Castle Air Museum

Merry Christmas! I'm taking a week or two away from blogging for family time, but in the meantime, enjoy these photos from the Castle Air Museum. These first two are a Consolidated B-24M Liberator, from the World War II era.

 
Next up is the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, this one flown in World War II.

Here are some photos of the massive Convair RB-36H Peacemaker, the only surviving RB-36. These carried America's nuclear weapons in the 1950s. You can see the MK-17 thermonuclear bomb next to it in the first shot (obviously just a casing).

 Here are several smaller aircraft lined up.

 The famous Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

Here's an Avro Vulcan B.Mk 2. These flew with the British Royal Air Force from 1952 until the 1980s.

Finally, here's a straight-on photo of the Boeing WB-50 Superfortress, the last American propeller-driven bomber. These aircraft flew from the late 1940s to the 1964.

Our World Tuesday

Peaceful Laika

Camera Critters

Pets Forever

Saturday's Critters

Propeller

This Skywatch Friday photo was taken at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California, which I visited when we were in the area. There's lots more photos to come from here soon...

Monterey

When we were in the area over the summer we visited Monterey.

The main area is easy to walk around and enjoy.

But for me the highlight was the pier and harbor.

Since I live so far from the ocean boats are always special to me.

And I never tire of looking at a pretty bay - note the kayaker in this one.

Our World Tuesday

More Socks

He may be old but he's still lively and alert.

Camera Critters

Pets Forever

Saturday's Critters

Open Skies

Here's a Skywatch Friday shot of the open skies of North Dakota, taken a couple of months ago during a road trip.

17-Mile Drive - Cypresses

Finishing up my series on the famous 17-Mile Drive, here are some photos of their cypress trees.

They add a lot of character to the area.

The most famous sight is probably the Lone Cypress - it's even protected by a copyright!

Our World Tuesday

Red Rock Reflections (2)

This is the same pond from last week, but taken on the opposite side looking back.

Orange Friday

Weekend Reflections

Wild Sky

The timing on this post is unfortunate given what's going on around Los Angeles, but this isn't fire, just clouds lit up from beneath by the sun around sunset. This is another shot straight out of the camera, all I did was reduce the resolution for posting on the blog.

Skywatch Friday

17-Mile Drive - Spanish Bay

Continuing with the 17-Mile Drive photos, here are some from its Spanish Bay stop.

Obviously it's a beach!

There was also a boardwalk from which you could see the dunes.

It was definitely another pretty place.

Our World Tuesday

Red Rock Reflections (1)

Taken at Red Rock Canyon Open Space, one of the many fine parks in my scenic city.

Orange Friday

Weekend Reflections

Peak Moods (13) - Pastel Sunset

To answer a couple of questions on Monday's post, I didn't see sea otters, and the tree is a cypress.

We've had some spectacular sunsets over the last couple of weeks - here's a photo from last week of Pikes Peak taken from our front porch. This is straight out of the camera, except for reducing the resolution I did no editing on this.

Skywatch Friday

17-Mile Drive - Point Joe

Last time we were in California we spent a couple of days in the Monterey area, and drove the famous 17-Mile Drive. Here are some photos from the Point Joe area on that drive.

It's a rocky, beautiful coast.

Some cypress trees grow near the shore, and there's golfing (the famous Pebble Beach course is in this area).

You can even see sea-lions on nearby islands. There's more to come from this area next week...

Our World Tuesday

Wet Socks

No, not the things on your feet - it's my dog after a shower last weekend!

Camera Critters

Pets Forever

Saturday's Critters

Foggy San Francisco

To all my American readers, and to anybody else who celebrates it, Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a summer shot from San Francisco, where I visited for a wedding. There are lots more shots from this trip ready to be posted.

Skywatch Friday

Black Forest Fisheye

Last time I went to the Black Forest Park, I took my fisheye lens along - you saw one of the shots posted a couple of days ago. You can still see the devastation from the wildfire a few years ago - that will take decades to completely heal.

Nevertheless there's plenty of natural beauty to be found here (and of course my dogs always come with me on my walks and hikes and sometimes end up in the photos).

And here's a final shot, taken at one of the park's pavilions looking straight up, a classic fisheye shot.

Our World Tuesday

Shadowy Trees

Shadow Shot Sunday

Misty Morning Drive

I love my drive to work - here's a cellphone shot from a few days ago as sunrise was approaching. I pulled off at a scenic overlook to get this one.

Skywatch Friday

Santa Monica!

These photos are already a few months old, but here are some shots of the Santa Monica beach and pier from the last time I was there.

Our World Tuesday

Tongva Park

Last time I was in the Los Angeles area I spent a couple of hours in Santa Monica, and wandered around Tongva Park.

It was mostly attractive and had some nice features.

I wish I'd had my fisheye lens for this last shot...

Shadow Shot Sunday