LymeNet Flash: Riding in the Cockpit with "Muriel"

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » General Support » Riding in the Cockpit with "Muriel"

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Topic: Riding in the Cockpit with "Muriel"

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Grace Mcguire, a long time Lyme sufferer, would

like you all to know she will be taking her 1935

plane, a duplicate of Amelia Earhart's Lockheed

Electra L-10E on the road from New Jersey to

California to promote Lyme awareness and in

memory of all those who have died from Lyme

Disease. Please come out to meet her and

see "Muriel". She will be carrying the banners

of the Wilder Network and the John Drulle, MD

Memorial Lyme Fund with her along with a scroll

for folks along the way to add their deceased

loved ones to a permanent list she is compiling for display. Her plans aren't finalized yet but

she will be taking a southern route across the

country and stopping every night. More

information will be forthcoming here and on the

Wilder Network.

[ 27. July 2007, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Ranger1 ]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707

posted

Good morning Betty,

I am so pleased to see you have posted this information.

I wanted to get back with Grace, but her email requested only calls. (not something I like to do)

Anyway, yes, I would be more than willing to help with this project in any manner.

My best to you both,
Melanie

Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged |

5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935

posted

Hi Ranger

God Bless for doing this for lyme awareness. [kiss]

I can't be there but hope all goes well [group hug]

Dana

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5dana8

Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

That is really wonderful! I sure hope she comes to my area!!!

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

posted

Please let us know her itinerary when it is settled, so we can visit and also let the local media know. Maybe get some press coverage or tv time.

Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Lou,

Not a problem. She will appreciate the help in

getting the word out. She will be giving me and

the folks at the Wilder Network the specifics just

before she leaves. She still has some work to

do to get the plane ready for the road.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

bettyg
Unregistered

posted

Betty, how wonderful for Muriel and the LYME community. we are cheering her on on her personal triumph, etc.

great she has something for folks to sign on their loved one's deaths from lyme.

i look forward to hearing her flight plan since IOWA is more northerly than southerly!

BEST WISHES MURIEL for a safe round trip! [hi]

IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Grace is still readying Muriel for her cross

country trip but she would like me to give you a

rough itinerary. She will be leaving New Jersey

via the Route 95 and the Delaware Memorial

Bridge, continuing on 95 to Washington, D.C

where she will connect up with Route 81 to

Knoxville; then route 40 West through Nashville,

Memphis, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Oklahoma City,

Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Bakersfield

with the final destination being Santa Maria

Airport in California. She would love everyone

along the way to come out, say hello and sign

and add a picture of your deceased loved one to

the scroll she is carrying. It will be on

permanent display in California. She is also

asking anyone out along the route if they are up

to helping her out by being an escort car for

Muriel for a small distance as she is a wide

load. If you are interested just email me at

[email protected] with your name and

phone number and she will give you a call with

further information.

I will update you further as to when the

departure date is shortly. [Smile]

Thanks for your

support.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

Thanks for the update!! I'm sad she won't be coming my way!! We all wish her well!!!!

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504

posted

Betty if you send me notices to my email at pmerv at hughes dot net I can post them on all the state groups on her route. There are online information and support groups for all states now.

--------------------
Phyllis Mervine
LymeDisease.org

Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged |

bettyg
Unregistered

posted

Betty, thx for the update on Muriel, etc.

Phyllis, great idea posting them on your site for those states! great thinking. [Wink]

IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Great idea, Phyllis. When I get any further

updates I'll let you know. Grace appreciates

all the help you can give. As you can realize

this is a great undertaking. She could have

shipped the plane out west via air but wishes to

bring attention to Lyme awareness and

memorialize the loved ones we have lost with

the plane she has been painstakingly restoring

for many years.

Thanks again for your support.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136

posted

Hey you guys, I've spoken with her on the phone- she is a really nice and really neat sounding person!!!
Will be glad to help out any way I can and will email-
Sincerely,

--------------------
There is no wealth but life.
-John Ruskin

All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer

Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Grace would like me to thank all of you who have volunteered to help her with Muriel's move. She has all your information and shortly when she has firmed up her plans, she will be contacting you explaining what she has in mind. Her major concern right now is making sure Muriel will have a safe way to be transported on the flatbead trailer. When that is worked out, she will be ready to make the move. Tentatively the time frame would be the beginning of September. When she is ready to go she will have a project phone number available which I will post here.
Thanks again everyone. [Smile]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

posted

Wondering if she is going to have any events/stops along the way? Like, if she is going to D.C., it would be nice for her to exhibit the plane at the historic College Park airport and also at the Smithsonian Air and Space facility at Dulles Airport. I bet those places would like to have her for a day or two. This would have to be arranged in advance. Would be good if she had a press release and good photo of her and the plane to give to the media in advance. Get some publicity, let the public know about it in advance.

