From: "tonytex" <tonytex@cox.net>

Hi Guys,

For today's Big Bear Fly-In, which initially no one had an interest in, turned out pretty good. We ended up with 13 people in a mix of five very different planes. An RV3, C337, Duke, C182 and a C172.

Dennis Cullum flew his RV3 from Brown Field. The other four planes came from Gillespie Field. Bob Werve, Don McManus, Jim McGarvie and Jim Caughey in a C337; John Hammerstrand, his son John Jr and girfriend Courdney in a Duke; Steve Kennedy and William in a C182; and Jeff & Betty Cary and me in a C172.

The weather was severe clear in San Diego and the temps were just starting to get a little toasty, around mid-eighties. And en route weather was CAVU. Same at Big Bear except the temps were nice and cool in the upper sixties.

Thelma's Restaurant was crowded as usual, but we managed to get two table together outside in the patio. The brunch was good, but due to the crowd, the service was a bit on the slow side. I think Dennis noted we waited almost an hour.

As usual, over brunch we solved the world problems during our hangar flying chatter.

Everyone departed around noon and scattered, each going their own route back home. Some went East over the desert and then South, and others flew West to the dam and South. The winds at Big Bear kicked up a little with 12-15 knot crosswinds and it got a little bumpy going downhill from Big Bear to San Diego.

All in all, it was a fun Sunday brunch with fellow aviators.

Dennis took some pictures at the restaurant and will get them to our Web Master, Chris Claborne, who will get them up on our website shortly.

Next Fly-In is on Sunday, Oct 12 and we'll be flying to Catalina, the "Airport In The Sky", where we can munch on Buffalo Burgers at the airport restaurant.

Best of clear skies and tailwinds,

Tony Tex