, 1925-01-21

us that arrangements were complete
In Iceland. and for US 10 start. So
we stayed in Brough and continued
working on the planes.
Our long delay here near Hull
was an interesting experience. al
though of course we were worried
about the weather In the arctic and
extremely anxious to get started be-
for the ice might make It impossible
o fly by way of Greenland. We
were put in the country all the time.
The breezes blowing from the North
sea were full of ozone and a superb
tonic after our experiences in south
ern Asia. The food was the kind
you read about in books that tell
OF, the delicate flavor of English
keepers 'ye olde steak and kidney
pie wonderful Scottish marmalade
for breakfast, and cuts right off the
joint for lunch and dinner. In the
poetic words of Les Arnold, hot
bozo, but It was eood.' In fact we
enjoyed being at Brough so thor.
oughly that outside of the one trip
that each of us made TO London we
had no desire to so anywhere until
word arrived for US to fly on to the
Orkneys.
Airplsne Builder Gives Party.
Late on the afternoon OF July "a
we were driven TO the home Of Mr.. |
Robert Blackburn. head of the air.
plane factory where We were doing
our work This was on the put.
skirts OF the city of Leeds. some
forty miles away. Leeds is a city
larger than San Francisco. and an
other OF England's mighty industrial
centers. Gen. Branker, the air Vice
marshal of England, arrived at the
airdome just as we were leaving and
accompanied us. This little holiday |
gave US a glimpse into the life of
h wealthy English country gentle.
man Of whom we had heard so
much. Nor is there any doubt but
what they really do know how to get
a lot OF enjoyment I. OF life.
Mr. B~lsckburn's homo was a
vast. rambling English country man
sion with large. haIl.liks rooms,
coy dens, an aviary. and a conserv.
atory. II had once been a noble. |
mans castle with high walls around. |
On the grounds were kennels for the
packs of dogs used in fox hunting. |
There were garages for our hosts |
fleet OF cars. And most Interesting
of all. were the old stables, still in
use. where you put in your. horses
and then locked He-t up so that no
Robin Hood or Friar Tuck can spirit
them away.
There wers at least twenty
guests. and after dinner there was
dancing and a thoroughly delightful
evening. Every stopped for the
night. but in such a large house
there was plenty of room for all
the guests.
Planes I'm Perfect Shape.
"On u way back to the plant
next morning we drove through the
ancient city of York. prowled around
its quaint streets for u bit. climbed
it's crumbling. moss covered walls,
and saw the glorious York cathedral.
which is one OF the sights every
tourist wants TO see. When we
finally got back to the Blackburn
factory we donned our overalls
again and worked until 9 that night
to make up for a little lost time.
Saturday and Sunday. July rs
and "a. we worked until late at
night also. We were trying to put
II planes in the most perfect con.
dition possible without in any way
rebuilding them. We were anxious.
Of course, to return to California
with the same Douglas cruisers in
which we had set out. Then on
the 2sth several OF us went to Hull.
past the very spot where the III
fated Zeppelin fell into the river
when thirty-flve American and Brit