A Canadian Eden

Location Coordinates:
48°33'55"N, 123°28'10"W
Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay,
British Columbia, Canada

My goal with the creation of The Right Latitude blog is less about sharing sights and thoughts on traditional tourist attractions and more about the everyday aspects of any spot that make it interesting. As such, including an entry about the world-renowned Butchart Gardens in British Columbia would seem inconsistent with my objective. But the sheer beauty of this place compels me to at least include a few shots of this amazing property, which is located about 14 miles (21 km) north of Victoria, BC.

Warmer-than-normal weather and traveling at the peak of summer vacation season, with the associated hordes of tourists, were the only downsides about spending a few hours wandering through these exquisitely maintained gardens. The moderate climate of southern Vancouver Island allows for a huge variety of floral and plant life to thrive, and the design of the various sections of The Gardens provides for an almost overwhelming array of color and beauty.

Sunken Garden

The most recognizable scenes are those in the Sunken Garden. It is nearly inconceivable that this spot was once a quarry providing limestone for the Butchart family's cement business. It was the ingenuity and determination of Jennie Butchart that transformed an ugly, barren quarry into this beautiful retreat.

Rose Garden

The countless varieties and colors of the Rose Garden make it impossible to determine which is your favorite.

And even with throngs of tourists milling along the pathways of the Japanese Garden you can still find a shady, peaceful spot to be calmed by the sounds of water falling in fountains surrounded by lush green.

Japanese Garden

These are just a few of the dozens of photos I shot, the best of which I'm reserving for publication on my web site (which should be operational by this fall). If you ever have the chance to visit Butchart Gardens, go ahead and brave the crowds. It is worth it.

Water takeoffs and landings

Location coordinates:
48°25'22"N, 123°23'15"W
Inner Harbour
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada


I'm sure you've seen movies set in exotic locales like a south pacific island, Alaska, or the wilds of the Yukon. At some point in these movies you will likely have a scene with someone arriving in a small plane with two pontoons (or skis) in place of landing gears. These are floatplanes (also known as seaplanes), and with my passion for flying and aircraft I've been curious about what it would be like to take off and land on the water. I was able to satisfy that curiosity as part of my recent visit to Victoria, British Columbia.

When we arrived in Victoria I was pleased to find an airline operating scenic flights using a large fleet of floatplanes - specifically, de Havilland Otters. Excitement outweighed frugality regarding the flight's cost, so my wife and I bought tickets on Harbour Air for a forty-five minute aerial tour of the region around Victoria and the nearby Gulf Islands.

It was unseasonably warm on our tour day as we arrived at the Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome. We obtained our bright pink boarding cards and had a seat in the sparse waiting area to await our departure. Fifteen minutes later an energetic girl called for those on the 11 AM flight. I was a bit concerned as I observed about thirteen people moving toward a plane I assumed was fitted for no more than six or eight passengers. As I crawled into the plane I could see that, technically, the cabin could seat about fifteen - providing those fifteen were the stature of a five-year-old child. We claimed our two diminutive seats, and with my knees rammed into the row in front and legs spilling into the "aisle", I buckled up and let anticipation rush over me. It was quite cramped and stuffy inside the tiny cabin, but worries about comfort quickly faded away as we got underway.

We enjoyed a mini-cruise of the harbour while taxiing to the main channel for takeoff. I expected to be vigorously bounced by the waves on our acceleration run, but even though water was flying wildly to the sides the ride was relatively smooth. Soon we were airborne and banking left to follow the gorgeous Vancouver Island shoreline. The views were amazing! At one point our pilot took us down to a mere 500 feet where we seemed to skim the tops of the trees on one of the Gulf Islands. What a thrill! Beyond the excitement of the flight itself, we were able to see so much more of the diverse beauty of the area than we ever could have from the ground. The adventure ended much too soon, and after about thirty-five minutes in the air we splashed down for a smooth landing back in Victoria Harbour. 

The flight exceeded all my expectations (except for cabin space), and it was the highlight of my visit to Victoria. And, I get to check "ride in a seaplane" off the life goals list.

Storm on the Plains

Location coordinates:

41° 09' 57"N, 101° 00' 04"W

Hershey, Nebraska

 OK, so it has been a long time between blog posts. I've been busy traveling, and I'm in a bit of a lull right now before another trip at the end of the month, so I thought I'd get in a post or two before I'm off again.

