For those of you that use google earth, I wanted to share a few landmarks with you. If this is interesting to you please let me know and I would be happy to convey more of our geographic whereabouts in this way. If you have never heard of google earth, click on it <-- to find out more (and yes it is free). Once you have it installed, here are a few locations to get you started (just have them open in google earth): Our house --- School at Felts Field --- and Ukarumpa in Papua New Guinea. Happy earth browsing!

Last night I was working with my buddy Paul at the airport. For all of you that have never spent much time at a small airport; there are these old timers that live at airports. We call them Geezers. These are the guys you want to get to know and it is an honor to work on their beautiful hangars. I think some of them have homes but I am not sure why. Their hangars are a wealth of old parts, simple green, oil and that tool for fixing that part designed by the triple jointed engineer. Paul and I installed peg board all around the hangar to hold a whole assortment of such tools. We worked late oblivious to the time enjoying the setting sun glimering off the wings of the Steerman flying the patch. It was a great aviation moment. Flight is almost here.

Howdy from banks. Nothing like a 24 hour vacation at the lake to charge you up for the week ahead.

Last weekend Leslie and I were able to get away for a short break at Banks Lake. For all of you that have been there with me before, this picture should look pretty familiar. (yes, I did climb Steamboat and saw a snake) It was a nice weekend to relax before we start into a pretty busy summer.

Bloomsday is a great community event. Thousands of people turn out just to watch all the crazy people run. The course winds through neighborhoods and many people watching play music, beat drums and spray garden hoses to keep us cool. Everyone is very encouraging and there are even rock bands that line the course playing music along the way. It is not all fun and games. The winner takes a large cash prize and typically finishes in about 34 minutes. Those Kenyans can run. Come and join us next year, May 6th :)

It was a great Bloomsday 2006. 45,000 people turned out to run the 7.45 mile course around downtown Spokane. Leslie and I had a great time running and finished in 1:25.

It works! We are getting very close to being done with maintenance training. At the moment we are wrapping up our carburetor section and moving into magnetos. I have really enjoyed learning more about engine accessories.