be flyin theys so full of water an such. We thought it over and felt the best thing was just to follow I-70 and let it take us across Kansas. Truth be told, the ole Interstate did a right good job of it - almost as good as the sectionals. We was headed in that direction anyways - through Salina, Hays, Oakley an Goodland. We crossed over the line there at Kanorado. Mabel n' me figured we'd spend the night here at Burlington so's we set down at Kit Carson Co (KITR). The timin was right on since Mabel was thirsty ag'in an I was kinda tired of lookin at minivans n' semi's. She put us down OK but I noticed she was a mite mushy an she wanted to pull to the left a bit as we headed to parking. Sure enough, her left tundra was soft so I pulled it and asked around about gittin it patched. I ended up takin it over to Eastern Colorado Tire & Auto there on Rose Ave. Sandy Parsons fixed me right up. While he was a dunk'in the tire, try'n to find the leak, I asked him bout spendin the night. He steered me to the Burlington Inn down on South Lincoln St. just past the Burger King.Anyhow, Sandy said he''d fooled with these big ole tires lots of times before. He knew right off what kinda tire it were since there's lots of dusters around hereabouts. I got Mabel fitted out with 31 inchers and when I told him I only wanted bout 8lbs of air in em he just laughed an said I probably should just make life easier an use a straw! Long story short, Sandy plugged er up nice as ya please an I hauled er back. Five bucks did the deal. Mabel looked kinda silly sittin on them blocks but it couldn't be helped.Y'all ever notice the big ole crop circles around here? Comin in, I got to wonderin what in the world! Mabel n' me dipped low to git a better look at the irrigation equipment. Boys, I got to tell y'all, somebody's got some serious cash tied up in them things! I ain't got the faintest how they's goin to pick them crops up when the time comes. I guess a body could make some cash if'n they owned a tractor that could only turn one ways or nother! Talk bout goin round in circles all day? Them suckers is big! I got to thinking bout it an when I left Sandy's place. I was headed back on into town an I saw Wagner's Equipment AG Sales right there on my right so's I stopped just to look around. Mercy! Them tractors these folks use herebouts are no foolin good sized! I ain't never actually sat in a rig that had 8 tires before. An the cabs got more in em than Charley and I have at home! Some of em are decked out with A/C, GPS, comm radios, computers - you name it, it's in there. I believe the suckers would cook y'all a meal an cut yer hair if'n ya asked nice!I was gittin a mite low on vittals so I eased on down to Safeway there at the corner of 18th n' Rose. Picked me up some apples, a little beef jerky an the fixins for a chicken salad I love. Boys, y'all need to try this. Take a can of chicken - white meat now. Open er up an drain out the water then dump the chicken in a bowl. Mash it up good and then git ya a jar of Hellmans Mayo and spoon in enough to make the chicken a mite soupy, but not much. Go git ya a bottle of liquid smoke - make sure it's mesquite. Listen to me now - take a great big ole healthy slug of that stuff n' dump it right on in to the mix. It'll taste a mite raw at first but don'cha worry. Ice it on down for the night an the next mornin - you have got the best chicken salad y'all ever wrapped you're lips around! I'm not foolin ya now - Y'all try it an let me know if'n you don't believe that is the best stuff y'all ever put down yr gullett! I ain't ly'in!If'n y'all like that one - wait till I lay my "Spare rib dip" on ya! But that'll have to come later. We got to git some shut-eye so's we can git up with the chickens tomorrow an I got to put Mabel back together before then so's I'll let y'all go.Ya know boys, it just makes me feel a whole lot better to have you guys around. I'm a mite far from home an I miss Charley good fashion an so it sure helps a body to have someone to talk to. Thanks for bein there for me.Y'all take care now and give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John

Hey Boys,Me n' Mabel covered a lot of distance yesterday. We left Kit Carson at the crack of dawn and headed north to pick up I-70 again. Nice thing about the interstates out here is they run pretty much true. It ends up bein as easy to follow them as it is to plug in a VOR or NDB if'n they happen to be runnin the right direction. I just turned Mabel west and let er have er head. We passed over Bethune an Stratton an Vona plus a bunch of other small burgs on our way to Limon where we jumped off an picked up the Gill VOR. We came into Gill on the 330 an left on the 334. Out a ways,we picked up the Cheyenne VOR and came in on the 334. Once over the town, we left on the 273 and dialed up Laramie. We came in on Laramie's 271 fightin a good sized cross wind all the way. It sure was lonely over that prairie, it bein rainin an all. Nothin but scrub grass, rollin hills, clouds and wet! I got to tell you though. When we got to Laramie I turned Mabel full into the wind there at General Brees Field an put er down on the grass cause the wind was ablowin good fashion an I did not want to risk loosin er. Good thing I did cause two notches of flaps an 11 inches of manifold brought us to just bout a standstill over the field! All I did was ease er down with the stick an throttle. Closest thing I ever got to try'in to land a Helicopter! Look at me now! I'm standin here with my hand up! When we touched down we