Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Monday 18 April 2016

Those magnificent men in their flying machines

"Do you know what is on the end of the Busselton Jetty?" the pilot asked. We knew the jetty well, or thought we did. 

Built in 1865 the Busselton Jetty is the longest piled wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere. I've blogged about the jetty before, including here  - Busselton Jetty & the Equinox Cafe  and Busselton Jetty swim

We had walked out on the jetty for years, and fished and squidded from it many times in our younger years. In more recent times we had taken our grandsons in the little train out to the end to see the underwater observatory.  Yes, we knew the jetty well.

But wrong! Here is a view we had never seen before..... there are whales painted on the end of the jetty! 
 The paintings, completed in December 2015 by Dunsborough artist Ian Mutch, include paintings of a humpback whale and calf, a southern right whale and a blue whale. You can read more about them here, including a short video  - Whale Wonder at the end of the Busselton Jetty


How did we come to see this view? On Saturday we enjoyed a joy flight over Busselton, Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste. 

In March I had gone down to Busselton with my son and grandsons to the Busselton Aerofest Air Show. I blogged about it here - From paddock to city. At the show we had all bought raffle tickets. My eldest nine year old grandson had one of the winning tickets - a ride in a 1930′s vintage open-cockpit Tiger Moth biplane with Tiger Moth Adventure Flights. Unfortunately for him he was too young to take the flight, and he was very disappointed. So my son, his dad, went in his place, and organised a joy flight for the rest of us in a six-seater Cessna from Busselton Air Service.

First off, the owner of the Tiger Moth showed us his plane, and allowed our grandsons to sit in the cockpit. He had heard the story of how disappointed our grandson had been not to be able to take the flight. Then he went through the safety info with my son, and they were off. Here you can see him in his flying cap and goggles. Don't you just love the colour of the plane!


We met our pilot Roger, and piled into the Cessna. My grandson sat in front next to the pilot. 



First we flew over Busselton and the iconic Busselton Jetty, and then it was down the coast over the Dunsborough beach side town, vineyards, farming land, and Cape Naturaliste.



Unfortunately for me I was sitting on the left in the plane, and most of the views were on the right, but I managed to snap some shots of the coast. 

That is Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse you can see bottom right. I wrote about Cape Naturaliste Way and the Cape to Cape Trail back in 2010 here - Walking Cape Naturaliste
I think it is time I went walking along the Capes again now the weather is getting cooler. 
Top left is Canal Rocks. They don't look much from this shot but they are spectacular on a windy day with the waves crashing over the rocks.



Some more coastal views. The lovely blue cove you can see bottom right is Meelup Beach, which is a very popular beach for families in summer. I talked about Meelup on my blog here - Australia Day on the Beach


All too soon, it we were back flying over Busselton and our flight was over. Below you can see the new, well fairly new, marina.



It was a cloudy morning, and I didn't enjoy the bumps as we passed over the coastline, but we had a wonderful flight.



 For information on scenic flights over Busselton - please click here -
Busselton Air Service 
 Tiger Moth Adventure Flights

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this little flight over Busselton and Cape Naturaliste. Do you like flying in a small plane? Perhaps you might like to tell us about your last flight in your comments. 

 I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays

Lifestyle Fifty Monday Linkup 
Our World Tuesday

Through My Lens 
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Worth Casing Wednesday

Life Thru the Lens 
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday

The Weekly Postcard

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10 things to do in Yallingup without going to the beach
Oceans Edge - Yallingup and Smiths Beach


25 comments:

  1. Hello Jill, what a fun plane ride. It is nice to have the aerial view, I love the whales painted on the pier. Wonderful scenic photos and a great post. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!

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  2. Oh my, Jill, what wonderful photos you have shared with us. I can only imagine how exciting this adventure was for you! Have a grand day and thank you!

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  3. What a fun day. I bet your grandson had a fabulous time in the cockpit with the pilot. Great coastal images captured.

