Bubba's Garage

Universal Islands of Adventure

2012-01-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

While the Wizarding World of Harry Potter may be the most popular “Island” at Universal Island it isn’t the only one at Universal Orlando. Each of the six Islands has its own theme and totally different feel. You enter through the Port of Entry which is basically a bunch of shops which are decorated like an old marketplace and work your way in a circular movement to each of the Islands.

Depending on your direction of travel, the first Island you come to, Seuss Landing, is the most colorful in the park. Based off of the writings of Dr. Seuss, this was also our favorite Island and the only area were we actually road a ride more than once. Which ride? The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! of course. Okay, we are getting old.

The next Island going counter clockwise is The Lost Continent. This Island is very detailed. We spent a good bit of time here just exploring the scenery. We also had a decent lunch at Mythos Restaurant where they have table service. The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show is located on this Island as well as Poseidon’s Fury; both good shows. For some silly reason this area also has the one thing that really got stuck in my head and that is the sound of the Mystic Fountain when it is asleep. “snore…glug..glug..glug..glug”

Fighting for the title of most dated area of the Islands is Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon. Jurassic Park has some fun learning areas in Camp Jurassic and Jurassic Park Discovery Center. We even played with the hands-on exhibits and watched a baby dinosaur hatch. I guess Toon Lagoon wins the award because, if you are under 50, you probably won’t know any of the cartoon characters! I am a bit of a throwback to old times so at 45, I knew most of them but I did have to tell Peg about 75% of the characters’ names. Toon Lagoon is basically a mini water park and, since we didn’t want to get wet, we didn’t ride anything here. We did run around on “Me Ship, The Olive".”

Marvel Super Hero Island probably has the best rides out of all the Islands. Here is were you will find The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, and our favorite, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.

By staying onsite at one of the property hotels, we were able to use the Express Plus lanes for almost no waiting during this slow season trip. Combine this with the hour early opening and we really enjoyed ourselves. I would highly recommend in late January to early February.

Universal Islands of Adventure – Harry Potter

2012-01-11T17:31:00.000-05:00

We took a mini-vacation down at Universal Orlando during the off-season. Between January and February there are minimal crowds during the week and by staying at one of the onsite Resorts you can even add to your enjoyment with the early entry into Islands of Adventure. Of course once at the park, we made a bee-line straight for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

By arriving early, we had no trouble getting around. In fact, there were very few people during that first hour. This allowed us to enjoy all the spectacular scenery. The first attraction we went to was Ollivanders Wand Shop. This cute five minute show uses a young wizard chosen from the audience. After some wimpy effects the young wizard has a wand choose them. I wouldn’t stand too long in line for this one but it is fun.

It was then off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the castle tour. Unfortunately, I am too big to ride the Forbidden Journey but even touring the castle was fantastic. The tour is actually a separate line you take inside the castle. Just ask for it when you enter. The level of detail that they put into the queue is well appreciated. Take your time and listen to the story. The bickering paintings were amazing!

Nobody was in line for the for the Flight of the Hippogriff so we strolled right through the entrance. This kiddie coaster includes a few little interesting design elements including Hagrid’s Cabin. Back on the main street we headed to The Three Broomsticks for some breakfast. We had made reservations but because it was slow they were letting anyone in. The food is okay but the atmosphere is what you go there for. Look up in the rafters and you may get a glimpse of a house elf or an owl in the shadows. Next door is the Hog’s Head Pub which is the best place to buy that much sought after Butter Beer. Yum! Watch for the snorting hog’s head. We hit the candy store at Honeydukes for some Sherbet Lemon Drops. Right next door is Zonko’s Joke Shop where I picked up a Screamer Yo-Yo.

Across the street, next to Olivanders, is the Owl Post. Here owls wait to pickup messages for delivery. The rafters are quite messy as the designers have added a level of realism that probably could have been left out. It’s good for a chuckle. Be sure to check out all the windows during your stay in Hogsmeade and don’t be scared if you hear Myrtle sobbing in the restroom. The level of detail for WWoHP is over the top.