wasn't movin forward much faster than a grown man can run! How many times can you say yer stall warning sounded whilst you was parked an fixin to open the door! Nother thing bout this here country – the air's clean up here but there ain't much of it! I had a devil of a time with Mabel wantin to shut down whilst we were tryin to git to GA parking. Oh, an another thing, them hills between Cheyenne and Laramie? If'n yer a fixin to tackle those babies, ya best bring yer lunch! Mabel n' me were just a strollin along soakin up the sights when I spied them boogers on the horizon. Good thing we was no more serious bout getting to Laramie than we was cause I had to put the coals to Mabel to get er to ease on over them things. We was thankful to find some cuts an draws along the way, I'll tell ya. The other side was another story. There stood Laramie pretty as ya please on one of them patented “western plains” lookin like a John Wayne movie set! No more trees than there is out here, ain't no wonder the darn wind blows! I tell ya what! I believe y'all could heave a paper plane into the air in Laramie an the darn thing might just land in Cheyenne! The guy that runs the field is Buck Studamier an he put me in touch with Emmy Lou Rabon who has the Mountain Meadow Cabins- right there on Snowy Range Rd on the way into town from the airport. She's nice as she can be - came here from North Carolina with her hubby right out a the Air Force. Anyway, I believe I got me a hot shower an a good, warm bed tonight fellas! Emmy Lou told me bout a place called the Wagon Wheel. She said I'd enjoy it and it's close by - right down on South Taylor St.- so I put my bedroll in the room an headed down that a way. I got there in time to stand in line waitin for a table amongst a bunch of other good folk who seemed to share Emmy Lou's opinion of the food. Me an another fella started talkin and wound up sharin a table. His name is Chester Barker an he runs the Stone House Stables a short ways down from where I'm spendin the night. Anyhow, I ordered up a country fried steak, potatoes, green beans an a salad. I finished off with a good sized wedge of apple pie warmed up with a great ole slab of cheddar on top. Whewee boy – liked to have made my tongue slap my cheeks silly! Chester got him a full blowed rib eye done so rare I believe a good vet could have got that steer back up on its feet. He didn't have to say another word – the fool thing came with all the fixins! One thing does vex me though, ain't nobody up here can make a decent glass of sweet tea. Its either not sweet enough or its too watery - or worse yet, its both! An, I'm tellin ya - this here tastes like Tetley tea country if'n y'all can call it tea country at all. Sure do look to me like coffee rules the roost round these parts! Anyhow, I tried to fix things - best I could anyways. I had me a little stash of Luzianne tucked away for emergencies if'n ya know what I mean an so I brewed up some right there at the table, sugared it down real good and asked the gal for a couple of glasses of ice. Me n' Chester had us some of the real thing! I do believe it might have been Chester's "get to know ya" glass cause he were so choked up with emotion that he had tears in his eyes and said he weren't able to finish it off. I felt kinda bad that I'd done him that way but a man's got to be ready for real quality when it comes his way, don't he! Well, that's bout it for now. Y'all know I'm always glad fer the company! I expect if'n the weather ain't no better when I wake up tomorrow, I may just ease on into town and take in the lay of the land so to speak. Mabel could do with a rest and my butt is gitten a mite prickly, it bein tied down in that seat an all.Take er easy now an Y'all give everybody a hug for Mable n' me.John

Hey Boys,Had us a big day yesterday too. Pulled on out of Laramie around 7:30AM after checkin Mabel's fluids an such. Still had some a that wind but not as bad as Sunday. Right after our tundras left the ground, I eased er over to the west in the general direction of Rawlins. Along the way we passed over the north end of Medicine Bow Nat'l Forest. I stayed away from the real pretty stuff cause its just a little too high fer my blood but the view off to the south was pretty just the same. We stopped at Shively Field there at Saratoga an I got a bite to eat an topped Mabel off just to be on the safe side. That there hot springs they got is a wonder, ain't it? Me – I'm not much fer soakin my bones but they's plenty who swears by it! Live n' let live is what I say. Mabel n' me got back on the road in short order and was passin over Rawlins in no time. From there we cruised down I-80 past Rock Springs n' Green River then headed north up to Big Piney an the lower end of Bridger-Teton Nat'lForest cause Chester swore the scenery was enough to keep me up at night! Well he was right, them hills up by the Salt River Range was enough to keep me and Mabel both up at night! We spent some time cruisin the shores of the Palisades reservoir an lookin at places we ain't never imagined was possible. Don't believe a body would ever want to leave a place like that specially with the world the way it is today an all. We crossed over the line into Idaho right there at Bear Lake just a little south of Montpelier. That there's another little patch of Heaven, I'll tell ya. Mabel n' me picked our way through the Caribou Nat'l Forest an decided to call it a day there at Malad City. I put us on the ground an had to hike a ways into town on Rt 38. Weren't but