OK, so I was slightly spoiled last week.  Rickey gave me an early Christmas gift and took me on a five-day cruise…. see??? Spoiled!  It was relaxing and wonderfully un-chaotic.  This Fall, with my traveling and his hockey coaching, we have not spent much quality time together.  So we decided to get away for a few days, being that he’s been saving his holidays at work for our trip to Colombia to get our little Zaza…. but that hasn’t materialized at present….. and the vacation days keep piling up.  So we used four of them.  Whooo HOoo! 

One of the ports of call, TOTALLY exotic beyond belief, was Catalina Island!  (ha ha)  Rick and I haven’t been there together for 22.5 years, as our honeymoon was the last occasion.  We were able to find the hotel that we stayed in and it literally looks exactly the same.  The little town, however, has dramatically improved and is quite charming with shops and shops and more shops.  So we went in the shops since they were plentiful. 

One of my brilliant pre-cruise plans was to dig out a little bag of white and black rocks that we picked up on the beach last time we were in Catalina… and made a backgammon game on a grocery bag. No one told us to bring games or reading material on our honeymoon.  Duh!  But I forgot to take it along.  So, being incredibly sentimental and bored once again, we once again picked up 15 white rocks and 15 black rocks and made a backgammon game on a piece of paper.  It was much more advanced this time as I used a brochure to make the lines straight.  We played many games of Acey-Ducey on this trip. 

The highlight of the cruise, however, (if you can beat a homemade backgammon game!) was Rick taking the championship medal for the on-board ping-pong challenge.  He beat several people to come out victorious and he wore his medal to dinner that night.  He made sure everyone knew that you couldn’t BUY the medals on board.  You had to WIN them.  Makes me so proud.  As we were leaving the ship, he kept pointing out people whom he had decimated at the green table. “See that guy in the blue pin-striped shirt?  I beat him.”  A few minutes later, “See the tall guy with the dreadlocks?  I beat him.”  I asked him if he wanted me to stop the line to immigration, open the luggage and find his medal so he could wear it.  He said no. Party pooper.

Thank you, Rickey, for a fun-filled week on the water.  XOXOXOXO

i hope every hip-hop artist i ever like stops by the jimmy fallon studios and performs with the roots band. and it’s not every day where you’re gonna hear black thought hop on and bless a raekwon track.

christ.

download:

raekwon – catalina f. lyfe jennings

-grizzly

I’m not a fan of Jimmy Fallon at all but if he keeps letting cats like Mos Def, Goodie Mob and Raekwon perform live with The Roots, he might find his way into my heart(no homo).  Everyone knows by now that Raekwon’s album Only Built For Cuban Linx 2 is the best album of the year so it’s only right that I would share his performance with The Roots on Jimmy Fallon with everyone.  Black Thought even comes through and blesses the third verse.  Who’s fucking with Black Thought?????  I thought so. Check this shit out

Make sure you go cop OBFCL2 if you haven’t already. Straight classic.

Short notes: Heavy big body, fig, sweet with cherry on finish and slight grape aroma.

Nu stiu ce sa zic in acest moment.Sunt confuza,nu stiu ce sa fac,cum sa reactionez.a.Sa plang,b.sa nu’mi pese sau c. non of the above?Am primit vestea ca un fulger,si doar cand ma gandesc imi vine sa ma dau cu capul de pereti.Tot ce pot sa spun este ca nu vreau sa pleci,ca tu si Cata insemnati enorm de mult pentru mine,si nu cred ca m-as putea descurca fara unul dintre voi.Nu ,nu’mi pasa ca pleci un an,pentru mine e enorm! Stiu ca poate e mai bine pentru tine,dar mi-e greu sa ma despart de un prieten :[ .Nu stiu ce sa zic,sincer,nu vreau sa te tin aici ( hmm,ba cam da ) ,dar nici nu as vrea sa pleci ( cine ar vrea o Cireasa de import? ) ,nu as vrea sa te fac sa te simti prost sau vinovat,sau etc,e alegerea ta ,la urma urmei.

Si totusi..

Este es uno de los recorridos que más disfruto, no tanto por el trayecto sino por el final del camino: El Guanábano. Es más que una cerveza o un tequila, es llegar a una casa. En este caso, entonces, es ir de una casa a otra.