One thing that was a bit of a disappointment is the size of the Wizarding World. There are rumors that they will be expanding it but even with a breakfast break we were done in less than a couple of hours. Off season and early entry are the best way to do it! WWoHP is only one island at the Islands of Adventure so it isn’t its own park.

Brookside Gardens - The Garden of Lights

2011-12-31T19:58:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite things to do is driving to see Christmas Lights but nothing beats being able to walk through a Garden of Lights. If you are anywhere near Washington, DC during the winter holiday season you should make your way over to Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD for their Winter Garden Walk. The entry fee to enjoy the Christmas lights is just $25 for a car full of your best friends. The lights start at 5:30pm but you can come early and enjoy the trains in the conservatory and then purchase your ticket inside. By arriving at 4:00pm we were able to stroll leisurely around the flowers until it got dark. You will get great parking this way and avoid the traffic as well.

The Maryland Garden Railway Society has a large “G” scale display in the conservatory. The trains weave in and out of different flowering plants. From the Brookside Gardens website:

“This year’s plantings will include a few edible plants like chard and hot peppers which offer colorful leaves and fruits. Flowering plants from warmer regions of the world will include red-flowered Cestrum, Bouganvillea, blue and white Browallia (bell flower), and several flowering Salvias (sages). These and familiar Poinsettias are accented by the chartreuse and soft lime foliage of Monterrey Cypress and ‘Limelight’ licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare).”

Oh, and a few exotics are blooming inside such as this Bird of Paradise.

Sipping on a cup of hot chocolate or cider and walking through all the displays is a great way to spend a couple of hours. The displays tend to be outdoor themed such as flowers, insects, or animals, but there are a few fantasy creatures such as a momma sea serpent and her baby. Animated birds flying, squirrels chasing each other up trees, and flying bees are just a few of the great displays scattered around the gardens. Take your time and be sure to look everywhere or you may miss something.

The park does a very good job spreading everything out so the crowds can move. You can even find a few quiet spots that are very romantic. Between all the the trains, the colors of all the lights, and the cute animations, we would have to say this is one of our favorite places in the DC area for Christmas.

Enjoying Christmas

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

“Do you know how silly you look?” was what some old dude said to me after I had my photo taken with the Dancin’ Ranson Cow early one morning at the Ranson Chick-fil-A. I just politely smiled because I knew he was just jealous that he no longer had the ability to ignore what others think and just enjoy life. As long as it doesn’t interfere with others enjoyment, I am quick to act silly and you should too. There are way too many serious things to weigh you down in life that you should seize every opportunity to counteract them with a great big dose of goofiness. Take timeout to jump out of your car and pose with the Christmas lights, or even Santa Cow if it makes you happy!

Zingerman’s Bacon of the Month Club

2011-12-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Travolta said it best, “Bacon tastes good!” There is no better gift than to get a subscription to Bacon of the Month club by Zingerman’s. We received our first installment and instantly commenced to frying it up in a pan. Once a month Zingerman’s will send you around a pound of a different artisan bacon. Your bacon is accompanied by recipes, a history of the bacon, a great little binder, and even a pig magnet. We were more than happy after chowing down on a pan full of Applewood Smoked Bacon. It’s not cheap but Bubba’s Garage definitely endorses this product!

Gaylord National’s ICE! – Merry Madagascar

2011-12-11T17:47:00.001-05:00

We are always looking for something to do around the Washington DC area and last Saturday we drove over to the National Harbor to experience ICE! at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center. National Harbor is easy to find right off of I-95 in Oxen Hill, MD. We purchased our tickets online as well as discounted parking ($10 online or $21 at the garage). The price of the tickets provided an “ouch” moment; not cheap at all. Tickets for adults are $35 each on the weekends. They are only $25 if you go during the week.

