It’s happened three times now!! I hope you can see the RV aspect of this report.
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (2019)
During our move from Amarillo (AMA) to Idaho Falls (IDA), the wife and I decided to camp in Durango, Colorado. The Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad goes right through the campground. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from Southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized they could ride into the remote, scenic wilderness and high-mountain landscape of Colorado’s San Juan National Forest. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock. We chose to ride the Alamosa parlor car that has tiny individual tables and chairs. I was sporting a new logo Vans Aircraft ball cap. On the way up to Silverton, I heard the young lady sitting literally inches behind me say “Should we inquire about the Van’s hat?” I turned around and asked if they were familiar with Vans Aircraft. The response surprised and astounded me. The young couple said they had flown to Durango in the RV-8! ....and were building a second RV-10. That lead to RV discussions while we enjoyed the ride and the scenery. What are the chances? Well, pretty good it would seem. Read on….
JOSEPH OREGON VACATION (2023)
While on vacation at Wallowa Lake State Park near Joseph, Oregon, the wife and I visited the local farmers/flea/craft/market event. Again, sporting a Vans Aircraft ball cap, I heard a lady say “What kind of RV do you have?” Since we were camping, I thought she was asking about my travel trailer. Nope, she and her husband own a Vans RV-7A. She encouraged us to drive to JSY airport and visit her husband and the RV. He’s here on VAF.
DENVER RTB (2026)
When returning home from burying my sister, my first United flight was delayed and I missed my connecting flight in Denver. While using ground transportation, my wife and I helped another couple load their skis and luggage into the hotel shuttle. We later encounter the couple in the hotel restaurant and struck up a casual conversation. I don’t remember how the conversation came around to building airplanes, but again I engaged with a random stranger that is building a kitplane! This time he was building a Sonex, which with the recent news is unfortunate.
Moral of the story? LOGO UP! VAF hats, Vans sport shirts. (Donate to Doug R for VAF) You never will know if that person right next to you is building an airplane too and you need to talk to them.
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (2019)
During our move from Amarillo (AMA) to Idaho Falls (IDA), the wife and I decided to camp in Durango, Colorado. The Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad goes right through the campground. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from Southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized they could ride into the remote, scenic wilderness and high-mountain landscape of Colorado’s San Juan National Forest. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind vintage steam locomotives and rolling stock. We chose to ride the Alamosa parlor car that has tiny individual tables and chairs. I was sporting a new logo Vans Aircraft ball cap. On the way up to Silverton, I heard the young lady sitting literally inches behind me say “Should we inquire about the Van’s hat?” I turned around and asked if they were familiar with Vans Aircraft. The response surprised and astounded me. The young couple said they had flown to Durango in the RV-8! ....and were building a second RV-10. That lead to RV discussions while we enjoyed the ride and the scenery. What are the chances? Well, pretty good it would seem. Read on….
JOSEPH OREGON VACATION (2023)
While on vacation at Wallowa Lake State Park near Joseph, Oregon, the wife and I visited the local farmers/flea/craft/market event. Again, sporting a Vans Aircraft ball cap, I heard a lady say “What kind of RV do you have?” Since we were camping, I thought she was asking about my travel trailer. Nope, she and her husband own a Vans RV-7A. She encouraged us to drive to JSY airport and visit her husband and the RV. He’s here on VAF.
DENVER RTB (2026)
When returning home from burying my sister, my first United flight was delayed and I missed my connecting flight in Denver. While using ground transportation, my wife and I helped another couple load their skis and luggage into the hotel shuttle. We later encounter the couple in the hotel restaurant and struck up a casual conversation. I don’t remember how the conversation came around to building airplanes, but again I engaged with a random stranger that is building a kitplane! This time he was building a Sonex, which with the recent news is unfortunate.
Moral of the story? LOGO UP! VAF hats, Vans sport shirts. (Donate to Doug R for VAF) You never will know if that person right next to you is building an airplane too and you need to talk to them.
I have been semi famous at various times in my life and have had awkward encounters with people I didn't know while trying the entire time to figure out if I actually KNEW this person or not. Ask me some time about my 15-minute conversation with Dick Rutan when I was in Mojave wandering through his hangar at Advance Composites with the first two LongEZs he had built (a LONG time ago!). Being a pole holder for Sean D Tucker about the 4th year of his aerobatic touring career when he toured with one support person. (I have the certificate to prove it!) Or running into John Denver sitting alone in a park in Aspen......
