Diamond
Point Swift Weekend
July 6-8, Sequim, WA., Diamond Point Airport (2WA1)
(Some photos you can click on for larger versions...)
Flight out
of Independence Oregon consisted of Don Thompson, Tom Numelin,
Scott and Sandy Naumann, and Jack & Lois Lindley. Don
had gone to Aurora, Oregon to pick up a passenger, Katie
Stanley, newly 16 year old daughter of George Stanley who
has just purchased a Swift from the southern states. The
Swift was in Aurora where George and Kyle Hook along with
Charlie Hopkins flew together up to Diamond Point. Don Batholomew
from Nevada, Wally Boeck from Rancho Murieta, California
and Gerry Hampton joined up with the Independence group
on Friday for the flight to Diamond Point. Thursday night
early birds, Tom Numelin, Scott and Sandy, and Jack &
Lois flew into Independence for a little pre party good
time. The trip to Diamond Point was uneventful (that is
a good thing) with the arrival finding some winds and turbulence.
The winds increased throughout the day and the weather was
very cool. The California contingent (where it is 110 degrees)
ran to get into long pants and long sleeves.
Friday nite bar b q was hamburgers and hotdogs, keg o beer
and wine. Due to the wind there wasn’t any real flying going
on but a good time was had by all. Saturday dawned foggy
and cold. Where is the wind when you need it. The fog stuck
around until about 1:00 PM when they were able to get a
fly out going to Concrete, near Mt Baker where Mr Jack Mears
( a non Swift owner but admirer) hosted us with some superbly
restored classic and antique aircraft in several large hangers.
Saturday evening, we had the famous Diamond Point seafood
bar b q including Halibut & Salmon provided by Swifter/Fishermen
Darrell Fowler and John Johnson. The food was delicious
and was followed by Rick Scott doing his thing ( to the
delight of all – we missed him at Westover last year) in
his copper red silk scarf pig tail wig raffling off great
donated items and pulling door prize tickets
Rick
Scott (left) drove in, 9 hours, because he couldn’t fly
into the US without his passport which was taking a side
trip to Russia. He will be delivering an airplane there
and needed a visa to get into Russia so his passport is
enjoying a cold vodka and round trip with out him –I’ll
bet we hear more about this at Westover.
Guido Perla
made a special presentation to Harley Howell (right) --apparently
when they
were at Sun N Fun the young man was escorted to Hooters,
a camera was present- da dum, Harley was given a special
T-shirt commemorating the evening with a series of candid
shots forever emblazoned across his chest.
Katie
(left) celebrated her 16th Birthday, so Friday and Saturday
nites she was serenaded by the entire group much to her
delight .
During the raffle drawings Lois Lindley (right) won a donated
T-6 ride (John Johnson’s
bird) and because
they had to leave early the following day and could not
make the ride, she donated the ride to Katie. Thank you
for the wonderful gesture Lois.
24 Swifts were
present on the field Friday night with a grand total of
27 by Saturday evening. To the best of recollection the
following Swifters were present: From California: Dick &
Jeanie Collins, Jack & Lois Lindley, Wally Boeck, Bill
Gass, Tom Numelin, Scott & Sandy Naumann, and Gerry
Hampton, from Nevada: Don Bartholomew, from Canada: our
three International visitors Rick Scott, and Bill &
Eileen Findlay. Keith Lassen & girlfriend Sonja timed
a driving tour from Florida to visit local family members
and spend the weekend with us, from Oregon: George Stanley
& his daughter Katie, Don & Annie Thompson, Kent
Koester & Mora Dewey, from Washington: Charlie &
Phyllis Hopkins, Kyle Hook & Beckie Bernard, Ozzie Nelson,
Harley Howell (the 3rd), Guido & Karen Perla, Bill &
Elizabeth Duncan, and of course our Diamond Point Swifters
– Bill & Dot Shepherd, John & Susie Johnson, Terry
McCartney, Tom & Stella Richardson, Gerry Mahoney and
Jean Takahashi, Ernie & Penny Hansen, George & Pat
Panker, Sam & Liz Klippert, Gary & Claudia Eklund,
and Larry Reece. Lou Kuffel flew in for a quick visit on
Sunday. I hope this covers everyone, if we missed you it
was not intentional.
Bill Gass (left) showed up dragging his Swift on a trailer
so Gerry Mahoney could finish the 180
Lycoming installation so he can be closer to being airborne
again – is it possible Bill will fly-in to Westover in 2008?
The
accommodations were superb as always with homeowners on
the field and in the neighborhood hosting all the out of
towners. This is a truly great group of people. You know
it doesn’t get dark up there until about 11:00 at nite so
most of us didn’t turn in till late , it was hard to believe
it was so late when it was still light out and the sun comes
up about 4:45, nites are short up there.
A huge THANK YOU
to all the Diamond Point Swifters and the entire neighborhood.
The hospitality could not be beat and these folks worked
hard to make it so easy to be there. Thank you again.
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