A few weeks ago I was in western Nebraska for a family event. Nebraska has had their fair share of rain and storms this spring and summer. This particular storm passed just to the north of Hershey, NE, which is west of North Platte along Interstate 80. It had been another hot day, with temperatures near or at 100 degrees. The storm blew up close to sundown, so the cloud formations were really stunning with the setting sun. When we noticed the darkening sky out of the living room window we all went out to watch the unfolding drama. It was fascinating to watch the clouds churn and boil, and the lightning put on a very nice show. It never did rain where we were, but shortly after sundown the wind came up (which I am assuming was associated with this storm as it passed), and the temperature dropped significantly. The strong wind was welcomed by me for more than just its cooling impact; it blew away the mosquitoes, which had viciously attacked me as I was trying to focus on taking the photos. (I am your typical mosquito's very favorite dish, apparently. I attract the little villains more than anyone I know. I step outside near sunset and they nearly knock me to the ground!)

I love to watch weather, if I'm out of harm's way. I've lived in the central U.S. most of my adult life, in Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and now Minnesota. I believe the beauty of a summer thunderstorm is best observed in Nebraska because the terrain is flat with few trees to obscure the view. As long as the storms don't become destructive, they are one of the best things about the Midwest summer.

A Slight Pause . .

I'll be slowing down a bit on my blog posts over the next couple of weeks as I have some travel and other business matters that I'll be working on during June. As I'm working these other projects I'll be keeping an eye out for new "right latitudes", and I'll be bringing new posts again soon. In the meantime I'll share a photo I took on my recent trip to Washington of pretty Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are located about 30 miles east of Seattle and make for a very nice afternoon journey. Located at the crest of the falls is the Salish Lodge and Spa (http://www.salishlodge.com/), a great looking place I'm interested in experiencing sometime.

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

Location coordinates:

47°32'31"N, 121°50'13"W

Seattle - Beyond Expectations

Location coordinates:

47°37'47"N, 122°21'33"W

Kerry Park, Seattle, Washington

It's great when a destination lives up to your pre-conceived notions. Even better is when a location provides the unexpected and broadens your impression of what that place is really like, which is what happened on my recent journey to Seattle. I found plenty of what I expected: beautiful bays dotted with ships and sailboats and ferries, picturesque parks, great food, mind-boggling traffic, and interesting architecture. I was also introduced to characteristics that up to this point I did not associate with the city.

With Seattle's reputation for damp and cloudy weather, it was my understanding that sightings of majestic Mt. Rainier are hard to come by. But our arrival day was clear and bright, and as we flew into the city we were treated to amazing views of the 14,000 foot mountain, it's snow-covered peak contrasting sharply with the lush green landscape of the lower elevations. Most of our four-day visit was sunny and dry . And it was warm - in the mid-seventies. In fact, I'd say the weather was just about perfect. Is it possible the "it's always rainy in Seattle" mantra is a myth?

Another unanticipated finding was the proximity of spectacular mountain ranges that seemed to frame the horizon any direction you looked. Across Puget Sound to the west you can see the Olympic range, and to the east is the Cascade range, with Mt. Baker in the north and Mt. Rainier (shown here) to the south serving as geographic sentries for the Seattle metropolitan area. I always knew there were mountain ranges nearby, but I wouldn't have guessed they were such a visible and pleasing part of the Seattle cityscape.

I was also quite surprised to find downtown Seattle similar to hilly San Francisco. Many of the streets in the city center and immediate surrounding area are so steep that even the best of stick shift drivers would be hard pressed to keep their car from making that heart-thumping roll back when getting the green light.

What I did expect, and most certainly found, was a culturally diverse, dynamic city in one of America's most scenery-blessed regions. The best views combining the city, Puget Sound, and Mt. Rainier can be found in Kerry Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Park_(Seattle)) in the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood just north of downtown. If you're lucky and the weather is clear - which from my photo above you can see on the day we visited it was not - you are treated to a dramatic visual trifecta of skyline, water, and mountains. You can also admire (or envy if you are so inclined) the stately homes of those fortunate enough to live with the best view in town.

It's easy to understand why Seattle's population has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. Fortunately, I won't have to move there to continue to explore the city. With family living there, I'll get to enjoy my status as repeat visitor.

Boeing - Future of Flight

Location coordinates:
47°55'28"N, 122°17'19"W
Everett, Washington

     When I was seventeen my family made a four-hour stopover in Seattle on our way home from Canada. I didn't see much then except the iconic Space Needle, yet something about the city stuck with me as I've had a curiosity about it ever since. Last fall my daughter and son-in-law moved there, and thanks to their expert planning for our recent visit we were able to see much of what Seattle has to offer: the excitement and vivid colors of Pikes Place Market, pretty Snoqualmie Falls, Deception Pass and lush Whidbey Island, terrific wineries, and the expansive University of Washington campus. Everything we saw and did was great. But one of our stops transformed me from reserved grown up to excitable twelve-year-old in a flash. I've mentioned before about me being an airliner geek, and there is a place about 30 minutes north of downtown Seattle that is like the mother ship for airplane nerds like me.

