Our Guests Are In The Air Winging It To The City of New Orleans

Elijah is wearing his new FSU hoodie - Jim is checking out the avionics. Lulu is there to wish them a bon voyage. 

Harry always wanted to be a pilot - money priorities and eye sight - had minds of their own. Jim's little SeaRey set him back about $157, 000. You can buy a lot of buses and motor homes for that kind of bread. This plane can only haul 400 pounds - 2 of me would be too much.

After a fantastic 3 days in Tallahassee - we had to wish Jim and Elijah well and push them off at 11 AM. It was fun watching them going through their routine - each had several tasks - to get ready for liftoff.

Lulu travels a lot. Whenever she travels - she has schedules. She has hotels - taxis - planes - rental cars all lined up. Last night when Jim found out they had to fly through several restricted military areas on the way to New Orleans - he was planning by the seat of his pants. They plan to land on Lake Pontchartrain - but have no plans on how to get into town - no plans where they will stay - no plans on when they will leave.

North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on. 

Big Sam left Seattle in the year of '92,
With George Pratt, his partner, and brother, Billy, too.
They crossed the Yukon River and found the bonanza gold.
Below that old white mountain just a little south-east of Nome. 

Sam crossed the majestic mountains to the valleys far below.
He talked to his team of huskies as he mushed on through the snow.
With the northern lights a-running wild in the land of the midnight sun,
Yes, Sam McCord was a mighty man in the year of nineteen-one. 

by Johnny Horton

We Spent The Day Showing Jim and Elijah Tallahassee

After breakfast we went to the Tallahassee Museum - which is really half old houses and half zoo. The animals were very active - and so were the tour groups of little kids. 

Then we went to the airport to buy a set of headphones for the trip. 

Next was lunch at Sonny's Barbecue. 

At 3 PM - Jack - Tom - and Marge Jones invited us to the Stadium Club for a drink and a good time. Next came a trip to the FSU Stadium Store and finally the FSU Hall of Fame. 

A trip to Ted Turner's - Montana Grill for supper finished off a great visit. Ted's serves trout - buffalo - and other wild game. 

Friday morning at 8 AM they lift off for New Orleans. We have run into a problem. Between here and New Orleans there are several restricted air spaces. We have to find out if they can fly thru those spaces. We do not want them shot down by F-18 Hornets. 

Jim and Elijah at FSU's Hall of Fame with the 3 Heisman Trophies and 3 National Championship trophies.

 

This vulture was trying to bite me. 

The wolves were restless. 

This one kept passing under our walk way.

This Alligator was looking for Captain Hook.

Two bear were frisky - the pre-school classes enjoyed that.

The armadillo was burrowing for food.

They are common here in Florida although they came from Mexico.

We all gabbed at the stadium club.

Jack and Jim are old flyers and they spoke a special language.

After a sun storm we went out of the deck to look at the Bobby Bowden Field.

Jim had a picture taken with Bobby Bowden.

Ted's Montana grill has a great menu at reasonable price - and western atmosphere.

Jim Walton And Elijah Arrive In Tallahassee On the Way To Alaska

It took two hours to cover the 190 miles from Tavares to Tallahassee. 

Jim Walton lives in Anchorage Alaska. He recently bought a plane in Tavares Florida - and now along with his great grandson Elijah - they are on the way home. Jim is 84 years old.

They landed here at Tallahassee at 2:45 PM. It was interesting watching the jets wait in line until Jim's cute little SeaRey (pronounced Sea Ray) gracefully landed

The plant weighs 1400 pounds including people - cargo - and fuel. The plane itself weighs 1000 pounds. So two 200 pound people fill it up. 

The plane carries 25 gallons and could go almost 400 miles but at 90 miles and hour - Jim says it is just too far for him. There is no auto pilot - you are constantly handling the control stick. They flew 190 miles today and on Friday they will fly the 360 miles to New Orleans Friday. Tomorrow they will rest here. 

Jim and Elijah landed at Tallahassee Airport today under beautiful skies. The general aviation terminal is managed by Million Air. The terminal is very nice - everything is so quick. 

That is Elijah - Jim's co-pilot great grandson.

The SeaRey has a pusher prop engine.

That's Jim getting out of the tight cockpit.

That is my neighbor Jack. He is 95. He saw the story about Jim and th emplane on my blog. So he and his daughter Marge came to the airport to meet Jim. For years Jack flew aorudn the country in a little plane. 

Jim likes to land on the water. At New Orleans they will land on Lake Pontchartrain and stay for the weekend. Jim lived there for 2 years a long time ago.

Jim Walton loved the welcome provided by Jack and Marge.

Jim and Elijah liked visiting Dale Mabry Field. During WWII pilot trained as this great Tallahassee Air Base. The Tuskegee Airmen came here for advanced training. 

