Though we postponed our flight today for several hours due to unwelcome Fog, when it cleared over land but hugged the shore, it was Fog that made this flight especially spectacular! Our delighted friend sat in front, so my photos were out the closed back window. Still I couldn’t help but take this foggy view of boats in the harbor.
0433 Foggy Harbor Boats
by ~Anne
After making 2 batches of yummy (if I may say so) brownies, one for the airport tower crew – and reading much of the novel The Help, I’ve had a luxurious relaxed day! I’m in the mood to add a bit tonight, so I chose a photo from the same flight John just posted. His camera is better (and he knows how to use it!), but I sort of liked the angle on this one of the harbor. I caught this by looking back through my side of the airplane, taking it behind us. What looks like a Wing on top is actually the tail of the plane, and the land looks like a Wing flying over the ocean.
0408 SB Harbor Wing
Hope you enjoyed your day as much as I have mine 🙂
by ~Anne
It’s funny how the (minor) traumas of a trip are what we remember with such amusement. John’s description of our ONE hour of sleep in the plane is one of these. After he set up the twin mat, I went in the plane first, without him, and got claustrophobic all by myself. He stood with equanimity while I “ohm-ed” myself out of panic, and I opened the door so I could breathe more air than seemed available. I thought “I’ve got to get hold of myself, he’s gonna think I’m loony.” After a bit I did get calm, he got in and we slept a comfortable hour – until his gasp. I figure his distress came when he tried to shift position in his sleep and realized he couldn’t. Then I tried to turn and, like he said, could not without pointing my toes into the tail of the plane. How then to un-point them in that tiny space for sleeping? John was now clear he wanted to get up and out of there. As he contemplated how to do that, I realized he’d be moving around in his struggle to get out, thus I’d be partially covered by him and claustrophobic thoughts were likely to visit me again. Without hesitation, I said “I can get out” and I lifted my legs up, turned them to the partially opened door, and slid out of the plane in one deft move.
Voila! That gave John more room, which he needed with his longer height, to negotiate his exit. Our musings about sleeping in the plane had been laid to rest in one short hour, and we resolved, never to return. THIS is what we found preferable to the plane :)… and maybe for both of these reasons, and it having been our third night in a row, it turned out to be our last night of camping on this trip!
0233 Collapsing Tent (better than us stuffed in the plane)
These photos are from our last day of this trip, in northern California. First is one of the many bridges that grace the back country:
0379 Bridge in backcountry, northern California coast
Next is along the coast south of Shelter Cove, it’s actual name is Big Flat Creek:
0391 Big Flat Creek, south of Shelter Cove
Such a sweet little trip we took in to Sonoma, thanks to Ron at the airport. This pic is of the person taking most of the photos you see on this blog, my dear husband, who flew us on this amazing journey. The beatific colorful light hovering on the left seems to appreciate him too.
0397 John in Sonoma town square
John posted the last photo of the trip, and I think my final one below is just prior, out the co-pilot side. It’s the tip of Rodeo in the Richmond area. To the right, obscured by clouds, is Berkeley and the lovely white mass over San Francisco and the coast is the reason we did not fly by the Golden Gate Bridge. I noticed today how fog is experienced from below as dark gray and gloomy, whereas from above the bright and white folds of clouds look like thick luminous waves in the air.
0400 Richmond area, San Pablo Bay, edge of Berkeley under fog on right
So ends our photos, as past this was more smoke, and fog to our west, with evening beginning to claim the views. I love flying at night in familiar territory. The evening lights make the communities stand out so clearly, not obscured by the pervasive day’s light. This provided a magical ending to our trip especially as Santa Barbara twinkled brightly at our return.
by ~Anne
Quick photos as we’re about to leave our hotel in Medford, OR.
Here’s our anniversary hotel in Glacier Park, Montana: The airport folks had already called all the hotels in town for other people and by the time we arrived the Meadow Lake Resort was the only place available. It just happened that way. Glacier had one room left, pricier than our usual, and it was this one – Lucky it was also our anniversary!
0348 Meadow Lake Resort J&A
0352 Resort Room - Anne enjoys
Notice hot tub/jacuzzi in corner!
And here is a view I have had numerous times on our trip. This is something John does at some point every flying day or eve or both. I so appreciate seeing him do this. He pores over charts about weather, turbulence, smoke – and from that accumulation of information, plans our routes, and keeps us safe and happy! Our luggage next to him, his wide-brimmed hat, my red Paris cap. In the lobby at the hotel:
0360 John Plans our Tripp trips
by ~Anne
John & Anne Wiley 
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