Tag Archives: photo

Are You a Dragon or a Monitor?

Most people have probably heard of Komodo Dragons.  However, while checking out this fella at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, I read that they were known as Komodo Monitors for many years until some guy from the US saw one in the 20s and decided to start calling them dragons.  Amazingly, it seems it stuck.  They certainly don’t fit the traditional image of dragons but they are pretty dangerous if they happen to bite you.  At that point, I doubt you will be too bothered about the the distinction and more bothered about your potential impending death.

Floatplanes Coming at You

Standing in Gas Works Park, you have a view straight down Lake Union.  At the other end of Lake Union is one of the bases for Kenmore Air.  They operate floatplanes from there on a regular series of services as well as some sightseeing trips.  We got there just as a bunch of planes took off in close succession and I was a bit annoyed to miss out the chance to get some shots of them.  However, they are a busy company so we knew we would get some more flight before too long.

They start their takeoff run at the other end of the lake so they get airborne long before they reached us.  With so much clutter in the background and a lot of ambient noise, you didn’t always immediately pick out that a departure was coming your way.  Once they got airborne and a lot closer, they were easier to identify.  They would turn before they reached us and head off en route.  I could probably have spent a lot of time there watching the flights but Nancy is not quite so keen so we lingered a short while and then moved on.

Warthogs – Not the Flying Version

Given that this blog has a lot of aviation content, some people will get excited when they see the word Warthog.  Sorry guys, this is not an A-10 post.  I may have to put one together now though since I want to see some A-10s on here too.  This is a warthog of the animal variety instead.  There were a couple of warthogs we saw at Woodland Park Zoo.  Initially they were rummaging around under cover and not in a good spot for a photo.  However, a little patience paid off and soon they moved out into the open.  Then we got a good look at them and the chance to really see their faces.  They may not be everyone’s favorite but I find them a great looking creature and certainly something you want to treat with some respect!

Emirates’ Latest on Test

An Emirates 777-300ER is hardly a rarity.  They have a huge fleet of them and, since this one is a new build aircraft on test at Boeing, the fleet is going to grow.  What made this one fun was the light.  Some stormy weather had been in the area and the sun was out on the white fuselage while the background was still looking rather mean.  Both on the runway and on the approach, it shone brightly against the background and that is why I am sharing it today.

They Both Float, But…

This is the cruise ship that our family had been traveling on when they arrived in Vancouver.  It was heading back out the same day and we watched it leave port and head out.  As it was turning to head back to the open sea, one of the local Otter floatplanes was making its approach to land (or whatever the correct word is when it is water rather than land).  It passed in front of the ship.  Both vessels are comfortable in the water but one is on a rather different scale than the other.

Max Development and Production Jets

Boeing has completed flight testing of the first version of the 737 Max family, the Max 8.  The Max 9 is currently in flight test and I posted shots of one of those aircraft here.  While some additional flight testing will be carried out on the Max 8, the test fleet is now done.  In due course, these aircraft will be refurbished and sold on to customers.  In the meantime, new production jets are being built for delivery – except when it comes to Southwest.

As a result of a crewing issue, Southwest is delaying taking its jets until they have removed the 737-300 fleet from service.  Consequently, Boeing is building them but not delivering them.  There are a number parked up in the parking lot at Boeing Field and some are still sitting at Renton.  Engines aren’t fitted since this is one way to keep the cost down pending delivery.  They will be fitted and flown nearer the delivery date.

The flight line of these dormant Max 8s sits alongside the municipal part of the airport.  I created a panorama of the jets which you can zoom and pan around below.

Walking Through the Treetops

Aside from the suspension bridge at Capilano, there is a treetop walk.  This is on the opposite side of the bridge and is an interesting attraction.  They have built a number of walkways that run through the treetops.  These are old growth trees that are really substantial.  Without cutting in to the trees, they have mounted platforms around the trunks and strung walkways between them.  You get to walk along these walkways from tree to tree.

You are up in the higher parts off the tree so you have a different perspective to that which you would normally get walking along the ground.  Indeed, you can get so used to being up there that you forget you are off the ground.  Every once in a while, it is a good idea to look down to see just how far you are from the base of some of the trees.

There are so many people up there with you that it is easy to become a bit fixated on keeping going.  The walkways are one way so you are all moving along in the same direction.  You can start following the person in front and lose perspective on where you are.  However, at each tree there is space to step aside and let people pass.  Then you can take a moment to look around and embrace your surroundings.  I highly recommend you do this if you visit.  Look up and look down and see exactly where you are – up with the squirrels in the treetops.

 

Union Pacific’s Falcon 2000

Union Pacific is one of the large freight railroads in the US.  Their fleet of locomotives is commonly seen across the US west of Chicago.  They are painted yellow and carry a large American flag on the side.  However, trains are not the only way that staff of UP get around.  They also own a Dassault Falcon 2000 and I saw it come in to Boeing Field.  While it isn’t painted like a loco, it certainly shares a few design cues with them and it looks a bit more interesting than the average all white scheme.

Hippos are Sociopaths

A pair of hippos was hanging out in the water of their enclosure in Woodland Park Zoo.  One was facing away from us and was submerged for most of the time.  The other was facing us and was staring in our direction.  The shot I want of a hippo is the large yawn showing off the scary array of teeth that backs up their reputation as one of the most dangerous animals to man.  This guy wasn’t obliging.  They say that humans have a natural reaction to seeing a yawn from someone of yawning themselves.  The people that don’t do this have a higher probability of being sociopaths.  I thought I would try it with the hippo.  Either it knew I was faking it or hippos are sociopaths.  I wonder which it is.

We Weren’t Alone Watching the Sun Vanish

Everything I have posted about the eclipse so far is about us and what we saw.  However, we weren’t alone.  There were lots of people watching in the same place as us.  During the initial stages of the eclipse, I wandered around the site to get a few pictures of people enjoying the experience.  I didn’t have another camera other than my phone so that had to make do but these are some of the shots of everyone enjoying a rare experience that I got.