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Posted By:
Nickens, Dan
Date Posted:
Apr 30, 2020
Description:
Social isolation provides plenty of time to do some quiet self-
reflection. Down on the Old Suwannee River, “Far, Far Awayâ€,
provides a peaceful place to do so. Yeah, it's harder to find an
unspoiled beach. There are a lot more houses.
And, the old traditional song has changed too. It was deemed by
some to be politically incorrect. Now it is has been changed so it
can be the state song. It lost some essential character in the
conversion. Maybe it's not as offensive. Or maybe it just doesn't
remind us of the practices that needed to be changed awhile back.
Date Taken:
April 7, 2020
Place Taken:
Suwannee River, FL
Owner:
Nickens, Dan
File Name:
- Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=7cRzFZRGAh">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=7cRzFZRGAm">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=7cRzFZRGAs">
Category:
N805PY,
Florida Flying
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Click on photo to view the original size. |
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Read what others had to say:
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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One consequence of the strongly recommended social confinement is less boat traffic. I'm not sure
why. Boating (including flying boats) is authorized by gooberment edict. Maybe the other boaters
just didn't feel so strongly getting out of the house?
Or maybe they just weren't so fortunate.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Social isolation has not stopped the spreading of an insidious virus here in Central Florida. This virus is
self-inflicted: an infection of un-contained population explosion. "The Villages" is growing again, with a
major outbreak into formerly open range.
Back not so long ago the only hazard to flying low over the fields were grazing cattle.
Sigh.
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Eric Robertson - Apr 14,2020
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"This virus is self-inflicted: an infection of un-contained population explosion." Yep. Them's loaded words, pardner. In the past several or dozen decades, a mere blink in time, cultures have collided at an unprecedented rate, like a cultural version of plate techtonics, but in fast-mo; and over the same period, the world population of us folks has suddenly blossomed, and not all cultures agree on things... nor does everyone stay healthy. In this case, this isn't a virus that swam across an ocean, or like a dandelion seed naturally hitched a ride on a convenient current of air. "It" hitched rides on airliners and boats, both man-made contrivances of convenience. It's like an accelerated, world-wide version of what happened when European bugs found fresh blood in Native Americans. It's challenging to weigh out the cost of all this, the collateral damage vs the gain. But however we think we weigh it, the world has its own designs and its own ways of healing, and it will heal, as it always ultimately does. Mother Nature always wins whether we like how she does it or not! 
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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Loaded words indeed, Eric. And perhaps I've used them inappropriately. My loose language failed to convey that I was referring to the VillageVirus, a macro threat, not the other microscopic one that has us hunkering down. The VillageVirus is a constructed disease. It has spread throughout Sumter County, and is now rapidly expanding across the Florida Turnpike (the road that was thought to be a firewall against the contagion failed against the determined onslaught). The spread is real and it is expanding at an exponential rate.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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A beautiful little pond has already succumbed to the Village rampage.
The earth bleeds red, then the blackness creeps in.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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The process is fascinating in a macabre way. Modern Art? Not.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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It is an ugly thing, a blight on the landscape, or even Statescape, when it is fully developed.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 30,2020
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As if there weren't enough reasons to avoid this plagued place, now the Bloomberg News says it will have UPS drones making deliveries beginning in May.
| | Attachments:
Drone Prescriptions
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Ken Leonard - Apr 15,2020
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Villages population in 2010: 51,442.
2019: population 122,460
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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Today was not a pretty day to shoot these images of disease. Afterwards I just droned around the undeveloped wilderness of Lake Apopka. I almost jumped out the airplane when I spotted these distress flares in the distant murk surrounding the apocalypse of Disney.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 14,2020
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Luckily there was a small beach on Lake Louisa that offered quiet solace from all the self-induced trauma.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Fortunately there are some places the Village infection can't reach. The land just changes too much
and too rapidly. Right now it's a bit drier. It was recently, however, a lot wetter.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Some creeks like the Rainbow River are a little clearer than its neighbors because of its spring source.
A wider view would show heavily developed shores. Still, the houses haven't changed the flow. The
water still runs clear.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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State parks are a lot less crowded. The Ichetucknee River and spring were totally devoid of people on
this quarantined day. On a warm afternoon that is unheard of in recent years. Back in my childhood
days we could swim naked in its cool waters. During college we were a little more prudent because we
were more mature  and there were more tube-floaters and swimmers. (Well, there was more beer.
That could cause nakedness when applied to the excess.) Then the river was overwhelmed and the
state stepped in to protect it with a park. The park is now closed because of the virus and, if you were
childish enough to sneak in, you could swim naked with impunity (unless the park ranger happened
while patrolling in a canoe).
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Ken Leonard - Apr 12,2020
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Dan - my wife and I were in that spot a few weeks ago. It’s still lovely. We kayaked around the river and Florida spring fed rivers are
still places of awe.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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That's a great way to see it, Ken. Floating down the crystal river in a tube during summer is pretty special too.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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The Flying Ten Airport (0J8) in Archer was the first grass strip I flew to when my instructor wanted
to teach soft field techniques. That was now 40 years ago. It looks a lot less intimidating now.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Back in those days I was a lot bolder. You had to be to wear a Star t-shirt while hugging a lovely
young Ann.
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Don Maxwell - Apr 12,2020
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What a young lovely Ann!
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Her age may have changed a little bit, but the lovely hasn't faded at all!
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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After a 40-year absence I dropped into the "Flying 10" to check it out in the SeaRey. No one was
around, so I just taxied back to the end to depart. Before leaving I shot some evidence to show how
much grayer I've become. One nice change: it's so much less scary for me to land there now! Who
knew the SeaRey would be so much easier to fly than that old Cessna 172!
