John & Anne Wiley

2012/12/25

3 Cities 1 Day

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 17:45

They say Santa delivers to every good kid in the whole world in one night, so I thought maybe you’d enjoy seeing how Tripp can at least fly over three cities in a day. First of course is SB.

2047 Shore to Mountains

2047 Shore to Mountains

I like the view from Shoreline Park across the city to the mountains, because it covers some of my fav parts of living here. Next is another view of LA, this time from the Special corridor over LAX to the distant snowy peaks. I wonder how this would look if there were no smog.

2209 LAX to Snow

2209 LAX to Snow

Last up is this look from the San Diego waterfront and graceful Coronado Bridge, all the way into Mexico.

2288 San Diego South

2288 San Diego South

Whatever your locale, we wish you very warm and Happy Holidays! 🙂

2012/12/19

What Bumps?

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 08:43

When people fly for the first time, they often notice every little bump in the air. Other first-timers may point out that it’s almost always smoother than riding in a boat. But most people who’ve grown accustomed to flying, when asked about the uncommon minor turbulence we occasionally encounter will often say, “What bumps?”

2034 UCSB Takeoff

2034 UCSB Takeoff

Today we decided to take a short evening flight, even though we knew there would be turbulence. I’m glad we did because the air was especially clear, the light was beautiful, and afterward Anne blurted at least a dozen times, “That was Fun!” 🙂

Just after takeoff we passed UCSB for the glorious view above, and coming home after an exhilarating half hour we saw this different angle of it nestled in our magnificent local scenery with a view all the way to Point Conception.

2091 UCSB to Conception

2091 UCSB to Conception

I wish we could take the whole world on one of our amazing little flights that cost less than a movie, and rekindle the soul. But on a totally calm day. 🙂

2012/12/16

SoCA Holidaze

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 22:44

This time of year is quite different here in SB, compared with other places we’ve lived. Rather than snow, our days are typically in the mid-70F range and people are enjoying time off from work like these folks were on the beach out near Point Conception.

1754 Brown Season

1754 Brown Season

This was snapped back in Brown Season on 11/24 before the rains came. Now it’s all lush and green, and in fact at the moment is under low clouds that are flirting with the misty hills as I look out the window typing this. On that flight, we noticed something new to us: lots of houses like these out past Gaviota where we thought there was just a working ranch.

1762 Lazy Coast

1762 Lazy Coast

I guess you don’t see them either, but in the original hi-res version of this pic I can make out at least a dozen homes. Here’s a closer view of the same area so you might be able to pick out at least three.

1758 Hidden Homes

1758 Hidden Homes

Driving to and from town takes maybe almost an hour from here, so it’s surprising some of these folks don’t have runways. Maybe they’re using helicopters. More likely though, they don’t commute. Maybe they mostly enjoy just Being there, going down to the beach for surfing and all the other benefits of not living in town. Reminds me of living in the Northwest woods one snowy Winter, 10 miles from the nearest paved road. Except for the weather. 🙂

2012/12/06

POV

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 20:01

Point Of View is an interesting phenomenon. Two people experiencing the same situation often respond to it completely differently, each from their own POV. Both are of course, correct in their experience. Each may also believe their POV is superior. Yesterday we encountered that situation with friends, and it was intensely educational. Perhaps this is why, today looking through more pix from recent flights, I noticed POV in them. This scene is experienced quite differently from the sea, the cliffs, the shore, and here in the air.

1713 Sunnyside

1713 Sunnyside

This angle with the evening sun behind us, provides an uncommon POV. Not better than if we’d been in a kayak paddling furiously to stay safe in the surf. Or if we’d enjoyed the long hike to reach the cliff top and peer over the edge. Or feeling the brisk water in that calmer pool in the distance. How we each come to a moment has value, and sharing our POV with each other seems to me tied up with the Meaning of Life for our species.

Often, flying takes us beyond the realm of human experience going back even into a time we may have lived in tall trees. Looking down at this tall tower at the Garden Street Academy flips that POV of a high place, into an interesting shape far below.

1677 Flip

1677 Flip

Before flight became a frequent experience, I used to yearn for access to towers and other tall places. Now my POV is stretched so that such places are a passing curiosity. There are exciting moments during most flights, when a new discovery or POV brings smiles and thrills. But most often there is a deep calm that permeates our consciousness and endures after we’re back on the ground, savoring. A POV stretched beyond our species, that evokes calm pools of shared memory.

1728 Calm Pools

1728 Calm Pools

2012/11/23

Fun Flight

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 09:46

We took a fun flight before Thanksgiving dinner. Just half an hour of air in our hair had us feeling quite thankful indeed. 🙂

1601 Layers

1601 Layers

Right after takeoff my pilot eye was assessing how long we had before the offshore low clouds moved in to cover the airport and change our evening plans. If I guessed wrong, we’d be climbing thru the clear air over the mountains to land in Santa Ynez where there’s no easy way to get home for dinner. After I was satisfied we had an hour, my photographer eye took over and snapped the “layers” of ridges in the hazy air out toward Point Conception. I enjoyed a deep sigh looking at it before the photo, and again just now looking at it. Turning to fly along the hills toward town, it’s no surprise that the rocks caught my attention. But this one more than usual.

1611 Boulder Home?

1611 Boulder Home?

To me it looks like those recesses and notches cut into the face might have once been associated with shelters or even dwellings of ancient people. So earlier I sent some pix and that question to Edhat, in case one of the experts there can help. I also posted a larger version on my Photo Page (link in right column here). Meanwhile, here’s a closer view of the largest recess.

1611 Human Traces?

1611 Human Traces?

Cut into the sandstone by ancient people using harder stones? What about the smaller indentations above it?  Is that a similar recess with two indentations above it on the right? Natural processes, or are these traces of human activity?

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.