This same kind of thing could be done at other airports along the route. But it would take some scheduling and contacting people along the route so they could help with the publicity.

Any chance this could be done?

The press release should probably leave out the lyme part, let people know about the plane and Grace in advance, find out about lyme when they arrive. If local lymies help out along the way, maybe they could arrange to copy a single page or half page flyer to hand out. Should be the same one everywhere, with a careful statement of the facts. Maybe there already is such a thing that could be used.

Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Lou, Great ideas. I'll let her know your

thoughts. She has other folks helping her with

everything else. My job was to get the word out

to the Lyme community. She will be doing a press

release shortly, I will post it here. She

wishes Lyme people to come out when she is in

the area to answer questions about Lyme and tell

their stories to the media; she would rather

speak about the plane. The Wilder Network and

John Drulle Lyme Fund contact info will be on

the plane to also help answer questions. Grace

has told me that pilots across the country will

be involved in promotion and fly overs. As far

as I know she is going through Wash., D.C. for a

specific stop. When I find out anymore of the

plans and exact itinerary I will post them.

Thanks all for your interest.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Grace has decided to put off Muriel's move until the end of September due to the nasty weather and high temperatures along the route right now. She also wants it to be more comfortable for the people that will be coming out to see her along the way. It also gives her more time to plan her stops. There will be press releases and the itinerary will be published before she leaves. Grace wishes to thank all of you for your best wishes and offers of help. More to follow soon.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Just a quick update. Grace has found a place to

fabricate the cradle for Muriel and hopes to be

ready by the end of September or first week of

October. The rest of her move is going along

smoothly with two trailers with parts from

Muriel leaving for California next week. Grace

will be issuing a press release next week and I

will post it here. We made a visit to the

hangar recently and took photographs. Grace has

graciously given permission for me to send

anyone who is interested a few photos by email.

Please contact me at [email protected] if

you are interested. As we get closer to the

departure date I will post more frequently.

[Smile]

Thanks again for your support.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi Everyone,

The following is Grace's official press release.

A Very Special Aviation Project and Lyme Disease Tribute is taking shape in America!

In 1937 Amelia Earhart dreamed of flying around the world at the equator. After completing three-quarters of the flight, she and navigator/co-pilot Fred Noonan were lost at sea near Howland Island in the South Pacific.

Amelia's and Fred's disappearance in the Pacific 2556 miles east of Lae, New Guinea was and is one of the most controversial news stories of the century....many outlandish theories have circulated since the disappearance of Amelia and Fred. A California pilot named Grace Mcguire

solved the mystery in the early 1980s when she discovered Amelia and Fred had been using faulty coordinates for their destination, Howland Island.

Grace was unknown then but in her map case she started carried the route for the most ambitious flight in aviation history...to duplicate and complete Amelia's world flight using the same type aircraft, an original 1935 twin engine Lockheed Electra L-10E, powered by the famous Pratt & Whitney 1340 engines.

Preparations for the flight began in the mid 1980's but Grace became seriously ill with Lyme Disease and had to shelve her plans for a while. Despite a very long battle with Lyme, Grace continues to move ahead with her plans.

She recently made the exciting announcement that she will attempt to recreate what happened on the Lae, New Guinea to Howland Island leg of Amelia's flight.

The plane, named "Muriel" for Amelia's sister Muriel, will be trucked from New Jersey to California for the final stages of rebuild and assembly. "Muriel" secured to a flatbed truck will travel west with wide load escorts making stops along the way to meet with Lyme patients. The trip is a tribute to those taken by Lyme Disease.

Contact Grace for more information: 1-732-530-4498.

If any one would like to see the original with the photo; please email me at [email protected] and I will send it to you. Thanks again for the support. [Smile]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

lymedesign
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 8791

posted

Thanks Ranger1 for the update and thank you for being so dedicated in your efforts to educate people about Lyme. My daughter and I appreciate all of your hard work and it was nice to meet you last weekend at the local fair. Your booth was wonderful.

