![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/1glider1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI need an excuse to post something but nothing particularly interesting happened
\nin the past week, though I can share a few more pictures.<\/p>\n
Last Sunday I drove down the road to Ed Levin County Park, which is one of
\nthe top hang-gliding sites in the Bay Area. Some mornings I’m going into work
\nand I see pickup trucks with long narrow bundles bound to their roof racks heading
\nup to the park — they’re going gliding. I think: wow, how visual is the sight
\nof a lone pilot floating on the breeze? A photo op for sure. One problem: The
\nfliers are too far away to get really good images. These are the best I came
\nup with.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This guy was flying right over my head on his way in for a landing. He’s shouting
\na greeting to his buddies down below, one of those things that can happen because
\nthese manmade birds have no motors. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/2glider2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Here’s the guy’s flying partner getting ready to park his glider. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/3glider3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A close-up of his glider. They can cost up to $3,000, he told me. Lessons can
\ncost another grand. They won’t let you fly at this park without certification
\nfrom the U.S. Hang-Gliding Association, which trains people to fly gliders.
\nMakes sense to take their lessons, because the real experts on soaring — hawks,
\neagles, buzzards, etc. — aren’t sharing their trade secrets. I mean, sure,
\nyou could hire a falcon to teach you to fly; just hide the hamsters when he
\ncomes to collect the bill. <\/p>\n
OK, next up are pictures I took on my morning walk the other day. Our hill’s
\nbeen fogged in every morning, which creates some interesting scenes as the sun
\nburns off the mist. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/4foggytop.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
This is right outside the front gate. Looked up, thought, "cool,"
\ntook a picture. I like the easy ones. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/5peacock.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
One of our neighbors is a peacock. If you ever visit this neighborhood and
\nwonder who’s whipping their child to within an inch of his life, don’t worry:
\nit’s just this one (or maybe a pal) wailing at the top of his lungs. Looks like this one’s tail
\nfeathers have been trimmed, but even so, a peacock is a wonder to behold. We
\njust wish they’d quiet down a bit. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/6deer.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Saw these deer in front of this old wrecked house on a nearby hill. I see deer
\nevery morning, so it hardly seems newsworthy anymore. But they are pretty doggone
\ncute. <\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/tommangan.net\/archives\/images\/73104misc\/7bigtree.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Another for my Cool Trees of California file. It’s all uphill to the house
\nfrom here, which means I’m a sweaty mess by the time I get home. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I need an excuse to post something but nothing particularly interesting happened in the past week, though I can share a few more pictures. Last Sunday I drove down the road to Ed Levin County Park, which is one of…<\/p>\n