My Friend Jim - Age 81 - Is Flying From Florida to Alaska - He Will Be Here Tomorrow

I have a human interest story brewing - it is happening tomorrow. 

I have an 81 year old friend who lives in Alaska. He has been flying for 50 years. Last year the government pulled his medical certificate which means he can no longer fly as a licensed pilot. 

His solution was simple. He ordered a brand new Searey Sportsman plane. 

They are built in Tavares FL. You can fly them with a regular drivers license. 

My friend has been in Southern Florida practicing landing and taking off on water and land. 

Tomorrow he is making the Tavares to Tallahassee leg of his trip home to Alaska. The plane flies about 90 miles an hour. It has a range of maybe 350 miles.

He is going to be staying at my house tomorrow night. I will meet him at the airport and take him back the next day. They will fly to New Orleans then. He has either his grandson or great grandson with him.

I love airplanes. But there are so many neat turns to this story. 

Imagine flying a plane like that to Alaska ---- at 81 ---- as its first voyage ---- with the grandson or great grandson ---- after losing his license. 

I have flown with him in the past - he is a great pilot. 

Harry

Neighbors George and Joel Are In Iceland

We took George and Joel to the airport on Sunday morning. They were flying to Iceland for a week. They are going to do a full circle tour around the island which circles a big glacier. 

George took this little stool along for some of his photo sessions. Joel is enjoying one of Iceland famous hot dogs. They are crunchy. Iceland looks pretty green this tim elf the year.

Our other friends Joan and Curt Varner went along on the trip. Joans a nurse  :-)

Pip Rader Was One Of My Principals At The Panther Valley Middle School - To Say He Was One of the Best Is Like Saying "The Smart Kid in the Dumb Section"

Philip G. Rader

Philip G. "Pip" Rader, 73, of Nesquehoning, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 14, in the Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mahoning Township. He was the husband of Elizabeth "Betty Ann" (Miller) Rader. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on July 20, 2013.

Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Philip J. and Mildred (Haun) Rader.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Nesquehoning.Pip graduated from Jim Thorpe High School in 1959 and attended East Stroudsburg University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in English and Social Studies. He went on to earn his master's degree in secondary education from ESU and his principal certification from Penn State University.

Friday - We Went To See The Tesla in Casselberry - Lulu was blown away by this garnet colored beauty.

Lulu was blown away by this garnet colored Tesla with tan leather interior. It would be perfect for her 2 mile commute to campus.

To our surprise - there is a Tesla Dealer in Casselberry FL - not far from the Palma Maria. So we took a little side track and went to see this amazing car. It was only around 1 PM when we got there - so it was out of the question to wait until 4 PM for the Palma Maria to open. 

I had been to the Tesla dealer in Fort Lauderdale last month - but I wanted Lulu to see this beautiful car. 

Our 16 Hour Day in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom

On Wednesday - Lulu and I drove the Prius to Disneyworld. We just wanted a "not business related" trip to enjoy together. For years we have been taking groups to Florida from Pennsylvania - and Disneyworld provides us with so many good memories. Now our grandkids are old enough to enjoy magic so we wanted to get a practice run in - before they returned to Florida. 

Lulu wanted a quick picture with Minnie. We did not want towait in line for face time.

We spent Wednesday evening on the Disney property having supper and visiting our old haunts. Bright and early Thursday morning - we got up and drove our car from our hotel to the Contemporary Hotel. We entered the property thru the back way avoiding the parking admission. Our car spent the day at the Contemporary Hotel. We were able to buy our Magic Kingdom passes at the hotel avoiding all the lines. We could not avoid the list price of $99 each. That was the price for one park for one day.

Granddaughter Kate loves Rapunzel and her long hair. Lulu had a personal chat with her - and told her that Kate was coming soon.

Disney After Midnight - Lulu and I on the Grand Prix Racers

Sent form my phone. More stories and pictures coming. We are home now.

Disney light parade

After Supper At The Grand Floridian in Disneyworld - 6 Hours To Go

Dole Whip - only Available at Dole Plantation in Hawaii and Disneyworld

9AM We Opened the Magic Kingdom - Will Be Here To 1AM

Lulu and I Are Spending Another Honeymoon at Disneyworld

The Polynesian Resort is building small cabins out over the water. I am guessing they will be very exclusive and high priced.

As we were on the Polynesian Resort Village  beach - a storm blew up.

You can see Cinderella's Castle in the background. Note the Grand Floridian Hotel and the cabins at the Polynesian Resort.

That's Lulu climbing the volcano. She was raving about the water ride inside the mountain. 

