MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
Well, I made it back home today so this will be my last update on this thread.
I left my Dad's house Monday morning at 8am and drove through the Kancamangus Highway to meet up with Turbowagon in Silver Lake, NH. Joe and I had a great visit and I got to see his new home, his basement shop, and some of his really good looking pens! Joe has his CA finish down but said it takes him a long time so I started describing my method. Next thing you know, Joe has talked me into showing him on his lathe!
After that demo, we drove up to Conway and Joe bought my lunch at a great restaurant and we got to chat for a while. On the way to the restaurant, Joe pulled over to show me a nice lake with a good photo op. Unfortunately, the weather was not real nice but we still got a few good pics.
I was supposed to be back in Manchester, NH by 1:30 to pick up my mom at the airport but she had called earlier and said she had missed her flight from Tennessee due to traffic. No problem at all! That just gave me more time. I took a look at a map and realized that I was only 60 or so miles from Old Orchard Beach, Maine where Leap lives so I gave Phil a call and low and behold, he had the day off. I hopped in the car and took off for Maine, arriving around 4:30. Phil was a great guy and I got to see his shop and his super huge air compressor! Man, that thing could air up a blimp! Phil and I talked shop for an our or so and then it was off back to Manchester, NH to pick up my mom at the airport.
Before I left Phil's house, I realized that he lived about 2 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Having never been to the Atlantic that far north, I just had to make a quick detour! Got to make a quick walk o the beach and then it was off, driving way too fast to pick up my mom!
After picking up my mom and getting to have dinner with her, I checked in to Super 8 for a short night sleep before hopping on the plane at 6:30 am this morning. My flight connected in Chicago Midway and if you saw the news, you know that Chicago had some REALLY bad weather. Fortunately, I think I beat most of it as we only had to be in a holding pattern for 45 minutes or so. Man was it bumpy up there! We landed and thankfully, my connection to Austin was also circling so I did not miss that flight. I hopped on the plan and we made it out right before the worst of the storm hit. Thank God! I heard on the news that around 300 flights were canceled or significantly delayed after we left in the Chicago area so I just barely made it out.
Got home this afternoon to my loving wife and 4.5 year old daughter who really missed her daddy! It was a great trip, I got to meet a total of 9 IAP members and got to spend some wonderful one on one time with my dad. Now it is back to the real world!
The IAP members I was able to meet:
Gin-n-tonic
Wolftat
Greggas
Rchan63
HSTurning
Greenmtguy
ThomJ
Turbowagon
LEAP
Thank you all for your wonderful hospitality and for showing me a great time! It was wonderful to finally put faces with some of the names I have know here for a while. If any of you guys are ever in Texas, please let me know so I can reciprocate!
Turbowagon and I at the scenic lake
Crossing into Maine
The Atlantic Ocean in Old Orchard Beach, ME
I left my Dad's house Monday morning at 8am and drove through the Kancamangus Highway to meet up with Turbowagon in Silver Lake, NH. Joe and I had a great visit and I got to see his new home, his basement shop, and some of his really good looking pens! Joe has his CA finish down but said it takes him a long time so I started describing my method. Next thing you know, Joe has talked me into showing him on his lathe!
After that demo, we drove up to Conway and Joe bought my lunch at a great restaurant and we got to chat for a while. On the way to the restaurant, Joe pulled over to show me a nice lake with a good photo op. Unfortunately, the weather was not real nice but we still got a few good pics.
I was supposed to be back in Manchester, NH by 1:30 to pick up my mom at the airport but she had called earlier and said she had missed her flight from Tennessee due to traffic. No problem at all! That just gave me more time. I took a look at a map and realized that I was only 60 or so miles from Old Orchard Beach, Maine where Leap lives so I gave Phil a call and low and behold, he had the day off. I hopped in the car and took off for Maine, arriving around 4:30. Phil was a great guy and I got to see his shop and his super huge air compressor! Man, that thing could air up a blimp! Phil and I talked shop for an our or so and then it was off back to Manchester, NH to pick up my mom at the airport.
Before I left Phil's house, I realized that he lived about 2 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Having never been to the Atlantic that far north, I just had to make a quick detour! Got to make a quick walk o the beach and then it was off, driving way too fast to pick up my mom!
After picking up my mom and getting to have dinner with her, I checked in to Super 8 for a short night sleep before hopping on the plane at 6:30 am this morning. My flight connected in Chicago Midway and if you saw the news, you know that Chicago had some REALLY bad weather. Fortunately, I think I beat most of it as we only had to be in a holding pattern for 45 minutes or so. Man was it bumpy up there! We landed and thankfully, my connection to Austin was also circling so I did not miss that flight. I hopped on the plan and we made it out right before the worst of the storm hit. Thank God! I heard on the news that around 300 flights were canceled or significantly delayed after we left in the Chicago area so I just barely made it out.
Got home this afternoon to my loving wife and 4.5 year old daughter who really missed her daddy! It was a great trip, I got to meet a total of 9 IAP members and got to spend some wonderful one on one time with my dad. Now it is back to the real world!
The IAP members I was able to meet:
Gin-n-tonic
Wolftat
Greggas
Rchan63
HSTurning
Greenmtguy
ThomJ
Turbowagon
LEAP
Thank you all for your wonderful hospitality and for showing me a great time! It was wonderful to finally put faces with some of the names I have know here for a while. If any of you guys are ever in Texas, please let me know so I can reciprocate!
Turbowagon and I at the scenic lake
Crossing into Maine
The Atlantic Ocean in Old Orchard Beach, ME
Attachments
Last edited: