Northlandia - First Day

Bedlam is a lot closer to St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport so the usual early morning rush to the airport was missing this time. In a first I walked in and saw an empty Allegiant ticket counter and not believing it could possibly be so lacking of people I asked where the ticket area for Peoria was. The guy said right here, and in 45 seconds I had my boarding pass. Wouldn't you know it, the security screening area was empty as well. I wasn't unduly early as other flyers (or is it fliers?) had already gone through, it was just one of those crazy times when I was the only one around. Won't happen again EVER! But it was sure nice.

One of the pilots said there was a squall around Tallahassee but otherwise clear skies all the way up to Northlandia. Sure enough, it wasn't too long after takeoff that the blue skies gave way to these clouds. In seconds, they were gone and sunshine led the way.

While sitting in the best porch in West-Central Illinois, I spied Doug's car across the street and had to go over and check it out. It is a 1947 Studebaker Land Cruiser. If nothing else the name alone merits consideration for best model name ever. It has a few scratches and a dent here and there and the interior was redone in the late seventies, and a far from original, but there is no denying the form and aesthetic beauty of this car. It was purchased by Doug's father's and while the storage has been less than perfect, purrs like a kitten and will be on display at the Aledo Antique days car show on the 23rd of August. Kudos to Doug for keeping it in the family and recognizing its value and importance as rolling art.

In what will be a recurring activity in the next few days while in Northlandia, there is something up here I do not and cannot have in Florida: a perfectly unmolested night sky. I have enjoyed taking night sky shots and while up here want to utilize every opportunity to shoot the black sky, and also the Persieds meteor shower this month.

The first night back I went to the old ball diamond in Seaton to see if I could manage some night shots. This is from the old school and diamond south of town looking toward town and Herb's old grain elevator.

My hours in the next few days would become more nocturnal to take advantage of the clear night sky. The picture of my first meteor would open the door for more in subsequent nighttime shoots in the days ahead.

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