    Lisa @ Life Thru the Lens (www.lisakerner-slp.com)

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    1. thanks Lisa. Sorry I was unable to comment on your blog unfortunately. Thank you for the explanation of the HDR. I've never tried it because I've never understood it. Perhaps I'll have a go now.

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  4. Nope, not me! I am afraid of small planes. Took one once from Washing, DC to Lynchburg, VA and it shook and shuddered and I got airsick. Nope, not ever again!

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  5. Wow what an adventure...I doubt I would go up in a small plane these days, but my what a view!

    Donna@GardensEyeView
    and LivingFromHappiness

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  6. That's a really cool plane! I've been in a 4-seater before - I enjoyed the trip!
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/04/stop-looking-at-me.html

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  7. The Tiger Moth certainly stands out and how disappointing for your grandson but I bet he loved the flight he got to go on.
    Everything looks so different from the air, doesn't it. What a great view you had.

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  8. How wonderful to go in a Tiger Moth - but a little scary, I bet. I think your ride in the Cessna would have felt a little more secure! We also did a trip down the coast a few years ago, and the coastal views are spekkie aren't they - but you're right, one of you sits on the best side of the plane for pics. Looks like you had an amazing experience and your photos are amazing despite the difficulty. I never knew there were whales painted on the jetty and I've walked it, like you, several times!

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    1. The whales are a new edition Jo. Cool hey? I think I need to walk out on the jetty again. I don't think I would have felt comfortable in the open cockpit of the Tiger Moth despite the thrill of it!

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  9. I am a white-knuckler when it comes to flying but have to admit that when I have the courage to look out - and down - it is magnificent. Loved this post, what a great 'end of the story' that began with your outing to the airshow.

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    1. I must say it was a little white-knuckler for me when we crossed the coast and it got a "bit" bumpy. The pilot took as a little higher and it smoothed out thank goodness.

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  10. Now that has to have been quite an extraordinarily delightful airplane ride and a great win for your grandson too. That is a flight that my ears could more than likely handle. Whales painted on the jetty, how fun is that. Happy week my dear friend filled with hugs~

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  11. LOVE the yellow bi-plane. What a great adventure for a youngster to experience.

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  12. What a treat that must have been!
    When we lived in northern Alberta a big treat was to rent a four-seater with a friend and fly down to Edmonton for the weekend. It was a thrill to see the city appear through the clouds. These days the smallest plane I'm in is a 10 or 12 seater for a quick flight over the Straits of Georgia to the mainland. On a sunny day it's a beautiful trip.

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  13. What a cool time. Super cool photos.

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  14. wonderful pictures, so amazing.
    best regards
    susa

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  15. Such a great way to see your region from a bird's eye view. I'm sure I've seen those whales painted on Busselton Jetty when I was there years ago. You do have some stunning coastline and beaches. I do love your corner of the world. I bet your grandson was thrilled to fly in a light plane. It is an exhilarating experience.

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  16. Wow! What a fun opportunity!
    http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2016/04/newest-citizen.html

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  17. Wow! That must have been SO cool to ride in a biplane!

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  18. I've only been on a Cesna once, and it was such a wonderful experience... closest thing to being (and feeling like) a bird! I love the aerial views you shot over Busselton, Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste. The perspective from the air is my favorite, just marvelous!

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  19. I've never flown in a small plane Jill, but I fear I may get sick in one especially if it turned or dipped it's wings. Fancy the whales being there and you not knowing about it!

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  20. Whoa! What a great post! I come from a family of aviators, and I actually took flying lessons myself...right up until the time my instructor got out and told me it was time for me to solo! Oh no...you get out, I get out. I was just not ready. And I never went back to it again. It's ok, though. I get enough of it with the rest of the family. Great shots you got there. Thank you for sharing. It was a great trip down memory lane for me! Aloha.

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  21. Oh, what a wonderful sight from the plane! I would love to take a trip like that one day.

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  22. Hi Jill! What a great adventure! Love those whales.

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I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.