Posts: 263 | From Georgia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged |

Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020

posted

This is such a great idea and such an interesting idea to prove that Ms Erhart had the wrong flight plan.

"Muriel" should get lots of local press and be a wonderful vehicle (pun intended) for educating people about Lyme disease.

Please keep us posted!

Ann -0H

--------------------
www.ldbullseye.com

Posts: 5705 | From Ohio | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi All,

Grace would like you all to know that the truck

with "Muriel's" wings and engines have left New

Jersey this afternoon for the trip to

California. The truck should arrive in

California by next Tuesday. Grace will now

be concentrating on getting the cradle finished

and ready for the fuselage plus coordinating

what is happening in California. As you can

imagine all of this prep work is very

exhausting. She is

very grateful for all the many well wishers and

families wanting to remember their loved ones.

When a firmer departure date and final route is

determined I will post it here. Grace and I

thank you for your patience and your outpouring

of support. [Smile]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Grace would like me to report to you that she

has received many requests from across the

country to have loved ones names and pictures

placed on "Muriel". She places name decals on

the nose cone of "Muriel" of people who have

died from Lyme and on the rest of the fuselage

is names and pictures of those devastated by

tick borne illnesses. She doing this at her own

expense;as you can imagine there are quite a few

at this point. She appreciates all the good will

and support immensely. [Smile]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi All,

Grace has been out in California supervising the

delivery of the wings and engines to the new

hangar and setting up her office and living

quarters. She will next be checking on the

cradle manufacturing progress. Once that is

complete the trailer will be fitted with the

cradle and be coming up to New Jersey and loaded

with "Muriel". Many thanks for all the support.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

As previously posted, Grace has had a couple of

delays but is now in final preparations for her

move with "Muriel". It will be hard to let

everyone know the exact route especially once

she departs as there are many factors that may

cause the route to be adjusted and stops to be

made or not made. She would like anyone

interested in the project to contact her for

information by leaving a message on her machine

at 1-732-530-4498. She will be checking that

number daily while on the road and will call

back if possible. Grace's trip is a tribute to

the late Dr. John Drulle and "Muriel" is

carrying the banner of the John Drulle Lyme

Fund. She is also honoring those that have been

lost to tick borne illnesses with a banner that

will be on permanent display in California.

Thanks everyone for all your interest and

support.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi Everyone,

The day has finally arrived! Grace and "Muriel"

are on their way. The truck departed the hangar

today around noon and they have made it to the border

of New Jersey. With "Muriel" being a super wide

load, their route is dictated by each state they

go through so it will take some time for the

caravan to make their way out west. Grace

wishes to thank everyone who contributed names

and pictures for display on "Muriel" and all who

have supported her with good thoughts. Please

pray for a safe and easy trip for Grace

and "Muriel". [woohoo]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi all,

I've heard from Grace this morning and she is

200 miles east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and

will be overnighting there tonight. Many people

have come to see Muriel at the stops which

could be at a truck stop or motel depending on

where they are instructed to stop. The whole

caravan will have a day off in Amarillo City,

Texas on sunday because super oversize loads

must not be on the road on sundays in Texas.

Grace wishes she could stop every time someone

sees Muriel but due to the logistics she can't.

Let's all wish Grace and Muriel continuing good

weather and a safe remainder of her trip to

California. [hi]

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

Ranger1
Member
Member # 12659

posted

Hi All,

It's been a long three week journey, but Grace

and "Muriel" finally arrived safely in

California thursday morning. Grace will be

taking a break to recover from the trip and then

continue her efforts in restoring "Muriel" to

full flight ability. Grace will be focusing on

preparing for her flight around the world. She

hopes to bring her message of Lyme awareness,

remembrance of loved ones lost and saluting the

brave doctors who treat us, around the world.

The decals and banners will stay on the plane

for all to see who visit the hangar. She wishes

to thank everyone for their support and prayers

[spinning smile]

and Happy Holidays to all.

--------------------
Betty

Posts: 83 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410

posted

Darn. I missed this. I had a home in Grover Beach so I would have been very close to seeing her in Santa Maria.

...before lyme that is

I hope all went well.

Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged |

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