Tractor Thread

[sarge]

Two subjects going on that bring a muse to alight...

My least favourite US airport back in the '80s and 90s was Denver. Never a smooth entry there. Even that was nothing compared to either Guat City or Bogota, both on very pronounced spines with lots of vertical lift. Sailplanes would be fun in either place.

Things go downhill from there in southern Africa. Dirt strips and old Ants or Hercs were exciting combinations. Some of the nicest landings would be on those same strips but in a Dakota; just sail in gently. Lovely things. I'm sure that's all changed now.


Totally different subject that Wayne alludes to. There is the effect where one seems never to get around to seeing the sights where one lives. I have yet to set foot in the new(ish) visitors centre at Gettysburg, haven't visited Eisenhower's farm yet, and only have passed through the battlefield and we've been here now ten years. When I was in the DC area I never went to any of the monuments or museums unless it was a work-related visit.

I don't know why what is so fascinating to those who travel to see is so cavalierly viewed when you live close by.

[ChipR]

Sarge,

"My least favourite US airport back in the '80s and 90s was Denver". I love both Stapleton and Denver International, it means that I am home.

A lasting memory of our one trip to Kenya was landing in a C-47 on a dirt strip, followed by 2 more. All 3 then lined up at the edge of the strip, people got off each and scurried to the other 2 aircraft. All then took off in sequence. Must have been over 25 years ago but still vivid in my mind.

ChipR

[E7]

I don't know why what is so fascinating to those who travel to see is so cavalierly viewed when you live close by.

Probably because of the idea: "Oh, I can go over there anytime!".........and then you move away!

[rogruth]

We moved to Georgia in 1975, not too far from Savannah.
We had heard of the beauty of this area and had seen many photos.
For some reason, at least to my wife and me, the photos always look
better than the real thing.
I have more interest in the small towns of an area.
Maybe it is similar to the Grand Canyon. Of course this is my opinion
but once you have seen the Canyon you have seen the Canyon and
everyone should see it. As said above, nearness often makes things
commonplace.

[Mitch]

When our SeaBee Battalion was comin' home from Diego Garcia, we were comin' out on C-130s. First thing to get our attention, after we're in and seated comfortably in the cargo net seats down the sides of the plane , the Air Force Loadmaster gives a little speech and tells us that we're takin' off with a full load of cargo, fuel, and men, and he says "in case we lose an engine on takeoff, we'll be parked in those trees you see over there". The strip was compacted crushed coral mixed with tar, and only about 2000 ft. long at the time. 8 1/2 hours later, we're comin' into the airport at Bankok in the rain, we touched down and the pilot is revvin' the engines and pumping/standing on the brakes, and we didn't seem to be slowin' down very much. He was on the brakes so hard everybody was leanin' over sideways toward the front of the plane. I looked out the window and see this little Toyota pickup run past us with a flashing sign in the bed stating: Follow Me, Follow Me. The plane made about a 50mph right hand turn, (now we're not only leanin' forward but pitchin' into the center of the plane, then slowed and taxied up to the building across the tarmac. Survival is a great thing.

[healey36]

Ran when parked:

[MurphOnMillerAve]

They look like they're grazing.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Wish I could see what that 4th one is........

[healey36]

This one, Rufus?



Might be able to do better, but don't want to risk looking down the wrong end of a 12-bore...we'll see.

Healey

[robert.]

Anybody know what this plant is. I planted two thing here. 1 was a night flower and the other chinese lanterns. It appears to be none of them.

[The Dirt]

On Acquiring a New Camera

(By: Henry Wadsworth Dirtfellow)

Testing, testing
One, two, three
Orchard grass
And timothy,
Clover, daisy
Black-eyed Sue
Queen Anne’s Lace
And milkweed too.
Hedge parsley
Tiger lily
Horse nettle
Dock,
Cinquefoil
Nodding thistle
Butterweed
Rock.
A farmwife’s grass
Known as broom-sedge
Here’s what’s found
At the meadow’s edge.

The end.

[The Dirt]

Coming:

A year or ten after retirement...

On Acquiring a New Camera- The Epic

This after re-learning all about angiosperms and cotyledons and stamens/styles/stigmas and reticulate venation and perianth whorls and spikes/spathes/scales and 50 bazillion other terms in it's 1061 pages. Then maybe I can help Robert out too.



In the meantime, a little light reading before bed...

[rogruth]

Pete,

Very nice.

Now could/would you put names with those plants?

[The Dirt]

Roger, I already did. In order, of course.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

This one, Rufus?

Might be able to do better, but don't want to risk looking down the wrong end of a 12-bore...we'll see.

Healey

Good enough - thanks!!