STL DPB IN THE AIR - THE CONFLUENCE

Climbing out of St. Louis on the way to the first of two connections at big airports. This is the  confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the former on the upper left and the latter on the right. It’s the junction of the largest river system in North America. But we will be crossing a lot of open water when this post goes up.                

STL DPB IN THE AIR: ITALIAM FATO PROFUGUS

An old photo illustrating tonight's transport. London is not our final destination, just a connection point. The Latin quote is from the opening of Virgil's Aeneid, which some &^$%& Jesuits made me read in high school: driven to Italy by fate. Well, in our case, more driven by British Airways. 

We reach our landing place tomorrow night. Weird Al provides a theme song for the city we're heading to - https://youtu.be/hikh0d0q7HA?si=MdO517fWpjuFlNhM  We expect to eat well.         

 

STL DPB IN THE AIR - SMOKE SIGNALS

Flew over to New York yesterday and then drove to New Jersey, where I'll spend the 4th of July holiday with my sibs and their families. I made sure to get a window seat on the left/north side of the plane. Irregular streaks of soot stained the sky. As I drove across the bridge linking Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx, the air was a smudge of orange-brown, the sun looking like old fruit ready for the trash.

My plane got out of St. Louis just as lightening was flashing across the west. Shortly thereafter, a huge storm blew in, causing flash flooding and downed power lines. At least it clears the air.

            

STL DPB IN THE AIR - APPROACHING LOS ANGELES

I should have posted this just after we arrived. From the airplane, 15 or 20 minutes out of LAX.   

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - KN95 AT DCA

Sitting on the tarmac at Washington Reagan National Airport, waiting to go home. Never thought of using a smart phone for portrait lighting but, hey, whatever works.

I am totally out of material. May have to do some recycling.           

BACK IN THE AIR

It's been a long time but we are flying again today. I've been fascinated by flight since my first time at maybe 11 or 12. It was just New York to Washington but I'll never forget it. I never tire of its near-miraculous qualities, especially when we cross large bodies of water. Just land today but sea tomorrow. It's about time.                     

Because It's All I Got

Hanging from the ceiling in our DFW hotel's restaurant, which was surprisingly good. And the art in the room is unusual, early 20th Century American style. One looks like a Depression-era WPA painting that might show people gathering or looking for food.

The model above is a fantasy. No engine, bizarre tail, strange gun top center,

We like the hotel. The staff has been very nice in letting me practice my Spanish with them.

Central America this afternoon.

Denali

You're lucky if you get to see Denali. It's officially Mt. McKinley but President Bill had little to do with its protection. Most people now refer to it by the native Alaskan name that means the High One. It is by far the tallest mountain in North America.The peak is lost in cloud most of the time but we got a peek from Talkeetna, 70 miles away.  

Changing Planes

Definitely taking the long way around to get to our destination, changing planes in Chicago. That's what you have to do sometimes to get affordable air fares these days. Better have a drink on the next flight to get ready for the gila monsters. Maybe one of them drives the shuttle to the car rental office.

The color weirdness is from the airplane window.                        

Lunar Landing

Seen while walking along the Mississippi yesterday afternoon.         

Travel Day

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An American Airlines Boeing 757 glides over the St. Louis riverfront. This is a day in the air. I won't have Internet service where I'm staying unless I go to the bar down a street with free WiFi. The blog is posted ahead. a couple of days Details to follow.

WHAT I APOLOGIZE FOR IN ADVANCE: won't be able to leave comments on your blogs for several days.

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch Series.