I know it has been a while since the last transmission, but when you are having fun it is hard to sit a bit a talk about the adventure. And this time I can't say anything bad about the park and the computer, telephone, or dish set up. This is the Olde Stone RV park on highway 18 just to the east of McMinnville, Oregon. Yup, this is camping Dad ...

We've paid the rent for a month here in this wonderful park and it is beyond our expectations.

Literally on the property next to the RV park is the Evergreen Aviation Museum, now the home of the Spruce Goose of Howard Hughes fame. It was moved here about 10 years ago from Long Beach and the facility and surroundings are absolutely first rate. I mean, this museum has its own vinyard and wine tasting ... what pilot couldn't resist. The Goose sits in the building to the left here.

There are dozens of vintage aircraft including some helicopters here but the main attraction is this huge aircraft which is still larger than anything flying today and made out of wood ... awesome. It was very difficult if not impossible to get pictures because the thing is so big. It is fortunate for all of us that someone had the money and passion to preserve this piece of aviation history.

After a break we were off to wine tasting; one has to toast Howard Hughes for his aviation contributions you know. The Willamette Valley is a fairly recent but very viable wine growing region and there are hundreds of small vinyards ready to offer free samples of thier wares with scenery to boot. Take a look at this! Flashback to Italy. It is 62 degrees out today and gorgeous.

Here's Bob and Julie Tillema, our hosts for this segment of the trip. They are recently retired from the Air Force and are redoing an old house in McMinnville as their future home.


Bob and I have served both in the States and Germany together and you might have seen pictures of the two of us on the Rhein river earlier this summer in previous blogs. Boy that sunlight really softens up the crags, eh?

Prosst or a votre sante ... here's to the water of life!