It Must Be Summer

In Southern California the swallows returning to their nests in the walls of the ruins of the old Mission in San Juan Capistrano on March 19 each year announce the arrival of Spring there.

Here in Seattle, the imminent arrival of Summer is heralded in a less poetic way by another bird, an old warbird, a restored B-17 "Flying Fortress" World War II bomber. It comes to Boeing Field for a few days around this time of year just before the big events of Summer: the opening of the Boating Season on Lake Washington (next weekend) and SeaFair which goes on all summer long with exciting events such as big outdoor concerts, a hydroplane race and the Blue Angels. For two days you can buy a 40 minute ride in it over downtown Seattle, experiencing some of the spartan, noisy life on board of its World War II crews.


The unmistakable drone of its four big piston engines woke me up on Saturday morning as it flew low right down my street almost directly over my front balcony and seemingly just above the trees in the park on its final approach to Boeing Field.

Last year I was able to get a still picture of it as it flew past. This year I hastily got my little Canon still digital camera, set it on movie mode and anxiously watched the clock figuring it would return in about 40 minutes with its next load of sightseers.

Sure enough on schedule, I could hear its rumble as it came up from behind the trees and I ran out to my balcony to capture this video of our bird.