Plane Nerds on Sunday Minot ND
(rough copy)
Plane Nerds
As we wake up from our little afternoon “nap” we can hear big planes that are not commercial airlines that we would hear when visiting the city of Winnipeg Manitoba. These are the big United Stated Air Force Bombers flying out of the Air Force Base just north of Minot North Dakota. Living in Canada we would see and hear them when visiting relatives along the Canada-USA border but never seen any close up. After a quick shower we head out in the 37 Dodge and Naughty Natalie is driving because I’m the navigator with the Road Atlas. We find a gas station and top up the gas tank on the truck with money we set aside for gas and repairs on this trip. Always have to be organized, it creates less drama. At the gas station we ask the young kid pumping gas where is the best place to watch the planes. He marks a spot on the Road Atlas for us and says that is where the Plane Nerds hang out. Plane Nerds are people that are walking text books on planes but do not have much social life and usually live in the basement of their parents house even at the age of 30. Plus never had a girlfriend in their life because their mothers do not allow it. The young kid was very helpful and most likely enjoyed chatting with Naughty Natalie. We also need to eat and there was an American take out burger place just down the street, Naughty Natalie pulls the 37 Dodge in to the parking lot. Which turns out to have lots of hot rodders eating there too. These hot rodders are all smiling and waving as she parks the truck. I jump out to go inside to get the food while she entertains the hot rodders. My last words to her was “smile and wave” and she gave me a fake smile back. It did not take long to get the food and I was back at the truck which had a lot of people hanging around. Which I do not think it was for the truck but it was more like to see and admirer Naughty Natalie. She drives carefully out of the parking lot and gentle babies the 37 Dodge and I know she is mad because one of the hot rodders made a “blonde” comment. Now if we in Canada back in our home town, the 37 Dodge would have been driven hard out of the parking lot because she is mad. Driving hard relaxes her because she is in control. I just tell Naughty Natalie thank you for smiling and waving as we drive on which gets me another fake smile back.
The American take out food sure does smell good but we will eat when we get to the spot marked on the Road Atlas where the young kid at the gas station had marked. It did not take long to get to the spot because the Air Force Base is just north of Minot. It is a wide area on the side of the road so we pull off and park the truck. We have no idea where or what is going on but the food is waiting to be eaten. As we sit there on the running board of the 37 Dodge eating our food, a vehicle pulls in then another one. They park away from us and seem to know what they are doing in the way they angle park the vehicles as if to watch. We eat our food and watch them watch us. Naughty Natalie is still upset about the “blonde” comment. I told her it is a good thing you did not get out of the truck because it is their loss on not seeing the complete Naughty Natalie. Plus I told her to enjoy it now because when you are wearing Granny Panties and under wire bras, blonde comments will not be a problem. That made her smile and laugh because I cheered her up. Now that she is smiling we walk to chat with the people watching us watch them. As we get closer to the group we say hello and they reply back with welcome the United States of America. That caught us off guard because they were using a fancy camera to zoom in on the license plate on the 37 Dodge which is Manitoba Canada. That is when we knew they were the Plane Nerds. Now Naughty Natalie a little concerned at what else they were zooming in on which means “me”. With her sitting on the running board of the 37 Dodge in her tight painted on blue jean shorts, she was not sitting like a lady and keeping her legs together. She was sitting to relax and enjoy her self while eating a good American take out burger. I calmly told her it was a good thing she was wearing under wear tonight, that did make her smile.
We introduce ourselves and asked if they know what the planes are doing tonight. With that we seem to hit it off with this group of Plane Nerds. They talked one on one with Naughty Natalie and that she liked. As we chatted the big planes were returning to land at the Air Force Base and flew right over us. To feel the vibration and sounds from the big engines of the bombers is nothing we would ever see in Canada or in the movies that we have watched in the movie theaters because this is real life. The Plane Nerds seem to know everything that was going on in the skies and knew when the next plane was coming in and all the details of the plane too. This was all new to us and we were enjoying our selves. Between the planes we talked about life in Canada and they talked about life in the USA we were having a good time. Plane Nerds could not believe that we were 18 years old living on our own with full time jobs and spending the weekends traveling to get a way from work. In the USA everything starts happening for them after collage and being 21 years old makes them a legal adult. Naughty Natalie told them that we have to behave in the USA with no drinking, speeding or anything that might look or be wrong. She also tells them it is difficult for her not to drive the 37 Dodge “hard” in the USA because the truck is built for speed and fun. That impressed the Plane Nerds that a good looking woman would talk to them in a normal way.