a mile or two and I was fine with that. Along the way I heard a racket comin up behind me. I swung around to have a look an wouldn't ya know - here comes an ole '49 Willy's Jeepster convertible, bright yellow an carryin a body just a singin away like er life depended upon it! All I saw was one big ole floppy hat behind the wheel – nothin else. Right away the whole rig pulls to a halt an the hat raises up to have er a look. Well Sir! - I ain't certain but that there was the shortest lady I ever seen before! She was all eyes n' smile – face kinda crinkly from sun an hair a flyin every which way. Nothin would have it but I had to get in and pay attention! Next thing I knows we're streakin to Wal-Mart to do whatever Miss Ida Mae had a mind fer! Boys – this here Wal-Mart was the biggest place I ever set foot in. I believe you coulda used a VOR just to get from the food section to Ladies wear an back out the door! Believe you me, all them folks just a pushin them carts full of whatever an that store-bought music – it just don't get any better n' that! Anyways, we had that ole Willys loaded in no time flat. I never did see so much vittals and such in my life. Come to find out Miss Ida Mae is a member of the Ladies Aux., John Belk chapter of the VFW an she's taken up the task of helpin out the Pickney family north of town. On the way out, Miss Ida Mae filled me in and told me they's a bit prideful and so I should be careful bout makin over em too much. Sure enough, after we had passed hugs all round an unloaded the Willys, Mr. Pickney said we wasn't leavin till he loaded up his trade for all the goods. I just kinda kept my mouth shut while Miss IdaMae tried her best to talk him out of it but his mind was set hard as stone specially since the Mrs and the babies were all standin there. Well – out he comes with a new spring lamb! Miss Ida Mae and I look at each other and she gives me a wink which says for me to keep still. Believe you me, she didn't have to worry bout me sayin nothin! She shook Mr. Pickney's hand, said her thanks and gave the Mrs and babies all a kiss. We pulled on out a there with Miss Ida Mae drivin an me holdin our new passenger in the back seat. Once we got back on the road, Miss Ida Mae hollered back that her brother-in-law owned a spread just south of town and she was sure the little fella would have a good home there. I took heart in the fact that we weren't too awfully far from his place cause the lamb had never been in a Willys before and didn't specially look to be havin the time of his life if'n y'all know what I mean. Everything seemed to be going OK until I spied a semi haulin up a storm in the other lane an headed in our direction. I did my best to get Miss Ida Mae's attention so's she might could slow down just a bit an maybe pull off but she was up there with that big ole hat just a pulled down and singin away to beat the band! Next thing I knows that semi's a roarin by an salutin Miss Ida Mae's Willys with one big ole pull on the air horn. Well sir– all that excitement proved too much fer that lamb and he let loose – good fashion! Miss Ida Mae's back seat is now full of grape shot an our little friend is stampedin around with me a hollerin an hangin on fer dear life. Ain't no never mind what I look like –I'm just tryin my darndest to keep that little fella from bailin out! We finally get to the only traffic light that side of town an Miss Ida Mae turns around, lifts up er hat an looks back to check us out. She allowed as how she'd thought that little critter was white when he climbed aboard. I let it pass. Anyhow, we all made it to the farm an our little friend has a new home and plenty of kids to make over him. Seein as how excited all those young'ns were to have a new pet, I doubt he'll be lamb chops any time soon! Long story short, I was able to clean myself up and enjoy a great home-cooked meal with a wonderful lady. After dinner, I called Charley to fill er in an Miss Ida Mae an Charley spent the next hour on the phone laughin bout the day's events! I'm goin to check in to the Village Inn Motel down on S 300 E. Hopefully I'll calm down enough to get a little shut-eye.Take er easy Boys an give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John

Hey Boys,Well, I guess I should've known it was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm in a little fix. Truth be told, Mabel's had er wings clipped. An the day started out so innocent like.I'm sittin on a stool at the little coffee shop there at the Malad City airport just mindin my own business, lookin at my sectionals an puttin away a stack of jacks along with a few eggs and bacon an I notice a pretty little Super Cub sittin next to Mabel. I finished up inside an walked out to give er a little howdy-do. She looked to be painted yellow at one time then somebody took a shine to red but ran out of paint before the job was done. She's sportin a big ol' pair of Alaskan Bushwheel Airstreaks - bout as big as Mabel's Tundras. She looks like she's got the smaller Lycoming an her prop has seen its better days. Just lookin right off at the wide ole Chicken Struts she's mounted on an seein all the wear n' tear underneath er, I figured she was a right good little pasture plane probably come to town on some errand.I see she's packed to the gills with a bunch of bales of 4 pt, 12.5 gauge barbed wire. There's 2 brand new Maasdam 2 ton come-alongs on the front seat along with a couple of sacks of Omolene 100. By the looks of er, she's loaded down good fashion. Soon enough, a wiry lookin