Oh! We have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings …
We cruised among ribbons of rain,
Tingling ‘twixt dusty earth and pure high sky.
We marveled at silent sculpted fantasies of form.
We moved among proud families of stone.
We slipped past forgotten corners where ancient feet tread.
We joined eagles over vast colored canyons where timeless rivers meet.
These and countless more miracles we witnessed in wonder,
on our Islander Adventure.
We were here, with love all around.
3431 Top ‘O World
On top of One World Trade Center, looking down and back at the footprint pool and out to the Brooklyn Bridge where we once rode friends’ bikes. Again reviewing pix from our Islander Adventure seemingly now from a different enchanted life, memories are refreshed of that April 24th flight of this year.
3447 Old Tops
The older tops of the world (Chrysler at the left, and of course Empire State) stand frozen in time as other towers grow up around and beyond them. Far down in this forest a few old churches, once on top, now grasp for air and light. Just above the new top, we quietly surveyed this magnificent memory in the making. We were here.
3620 Montreal
A few days later we took in Mount Royal beside Montreal, where we once hiked up for a lower angle on the city we’d also explored on foot and bike.
3950 Quebec City
Soon after, we similarly wandered Quebec City. One of our favorite activities there was roaming the old town on the river, especially the part to the left of the funicular at the bottom-right of the pic.
I sighed deeply just now, remembering these and so many other wonderful times we’ve shared. Not just on this adventure, but on so many others.
I got to pondering old poems on the larger subject of this post while reviewing the last pix from our recent SF trip, starting with this little boat.
2763 Apex Icon
Anchored off Sausalito carrying several “dinghies” more valuable than our car, and probably costing more to operate for a day than our plane does for a year, this boat represents one archetype of upward mobility. But the view opens out to the quirky little city itself, where art mingles with wealth.
2764 Sausalito
But more alive for me is the upward mobility brought by Tripp, as we rise above all this and beyond time itself in a way.
2777 Clear Lake
We were taking a quick afternoon trip to visit loved ones in Clear Lake before going home to Santa Barbara. Something impossible without an affordable trusty steed like Tripp. On the way home after our visit, the Bay shone in the hazy evening light illuminating another mobility. Upward from the past, when I wandered this area on the ground and savored the rare commercial flights that gave me a hasty glimpse of this scene through a milky plastic portal.
2798 SF Bay Evening
Looking back at an old barn among the golden hills of my youth brought a keen awareness of this upward arc.
2837 Sunset Farm
Suddenly a few light squalls appeared alongside our route, and our steed easily climbed to find a way among them while treating us to a circular rainbow that we could only capture this slice of with the camera.
2841 Angel Eye
This view of heaven and earth is reserved for those who have chosen to devote at least the modest sum we’ve saved, to buy upward mobility of this kind. In a few minutes we were back in clear air and passing the familiar gently rolling hills of my California youth.
Golden light
Nectar, pouring through,
These hills.
2854 These Hills
My soul
Dipping
The warm burgundy
Wash of evening clouds
Mingling with
These hills.
2847 Clouds Mingling
Mile 37
Let me notice
What quickens the heart.
Caress of a hand,
Shape of a hillock,
Sound of a breeze.
What catches the eye.
Lone tree on a ridge,
Flicker of a fleeting movement,
Impulse of a photograph in time.
2859 Nightfall to Dream
After our night in San Francisco the next few days we flew back to San Jose, then Oakland, San Jose, and Clear Lake before flying home. Here are a few of my fav pix from those flights.
2498 Salt Colors
The area around San Carlos has some spectacular salt flats. I guess the red may be marine life of some sort. I remember the Dumbarton Bridge from my years in the Bay Area, and though it never did get much respect I like the graceful arc it makes across the flats.
2495 Dumbarton
The day we visited a family war hero in San Leandro, the view past Oakland Airport to San Francisco looked even more striking than this pic conveys. I wish the camera could see what the eye does, and evoke what our hearts felt.
2533 Oakland To SF
The day we flew to Clear Lake for a too short visit, passing over SF we got a great view of Washington Square where we’d enjoyed beer and conversation across the street.
2652 Washington Square
I don’t think we’ve ever flown anywhere near this bridge without taking at least a few pix. I like how the towers flirt with the fog in this one.
2687 Golden Gate
I’ve always been fascinated by the Fine Arts Center, but have never visited it nor do I recall having noticed it from the air before. Now it’s added to the landmarks I’ll enjoy from the air, and is on our ToDo list for a future visit.
2693 Fine Arts
It was another magnificent day here in paradise (aka Santa Barbara), so we went flying with our visitor who’s here from Grants Pass. So beautiful!
2069 Goleta Beach
From this moment after takeoff, and every moment until we landed again, the views were simply spectacular. Another visitor from out of town recently asked what’s the worst thing about living here. The honest answer was easy, “Leaving.”
2078 Butterfly Beach
John & Anne Wiley 
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