Flying a Stearman over 400nm of water is ballsy yes, sitting in the back behind the owner, builder, instructor is not quite so ballsy. Who put it on the ground? Who poled it all the way there for 4/5 hours?
If I were him and given the choice of what to carry in front of a soppy tart that had already chewed up an aircraft while taxiing, it would be me.
Looks like the biggest ego trip since the rise of Stegosaurus.