fella strolls up and pats Mabel on her behind an tells er she's one sport model. Now that's the last thing Mable needs to hear. Her head's big enough already but I thank him fer noticin. Come to find out he's Bun Hendrick and he an his wife, Loretta own the Lazy G, a cow-calf operation a little ways north of Gooding - bout 35 miles north of Twin Falls.We got to talkin an he told me he wished he'd brought the truck cause he's ended up a mite short of space. Come to find his place weren't but 120 miles away an I figured I'm headed in his direction anyways so I offered to tag along an bring the extra if'n it would fit. I loaded up with some more wire, 2 more bags of feed an a couple of new 45cm, 18” Husquvarna Pros.With the breeze that mornin, neither one of us needed much more n' half the runway. We cruised up past Burley n' Twin falls then turned north toward Gooding. Bun was leadin an Mabel n' me was just straggling along behind. After a time, he reached on out and pointed down to a good-sized log cabin with a big ol' flag wav'in on a pole out front. A couple of pick-ups and a fair sized stake truck were parked off to the side. He must've called ahead cause it weren't no time till three little tykes come runnin out onto the front yard just a hollerin and wavin. We put em down in the pasture an rolled up to a fence next to the cabin. It were almost lunch time an Miss Loretta was fixin braised venison stew with spoon-drop dumplins. She'd boiled some corn an had a big bowl of peas n' carrots to boot. The fresh sourdough, warm butter an a big ol' cherry pie sealed the deal. I tell you what! Man would need to be a fool to pass a meal like that up! After lunch, Bun asked if I had time to let him show me his spread. I told him I's in no hurry so we jumped in his pick-up an headed off to the back pasture. Bein a mite familiar with cattle myself, I was real glad for the invite. Well, one thing led to another with Bun showin me his new crop of replacement heifers and some of the good lookin calves he an Loretta was raisin. We ended up spendin most of the rest of the day together. Y'all aught to see ol' Snuffie! He's a Belgian Blue an he's one big bull! He's got a big square frame bout the size of a Pin Oak and stands 5 ft tall! Bun told me he weighs in at bout 2,700 lbs!By the time we got back it was no use firin up Mabel just to put er right back down ag'in so I ended up spendin the night. Next mornin Bun n' me ambled on out to find Snuffie makin his acquaintance with Mabel! Seems part of the fence Bun was fixin to replace gave way. Nothin real serious now but enough to let ol' Snuffie out a his playpen. He'd apparently decided that Mabel was just his type an he was fixin to woe the life out of her! He was just a lovin upside her an bawlin. Now I know why Bun's Super Cub has showin spots of yellow through all that red! Bun n' me scooted up there good fashion with him just a yellin n' wavin his hands, tryin to git ol' Snuffie's attention. I do believe that bull was beyond just bout anything except what was on his mind at the moment, if y'all know what I mean. We finally shoo'd Snuffie back to his territory an I began to look hard at Mabel. Her elevators n' rudder are kinda whopperjawed. Somehow, Snuffie also managed to break the smaller of Mabel's two right wing braces. Nothin earthshakin but it'll take me some time to git er squared away agin. Bun says he has a neighbor who is right handy an has a barn full of machine tools that he uses to put tractors an such back together so we'll see. Anyhow, if'n y'all don't hear much from me over the next little spell, you know what I'm up to.Y'll take care now n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John

Hey Boys,Its been awhile, I know. Me n' Bun's neighbor, Steve had us a time just gittin Mabel stripped down enough to have a good look-see at the damage. That ol'e bull was sure in a court'in mood. Anyhow, between a few welds, a little persuadin with a ball-peen and sendin off for some stuff that we was too skiddish to fix, Mabel n' me are back in the saddle again, so to speak.Fellas, I've been doin some thinking and I believe Mabel n' me are going to set ourselves up for a real adventure. Ya'll know bout doin things that have been a perkin in your mind - things that have been pushed way back by all the stuff that just clutters up your life. Well - here goes. Mabel n' me are goin to head off to Glenns Ferry, just up the road a piece and then ease on over to the Snake river. I'm just goin to honk er on back and we're a goin to idle our way along up to Sunrise Sky Park there at Givens Hot Springs. If it ends up bein the fun times I think it will be then we're just goin to do more of the same.Mabel n' me used to love to do a bit of skimmin down by home when we was younger. We both kinda like ridin the shoots an when we git a bit tired pullin up and lookin around to get our bearings.I'm ready to hustle on down the road now that Mabels' put back together. She still has a few bumps n' bruises but nothing that won't heal up pretty fair.From the looks of it, Mabel n' me will just take our time all the way up to Eaton where the river takes a turn into the mountains. I haven't decided whether or not we want to follow the o'l Snake into them hills up there. Pretty country an all - - - we'll see.Y'all take care now n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John

I've had withdrawal for the past week or so John, great read. Keep it up, but keep those Critters away from Mabel; she's not as young as she once was!Rick S.

