| The June "Planes, Trains, and Maybe Automobiles" field trip worked out a little different than planned. Fortunately, the dozen camera club members that were there were flexible and had a sense of humor, and in the end wound up with some good shots. The trip started at the High Country Warbirds airshow in Valle, which was substantially smaller than last year. There were still opportunities for good shots, as the planes did a fly-by against the puffy high country clouds. The smaller turnout meant planes flew less frequently, so there was noticeable quiet time between passes of the aircraft. Really quiet at times. In the afternoon, we headed south along Highway 64 to search for the ideal location to photograph the Grand Canyon steam train on it's return from the canyon. Ideal was defined to include a trestle, pine trees, a six inch snowfall, and puffy clouds against a blue sky. Since it was June, we managed to get all but one of the necessary elements. We managed to get set up just a bit early. Well, OK, it was a lot early. If the tour leader had managed to read his own directions for the trip, he would have advised members that the train was due at Red Lake (our approximate location) at 5:20pm. It actually came by at 5:30. We were in place, tripods set up, ready to snap at 3:30. Well, at least we had time to get set up. And then just when the train was about to show, we were advised in a very unkind manner by local residents that we needed to immediately move our vehicles. (I said move 'em RIGHT NOW!!!) Which we did. With a strong southerly wind, you could barely hear the train until it was right there, but everyone managed to get a couple shots off, and those with digital cameras gathered under the trees to compare the result. So that took care of planes and trains. On the way back, everyone decided it had been a long enough day, so we went to a Route 66 diner in Williams and had dinner before heading back to Phoenix. Two really cool PCC members opted for the milkshake, which gets served in an embarrassingly large glass, to the envy of everyone else at the table. Group consensus was that this trip had all the elements of a true PCC field trip, including getting in trouble for our physical location, a long standing tradition with the club. |
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