     The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour in Everett is a veritable Disneyland for aviation enthusiasts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_Flight_Aviation_Center_%26_Boeing_Tour). At this facility Boeing manufactures wide body 747s, 767s, 777s, and the brand new 787 "Dreamliner", which is scheduled to begin commercial flights later this year. I've been tracking the development of this aircraft for some time and couldn't believe I was actually getting a chance to see them being built. My time was limited so I had to choose between the aircraft plant tour or the Future of Flight center - a museum which is loaded with all manner of static and interactive aviation goodies. I decided my priority was viewing the manufacturing process, so with ticket held in excited hand I boarded a security-screened bus which conveyed our small group to the promised land.      

      We entered the enormous manufacturing building via one of many underground tunnels used by plant employees. Our first stop was the section dedicated to the construction of 747s. A freight elevator brought our group up several floors to the observation level where we gazed wondrously upon what appeared to be billions of cubic feet of space and several 747s in various stages of assembly. The expression of utter joy on my face must have been comical as I took it all in. The tour guide offered plenty of statistics and logistical data about the stages the planes go through along the assembly line, but I was often too distracted visually to absorb the information I was hearing.

     After a session viewing the 777 manufacturing area we arrived at the 787 part of the tour. This is going to be a beautiful aircraft. It is not as large as the other wide-bodies, but it is elegant. The wings have a graceful upward arc which literally gives the plane a soaring eagle appearance. The plane's composite metal construction will allow it to be much more fuel and environment friendly, and new designs on the interior will provide an enhanced passenger experience. I'm sounding like a commercial for the Boeing 787, but I can't help it - this is going to be a truly great aircraft. I can't wait to fly on one.

     I'll have to return to take in the Future of Flight Center, but I have no problem putting that on my future travel plans. Many thanks to my daughter Sarah for finding this tour. It was definitely a "right latitude" for me!

Lake Gitche Gumee

Location coordinates:

47°59'13"N, 89°39'08"W

Near Canadian border, Grand Portage, MN

There is something about large bodies of water that beckons me. Growing up in southern California, I spent countless days at the beaches - both sandy and rocky. While we lived in Boston I got my water fix exploring the gorgeous New England coastline. But the majority of my life I have lived in middle America where I've answered my pull toward water with lakes and rivers. I've seen portions of all of the Great Lakes over the years, but hands down my favorite is the great inland sea - Lake Superior, or Gitche Gumee as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called it in The Song of Hiawatha (derived from the native Ojibwe or Chippewa word of Gichigami meaning "big water").

Minnesota's north shore region begins in Duluth and travels northeastward up scenic Highway 61 to the Canadian border near Grand Portage. The road along the shoreline offers incredible scenery, interesting lighthouses, state parks, campgrounds, and lakeside resorts. Saturday we followed the route up to Grand Marais, MN (about 110 miles beyond Duluth). We were determined to make it all the way to Canada, so Sunday morning we continued on about 40 miles toward Grand Portage. The sun was out, the lake was calm and exceptionally blue, and new spring leaves on the plentiful white-bark birch trees were just beginning to show themselves. Just north of Grand Portage the road rises a bit in elevation and veers slightly away from the lake as it negotiates around a peninsula. Then suddenly you are greeted with the amazing view shown above. From this point you can also see Isle Royale National Park, an island that is part of Michigan, which is another destination on my must-see list. Just a few miles further is the Canadian border and the province of Ontario. I had left my passport at home, so we turned back and headed southwest toward Duluth.

We rounded out the excursion with a short hike to Upper Falls on the Brule River ("latitude" 47°49'11"N, 90°03'08"W). It was perfect hiking weather with crisp air temperatures in the low forties. Being early in the season we had the trail virtually to ourselves. White birch were everywhere and were mixed with lots of fragrant pines. The sound of wind in the trees competed with the roar of the rushing river flowing down it's rocky course to the big lake. We could have spend all day hiking the trails, but we had to be back in Minneapolis by 7pm, so our trek was cut short.

If you stand on Superior's rocky shoreline you could swear you were gazing across an ocean. So, as I can satisfy my spirit's desire to see large water very nicely along this path, I will be making many trips to this region. I can even be bestowed the rank of "Lake Superior Admiral by Land" by the North of Superior Tourism Association if I complete the designated lake circle tour. Am I going for it? Oh yeah, you betcha!