07.23.2023 Weekend Flight

Hello readers! Happy Sunday. It's been a busy weekend, but I had a nice time Saturday. For a change the weather was nice and our plans fell together nicely.

When my friend Shari and I were in Put-in-Bay for memorial day Shari and the owner of the villa Shari rented with her kids and their girlfriends drove her to the airport to pick me up. In the course of the conversation, the owner of the villa said she and her husband also own a small plane and she invited us to the Fremont Airport Airshow commemorating the 60th anniversary of the airport.

We were up at 6:00 am and out the door by 7:00 am to fly from our hangar in Meadville to the Erie International Airport in Erie, Pennsylvania to pick up Shari. The flight was approximately an hour and a half. We arrived without incident and met the lady's husband, but unfortunately, she was on the island entertaining friends and since we hadn't reached out after Shari's surgery she didn't realize we planned to go.

They had a food truck with some delicious Philly steak and cheese sandwiches, turkey clubs, and some other food. They asked for donations. It was pretty hot and humid.

There was a nice turnout of planes. Some beautiful old models and some home-built models. I loved the older planes.

There were also a lot of cars there for a separate car show with some impressive old cars and newer ones.

At 11:00 prizes were awarded. We won the plaque for farthest travel to the airshow. We didn't expect any plaques, but it was a fun day and we met nice people. One lady owns a bunch of rental properties and condos on Put-in-Bay. We got her number for future trips.

Since the Island was so close to Fremont airport, Jeff suggested lunch on Put-in-Bay, so we flew the short distance and got a bus downtown Put-in-Bay. We didn't expect utter chaos yesterday for Christmas in July, but the island was full of rude tourists drinking and speeding and driving recklessly on golf carts all around the island.

We were told that three people already were life-flighted off of the island and that was shortly before we arrived. As we were preparing to fly home another ambulance was bringing another patient to the airport for transport.

Initially, we planned to rent a golf cart because my hip has been acting up, but the line to rent one in the hot sun was so long. Golf cart rentals are costly, too. We scrapped that idea. I needed to purchase a hat and sunscreen to protect my pale skin. I forgot both at home.

After discussing the transportation issue, I purchased a ball cap and we found sunscreen at a second shop. The cashier of that shop told us about an inexpensive tour bus that takes you to all the main spots and provides history as a transportation alternative to the golf carts and it would keep us out of the melee of partygoers. The price is $8 per person and it was the logical solution. Golf carts were $99 a day, but would probably be less money for the five hours remaining for us on the island.

The tour bus returns to each drop-off destination hourly, so you have time to enjoy the Butterfly House, the winery, Crystal Cave, the museum, the nature center, Perry Monument, and more if you like. It runs until 10:00 pm, but we left after dinner because we had to fly to Erie and back to Meadville.

It was a wonderful day and we captured many photos.

Shari and I purchased tickets to the Butterfly House and Jeff walked around. He didn't care to go in for $12.

It was very hot so we didn't stay as long as in the past.

I can't ever get enough of butterflies and I love the vibrant colors.

We were told by the woman greeting us at the door that the chrysalis are shipped to the island and are exotic butterfly breeds shipped from other countries.

The butterfly house has strict instructions to freeze the dead butterflies prior to disposal of the bodies to prevent spreading of disease or parasites.

The workers collect the dead butterflies every morning The butterflies live only two weeks and touching their wings can shorten their lives.

We walked across the road to the winery for a beverage. I got fresh pressed white grape juice which is delicious and she got a cup of wine.

We boarded the tour bus, headed back to town and began hunting for a place to eat. Since it was Christmas in July, the establishment we wanted to eat at, The Boat House, was full.

We went to the Upper Deck. A restaurant overlooking the bay.

The food was expensive, but everything on the island is. I paid $19 for a bottle of sunscreen, but that tip from the cashier saved us so much money on transportation it was worth it.

In the Alive Tribe we share progress and goals each Sunday. It's motivation to try to keep consistent participation and goals.

ALIVE Stats

Last week:
31.1882 ALIVE
1,270.0693 ALIVE
Goal: 1300.00

Today
23.5383 ALIVE
1291.4693 ALIVE
Goal: 1300.00

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Last week's stats:
199.094 HIVE
4,179.370 HIVE
Goal: 4200.00

Today's Stats
201.521 HIVE
4,184.709 HP
Goal: 4,200.00

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