Last week I had the chance to rise 750 feet above the Wells Reserve at Laudholm in a 1933-vintage open-cockpit bi-plane piloted by Dave Trucksess of Seacoast Biplane Tours. Less than 5 minutes after our take-off from Sanford Airport, we were over the Webhannet River estuary and for the next 20 minutes I got an eyeful of glistening salt marsh, just-past-peak mixed-forest foliage, and Laudholm's many yellow farm buildings.

Ensconced in the front seat, windproof vest zipped up, aviator hat pulled down, a headset muffling the engine noise and carrying light commentary from my pilot, I gripped tight the camera and started to shoot.

1. My daughter almost went aloft, but demurred at the last minute.That's okay; I welcomed the extra elbow room.
2. A look at the Little River estuary through the biplane's struts.
3. My best look yet at those new solar panels.
4. A narrow strip of Drakes Island homes perched between salt marsh and Wells Bay.
5. Looking south at the campus, Knight Trail beckoning.
6. Looking east over a cluster of farm buildings toward the Little River estuary.
7. Creeks meander through the Little River salt marsh. The straight lines are old drainage ditches, bane of a healthy marsh.
8. Westward view over two estuaries, the Little and the Webhannet.