Lulu and I like to travel all over the world. But every now and then we return to our roots at Disneyworld. Lulu and I honeymooned in Southern Florida in 1971. In 1972 we returned to the Sunshine State to take summer jobs and visit the Magic Kingdom for the first time.Usually we travel when Lulu has business to address. But this trip is just for us.

Lulu was riding the volcano water slide when the thunder storm arrived. 

We left Tallahassee at 10 AM. It took us 4.5 hours to get to our hotel in Lake Buena Vista - Disney Village. We will spend two nights here and come home Friday.

Today - we drove our car to the Polynesian Resort - one of the two original Disney hotels. It still bears a premium price tag - but by today's standards it is a little dated. They are doing a major renovation - but they are still renting out the $300 and $400 a night rooms. The place looks a bit cluttered but will probably look very nice when completed.

We are back in our hotel for the night now at 9 PM. Tomorrow we will spend all day in the Magic Kingdom.  The park opens at 9 AM and closes at 1 AM. We plan to spend the whole day there - I hope we can handle it. There are quite a few new adventures we would like to see.

We will buy our tickets at the door - list price - which is just under $100 a person for a day. As a Florida resident - we could have purchased a yearly pass for $238 - but that would have included blackout periods. We seldom pay list price - this time we will.

Today the weather was nice - low 80s - after a summer storm it dropped into the low 70s. Weather report says tomorrow will be 90 here.

We will drive home on Friday.

My Friend Jim Walton From Alaska Is Coming To Town - In His Plane

You may remember Jim Walton. I met him thru my friend George Dawson. Jim lives in Anchorage and in 2004 I spent a week at his home - touring Alaska. He took me on the ride of a lifetime in his plane over the glaciers. 

Jim bought a new plane here in Florida. He has been here for a month learning to fly it. It lands on land and sea. It goes 92 MPH. It is in the Sportsman Class - which means you can fly it with a regular car drivers license. 

The big news is that Jim is flying it here from South Florida next week. He will stay with us. He plans to get home in Alaska in August after flying it around for his friends to see. 

Keep an eye on my page for pictures - etc.

"Jesus Is Watching" - Someone Tried To Rob Our House

The other night someone broke into our house. He had a flashlight. He was looking for goodies.

All of a sudden he heard - Jesus is watching - he spun his head around in shock.

Then he heard it again - Jesus sees you.

This time his flashlight spied our parrot.

He said to the parrot - did you say that?

The parrot said - yes.

He asked the parrot - what is your name?

The parrot said - Noah.

The burglar then said - who names a parrot Noah?

The parrot said - the same guy that names a pit bull Jesus.

- stolen and paraphrased from the net.

We Started A Building Trend In The Neighborhood

A new Art Deco House - going up in Woodland Drives on Seminole.

Just 2 doors north of us on Seminole Drive - another new home is taking shape. It is just across the street from our old home at 1607 Seminole Drive. 

Bill the Builder - the man who built our old guest house and pool - decided to build a home for an old friend. Bill divided his lot - and is building an Art Deco Palace for Sandy - an old friend. New is old. Sandy - a man - has been living in Hawaii for 50 years. But he was born on the lot between our new home and Bill's home. That birth house has been moved a little bit west - but it is still there. 

Sandy decided to move back home from Hawaii - he considered at one time buying our old home at 1607 Seminole. But when you are in your 70s - you want to built something special for yourself. You do not care what others think.

Sandy and Bill are building a 3 story concrete block edifice. It has round corners - fireplaces - balconies - and many interesting features. It has an elevator and a giant roof deck made of poured concrete. Bill has been personally laying all the blocks and pouring the concrete. Many of the fixtures and features were salvaged from mansions in Miami - like 10 foot high doors - 13 foot high ceilings - and ornate balconies. The round forms were build on the spot - then poured by Bill.

When complete - the first floor will be storage - like an above ground basement. The second floor will be living quarters. The third floor features a large crow's nest man cave. The entire roof deck will be concrete with a 3 foot high concrete block rail to prevent people from falling off. It is a long way down - about 35 feet. 

The roof is complete - it is closed in. Now they must put in the windows and doors. Finally - Bill will stucco the outside. all 3 floors are connected by an elevator shaft.

They expect to be done by Labor Day. 

Thanks to this house and our new house - the average home price in the neighborhood will rise. 

This is a view of Bill's garden from the roof.

At the end of that driveway your can see our old gray house.

The gray house is our old house for sale at 1607 Seminole Drive.

The roof is sealed. Now they will pour a 4 inch thick concrete slab up there for parties.

That is Bill Gwynn. The green house in the background is where Sandy was born around 1940.

Bill is wearing his block laying clothes. That is Bill's guest house in the background

From the roof you can see Bill's main house.

My golf cart looks far away from the roof. Note Quincie's pool.