Para llegar a El Guanábano debo recorrer alrededor de cuatro calles. No hay más que una ruta por lo que el ambiente del recorrido sólo varía por la gente y la hora del día. Creo que me sé de memoria cada casa, edificio o local que hay en el camino. Los tiempos de los semáforos los he asimilado y sé en qué lado de la calle debo ubicarme para pasar más rápido.

De día voy a paso lento. Hay más gente, más actividad, y eso le da confianza a uno. No se puede negar que ciertos sectores del centro no son los más seguros y menos para una mujer. La primera media cuadra, que es de mi casa a la esquina, no tiene mucho de atractivo. Al tomar la siguiente calle ya hay un poco más de vida: varias peluquerías, una lavandería, una ONG —creo que lo es— y el edificio donde viví hasta hace poco. Cuando paso por ahí miro hacia la portería para saludar al vigilante que, según me contaron, todavía me pone cuidado cuando voy pasando.

En la siguiente cuadra hay árboles frondosos a ambos lados de la calle. En la anterior no son tantos, y además, por ser más amplia la calzada, se nota más la ausencia. Ahora me encuentro con un centro veterinario, una iglesia cristiana y una sede política —no de mi preferencia—. Sigo el recorrido y en la próxima calle hay más variedad: bar, panadería, papelería, universidad de garaje, centro de reparación de electrodoméstico, centro de inglés, restaurante y café internet —sin café—.

Queda la última media cuadra, con frutería, centro de planificación, institución de beneficencia, una palmera y una pared que hieden a orines, el Parque del Periodista, un restaurante, un “motel”, otros bares y El Guanábano.

El recorrido de noche es el mismo, pero andando a mil. Cuando está obscuro siempre espero que esté el portero que me cuida. Ya no es tan atractiva la cuadra llena de árboles porque ocultan la luz del alumbrado público y detrás de cualquier tronco puede estar cualquier maleante. La de la panadería es peor de obscura, en ésta aumenta la ansiedad porque llegar a la esquina significa, casi, coronar el recorrido. De noche no camino por el andén, no es seguro. Voy por la calle a riesgo de un accidente, pero un poco más a salvo de un robo o algo peor. Exagero, pero al mismo tiempo no exagero.

La cuadra de la palmera y la pared orinadas, que es la misma de El Guanábano, no es más amable, pero sí más transitada. Si camino un poco más rápido podré obviar la obscuridad, el olor y el que orina.

En El Guanábano está La Mona, que hace casi triunfal mi entrada. Y yo la siento así cuando llego de noche, como si me la mereciera. Me ubico en la barra o en la primera mesa entrando a la derecha. Pero me gusta más la barra, cualquiera de sus extremos, para conversar con La Mona y escucharle los consejos, que siempre son muy acertados.

El Guanábano me gusta pa’ tomar cerveza, en ningún otro lugar me sabe como allí. Es una sutileza pero la percibo. Me gusta también para escuchar la música que no escucho en otro lado, ¿o será que es la misma pero suena diferente allí? Ni idea.

Terminar un recorrido en El Guanábano me hace sentir que todo lo que transcurrió antes, por bueno o malo que fuera, tuvo sentido.

Kaya Christian, Miss November 1967, was previously a diving and backstroke champ, then a water ballerina, and finally was certified as a SCUBA instructor just before this issue of Playboy went to print. I guess what I’m saying is, she’s in to watersports.

Photographed by Bill Figge and Ed DeLong

You know what I’ve noticed? It seems like the more vintage the playmate, the more the chance you will find a few butt shots. I don’t just mean shots where there is a naked hind end in the picture, I mean ones where the whole composition is framed around it; where it is solely the focal point, like you don’t even see boobs or anything else, practically.

It just seems like if a playmate is from the mid-60’s to late 70’s, you are practically guaranteed at least one photograph of the model looking over her shoulder or in profile with her ass aimed at the camera. Playboy has really went the boob-focused route since the 80’s and 90’s, all the way to the early 2000’s, and it seems it has been done at the price of the derriere. Sometimes the back side can be the best side, guys. It is now retro to have just-buns-pics in nudie spreads. Write that down.