With it getting late and we have had not much sleep we ask the Plane Nerds when will be the next big plane movement. They tell us 3am Monday morning lots of planes will take off and if the wind it correct they will fly right over us. Naughty Natalie says that will work out because if we get up to watch planes then drive back to Canada. We say good bye to the Plane Nerds and tell them we will be back at 3am Monday. Then we drive back to the motel not realizing it is almost midnight and we spent almost 7 hours with the Plane Nerds and enjoyed our selves because time went by quickly. I’m driving the 37 Dodge back in Minot and being very careful not to attract attention and have a State Trooper pull us over. It all worked out good and we park in front of our motel room. We quickly go inside the room before any of the hot rodders in the parking lot come over. They are driving beers and chatting about how faster their hot rods go and we want nothing to do with it. Once in the room we shut the lights out so they think we are asleep.
Sunday
We did fall asleep and enjoyed a good sleep because we needed it. The hot days and it being extra windy that we are not used to really drained the energy out of us. We are not really hungry so that will help in planning where to visit today since it is Sunday of the long weekend. Lots of places will be closed because Sunday is a family day plus people got to church. Going to church is something Naughty Natalie and I do not do in fear of the church burning down with all of our sins that mother has said we have done being young teenagers. We read the tourist info in the motel room and decide to go to the Minot zoo. We are not overly excited about going to the zoo because we have been to the Winnipeg zoo lots while growing up with school field trips. But going to the zoo will have food that we can eat because not all cafe’ are open on Sunday. I mark the location of the zoo and couple of museums on the Minot page of the Road Atlas. After a quick shower we head out in the 37 Dodge with Naughty Natalie driving because I’m the navigator. There seems to be no hot rodders at the motel which seems strange.
Driving through Minot on a Sunday is nice because no traffic so it is not hard on the 37 Dodge with stop and go. As I direct Naughty Natalie from the directions in the Road Atlas I’m not really paying attention to the surroundings or the traffic. She is staying focused on driving and the next thing we know a traffic cop standing the middle of the traffic intersection is motion Naughty Natalie to drive through a red light. This traffic cop is not taking no for answer from her hand signals back to him. Naughty Natalie pulls out and drives through the intersection following the left turn the traffic cop is telling her to do with hand signals. As we pass the traffic cop he is nothing but smiles and when we look straight a head there is a long line of hot rodders traveling down the road. The traffic cop thought we are part of the group and we are way behind. As Naughty Natalie and I look at each other and smile as the traffic cop passes us on his Harley Davidson Patrol Bike which an excellent sound from the exhaust pipes like the 37 Dodge. We both agree just to follow the long line of hot rods until I can figure on the road atlas which way to turn to get back on to our route to the zoo. Reading the Road Atlas while riding in the 37 Dodge with the front windshield cranked out for air conditioning is the same as being in a wind tunnel. Next to impossible to hold the pages flat and read the street names. Every corner we came up to that Naughty Natalie could turn to get us back on our route to the zoo had the traffic cop there directing traffic so the long line of hot rodders stayed as a group. Naughty Natalie was staying well behind the group because we were not part of the group. Then the traffic cop would hold all traffic up and motion her to speed up to catch up with the group. Once we passed through the intersection then the traffic cop would pass us on the Harley Davidson Patrol Bike to get a head of the group. Each time he went past the 37 Dodge there seemed to more harder acceleration from the bike which sounded so good.
Naughty Natalie and I both agreed it was pointless trying to break free from the group and we hoped they were going to the zoo but taking the long scenic drive along the river. Each intersection we came to the traffic cop was waiting on us to go through then he would pass us to get a head of the group. When the Road Atlas showed we were getting close to the zoo. Once we past the last intersection, the traffic cop just drove his Harley Davidson Patrol Bike beside the 37 Dodge so he could smile and wave at Naughty Natalie. Plus both of them were doing little quick accelerations just for the sound which sounded good. I’m sitting on the passenger side with the Road Atlas enjoying the ride. We arrived at the zoo and the traffic cop went a head to direct traffic so all the hot rodders could drive in to the parking lot as a group. When we pull up to the traffic cop, he is wanting us to turn in to the parking lot because he thinks we are part of the hot rodders. Naughty Natalie politely tells him we are not part of the group and want nothing to do with them. His quick reply was to drive ahead and turn at the second entrance to the parking lot to park in the shade. I guess the traffic cop seen how hot it was in the 37 Dodge. Naughty Natalie does what the traffic cop says and backs in to a parking spot in the shade which is so nice. We just get out of the 37 Dodge and the fresh air fells so good. Now we are deciding what to do next. The traffic cop pulls up with his Harley Davidson Patrol Bike and parks beside the 37 Dodge because he needs to enjoy the shade too. It is hot for him in the cop leathers and helmet and shade feels good. He tells us he is on his lunch break now and wanted to check out the 37 Dodge. Once the helmet and cop jacket were off the fellow was very nice and we enjoyed our visit with him. He liked the 37 Dodge and Naughty Natalie enjoy talking about his Harley Davidson Patrol Bike. I used to like motorcycles until I was in accident on one as a passenger since then I enjoy bikes from a distance for some reason. Visiting with the traffic cop made us miss the big crowd of hot rodders entering in to the zoo. When the lunch break was over for the traffic cop, we got to listen to his bike drive away then we headed to zoo. We paid our money to enter and went straight to get something to eat because we were starving. A quick trip to the zoo ended up being a long time if we knew it would have been this long then we would have stopped for lunch.
