Para Pilots. Paraplegic pilots on the gold coast. Hand controls for paraplegic pilots

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This is my Blog

Travel Journalism and trying to get my book published

I am nearly at the end of my travel journalism course. It taken me longer than I thought it would but I am nearly there. In the process to learn to write and tell a story with professional skill I have gone back to finish writng my memoirs which I started a few years back...actually more than ten now. I have rewritten everything I previously wrote and of course added much more. A lot has happened over the last 10 years or so. The book is nearly finished and I am working on getting it published. Will tell more as the story continues to unfold....

Posted by "Steve" on Saturday, December 05, 2009.0 comments

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HOME

It has been two months now since I returned home. I need to update this blog and finish the story off. The trip home was actually pretty good. Believe it or not I slept for about 7 hours which made the fourteen hour trip go so much quicker. I guess the journey will never be over. I have some dreams for the future. I want to see Challenge Air in Australia and I want to do a lot more flying. I am writing a book so now I am looking for a publisher...more soon

Posted by "Steve" on Thursday, October 23, 2008.1 comments

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The Redwoods of California

The second best experience that I have had after flying was seeing the Sequioas or Redwoods of Northern California. You have to actually witness these trees in the flesh to appreciate their size. To say they are massive is an understatement. They are HUGE!!! I drove through among other places, the Jedediah Smith National Park. Some of these trees grow to the height of a 40 storey building. The highest tree known to stand is called Hyperion and was discovered in September 2006. It stands 379.1 feet high. Apparently it would be taller but woodpeckers have done some damage to the top of it!

Posted by "Steve" on Sunday, August 17, 2008.0 comments

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From Portland down to California

I left Portland on Monday August 11. The day before I travelled out to Hood River and up to Lost Lake. I got some great shots of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Oregon is a very beautiful state and somehow had a different feel to it from the other places I had been. Travelled through Eugene and down to Grants Pass where I spent the night.

Posted by "Steve" on Saturday, August 16, 2008.0 comments

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Chicago to Portland

Got into Portland on Friday August 8. One of the real highlights of this trip was the flyday with Challenge Air on Saturday. What an unreal day. I had a great time, met some great people and the real bonus for me was that I got to fly and land a Piper Seneca. My first time ever behind the controls of a twin. I absolutely loved it and will be forever grateful to the man who gave me the chance to do it. Thanks Al !!.....Read more about the flyday in Stories Page.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.0 comments

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New York to Chicago

I flew out of Newark on Monday August 4 for Chicago. I was due to leave at 9.00 am but the flight was delayed for two and a half hours because of bad weather in Chicago. Spent two nights in a hotel that had seen better days. The second night I had no power because of storms in Chicago. Drove across to Gary Indiana to see Lake Michigan. What a sight, it looks just like the ocean. If we had even one of these lakes back home we would have no water problems!!

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.0 comments

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Through Pennsylvania and onto New York

After looking around Harpers Ferry and soaking up the atmosphere and the history, I headed off for New York. It wasn't long before I was in Pennsylvania. I had no intention of staying in New York but was planning on staying in Princeton, famous for it's university. I arrived in Princeton around 3.30pm and found a Holiday Inn on Independence Drive, just off US 1. Princeton is about 45 miles south of New York.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.0 comments

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Onto The Appalachian Trail

I have finally been able to connect my laptop to the internet again. I spent three nights in Harpers Ferry. Found the Appalachian Trail and the markers. I walked, or should I say wheeled along the actual trail....UNREAL !!!!! Here's a few photos. ....Bryson walked, I think, 839 miles...I walked about half a mile until I hit these steps. At least I did that much.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.0 comments

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Harpers Ferry and the Appalachian Trail

I am way behind with my writing. Just haven't had much access to the internet. After I left Kentucky I headed into West Virginia. Cossed the border right where Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia meet. I didn't actually go into Ohio as the border is actually a couple of miles north of where I was. Stayed a night in a place called Clarksburg. I will get some more photos up when I can.

Posted by "Steve" on Thursday, August 07, 2008.0 comments

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Into Kentucky

I crossed into Kentucky at Louisville. Louisville is on the Ohio River and right on the border between Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. I didn't stop in Louisville, just drove by and headed towards Lexington. After Lexington I came to a small town off the interstate called Morehead. Where the heck do they get names like this?? The place is actually named after some one called Morehead. If you had a name like that in this day and age you would definitely have to change it! Anyway Morehead is a pretty litte town as is a lot of Kentucky. I stayed there for two nights.

Posted by "Steve" on Friday, August 01, 2008.0 comments

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Across into Indiana

As I crossed over into Indiana the country began to change. It started to become undulating and there were trees and forests, or as they call them here, the woods. Indiana has some very pretty countryside and I took qa lot of photos of old farmhouses and barns.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.0 comments

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The Cornfields of Iowa and Illinois

Bryson talked about the endless miles of cornfields in his book. Here's a few pics of the journey through Iowa and into Illinois. And I thought I would throw in a shot of the Mississippi River. I crossed the river just south of a city called Davenport. More water flows down the Mississippi than all the rivers combined in Australia. It makes our rivers look like creeks.

