The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Well, as a graduation present, I gave Tryston the title to her car and suggested she get it registered and insured. She graduated in 3.5 yrs. Of course she got married last year, so that's it, one down. Teryn finished her first semester at Tech and Dakota (10th) had a good football season. He's huge. He's also had an excellent hunting season. Traci got a new vehicle (the shuttle van is gone) for Christmas, so she's happy for awhile.

Over the last couple of years, I've become real good friends with a man who owns a lot of hunting properties all over the river bottom. The Petit Jean River Bottom and directly across the Arkansas River from Petit Jeans grave. I'm like the property manager, always on the tractor, mowing, spraying, planting food plots, building stands or blinds, and he just bought a bulldozer and skidster. Like I wasn't busy enough. Kyle I've never seen quality swamp/farmland like this. A lot of it is a Cypress Tree Swamp where artist have done paintings and photographers and film crews visit. Not only is it beautiful but where saturday morning duck hunting shows are made. Oh my goodness! Well it's no more than a 10 min flight, from KRUE, to all the properties so you know what my first priority was. Yep I have about 10 more strips. The 170 is used, a lot, for duck counts, scouting, and aireals. When we flood some of the 25 duck holes, we monitor water levels from the plane. It feels good to finally realize my destiny, Forest Gump of the Duck Swamp. If you're looking for me, fly straight down Petit Jean runway 3, continue 30 degs for about 2.62 miles (Google Earth). You can see those fingers of Cypress Swamp, just north of the Arkansas River. By the way, we'd like to get on some pheasant hunting somewhere between Kansas and South Dakota next season.

Fly-in announcement: when I get home, in a few weeks, we're flying to Gaston's, getting a cabin and fishing for world record brown trout. If anyone wants to join us, we'll consider it a Fly-IN.

I'll also be flying to Pollack, Lousiana, to visit another buddy who owns the hanger I've been in for 9 yrs. Looks like I'm going to get the hanger, he's in prison there and doesn't need it any longer. Pollack is located 75 miles east of Zwolle, La (Zwolle Tamallies)! ! ! I'll probably have some time after I'm done in Pollack (75 miles east of Zwolle and Toleda Bend). Probably be hungry and thirsty too!

Yes someday we'll host IT again!

EWE JUS LEMME NO AN THE OLE SMOKER WILL BE FIRE UP AN SUM RIBS ER BRISKIT WILL BE SMOKIN AN THE FRIGE IS JES ARMS REECH AWAY. I HAFTA CHEK AN SEE IF GAY HORN LEF EENY BEER

LOOK LIKE IN ARKYSAW URE GONNA GET ALASKY WX NEX FEW DAYS U NEED TU GITCHER SEF DOUN HYEAR AN HEP ME RAKE LEAFS THATS STILL FALIN.

That worked like a charm! Got a pm advizing me on a South Dakota pheasant hunt and get to go see that mythical 170 in Gars shed. Traci text that we have 2 inches of snow, on the ground, and the world has come to a stop. Play day tomorrow! Still havn't gotten a new GPS - would buy the Garmin 500, for $800, if someone would tell me it's a good one. Also ready to give the SPOT away, which I never activated, or put it in the auction.

I like my Garmin Aera 510... don't know if I'll ever subscribe to the XM radio/wx or not...but the little GPS unit is nice.
I may have to come supervise the beer consumption when you get near Zwolle!

Dave, glad to hear from you! Sounds like you've been livin' good, but busy. Amazing how fast those kids are growing and leaving.

And that farm country you've become the caretaker of sounds neat. Am sure we've flown right over that departing Petit Jean.

I'll do some digging and PM you on some possible SD pheasant thoughts. Been a few years since I"ve been to SD, but my sister has been hunting there regularly and has some contacts.

I too like the 510. I've kept the weather package active. Surprising how much we do use it even in the pickup and while on hunting trips.