We decided to go to the National Harbor early to grab some lunch and do a little Christmas shopping. This was our first trip to the National Harbor and I have to say I was a little disappointed in the selection of shopping stores that were available. There were also some craft vendors selling but nothing interested us. Peg did manage to buy some Mike and Ikes at the Peeps store. At least there was a better selection of restaurants.

Since we had some time to kill, we went inside the Gaylord to check out the decorations. Everything was done up well and very festive looking. Poinsettias were everywhere and many Christmas trees were scattered about. If you wanted to, you could build a gingerbread house or visit with the characters of Dreamworks. Well, that is if you wanted to pony up more cash. The Gingerbread House kit package was $49.95 and you have to stay at the resort for the meet and greet at $150 per person!

Over in the actual ICE! area there are a few more things to do. You can ice skate in the small rink for $12, take 3 laps around the Christmas tree on the Potomac Express train for $2, or get your photo taken with some penguin characters from the Madagascar movies for even more money. Are you sensing a theme yet?

So after queuing up for a short time you are ushered in to a small theater room where you get to watch a short Merry Madagascar promo which also proclaims “Available for purchase on DVD” and then a more interesting bit of the behind the scenes making of the ice sculptures. From the ICE! website:

ICE! is created by dozens of artisans who will migrate to the D.C. area from Harbin, China to craft this elaborate attraction out of nearly 2 million pounds of ice. It takes them nearly an entire month of 12-hour shifts to transform the refrigerated tent where the exhibit is held into a remarkable icy wonderland.

Then you queue up once again to get your blue parka before you enter the 9 degree freezer. It is truly amazing to see what these artists can do with a block of ice. All the bright colors and lights kept us smiling the whole time we were in the deep freeze.

Bonus time! About halfway through the ice sculptures is a giant ice slide. Peg decided to give it a try and exited all giggly after her ride. I watched a couple people get stuck which gave me more chuckles. They do warn you to sit on you parka so you don’t get stuck! The whole ICE! tour took us only about 20 minutes; it’s not that big. After exiting, there is one last push to sell you more stuff as you must exit through the gift store.

We did enjoy our time at the National Harbor and the Gaylord National. Was it worth the price? Probably not but at least we can say we are doing our part to stimulate the economy. The only real bad thing is now I can’t get Vanilla Ice out of my brain, “Ice, Ice, Baby!”

Video - Feeding the Fish at Broadway on the Beach

2011-11-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite things to do at Broadway on the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC is to feed the fish. This huge population of carp is fattened by all the tourists who plunk down a quarter in the vending machines to grab a handful of fish kibble. All these mouths making sucking sounds that must be saying, “Feed me Bubba. Feed me!”

VJKU3KAJ7ENX

Road Trip – Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Shop

2011-11-14T07:57:00.000-05:00

Peg received a call from one of her PEZhead friends that Mr. Ed’s in Orrtanna, PA had just been stocked with the new Presidents set from PEZ. Since I don’t mind cruising Rt. 30, I grabbed my trusty iPhone for some snapshots and we were off. To illustrate how serious (crazy?) Peg is about her PEZ collecting, just remember that this is a 150 mile round trip for PEZ that will eventually be at our local Wal-Mart! But, Mr. Ed’s is a great place to pick up any current releases of PEZ and a fun little place to stop.

Both inside and out, Mr. Ed’s has all kinds of quirky elephant collectibles scattered about. It is a great place to act a little “nuts” and pose with the props. They have a great selection of candies including some hard to find varieties that were once popular in the past.

Since we were already on Rt. 30, you know we are going to swing by Desert Flower Wholesale. Just west of Gettysburg, PA, the shop has quite literary tons of concrete statues for sale and is open to the public. While the outside is remarkable with its variety of castings, you must wander inside for a colorful treat. This small building is just packed from floor to ceiling with all manner of trinkets. The place feels magical with all it glass orbs floating about the ceiling. Their selection of Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead art is second to none and I just wish I had more room in my house because I would have bought many of the items.

