Ol' Gar, Gitchur Umbrella out!

[GAHorn]

[flyguy]

UNBRELLIAS U MEEN. NAW WE AINT GONNA GIT IT LIKE WE DID WITH RITA BUT WE ALREADY HAVE HUGE TRAFFIC JAMS AND THE SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARE OVER-RUN WITH CRAZIES TRYHIN TO ESCAPE OLE GUSTAV! iT IS PROMISING TO BE MUCH STRONGER AT LANDFALL THAN KATRINA WAS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING DEAD AIM ON THE BIG EASY- NOW MORE COMMONLY CALLED "LITTLER EASY" ! AFTER TUESDAY IT WILL PROBABLY BE CALLED "GONE EASY".

Y'ALL SAY A PRAYER FOR US

=====================================================================================================

[flyguy]

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE - - IT IS 1500 LCL AND IT HAS JUST NOW STARTED TO SPRINKLE A LITTLE RAIN. WE ARE HOPEFUL WITH LOOKING AT THE RAPID DEGENERATION OF STRENGTH AND INTENSITY THAT GUSTAV ISN'T GOING TO BE QUITE AS BAD AS RITA WAS. I HAVE NOT TALKED TOR RON SINCE THE EYE MADE LANDFALL JUST WEST OF HOUMA. HE DECIDED TO TOUGH OUT THE STORM AT HOME. THEIR HOUSE IS VERY WELL BUILT AND HAS WEATHERED ALL PREVIOUS STORMS WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE.

A POWER OUTAGE IS LIKELY SO IF IT DOES GO OUT THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN WE WILL BE BACK ON LINE - - MOST OF THE POWER COMPANY LINEMAN AND EQUIPMENT IS STAGED CLOSER TO THE LANDFALL AREAS TO HELP RESTORE POWER THERE FIRST.

LATER OL' GAR

[flyguy]

OK GANG

IT IS 2000HRS AND WE STILL HAVE POWER. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MODERATE SHOWERS AND LIGHT WIND GUSTS. NOAA WEATHER ADVISES US THAT GUSTAV WILL STILL BE A FAIRLY INTENSE "TROPICAL" STORM FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL. WE ARE REALLY OKAY WITH THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN BECAUSE WE NEED THIS LAKE FILLED UP TO FULL POOL. JUST HOPING THE GUSTS REMAIN BELOW 50MPH

RON MASSICOT CALLED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO WITH A REPORT THAT THEY SURVIVED THE "GUS". SOME DAMAGE TO THE DOORS ON HIS HANGER WHICH CAUSE SOME DAMAGE TO HIS 170. I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THEY WERE PHYSICALLY OKAY AND NO MORE DAMAGE THAN HE REPORTED TO ME..... THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE E-MAILED AND CALLED

THE CHANCE THAT WE WILL HAVE ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE MORNING IS PRETTY SLIM BUT IF WE DO I WILL UPDATE YOU ALL ON OUR STATUS.

SIGNING OFF AND WAITING GAR

[jlwild]

GOSH GAR,

NOW I WILL HAVE TO CHANGE MY FLIGHT PLAN I WAS PLANNING TO GET GEORGE AND BRING A LOAD OF SAINT PAULEY BEER TO YOUR PLACE IN ZWOLLE, LA. NOW, I WILL HAVE TO REFILE, LEAVE GEORGE AT HOME, AND TAKE THE BEER AND SPARE PLANE PARTS OVER TO RON'S

Actually, we are glad to hear you and Deana are making out OK. Just hope Ron and Connie's 's damages are not too bad. And, Ron, let me know when the airport is open in Lafayette, or your grass strip, and I will be on my way with the goodies
Let us know, and I am sure the TEXAS 170 group can also fly in to help you out.

Jim

[GAHorn]

Looks like old Gustav has turned NORTH instead of hitting Zwolle! Ol' Gar and I talked about an hour ago and he said he had beer and a generator so he oughta be OK.

Ron, sorry to hear your spnner, cowl, and prop got hit by the hangar door. I know a hangar door injinier if you need one! I hear he's got lots of speriance with air. Hot, mostly.

Gar, looks like you may have to postpone your trip east tomorrow to get that piano since Gustav has headed north and may drop most of it's rain on your path. Sorry it looks like it might not re-fill Lake Toledo Bend after all.

[flyguy]

Wow what a 'LETDOWN' The "EYE" went by (poem) about midnite with a whimper. I estimate max wi9nd gusts might have been 35-40k AND WE DIN'T HAVE ENUFA RAIN TO RUN A TRICKLE DOWN THU DRIVEWAY.

Really we are so much more fortunate than those who live further east and south. Our power went off around 2130 and just came back on about noon. We have had no damage, only a few limbs and sticks laying around. Ron called about 0900 this morning with a report that the sun was shining and that he was ready to go out and start cleaning up.

Thanks all for the calls and e-mails - -

[n3833v]

I am glad you fared out very well. Now you can consentrate on pickn up those little twiggies that are strewn around without get your head all wet. Glad your OK.

John

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

So what your saying Gar is this storm shouldn't have any effect on your ability to get your 170 ready for next years convention. I'm glad to hear that.

[GAHorn]

I am glad you fared out very well. Now you can consentrate on pickn up those little twiggies that are strewn around without get your head all wet. Glad your OK.

John

He ain't gonna get his head wet.... but hesa been wunderin' whut's causing alll thet ringin' in his ears!

[flyguy]

WUDJA KWIT PUTIN THAT GOOFY PIKCHUR ON HYEAR????

I WUZ JUS FRYIN TURK AN HADA SIT BY TU MAKE SHUR THE DRIZZLE DINT COOL DOUN MA GREECE TU MUCH AN I DINT HAV A LIL UMBRELLYA FER MA BEER SO I HAFTA DRINK IT FAST FORE IT GOTS DYLUTED. . .BTW THIS PIC IS WHAT THE "FINISHED" PRODUCT LOOKED LIKE

WX UPDATE: WELL Y'ALL LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE IN FOR ANOTHER ROUND - - AND I DON'T MEAN "SET-EM UP JOE" ROUND OF SUDS. WE ARE LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF "IKE". IF "PROJECTED" FORECASTS COME CLOSE TO REALITY, THIS SUCKER MAY HIT THE LOUISIANA COAST BETWEEN N-O AND SABINE PASS. WE ARE KINDA HOPING IT WILL IT WILL FIZZLE OUT OR GO WAY WEST AND RUFFLE UP TEXAS. . . IF IT TURNS NORTH AROUND LAKE CHARLES WE MAY GET SLAMMED WITH SOMETHING LIKE "RITA" OR WORSE. I AM PLANNING ON DOING THE "BATTEN DOWN " THING TOMORROW AND THE "HUNKER DOWN" THING SATURDAY.

[GAHorn]

Talk about a couple a' TURKEYS! (BOTH of 'em F R I E D !)

[flyguy]

WE MAY BE IN FOR IT AGAIN BUT THIS LITTLE GRAPHIC SHOWS IKE GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE H EART OF TEXAS, LOOK OUT GEORGE YOU MAY GET DROWNED!

[GAHorn]

Current radar (Updates every time you look at this msg):

[170C]

Ole Gar, you best find that # 2 wash tub to put over your head for tonight & Sat as I don't think that little bowl you have will do you much good with IKE on the way Seriously, I hope you make it through this thing OK. Let us know how you are after it is over