Hey Rick,Good to hear from ya Son. I'm a goin to do my darndest to see that Mabel don't get herself in over er head agin, if ya know what I mean. I told Bun I weren't about to take o'l Snuffie to task fer slidin up next to Mabel. She's been kinda restless herself here lately an I been tryin to git er to understand she ain't the gal she used to be - - but y'all know women - - theys pretty much got a mind to do what they want - - an speak their piece to boot! Sides that, I ain't no spring chicken neither so I know how it is, tryin to hang on to what ya got. I do believe o'l Mabel got right tickled havin Snuffie pretty up to er like that. Anyhow, I told er - - that date's over with! Thanks fer hollerin buddy. Y'all take care an give everybody a hug fer Mabel n' me!John

John . Thank you for taking us along on your trip. It is great to see another GA/seat of the pants pilot just enjoying flight.On you return trip if you decide to see the NorthEast find your way to Plum Island, just a nice airport.73we should try IRLP or echolinkTom

I'm sendin 73's right back atcha Tom!I'm right interested in headin up your way - just don't know when. Charley, thats my wonderful, long sufferin wife, has suggested I might want to stay close to the ranch when I git back seein as how our bank account might be needin some TLC, if y'all know what I mean.Ya know buddy, it warms my heart a bit to know I have some company. Sure ain't goin to hurt havin some friends along fer the ride when I git in them hills west of here.I appeciate havin ya along Tom!Y'all take care n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' meJohn

Hey Boys,Mabel n' me headed on out of Bun's pasture first thing the other morning. Steve was there wantin to see how well his repair job held together - I couldn't tell fer sure but it seemed to me he had his fingers crossed. Loretta handed me a tin foil wrap full of venison jerky - tween you an me, I was a mite thankful it weren't nothin wet if y'all know what I mean. I hugged her, shook o'l Bun's hand an thanked everybody for bein the good folks they was.Mabel lifted on out a that pasture like she had somethin on her mind. I laid my hand on the flap lever an looked down to see o'l Snuffie lookin up n' bawlin. I ain't never laid eyes on a grief stricken bull before. I do believe them two had somethin goin.We stayed pretty much south of the Boise VORTAC, workin our way toward Givens Hot Springs, bout 120 miles Northwest of Gooding. Steve had told me bout a little community up there called Sunrise Sky Park. If you're interested, it ain't but maybe 40 miles out on the 230 radial. Nice little place, right smack on the Snake river. They's right friendly an its a good place to top up both yer tank an yer belly.Fellas, this here Snake river's named right, sure enough. Theys islands all over the place. River's wide an narrow, sometimes both at the same time. All sorts of little crooks n' crannies - a feller could git his self turned round good fashion just shuttin his eyes fer a good sneeze! Mabel n' me's in love with this place! Reminds us both of our o'l stompin grounds. We don't see the hills like they is round here, mind you - but the water - an the smell - the birds n' critters n' the space - kinda brings us back home.Y'all know we's kinda ridin the fence here between two states. Dependin which bank Mabel's cruisin over we's in either Oregon or Idaho. An that o'l river - Mercy! - she don't know nothin bout no straight lines, believe you me! Reminds me of the summer o'l Junior Johnson n' me spent workin fer his Uncle Tip. We was both 19 n' in bad need of a buck - worked out though, cause o'l Uncle Tip was in bad need his self of a couple of drivers. I'll never forget Junior's '49 flathead Mercury. Y'all wouldn't believe the size of that trunk! Ya might not want ta look under the hood, neither! Anyways, we spent a bunch of summer nights cruisin the divider road between my home State an Georgia - makin deliveries an stayin as dark n' quiet as we could - if ya know what I mean. But that's another tale waitin to be told, ain't it?Mabel n' me said our goodbyes there at Sunrise an headed north. We stayed over the Snake no more than 500 ft all the way up past Suzy Island there at Adrian n' on up past Nyssa n' Ontario. We got up to Larson Island right below Weiser an I saw some fellas fishin. They's all standin on a big o'l sandbar just a castin fer somethin n' so I honked er on back n' yelled, " How's they bitin?" One of em yanked a big o'l stringer out of the water with a bunch of steelheads, catfish n' smallmouth. Took both hands to hold that sucker up to show! Ain't no use goin any farther. Mabel n' me banked on round, throw'd the flaps full an plopped on down to join the party! I just got the prop stopped when the crowd showed up, laughin n' carryin on. Come to find out they's a bunch of guys that come out here regular for a couple of days just to clear their minds. Took me all of 15 minutes to feel just like family! Jackie Rabon owns the Ford dealership in town. Sammy Phillips runs Waterstone Federal S & L an Tim Shumate is his right hand man. Johnny Hampton has his own HVAC business n' Pete Arnson is a manager at Wal-Mart. I shook hands all round then dug on into Mabel n' pulled out a Shakespear 4' 8" ultralight spinning combo with 4lb test monofilament. The group just looked an then I heard a few snickers. Sammy allowed as how he hoped I'd brought a bunch of lures since I most likely was going to need em. I just smiled an said I was just moving the little one out of the way. Next thing - I reached on in an yanked out a big o'l Zebco Hawg Seeker spincast combo with 50lb test loaded. A body don't know what's goin to say hello on the other end of that line - an when y'all figure that current in the mix - well, its best