Burnley Vineyards
Glass Tree
postcards from the road
Ways to Fly
New Stuyahok, Alaska
Emily photo
In another one of those fun convergences that makes me smile, several people I know, and who know each other, all did different versions of the same thing at the same time, thousands of miles apart, without talking about it first.
Steve took a trip for work on a plane out of Wallops Island, flying over remote parts of the Eastern and Western Shores of the Chesapeake.
One of Steve’s photos, over Wachapreague,
One of my favorite places.
Meanwhile, Emily was also flying in an even smaller plane, also for work, on a volunteer gig to the remote Alaska backcountry. To a little native village called New Stuyahok (pop. 510).
They had stronger than expected headwinds on the way out. The pilot was afraid they wouldn’t have enough fuel to get back. He radioed around to people he knew and found a runway out in the middle of nowhere to put down and gas up.
Check out the video. There’s nothing around for hundreds of miles. When the plane lands – on a strip built with significant effort above the permafrost – there’s still nothing there.
Video from Emily in the copilot’s seat.
At the same time, other daughter Amanda was taking a flight of fancy a few thousand miles due south in California. She’s teaching third grade with a class of delightful mostly Spanish speaking kids in “The Garlic Capital Of The World” – otherwise known as Gilroy.
She was reading a favorite book to the kids, one I had read to her and Emily when they were young called Stella Luna, about a young bat who flies around in the moonlight. Amanda really gets into character when she reads, and has the rapt attention of all 30 some odd 9 year olds, which is no small feat. She dressed for the part, finding (somewhere) a flying squirrel costume that passed for a young bat.
Safe travels, all.
Tools of the Trade
Scottsville, Virginia
postcards from the road
It was in the low 70s here on Sunday, and sunny. Our friends who live on an old farm a few miles from here, and grow most of their own food, still, after all these years, invite us out for an a Spring heralding gathering every year.
These photos, and those to come, are from in and around their barns and gardens.
Blues ~ Bucket, Barn & Bailing Wire
Scottsville, Virginia
postcards from the road
“There’s Nothing in the Code About a Treehouse”
via The Atlantic Monthly
requires Flash
Canaan Valley ~ White Grass
Pricey snow, T photo
Before heading home we stop at White Grass, the cross country ski area we originally came for. They have a pile of snow out front, smaller than their sense of humor. But the cafe is nice, good food and friendly people.
The cafe at White Grass. T photo
Turns out Chip Chase, the guy who started the place, once spent a lot of time in Virginia, is good friends with good friends of ours from way back, and knows Scottsville.
Canaan Valley ~ Thomas, WV
At The Purple Fiddle, carved from a single log
The big loop is nearly complete at Thomas, less than 3 miles up the road from Davis. Senator Davis bought huge tracts of land here in the late 1800’s when it was still wilderness, then built towns and railroads to extract the resources. He named Davis for himself, and nearby Thomas and William for his brothers. Davis was the timber depot, Thomas was coal.