The Beauty of the Aurora in Western New York!

I would have rather loved to seeing the northern lights in Spain but we haven't been there since 2018! I probably have a huge hill of old mail and dust awaiting my return to my apartment! 

I'm currently waiting for a 24-240mm Sony lens and it would have been very well-used last night. Instead I took my only wide full-frame 20-70 lens and that was luckily adequate for the whole show. I would have been happier with a lens just a hair wider, and thought of taking the very sharp and lightweight Sony fisheye adapter though that would not fit onto the lens I took!

Looking across Lake Ontario to Toronto at left

         

All the people amazed with the celestial event!

                          

The structures of Old Fort Niagara under the aurora

I even turned my camera to the south, snapping this image of the aurora over the bright Moon!

On the way home, we stopped at the Youngstown NY yacht club waterfront. 

Below and above images created while at the Youngstown NY yacht club waterfront

Again it was still easy to see the aurora, again with streetlights glaring and eyes again totally unadjusted to the darkness....  or rather, the brightness of the aurora! 

After the fact and looking at the Space Weather webpage hours later, again, I think it was so awesome that unknowingly, we had arrived at our selected viewing area of Fort Niagara during its peak levels; it apparently was almost a KP9, which is the highest it can get!! When we arrived at the fort, even with UNadjusted eyes to the darkness, I could see the lights faintly, through my three times operated-on eyes!!

Over the years the wife and I have discussed going somewhere where we could be guaranteed easy viewing of the aurora borealis... Iceland which is fairly "close" to us, and northern Norway, where even my brother has been now to view the dazzling colorful displays! 

Have you seen the northern lights yet?

Memories of Clouds and Sunset Heaven!

So we have returned earlier this afternoon from our latest trip, and it has been quite a trip! A lot of surprises, sadness, shock and sunsets....  say that quickly ten times! We are of course happy to be back, since there is no place like Home, but on the other hand, we are saddened by some revelations which has brought sadness to our hearts, minds and souls.

We will survive, but still, it's quite disappointing to know of these revelations, of which I will speak of no longer.....

On the other hand, we've met some people on the trip who brought a smile to our faces and a jump to our walk, while waiting for the departures of Tall Ships (olden-days sailing vessels) at Erie, PA. With no details of the vessels departing, nor even time of departure, we arrived very early in the morning to witness the lovely grand old ships, and were disappointed yet again to see one large sailing vessel had already departed!

We sat around watching several Eagles, a few Ospreys which we thought to be the same each time, and a variety of other birds! Turns out that only after six hours did we finally see a sailing vessel, then another, and finally followed by a few more. We were sad to see not even the host ship, the Brig Niagara of Erie didn't even bother to come out with the departing ships, but on the other hand, it costs time and money each time these ships leave and enter a port. We forgave them quickly!

I'll post a few pixs later but will leave these moments for you to enjoy now! It's been a looong three days on the road without a shower, plus the bed is calling!

THESE are signs I'd like to see MORE hanging everywhere!!

Odd sight of traveling horses on the WNY highways!

The lighthouse and sunset at Port Clinton, Ohio

Cloudy set at a Presque Isle State Park beach

Clouds as seen from the passenger side at 60mph

Clouds Clouds and clouds!

Valley of the Clouds!!

Through the windshield and not a drop - yet!

Can you tell it's sunset burning the clouds orange?

Second and Final day of Thunder on the Niagara 2019

What a day it was! I was alone as Sheila accompanied visiting family from Michigan. I went late to the races due to the blowing winds, which kept me thinking the races weren't started. I did walk to the river for a looksee, and could actually hear the big engines, then see the sprouting water splashing behind the racers as they piloted their big boats around their watery tracks.

Once at the race, I decided to walk around between heats, hoping for a different perspective. With a monster of a lens, most of my scenes of the boat races look quite similar, and even walking about - now that I think about it - the images still look very much the same!

This was the final day of the races, and hope you'll enjoy these pictures. The power those huge engines on the sometimes choppy water due to winds, can pick up the bow of these winged boats and literally send them flying. Today there were two boats flipping over, luckily with no serious injuries.

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Buildings of Niagara Falls can be seen from the race course

The huge Seneca Casino/Hotel rises above the racing boats

These Wood Ducks weren't fazed by the people, boats or noise!

The terns were busy between heats searching for tidbits

NOT flying through the air!