A California native who spent her childhood in Georgia, Kaya enjoyed painting and music (so far, so good), late nights/early mornings (still solid), and listed as her idea of a good meal “shellfish and milkshakes.” Screeeee. What the unholy fuck?! Get out of the car, Ms. Christian. You’re walking. That’s easily the grossest thing I’ve heard all week, and most of my countrymen cooked a bird carcass in the last two days (the nasty phrases and descriptions that get bandied about when the subject is poultry roasting truly revolt me).

One of her turn-offs was “draft-card burners.” Oh, my. Sounds like the little swimming, naked girl has her some political opinions, enough so to list that in Playboy. Why don’t you go hoark down a bucket of oysters and a strawberry shake, sister, and save the sanctimonious shit for a rag that ain’t built on skin? Nobody cares if you uphold traditional family values (not to mention that the issue of the appropriateness of a draft for the Vietnam War was never, ever, except in the cheapest of rhetoric, about patriotism and being a good or a bad person).

This is what I was trying to point out in the last post, when I talked about Donna Edmondson and what she went through after admitting to being a virgin. The whole socio-religious-politics and porn thing just don’t mix. They don’t have to. I just think that if you try, you’re missing the point. It’s Playboy, honey. It’s not a pageant.

This is an example of a legit super-clever cover. See how her hips and ass form the bunny’s head and the straps that snake around the open back make his ears? Very nicely done. Another Beth Hyatt/Pompeo Posar pairing.

Weirdly, they talk about her work as

…laboring in the catacombish darkness of one of the West Coast’s largest photo-processing labs.

Thoughts on that? She talks about going to Catalina, so she’s in So-Cal. What’s down in the LA area in the way of Kodak-Eastman, etc? Because I could not at all place that reference.

The view from Inspiration Point on Catalina Island

Voluntourism is the notion of combining volunteer work with traveling, and it’s attracting a lot of people. There are several options out there, but most young adults stay in the United States or venture off into Latin America. The majority of trips last one to two weeks, and provide as much volunteer work as the traveler would like. In March 2009 during her spring break, Riane Menardi from Drake University decided to give back. She traveled to Catalina Island, an hour off the Southern California coast, for an opportunity she won’t soon forget.

Island Living:

While on the island, Menardi, 19,  and nine other members of Drake Environmental Action League worked on sustainable projects. The program was called CELP, the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. During her stay Menardi could hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean outside her cabin window. The beach on the island was only about 40 feet away and she could walk it at night if she wanted.

The Work:

During the majority of her weeklong trip, Menardi would work six to eight hours a day, building trails, composting and cleaning up the campsite. There were a wide variety of activities to choose from, ranging from pulling weeds and lifting rocks to “trekking through the jungles and chopping down these huge funnel trees,” Menardi says.

The Fun:

But the trip wasn’t all work and no play; the group did take some time off to kayak, scuba dive, and even hike. Yet they didn’t have to worry about scheduling, costs and where to go, because “Everything was planned out by the CELP staff,” Menardi says. She saw the week as an alternative spring break, a way to learn something useful, give back, and have a vacation. “It was a really great balance of volunteering and having fun,” Menardi says, “(it was) definitely the way to spend spring break.”

The Costs:

Menardi’s trip was organized by DEAL with the help of Urban Ambassadors; a not-for-profit corporation in Des Moines, Iowa geared toward sustainability. The cost was $750 per person and covered airfare, meals and lodging on the island. Since the project was so contained and activity fees were included, Menardi only spent about $30 for a T-shirt from the island and some snacks from the airport. “For all of the stuff that we got to do I thought it was pretty reasonable,” Menardi says. “So it was a week well-spent, well-funded.” For more information about Menardi’s Catalina Island trip, check out her blog of the trip.

Image courtesy of http://dealincatalina.wordpress.com/

Hoy tardó en amanecer, la mañana se presentaba lluviosa y el invierno parecía estar cada vez más cerca. Como de costumbre, preparé mi mochila: en ella no faltaba ni el agua ni la comida, un abrigo y unos abrigados calcetines. Fue así como inicié mi recorrido en busca de algo que contar…

La ruta suponía una gran sorpresa para cualquier caminante, que quedaría atrapado ante tanta belleza.

Al principio, aquel lugar no parecía esconder algo tan espectacular y mágico, pero en él, había muchas leyendas a lo largo de su historia, como las lamias, hermosas  mujeres con cola de pez o patas de cabra que solían verse a orillas de los ríos, alisándose sus largos cabellos con peines de oro.