PEZ in the Sun 2011–Myrtle Beach, SC

2011-10-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

The PEZ in the Sun Gathering, which is held each year in Myrtle Beach, SC, is one of our favorite stops each year. It is held late enough in the season that the beach isn’t crowded and early enough so that it is still warm enough to enjoy. The spectacular view from our room at the Springmaid Beach Resort forces us to get up every morning early enough to watch the sun rise.

We like to do different things each year while in Myrtle but there are a few things that are still a must for us. The first is a trip to Bubba’s Fish Shack for some seafood and hushpuppies. Broadway at the Beach is also on our short list of must do things. Peg always hunts for quarters so she can feed the fish. All those slurping mouths are really gross! For this trip, she was feeling particularly silly and decided to make a monkey at the Build-a-Bear Workshop. She says his name is “Marvin the Love Monkey.” She actually squealed when she saw that the Ben and Jerry’s shop had “Schweddy Balls” ice cream since she has been looking for it for months. Movies, Shopping, Amusements, and great places to eat (try Amici’s Bistro) all can be found at BATB.

New at Myrtle Beach this year is the SkyWheel. Richie and Mary, the hosts of PEZ in the Sun, organized a trip to ride the huge Ferris wheel. Located at the start of the boardwalk, the SkyWheel is 200 feet high and has 42 climate controlled gondolas. Since we had well over 15 PEZheads making the trip we received a sizeable discount. Peg is extremely scared of heights (I hear Richie is as well) but she was a trooper and did it anyways. After the first couple times around she settled down and actually enjoyed the views. Well, as long as I didn’t move at all and rock the gondola. At night, bright color changing LEDs put on a great display that can be seen for miles. Hanging out at fun events like these is really what keeps us collecting PEZ.

We will probably keep going back to PEZ in the Sun every year that they have it because it is so much fun.

Road Trip – Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC

2011-10-27T21:11:00.000-04:00

We are always looking for things to do while we are in Myrtle Beach and this time around we decided to head on over to Brookgreen Gardens. Located just a few miles south of Myrtle Beach off of Highway 17, the gardens are a great escape from the usual touristy vibe of Myrtle. Even though it was at the end of the season, we found enough flowers and plants to keep us happy.

The trails are well laid out (pick up a map at the welcome center) which makes all the displays inviting. A small boardwalk runs next to the rice fields and leads to the animals of the Lowcountry Zoo. I would recommend some mosquito repellant if you don’t want to feed the locals. You can also take a excursion boat ride on their 48-foot pontoon boat.

All of the native animals in the Lowcountry Zoo were either bred and raised in captivity or were obtained from a wildlife rehabilitation center after sustaining a major disability due to injury. The chickens are very inquisitive when you drop your lens cap into their pen. Don’t ask how I know. Also, the fox squirrels around here are HUGE! Be careful of the snakes; we saw two during our visit.

One great thing about going to these places in the off season is that you can relax and be your crazy self.

From the Brookgreen Gardens Website:

Brookgreen Gardens, the first public sculpture garden in America, has in its collection more than 1,400 works by over 350 sculptors. Exhibited within the gardens is the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the country, by sculptors who worked from the early nineteenth century to the present. Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historical Landmark, and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

The combination of art, gardens, and wildlife is sure to put a smile on your face.

Renninger’s Market and PEZylvania 5

2011-10-16T19:39:00.000-04:00

Peg and I piled into the Fiat and made our way to one of our favorite events of the year on Saturday. The PA Purple Cow hosts a free gathering of PEZ collectors each year which they call “PEZylvania”. You can find most of the current releases of PEZ and many vintage PEZ at the Purple Cow’s large shop inside Renninger’s Market in Kutztown, PA. But, the big draw during PEZylvania are all the PEZ vendors stuffed into the meeting room.

