John & Anne Wiley

2011/03/26

Fall Guy

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 01:07

The title of this post might become one of my Santa Barbara nicknames, because like last year I’ve been having lots of fun flying around the Santa Ynez Mountains spotting seasonal waterfalls. After so much rain over a prolonged period, waterfalls appear where you’d never normally see them. Today I spotted this one next to a road, that I haven’t seen before. I got a better pic that I’ve sent to Edhat and will put a larger version of that one on our Photo Page.

6547 Goleta Motor Falls

6547 Goleta Motor Falls

Another one I enjoyed today was this wispy mist off a rock ledge on the North face above Nojoqui Falls. I wonder how many people know it’s there, and have ever made the arduous trek up for a look.

6501 Mist & Stone

6501 Mist & Stone

I love the wizened stone, and imagine Indigenous people taking vision quests in those little caves.

2011/03/25

Rain & Shine

Filed under: Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Random,SB Region — John @ 10:12

We’ve had more rain tonight. The sights, sounds, and smells of it are still welcome to us. I guess because unlike in Seattle, we know it will stop. Also, it has not only stopped but the skies have partially or completely cleared after a few hours or a day. When they clear, it reminds us of those days in Seattle when it had been raining or overcast for weeks, and then the sun came out.

6434 Between Storms

6434 Between Storms

Yesterday between storms was like that, and after late night rain so was today before it closed in again. Tomorrow is forecast to be good flying weather about the time Anne’s going to a meeting, so I’m hoping to take some air with Tripp. Meanwhile I’m reflecting on all there is to enjoy here in paradise.

1906 Courthouse in a Puddle

1906 Courthouse in a Puddle

2011/03/24

Back to School

Filed under: Aviation,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 07:31

I know. Pix of UCSB might actually get boring for some people. For me though, especially lately with clear weather and lots of water and green and clouds… Well, lately I’ve been asking ATC for takeoff from funway 25 (meant to say Runway 25 of course, but the slip fit so well I left it in). Anyway, by going from that runway there’s a great view of UCSB and the islands as the first visual greeting aloft. sigh…

6295 Molly Factor

6295 UC Factors

The fact that Molly and Erin went there adds a lot too, almost like the shimmer of the slough is a mirror back into years of warm memories.

OK, so tomorrow I’ll start sharing more pix from this 3/22 flight. Unless we fly between storms again and get something so fun I get jolted back to the present. 🙂

2011/03/23

Another Look

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 03:02

We flew a little earlier today for another look at the local waterfalls, but I haven’t yet downloaded the pix into my computer and besides there are some from yesterday I’d like to share first. Cachuma Lake’s spillway in Bradbury Dam, for instance.

6221 Water Slide

6221 Water Slide

From this far way, doesn’t it look like a water park ride? Maybe not so fun to actually slide down it maybe. And the hills, good golly the Hills!

6216 Wearing the Green

6216 Wearing the Green

Massive patches of light and dark beneath the clouds seemed to struggle over whether it was night or day, Winter or Spring.

6231 Back to Winter

6231 Back to Winter

There were zillions of waterfalls as you’ll see on our Photo Page as we upload them, but one last pic of yesterday to share here is a bit of chance dusk magic. It was the first time we’d seen many twinkling lights on Oprah’s estate. It was enchanting in that dim light, how there seemed to be flocks of fireflies.

6245 Oprah's Magic

6245 Oprah's Magic

After snapping this, it turned into many small yard spotlights coming in and out of view between the trees. For that first moment though, we saw faeries.

2011/03/22

Clouds roaming hills

Filed under: Aviation,by Anne,Flying,Has Photos,Nature,SB Region — Anne @ 06:52

SB had record rainfall yesterday the 21st, its highest in history ever recorded for ANY day, at 5.23″ in one day.  Today, the 22nd, was supposed to be clear so we intended to fly for a photo shoot of waterfalls which we figured would be abundant.  It did not clear up all day – until late in the afternoon.  I was about to end a phone call as John came in the room making flying motions.  So off we went and he got some BEEutiful shots which he will share but he can’t get to it yet. In the meantime I’m posting one I took and also encourage you to look at his “Flickr” page (see right and click on “More Photos”) to see one of the prettiest he took.  Here is my humble offering of our spectacular flight in the meantime…

1879 Clouds caressing hills at sunset

1879 Clouds caressing hills at sunset

~by Anne

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