Posted by "Steve" on Friday, July 25, 2008.1 comments

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A couple of photos of Des Moines

Bryson wrote a book on his country, the USA. The name of it slips my mind but when I find it I will change this blog...the lost continent or something..anyway. He started his journey from Des Moines in his mother's car. Here's a couple of pictures near where I stayed. Who knows, maybe he lived in this house at one stage. Or perhaps he stayed in this hotel! He talks about the endless cornfields of Iowa and he wasn't wrong. I drove right across the top of Iowa and then down across the Mississippi into Illinois

Posted by "Steve" on Thursday, July 24, 2008.1 comments

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Heading to Des Moines

After spending a couple of days in Lincoln with Shad I headed off to Des Moines. Des Moines is the birthplace of a writer and journalist called Bill Bryson. If you ever get a chance to read one of Bryson's books do it!! He is the funniest writer and he says what people are thinking. In part he has inspired this trip.

Posted by "Steve" on Thursday, July 24, 2008.0 comments

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Shad and his aeroplane

Apart from getting a ride in a Jetranger, my real reason for visiting Lincoln was to catch up with someone whose details I had been given back in Australia. His name is Shad Dahlgren and like myself he is a paraplegic and also a fellow pilot. It was good to meet Shad and although we only met over two days the trip to Lincoln was worth it. I hope more guys like Shad take up the dream of flying. It really is like no other experience.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, July 22, 2008.0 comments

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That's not a plane...THIS IS A PLANE

A P51 Mustang...what a piece of work. I met the guy who owned theis yesterday and he took me for a fly in his Bell Jetranger. It was great, totally unexpected and much appreciated.

Posted by "Steve" on Sunday, July 20, 2008.0 comments

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Kansas City

Flew into Kansas City from Tampa via Atlanta. Atlanta was very hazy and I thought that maybe it is affected by pollution like LA is. Kansas City was very hot. The country is very fertile and there is lots of farmland around. I got lost in Kansas City as the it is actually in two states, Kansas and Missouri. I finally got to my hotel, but I was glad to get out of there and back on the road to Lincoln.

Posted by "Steve" on Sunday, July 20, 2008.0 comments

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Driving on down the Interstate

A big part of my trip is and has been driving. Every now and then I'll put in a few photos of the highways and the cars of the USA.

Posted by "Steve" on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.0 comments

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The B52

Since I am a pilot, aircraft of all kinds interest me. At the Alabama Memorial I was at a few days ago there was a B52 Bomber which was used during the Vietnam War and the Cold War. I had mixed feelings when I was photographing her. What a wonderful piece of machinery, but on the other hand what a waste. I thought about the men who flew her and where they are today. I also thought about those that were on the receiving end of her bombs. It would seem that we never learn from war and that one day there will be another memorial to those who are dying now.

Posted by "Steve" on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.0 comments

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Cars of America

Some photos of my mode of transportation

Posted by "Steve" on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.2 comments

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It's raining here today so I might go for a bit of a drive and have a look around. Here's a couple of photos of my mode of transport. I have to say that America hasn't lost the art of building a car. The cars here are like nowhere else and I can't help but think that America is the land of the pickup truck. Every other one is either a pickup or an SUV and some of them are huge.

Posted by "Steve" on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.2 comments

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More of the Pinellas Trail

I wandered along about 3 miles of the Pinellas Trail today. Here's a couple more photos.

I did a bit of research on the Pinellas Trail and it does in fact run for more than 30 miles. It is part of a disused railway line and the idea was first put forward by a man who his son in a bike riding accident.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.0 comments

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Streets of Clearwater

Just a few photos form my wanderings on Monday afternoon. The weather is hot and humid but there is a reasonable breeze coming in off the Gulf.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.0 comments

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Pinellas Trail

I am still haveing some technical problems with my site but anyway I'll try and sort them out Went out last night to a little bar just off the Pinellas Trail. This trail runs, so I am told, for about thirty miles parallel with the coastline through Clearwater. Only foot pedestrians and bikes have access. I am going to walk a bit of it today and see where it goes.

Posted by "Steve" on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.1 comments

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Clearwater Sunset

Pictures speak better than words

Posted by "Steve" on Monday, July 14, 2008.0 comments

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Catching up

USS Alabama

I have finally got my problems sorted out with the internet. I got into LA on July 4 and the next day became quite sick. I had to delay flights for a couple of days but I am back on top of things again. As I speak I am in Clearwater Florida. The last 3 days I have spent driving down from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and onto Florida. This photo taken above of the USS Alabama is in Mobile Alabama as a floating museum. An amazing sight to behold if you have never been up close to a battleship before.

Posted by "Steve" on Monday, July 14, 2008.0 comments

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Finally on the road

What a time I have had. I finally got into LA and then a day later I got sick. As many paras know it isn't hard to get sick. Hence the reason for no updates. My own computer isn't working properly either so I am relying on the hotel computer for communication...more soon...btw the way I am in Baton Rouge Louisiana and it is HOT!!

Posted by "Steve" on Saturday, July 12, 2008.0 comments

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I am counting down the hours til I leave. It is less than 24 hours and I can't believe I am doing this. Still pinching myself that it is all happening. Til next time.

Posted by "Steve" on Thursday, July 03, 2008.2 comments

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