Another angle: Jet scouting.

Been to the UK twice in the last two months - just got back again yesterday.
This last trip was a real window gazer. First trips went over Maine and then
over St. Johns to the London. But the return on this one was the one I was
waiting for: The London to Minneapolis great circle route. It took us over
NE Scotland, the tip of Greenland, over Northern Labrador, across the James
Bay and then Northern Ontario. The weather was gorgeous - clear and sunny.

I sat glued to the window mumbling about the rivers and interesting spots and
scribbling rough drawings to look up later of places I would like to visit.

Coming in from James Bay, you suddenly hit the northern most edge of the areas
of clear cutting. The East side of Nippigon is essentially all whacked down, and
many many areas there are lakes surrounded by just a "clown fringe" of trees with
the entire forest around it totally cut down.

But the rivers were spectacular. The snow really highlighted the surface features,
making the elevation and terrain differences stand out. It was awesome.

Someone should make arrangements to strap video cameras to the underside of planes
and sell the reconnaissance data. I would be a buyer in a heartbeat. And if one knew the
weather conditions were going to be good and the route known, I would buy a cheapie
ticket just to do it all over again

Blakely


Ronald Donahue wrote:

Pete H

Actually the North Atlantic Tracks change daily depending on wind,
turbulence and the number of tracks needed to accommodate traffic. Since
most of them originate and terminate from an area about 50 miles north and
south and about 30 miles east of Gander what you are seeing is the traffic
routed to join the tracks. I'll wave the next time I pass overhead.

Ron Donahue

"Peter H" wrote in message
...
William R. Watt wrote:

does anybody paddle where there are no vapour trails?



Timo has the basic idea: live/paddle in an area that's not on a great
circle between popular tourist/business locations.

I have the bittersweet location of having the entire north Maine woods
as my playground, yet it's on about a dozen great circles that connect
New York, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, etc. with nearly
all of Europe. From 5-9 a.m. it's Europe headed for North America while
from 7 - 10 p.m. it's North America headed for Europe. Fun with a small
telescope to pick out the insignia (insigniae?) of various aircraft -
but inimical to the basic purpose for being in the woods to begin with.

Pete H

--
When eating an elephant
take one bite at a time.
C. Abrams