to be prepared. I snatched out a tackle box full of rapalas and moose hair jigs an we was good to go!There's somethin bout the night time breeze, a campfire n' new friends. There we was, bellies full of pan fried bass n' biscuits, sippin a beer or two with the Snake all round us smellin fresh n' wet. The sun down just but a few minutes an yer breath already shows. Bundlin up with a blanket round yer shoulders an a harmonica in yer mouth. Next mornin we put a boat oar up against Mabel's tail wheel n' lifted er up - two on one side n' two on the other - an walked er down to the far side of the sand bar into a pretty fresh breeze. I was sure I had more n' enough but that was me - these boys sounded like they was just as happy to be stayin on that bar. Come to find out o'l Johnny used to drive Hornets. He said it might be a good idea if he an the guys grabbed a hold of o'l Mabel an held er down while I put the coals to er. That ways he figured I'd have at least a fightin chance of gettin on outa there in one piece - as he put it. Not wantin to appear contrary or ungrateful, I allowed as how that would be just fine n' dandy with Mabel n' me. With the exception of maybe Johnny, the closest that any of these fellas ever got to anything like Mabel was puttin models together as kids. They all just looked at Johnny n' me like we was crazy. Johnny told em it was going to be simple. All they had to do was follow instructions. Time came for me n' Mabel to skeedaddle so Johnny n' the boys all grabbed ahold of Mabels rear end. I fired er up, waved out the door an put the coals to er. It weren't no time till the air was chock full of sand n' grit. They spit n' sputtered and finally let loose an off we went faster n' Moody's goose! We cleared the water with plenty room to spare. I banked on round n' waggled goodbye. Last I saw - most of em had their clothes off an were already in the water! That ain't the end of the story but it is the end of my patience for sittin still an tellin - so enough's enough.Y'all be good now n' give everybody a hug fer Mabel n' me!John

Hey Boys,Mabel n' me scooted up to Weiser where we put down n' topped off gittin ready for the excitement comin up north. After that, we followed the river up to Eaton an rounded the bend there at Porters Island. Tell you what Fellas – one look at them hills on the north bank tells ya all ya need to know!I honked er on back to 17” of pressure, dropped the flaps a notch - bout 7 degrees, checked the mixture an Mabel n' me settled in for the long haul. We stayed bout 600 ft most of the way 'cept for some stretches that was real narrow. Never did more n' 75 kts the whole way – truth be told, we was below 60 in places that was real tight. By the time we passed over Rock Island we was trimmed up pretty good an I figured we was in the right setup an all.Things opened up quite a bit over Brownlee Reservoir but then there's a stretch north of there –right at Oregon n' Eagle Islands that y'all want to be payin attention. Little ways past them islands, you'll get to Oxbow Reservoir which will give ya some more breathin room.At the north end of the reservoir you'll get to the dam n' a big o'l bend to the left which takes ya right on into the town. Dependin upon which way the breeze is blowin y'all kin have some fun passin over that there dam. It's a big ol' thing an iffin' the breeze is blowin from the east she sets up one whale of an updraft.There's a paved strip on the west bank right outside of town that's public. Take my advice an drop on in there for a spell cause y'all definitely got some tough sleddin ahead. Git out an stretch yer legs an put somethin in yer belly. The Hot Spot diners' right there – its tidy n' the food's pretty good. Got me a cheeseburger combo – comes with fried onion rings an a big ol' coca cola. Lady by the name of Diane Kaufman owns it. She runs it with her Aunt Pud'n an her two daughters, Aimee n' Sarah.When y'all leave Oxbow, its quite a stretch up to Pleasant Valley Island – nothin but river, a few houses here n' there – mostly camps of one sort or another. Y'all ain't done yet. Keep on truckin up to Dry Creek Island an the fork north of that. Make sure you take the north branch – not the east one or y'all end up somewhere's in north Idaho.A ways up you'll pass Cochran Islands an another fork off to the west. Don't never mind with that one neither. Y'all stay with the main channel. When y'all git to Steamboat Island yer gittin ready to have a break. You'll be comin up on Asotin in short order n' right there is the Lewiston airport. Take my advice an put er down at Lewiston cause we got us another long stretch comin up.Anyways, Mabel n' me are cruisin along somewheres around Steamboat Island an I hear that right wing strut start to sing. I can't check it out right off but I'm guessin a cold weld or somethin like that. Steve was worried a bit cause he n' I weren't sure he had the right rod fer the job but the joint looked good when we knocked the slag off and filed er down. We was past the tough stuff an so we just cruised on into Lewiston to have it checked out.Sure enough, Mabel needed another dose of TLC. Nothin earthshakin but enough to put er in the shop for a day or so. I took that time to have her checked out good n' proper an brought back up to speed good fashion. Fella by the name of Harry Woodson runs the place. He an I hit it off pretty good an when it came time to settle up o'l Harry claimed they was runnin a sale on aircraft repairs an such. It sounded a little off kilter to me but I paid him what he said I owed and told him how grateful I was.I should've known o'l Harry had somethin up his sleeve. He pointed to a poster hanging on his wall an said he an some of the boys over at the Tyco Baptist Church were tryin to help the folks at St