tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post5226511567140064965..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: Fish FindingAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-24546618206181174582009-12-07T14:00:19.662+00:002009-12-07T14:00:19.662+00:00"I wasn't able to time a shot such that t..."I wasn't able to time a shot such that the camera figured out all its light settings and opened the shutter at the same moment as a shark cruised by."<br /><br />Ah, yes. If you want to get shots when your camera just doesn't understand the situation, you'll need to put the camera into manual mode and use human understanding instead. You have only four basic settings to deal with (ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focus) and you can learn the basics of setting them up properly in a couple of hours. (It's much easier than flying an airplane!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-1647011273914919532009-12-05T01:11:02.438+00:002009-12-05T01:11:02.438+00:00Something like this sign?Something like <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=new+bern,+nc&sll=34.891422,-76.403217&sspn=0.091381,0.246677&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=New+Bern,+Craven,+North+Carolina&layer=c&cbll=35.099827,-77.055053&panoid=dl-mAsSfyy7hCAsG4CWTRA&cbp=12,109.12,,0,-7.84&ll=35.100108,-77.055874&spn=0,359.7365&z=13" rel="nofollow">this sign</a>?Wayne Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565643844775331695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-89148439605172131482009-12-04T17:00:27.500+00:002009-12-04T17:00:27.500+00:00I don't think I saw that sign. I think I saw a...I don't think I saw that sign. I think I saw a longer sign, one of the overhead directional ones. Maybe "Use Right Lane for Freedom Memorial Bridge to Havelock." Or perhaps it just seems longer in the dark.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-6864195533859971722009-12-04T13:30:03.986+00:002009-12-04T13:30:03.986+00:00Aha. You did say "shortly before arriving&qu...Aha. You did say "shortly before arriving". Your bridge was the eastbound span of the "Freedom Memorial Bridge" that brings US 70 over the Trent River where that river joins the Neuse River at New Bern, NC. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=new+bern,+nc&sll=34.891422,-76.403217&sspn=0.091381,0.246677&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=New+Bern,+Craven,+North+Carolina&ll=35.099687,-77.054501&spn=0,359.68792&z=13&layer=c&cbll=35.099422,-77.054024&panoid=ppeQW2Mge9tUCDsklfrjFw&cbp=12,154.12,,0,-7.84" rel="nofollow">Here's the sign</a> that you saw. And yes, US 70 does fork very soon after that crossing, with US 17 crossing the Neuse and US 70 continuing on for about an hour to arrive in Morehead City and Beaufort.<br /><br />It turns out North Carolina has <a href="http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/traffic/TEPPL/Topics/N-01/Sorted%20by%20County.pdf" rel="nofollow">lots of memorial highways and bridges</a>.Wayne Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565643844775331695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-973292901589227992009-12-04T09:04:16.984+00:002009-12-04T09:04:16.984+00:00Here's the overview map of the area, and here&...Here's the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll=34.711985,-76.722507&spn=0.10809,0.2635&z=13" rel="nofollow">overview map</a> of the area, and here's the <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll=34.723132,-76.736412&spn=0,359.7365&z=13&layer=c&cbll=34.723116,-76.736537&panoid=eOAQgmlcX5ZAeL0ylqJZ3A&cbp=12,106.37,,0,5" rel="nofollow">fork in US 70 heading east</a>; straight takes you to Smith Field; right takes you across a bridge to the aquarium. That's <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&layer=c&cbll=34.721675,-76.734413&panoid=f6UEy7P2RQ6y715_8Zl6Lg&cbp=12,151.37,,0,5&hnear=1115+Paul+Pkwy+NE,+Minneapolis,+Anoka,+Minnesota+55434&ll=34.721944,-76.734534&spn=0,359.7365&z=13" rel="nofollow">the bridge</a> I had in mind when I talked about a bridge that went to the Atlantic Ocean. If you don't turn right, as you're approaching Smith Field you cross <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll=34.720667,-76.697394&spn=0,359.7365&z=13&layer=c&cbll=34.720637,-76.697799&panoid=DSuLZya5vwLWvwVtNPhd3w&cbp=12,106.37,,0,5" rel="nofollow">this bridge</a>, but I don't know if that's the memorial bridge you noted. Farther east on US 70 there are other bridges, such as <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&ll=34.891422,-76.403389&spn=0,359.7365&z=13&layer=c&cbll=34.891444,-76.403179&panoid=brA-dO5RyywdVyDgYoH57w&cbp=12,90,,0,5" rel="nofollow">this one</a>, but I don't think you would have traveled there.Wayne Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565643844775331695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-46175589398740244792009-12-02T06:37:39.993+00:002009-12-02T06:37:39.993+00:00Shortly before arriving, I crossed a bridge with a...Shortly before arriving, I crossed a bridge with a long name signifying that it was a Memorial and I think something about Freedom or 11th September. It was a long name and I was driving at 110 km/h in the dark. I think the bridge forked and I had to make sure I stayed on the highway 70 side of the fork. <br /><br />Are we on the same bridge?Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-13077544707812864432009-12-02T05:52:33.069+00:002009-12-02T05:52:33.069+00:00Good catch, GPS_Direct. I instinctively think tha...Good catch, GPS_Direct. I instinctively think that if I cross a bridge that ends at the Atlantic Ocean, and then turn left, I'd be going North. True in most cases, but not so at Atlantic Beach, NC.Wayne Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565643844775331695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-87794372596158708322009-12-02T03:15:43.870+00:002009-12-02T03:15:43.870+00:00Ah yes... Beaufort - actually more east than north...Ah yes... Beaufort - actually more east than north. And (for those not local) it's pronounced Bow-fort, and not to be confused with Bew-fort (which is in the <i>other</i> Carolina).<br /><br />The airport there is named "Smith Field" and not to be confused with Smithfield (which is up in the mountains of western North Carolina). Per the sectional, the prominent town nearby is Atlantic Beach and in fact Beaufort is shown being located on the next peninsula east. No matter though, the locals call it Bow-fort on CTAF.<br /><br />Better yet, seems the NIMBYs in Atlantic Beach don't like airplanes disturbing their peace. So when the the wind is 200 degrees, the "preferred" runway is 26 rather than 21.<br /><br />All of this makes for an interesting approach to 21 - making calls to "Smith Field Traffic" the whole way only to be on a 1/4 mile final and have another aircraft cross in front of us doing T&Gs on 26 and making calls to "Bow-fort Traffic..."<br /><br />Keep your eyes outside and call up the locals before flying into unknown airports...<br /><br />Verification Word: drogquit - What happens when you drop your drag chute.GPS_Directhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900545332230106711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-85071870135410888582009-12-01T23:31:42.598+00:002009-12-01T23:31:42.598+00:00You just need the right spooky music and anything ...You just need the right spooky music and anything can be terrifying.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-9124620274740460282009-12-01T22:54:23.155+00:002009-12-01T22:54:23.155+00:00If anybody seriously wants to do the Jurassic Park...<i> If anybody seriously wants to do the Jurassic Park thing they should bring back trilobites.</i><br /><br /><br />Except that they were extinct 50 million years prior to the beginning of the Jurassic period. I suppose that you could have a pre-quel called Cambrian Park , but the thought of rouge worms and sponges sounds more comedic than terrifying.anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-70671005140769098202009-12-01T18:55:37.544+00:002009-12-01T18:55:37.544+00:00Horseshoe crabs rock.
They were of course my worst...Horseshoe crabs rock.<br />They were of course my worst childhod nightmare. The area where we swam was named "Horseshoe cove" and of course was full of them. Seeing the top and bottom of dead washed up horse shoe crabs taught one to swim, and not stand around with your feet in the sandy bottom.<br /><br />http://www.audubon.org/campaign/horseshoe/hscfacts.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-44743105288029468832009-12-01T11:03:04.657+00:002009-12-01T11:03:04.657+00:00Horseshoe crabs are the nearest living thing to tr...Horseshoe crabs are the nearest living thing to trilobites, which are sadly extinct. If anybody seriously wants to do the Jurassic Park thing they should bring back trilobites.Cirrocumulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11357630236254664430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-19739562026620318192009-12-01T04:51:45.404+00:002009-12-01T04:51:45.404+00:00I got to put my hand into the ray tank they had at...I got to put my hand into the ray tank they had at the Calgary zoo before the tragedy there that killed so many of them and shut down the exhibit. Very sad, they are amazing animals. <br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/05/12/cgy-stingray-deaths.htmldphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17643781708724943628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-63683080412784022082009-12-01T02:11:55.847+00:002009-12-01T02:11:55.847+00:00I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to the aquariu...I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to the aquarium; I've been there several times and there's always something new to see. If you were to go north from the aquarium until the road ends, you'd find yourself at <a href="http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/foma/main.php" rel="nofollow">Fort Macon State Park</a>, which is a pretty interesting place. It was constructed in 1826 to defend the port of Beaufort from pirates and foreign nations. From the rooftop gun emplacements you have a great view of the ocean and harbor on three sides.Wayne Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04565643844775331695noreply@blogger.com