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Fly and sigh
updated: Dec 21, 2009, 5:31 PM
by John Wiley
We used to always forget how Big Sur takes our breath away. We'd be driving South, stopping often at turnouts, and suddenly one of us would take an especially deep breath and sigh. Flying does that for me, as does looking at pix from flights that bring it all back - as if the tiny 2-D image transports me back into the moment aloft.
Today we enjoyed the calm air and the overcast-induced flat lighting on a brief tour of paradise (just to Santa Ynez and back). There's an interesting pond in the golf course just northwest of the airport, and I like how the shapes mix with the sand traps.
Past the other golf course by Bacara is a refined refinery that's discretely hidden behind trees and hills next to a lagoon.
A bit further west is an avo estate on the hillside. I like to imagine lounging on that porch eating avos and watching the planes drift by.
I'm curious what this pond is for. Guess it's part of some big agricultural venture.
Just this side of Gaviota is a small group of waterfront homes. Several look very creative, as you might be able to make out in this pic. Looks like they're round or even dome-shaped. Another nice place to hang out on a lazy day, perhaps sharing the view with friends who brought avos from their orchard. As you can see, I have an active imagination even though I can barely afford the few bucks for the inexpensive Flying Club planes.
After strolling the Santa Ynez airport for a few minutes we headed back along Cachuma, past Painted Cave and the west hang glider launch site, to circle back toward the airport over SB. Oak Park looked so different from the air that I didn't know at first what it was. Would be fun to snap a (country) Festival there some summer day.
Often I've imagined sitting on the roof of that tower at Macy's La Cumbre, sipping tea and watching the planes drift by. Comfy chair, glass wind-breaks, umbrellas and heaters, and delicious snacks. Yes, if they had that the mother and child walking in might have been joined by hubby who'd have waited patiently up top.
Last year I made a brief presentation about flying to students and showed them aerial pix of their elementary school, and I've been thinking about doing that again. Maybe this time a high school. Anyone at San Marcos or Dos Pueblos interested?
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