After an exhausting summit day—getting up at 3 a.m., driving seven hours, setting up camp, and reminiscing into the night with old and new friends—I slept like a newborn. The Florida heat was tempered by a gentle breeze, and my camper cot and sleeping bag felt like the Ritz-Carlton.
In years past, vendors would set up food trucks a few days in advance of the show to feed early birds like us. This year, however, no such luck. So Bill and I piled into his truck with our new best friends—Frank from Mobile and retired Spirit captain Steve—and set course for the nearest International House of Pancakes. We should not have been surprised, but there was a plethora of other campers there, easily identifiable by aviation ball caps and T-shirts. Conveniently, the IHOP was stationed next to a Walmart, where we could purchase items we’d forgotten to bring from home. Bill bought a towel so he could both shower and improve campsite air quality.
It being Sunday, the fly-in was still two days away. There was plenty going on, however. A mini city was being built by an army of employees and volunteers in everything from box trucks to golf carts. Workers were stringing wire and plumbing water everywhere. And, of course, there were more portable toilets than you could shake a stick at.
I made my way out to Homebuilt Camping (to insiders, simply “HBC”), where I met some early arrivals. Heidi, the HBC chairperson, had already set up the large HBC tent, which serves as dining room, living room, and pub for homebuilt aviators camping on site. It’s more than a place to congregate—it’s an instant family room for instant families.
It happens every year. A new homebuilder will land in their recently constructed craft, and the prop will not be stopped before three or four brethren are there to help tie down the airplane and set up the tent. Within the hour, the new family members are properly introduced and sharing a cool beverage. When the show ends, phone numbers and email addresses will be exchanged and—although it may not be until next year that they meet again in person—the new family members will not be forgotten.
I’m sure I’ll be visiting the HBC enclave many more times throughout the show, but the sun was setting and thoughts turned to dinner. Bill, Jerry, Tammy, and I ended up at the City Fish Grill for some oysters and shrimp and grits. Excellent. After such a great day, I ended up in the sack fairly early. Sleep came easily.