Durante nueve minutos, caminé por una senda estrecha y solitaria, todo parecía muy aburrido, me preguntaba cuánto tardaría en llegar.

Continué recto hasta llegar a un puente. Desde ahí pude ver una enorme cascada, caminé  unos metros más y empecé a descender hasta llegar al río. No había sido nada fácil, tuve que utilizar las manos por temor a resbalarme para agarrarme de las ramas y raíces que surgían del suelo.

El paisaje realmente merecía la pena, era espectacular, pero por desgracia aquellos seres tan mágicos como las lamias, no se dejaban ver. Durante largo rato pude disfrutar de ese bello lugar, pero seguía sin encontrar respuestas a tantas preguntas… ¿Realmente exístian..?

Mañana será otro día, tal vez la mañana no se presente lluviosa como hoy. Como de costumbre, prepararé mi mochila: en ella no faltará ni el agua ni la comida, un abrigo y unos abrigados calcetines, así es como otra vez iniciaré mi recorrido en busca de algo que contar…

¿Y vos qué hacés para que el mundo sea mejor?

Dejá tu aporte sobre tus grandes o pequeñas acciones para que el mundo sea mejor. Será un banco de ideas para que intercambiemos, adoptemos nuevos comportamientos, y sigamos haciendo algo para cambiar el mundo y hacerlo mejor.

… HOY NO MADRUGA!!!

Es la patrona de los barberos, carreteros, cordeleros, traperos, escolares y estudiantes, hilanderas, molineros, notarios, nodrizas, oradores, filósofos, fontaneros, alfareros, predicadores, afiladores, sastres, teólogos, torneros… y de las solteras, día de las Catalinadas.

(Wikipedia)

Being a fan I had to post something and I just love these webcam sessions from season 2 extras.

We’re onboard the Catalina Express and leaving Big City life far behind. No more freeway traffic, no congestion — just the ocean between Dana Point and Catalina Island.

We’re on our way to Avalon, the picturesque little town built near the southern tip of Catalina Island. It’s just a 75-minute ride from the dock at Dana Point, and even a shorter distance from other points closer to L.A. Our slight trepidation about potential seasickness quickly evaporates as we see how well our sleek craft cuts through the moderate waves on what will become a perfect sunny Southern California day.

Along the way we see merchant vessels as well as a half-dozen or so 30-odd-foot pleasure craft obviously rigged for fishing and congregating at what must be a prime fishing ground. Later, to the port side we run a race with dozens of dolphins who seem intent on showing that anything man can do, they can do better.

Arriving in Avalon, the colorful, ornate – and, yes, expensive — homes arrayed on hillsides and mountain tops combine with the myriad of boats and other sea-going vessels to create the impression we have just been transported to the French Riviera. Not bad considering a roundtrip ticket on the Express was only about 45 bucks and when all is said and done, we’ll be home tonight for dinner.

But it’s obvious from the gear being packed off the Express that there are many more overnighters than daytrippers. On this particular voyage, the hold is chock-full of suitcases, packs, tents, coolers and everything that would allow one to wander off and get to know the island upclose and personal.

For us it’s a quick diversion from the rat race. We soon get our bearings on Crescent Street, the aptly-named street that follows the contour of the harbor. About six streets intersect with Crescent, all heading mauka (island-speak for “toward the mountains”). It’s in this tiny little grid that you find most of the shops, restaurants and other tourist services.

We’re traveling as a family today – mom, dad and three-year-old – so it’s a burger joint for lunch. But the burgers are tasty and quite reasonably priced. Those looking for finer dining and significantly higher prices will not be disappointed, judging from the menus posted as several fine restaurants.

On this warm summer day there is an abundance of families visiting with kids of all ages. But it’s also not difficult to find couples holding hands or checking into one of several boutique inns, or frolicking in the unusually warm ocean. In fact, it’s not much of a stretch to say that Catalina is good for both romantic couples and families. They peacefully co-exist on this little island, and neither experience seems negatively impacted by the other.

As Gwen Bronson explains, there are many opportunities for a couple to slip away on the island and do what romantics do. The many hotels and inns, just by themselves, are pretty darn romantic and, as Communications Director for the Catalina Chamber of Commerce, Gwen’s doing her job to point that out. But she’s also figuring we might want to look at one of several romantic adventures such as sea kayaking up the coast. In a very short distance you will find a beach that is not accessible by anyone who does not have a boat.

