An Otter World

Like cats and dogs.

2009-01-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

What're wrong with this pictures.

2008-08-22T20:56:00.001-04:00

Still flapping

2008-06-06T07:13:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I posted, but, as they say, life happened. I was away from work for a couple of months getting the rental house in order so there was nothing too exciting to post. Now I'm back up in Cape Cod for the summer so some pictures will be forthcoming.

Can't help but think of Ender's Game.

2008-03-01T10:19:00.002-05:00

I recently acquired Call of Duty 4 for the PC. If you like FPS games this one is completely top-notch. The single-player campaign is one of the most engaging I've ever played. In one of the missions you take to the skies in an AC130 Spectre unleashing divine vengeance from 25mm Gats, 40mm Bofors, and 125mm cannon. I must admit while I was playing through this I kept having flashbacks to Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Here's a video from the game:

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Here's real-life over Afghanistan:

It's just a game. It's just a game.

Right Whale Party

2008-02-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

Does FDOT encourage speeding?

2008-01-01T16:50:00.001-05:00

I was out of town when these signs went online. So recently, when I was driving southbound and noticed the advisory sign was live, the information jumped right out at me. Something wasn't quite right. Notice the speed limit sign, and then look at the distance and the estimated time. At 55 mph it would take a driver about 5 min 27 seconds to travel 5 miles. To reach the I-4 exit indicated on the sign in 4 minutes a driver would need to travel 75 mph. It would seem that their numbers rely on drivers breaking the law.

On the other side of the camera for once.

2007-12-25T17:39:00.000-05:00

Funny what memories and reminders the holidays bring. Here are some photos of my first solo and my first plane crash.

Off I go into the wild blue yonder...well, maybe not so much.

Any landing that you can walk away from is a good one, so they say.

Hiatus

2007-12-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

With the winter season and the holidays, we will be taking a brief recess(I know..I haven't been updating much lately) I'll be combing through some older shots and try to get some material up soon.

A poem

2007-12-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

My true vocation lies in living each day to its fullest, to experience all the joys, pain, trials and victories life has to offer.
To dream is to plant the seeds of adventure and sorrow, but to live you must harvest the fruits of each with sweat, toil and tears.
A fool for love shows wisdom no sage can match. To live a dream simply requires you allow yourself to take the chance and let go
of the rail, for a safe life is one not truly lived.
Each disappointment, each sorrow, each wound to the heart enriches the soil of experience and is the fertilizer of life itself
Pain is the affirmation of life well-lived, for it sweetens the taste of each joy, enhances the sensitivity of the soul and
punctuates the dull moments to imprint life itself upon the heart and mind. The soul that bleeds knows life, the painless heart
passes silently and alone.
Joy is simple, and is found everywhere if we just let go of preconceptions and allow ourselves to see it, to hear it, to feel it.
Betrayal is sibling to Trust and Truth and it is a tangled game they play. The only real betrayal is forgetting yourself and
failing to follow what your heart knows is true.
Beauty surrounds us and envelopes us and fills us. Storms stir and enrich the seas and nourish the land, fires renew the soil, and
even death makes way for life anew.
There is no failure so long as we continue to try. Mistakes are opportunites for growth. Each scar is as much a part of our being
as each success and joy.
The promise of life sustains me, the promise of a love not yet realized, the promise of what next life has to offer will forever
nourish my soul until my flesh fails me.
All those I have ever met, all those I will meet one day, all the dreams, each and every memory. Those are always with me and
ensure I will never be alone no matter how far away I find myself.

Gotta love the leaves

2007-11-25T13:28:00.001-05:00

Can't argue with how pretty Fall is up this way.

Boston Common Thanksgiving Day

Gettin out of Beantown

2007-11-25T13:25:00.001-05:00

Zakim Bridge from the hotel. Lots of folks heading out of town on Turkey Day Eve.

Plymouth, MA

2007-11-25T13:17:00.001-05:00

Dance your cares away, worry's for another day, let the music play, down at Plymouth Rock.

Mayflower II

Proceed with caution

A rare treat

2007-10-23T07:08:00.001-04:00

Awoke one morning to this sight.

The wind had been blowing for days and the suspended dust enhanced by sunrise was quite lovely.

Let's beat a Deadhorse

2007-10-23T07:01:00.001-04:00

It's finally starting to snow. Just amazing what an improvement a little bit of the white stuff makes on this place.

More snow.

Even more snow.

The road out of town, often one of the most beautiful sights in Deadhorse.

Blowing snow.

Ice Ice Baby

2007-10-08T10:35:00.000-04:00

Sea ice... the patterns are amazing

Welcome to the Arctic

2007-10-08T10:17:00.000-04:00

Shortly after returning from Barrow(I only took a handful of pictures, and the memory card they're on is misplaced) I got the word I was heading back up to the Arctic. This time I'm doing time in Deadhorse, a work camp for the Prudhoe Bay oil operations. Hasn't been above 20 since I've been here and it's getting colder.

Deadhorse AK, my "hotel" is the brown building at the intersection.

More Deadhorse

The ocean is starting to freeze......

The rivers are already there.....

So's the shoreline.....

Brrr.....

Time for the polar bears.....stay tuned. They're out there, but have eluded my lens thus far.

My cheeks are turning red, my toes are turning blue, out there on the tundra, I see a couple of caribou...

Of injured possums

2007-08-03T09:11:00.000-04:00

One of the nice things of living in our fair city is that, in many ways, it has not quite transitioned to a total concrete and asphalt jungle. We still have citrus rats roaming our back yards, snakes making a regular appearance, as well as visiting ambassadors of many varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles. Here at our house even have an opossum living under the shed in the back yard.
The downside is that occasionally those creatures interact with modern living and are most often on the losing side. For instance this morning an opossum was behaving erratically just down the street. It appeared to be sick or injured, and truth be told, the sight was heartrending. What it is about the suffering of animals that touches something so sensitive inside most of us. I'd rank empathy as one of the most human of qualities, and it was hard to see that little fella in pain. A call to animal services was made so, I can only hope the creature is no longer suffering. Anyone else have more positive wildlife encounters here in town?

Really cool clock

2007-07-31T14:17:00.001-04:00

A friend passed this along to me. It's a really nifty clock showing various rates of events affecting the planet.