We always seem to spend more than we think we are going to at this event. If you run low on cash you can try the ATM but I wouldn’t count on it having enough for bills everyone. Almost all sales will be cash only but a few vendors will take a check; no one takes credit cards. Often you can find vendors here selling the hard to find European varieties of PEZ but their rarity state side raises the prices. Don’t be afraid to try and bargain to a better price especially with the vintage items. If you need some guidance on pricing we would recommend picking up John Laspina’s PEZ pricing guide. John also has a great selection of vintage PEZ at fair prices. He tends to be able to part us with our hard earned cash easier than most other dealers for some reason.

But the real reason we love making the 3 hour trip is visiting the farmers’ market side of the building. Oh sure, Renningers is a great place for collectibles but the farmers’ market is to die for! The farmers’ market has been running at this location since 1955 and it wasn’t until much later in 1975 that the antiques market was started. You can find several butchers, a good group of bakers, veggies, fruit, spices, etc., etc., here for you to purchase from and all of their good are top shelf. Peg’s poor little Fiat’s boot was stuffed when we left for home.

A Short Stop at the Strasburg Railroad

2011-10-15T12:24:00.000-04:00

Sometimes your timing is just off. We arrived too late to do much at the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, PA. and we really didn’t want to spend a bunch of cash. But, that didn’t stop us from enjoying the free stuff! You can walk around the train station and look at all the old stuff that is waiting for restoration. If you wait around long enough you will probably see the steam train pull into the station. You can purchase tickets to ride the train but we were short on cash so we just enjoyed snap a few photos. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is across the street and requires a small admission fee but you can see some old locomotives from the street.

Road Trip – Lititz, PA and Wilbur Chocolate

2011-10-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

When driving through Lancaster County looking for something to do, we often take a side trip to the little town of Lititz, PA. This charming town is located a few miles north of Rt. 30 on Rt. 501. Traffic can be a little heavy so take your time and smell the flowers.

There are a number of great shops and places to eat in Lititz but what we normally go for is a chance to visit Wilbur Chocolate. The company started back in 1884 under the name of “H. O. Wilbur & Sons” in Philadelphia, PA. The company’s current name, “Wilbur Chocolate Company”, was adopted back in 1958. While you can’t actually tour the chocolate factory, you can visit the candy store and see the Candy Americana Museum. The small museum houses over 1000 varieties of molds, tins, and boxes and admission is free. There is also a candy kitchen were you can watch handmade candies being crafted. The candy store is located directly below the candy factory so the smells are awesome!

Road Trip – Bloomery Plantation Distillery

2011-10-14T10:25:00.001-04:00

Hidden between the Shenandoah River and Charles Town, WV on Rt. 9 is a quaint little establishment known as the Bloomery Plantation Distillery. The mini distillery, which makes a handful of wonderful cordials, is housed in the restored 1840 slave quarters of the former Willowdale Plantation. In 1870, the building was expanded to its current six room configuration. The board and baton siding was originally salvaged from C&O canal boats.

The distillery’s farm sits on 12 acres of land. You can find both lemons and raspberries growing here.

The hosts are quite friendly and willing to share the history of the land. Their “cellos” are very tasty (Lemon Ice is our favorite) and samples are available on Fridays and Saturdays. While probably not a destination trip, we do recommend stopping if you are in the neighborhood.

2011 Mudtoberfest Mud Bog

2011-10-09T21:47:00.001-04:00

The final Mud Bog race of the season for the WV Mud Hunters was held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on Saturday. These guys and gals know how to host an awesome event. It’s a family friendly good time.

We headed out a little early so we could walk around the pits and chat with friends.

Soon I was in position in the mud flinging area to take some photos. How come no one else was around me? Well, it might have been the fact that if you were anywhere near me you were under constant attack by large mud balls. I was doing pirouettes as the trucks passed to shield the camera! Hopefully there aren’t any videos of me dancing.

There was great mud racing all afternoon. The variety of classes allowed for slower stockers and fast modifieds.

The track crew did a great job at grooming the track. The mud pit was just about perfect.