“Just visit the market and pick up your picnic lunch first and go about a half hour up the coast,” she says. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, you’ll have the whole beach to yourself.”

Or rent a golf cart and drive the many roads around Avalon – just $40 an hour. Horseback riding is always good for a romantic mood, as long as it doesn’t create any physical limitations. Botanical gardens are here for communing with Nature.

Like most visitors to Catalina, we find plenty to keep us occupied for the day. We enjoy people-watching in the outdoor cafes and exploring the winding roadways that climb out of Avalon to spectacular views of the harbor. In general, we just soak up this island atmosphere, recognizing it may be a while longer before we get back to the real French Riviera or anywhere else in the world with such island charm.

Our day on the island goes by quickly and the trip back to Dana Point is a relaxing end to a perfect Southern California daytrip. We arrive home in the San Diego area refreshed, ready to tackle the work week — ready to share stories about our daytrip to the “Riviera” and resolved to put “to sea” much more often.

AT A GLANCE

Where: Catalina Island is about 26 miles west of the L.A. area. There are four boat companies that service Catalina from seven ports in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

What: Catalina Island offers many recreational activities ranging from deep-sea fishing to horseback riding to hiking to snorkeling. There are also many attractions such as submarine rides and golf cart rentals.

When: Catalina is a great destination year-round, although the lowest prices are in the shoulder season, April-May and September-October. Most hotels offer lower prices then, but combo packages help reduce the overall cost of lodging and transportation any time of year. Several events are offered throughout the year, so check with the Chamber of Commerce for a listing.

Why: Catalina is close, easy to reach, incredibly picturesque and the perfect daytrip or getaway weekend for any living in or visiting Southern California.

How: Call the Catalina Chamber for a complete list of transportation and lodging options. Phone (310) 510-1520.

The chef performs 2 classic tracks off of “Only Built For Cuban Links”…Live performance of “Catilina” after the break….

The landmark Casino at AvalonThe harbor and town begin to come into view as we approach

The beauty of the island as you approach Avalon speaks for itself. In the height on the season 400 boats will be moored inside the harbor “nose-to-ass” as Korbey would say but on the last day of October it was pleasantly far less crowded.  We were given our mooring assignment and maneuvered our way through boats already secured in the harbor. 

View from Darlin's aft deck moored in Avalon

After getting settled in we decided to play tourist.  We took the water taxi to the main dock and strolled to the north end of town.

water taxi

A little peck-ish we stopped into Catalina Cantina Mexican restaurant for a snack.  We ordered a couple of Pacifico’s con limon, an order of ceviche and guacamole.  The beers were cold, our server was friendly but the rest of the experience failed to satisfy.  We headed to the other end of town to explore the shops.

Submarine rides are another attraction on Catalina

The weather was sunny and 70 – perfect for strolling. Most of the afternoon we poked around the shops in town, by the time we made it back to the Casino the tours had been completed for the day.  The Catalina Casino is not as you would expect a gambling hall, it got it’s name from the Italian language meaning “a place to gather” There is no gambling here. The 12 story building that was restored from head to toe a few years ago is divided into a beautiful ballroom and a movie theatre.

The town of Avalon

Unsatisfied from our earlier food choice we headed off in search of a place to perch with a something to nosh while the children’s Halloween parade took place.  The bar at El Galleon with seats alongside the patio provided us a good viewing station. We ordered clams and a grilled artichoke – we were happy campers.

The view from our seats at El Galleon - if you look closely enough you can see Darlin through the 2 palms trees, past the other boat

A quick stop at the wine shop in Umami CafeAddress: ‎, a true treasure on the island, then headed back to the boat before sunset.  With drinks on the lido deck we watched the sun sink behind the island.

It's a rough life =)

Lights from the shore and neighboring boats twinkled around us as we enjoyed grilled tuna and Brussels sprouts dinner.

