What Do You See?

When you first start flying it is interesting looking down from the plane and trying to spot things on the ground. It is so hard to identify anything in the beginning. I remember I could never tell which freeway was what and overall couldn’t identify anything. After several trips you can start identifying freeways and large landmarks. “Oh look, there is Magic Mountain” or “There’s the airport” or “The Staples Center”. This novelty eventually wears off as you become more confident in your eye-spying skills. The next mode you go into is really not caring whats on the ground. This mode could also result in you giggling or thinking people around you are dumb because they do care. Such inexperienced fliers…..lol

So today, I flew Ontario to Sacramento, not one of my normal routes and I happened to be looking out the window and I started paying attention to what was on the ground. I admit it, I got interested again, I also congratulated myself on being such a good landmark finder. Where I used to be impressed by my skills at major landmarks and freeways I am now really good at identifying streets, intersections and buildings. Considering I was on a route through the foothills that I am never on I was impressed with myself for quickly identifying the following from approximately 20,000 feet:

My street
Pasadena High School
Santa Anita Mall
Foothill Blvd
Madre Blvd
Victory Park
South Lake Avenue
Lake View Terrace
Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Pasadena Nazarene
Descanso Gardens
Glendale Memorial
Eaten Canyon Golf Course
McDonalds on Altadena Drive
Best Buy/Starbucks

Of course also, Burbank Airport, Santa Anita Racetrack, Rose Bowl etc.

But the real treat was seeing Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. Totally Cool!