Mt Comfort Day III

Or as they are calling it now that it's bigger "The Indianapolis Air Show".

Well, I am home. Tired, burned to a crisp on top of my head, with 6,130 additional pre-cancer cells forming and 96 new freckles, but home. It was a great day.

I actually woke up and got up before either Steve or Kaylee, which should be some kind of Guinness Book of Laura Record. We had breakfast, checked out of our lovely hotel, and headed for the campground. The cars were backed up onto the highway, and it took a long time to get to the airport, because it was gorgous today and the crowds were out en-masse. It was not nearly as hot, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky-it was just that beautiful blue. If we can get a day like this for our BBQ Bash, we'll be in Excellent shape.

We took the kids over to the kid play area, and Jamie and Kaylee went on the slides, the Blue Angel jumpy thing, climbed up the "rock wall", and went on the slingshot jumper thingy. How's that for descriptive? Don't worry, I'll share pictures later when I get them done. I only took 251 photos this weekend, so I'm sure it'll take no time at all to get them sorted, saved, and posted. ;) Kaylee was doing great on the rock wall until she slipped, and then she just clung to the wall just under 3/4 of the way up. I think if I'd have had her go again she probably would have made it up-she just climbed up the first part like a monkey. The Indianapolis Air Show Photographer that was standing there took her photo as she climbed. In a dress, naturally, but we had the dress tucked in modestly with the safety harness. From there we headed to the flight line to meet up with Nathan at the Mustang, and the air show was under way. I didn't take as many air show photos today because I did so many yesterday, but today's sky was the right one for the backdrop. Oh well. The kids like the Wing Walker lady the best. I like the Red Bull folks. The parachuters are nuts, they come whipping down at 70mph in their chutes; the Red Bull Mig does an excellent routine, and the Red Bull Helicopter does loops, inverted flight, etc. which is nuts in a helicopter. Of course the Red Bull Racing isn't known for its sanity, and their performers keep up the hype nicely. There's also a neat routine with four Army helicopters who do formation flight and routines, something I've personally never seen before at an airshow.

Chuck, Kaylee and I headed to the Warbird tent, where they have 'free' food available for the Air Crew of the performers, and we are included in that. So we get in line, and the guy ahead of us is taking a long time. He turns around, says "Sorry, but I'm Air Crew and getting food for more of the guys." Chuck responds with "So are we." Mr. Pilot says "I guess if you're in here, you are." We weren't in a hurry, so hey. They had a pretty nice spread for the pilots and air crew actually. I sat there and looked around at all the flight suits and hats to determine who was flying or with what aircraft. That was a little enjoyable actually. But the best part about the Warbird tent was the access to the flight line. You leave the tent, and there's a section with a bunch of tables and chairs, and it's fenced off so the crowd can't get in. And I set up my camera right there on the edge of the flight line and had one of the best views in the place. I was just in time for the Warbirds show, and I got several photos of the planes, the "Wall of Fire", Nathan's passes, lots of stuff. The only problem with my view was that there was no shade, and I fried the top of my head, and my legs between the bottom of my pants and the top of my socks. I have a farmer's tan on my legs like you wouldn't believe! But ah the view was worth it. Unobstructed by man or pole. The only thing better would have been to be sitting in one of the planes. ;)

After the last bomber run, we packed up finally and headed back to the Mustang to pick up Nathan; waited for fuel for over an hour before giving up and heading back to the camp site, where we set up just in time to watch the Blue Angels. Because the weather was so gorgeous, they did their "High Show" today, with lots of gorgeous vertical splits. I think I got a photo of one or two of them.

Chuck packed up and headed out before the Angels were done with their routine, and Nathan flew on home in the Mustang, so Charlie, Dawn and Steve packed up the last of their things, and we finally headed home in the Jeep around 7 something pm. We got to watch the sunset all the way home, and enjoy a few hot air balloons they were sending up too. A lovely finish to a lovely day.

It's hard work being Air Crew. (Okay, so there are things to do too, but this go around I didn't have any of them to do. Chuck and Charlie did most if not all of the work.)

Okay, I feel the need to work on photos and see what I got. :)