Flying can bring us a dramatic change of pace, change of season, or in the case of today a change of environment. Starting out at lush Wichita on the prairie, we admired the way this city integrates the river.
5723 Wichita
River life looks mellow on the outskirts too where the marbled colors and shapes wrought by flowing water bathing the banks to nourish the feet of shade trees.
5725 River Life
Then up, into a breach in the clouds and West toward home. Among the brilliant white we see fields and farms punctuated by laser straight roads to infinity and meandering rivers breaking the rules.
5729 Up & West
Soon well above the clouds, now we enjoy the vast geometric green prairie framed in whimsical fluff.
5736 White & Green
Before long the landscape is dryer and higher as it tilts up toward the distant Rockies. Landing for a brief break at Guymon, I visited three old propellerless twins (Beechcraft perhaps?) parked in a row with this one in the middle.
5799 Beech?
Then we leap into the air again and climb high for our crossing of the mountain barrier to Santa Fe, taking in the now high and dry desert. Here and there, rock formations stand out like this.
5814 Castle Butte
Did people live there, taking advantage of the natural fortress it presents? Who visits it now, with that well worn road and parking lot so far from cities and highways? Nearby the traces of occasional floods carve the arid terrain.
5826 Wet & Dry
In some places the flow has cut deeply into rock, creating enchanted places to walk near cool stone on hot days but maybe always with a thought about flash floods far upstream.
5836 Cut Rock
Then clearing the mountain we descend to Santa Fe where Anne got this view as we landed, with Tripp’s stout wings delivering us to yet another giant leap far from the Caribbean in this journey of changes.
7771 Santa Fe
John & Anne Wiley 
Hi Guys! I’m having fun reading your blog!
Love,
Nancy
Comment by Nancy K — 2013/05/17 @ 18:33