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 | Monday, September 10, 2001
Today was yet another great day of people and flying. We departed Muskogee for our first stop, Fort Worth, Meacham Field a little later than planned. Fortunately, we had a tail wind that improved our speed over the ground (something rather rare for a west-bound journey) so we were able to make up all of the time.
We made it to Fort Worth in a little bit less than three hours. There, we were met by a nice group of well-wishers, including a man and his young daughter who had flown to the airport in their own airplane just to see us. We re-fueled at Fort Worth Jet Center; of course the Avian does not take jet fuel, but rather aviation gasoline, that more like what is used in cars. The Jet Center is located in one of American Airlines very first hangars, so it was an added bonus for us to have lunch there, which they graciously provided. When we were leaving we tried to pay for our gas and oil but they refused to take any money. They couldn?t have been nicer all the way ?round. Texas is great!
On we went, heading for Hobbs, New Mexico. Because the wind was blowing us along by and extra ten to fifteen miles an hour, we were able to make an extra unplanned stop to rest and buy some more gas. The name of the town we stopped in was Snyder, Texas at the Scurry County Airport. The man at the airport called the local newspaper and the reporter was there in less than ten minutes. We had our pictures taken and talked a bit, then left for Hobbs.
Texas is a very interesting state, and a big one too as we all know. In Fort Worth I noticed the area was greener and obviously had more moisture than the areas I later passed over heading westward. As we flew west, the ground began to rise and it becoming more arid, almost like the high desert in Winnemucca, Nevada were I grew up. Every so often I would see oil wells and lots of huge of circles of green where the irrigation systems were doing their work. Despite the bumpy air, which Amelia had also experienced, I flew lower than usual for a while (500 to 1,000 feet above the ground) enjoying the beautiful scenery. Yes, I think there is beauty in everything natural, even dry bush country.
Over West Texas, Amelia lost her map, which was whisked out of her lap by the wind as she was flying along. Guess what? Right along Amelia?s route, my map blew out of my hands too, right over the side of the airplane, just like happened to Amelia!
When I arrived in Hobbs, I was cleared by the control tower to make a low approach, called a ?fly-by? over the runway for the large crowd that was waiting. I must say I never expected to see so many people there - there must have been between 300 and 500. When I taxied up in front of the terminal I was surrounded. I received four bouquets of flowers, Mayor Bob Wallach gave me the keys to the city and read a proclamation declaring this Amelia Earhart Day in Hobbs. We had cake and punch and lots of fun. There was even a group of school children that had been studying Amelia Earhart and came to see me in their school bus. I also noted at least a dozen students from Hobbs High School who were sketching the Avian for a class art project. I then sat down and signed autographs for about two hours.
We also met another person, Bingham Beal, who was there when Amelia landed (he was just five then) and he autographed the wing of my airplane for me. As I mentioned yesterday, this is a little tradition we have started on the trip. We are asking anyone who was there when Amelia landed the first time, to sign the wing of the plane.
After the airport ceremony, Jim Collins in his 1929 Model A Boatail Speedster drove me down Main Street. How great it was to see exactly where Amelia landed and to have Jim driving me in his beautiful vintage car!
The Hobbs paper has been running stories all week. You can find them on the web at www.HobbsNews.com if you want to see. They helped find a descendent of the original family that hosted Amelia in Hobbs, Mike and Pam Chesher, who graciously invited to stay at their house which is very much in keeping with re-living Amelia's flight. Before we retired we had a lovely dinner at the home of the Dr. and Mrs. William Braswell family, starting with an egg sandwich just what Amelia ate her first night in Hobbs. Well I must get to sleep. Good night from Hobbs, New Mexico, a wonderful place to be!
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