Once in the zoo we follow the little map they gave us when we paid to get in. We do not look like hot rodders because we are dressed the normal way we always do. The hot rodders all wear the make of the car being Ford, Chevy, Dodge shirts or their hot rod club shirts so they stick out in the crowd. When we walked around the zoo people would look at us because of the way we were dressed. They always enjoyed the view of looking at Naughty Natalie in those tight painted on blue jean shorts and white tank top with a bra. They must have thought I was her little brother that she had to drag along. The hot rodders from the motel would stop and talk to us and I always let Naughty Natalie talk with them. In my eyes she has been the only one talking with them since we arrived and staying at the motel. Naughty Natalie and I found that we spent a lot of time at each animal exhibits because they were so much better then the Winnipeg zoo. We are not sure where the afternoon went but it went by very quickly. About half way through the zoo we decided there would not be enough time to visit the museums on the list so we decide to just enjoy the zoo more. Plus we have to get up at 2am to go watch the planes with the Plane Nerds.
At the monkey cages they had benches to sit across from the cages but still room for people to walk past. We found it more fun to sit on the bench and watch the people go back and forth and interact with the monkeys in the cage. To watch this will make you understand that we evolved from the monkeys is very true. Naughty Natalie and I sat there for over an hour watching the way people interact with the monkeys. We found it to be very funny and more entertaining then watching TV. Of course we could pick out the smart monkey who would work the crowd of people. We thought the smart monkey was smarter then some the humans in the crowd that paid to watch him. Naughty Natalie made sure to sit on the bench as a lady in those tight painted on blue jean short in case some one was watching. When it was getting close to supper time and we had enjoyed enough of the zoo it was time to leave. The 37 Dodge being parked in the shade made a big difference when we opened the doors to get in. The heat inside the truck did not knock us over being extra hot. Naughty Natalie gets to drive because I have to be the navigator and it will be the quickest route back the motel since we took the extra long one to get to the zoo.
The only thing we have to do is find a pizza place on the way back to the motel room. Which was very easy to find and Naughty Natalie pulls the truck in to the parking lot. She goes in to order the pizza while I get out of the truck and sit on the running board enjoying the cool never ending wind that never stops. The wind feels so good after being in the 37 Dodge for such a short time. Naughty Natalie comes back outside after ordering the pizza and sits beside me to watch the traffic go by. Every time a hot rod would go past they would honk or wave so we just waved back. It did not seem long and the pizza place worker came out with our pizza because he wanted to look the 37 Dodge over. I just let Naughty Natalie show him the truck because I know he is not really looking at the truck because he is looking at her. After she gives him a quick showing of the 37 Dodge we leave the pizza place and she is driving. We did not make it more then a few blocks from the pizza place and there are flashing lights behind us which is not good.
