Hiking, Flying, New Wings

It was a spur-of-the-moment trip. Our new paragliding wings were going to arrive in Invermere (FlyingMax) and we hoped we'd get a chance to fly with them before winter set in.

It's questionable as to whether we actually needed new wings (we don't!) but the reviews of the new Phi Symphonia have been very good. They have a higher safety rating than our present wings but are higher performance. Both of which, for the amount of flying we do, is a good thing. Plus, Andrew was buying so who am I to argue?!?!?  ;-)

The wings definitely have a different feel to them so it was great to be able to get out to the training hill in Invermere to do some ground handling and get in a few launches and landings there before moving on to something bigger.

It's not as pretty as my purple and blue wing but Search and Rescue orange was a suitable alternative . . .
 because everyone knows colour is most important, right!?!?!   :-) 

One thing I'm super happy about with this wing is that it fits into my reversible harness backpack. It's so small and light!  :-)

The weather didn't cooperate fully and none of the locals were flying but Andrew and I drove up to the Swansea launch late one afternoon. Conditions were flyable (but very cloudy so no thermals) and Andrew got in a short flight to better test the wing. I tend to be more conservative (aka chickenshit) and it would have meant a long evening hike back up to get the car so I didn't fly. But took the big camera and got some good photos!

While still checking conditions, a sailplane buzzed us and took a few passes. Humorously, it was "007." Both pilot and passenger smiled for the camera.

Just seconds later, a juvenile bald eagle flew past. He wasn't quite as cooperative as a photographic subject. 

Then it was Andrew's turn. Consistent 10 mph winds and great launch. Enough ridge lift for a couple passes and then cruise around the flatland for a bit before landing.

So many deer! 

Prior to this we managed to get in a bit of hiking. Banff's Tunnel Mountain, in the snow, to break up the drive; to the top of Mt. Swansea, in the rain, to check out the launch; and Dry Gulch near Invermere while waiting for weather to cooperate for flying. 

And I had to add this food photo just because it looked so pretty! 

Orlando ICON

The conference hotel in Orlando was about a five minute walk from the ICON. After looking at it numerous times, and having some time after the conference let out early for the day, I decided to check it out.

It was raining lightly at the time and they warned it could be shut down at any time if lightening became an issue. Luckily it didn't.

The rain meant it wasn't very busy so I got a whole "pod" (or whatever they're called!) to myself. Nice!

Lizard Adventures

The B&B I was staying at in Titusville had a lovely garden area. It was humorous each time I walked through and along the path to get to the car because several small lizards, enjoying the heat and sunshine, would scatter in all directions.

On my last morning there, I packed up the car and planned to stop at another nature sanctuary for a short hike before heading back to Orlando for the conference I'm attending this week. As I neared the nature preserve, I suddenly realized there's a lizard on the hood of the car! I pulled over to take a photo and he just stared right back at me.

When I got to the sanctuary, I tried to convince him to get off the car but he kept hiding under the hood.

I even explained that he'd had a pretty good gig going in the B&B garden, the sanctuary was good too  but that he really, really didn't want to become a city boy! Especially if he didn't get off before I got back to the airport to return the rental car. Accommodations would not be pretty!

Who knows where he'll end up but I sure hope he manages to escape the airport parking garage and hitches a ride somewhere equally as nice as the B&B garden.

Good luck, little fella!

"Newsies" and the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum

I'd have to say the highlight of my trip so far was seeing "Newsies" at the Titusville Playhouse. It's a musical based on the 1992 Disney movie of the same name. The actors, the singing and dancing, were fabulous! Very likely one of the best live plays I've ever been to. 

Near the theatre was this interesting and very well done mural. I have no idea what building it was on.

While I'm not usually into museums, I thought I'd check out the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was actually very well done! In addition to the museum area, there's a gun range, a pro shop, and training classrooms which I'm sure help to keep the museum viable. 

In the middle of the building was a chapel and a large memorial area with names of officers killed in the line of duty engraved on the walls. Around the outside of the memorial was the display area. 

Outside was a canine memorial. 

There were the usual car and motorcycle displays but, unusually, this one included the police car prop that was used in the original Blade Runner movie. 

There weren't as many guns on display as I thought there would be. There was a good mix of modern policing, historical equipment, information on notorious gangsters (Al Capone et al), more current events such as 9-11, crime scene techniques, and several interactive areas for kids of all ages.

I wonder if I have a relative who escaped from from the New York County Jail?? Thomas Ballard was wanted for counterfeiting. He lived in Wisconsin and was "brother of the well known John and William Ballard." $250 reward money would have been a lot in 1871. Humorous!

At the entrance to the chapel, there were banners on either side of the door.  One was "A Policeman's Prayer" and the other was "A Policewoman's Prayer." The distinction and tone of the two different prayers annoyed me. Perhaps it's because I was very fortunate in my career not to have faced a whole lot of opposition, criticism or doubt from my male colleagues. But it seems to me that praying for respect from my peers or for their understanding that I'm not there to take away their "man's" job rather than praying for courage, strength and dedication to keep the community safe . . . well, it just seems wrong. And, quite frankly, insulting. I wonder what other people, especially police women, think about this?