World Clock

There's no place like home(particularly with the lightning, humidity and bad drivers)

2007-07-19T17:24:00.000-04:00

After clicking together my ruby slippers(well, my hiking boots which for a brief time were stained with pink paint, so I guess that counts) I finally have made it back home. I stepped out of TPA right into this soup that those of us around here call air. I do have to give kudos to Frontier Airlines, my new favorite budget carrier. The little TVs are awesome, the seats quite comfy, and we were, gate to gate, right on time with no hassles at all. Suck it Southwest. We flew our plane from Alaska to Boulder. Many shades of summer, it was nice and moderate in Anchorage, and Juneau. Then it just started getting warmer from Seattle to oven-like Boise and Boulder(104 and 98 respectively, but it's a dry heat(that makes the turkey feel better too I'm sure)), to the swampiness of good old Tampa Bay. One thing that struck me my first days back were just how aggressive the drivers are here. I guess being immersed in it here and in New England I was just conditioned, but getting away from it made me all the more aware at just how bad it's gotten around here. Oh and while I was gone, we had a lightning strike, toasting various electronic components throughout the house, thanks Fios(the only thing thats not on a surge protector, but directly connected to many of our gadgets). It's great to be home!

Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn

2007-07-10T10:14:00.000-04:00

As seen south of Fairbanks.

Mommy, what are those bears doing?

World famous?

If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand

2007-07-10T01:46:00.000-04:00

Whitman wrote of it, Kerouac inspired a generation with it. The allure the road holds for some of us is positively irresistible. It's the siren song of the open highway, the anticipation of unimagined sights around the next bend, just over the next rise. The pavement marks time for the very beating of our hearts. I was never a Harley guy, don't quite get the branding, but I am definitely a motorcycle guy. Always have been. Something about taking to the highway on two wheels with the wind in your face defies explanation. Seems you either love it or you want nothing to do with it. For me few things rival the sensuality of riding. The tactile, but subtle changes in temperature as you top a hill into the sunshine, or dip into a shady hollow rounding a curve. How morning brings the smell of coffee and bacon wafting from homes. The afternoon breeze carries the scent of fresh cut hay, or the smell of the sea. It's as though the wind embraces you, wrapping it's arms around you, as it caresses each of your senses. The call of the road is like your favorite song. The wind, the engine, the tires on the asphalt are all music if you know how to listen.
Today was special. Some free time offered up the chance to do something I couldn't resist. Found myself with a day off here in Fairbanks, so I decided to rent a Harley and ride down to Denali. This ranks up there with some of the best fun I've ever had.

Never miss a chance to take a picture of a bridge.

Oh look, water.

The open road(just wouldn't be complete without bug guts)

If you look closely you just might see the grin(which is bug-free thanks to the windshield) on my face.

Denali entrance.

Inside the park(didn't see the mountain today, it was much too cloudy).

Valley shot.

Railroad bridge in the park.

See, I just can't pass up a bridge shot.

Mama moose and the lil' ones.

More of the meese.

A few more villages

2007-07-09T10:43:00.000-04:00

Streets of Quinhagak

Near Quinhagak, AK

A basketball court at the high school in Kwethluk

The general store in Kwethluk

Street in Kwethluk, AK

Kasigluk, AK

Midnight sun

2007-07-09T04:27:00.001-04:00

Outside Fairbanks International Airport Sunday "night"

Still 20 minutes to sunset.(notice the state trooper hiding behind the sign)

Alexia Pipplin reincarnated

2007-07-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

A feisty little old lady passed away, and upon arriving at the Pearly Gates was met by St. Peter. Thumbing nervously through his book, he announced that she wasn't scheduled to arrive for a couple of years. To make up for the mistake, he told her that she could be reincarnated as anyone she chose to live out her remaining days she was owed. Without a moment's hesitation she blurted out Alexia Pipplin. St. Peter looked a bit stunned as he was at a loss since he expected her to choose someone familiar. He rifled through his files and still came up with nothing. He asked the little old lady just who was this Alexia Pipplin, as he did not have anyone by that name on record. A bit embarassed she slowly produced a tattered old news article. A quick glance brought a smirk of understanding to St. Peter's face. It seems the article was about the Alyeska Pipeline and indicated how it was laid by several thousand people over two years time. Guess maybe her eyes were the only thing not working so well.

The pipeline snakes it's way 800 miles across Alaska

Hope this thing doesn't leak

One of the transitions the pipeline makes going from underground to elevated. A nice stop if you're ever in Fairbanks.

The long days are awesome. I find myself rarely getting sleepy until after midnight, and wide awake most days by4:30am

Various village vistas

2007-07-06T10:50:00.000-04:00

This go round I'm posting just a miscellaneous collection of photos from some of the villages we've visited. I will add to this entry as I'm able.

King Salmon aerial

Downtown King Salmon

King Salmon Mall

Our home away from home in King Salmon

Naknek, AK

Tatitlek aerial view

Tatitlek Russian Orthodox church

Larsen Bay

Larsen Bay cannery

Larsen Bay Post Office

I love a parade.

2007-07-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

First let me wish everyone a Happy Independence Day! A late start today allowed us to take in the local 4th of July parade, here in Bethel, AK. The star of the show was the Blackhawk helicopter.

The chopper made several low passes which was pretty cool.

Another shot of the whirlybird.

The requisite fire trucks.

The parade is quite the attraction here in Bethel.

This parade "float?" had us all a bit speechless.

I did score a frisbee for the little fella back home.

I imagine his reaction might be something like this:

Did someone say Frisbee?

W addicted to violent video games?

2007-06-23T11:56:00.000-04:00

I often wonder if such photo and headline placement is intentional. I, for one, got a bit of a chuckle from the association of the headlines to the picture. An article about video game addiction below a photo of our illustrious leader surrounded by computer screens, lights and switches, then an article about Manhunt 2(Bin Laden perhaps?) being suspended becacuse of violence. This appeared in the Anchorage Daily News yesterday. Too funny.

My first You Tube video

2007-06-21T17:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had a nice vantage point to take some video of a few planes taking flight. I never get tired of seeing them claw their way into the air. Check out the first one, he must have been loaded down, he was only about 20 feet up when he passed the end of the runway. First time doing any video so don't expect much in the way of production values. :-)

Home Sweet VHF Omnidirectional Range(VOR)

2007-06-20T11:20:00.000-04:00

Interesting spot we visited yesterday. While waiting for some equipment to do their thing we explored the village a bit. The structure in the photo above is a decommissioned navigation aid, either a VOR or VORTAC from the looks of it. Someone decided it would make a nice house, so they ran power to it and attached an oil drum for heat in the winter. The FAA sign is still on the door. Who'd have thunk it?

Flower on the Tundra.

2007-06-18T23:32:00.000-04:00

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

2007-06-15T11:19:00.000-04:00

Just a quick rewind. When speaking with a local pilot at Tatitlek, he mentioned that he's sort of like a flying Costco for the village. He said that one of the things he had recently delivered was street signs. That struck me as rather odd because the village has less than 100 people, and only about 10 cars or so. There were maybe 3 or 4 intersections. It might be just me, but it didn't really seem like there was a big traffic control problem there in Tatitlek. I just thought it was interesting.

While exploring Larsen Bay we saw this sign:

My first thought was that it should read something like this:

What is that? Is it alive? I think it's a dog. It's Rasta Dog!

