On Saturday my neighbor Kim and I decided to try out the little cafe, Blue Skies, that we had read about in the local newspaper. The cafe is located in the terminal building of Greenwood Lake Airport. The airport has one runway and is mainly for small aircraft, and occasionally a Homeland Security helicopter. It is also the home of a long-out-of-service Lockheed Constellation (named the “Champagne Lady” or the “New Jersey Connie”), which is attached to the main terminal building. This plane has quite a history and if you’re interested in her back story you can read it here.

Right now she is housing the flight school offices, but we’ve heard rumors that they are going to turn her into a bar and have outside tables underneath her. I think it would be great, don’t you?

We sat at one of the two booths next to the window so we could watch the planes come and go. We had trouble deciding what to order because it all looked good to us. We both ended up with the Filet Mignon sandwich with grilled onions and cheese. Very tasty! There wasn’t much air traffic happening, but as we ate a beautiful little bright blue biplane landed and coasted to a stop right in front of our window. The owner of the plane came inside for lunch.

Now you’ve all heard me talk about my neighbor Kim and being “kim”-napped. She’s always getting me into something (what would I do without you, Kim?) and today was no exception. While I was getting cash from the ATM, she was busy at the counter asking if we could go onto the field and take a photo of the biplane. Now I did have my camera, but I hadn’t even thought about asking to take a photo of the biplane! However, I had to admit it was a good idea. Just as I heard the woman telling her it wasn’t allowed, the owner of the plane jumped up and said he’d go out there with us. As we were walking out, he continued on to say that not only could we take photos of the plane, he wanted us to actually climb in and have our photos taken.

I was hesitant but it didn’t take long for them to talk me into it. I mean, why not? He made sure we got in correctly and stepped on the wing in just the right spot. I needed longer legs but managed to climb into the tiny cockpit.

Here I am ready to roll!

Of course I had to make Kim get in too since she started the whole thing to begin with. For her photo he pulled out his mascot. (I think it’s Rocky from Rocky and Bullwinkle.)

There is a place for a passenger right in front of the pilot. He told us that if the weather was warmer (no canopy for the passenger) he’d take us up and do a roll. Whaaaat? No, no, I mumbled, not me! But, then again, you just never know what I might do ...

I am posting this for Kim who for some reason can’t post a comment because my blog won’t let her. We need to figure out why!
Here is her comment:

Kim says:
“Kim - Napped again!  Always an adventure…..
Did I tell you that while we were at the airport I
picked up some info. about sky diving?
Well, you said “you just never know what I might do”!
Another time…......”

hmm..after that comment from Kim need I say more???

Hah! my word verification is “girls”!

Haha you guys are such daredevils. I see that plane and another one like that flying around sometimes, pretty cool looking—WWII like. I’ve been flying in the small airplanes there for plenty of years now, and it’s really awesome—you should definately try!
As for skydiving, you better invite me!!! =]

Small airports are always so charming, but large airports are awful.

Filet mignon sandwich? YUM!!

What fun to not only read about the antics of Kim and Lynne, but to see a picture of both of you.  How come when I lived in West Milford Kim didn’t do anything quite this exciting?  I guess we were too wrapped up in playgroups and crafty stuff.

Below posted for Kim who still is unable to post a comment here:

Lori, at that time our children were all the
excitement we could handle, and that exhausted us!
Remember?!  Now - a - days, Lynne and I get Tennis
Elbow from playing tennis on her WII on “WII
Wednesday”!  Now, that’s excitement!—Kim