Avalon from the aft deck of Darlin at duskDusk in the harbor

The town of Avalon begins to light up as the sun goes down

We needed to be in San Diego no later than November 1^st as the boat was being hauled on the 2^nd for an insurance survey and various other maintenance items.  We had planned 3 weeks from Half Moon Bay to San Diego, figuring we would have plenty of time as it turned out with all the adventures we would make it to San Diego just in time, if everything went well underway the next morning…

We had one more stop scheduled before San Diego, the romantic island of Catalina.  Located  just 22miles off the coast of Los Angeles, Catalina is a haven for boaters year round.  There are 18 coves around the island that have moorings for boats. Each is as beautiful and unique as the last.  Of course, everyone has their favorites. Since it was Korbey’s first trip to Catalina, I thought we should experience both sides of “island life”.  The transit only took 4 hours in slightly rocky seas, as the ocean was still churned up from the weather that had passed through the day before.  We arrived at about 2:30 in the afternoon.  Our intention was to moor in Two Harbors but with the wind direction coming from the northwest we would have a more comfortable evening in Cherry Cove which is just north of Two Harbors past 4th of July Cove. 

Our view from Cherry Cove back towards Two Harbors

 We were the only boat there; it was a drastically different atmosphere from the crowded harbors of Marina Del Rey.  Korbey enjoyed some leisurely time on the aft deck of the boat reading as the sun went down and we turned in early.

He looks like a retiree, doesn't he?

The next day, Friday, while Korbey took care of registration with harbor patrol office I enjoyed yoga on the aft deck of Darlin.  By, mid-morning boats had begun to arrive for the weekend.

Cherry Cove

I spent the day taking care of business for my clients and Korbey fiddled around on the never ending boat maintenance items.  The amount of work required to keep a vessel this size, in good shape and running smoothly can be a full time commitment and cost a small fortune.  Fortunately for Darlin, Korbey enjoys working with his hands and is mechanically inclined.

At the end of the day we summoned the water taxi for a short ride into Two Harbors www.VisitTwoHarbors.com where we had dinner at the Harbor Reef Restaurant.  The food and service were outstanding.  I had a carrot ginger soup, and calamari piccata and Korbey had a generous portion of prime rib cooked perfectly!  Of course there was some lovely wine that accompanied this meal, but I failed to write it down and since a few weeks have past I can’t remember what it was! After dinner, we went into the bar where the locals and few tourist had gather, this is the only place besides the Banning House for “night-life”.  After “Buccaneer Days” the first weekend of October the island quiets down quite a bit which makes it a lovely time to visit. 

Saturday, we decided to move Darlin around to Avalon or “Sin City” as the locals call it. But not before we could back over one of the mooring lines and hook it around the prop.  Fortunately we spotted the problem before it really became one! Korbey descended to the swim step on the stern of the boat and began poking around but it was tough because he didn’t have a very good vantage point. We re-hooked up to a mooring ball in front of us and continued the investigation.  A neighboring vessel noticed we were struggling with something and came over to see if he could lend a hand.  Our new friend, Ted Salisbury worked diligently with Korbey to access the problem, which was as we had suspected a line wrapped around our prop, figuring the only way to free ourselves was by severing the line. 

Ted and Korbey accessing the situation

 Snip, snip, we cut ourselves free – but there was still a line around the prop.  So Korbey donned his snorkel gear and overboard he went….brrrrr…but he did manage to get us free of the line.  Afterwards, we called the harbor patrol so they could let us know what the fee was for the damage we had done.  We were anxious to get to Avalon and equally as anxious to put this small mishap behind us so the 15 minute wait seemed particularly long. The fee ended up being just under $35, much less that I had thought! And, we were finally underway for an day of fun at Avalon.  In closing this blog post, we’d like to give a special “Thank You” to Ted the Captain of Voyager a 34’ Tolleycraft.  It is the caring spirit and generosity of fellow boaters like Ted that contribute to the unique experiences at sea.  Thanks Ted!

Wings Over Miami Air Museum

25º 39’ 00” N / 80º 26’ 00” W

In Miami’s metro area, if you make your way to the end of the road that leads through the Kendall–Tamiami Executive Airport you will happen upon a small, dynamic and fascinating aviation collection — the Wings Over Miami  Air Museum. The aircraft number about a dozen, or so, but the actual population fluctuates. There are permanent airplanes, there are aircraft under restoration and there are aircraft in the hanger on the occasional temporary basis. 