2007-06-14T10:38:00.000-04:00

While spending some time at the South Naknek International Airport:

We came across this lump of matted hair:

It has a tongue, I think it's a dog:

Oh no, it's after us:

It wasn't just a dog, it was Rasta dog, this pup had major dreadlocks. I guess when you live on the Tundra every bit of hair helps.

The Eagles Have Landed, and Flown Away

2007-06-14T00:19:00.000-04:00

A few shots of the local denizens near Larsen Bay, AK.

Pose for me:

Just gorgeous:

Hey what about me?

Buh-bye now:

I Just Love Smoking Mountains

2007-06-13T02:23:00.001-04:00

Here's a shot of the Augustine Island Volcano:

Portage Pass and Whittier

2007-06-13T01:54:00.000-04:00

On Monday, we had some beautiful weather to fly Portage Pass and over Whittier(known as the strangest town in Alaska).

Approaching the end of Turnagain Arm:

Portage Glacier on the right:

Portage Pass on the left:

In the pass:

Whittier coming into view with a cruise ship alongside the pier:

Whittier, most of the town lives in the single building near center that looks like a hotel.

What an interesting place that must be in the winter. A couple of local facts: Whittier was established because the harbor was ice-free year round and because (fact #2) the weather is always "shittier in Whittier." Since it's almost always cloudy it meant that during WWII, the Japanese (and perhaps future enemies) would have had a hard time bombing the port. It's now accessible by car from Anchorage as well and serves as a ferry terminal as well as a cruise ship terminal.

Al Dente and a Perfect Portion

2007-06-11T01:36:00.000-04:00

Just finished watching the finale of Sopranos. It's been a great ride. Early on I never bought into the series because I only caught an episode here and there while in a hotel with some time to kill. About four years ago we opened a membership with NetFlix and started with Season 1, Episode 1, watching a dvd of episodes(usually two or three) on Friday night over beer and homemade pizza. "The Family" became like a member of our own little family. Close friends that came over to start the weekend off right. Once we caught up with the series we anxiously waited with the rest of America for each new season. Last year we ordered HBO just for the time the show aired. This year we did not. I caught the earlier episodes and missed a few in the middle, rejoining last week, and just in time for the finale tonight. Glad I did. I absolutely loved it.
There's been a lot of analysis about the series, and I will not attempt to duplicate or expound upon here, but the show had a touch of magic to be sure. It's like no matter how exotic a life one leads, in the end it's just full of the same ups and downs, small victories and petty bullshit. Most of us can relate all too well. I know I can, and I think that is why it struck such a chord with me,
For the finale, I will offer no spoilers, but to me it was precisely on target. And so this story of the North Jersey Family exits, poetically mundane, just as it should have been. Well played Mr. Chase, well played indeed. There will probably be a movie, but if anything I hope it's a prequel to the series. Not unlike an exquisite dining experience, the finale, like the series has left me delighted and satiated but not full. The perfect portion.

Tatitlek, AK Pop 91(give or take a few)

2007-06-07T17:53:00.000-04:00

Here's a photo of Tatitlek from the air:

Note the airstrip on the left. The Exxon Valdez ran aground not far from here. This just might be the smallest town I've ever visited. Everyone was very nice. They get air service from Anchorage on a fairly regular basis. Sort of a flying Costco as someone put it.

$500 dog? One fellow offered to sell me this little guy for $500. Tempted though I was, I had to decline.

Some local wildlife:

Enroute photos

2007-06-07T17:50:00.000-04:00

Here's a couple of photos from the trip out to Tatitlek:

Bear Valley near the end of Turnagain Arm

Peaks in the clouds.

Back in AK

2007-06-05T09:27:00.000-04:00

After setting what might be a ground speed record(at least my own personal record) in a Twin Otter of 234 kts :

We landed at Anchorage.

Nearly 19 hours of sunshine today. It was a beautiful afternoon. Even at 8:00 it felt like early afternoon. Last time I was here I hardly saw the sun at all; I hope today is a precursor for things to come.

Gratuitous Mt. Rainer Pictures

2007-06-04T08:08:00.000-04:00

No trip through Seattle is complete without some photos of the glorious Mt. Rainier

Dam It All

2007-06-04T08:02:00.000-04:00

With over 400 dams, the Columbia River Basin is the most dammed river system in the world. Here's a shot of one of them, the Umatilla Rapids Dam near Umatilla, Or.

A Place of Evel

2007-06-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

Somewhere near here is where Evel Knievel was supposed to jump the Snake River. This shot is of Twin Falls, ID which is perched at the rim of the canyon.

The Perrine Memorial Bridge is at the center.

God's Game of Reversi

2007-06-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

These things always remind me of giant game Othello:

Fire on the mountain....

2007-06-03T10:47:00.000-04:00

Near the Utah border we passed a wildfire. Take away the hills and its just like Florida right?

Another shot.

Flames!

On to Salt Lake City. One more stop in Seattle then North to Alaska.

....and Lightning in the air, near Colorado Springs

2007-06-03T10:33:00.000-04:00

Enroute from Little Rock to Colorado Springs we were rerouted slightly to avoid Mr. Thunderstorm.

It was close, but luckily we were able to get fuel before they put a lightning hold on operations. Below is a picture of one of the culprits.

A full tank and off we go over the Rockies. So nice to see snow in June.

On the way up we picked up just a bit of icing in some of the clouds. No worries.

Chasing the sun and leaving a storm in my wake.

2007-06-01T21:59:00.000-04:00

Finally after all too much time on the Cape and not nearly enough time at home the winds have carried me onward and upward once again. I departed this afternoon as the leading edge of Barry started caressing the Bay area with that lovely liquid lawns long for. This trip takes me yet again to the great Norther north wester west we call Alaska. Should be some great photos to share and the project will take me to some out-of-the-way places. First leg of the journey was to depart as the winds started blowing and the rain started down as we took wing for Little Rock. No photos just yet, but thanks to Barry we made good time. Aiming for Salt Lake tomorrow, hopefully the skies are a bit clearer. Stay tuned.

Tampa From My Perspective

2007-03-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

I love Zillow. I noticed today that they finally added the "Bird's-eye view" option for the Tampa area. It's pretty cool. The data is at least several months old, but its better than nothing. Of course there are other ways to get similar views, Google Earth and Microsoft's Virtualbut this doesn't require any download of software. Check it out.

Back from the Cape and postings may or may not resume. We'll see how it goes, I have to finish building a shed and some landscaping. At least the days are getting longer.

Closed for the Season

2007-01-21T10:32:00.000-05:00

Back up to the Cape, and there just isn't all that much to post about when I'm up here.

Very Cool Twin Otter Landing.

2006-12-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

This is what these planes were built for.

What'a a Little Fishy and Goes Clippety Clop Clippety Clop?

