John & Anne Wiley

2010/06/07

Cloudy Day Activities

Filed under: Flying,Has Photos,Random,SB Region — John @ 20:30

While we’re waiting (hoping) for coastal clouds & fog to clear so we can fly, I’ve been looking at pix from yesterday’s relatively high and fast flight to San Diego. Some pix from the trip are already on Edhat and our Photo Page, so here are a few more. I never seem to tire of looking at the little residential lakes near Thousand Oaks. That area nestled in a valley beneath the coastal hills has some developments that don’t fit the standard SoCA patterns.

6683 Water World

6683 Water World

On the way down we stayed at 3500 feet, higher than the 1500 we usually fly, to save time and because we were flying near top speed to get down and back in daylight. Coming home we went up to 10,500 coming across LAX, to provide more safety margin from the coastal clouds and that also saved time. It was fun getting such a different perspective on the LA basin. We’ve seen it from jets, but that’s at best a small and hazy window if you’re not stuck in an aisle seat. Our windows are clear, and we can even open them to snap views like this.

6689 Long Beach

6689 Long Beach

Approaching SBA just before sunset, we got an unusual view of “Eyelash Hill” (see the Edhat story).

6702 Eyelash Hill

6702 Eyelash Hill

If you click on it (perhaps several times), you can see the stand of tall grass just beyond the mansion that looks like flames in the sunset light. I hadn’t realized what a zig-zag complex of trails are on the nearby slopes. Wonder what’s growing in the terraced garden boxes, and how they keep canyon critters from eating it all. Guess that’s a guard tower next to the garden, eh? Beautiful home, and they must have pretty good views from that tower. Wonder if the entrance room’s large skylights are clear, but regardless it must be a very bright room introducing guests to what is surely a lovely mansion inside.

San Diego & Back

Filed under: Flying,Has Photos,SB Region — John @ 04:05

Well, we ended up flying down to San Diego and picking up Anne’s Dad to bring him back for a visit. I’m a bit tired, so it might be tomorrow at the earliest before I post more pix. This sunset shot on the approach to SBA sums up how I’m feeling now: quiet with a warm glow, and fuzzy on top.

6714 Sunset into SBA

6714 Sunset into SBA

2010/06/06

To the Lake?

Filed under: Random — John @ 19:22

We’re thinking about flying up to Lake Isabella. We’ve flown there several times since it’s a nice hop from SBA. Once we even walked into the edge of town. First problem is that as of noon, SBA is reporting 400′ ceiling in mist. Not ideal flying weather, and well below our minimum. Another problem is that as of noon, L05 (Kern Valley Airport) on the lake shore is reporting 88F with a forecast high of 90. Should we hope for enough clearing at SBA to get out, prepare ourselves for a hot time, and then chance a return to fog at SBA this evening that would mean landing at Santa Ynez and finding a way to get home? What would you do?

2010/06/05

In the Garden

Filed under: Happiness,Has Photos,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 06:20

Today was idyllic in the Rose Garden. Families at rest and at play, with raging colors and aromas all around.

DSC_6670 Running In Roses

6670 Running In Roses

Is it because of all the rains and crazy winds this Spring, or is the start of Summer always so intoxicating here where the seasons all overlap?

DSC_6671 Catch

6671 Catch

How many generations have played here, and how many more will follow?

A tall tree stands guard as if to keep the low clouds off the distant shore from engulfing this garden of delights, but will allow the mists to approach in the night to nourish and refresh.

6667 Sentinel

6667 Sentinel

2010/06/04

Everyday Miracles

Filed under: Aviation,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 05:47

So often when we fly the ethereal permeates us. This seems to happen most often when flying the SB area, so close to the center of things. Today the weather forecast was a little discouraging, so we talked about waiting for a better day. It couldn’t have been. Immediately after takeoff, once we climbed above the haze, puffy white clouds added notes of paradise along the coast or clinging to hills. The stuff of dreams.

6635 Cloud Shroud

6635 Cloud Shroud

We did keep close to home in case clouds moved over the airport again forcing us to land at Santa Ynez and take a bus or cab home. Also, the winds were pretty strong at the ridge line though turbulence was mild when we stayed high enough.

6645 Shapes & Textures

6645 Shapes & Textures

Over in the valley it was clear, and we enjoyed the timeless symmetry of the dance between agriculture and ranching.

6646 Gaviota Gloom

6646 Gaviota Gloom

Turning back toward home, what was probably a close and somewhat gloomy day at Gaviota Beach was for us a glorious soft work of art.

6659 Toward the Gate

6659 Toward the Gate

Minutes later, looking back along the coast toward Point Conception, the magic of it all was nearly unbelievable. We could well imagine how the Chumash people believed this to be the “Western Gate” where souls pass to the paradise of Similaqsa. To fly is to dream. To dream is to live.

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