Broken rigs can sometimes lead to some great entertainment. After this Jeep threw a driveshaft the search was on to find it in the mud. A spectator in the crowd said she had a metal detector app on her phone and decided to jump in the mud to help. The crowd was waiting for a face-plant into the mud but everyone survived.

A little bit of a scare happened when one of the unlimited racers lost control of his vehicle and flipped it at the end of the track. Luckily, the driver was not hurt. The Jeep didn’t fair as well.

After all that mud there is only one good way to clean up. Find a friendly neighborhood firefighter with a fire hose!

We totally enjoyed ourselves and plan on attending more events next year. You can check out more of our photos over on our BG Customs photo site.

GoGo Pony put out to Pasture

2011-09-26T05:36:00.000-04:00

Our 2006 Ford Mustang GT convertible was purchased in December of 2005 for the Hot Rod Power Tour. We modified it with all kinds of speed goodies. I have driven it to speeds in excess of 120 mph but never once received a ticket. It was loud and bright. It did take us on two Hot Rod Power tours, won several trophies, and was the cause of numerous sunburns. I revved the engine one last time before handing over the keys. Now, it belongs to someone else. Hope they enjoy it.

Video – 2011 Dulles Day Pizza Eating Contest

2011-09-25T22:25:00.000-04:00

We were on hand to cheer for our fellow co-worker Eltahir “Captain Slow” Eltahir, at the Dulles Day Festival during the Pizza Eating Contest sponsored by Famous Famiglia. Captain Slow’s slow and steady pace was enough to earn him third place by devouring 9 large slices of pizza in ten minutes.

Video – 2011 Dulles Plane Pull – Team FGM

2011-09-25T20:29:00.000-04:00

Team FGM competes at the Dulles Plane Pull

2011-09-25T19:46:00.001-04:00

Peg and I joined Team FGM to compete at the Dulles Plane Pull charity event for Special Olympics Virginia on Saturday. This great event is held each year at the Dulles International Airport.

There were numerous aircraft on display as well as airport maintenance equipment and firefighting gear.

There was also a car show being held on the airfield. Both modern and vintage vehicles were represented.

The highlight of the day was the actual pulling of an 82-ton FedEx Airbus A310! Each team of up to 25 people competed to pull the plane 12 feet in the quickest time.

Team FGM, employees and friends of FGM, Inc. which is headquartered in Reston, VA, scored a respectable time of 13.125 seconds. Not too bad for our first time out.

Fastest Pulls:
1st Place- Chesapeake Sheriff's Office (7.493)
2nd Place- Fairfax Sheriff's Office (7.900)
3rd Place- NNSY (9.099)

Representing Team FGM in the pizza eating contest was Eltahir aka “Captain Slow”. His slow and steady pace earned him third place for eating 9 large slices of pizza in 10 minutes.

Everyone seemed to have a great time at the Dulles Plane Pull and we raised lots of money for Special Olympics.

A few more aircraft photos can be viewed over on our photo pages over at photos.bgcustoms.biz

Chopper Moving - Fun at Work

2011-09-20T18:57:00.001-04:00

Today we did something a little different at work. Rick and I had to pack up the company chopper and get it ready for transport. This wasn’t an easy thing to do since it has been displayed on the 4th floor of the company headquarters for the last couple of years. Making matters worse was the fact that it doesn’t fit on the elevator with its front forks attached. We had to remove the frontend and then reassemble it on the first floor. After some grunting and pulling we managed to get it loaded.

From FGM, Inc.’s website -

FGM will be donating its custom chopper to the American Freedom Foundation at the 8th Annual American Freedom Festival being held in Fairfax, VA at the GMU Patriot Center on November 12, 2011. Currently displayed in the lobby of FGM’s Reston location, the 2005 Venom ProStreet blue and silver chopper was built from a Big Bear Choppers motorcycle kit by employees in honor of the company’s former president Bob Feeley, and has become a proud symbol of team building and hard work for the organization.