2006-12-07T14:59:00.000-05:00

Our morning visit to Downtown Boston. That's what. After the ferry ride we waited around until the New England Aquarium opened and made that our first stop. It's not a big aquarium, but it has a nice setup and a beautiful location right on the waterfront.

First up were the jellies.

They look so pretty when you're not in the water with them.

It's Jelly Time!

The main area has several types of penguins.

Bad hair day?

Outside they have some seals.

I think this gal just woke up.

The main feature is a 5 story tank with a ramp that spirals up around it all the way to the top.
A few of the inhabitants:

Eel

Peekaboo!

After the aquarium we took a carriage ride, another first. Here's Chico, the horse, who was kind enough to show us around:

Chico

It was a nice, although short, time in Boston. We will definitely visit again. I recommend you add it to the list of places to visit.

Cheers!

They Didn't Know Our Names

2006-12-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

Not that they should. We had a nice dinner at the original Cheers, the Bull and Finch. They used the exterior for the show, but the inside on the show was all made up. The Bull and Finch was quite a bit smaller, but still a nice neighborhood type bar.

Where everybody knows your name.

NORM! No, not really.

USS Constitution
We had a view of the USS Constitution from our hotel, but time ran short so we didn't get to tour it.

Bunker Hill Memorial

We spent the last morning in town taking the harbor shuttle from the Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf to visit the New England Aquarium and downtown.

Downtown Boston

The ferry ride was really nice, if not just a little too short. It was chilly that morning, but we were out on the bow snapping away. The shuttle ferry ties up right next to the New England Aquarium.

This must be the place.

....to be continued...stay tuned for something fishy....

The First Snow!

2006-12-04T08:35:00.000-05:00

I know it's been snowing elsewhere, but this morning marked the first snow on the cape and my first snow of the year. One of the best things about being up here this time of year is getting a taste of real winter and being able to come back South before I see too much of it :-). It's a wet slushy snow, but it's snow. Yippee!

Snow's coming

Gratuitous mooning

Snow!

More snow

Planes, (No)Trains, and (Broken down rental-car-type) Automobiles

2006-11-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

Well, my dearest made it safely here and home again. We spent Thanksgiving and the day on either side in Boston. Wonderful Italian food in the North End. Dinner at the original Cheers. Thanksgiving dinner at a chain. A visit to the New England Aquarium and a carriage ride through downtown. It was a whirlwind tour, and I will present photos of all, but this post is just a summary of my fiance's first trip of this sort solo(at least for the hard part).
The saga begins at 5am. She departed home for the 6:45 flight to Providence. Enter, rolling roadblock on 275. After creeping along for over 1/2 an hour they're able to get off at the next exit. Safely, but behind schedule they get to the airport. After encountering a surly counter agent, and a full security screening queue, she's the last person to board the aircraft. So much for the "A" boarding card she printed the day before.
Look at me I'm flying!

Luckily circumstances cooperated and I was able to pick her up. It's about an hour and a half drive from Providence to the Cape, and not the most straightforward trip for someone who's never driven in New England.

Downtown Providence, RI

Cape Cod Canal and Sagamore Bridge

Dunes (This is sort of what I always pictured when someone mentioned Cape Cod)

I gave her a sort of driving tour of the various locales that she's oft heard me mention over the phone when I'm up here.
We ventured down to Wood's Hole, home to WHOI and NOAA's NE Fisheries Science Center.

Woods Hole "Downtown"

NOAA Research Ships Albatross IV and Delaware II

On Wednesday morning we had planned to drive up to Boston for the holiday. We hoped to spend the day exploring the city. Neither of us had visited before, so it was going to be a new experience we could share. Enter Murphy. After driving through downtown we were crossing the Longfellow Bridge from downtown Boston to Cambridge. Just as I was starting up the hump the car died.

Breakdown!

We called the rental car company and gave them the details along with our location. We were informed it might be a little while and that we would have to ride with the driver to Logan airport for a replacement vehicle. OK. After waiting for about 30 minutes or so along came a police officer who said it wasn't safe for us to be on the bridge. He would "push" us over the bridge. OK sounds like a plan.

I think I can, I think I can.

Over the hump and we rolled down the other side into a parking spot in front of an office building. We immediately notify the rental car company that we have now moved, and update them on our current location.

A bit later we get a call from the tow truck driver. "Where are you?" We relay the details only to be told. "That's too bad, I can't cross the bridge, that's Cambridge, you have to get a Cambridge tow truck now"

Doh!

Another hour or so and we're on our way to Logan on the day before Thanksgiving. This isn't going to be pretty. It was busy, but not as bad as we feared. The company rep is very helpful and for our inconvenience asks us if we want an upgraded vehicle. Thats fine, SUV? No thanks, the Mustang, not really, do you have a Volvo? Sorry, no. OK I guess the Mustang will have to do. This is where I really start to feel like Steve Martin in the movie mentioned in the title. We wade out into this sea of cars, and after hoofing it through the rather confusing signage we arrive at our designated spot. Hmm, not the car we rented. We look around there are several Mustangs, but none of them with the right tag. A few of the lot guys come over and assist, nope still no Mustang. One guy is very helpful, wait right here. A few minutes later up drives a Volvo.

Score!

After squaring away the paperwork, away we go. Unfortunately with most of the day gone(Sunset at 4:15 and weather moving in), the sightseeing is cut short.

.....to be continued........

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

From Boston. My fiance made it up to the Cape and we're spending the holiday in Beantown. A first for both of us. Photos will be forthcoming. Happy Thanksgiving, I'm sure we all can find much to be thankful for.

America just might have a concience after all

2006-11-21T06:55:00.000-05:00

Not my usual post, but I felt I must comment after I read about the retraction of OJ's book and interview. Like many, I have over the past several years, have begun to wonder just how low the public would stoop for a cheap thrill. At least this event shows the bar was set somewhere, for the time being at least. Whether he did it or didn't do it, this was nothing more than an attempt at profiteering from a tragedy that struck two families. We as a society have become just too wrapped up in the voyeurism to really see ourselves. Like staring at the sun blots out what is right in front of you, this over stimulation of our moral indignation has blurred our own immorality. I hope that this just might be a step in reversing the course.

Somehow, No Matter How You Say It, This Just Seems Wrong.

2006-11-15T12:27:00.000-05:00

It's not unusual for people to take a successful advertising campaign and with a little creative license mold it into something for their own use. Got Milk? Quite catchy, right? No surprise that it was borrowed for so many other advertisements, but this. This just isn't right.

