Lincoln 24/7

questions and answers

"i was up in one of these one time and we took the doors off. i wonder if these come off," bruce whispered to me.

"well, i have never been in one of these," I said as I buckled in. "but i figure you are going to ask."

of course he asked. but evidently cessna centurions aren't built to take the doors off. so bruce then asked if we could at least clean the windows before going up. i am finding out that bruce asks lots of questions. and despite the question, i am finding most people answer with a yes.

we were cruising down rt. 53 from tiffin back to upper sandusky. the light was stretching the silos' shadows across the green wheat fields. as we blurred past the fence rows, a sign caught my eye. WYANDOT AIRPORT was lettered on a faded and weatherd sign hanging cockeyed on a fencepost. we turned around and headed down a one lane road. the windsock on the aluminum pole barn told us we were there. as luck would have it, so were larry and his grand-nephews. larry was prepping his 1970-something cessna to take his three grand-nephews for a flight over upper sandusky.

"you think we can take a ride next?" bruce asked.

mind you, bruce has known larry all of about 4 minutes.

larry seemed a little surprised. he throught about it for a moment.

"i guess i can do that," larry replied.

mind you, larry has known bruce all of about 4 1/2 minutes.

i was watching through the camera screen as the airplane's shadow separated from the landing gear and drifted off into the green wheat field. i was sitting on the back bench. bruce was sitting shotgun with his long lens pressed against the window. for the next half hour we circled upper sandusky and central wyandot county. the sun was warm and low. from that vantage point rt. 30 looked like a chalk line marked across the state. and the on and off ramps for the new bypass around the town looked like someone had tied a bow in the line.

"can you fly over that farm again?" bruce aked over the whir of the propellor.

After a sharp bank that let the sun shine across the ceiling of the cabin, we flew back over a group of white barns and silos.

"can you do that one more time?" i heard him ask again.

as the shadow found its way back to the airplane and we came to a smooth touchdown, i unbuckled my seatbelt. we jumped out and thanked larry for his generosity. after we said our goodbyes we chased the remaining light until the sky turned dark, then headed toward lima.

we walked into the days inn in lima about 11:00. the monster truck and 4x4 jamboree is at the allen county fairgrounds this weekend, and the parking lot was full of suspension lifts and the rooms were full of budweiser.

"$70 for two guests," the lady behind the desk said.

"could you do it for $50?" bruce replied.

Posted by Todd Roeth at May 17, 2003 05:32 PM