Wings Over Miami Air Museum hangar view — photo by Joe May

There are no decrepit exhibits and all the aircraft are in pristine condition. Amazingly so, I think, given the few members in the cadre. Equally amazing is that almost each time I visit, this quiet and out of the way museum, inevitably aircraft have been respotted due to the ever on-going work. Aircraft are flown in for the work and for special handling the musem can provide. One case, a recent one, of special handling was the disassembly for shipment of a Stearman Kaydet. There it was – wings and tail resting on the hanger floor, the landing gear set aside and an engine hoist chain slung around the power plant. Experts at work — and in Florida’s subtropical August heat! Thankfully, the office is air conditioned and well equipped with restroom facilities. There is a drink dispensing machine just outside the main door and a café is not really necessary since a plentitude of eateries can be found just outside the entrance of the airport. A modest entry fee is asked for a day’s admission.

Some exhibits have come and gone. The wings and empennage of the WW II Kawasaki 川崎市 Ki-61 飛燕 (Hien, roughly flying swallow, Allied codename Tony) that once were on display have gone back to their owner, as did the TBM Avenger that had been taken down to bare metal.

Some aircraft are there for safekeeping – a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina and a Douglas C-47 Dakota, are examples. Another aircraft — a Douglas B-26 Invader — was freshened up and moved about 1000 feet (~300m) to a newly built memorial to the Cuban and American pilots who perished during the Bay of Pigs Invasion — or La Batalla de Girón as it is known in Cuba. [Please see the post, A new monument to fliers – the aviators of the Bay of Pigs Invasion & the Douglas B-26 Invader, published on 21 October 2009.]

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina — photo by Joe May

A Grumman F-14 Tomcat is the largest aircraft displayed as is one of the most beautiful North American SNJ-6 (also known as the AT-6 Texan when flown by the USAAF) I have seen. On my last visit not one, but two, other Texans were undergoing complete rebuilds for flying — zero time wings and engines — serious and professional work.

North American SNJ — photo by Joe May

North American SNJ nose art — photo by Joe May

Adding to the remarkable accomplishments of this small museum are the foreign made aircraft on exhibit. They are: a Nanchang CJ-6A from the People’s Republic of China, an Aero L-29 Delfín from the former Czechoslovakia, and a Yakovlev Yak-52 from the former USSR.

Nanchang CJ-6A — photo by Joe May

Nanchang CJ-6A fuselage art detail — photo by Joe May

This museum is not to be missed and is worth the detour for any aviation enthusiast or historian visiting the Miami metro area. The main entrance to the Kendall–Tamiami Executive Airport is located on SW 137^th Avenue between SW 120^th Street and SW 152^nd Street in Miami Florida USA. Flying to the airport is possible in private aircraft but regular airlines can be used to fly into the Miami International Airport or the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport.

This definitely gets the thumbs up from me!

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Memorias analógicas es un proyecto que busca rescatar del formato del

audio cassette, un archivo analógico que se desvanece en silencio.

Dada la naturaleza inmediata de la interacción con el registro,

el contenido de las cintas es emotivo, cultural y sociológico de una época.

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Swedish Affair

(Swedish Catalina vs. Soviet Mig-15s)

Are you sure that neutral countries have never been involved in military clashes?

In the years following the end of WW2, despite the long-standing neutrality, Sweden began to undertake reconnaissance activity along the Baltic Sea, in order to minimize the possible threat posed by the Russians.

The early sorties began in the autumn of 1945 and were flown primarily by SAAB B18B, a local version of the well known Junkers Ju-86.

Reconnaissance planes usually took off during the night so that they could focus on their targets at dawn. Once they reached the Baltic coast, the planes would climb to 200-300 meters to take photos of any vessels they encountered and frequently they had “face to face” encounters with Soviet fighters.

In 1946, it was reported about some rockets flying through Swedish airspace, so it was promptly decided to set-up a reconnaissance mission towards the Penemunde peninsula where it was suspected that Soviet rockets research centre was based.

This mission was assigned to a SAAB B17 single engine dive bomber converted into a recce aircraft when on August 1946 it made the first attempt to make aerial photos of the facility but on its way to the target it had to turn back after being intercepted by a bunch of Soviet fighters.

After several other unsuccessful missions, it was therefore decided to devolve upon a higher performance aircraft so to chose a single Swedish P-51D equipped with a high number of reconnaissance cameras borrowed by the US.

These last missions were operated by the Mustang were known as “Operation Falun” and began on July 1948, and results were given and shared with the US Government.