It Must Be Fall

2006-11-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

Back in travel status, I had to attend some training in New York, which kept me quite busy this week, hence the absence of postings. I drove up I-95 from New York to the Cape. It's definitely Fall. I think I missed the best part by a bit, but there are still some brilliant colors to be seen. I didn't have any time to sight-see, but I grabbed a couple of shots from the side of the road. I think I will get over to Mystic Seaport sometime this month. I'd like to get out to the Vineyard or Nantucket too. Posts forthcoming as they happen.
My fiance is supposed to be flying up to join me for Turkey Day, but she hates flying(and here I am a pilot, just the luck huh?) Anyway, I'm pretty excited, this will be the first time she's visiting me on the road, it should be great, finally I might see a lot of the things around here I've been saving until we could share them.

Mystic Seaport

Tall Ship

Colors

Colorful Cape Cod

Here I Go Again

2006-11-07T07:19:00.000-05:00

Back on the road, this time to the Northeast. Gonna be spending several weeks in Cape Cod, I'll be posting more regularly after I get settled in. Stay tuned.

Make sure to double check your ballot

2006-10-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

As this Miami Herald article indicates, there have been some problems with the voting machines. Just make sure to review your ballot before submitting so your are actually voting for the person you intended to. To do that you first must vote, which I urge you to do, early, on the 7th, absentee, whatever works, but please do your part.

Gratuitous Dirty Photos

2006-10-26T19:39:00.000-04:00

Just before my last trip we took our pup to get his coat buzzed since it was so hot. Well shortly afterwards, we took him to Al Lopez dog park. It had rained pretty heavily the night before and after a bit of playing with the two other pooches there, Gideon discovered a mud puddle. In the time that we've had him he's never really gotten dirty before, so, he was in heaven.

Given the photo below, you might even say he was in Hog's Heaven:

It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it.

Just Say NO to Electrified Fences in Tampa

2006-10-26T08:31:00.000-04:00

I heard at the OSHNA membership meeting that there was a proposal before City Council tonight regarding an amendment to allow electrified fences to be installed. I urge anyone in Tampa to contact their City Council person and express their opposition to this proposal. Seminole Heights residents, as well as those in other neighborhoods, have worked very hard to remove blighting structures such as barbed-wire fences, and this would be a enormous step backwards to neighborhood redevelopment and reduce quality of life where these fences would be installed. Not only would the proposal allow fences up to 10' tall, they require a perimeter fence around the electrified fence, so we get twice the eyesore. Despite mitigation efforts, they would also remain a safety hazard.
You may contact City Council either through the below website:
Tampa City Council
or phone them at:
(813) 274-8131
or fax to:
(813) 274-7076

1, 2 Freddy's Coming For You

2006-10-20T08:34:00.000-04:00

9, 10 Freddy wants your PIN

Maybe its because of the Halloween season or perhaps it's because this was the one movie to truly give me nightmares when I was a teenager, but, when I drove up to the ATM at the GTE FCU on Florida near Busch, I would have sworn this was Freddy Kreuger staring back at me.....

Back In Time Again

2006-10-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

I was sifting through some older photos on the hard drive and came across some that my fiance took after Frances hit when we were living in Vero Beach. We evacuated to Tampa for both Frances and Jeanne. We were renting in Vero while I was in flight school and the first storm occurred right about the time I was to solo. Here's what we saw when following the storm from Tampa.

Meanwhile the rention pond at the house in Riverview where we were staying was almost surfable:

That 3 hour drive to Vero after Labor Day took us about 5 hours with traffic and detours. We had no idea what to expect.
Along the way, scenes such as these were commonplace:

Turning down our street after this long drive we were met with this:

All in all our house fared very well, with no damage to the integrity of the structure, so no belongings were lost. Unlike many of our neighbors we dodged a bullet. Virtually our entire neighborhood and most of that part of Florida would have blue roofs for the next year.

I've lived in Florida almost my whole life and this was my first hurricane. All told we were without power for the month of September for 22 days from the two storms. My flight training was put on hold but my fiance was required to report to work most of that time. Availability of supplies and every day conveniences was limited. We drove to Tampa almost every day because of our limited options for lodging, food and gas. We were blessed, so my heart went out to those who were impacted even more than we were. I hope Tampa continues it's lucky streak, here's to another season almost done.(Althought the fat lady hasn't sang yet!)

Obnoxious Americans

2006-10-10T11:44:00.000-04:00

I hate to make hasty judgements on a limited number of experiences, but I felt I had to say something about the kind of people that are representing us when they travel abroad.
This was my first trip to a non-English speaking country. I had taken 2 years of high school Spanish back in the late 80's and had not used it really since. Combine that with the fact that what I did learn was taught in a very very small rural high school, and, needless to say, my Spanish was a bit less than usable for most of my trip. With the patience of the locals and a little effort on my part, I was able to communicate most of the time. I have a new-found desire to reawaken those synapses and learn even more.
Loreto is a tourist destination, however it is not like Cabo or Cancun where one can speak exclusively English during their visit. That is, in my opinion, part of the attraction.
On with my observations. Most of the "Gringos" I encountered were from southern California or elsewhere. Too many dollars not enough sense if you get my meaning. They were snooty and rude, not so much to other gringos but to the locals. We had one lady come up to us while we were having lunch and ask if this was our first time here. When we responded yes, and how nice it was she proceeded to boast about her new home she was having built and made a juvenile taunt about how she was able to move here and we couldn't. We were total strangers and this is how she interacted with us. I assure you, I am not thin-skinned. This woman's behavior was atrocious. She exemplified the sort of Americans I encountered during my time in Baja. If this is the same sort of American visiting other parts of the world, it's no wonder people have such a low opinion of us. I understand our foreign policy hasn't won us any admirers either, but this sort of thing goes back well before GW came to power. Anyway, all I can say is, for those who travel abroad, you do represent all of us who come after you, please try to be on your best behavior.
Also understand that when you travel you may very well have to overcome prejudices based on previous travellers. We had one member of our party who has lived several years in Baja, and several others that were quite fluent in Spanish. The waiter made a comment while we were ordering that was insulting, not thinking that a group of gringos would even know what he said. He was flustered, and a bit embarassed when this person called him out.

Just remember a little courtesy and respect go a long way.

Back Home for Now

2006-10-09T11:32:00.000-04:00

Well, we brought the plane cross country on Thursday and Friday. No opportunity to take any pictures because of the haze that stretched from Arizona to New Orleans. Plus, we wasted no time during the fuel stops for anything but the basics.
We flew across the gulf from the Delta to Tampa, and seeing those lights of St. Pete were a sight for sore eyes. It was good to be home.
Our house is getting the exterior painted as I type. Complete change of colors and we're pretty excited to see how it turns out. Cranberry red, white and baby blue to earth tones. My next trip is to Cape Cod in November. Not a whole lot to see up there, particularly since I'm gonna miss most of the fall colors. Maybe I can get some good shots of Tampa, or Halloween or something. Stay Tuned!

Sea of Cortez and the Loreto Coast

2006-10-09T10:39:00.000-04:00

Parts of the coast look like God's coloring book.