The Bubba Bus has been retired

2011-09-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

After almost 11 years of service we have finally retired our 2001 Yukon XL 2500. We ordered The Bubba Bus in November of 2000 from the factory with the 8.1L motor and the towing package. For many years it served as the tow vehicle for our Jeeping trips. It was also the party vehicle for fish camp and neighborhood Christmas caroling. It hauled many home renovation supplies in its spacious cargo area and later in life served as the transportation vehicle for Peg’s jewelry business. The Bubba Bus will be missed.

2011 Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Airshow

2011-09-18T08:53:00.000-04:00

Before the tragic event that cut short the 2011 Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Airshow, the show was a great experience. This year we decided to spring for the VIP tickets and the show organizers really did make us feel like VIPs. We had great parking on base, seats right on the flight line, and awesome food to snack on. If the show returns we will definitely be going this route again. I say “if” because there is some doubt whether or not it will be held again due to the crash that took the life of one of the performers. It would be a shame to lose such a great community event.

An early morning rain kept many away from the show which made walking around the field easier. But, the haze and gray skies made photographing everything very difficult.

A good number of static displayed aircraft were on hand to photograph and get an up close look including the 167th Airlift Wing’s C-5 Galaxies, a C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, and many other smaller planes.

The Hobby Hangar guys put on a great show with their RC aircraft.

Peg had good timing as she shot this photo of a parachutist during the opening ceremonies.

John Klatt took to the skies in his Panzl 330 aerobatic aircraft.

Jerry Wells always entertains us when he is flying his 1930’s Bucker Jungmeister.

Charlie Schwenker was tearing up the clouds in his Extra 300 monoplane.

Who doesn’t like the sight of a P-51 Mustang flying low in the sky? Scott Yoak was flying “Quick Silver” over the airfield.

Neil Darnell took an exhibition pass in his 12,000 horsepower 375mph Air National Guard Flash Fire Jet Truck.

Paul Jennings was flying his 1993 Swift S-1 glider.

The Trojan Horseman Flight Demonstration Team flew six T-28 Warbirds. The radial engines on these planes make a sound that makes you smile.

You can find a few more photos over on our photo website: BG Customs Photos.

T-28 Warbird plane crashes at Thunder Over the Blue Ridge

2011-09-18T08:32:00.001-04:00

Tragedy struck the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show that was held on Saturday at the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV. The pilot of the T-28 Warbird, who was part of the Trojan Horsemen Flight Demonstration Team, died from the crash. An eerie silence fell over the crowd after the accident. People cried and hugged in an attempt to comfort each other. The sharp contrast between the shear joy of watching these awesome aircraft fly to the sudden sadness of witnessing the death of a pilot will not soon be forgotten by us. Life is too short; enjoy every day.

Photo of the pilot and aircraft that was lost on Saturday.

The Trojan Horsemen Flight Demonstration Team is a magnificent sight.

Seconds before the crash, the pilot performs a crossing maneuver with another aircraft.

The fiery aftermath of the crash.

Road Trip–Jefferson Pastry Shoppe

2011-09-10T11:53:00.000-04:00

Our road trips sometime start as a craving. Our craving this week? Doughnuts! But, we didn’t just want a big chain doughnut. A quick internet search led us to the Jefferson Pastry Shoppe. Located at 3738 Jefferson Pike in Jefferson, MD, the Shoppe isn’t much to look at on the outside but it is what is on the inside that really counts. We loaded up on a dozen fantastic doughnuts, a half dozen of delicious cookies, and a couple of “just okay” flatbreads. If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth you should definitely try this place out.

3rd Annual Charles Town Car Show

2011-09-04T19:59:00.001-04:00

We took time out on Saturday from doing chores to visit with friends and enjoy the Charles Town Car Show. This is the 3rd year that Charles Town, WV has shut down the main streets for this event. It is real neat to have the vintage cars parked along the historic city. One of these years we will have to enter one of our rides. Check out more of our photos over at our BG Customs photo site.