It’s another photo explosion today, our travel day back to the UK. Two highlights to mention. First the Oceania Air Base air show and then a walk down the beach on Sunday with an unplanned special event.
big aircraft (a C5 Galaxy) sheltering some all-Americans
The air show, a naval affair (so who knows how big it would have been if it had been an air show by the airforce), was huge and with complementary tickets and VIP hosting because of Phil’s job, a camera clicking day. Blue skies helped as well. I guess it was like any other major air show on the UK, but we’ve not been to one, and so noisy aircraft doing things they’re not designed to do right in your face afforded plenty of ‘wow’ moments. The photos below tell much, but certainly not all, of the story.
a Hercule C130, or ‘Fat Albert’
the Blue Angles
this one stayed on the ground…just
the finale
Yesterday we went for an early walk along the beach. To put some perspective on life in the States, let’s study the revered osprey. In our country they are protected to an inch of their lives and people travel hundreds of miles to see them. Here they are two a dime. Every time we’ve walked down the beach we’ve seen one or two flying along coast, diving ungraciously into the water, and then hauling away a fish. Ospreys, eagles, pelicans and vultures: scores of them. You often don’t know where to look.
an osprey…
The beach threw up many wow moments but none as big as the pods of dolphins that swam along with us as we walked. I had come prepared and had to go into the warm sea to join them. And, sure enough, I was soon among them. It’s fair to say without my glasses on I couldn’t really get that feeling of being ten feet away from a pod of dolphins, but the photos that Phil took tell the story. Magical.
me and my friends
Off today. It has been a true holiday. Relaxed, indulgent, different, warm, opulent and all shared with our generous dear friends Phil and Denise. Thanks.
thanks…
Back home then and just a week before we head off over the channel. Croatia I think until Christmas. The good news is that we will be moving in the opposite direction to most of the current travellers in Europe. We are, in the broadest possible sense, the luckiest people alive. Have a great week.
the.wanderlings 
We had a great time too xx