So, as all good things must come to an end, last Wednesday was our last day on the survey. It was a survey of the islands just off the coast of Loreto. All the other flights took us west over the Pacific. All I can say is Wow! This coastline has beauty comparable only to Alaska. The islands rose right up out of the water. No trees, but plenty of cacti were on the islands, and in places
grew right down to the shoreline. It was almost like a caricature.

Cactus Coastline

Beautiful Cliffs

A pilot whale.

*As I Walked Out On the Streets of Loreto

2006-10-08T10:34:00.000-04:00

Looking up at the Nuestra Senora de. Loreto Mission

The streets of Loreto:

Look at the size of the lizards around here:

It reminds me of the lizard painted on the side of the building in Downtown Tampa.

Inside the mission:

*From the Johhny Cash song: except he was singing about Laredo, not Loreto.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

2006-10-08T10:28:00.000-04:00

Lots of street dogs in town:

I felt bad for them, however, they did have a nasty habit of chasing you when you jogged. Looks like this guy is heading for an ambush!

Best Breeze in Baja, Well, Loreto Anyway

2006-10-08T10:14:00.000-04:00

Santa Lucia:

We were usually out to the airport before anything was open in town, but that meant more time in the afternoon. There weren't too many places that were air-conditioned so a finding somewhere with a good breeze was a treasure indeed. This little spot was on the waterfront with a great view. We only had a chance for breakfast a few times, but the sunrise there was spectacular. In the afternoon the sea breeze made the place almost as cool as air conditioning. I don't know what they did special, if anything, but the coffee was pretty tasty too. It might be that it was my first caffeine of the day at 2pm instead of my normal morning dose of the beautiful bean. The food was great there as well. In the two weeks we were in Loreto, we practically became regulars here at the Santa Lucia.

Santa Lucia Sunrise:

The view from in front of the restaurant:

Went to Baja, saw turtles, and all I got was a lousy t-shirt.

2006-10-04T20:40:00.000-04:00

Well its a pretty cool t-shirt actually, and I got some great photos of a beautiful place. I hope I get to come back next year. I did only manage one picture of a turtle however, unfortunately while I often get the best view from up front, things whizz by below us too quickly to get pictures of the critters we're looking for. Oh well, we saw a lot of turtles. And, I saw my first Blue Whale. Now that was impressive! It was positively huge.

Here's my lowly one sea turtle photo, if you look closely, close one eye, hold your head slightly to the left, and do some shrooms you can see it's a turtle.

Surf's Up!

2006-10-04T20:20:00.000-04:00

One of the guys we were flying with was pretty bummed because they paved the road going to San Juanico pictured below. He was a surfer and it used to be sort of a hidden spot that had a nice break without having to fight too much for a decent wave.
Now the developers are moving in and it's getting more and more crowded.

Waiting for a wave at 2nd Point.

Not a great break today, but not too bad either.

He said he was out here one time and some Pro's flew in on their float plane, got out surfed awhile and got back in the plane and flew off. It used to be that isolated, but the new road is bringing in retirees and weekend warriors by the droves. Everything changes I guess.

Not just another world down here, it's almost a different planet

2006-10-04T20:16:00.000-04:00

Some of the scenery here looks almost Mars-like.

Painted Sky

2006-09-30T16:03:00.000-04:00

Adios

2006-09-28T17:29:00.000-04:00

A bit of home when I'm away from home.

2006-09-26T12:51:00.000-04:00

Travelling as much as I do, it would be all too easy to lose touch with the goings-on back home. I've come to rely quite heavily on some of the local blogs to help me stay connected. A hearty thank you, and much appreciation to all of the following:

Seminole Heights Blog, best neighborhood blog about the best neighborhood.
Sticks of Fire,The standard-bearer of Tampa blogging.
Tampa Taxi Shots, I love the photos and tales from Tampa's darkside.
Vitamin Sea A regular dose of sunshine and beautiful photos to boot.

And finally,

Tampa Blab, For bringing me all those blogs to which I've not yet become addicted

My sincerest gratitude for all of your efforts, and to all of those whom I didn't specifically name, my thanks to you as well.

Just a taste of Loreto

2006-09-25T21:23:00.000-04:00

Loreto is the oldest Spanish town on the Baja California peninsula, settled in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries. Here are just a couple of photos right around the hotel to start things off.

Small part of the waterfront

Another shot of the waterfront

A view of the central historic district and mission from the rooftop deck of the hotel

Sun setting on the Mision Nuestra Senora de Loreto

Hotel pool from the lobby

Hotel courtyard

Sunrise in Baja.

2006-09-25T00:08:00.000-04:00

After a few days in southern California we crossed the border yesterday. My first trip to Mexico ever. What an adventure it's going to be. Like many, I had two years of Spanish in high school. I haven't used it since really. That's all changing rapidly. Luckily, several members of our expedition are bilingual, and the people here are so very friendly that communication, while difficult, is quite doable. I plan on picking up the basics in very short order. This place is beautiful, a real undiscovered gem. The weather is warm, but not oppressive. Again, the people are wonderful, very charming and friendly. The food is indescribably delicious. Tacos de pescado, enchiladas de pollo, and quesadillas are what I've sampled so far. Better than any I've had in the States.

I managed to get a picture of a couple of Sperm Whales, but the sun angle was unfavorable and I'm still learning this new camera, so it isn't great.

Here's just a couple of shots to show the landscape of Baja.

Hi Ho. Hi Ho. It's off to Mexico.

2006-09-22T09:03:00.000-04:00

Postings might be a bit scarce for the next few weeks I am enroute to Baja California for a sea turtle project and the hotel there only has limited Internet. If I can post I will, but otherwise I'll put the pictures up once I return to the States.

OK, Sherman, set the Wayback Machine

2006-09-19T13:58:00.000-04:00

Captain's Log Stardate 2000:
I was going through some old digital photos I took way back when I started this thing they call a career. It was my first true big adventure as an adult. I graduated USF in May, 2000. As a present to myself I bought a Sony Mavica, 1 megapixel digital camera in part to document this grand journey.

I won't bore you with too many details, but to start things off I will give just a tiny bit of background. Around the time I was graduating USF I found what I thought was going to be a dream job(so far it has been.) After it was officialI was off to Lawnguyland New York for training. My first job was going to be a bridge officer on a research ship so what better place for training then the US Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point. The following photos were taken around that time and shortly thereafter during my first sea duty.

Blogger was having issues with uploading photos so I tried out the "Hello" program. I don't really care for the way it uploads each photo as a seperate post.

2006-09-19T13:49:00.000-04:00

We had a fair bit of on-the-water training on the rivers and harbor around NYC.
Here's Ms. Liberty

Statue of Liberty

2006-09-19T13:47:00.000-04:00

This was pre-9/11. I only have a couple of photos of the WTC.

