I’ve been going about my home duties, emptying boxes and hanging pictures on walls. Then I heard a strange buzzing sound. It was four old-fashioned barnstormers practicing, doing loop-the-loops, corkscrews and death spirals (those are my terms, not terms of art).
I took a moment to email my brother-in-law and call my husband then the F-18’s came in for a test drive over the Lake, and now there’s some strange plane with huge propellers that just arrived.
Wow, it’s a helo and plane and is now flying backwards. It may even be able to set down on land or sea, vertically. Amazing! Backwards again. Sorry but a photo from this far would not do it justice. It’s about to land, just did, on Lake Michigan. This is a one-of-a-kind experience for me.
It’s turning around now and just took off eastward and another vertical landing is in play. OK, let’s figure out what this is, as we’re new here.
It’s the Air and Water Show and they’re still practicing some death-defying maneuvers, especially the barnstormers with a slow, engine-assisted backwards fall toward the lake. Six older planes just flew by in formation. I’ve downloaded the schedule but haven’t really looked at it yet, too busy watching the real thing!
Dog Zoe was scared at first but the older planes don’t really bother her so she’s come out from under my desk and is lying on her bed next to my desk (progress). The jets are the loudest.
One thing’s for certain, we’ll have a birds-eye view of everything from 1/4 mile from the beach! The rain has stopped for now but the wind has picked up and mature trees are swaying back and forth.
We must remember the other birds that fly by here every day, especially the seagulls. They fly right by us and are so graceful and when I’m out walking the dog, I hear them fly over us with such a plaintive cry. It’s almost as if they’re keening for a loved one.
The birds flew thousands of years before man figured out to emulate them. Their grace and form are spectacular and I only hope we have a safe air show. I’m watching a duo now, lots of loop-the-loops and scary stuff near the water.
Forgive me, but any photo I try to take will come out blue sky and some background clouds with dots. Being able to watch this, and the gulls every day, makes it worthwhile to be here. Cheers! Dee
Cooking with Dee 