Produce Run

I called The Great Barbeau yesterday afternoon to see if he could come out and play.  He answered with:  "I just checked the AWOS down at UZA.  It says the winds are variable at five. . .  I wonder if the smoothie machine is up and running at the Bush-N-Vine?"

When the weather is nice, biplane owners are easily persuaded.  As you can see in the photo above, yesterday was a busy day at the UPS Store.  Just a minor detail for Gary.  He was waiting in the parking lot when I arrived.  I wonder sometimes, if Gary's employees dread my phone calls.  They know that when I appear, there is a good chance Gary will be gone for the rest of the day.  It happens a lot.

For those of you who are unfamiliar; the Bush-N-Vine Produce Stand sits on the northwest corner of a picturesque grass airfield on the west side of a peach orchard in York, South Carolina.  It is a fifteen minute Hatz flight west of Jellystone Air Park, and a favored destination of the Jellystoners, especially during the summer, when the smoothie machine is cranking out ice cold strawberry, peach, or apple cider smoothies!  Since spring came early this year, the folks at the Bush-N-Vine have been picking strawberries since the second week of March---good news for a couple of thirsty pilots.  As you would expect, strawberry was the flavor of the day.  Gary had a small (Yvonne says he is the gayest straight man she has ever met) and I had a large.  We also picked up a gallon bucket of strawberries, and a dinner's worth of green beans and potatoes---about what will comfortably fit in the rather limited cargo compartment.

When we walked into the produce stand we were greeted by Sam Hall, who works in Marketing and Sales for the Bush-N-Vine.  He said they are holding their annual Strawberry Festival next month on April 28th (the week after the flour bombing competition at Pond Branch Airfield), and wondered if the Red Biplane would be available to do "loop-d-loops" for the crowds.  Then as an afterthought he asked:  "Do you guys know how to do "loop-d-loops?"  Gary's reply was:  "On purpose?"  The gal working the smoothie machine thought that was funny.  Gary doesn't know if he will be available that weekend.  My experience with "loop-d-loops" is fairly limited (except for landings) so I think I will defer to Brother Baker on this one.  I have Sam's number for you Joe.