"Wild Wings - Memorial Day Week-end - 2005"

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     Well, we broke another record this year!  There were 58 people who either drove or flew in to Carmen's Memorial Day Camp-out in The Dalles, Oregon at her landing strip!  The past record was 40.  Added to that 58 were 2 high speed fly-bys by Larry Charneski in his Mooney Ovation and Joe Franklin in his Barracuda.  Those that landed were Dan Beltrami in his Taylorcraft, Tom & Wendy Hart in their Cessna 150, Larry & Lynn Charneski in their Maul, John Hart in his Aeronca Chief and Richard & Roberta VanDyke along with their friend, Addie in their 182.  There were also 2 parasails that flew in on Saturday morning that included 3 people.  The brave souls that drove in included Julian & Eileen Graham and their 2 friends, Lou Parah and his son, Patrick, daughter-in-law, Debra, granddaughter, Taylor along with their neighbor, Nathan, Lou's roommate, Sharon, friend, Bette and her grandson, Kilyn. Also included were Carmen's airport neighbors Red, his wife, Ferne, his grandson, Mike, son, David and his girlfriend Bonnie.  More NWAAC members were Lyle Small, Jeff Vallee, his daughter Madison, Kurt Beckman and his girlfriend Debbie, Don Jefferies, Keith & David Blair, Larry & Faye Carmella, Shannon & Vanessa Nelson, Jim Breuer, Ted Gariety, Steve & Kim Teatro, Kathy & Glenn Siemer, Brian & Tammy Watkins, Betty Burke & Bruce Olson, Russ & Christy Cooper, Bob & Pat Sells and of course, Carmen.  

     This year had to be the best yet!  On Friday night we had a dozen "early birds."  Great group to start off the week-end!  They were Lyle Small, Jeff & Madison Vallee, Kurt Beckman & Debbie, Steve & Kim Teatro, Jim Breuer, Ted Gariety, Keith & David Blair & Carmen.  Early on Saturday morning, two parasails flew in, thanks to Carmen's neighbor Red.  What an awesome sight.  They only stayed 1/2 hour before they had to leave due to winds.  We were hoping for rides but no such luck!  The first plane in was Dan Beltrami's Taylorcraft, then came the 150, the Maul and finally the Chief.  Tom & Wendy Hart stayed the night with their 150 as did McMinnville NWAAC newcomer, John Hart with his Chief.  In fact, he stayed Saturday & Sunday night.  This was his very first camp out in his airplane.  He wrote a wonderful thank you letter and believe it or not, still likes all of us.  Keith & David Blair caught 3 rattlers this year.  They're getting really good at hunting them down.  On Sunday night, Steve Teatro brought his guitar and we all sat by the campfire & sang.  Bernie Sutton started the night going with his phenomenal voice.  Later, he included Jeff Vallee, Lyle Small, Lou Parah and Tom Hart as the new Rat Pak and they all sang some Dean Martin songs for us.  It's all on video tape.  Be sure to come to the next meeting to see the video.  We also had Kim Teatro with her singing debut.  What a fantastic voice and a wonderful girl.  She was great!  On Sunday at noon as planned, the guns came out and Brian Watkins graciously brought some extra guns, lots of ammo, clay pigeons and a clay pigeon launcher that slings them in the air.  It was really cool.  14 year old Nathan shot his first gun and loved it!  Jim Breuer put an extra couple landings on the treehouse deck with the help of John Hart & Nathan.  There will soon be real stairs to the treehouse......  Jim never quits working!  The indoor shower house was loved by all who used it.  We all know who to thank for that - Jim Breuer.  But, not to forget Roy Pierce who helped Carmen start the shower project to begin with!  Also a very special thanks to Lou Parah who was brave enough to bring it up to Wild Wings in the first place.  That was an adventure all in itself! Thanks Lou!  Carmen absolutely loved the new kitchen that was built by Jim, Ted & Lou.  Ted Gariety & Bernie Sutton constructed a water reservoir tower to make water replenishment easier for the shower.  Wonderful Rhonda McFadden made a beautiful Wild Wings sign that has now been erected on the SW side of the landing strip.  On Monday around 2:30 pm as things were winding down, the last airplane flew in.  It was Richard VanDyke with his wife and friend in their 182.  They stayed a couple hours as we watched what was a very strong east wind.  The wind died down a little but they still left with about an 8 knot tailwind and did a fantastic job.  Unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A good time was had by all and everyone said they couldn't wait until next year.  So, if you didn't make it - you missed the best one yet!  Thanks to all for coming - we had a blast!