Twin Towers

2006-09-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

One thing's for sure. The views out my "office" windows have left me quite spoiled. This was taken on Chesapeake Bay.

Chesapeake Bay Rainbow

2006-09-19T13:46:00.000-04:00

Left a good job in the city:
Steaming out of NY harbor on our way to Norfolk, VA.

Manhattan Island From New York Harbor

2006-09-19T13:45:00.000-04:00

Another day, another sunset.

Long Island Sound Sunset

Not my usual post

2006-09-18T12:12:00.000-04:00

This is a bit out of the ordinary, but I just had to put it out there. Yesterday, we went to see what is one of the best movies I've seen in a long long time. Little Miss Sunshine was truly a breath of fresh air. It was a delightful story with great characters and plenty of laughs to go around. If you get a chance, I wholeheartedly recommend you watch this film.

Gratuitous mountain pictures

2006-09-17T19:22:00.000-04:00

I think I've said it before, but the thing that I miss the most living here in Florida is the lack of vertical relief. I do love the mountains.

Below is a rare gem: Ketchikan airport in the sunshine.

Cruising Alaska

2006-09-17T18:49:00.000-04:00

One thing that struck me about Alaska and that part of the continent is the sheer number of cruise ships I saw. They were in Anchorage, they were in Prince William Sound when we flew over. We witnessed several in the Inside Passage when the clouds broke enough for us to see the surface.
They were in Juneau:

When we stopped for fuel two passed in the short time we were there:

I used to think I wanted to take an Alaskan cruise, but after seeing how many there are at each of these places, I'm not so sure. I didn't have the camera ready, but at one point we saw four of them in unision heading north only a mile or two apart. Seeing Alaska that way, just doesn't seem right anymore.

Closer to home we stopped in Port Hardy, BC to clear customs and refuel before flying east over the Rockies.

Port Hardy Airport, BC was an interesting sight. A small regional carrier,Pacific Coastal, was operating a rather ecclectic fleet. They had a Shorts(similar to the Sherpa-looking cargo plane I posted about earlier), Beech 1900s, Beavers on floats, and even a couple of Grumman Geese.

The below picture capture a fair portion of their flock at the time.

Their scheduling made for a rather nifty sight as well. Just about the time we landed all of these planes alighted at the same time. They switched passengers and then scattered again, It was sort of like seagulls on pieces of thrown bread.

Is this any place to put an airport?

2006-09-17T12:42:00.000-04:00

We left Anchorage and spent the night in Juneau. It's a great town, the capitol of the state and only accessible by boat or plane. I've heard tales ever since I started flying about the challenges of flying IFR in Alaska. Almost conversation has mention of the approaches into Juneau. There is no precision approach into the airport available for anyone but Alaska Airlines. The airport is basically located in a bowl with tall mountains in every direction but one and there are pretty high hills that way. The available approaches don't even line you up with the runway. There's a dog-leg final that takes you through a small cut in the hill before you turn about 30 degrees shortly before touchdown. I attempted to get a panorama of the field but with all the activity it didn't work out so well.

This panorama shows the view from North around to East.

This shot shows the view to the Southeast:

Here's what the South side of the airport looks like:

And here are the hills the final approach crosses:
That little dip right above the Alaskan Airlines jet is where you pass before turning.

We just overnighted in Juneau. It seemed like a really nice small city. I wish we could have spent more time there.

At least I got to see one Grizzly Bear up close!

2006-09-14T18:00:00.000-04:00

This wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
In my mind there are a couple of things that I automatically associate with Alaska: Snow, Ice, King Crab, Oil, and of course Bear. We had one close encounter with a brown bear but no pictures to show for it. I learned that no matter what, you never ever ever run from a bear, Except when you're with three other people, and they all run.
I had heard the rules of wildlife interaction. They were even broadcast daily on the motel's information television channel. Repeated often: "Don't run if you encounter a bear, it will most likely spark their instinct to chase. Just respectfully give them a wide berth and move away slowly and deliberately." Also: it's better to make plenty of noise to alert them to your presence so you don't startle them.

All that being said, we had driven up a gravel road and found a small pool that was full of salmon.

While we were checking out the fish we heard a bear on the other side of the stream, a few hundred yards away or so, howling or growling. We didn't see the bear yet, but the sounds were getting closer. So we did the touristy thing of course. We got the cameras ready and walked down the stream hoping to get a glimpse of some true Alaskan wildlife. The brush was rather thick, but we could hear the twigs snapping and knew we were getting fairly close. As we drew nearer, the weeds and trees started parting and swaying, and a dark shape moved towards us quickly. The guy that was closest to the commotion then bolted for the truck. I knew that we weren't supposed to run, but that tiny voice of logic said, "you don't have to be first, but you sure as heck don't want to be last in this race." It's like the old joke, I didn't have to outrun the bear, just the slowest guy. So after the first dude took off, the rest of us sort of simultaneously had the same thought and followed suit. We never did get a good sight of the bear, nor a picture. I think the bear was just bluffing us. Either way, we sat in the truck for a bit, but the bear never made another appearance, so we moved on.

I did see a few bear from the air when we along some of the flatter parts of the coast, but never close enough for a picture.

I had to settle for this up-close encounter with Grizzly Bear.

Maybe next year!

At the same marina, I thought this was kind of funny.

I "Hope" everyone uses the doggy waste bucket.

Landing Airplanes for Dummies

2006-09-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

I once heard that humor is the secret to long life, and even if it isn't it certainly makes the time we have a lot better while we're here. Occasionally I like to pull out this book when I fly with a crew for the first time. It's pretty well received though there is often that momentary look of puzzlement while they decide if it's a joke or now. I found the cover generator at a site called www.signgenerator.org which links to www.txt2pic.com. You can change most of the items on the cover and make them your own.

Leaving Anchorage

2006-09-12T15:56:00.000-04:00

The day we left Anchorage was a pretty dreary one. The weather was blustery and grey. There were reports of moderate to severe turbulence and we were going to have to climb through it to head back home. They offered us a quick departure on one of the east-west runways, but it would have meant a pretty mean crosswind so we declined and had a forever hold awaiting our IFR release. I never knew just how much air cargo moved through Anchorage, but it seems there was an endless parade of 747's landing. The delay allowed me to get the above shot. Pretty cool I think. I think we were waiting there for about 40 minutes. The plan was to stop in Juneau after a quick touchdown in Yakutat to drop off some parts for one of our other aircraft. Just before they cleared us for departure an Alaskan Airlines 737 landed and the controller asked about the ride in, and he said "It was exciting." Not what you want to hear when you fly something with a fraction of the mass of a 737. Luckily we must have missed all the squirrely air because aside from a few minor bumps the departure and trip to Juneau was rather uneventful.

Glorious

2006-09-12T15:41:00.000-04:00

Just another day at the office.

The day that changed everything.

