Sentimental Journey

My fascination with World War II aircraft is no secret.
This week one of the most famous aircraft of that era is going to be sitting at Elko Airport from Monday lunchtime until Friday at 11am. The B-17 Flying Fortress.

The B-17 in question (this engine belongs to her) is the 100% restored B-17G, Sentimental Journey, of the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

I took a sneak peek at this beautifully restored aircraft Sunday while it was on static display at the Historic Airfield in Wendover, Nevada.
Yes, I drove two hours, yesterday, to see an aircraft that will be in my back yard today.
If you did not know, the Wendover Airfield is where the crew of the Enola Gay trained for its fateful date with history.

I am saving the big reveal of the entire aircraft for tomorrow.
Today I am camping out on my lunch hour to try and get a shot of this beauty flying into Elko. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
The roar of four of these huge engines will fill my ears as this magnificent aircraft comes in for a landing.
You can even take a ride on her, 45 minutes of heaven in the sky.

Unfortunately, for me, this time around I will only be a spectator.

At the end of the week there will be a special treat.
I will post a picture of me beside this aircraft when I first encountered it back in 1985... I had hair back then, lots of it! LOL!

Better Days Behind

Another Day Goes By

Basque Dancers

Basque Children Dancing

Keep Right

Reflecting Direction

Mysteries and Mayhem

I came across this scene after a very heavy rain. The road was very slick. (the raindrops on the windscreen give this shot a very cloak and dagger feel )

I am not sure what happened, there were no tracks that would indicate the car slid from the road in the mud and no one was in the car.

When I came back by 45 minutes later the car and the police were nowhere to be found. Strangely, except for the flattened grass where the car had lay on it's roof, there was no real evidence that anything had happened at all. That really added to the cloak & dagger feel of the scene.

Familiar Things

I knew I saw a scene like this somewhere before.
It was here

One More from the Pow Wow

Shoshone-Paiute Pow Wow (Part 3)

Shoshone-Paiute Pow Wow (part 2)

Shoshone-Paiute Pow Wow

On the 4th of July this year I wanted to break from tradition. I was not looking for the parade, barbecues and fireworks. I wanted to see something different. So I went north of Elko to Duck Valley for the Shoshone-Paiute Pow Wow in Owyhee, Nevada.

It was an afternoon and early evening of full color traditional Native American ceremonial dress traditional dance and music. I particularly enjoyed the "One Drum Song Contest"

These are some of my favorite shots from the Pow Wow.

Basque Accordionist

Elko had its Annual Basque Festival over the 4th of July weekend.
This is a shot of an accordionist playing traditional Basque music for the dancers.

Happy Birthday America

Happy Independence Day

Calf Roping

Sky Riders

What Goes Up...

Inevitably comes down.
Sometimes gracefully, other times... not so much!