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Not far from my old bouncing grounds a lot of change is happening quickly. Orange Lake has become
overgrown with aquatic vegetation. A floating weed whacker was churning up a clear channel for
boaters (who are staying home).
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Marjorie Kinnan Rowling's colorful description of life on Cross Creek in the 1930's would be hard to re-
create. The waterways are a lot straighter nowadays.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Still, there's a lot that hasn't changed so much. It's out there if you take the time to find it.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Perhaps there aren't a lot of positives to be found in today's hard times. Or maybe it's just harder to
find them. Upon further reflection, though, the world is still lovely out there. And I'm happy to be one
of the Fortunate Ones to be here in the now to see it. I hope you too can get out to see it sooner
rather than later.
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Philip Mendelson - Apr 14,2020
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Great post! As my Pappy used to say, " This to shall pass!"
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John Dunlop - Apr 12,2020
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Well aviated, navigated, racounted, viewed, remembered, loved, shot, (smelled, listened, tasted?) and dreamed...
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Thanks, John. You've greatly improved the prospects for my doing it again safely by promptly providing a new gear alert system.
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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Little changes, OspRey style, from the other corner of the country.
One of the few things flying under the Stay at Home order in Washington.
| | Attachments:
20200412 124813
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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No flying per the Washington state order? That's down right cruel and unusual, Steve. It is my understanding that the airways are
federally regulated, but maybe not the airport? In any case I'm sure a good psychologist can prove that flying is essential to the
health and safety of aviators.
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 13,2020
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Flying is ok, Dan, but we're supposed to be staying home except for essential things like groceries and exercise. Some flying going on, maybe <1/4 of what is normal.
The cool thing about KBVS is that the Port of Skagit has put walking/running/biking trails along the open space around the airport, a loop around the block south of my hangar (I am next to the Heritage Flight Museum) is about 2.1 miles, perfect for a quick head clearing walk, so if I ever get stopped I can always claim I am going to the airport for exercise.
The racetrack to the west of the airport is not a racetrack, but a company called Paccar. I'm told they do some spooky stuff, and to cover their upcoming expansion (including a large corporate jet hangar) have released a bit of "white" info about what they do.
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Paccar self driving trucks
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KBVS
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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With 98% of our international flying cancelled along with Sun n' Fun, I've had a lot of time to work on OspRey. Since Giuliana can't bring her sewing machiens to the airport to quilt, we've come to an agreement: Honeydos until noon, then I'm clear to head to the airport. Some days run earlier, some later, but it's working for us.
Syd, the avionics tech at the museum, has been busy being my avionics Sea Daddy. He had nothing but compliments and Ooooos and Ahhhhssss... for Jim's harness, but 23 years of working on USN airplanes give him a bucket of tricks to pull from to make small improvements that add up.
| | Attachments:
20200406 104515
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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Syd first stopped by a few years ago, and when I could only answer basic questions an understanding was come to: I would learn my system inside and out, he would be sparing with compliments, and it was all going to be worth it. He's even started giving me an occasional compliment, and having to work harder when he plays Stump the Chump.
Syd: What does this wire do, Steve?
Me: I don't know. It says EMS-diddleybop.
Syd: (looks at me)
Me: I will know next time I see you.
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20200412 140339
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Is he related to TT? I don't know if you ever met Torrelli at one of Russ' parties, but Syd must be related.
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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I've read many of TT's posts, but never had the pleasure of meeting him at Russ's, to my regret.
The real fun thing about Syd & I is that when we started comparing histories, we realized that when I was a Navy brat riding my mighty Single Engine-Land Schwin to/from NAS Alameda, he was on the flightline working on A-3 Whales. Ironic.
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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Sunny days give an opportunity to teach an old new dog new tricks, like how to behave around an airport. A warm ramp helps, especially if rewarded with belly rubs.
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20200412 091318
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 12,2020
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Nothing warms the soul like seeing a dog basking on sunlit tarmac beside the hangar.
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Steve Kessinger - Apr 12,2020
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The joke at KBVS is that the entire airport will be empty but at least 2 hangars in our row will have activity. They're not far from the truth.
| | Attachments:
20200412 140311
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Dennis Scearce - Apr 13,2020
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Thanks for the great pictures and adventure, Dan. Please keep 'em coming.
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Bill West - Apr 13,2020
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Thanks for the pictures and narrative Dan. With our usual fly-in lunch destinations closed, we are doing a little exploring of our beautiful state. Last week Jeff Nelson and I flew the Withlacoochee River south from Lake Panasoffkee. Rainbow and Suwannee are calling when the wind comes down. I floated the Itchmefukme River a few times in my younger days. I bet you have snuck into Devils Den Spring when it was a private cow pasture. I wish I cud fly and take photos at the same time. Just cant master it.
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Nickens, Dan - Apr 13,2020
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Flying without re-fueling at the lunch spots is a new challenge. But, it takes no special skill to take flying pictures, Bill. Nothing
matches what we can see with a SeaRey-view anyway. Most times I'm too wonder-struck by what's out there to mess with a camera.
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Eric Robertson - Apr 14,2020
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The second pic from the top makes me feel like hanging out on the water there a while but also taking off from that luscious stretch all at the same time
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Wayne Nagy - Apr 14,2020
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My daughter is an MD in Leesburg and Village hospitals. This could become a very hot spot for Covid-19. HIGH density elderly.
Interesting landscape. My daughter built a house in Harbor Hills (It actually has a harbor AND many HILLS!)
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