Showtime – Planes
After enjoying the pizza we relax and enjoy the American TV stations on the TV. The American shows are aired in Canada and we watch them but a few things are changed because Canada is a different country. So to watch these shows and pick up the difference was a form of entertainment for us. We have a quick shower then go bed early because it is Sunday night of the long weekend and we told the Plane Nerds that will be there at 3am. I set the alarm clock for 2am and did not bother using the motel wake up call service because they don’t need to know what we are doing at 2am in the morning. Most people our age are just coming home for the party at the time of night and we are going out to learn and have fun. We have a hard time falling a sleep because the hot rodders are outside still partying like they have done since we arrived. When the alarms goes off and we have not problem waking up plus I am no longer a 14 year old “Virgin” just a 14 year old. As we get ready we eat the left over pizza for a so-called breakfast because we do not know what the plans are today. We are very quiet leaving the motel room and I drive the 37 Dodge as quietly as I can to leave the motel. Some of the hot rodders are still awake and partying and are waving and wanting us to join them. Naughty Natalie just waves back because she is sitting on the passenger side of the truck. The hot rodder are a little confused because the 14 year old “Virgin” is driving so they drink to that. We drive in to the darkness of the night as we leave the city of Minot ND, we can see planes in the sky. Plus driving the 37 Dodge now that the State Trooper had checked us over which will be entered in the “computer” and not flagged. If we not cooperative with the State Trooper earlier in the day and had drugs and alcohol in the truck but not enough to be charged with, then we would be red flagged in the “computer”. The mid 1980s was when computers were new and coming in to use. They could hold a lot of information for quick access like never before. It was making it harder for some of us to hide. Having a birth name of Bradley and everyone called me Joey, I was able to do high school very quickly because I did not want to be there. Bradley did classes and Joey did classes then when both had enough combined credits to graduate. The guidance counselor for each person got to meet each other to find out I was one person. A computer would have been able to cross reference the 2 names as 1 person. Then I would have had to been in high school for 3 complete years not the 2 years that I attended using 2 names.
The Plane Nerds are at the spot and we pull in to park with them. I get the 37 Dodge parked at the right angle for us to sit on the running boards to watch the planes take off. They are very surprised that their new Canadian friends have returned. When we tell them we can not leave because of the amount of money spent requires so many days staying in the USA. They did no know that. They ask what if we really had to go home? Then we would have to pay duty on the items purchased. Staying and enjoy North Dakota is cheaper and more fun. They quickly brief us on the plane activity and Naughty Natalie is asking questions and learning like me. The Plane Nerds say it is big exercise the United States Air Force are having so it is an excellent night to watch and learn. The big bomber are full power as they fly right over us and you can feel the vibration on your body because that is big power being used. Something we would never see or feel in Canada. The sound is unreal and we enjoy it because it is like the 37 Dodge when we drive it hard. The Plane Nerds tell us the bombers are fully loaded for this exercise as if it a real launch of planes in defense of the United States of America from the Soviet Union (USSR) and this is the Cold War. We grew up in Canada just north of Minot ND and always knew that if a Nuclear War was started we were ground zero. The Air Force Base here in Minot ND has nuclear missiles and the USSR would take out the nuclear missiles as their first targets. All we would see is a flash of light from the nuclear explosion which we are vaporized. The Plane Nerds tell us they grew up knowing that they would not even know if there was a flash of light because the nuclear missiles when hitting the air base would just vaporize them with no knowledge or warning.
Now we are sitting here on a nice summer night watching planes take off that could be the start of nuclear war because we do not know anything. The Soviet Union is watching too just like we are doing but have more knowledge then the Plane Nerds or the Plane Nerds are their spies. Naughty Natalie is wear her tight painted on blue jeans instead of shorts because she can sit comfortable on the running board of the 37 Dodge as we watch the planes. She says the last thing the Soviet Spies need to know is what colour my under wear is. The big refueling tankers are impressive on take off because these planes for fully loaded with fuel to refuel planes in the air. The sounds these tankers make we found to be more exciting then the bombers because these are the work horse of the fleet. We just sit on the running board and enjoy the show of power which is once in a life time for us. The fighter jets taking off are so boring because they are too fast and have no sound of power. Which is not our style. The Plane Nerds keep us informed on what is happening and if it was not for them it would be boring.
At 7am in the morning we decided to head back to the motel room and have nap because we have to drive back to Canada and get through Customs Office to get back in to Canada. We say good bye to the Plane Nerds and Naughty Natalie drive us back to town. At the motel we park in front of the room and everyone around the motel including the hot rodders are looking at in a weird way. We get out of the truck and everyone is watching. Not sure if it is because Naughty Natalie is wear pants in stead of shorts or the fact arriving back this early in the morning sober in stead of drunk. Naughty Natalie and I chat about the planes as we fall asleep which was a good sleep till noon. We have to check out of the motel room so the cleaning staff can clean but the room is not dirty because we kept it spotless. One final thing we do is make sure all paper work is in order so less delays in getting back in to Canada. Naughty Natalie has her suit case all packed and ready for the custom people to go looking through 1 piece of under wear at a time. We loaded up the 37 Dodge and stop at the motel office to check out and get the receipt for dad since it was his credit card that paid for the room. The owners of the motel give dad a big discount because we were so clean in the room and caused no problems for being such young kids. Naughty Natalie has to look at me and smile when the motel owner called us kids. I just smiled back because I’m not a “Virgin” but still 14 years old.
Nov 25 2020 -- Love is Trust Book 6th book