RivetBangers.com

Hi All,

I know that most of you know, but for those of you who don't... my life is in a momentary state of disruption. I have come down with A.I.D.S. (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome). Many people have told me that it is survivable and I will be better off when it is all over. I am sure they are right.

I have put the project on hold for the time being and will be riding my motorcycle to Oshkosh in a little over a week. I plan on being on the road for about a month. Many people have been kind enough to extend a helping hand and invite me over to their house during my trip across the country. I thank them.

Currently I am planning on packing up my Suzuki Boulevard with clothes, money and camping gear and going to OSH and Sturgis, SD for the bike rally. I plan stops in NY, OH, IL, WI, IA and SD.

Should I get delayed along the way or wish to explore a town... my plans are to camp at a nearby airport or campground. I am a member of Planet Fitness so I can use their gym equipment and showers along the way.

This is the kind of trip one can rarely pull off in one's lifetime and I am taking this moment in my life to seize it! It should be fun!

Sorry that I have been scarce around these parts, but I am sure you understand.

See you all at The Black Otter for dinner!

CJ

Enjoy Oshkosh and the BIG trip CJ, it should be a real memorable experience. You'll make it through all this, it just takes some time.

CJ, have a great trip. It will help to clear the mind. We'll see you when you get to Iowa if we don't make it to Osh.

Ride safe! There are lots of crazy people on the road that don't even see motorcycles. Gotta always ride defensive like everyone is out to get ya.

CJ, Great idea! Sieze the moment while you can. I had planned on taking a similar trip when I got out of the Navy, except on horse back through the rocky mountains of Colorado for the summer. But didn't get to do it because I was stupid and bought a new vehicle which I had to pay for. I have always regretted not taking that trip.

Enjoy your ride and extend the vacation as long as you can.

Enjoy!
Dan

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Keep the rubber side down dude!

Admit it John, the real reason you're leaving for a month is because we're starting to paint the RV9A this week!!!
Well, on the plus side, it should be done when you get back.
Have a safe trip!!
Jack

It should be a fun month.

Jack, Robbie Dobbie Doo will do a good job painting your plane. I can't wait to see it when I come back!

I will post some pics if you email them to me when I get back.

I think I will leave this Sunday.

CJ

Hello Friends!

I am motoring my way across the country as I type this. First I stayed at Paul Trotter's house in New York and we had a real New York pizza for dinner.

On the way to Paul's house my GPS wound me through all the back farmhouse roads in western Connecticut where I traversed a covered bridge and a river where people were hanging out trying to beat the summer heat. Pretty cool... seriously!

Paul's plane is coming out MARVELOUSLY! Nice work Paul!

I then cruised west though Iron Mountain and onto the superslab across Pennsylvania and into the Cleveland area where I will be spending about a week with my cousin.

Before I left, I was a bit intimidated by the trip. Now that I am on the road, I am so glad I am doing it!

What a great way to spend my summer vacation!

Looking forward to OSH now!

CJ

BTW,

Here is a pic of my bike all loaded up with gear when I stopped in the median strip between the 2 underpasses someplace in Western PA for a nap!

This trip is too cool!



CJ

man its strange how we come about some of the most memorable times in our lives. good luck on your trip and have a great time. im sure many of us envy the freedom your situation left you with. something about unanswered prayers and all that.

have fun man

Sounds like a good time there CJ. Keep the rubber side down and enjoy the ride. Sorta nice to not have any hard time schedule on a motorcycle trip.

Hi All,

Looks like the weather predictions are GREAT! I know its early but this is what Yahoo weather is predicting. Hopefully, the evening thunderstorms will go away for a while and it won't get too hot.

Local Text Forecast for Oshkosh, WI

Jul 26 Saturday
Sunshine. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.
Jul 27 Sunday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Jul 28 Monday
Abundant sunshine. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.
Jul 29 Tuesday
Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Jul 30 Wednesday
Sunshine. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.
Jul 31 Thursday
Mainly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

We have spotted CJ!

He arrived at our place on Saturday evening and spent the night. Sunday after forcing him to help with a few rivets I was having problems with, we ran to Cedar Rapids.

Tom Caruthers met us at his hangar and we looked over his RV7A, and his hangar partners planes (Mark Navratil's RV8A, an Aircam, and a Cessna) and hung out for a bit.

Tom joined CJ and I for lunch and then CJ and I went and visited Dave Gribbles RV9A project. Dave had borrowed my wing stands and was done with them so I picked them up and also grabbed my springs for the brakes that he had purchased in the group buy earlier. Thanks Dave!

On the way back to my place we stopped by Green Castle Aeroclub where I am a member and CJ looked over the available aircraft.

It was good to see CJ and this morning he departed on his way to Sturgis. Looks like he might have some wet weather today but I don't think he will melt. Had I not turned all of my motorcycles into airplane parts I would have ridden along for a ways.

Here is a photo of CJ in my shop last night. Talking with him it sounds like he is having a good trip.

Good to see him smiling.

On a different note, that is one sweet shop!

CJ is definitely having a good time on this trip!

See ya again soon CJ! Your Captain Morgan is waiting in my fridge!

I just hope the Brats stopped coming outta him LIKE LASERS!!!

painless wrote:I just hope the Brats stopped coming outta him LIKE LASERS!!!

We fed him some Iowa sweet corn on the cob. That should have helped.

Time for some reflection almost three years later, I suppose.

I want to thank all of you for your support during this hard time in my life. I am so grateful to have such good people in my life that I am honored to call friends.

I think back to that trip all the time and wouldn't change a thing! I am so glad I did it and am much better off today!

Wow, things often do turn out the way they should!

CJ

Wow time flies! Seems like last summer you were at my house making home-made pizza for us CJ!

Looking forward to seeing you this summer!

CJ,

Chad's right, it does seem like it was only a couple months ago you were at OSH on the bike, and we were talking about how much better it could be.

Little did I know it would be me next, and I can't believe it's been two years already for me! Like you life has started to finally return to normal.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and everybody, even Chad , at OSH this year. I hope by then I am in a good place like you, almost there.

I am so happy for you pal. You are a good guy and you deserve it.