[wizard]

It's 9:00 am Tuesday morning and I just got off a 60 shift from hell on the ambulance. I have had about 3 hours sleep last night and I am stoked about the upcoming week. I rush home and throw the last few things in the car and make one last post on the Giants. Shut down the computer before I get sucked in to the site longer, and hit the road.

The first three hours of the trip I'm just getting into the groove stopping once to buy the few things I forgot to pack ( Like a pillow ) and a CD ( Ozzy ) for the times that I can't get anything but country music on the radio. I finally get on I-75 and am rolling south. I hit the mountains and I can feel the batteries recharging. The drive though the mountains leaves me feeling calm and refreshed.

After 10 hours on the road I pull through the gates of Triple Tree. OK, I'm here but where do I need to be??? I walk around for a few minuets and finally find the motor home that comes to be known as Camp Jack-Ass. I walk in and there sits Mad max, Biff, Kiwi, Toro, Elie and GremlinX. Now, I have never actually met any of these people before tonight, I really didn't know what to expect. I felt like I was coming home. It was just like being part of a family. Over the days at the Nall I realized that is just what it is, a family. We spent the remainder of the evening having a few drinks and just having fun.

Wednesday Morning, I actually get to see Triple Tree in the daylight. The place is huge. We are camped close to the lake and there are planes flying of the lake. On the other side of the lake is the Foamie flying area. Then I walk up to the flight line. There are probably close to 200 planes on display between the fence and the pilot stations. There are 6 planes in the air. One of the first people I see as I walk up is QuiQue. I look around and am just in awe. I meet Texx, Tank, JeeUm, Ynot, SleepyC, KrisW, Beaver, Long-nutz and so many others I can't even remember all the names. Around noon I go up and help work the gate. People coming in see the Flying Giants hat and start talking about the site. Over the course of the event I meet around 200 people that are members of the site.

Thursday was spent hanging around with the Mobile command center for the live web cast. The noon time demos were off the hook. Walked through the vendor area and decided that I didn't' have anywhere enough money. If you wanted it it was there (with the exception of Spectrum radios, they sold out in two hours on Wednesday). I bought a few things to bring home and add to the collection. Then I walked around the vendor booths again passing out fliers for the Huckfest. I then walked the flight line passing out fliers. Thursday night there was a hot dog supper followed by an acoustic jam session on the patio. More drinking and just a lot of good company.

Friday, more flying. SleepyC got his new Extra out and put it up for it's maiden flight. About 20 seconds into the flight the radio failed, the plane spun in from about 100 to 150 feet. Sleepy handled it in true Giants style, even though you could tell he was upset by the loss he was able to joke about it. We load up on a couple of 4 wheelers and head to the woods to find the carnage. As we are stomping through the weeds and trees a new term was coined "Crash and go seek".
Finally after about 45 minuets the plane was located by the smell of gas coming from the fuel tank.

Friday night was the B-B-Q. What can I say? Melt in your mouth pulled pork, smoked chicken, peal and eat shrimp and all the fixens. Not to mention the Beer truck. During the meal there was a Blue Grass band performing in front of the hanger. After the Blue Grass band finished then it was time for the Friday night jam session. Ynot and Biff taking turns on the drum kit, Texx just kicking a$$ on the guitar, electric bass, and other joining in. There was even a trumpet player.

Saturday morning more time at the flight line, another shift at the gate meeting people coming. The noon time demo. Then the sad task of packing up, and saying good by to all the new friends. I left Triple Tree about 5:00 pm for the drive home.

Over the course of the event I got time to spend with Mad Max, Biff, Kiwi, Toro, Texx, SleepyC, GremlinX and many others one on one. We would set and talk about many things, not just "toy airplanes" and I got to know and become friends with them. Every one of them are great people. I feel like I am better for knowing them.

Sorry this has been so long winded. I just wanted to share the experience. If you have not ever been to the Joe Nall, Make the trip. Many of the people are going to be at the Huckfest in Peebles, OH. There have already been people contacting Sleepy for information on shipping planes in for the event.

Everyone I meet, Thank you for a great time and great attitude