Emily's view of Maine from the J-3 Piper Cub. RELATED STORIES Dudley's Journal Essential Advice

Attending the fly-in caused us to disrupt our travel schedule, something we didn't really want to do — but we were glad that we did!

Sometimes, it seems that great cosmic forces push us away from schedules toward a more spontaneous existence. We were in Jim Blankman's shop in Eastport, Maine, when that force appeared in the form of Frank Woodworth. We had planned to go from Eastport straight to Rob's home state of New Hampshire to catch up with some old friends. When Frank heard what we were doing, however, he insisted that we change our plans to come to the annual International Seaplane Fly-In in Greeneville, Maine. Frank, it seems, was the organizer of the fly-in and brashly predicted that we'd have an unbelievably good time. We had a decision to make.

A schedule can often make living on the road feel more grounded. It's odd how schedules, which we happily left behind, can be so comforting. We had a month of traveling lined up and were looking forward to sliding down that path, not having to think about where we were headed next. Leaving that path would mean reshuffling our schedule and driving long stretches to make up time, not our idea of fun. But things are placed in our path for a reason, and this is an example of why. We had a fantastic time at the fly-in. If we hadn't allowed for a little spontaneity, we would have missed an incredible experience.

As for the fly-in itself, Emily got to fly in a 1947 J-3 Piper Cub, a plane with no electrical system whatsoever and a gas gauge that consisted of a wire sticking out of the gas cap. Surprisingly, Emily has never felt safer in a plane than she did soaring above Moosehead Lake in the J3. We also had the chance to fly in the largest float plane in operation, a 1943 C-47 (DC-3) retrofitted with floats from the same era. By the way, if you're interested in owning this one-of-a-kind piece of history, she's for sale — contact Folsom's Air Service of Greeneville, Maine, for details.

We've been to many incredible places and seen and done some amazing stuff, but the Fly-In, we both agree, has been the highlight so far. All thanks to that strange cosmic force that came to us under the guise of Frank Woodworth. Thanks, Frank.