2006-09-11T08:04:00.000-04:00

9/11 was one of those events where most people know in great detail where they were and what they were doing when the news broke. I was doing charting work in Long Island Sound just outside of New Haven, CT, That morning, we were towing one of our survey boats into the Coast Guard station to trailer it for repairs. The day earlier we had lost the lower unit of the outboard motor. A call came from the ship that an airplane had hit the Twin Towers. Having flown in and out of La Guardia a few times, right over the city, my first thought was an accident.
We continued on and tied up at the pier, and in the time from the first radio call until we arrived at the station our nation went to war. I felt as though I had stepped into the Twilight Zone. The station was in lockdown. Every "Coastie" was wearing a sidearm, there was a machine gun emplacement atop the building, and Jersey barriers were in place across the gate. As we were loading the boat one seaman came running by and yelled they just hit the Pentagon, we're at Defcon...whatever. It was completely surreal.

That evening the dust cloud was quite visible on the horizon. The lack of jet noise overhead(a veritable constant sound anywhere near NYC) was also a reminder that things were different now.

From that moment that we realized how quickly things can change. How fleeting our way of life might be. In the days that followed, I was scheduled to travel to Tampa to meet a ship for a two week project in the Gulf. No air travel meant I had to drive from NY to FL. Coming over the Verazzano Bridge Thursday morning, the reality was further cemented. Warships and Coast Guard cutters patrolled the harbor. Freighters and tankers of every flag sat idly at anchor. I stopped in Norfolk to pick up another shipmate for this trip. Chesapeake bay was full of silent, still merchant ships, while cruisers and destroyers prowled about. We were at war.

The response of the American people, and the world was awe-inspiring. There was a comraderie that just wasn't there before. We realized just how short life might be, just how tenuous our sense of security was. Now, five years later, what has happened? Where has this cohesiveness gone. We say we remember and honor those that perished, but do we really or are we just paying lip service? How did your life changed on 9/11, and are you still living those changes?

Did you feel the earthquake?

2006-09-10T11:40:00.000-04:00

www.usgs.gov
OK, I've lived in Florida most of my life and even having spent some time on the west coast of the US and having felt two earthquakes, I still didn't think that what I felt a few minutes ago was a quake. My first thought, sonic boom, but the shuttle isnt landing, and no noise, second thought was ok so my house is haunted, even hmm, a 9/11 followup a day early. Well we used to say yeah, we have hurricanes, but you can run from those, but I guess we get earthquakes too. Where were you when the earth moved?

Fjord Flying

2006-09-07T17:42:00.000-04:00

A lot of the flying we did this trip involved investigating a glacier's terminus for seal haulouts. This meant a lot of flying in fjords, and it was some of the most exhilarating flying I've done so far. The hills on either side shot up a couple of thousand feet in many places, and we were flying down low under the overcast deck. It made for some beautiful contrasts. The weather over the glaciers themselves was often clear and sunny while the approaches through the fjords were cloudy and foggy.

The sun beaming on the ice made them glow like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It was stunning.

Most of the time I was in Alaska however, the days were pretty grey. From what I've been told the best time to visit is May/June. The rainy season starts in late July through August.
Here's a view of what we saw much of the time when we flew out to see if the weather was suitable for survey.

Sup From the Cup That Keeps You Up

2006-09-07T09:51:00.000-04:00

I truly love coffee and think I have found my ambrosia, and Alaska might become my Mecca. While I was in Cordova, AK I ventured into the grocery store to seek some coffee to make in my room. The stuff in the lobby was good, but unpredictably available. The shelves had various brands that were familiar, but new place means I have to try something out of the ordinary. I bought a 14oz bag of Resurrection Blend by Raven's Brew. It was one of the best I've ever tasted, strong but smooth. I've since ordered a couple more blends. One that wasn't on the shelf, was the Three-peckered Billy Goat. With a name like that, I just had to try it. I also have a bag of Deadman's Reach. I'll let you know how they are.

Pizza Wars Redux

2006-09-07T09:07:00.000-04:00

I hate to use just a single experience to make a determination regarding a restaurant as, good or bad, it might have been a fluke. Well I have had Cappy's again and while it wasn't as good as the first time(the crust was a bit overcooked) this time we also had the breadsticks. The breadsticks were awesome, the pizza still very good, if not as good as before. This time around we went a bit later and the place was almost full. Service was still exceptional. Last night we had Stephanno's to enjoy at home with a movie(RV, with Robin Williams) and they have made improvements to the crust, but still not as good as Cappy's, and it's a bit pricier. Final judgement remains the same, Cappy's for Eat-in, Stephanno's for Take-out. I wonder what's going to happen to Ybor Pizza and Sub's. We gave them a try a while back, and the pizza just wasn't nearly as good as it was when they were in Ybor, and compared to Stephanno's and now Cappy's it tasted like cardboard.

Certain death in this part of Tampa??

2006-08-30T08:14:00.000-04:00

A comment on the Sunrise post over on Tim's Tampa Taxi Shots blog kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The writer said a few seconds outside the car was certain death in this part of Tampa(not specified, but near downtown, Tampa Heights perhaps?) If he was referring to traffic, I stand corrected as traffic in some areas is pretty scary, but if he was referring to crime, I think it was a gross exaggeration spoken out of ignorance. Watch the news and much, if not most, of the violent crime is taking place these days in the suburbs. The gang activity is focused in Town and Country and out in West Hillsborough county. Some of the inner city neighborhoods, are not necessarily places I would casually stroll through after dark, but to fear stopping long enough to snap a few photos, my fiance and I do that all the time. I guess I would say that to venture into some of the housing projects at night would be a little uncomfortable, but on the streets around them, I've never seen a reason to be fearful. I was born in Tampa, and lived here off and on for much of my life. Most of the now "in" neighborhoods were scary places not that long ago. But times they are a changin'.

Ice, Ice Baby

2006-08-29T07:20:00.000-04:00

My first flight upon reaching Alaska was conducted south of Cordova up into the Copper River valley. We flew up close and personal with a few glaciers that day. Above is Child's Glacier. On
the right side near the center you can see what's called the "Million Dollar Bridge." It was a railroad bridge built to haul copper out of the mountains to the port at Cordova and it's the end of the road out of Cordova now. It's a bridge to nowhere as the road ends on the northeast side of the bridge.

Below is a shot approaching Bering Glacier from the coast. The bay has quite a few bergs and bergy bits from calving of the glacier. For a Florida boy, it was hard to believe it was August, but the bugs on the windscreen reminded me of home.

Because 5x Just Isn't Always Enough

2006-08-28T20:04:00.000-04:00

These are one reason I need a better camera. Taken at full optical zoom, we just couldn't get close enough to the little bugger. That is a sea otter, the namesake of the plane I fly. He/she was much cuter in person. Too bad the photos don't quite capture that.