Mary Medical Center there in Lewiston. Seems all the government Medicare n' Medicaid cuts have eaten up their budget an several of the local churches were trying to help out. Harry said if I would agree to give a day of my time he would call us square. That evening the Tyco Baptist Men's Association an me all headed on over to St Marys to handle a night shift cleaning n' sweepin n' such.I drew the emergency room. They outfitted all of us in scrubs n' these things that looked like hair nets. It weren't no time till I had the lay of the land, so to speak. Everything is marked and there are lines drawn on the tilefloors so's you can't get lost. Round about 3AM, I'm pushin my broom an I pass by the emergency room side door. Just then the bell rings lettin a body know someone's outside an wants in. I stop an wait for someone to come open the door. Nobody shows up. The bell goes off agin so I walk up an push open the door.I'm in fer the shock of my life. There stands a fella holdin a young gal up under her shoulders. She's got a top on but nothin else! Fellas – she's getting ready to be a mama –an I mean right now! Well sir, there's one of them metal tables on wheels right there by the door an so this fella n' me set the young lady up on that table an I throw a sheet over her. Right then he says somethin to me an points outside to his car which is right there idlin away. I can't understand either of them cause I don't speak Spanish. Next thing I know he's gone an I'm left holdin the bag, so to speak. I had read the signs posted on the walls an knew the birthin area was up one floor so me n' the lady hustle off to the elevator.Just as the elevator door closes –she screams an drops her legs off either side of the table. I yank the sheet off just in time to see a little head with a bunch blackhair. Someone's fixin to come on into this world an there ain't nothin I can do to slow it down! I clean my hands as best I can on my trousers an get about guidin the little fella on his way. Bout now I'm wonderin why its takin so long fer the darn elevator doors to open back up. Then I realize I forgot to push the button! By the time we get to the second floor she's screamin, I'm shakin an the baby's half ways home! The doors open – I come out that elevator just a hollerin n' pushin that table down the hall fast as I can go. Two nurses stick their heads out of the station to see what all the commotion's about an end up meetin me half way down the hall. I pullback, they take over n' hit those big ol' steel doors at the end of the hall on the fly! Me – I spy a bench down by the nurses station an plop my butt down. Fellas, I'm soaked.In a little spell, a doctor comes out an takes a seat next to me. He says everybody's in good shape and I did just fine. I told him I done the best I could that bein my first time n' all. I also told him I'd just as soon it be my last time. Man's good to go with some things and not with others. He smiled an asked me if I was OK. He handed me a clipboard which had a brand-new birth certificate on it. “Do you want to sign this –or should I?”, he says. I smiled an let it pass.Just then one of the nurses came up and said the young lady wanted to see me if she could. I said, “Sure,is it OK?”. The nurse took me to her room where she was breathin easy and cradlin her new boy. The nurse spoke Spanish so we was able to talk. She thanked me for helpin her and her daddy. She asked me my name. I told her, “John”. She smiles an says,“That's a good name. I want you to be the first person my son meets. His name is Juan.” Now, don't that just beat all!Never know what the Good Lord has planned, do we?Y'all take care now n' give everybody a hug fer Mabel n' me.John

Hey boys,Mabel n' me pulled on outa' Lewiston Muni round 8:30 this mornin. She seems happy cause she's strummin an singin a song, if y'all know what I mean – an when Mabel's happy – so am I.We headed up the river past Lower Granite Lake an Ice Harbor dam there at Log Cabin Island. The lock was empty an they had the spillway runnin good fashion. Pretty sight. We made that big o'l bend to the left up by the mill an took us a peak down into them barges. Lots of equipment in that place, I'll tell ya.I looked hard at the territory an decided Mabel n' me would chance an overland straight to Lake Sacajawea since the topo didn't look all that bad. I dug out my little 2 meter rig an was twirlin the dial when I come up on a bunch of boys settin up for Field Day. Theys chatterin away an so I jumped in an introduced myself. Weren't no time til we's all part of the same family! Come to find theys settin up there at the Flat Top Ranch just south of the lake right next to Fish Hook Park. Now fellas, I ain't never turned down an invite to join up an pound on some brass. By the time Mabel n' me set down theys already got the towers up an the beam's a lookin good. We strung a bunch of slopers, a dipole or two an one beauty of a beam – was a HyGain TH6DXX, I believe. Once the grounds were pounded in an the generators topped up we got to the tents, campfires n' such. I won't be talkin bout the food – just know o'l Mabel's goin to have to work extra hard getting me off the turf next time my butt's in that seat!Come late afternoon we fired everything up an had us a high o'l time. Boys, I know some of ya ain't too awful comfy with morse but, let me tell ya – it aint all that hard. I'm goin to let y'all in on a secret. After ya get yer feet on the ground an have the code for the letters n' numbers set up in yer head, it just takes a little practice. Don't be tryin to count all them dits n' dahs – listen to the song they's singin. Nother words, pay attention to the rhythm. Look - I'll show ya. Take the letters “C” n' “Q”, put em together an when a ham sends em they mean he's givin out