Taking flight in a tiny plane - from Key West to Ft, Myers

[Mira]

Since broiling in the heat of the Keys, after my return home I have only seen 1/2 day of sunshine so far. NC has started the rainy season.

So I'm cleaning up my files, and there is still more to show

This is not a special shot but it shows the famous Highway One - southernmost in the US, and begins to hint that from the air the differences of the depth of the water create patterns as if it were land


All the turquoise here is only different levels of water depth


You can see how the stream of water on the land has carved a depth under the sea as well


Majestic Clouds - I love them


And coming in for the landing

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. GREAT pix, Mira!

I'd never have the guts to get on that kind of plane, but thanks for taking me along for such a beautiful ride - risk-free.

There are colors there that you can't find anywhere else. The rotten part is how built up it's become. But, still, up in the sky, a safe, gorgeous place.

Thank you, Mira.......................

[Celebration]

2. Ah, you had charged batteries this time

It does pay off, big time. So glad you got these gorgeous shots.

[Mira]

3. You remember! That honors me. Yes I did, I made sure of it. BUT

in comparison - the flight without a camera was a ten, and the one with it was a 2.
On a scale of 10 being a once in a lifetime gift of monumental proportions. I knew as it happened that my camera was not working for the reason that I had to regard it as a "peak experience" that should not be diluted by anything else.

[ConsAreLiars]

6. I hear that.

Some of my most treasured images are just memories. Hitching out of Oslo maybe in Norway, or maybe a bit further on, and walking up the road and cresting a hill where the road turned left and looking up into a wall of evergreen giants that seemed infinitely high and wide and me both very tiny and very there and very much a part of that whole.

[madamesilverspurs]

4. Wow.

My dialup is running really s-l-o-w, so I knew it would take a while to download these pics (20+ minutes). But these pics give me a view of someplace I'm not likely to see otherwise, and oh boy! was it worth the download wait! I had no idea what the Keys looked like, didn't realize it was so flat. Amazing, and all the incredible shades of blue and green, deep and shallow. That pic of the landing made my tummy lurch a little; even on airliners I confess that I still close my eyes at landing, don't open them again until I know we're safely on the ground. Wimpy, I know.

Thanks for the pics, hope your vacation was invigorating!

[Mira]

5. I cannot fathom that you would put up with such a time lapse. And yet again

I am honored that you would go through it to see what I want to show.
Just for you, my friend, I wish I could have photographed the other flight. The battery was empty and the plane is so small they only let you keep your hat and your camera around your neck, and all luggage is underneath - like the camera case with the spare battery.

thanks for your kind comments

M

[JeffR]

7. The second one is heart-tugging.

Makes me feel very deep in exile here on the north side of the Great Lakes. But a very lovely photograph.

The cloud reflections in that and the next one are like an inverted aurora. Can't wait to see what else you have to unveil from this trip, as if the riches you've already displayed aren't enough. I'm always greedy to look at more!

[Sheepshank]

8. Reminds me....

I was in my late teens the first time I flew in a plane. The awe of seeing clouds from above. The real life details of the land and water below. Thanks for the reminders!

[cwydro]

9. I fly in that plane all the time!

Sorry I didn't know you were flying out that day; I would have said hello.

[Mira]

10. Check you out! Are you serious?

Is this guy the pilot? He was my pilot going and coming back. Nice guy. Obviously then you know how spectacular that flight is on a day with many clouds and all that sun. I wish I had known where to come to get that "hello".

[cwydro]

11. Yes, lol, his name is Pete.

And he is a rabid neo-con! He would absolutely DIE to know he is on DU, lol! You made my day.

Other than that though, he really is a nice guy. I pissed him off during the election by putting a screen saver of Hillary on his computer.

I work at the airport.

[Mira]

12. Look here - there is more - Pete WOULD die - here he is

with his plane.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Mira/126

I had a good long wait in the Ft.Myers airport and took all kinds of pictures. Even the ladies' room, where I was playing around with the theme for the "looking up" contest.
Anyway - you made my day for sure. How funny to learn about Pete.

[cwydro]

13. Great pictures!

I spend a lot of time in that airport. I love the Fort Myers airport. I live in KW and fly out with Cape Air and then connect to Charlotte where my parents live.

I love that flight, though on stormy days it can be a little scary.

Pete is a great guy, his politics nothwithstanding. An excellent pilot who started flying with his dad when he was like 5 years old.

Maybe I'll catch you on your next trip through.:hi: