John & Anne Wiley

2014/01/07

Missing Persons

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 07:36

We were at the harbor heading back to SBA after a flight along part of the dry Santa Ynez River this evening when we heard a solemn call. A formation flight told ATC they were heading offshore to form up for a “Missing Man” flight over Montecito. They looked so beautiful in a sunset glow with Anacapa in the background.

0727 Honor Flight

0727 Honor Flight

Flights like this to honor a fallen comrade have been an aviation tradition for a century or more, and it was sweet to hear how ATC helped and protected them. It brought to mind the growing number of beloved Missing Persons in our life. Friends and family who have touched us, and at times seem to fly beside us on our adventures. I wish everyone could have an honor like this, in quiet remembrance of the people who shared their most treasured passion.

As we landed, we heard four of them call ATC again to say they were inbound to land at SBA behind us so I paused to snap this. They got special clearance to fly low over the field and then peel off in a “break” to turn back and land in sequence. Beautiful to watch.

0748 Formation Landing

0748 Formation Landing

We learned later that they’re the Bonanzas To Oshkosh formation flying group. Having flown to the massive Airventure (aka Oshkosh) gathering of aviators (see our “North By Northwest” Adventure), we understand that bond. We share the love of clear blue skies over green earth.

2014/01/06

FreshSnow

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random — John @ 09:02

After a warm holiday with family in the foothills west of San Jose, we flew to Fresno on our way home. Climbing east toward the central valley, we enjoyed the golden rolling hills.

0321 Golden Hills

0321 Golden Hills

People from other places sometimes say this doesn’t appeal to them. For me it’s cozy as an old tan woolen blanket. As a kid riding for miles in our family car I’d often imagine the friendly giant waking. He’d clamber yawning from beneath that blanket and wink at us. But soon on this memorable flight (true, they all are), we approached Fresno.

0322 Fresno Blanket

0322 Fresno Blanket

It lay beneath a different blanket, of acrid haze only a few hundred feet thick. People down there seem to take little notice of what they’re breathing, but as we descended toward the airport only our Molly mission kept us from turning above it and heading straight home to SB. Visually though, I like the sleepy village look it gave to the sprawling city. Even more, I like the contrast it gives to the high Sierras glinting in the sun beyond.

2014/01/05

Rock Art

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 09:16

The mountains are overflowing with rock formations sculpted by time and elements. I like how the shapes on this low ridge stand out against the shaded canyon beyond.

0588 Ridge Art

0588 Ridge Art

Some rocks have ancient art on them, put there by people thousands of years ago. Other rocks bear the mark of more recent human activity.

0595 Art, Politics, or...?

0595 Art, Politics, or…?

I wonder who marked this stone high in the mountains, and when. I wonder how many people have seen it, and what their reactions have been. I wonder if the person(s) who put it there have ever gone back, and where they are now.
Followup: I submitted a version of the peace symbol pic and it led to an interesting discussion in Comments there.

2014/01/02

New

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 05:24

To launch a new year, we took a brief flight with our new friend Monica. As we lifted off UCSB looked much like it has on so many flights. In a word, magical.

0537 UCSB Uplifting

0537 UCSB Uplifting

The nearly dry slough. The eclectic mix of architectures. The blue beyond. The centers of learning and exuberant celebration of students liberated from high school and discovering their first tastes of freedom (and concomitant responsibility). Then on to a pleasant surprise.

0538 Surprise Sunset

0538 Surprise Sunset

It’s rare to snap toward the sun and produce anything other than a hazy and unpleasant image that captures none of the magic we see aloft. This one was a rare surprise, showing some of what we enjoyed. Then up to the mountains, for a glimpse of one in the innumerable rock formations that provide endless fascination for flyers here.

0540 New Year Rocking

0540 New Year Rocking

This rock fan spreads a palette of stone shapes with the power to intrigue. Well, me at least. 🙂

Happy ’14!

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