Greenville Seaplane Splash and Bash 2019 Style.
Greenville Seaplane Splash and Bash 2019 Style.
Greenville has always been wild and scenic. Afterall it hugs the southern Moosehead lake shore, home to bears, Canada Lynx, bald eagles, American martin, loons and not-to-forget, moose, the lake’s namesake. Further, once a year it’s also the temporary home for hundreds of pilots who love landing airplanes in the pristine lake waters and taking in the incredible scenery. A tradition since 1973, the Greenville International Seaplane Fly-In is the not-to-miss event of the Northeast. In fact, from 5-8 September it was my alternate universe. https://www.seaplanefly-in.org/
Arriving at the Greenville airport (3B1),
I landed my Super Seawind on the 1401’ elevation runway 32 and I pulled up next to a Lake Renegade and parked it on the grass near the intersection of the 3001’ runway 3/21. As my turbine engine wound down pilots soon began to assemble to ask all sorts of questions about my kit-built amphibian. After shut down, I answered questions the best I could while pitching my one-man mountain tent. Farm from any city lights I anticipated it would be a dark night so I scrambled to put the tent together. What became clear to me like a fresh warm breeze playing with my tent was the overwhelming friendliness, not just pilots, but of everyone I met. Here I was greeted with handshakes and welcomes. It was a far more friendly place than my origin in Bedford MA where people I’ve known for months even years didn’t come close to these consistently happy faces. One man, an RV camper there, gave me the keys to his pick-up truck and said; “go to town for dinner and take as long as you wish.” I had to pinch myself; I had entered an alternate universe. This was the Maine I remembered.
Tent pitched I couldn’t resist a hearty meal.
I jumped in my new friend’s the truck, switched on the lights and I headed down a hilly road for Greenville’s well known “Hungry Moose” restaurant. On the way I reflected that no moose is a match for my appetite now. Entering, the place was packed. It was buzzing with conversations. People were laughing, smiling and engaged. With no reservation and not a single empty seat even at the bar, I felt it would be a long wait, but no. A hostess greeted me and led me to the top floor where one of the two waitresses working there greeted me immediately. With only one other table occupied, it was like having my own devoted waitress. In a few minutes and smiling easily she had my order and before I knew it dinner was on the table. This was clearly not Boston. Why wouldn’t anyone want to live here? I mused.
Leaving the “Moose” now unhungry, I sauntered through town along the shore. Except for food and drink establishments it appeared to be all but rolled up – and quiet. I guess I had forgotten that a town center could be quiet, old, and scenic all-in-one. Back at the airport with the truck behind me it was about a five-minute walk to my tent. Looking above, my astounding ceiling now was the Milky Way with its billion stars and a billion other brethren galaxies glowing across a cloudless sky each with their own billion stars made me breathless. I felt so tiny against this immense and infinite world. I’ve experienced this before, but I couldn’t remember when. Too many city lights had obscured my night sky memories. I crawled into my sleeping bag and drifted off wondering what the next day would bring. It was long before dawn when the eerie calls of loons awakened me. It sounded like a thought I should pay attention to: You’re in Greenville Maine man. You made it!
ALSO READ MY AMAZING SUPER SEAWIND FLIGHT TO GREENVILLE’S 2019 SEAPLANE SPLASH AND BASH FROM BEDFORD MASS