November 16, 2024 - Phoenix
 
I flew out to Phoenix to spend some time with my Mountain View High School buddies Pete, Stan and Jack at Pete's house in Pebble Creek (west of Phoenix).  You know you are in the desert when there is a Saguaro Cactus across the street.
   
Pete showing off his patio misters.  We didn't need them this time of year, however.   Even the misters are ineffective during the Arizona summers, when the heat is brutal.
   
A Roadrunner walks by on Pete's patio.   It's the first one I've ever seen, other than the Wile Y. Coyote cartoons.
   
The first night we went to a Brew Pub for dinner.
   
Relaxing on the patio.
   
Enjoying the fire pit on the patio at dusk.
   
Pete gets this show every night.
   
We played a lot of ping pong at Pete's house (with Bloody Marys).
   
We also enjoyed the Oasis community pool (with frozen Margaritas).
   
We played a lot of Pickleball on Pebble Creek's excellent courts (with water).
 
Pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at the summer home of Joel Pritchard, who later served in the United States Congress and as Washington's lieutenant governor.  Pritchard and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, are credited with devising the game and establishing the rules.  According to Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard's wife, "The name of the game became Pickle Ball after I said it reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats."  Similarly, the game of pickleball was created from leftover equipment from several sports; a badminton court, table tennis paddles, a wiffle ball and a net height like that of tennis.  Other sources state that the name "pickleball" was derived from the name of the Pritchards' family dog, Pickles.
   
We drove out to nearby Wickenburg Ranch -- along the road to Las Vegas -- to visit another Mountain View High School alumnus and friend -- Charlie.
   
Charlie's community is set amongst the beautifully landscaped desert hills and golf course.
   
I've never seen a golf course like this.  It consists of Tee-off boxes, greens and sand traps.  There are no fairways -- just desert scrub.  You better be good if you want to play here!  (And have lots of money)
   
Some of the larger community houses.
   
It turns out some of the holes do have fairways.
 
At center in the middle of the lake is The Watering Hole Bar & Grill.
   
The community pool.  Nice.
   
Golfing in the desert.
   
We have Saguaro Cactii on the course!
   
Back at Pebble Creek where Charlie joined us at the Oasis Pool.
   
Alas, the three days at Pebble Creek was over all too soon, and I'm at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport watching my ride taxii up to the gate.
   
Looking down at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport while heading east.
   
On top of a layer.
   
I'm guessing we are somewhere over New Mexico.  At center is a ski resort.
   
Looking down at a mid-size airport, probably Class C airspace.  I was right.  It's Albuquerque International Sunport.
   
High above a strange-looking layer.
   

On our descent I looked out the window and knew exactly where we were.  That's the Patuxent River at right.  The Patuxent flows north.  The Chesapeake Bay is at upper left.

I was very interested at this point because this area is in the Special Flight Restriction Area (SFRA) and I don't fly in it, certainly not for just flightseeing.

 
   
A nice shot of Kent Island from 8,000 feet or so.
   
Looking northeast at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  My grandsons and I just hiked Greenbury Point -- at bottom with the three towers -- a month or so ago.
   
Our jet was flying up the Severn River which leads to BWI Airport.  Parallel to the Severn River is Ritchie Highway -- Route 2 -- which I have driven about a million times.  But until you see it from the air, or Google Maps, you don't realize how close and how much water is on each side.
   
I can see my oldest daughter's house down below.
   
The Severna Park shopping area is at center.  Severna Park High School is at left.
   
Now Severna Park High School is at center.
   
Continuing up Ritchie Highway I see our house -- or at least, where our house is behind some trees.  The yellow arrow poits ot our house.
   
The Patapsco River runs left to right at the top of the image.
   
At center is big Kinder Park where we go a lot.
   
Another look at Kinder Park.
   
Continuing on.
   
Flaps are fully down now.
   
Baltimore City is coming into view at top left.
   
About to touch down!
   
We're down!  Speed brakes up!  Slow this puppy down.
   
Parked at the terminal.  Control tower at right.  Nice flight.  Fun trip.
   
 
   
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