R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 97

A Fata Morgana — Superior Mirage Optical Illusion

Today I present a bonus blog article on an optical illusion Ursula and I witnessed yesterday morning.

Back in my other life as an air traffic controller working in various Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCT) over the better part of a 34-year career, I would occasionally be treated to a Fata Morgana. These superior mirage atmospheric optical phenomena most often revealed themselves in the cold months of winter right after sunrise, and usually lasted less than an hour or so on the rare...

Fall Foliage Cruise — Prince Edward Island; St. Augustine Church

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St. Augustine Catholic Church

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas arrived into Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), on October 10 of this year. Here we joined up with several other passengers for a privately arranged tour with a really fun chap, Cyril Arsenault, who owns and operates Cyril’s Tours and Tales. Cyril has some really great tales. Indeed, listening to his fantastic life, it appears he’s done just about everything short of brain surgery or bank robbery. The man has...

Fun Photo Friday — Québec Favorites Part 2

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Quebec in Fall

One last look at Quebec City before we move on to our next destination aboard Adventure of the Seas:

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Spider on the Window

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Quebec Night Colors

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Lower Town Decor

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Lampposts

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Samuel de Champlain

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Clouds and Reflections

Wishing Everyone a Great Thanksgiving Celebration

As we gather
‘Round the table
Enjoy the company
Stay nice a stable Visit with friends,
And family, too
Keep discussions calm
And take this cue: When Uncle Bill
Brings up Trump
Pass the ‘tatoes
Say, “Don’t be a chump” Tell Uncle Bill
“If politics you must discuss”
“Grab a leg”
“And go leave us” Then boot his butt
Onto the stoop
Return to the meal
Enjoy the group You’ll be happy
And he’ll be sad
But peace will reign
And everyone glad

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R. Doug Wicker — Author
permission to reproduce granted
...

Fall Foliage Cruise — Lower Town Québec and Lunch at Côtes-à-Côtes

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Lower Town Quebec

Way back in June 2014 Ursula and I took a similar cruise to this one, except that cruise was neither a reposition down to Florida, nor was it during fall foliage. During that cruise, we experienced for the first time poutine while we were in Montreal. It was a disaster. Soggy, uninspired, grease-laden fries swimming in an insipid brown gravy.

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Basse-Ville Fountain and Statue

After Montreal on that cruise we hit Quebec with no desire to try poutine again. But after a long trek...

Fall Foliage Cruise — Touring Lower Town Québec

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Upper Town just above the funicular

Old Quebec is pretty much two towns in one. Last week we looked mostly at Upper Town. This week we’ll head into Lower Town. And to get there we’re going to take a funicular, which is a railed, counterbalanced transport system used on very steep inclines. Here is the funicular that ties together Upper Town to Lower Town:

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Funicular connecting Upper Town and Lower Town

The wait for the funicular can be lengthy, especially with multiple cruise ships in town,...

Fall Foliage Cruise — Touring Lower Town Quebec

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Upper Town just above the funicular

Old Quebec is pretty much two towns in one. Last week we looked mostly at Upper Town. This week we’ll head into Lower Town. And to get there we’re going to take a funicular, which is a railed, counterbalanced transport system used on very steep inclines. Here is the funicular that ties together Upper Town to Lower Town:

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Funicular connecting Upper Town and Lower Town

The wait for the funicular can be lengthy, especially with multiple cruise ships in town,...

Fun Photo Friday — Québec Favorites Part 1

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Quebec Lower Town

Now for today’s selection of Quebec City photo favorites:

Fun Photo Friday — Quebec Favorites Part 1

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Quebec Lower Town

Now for today’s selection of Quebec City photo favorites:

Fall Foliage Cruise — Taking in Québec’s Fall Foliage

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Greens, Yellows, and Reds

As we strolled through the streets of Quebec City, Ursula and I were not disappointed in our introduction to the area’s fall foliage. The colors were stunning, and of a far wider range of colors than the fall foliage we sought out in our trip through New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle (Part 1; Part 2; and Fun Photo Friday favorites). Whereas that trip gave us impressive yellows and golds set against a backdrop of mostly dark greens, this foliage was an explosion of reds...