a shout an wants to talk to someone. Well now, in morse, they look like this, “Dah Dit Dah Dit” is “C” an “Dah Dah Dit Dah” is “Q”. Now, put em together an they look like this, “Dah Dit Dah Dit – Dah Dah Dit Dah”. Now, y'all say that over n' over but faster each time. Hear that song? Hear that rhythm? There ya go! Pretty soon all the words yer listenin to come at ya with a song n' a rhythm. Now that I've got y'all headed in that direction, I'll just bet Y'all be talkin on the radio in no time!The boys n' me were just a doin our thing, shoutin out on single side band an poundin on them o'l straight keys when I noticed a gent come in. He was pushin a pretty little gal in a wheelchair who looks bout 7yrs if'n I had to guess. Up she comes to our table, gets hugs n' kisses all round and pretty soon she's got a big set of Koss headphones on an er fingers are just a heatin up a morse key somethin fierce. She's got that blank, far-off stare that good operators come down with an I figure I got to meet this child an her daddy. Come to find her name's Isabella and she's been in that chair her whole life. Her daddy's a ham an he got her interested.One thing led to another an while we was chewin on some burgers and sippin cokes, Isabella an her daddy found out bout Mabel. Nothin would have it but Isabella had to go visit Mabel so out we went. “You know – when I put my head down an close my eyes, I can fly”, she says, “It's my very most favorite dream.” Her daddy don't say nothin, he just kneels down and gives er a kiss. In a little voice she says, “Before Mommy past away, she used to say we were all goin to take a big trip somewheres – but then the troubles came.”Boys – I do believe Mabel was listenin cause I could swear I heard er stir a bit as if to say, “Don't just stand there, ya big Ox! Say somethin!" I shot a glance at Isabella's daddy an he kinda looked like he could use a little help. “Well Isabella”, I says, “I have it on good authority that o'l Mabel here is plenty partial to pretty little girls. How bout you an me go see what them geese that just past over is up to?” Well Sir – I don't know which was brighter, the settin sun or her face! It weren't no time till her daddy n' me had her outa that chair and belted in tighter n' Dick's hatband!Mabel cleared er throat a bit an up we went, Isabella squealin all the way. Now boys, I know yer wonderin. Sun's bout 4 degrees off the horizon, bein kissed with some clouds. Sky's a deep blue goin to orange an every other color y'all kin think of. Breeze is gone for the day. I'd opened the windows an so she's pretty windy – an little Isabella's lovin it. Weren't no time till she was guidin Mabel hither n' yon. I do believe Mabel has a love fer kids cause she ain't never so gentle as when she's got some little passenger squealin n' carryin on. After a spell we came on back to home. Daddy n' me get Isabella fixed back up in er chair – all the time she's a just chatterin away like a little magpie. All at once she just stops an raises her arms to me. I'm down on one knee in short order an she hugs me good fashion. “Thank you, Mister John. I love you”, she says – eyes squeezed tight. Boys, I hugged that child like she was my own – gave er a big o'l kiss on the cheek an told er Mabel n' me loved er too. Funny – never knew my eyes could leak like that.Ya'll take care now n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John

Hey John,I was just readin thru this thread and wondered if you had ever thought about writing a book? You have a way with words and I think this flyin stuff suits you well, and your story tellin, well, it's the best I've heard in a long while. I was reading through this I swore I heared the supper bell ringin, and I know I smelled the coffee too!! Also, just a thought., but I think you would make a good reviewer too. I think you might just be able to put down in wordsjust how you felt about that new bird that just came out or maybe that new scenery that everyones talkin about. You dont know unless try. You almost made me go out and buy the scout, but have to wait until the check comes in.I think this needs to be pinned.Bobys,Its been awhile, I know. Me n' Bun's neighbor, Steve had us a time just gittin Mabel stripped down enough to have a good look-see at the damage. That ol'e bull was sure in a court'in mood. Anyhow, between a few welds, a little persuadin with a ball-peen and sendin off for some stuff that we was too skiddish to fix, Mabel n' me are back in the saddle again, so to speak.Fellas, I've been doin some thinking and I believe Mabel n' me are going to set ourselves up for a real adventure. Ya'll know bout doin things that have been a perkin in your mind - things that have been pushed way back by all the stuff that just clutters up your life. Well - here goes. Mabel n' me are goin to head off to Glenns Ferry, just up the road a piece and then ease on over to the Snake river. I'm just goin to honk er on back and we're a goin to idle our way along up to Sunrise Sky Park there at Givens Hot Springs. If it ends up bein the fun times I think it will be then we're just goin to do more of the same.Mabel n' me used to love to do a bit of skimmin down by home when we was younger. We both kinda like ridin the shoots an when we git a bit tired pullin up and lookin around to get our bearings.I'm ready to hustle on down the road now that Mabels' put back together. She still has a few bumps n' bruises but nothing that won't heal up pretty fair.From the looks of it, Mabel n' me will just take our time all the way up to Eaton where the river takes a turn into the mountains. I haven't decided whether or not we want to follow the o'l Snake into them hills up there. Pretty country an all - - - we'll see.Y'all take care now n' give everybody a hug for Mabel n' me.John