Old Friends

I hit my upload limit for the month so that's why I haven't really had a blog post ready to go. Back at the beginning of the month I attended a funeral for an old friend. I hadn't seen him for a couple of years and his passing was sudden and a shock to all of us. The sad part was that all of us that got together hadn't seen each other for years as well. A little bitter sweet. A sad gathering and catching up on what everyone has done since. These are all old army friends. We laughed, we cried and we fought amongst each other. Like family. There was talk of getting together on a happier occasion. We shall see what happens. Here's hoping. We also lucked out and got to gather in our old Junior Ranks Mess at the Barrie Armouries. I don't think I had darkened it's doors since I left back in February of 1993. It's good to see that it's been upgraded and some of us have our names remembered.

365 Project Update VII

365-59: Token Dog
Yes, you must get the dog. Especially when you get him confused enough that he sits still instead of slobbering over the camera and expensve lens. . . . . Just kidding, he typically goes for meaty bits with more flavour.



365-60: Lighting
Decisions, decisions. What lighting do I need, and how do I modify It?



365-61: Sweat
Look closely. After a hot day and ride home the sweat pours off me. Or is that condensation from the AC?



365-62: MEC.CA
Back at Mountain Equipment Co-op. Picking up some more gear. More like replacing lost gear.



365-63: Night Talk
Sitting around in the cool night air. Plotting dastardly deeds we will do, and friends to invite.



365-64: Leap
the Randomness of the city where you find flying young men without a trapeze.



365-65: Tiger Lily
Tiger tiger, burning bright. In the gardens of the night.

The Things You See II

And back to our coverage of the Orillia Canada Day Airshow with the Snow birds. I was really wordy yesterday, so I will cut it short and finish with the pictures today.
Enjoy.

The Things You See

I was up in Orillia for the Canada Day long weekend visiting friends, family, and getting out of the city. I had plans, things to do, and was hoping to do a lot of cycling. Needless to say I was traveling lighter then usual and decided to bring less gear with me. I was kicking myself over my lens choices on Saturday. Why you ask? Well, we went down to Couchiching Park to watch the Orillia Silver Band play in the Aqua theater. Good bunch of musicians. On our way out the door one of my friends informed me that the Snowbirds would be making an appearance. This is where metaphorical boot met metaphorical gluteus maximus. I had left my telephoto lenses at home.
Well, all you can do is carry on, and hope for the best. I managed to get some great shots, and the Snowbirds co-operated by doing a few close low passes. I also got myself into a position farther back from the beach in the central area with the statue to Samuel de Champlain. Big historical figure in Canadian history and Southern/Central Ontario. I was essentially looking for some good shots with the statue in the foreground and the planes flying near to it, or at least in the shot.
Needless to say I got some good ones, mediocre ones, and great ones. I will not be showing the mediocre ones. Lucky folks. So, before we go further, a little sonnet then the show:

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee

No 412 squadron, RCAF

Killed 11 December 1941