During the following years the sorties did not stop and Swedish Air Force dedicated specific aircrafts to carry on several important and high-risk missions.

Between 1948 and 1949 around 15 reconnaissance missions were flown along the Soviet Baltic coast but avoiding major centers.

Unfortunately, not all the sorties had a happy end.

It was June 13th, 1952 when a Swedish military DC-3 carrying out a radio surveillance flight over the Baltic Sea disappeared East of the Isle of Gotland.

Three days later, a couple of PBY Catalina were sent to search the lost DC-3 when they got intercepted by Soviet Mig-15s and one of them was shot down. The seven crew members managed to ditch near the West German freighter “Munsterland” and were rescued immediately.

But how did these events really happen?

Once again what we are going to explain is only the description reported by both opponents, since it is really difficult to piece together the truth after many years, especially when you get involved in matters often hidden by military secret.

It seems that, due to bad weather, the Catalina accidentally entered the Soviet airspace through the Estonian island of Dago, when it was intercepted by a couple of fast Mig-15s jets; it was pushed west under continued firing and was finally forced to land.

The transmission reported by the Catalina crew is clear and give no doubts of what happened that day on the sky:

-“…Feigned attack by two Mig planes…” and two minutes later:

“We are being fired upon with tracers, 20mm…it’s hitting to the right”.

Six minutes later the Swedish Air Command received such a message: “I have been fired upon and hit several times!”

In the post-fact analysis of the events, the crew members reported that before being forced to make the emergency splashdown, the Soviet planes made several attacks as by following details:

- under the first two attacks, the Catalina plane took no hits;

- under the third attack, the fuselage and the left wing were hit;

- the fourth attack came straight from behind and damaged heavily the elevator;

- the fifth and the sixth attacks damaged the left engine and by hitting the cockpit they wounded the pilot and the navigator.

The crew managed to perform a successful ditching and while the life boats were being lowered into the water, the couple of Mig made another attack, but did not fire again.

Picture by: Radomił Binek

After ten minutes the damaged plane sunk into the deep waters, as the crew members were going to be picked up by the German ship “Munsterland”.

The reaction by the Soviets was similar to those related to the previous incidents involving their own Air Force: the foreign plane – this time a Swedish aircraft – had violated Soviet airspace and after being intercepted 40 kilometers inside the territorial waters it was fired upon by the Mig-15s, compelling the Soviet pilots to fire back and shot down the threat.

On the other side, the Swedish Government denied this statement and claimed the Catalina was unarmed and was flying around 15 miles off the Soviet Baltic coastline.

The Stockholm Government also pointed out how the rules of interception were substantially different between the involved countries, giving the public opinion the common impression how Soviet rules were out of the common wisdom and practice:

“…In fact, there are fundamental differences. While the orders of the Swedish Air Force are to turn off foreign aircraft by means of a warning, the Soviet Air Force has, according to its orders, to try to force the foreign aircraft to land. While the instructions of the Swedish Air Force mean that the foreign aircraft is not fired upon if it changes its course and flies away, the Soviet instructions seem to imply that the foreign aircraft is fired upon if it flies away instead of landing”.

But the international right for all the nations’ aircrafts to fly over the high sea was once more admitted by the involved Governments.

On a Soviet diplomatic reply of July 1952 to a Swedish note it was stated that:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affaire of the URSS does not deem it necessary to begin discussing the Swedish Government’s statement that Swedish military planes have full freedom to fly over the open sea and will, in future as hitherto, make use of this right, since the USSR…has never disputed this.”

Even this time the main diplomatic dispute lays upon the exact location of the intercepted plane at the time of the incident. No one called into question the widespread principle of freedom above the high sea; indeed, this statement will be strengthened later in 1960, when a US RB-47 will be shot down by Soviet warplanes.

This incident brought the matter before none of the members of the UN Security Council – included US and USSR – tried to justify the shooting down of a plane flying over the high sea, even if close to the territorial waters and engaged in reconnaissance activities or espionage.

A few months later the Catalina incident, the Soviets were involved into another similar incident, when an American B-29 was shot down by fighters in the North eastern part of Japan, into a sector that embraces the islands of Habomai, Yuri and Akiyuri, making the reconstruction of the facts more difficult than usual, since it was a long time that USSR was claiming its territorial sovereignty above Akiyuri.

© David Cenciotti & Simone Bovi

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