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arstigris.bsky.social
ArsTigris🐅🐉
@arstigris.bsky.social
260 followers 1.4K following 77 posts
Private pilot, TTRPG gamer, off-roader, car nut, RV/glamping enthusiast, Disney fan, IT professional, old gray-muzzle.
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arstigris.bsky.social
As Halloween nears, let’s take a moment to reflect on the TRUE holiday horrors Gen-X and early Millennials suffered at the hands of our parents.

Behold the “costumes” my sister and I wore for Halloween in 1980, and despair!
😬
Vinyl Halloween “costume” from 1980: a bad polyethylene mask of a licensed character, and a vinyl onesie bearing the copyrighted IP with even worse “artwork”. The “costume” pictured consists of a polyethylene mask of the Star Wars character Yoda, if Yoda were a blue chimpanzee with elf ears. The onesie is blue, and the upper half is decorated with white dots representing stars. A large drawing of what can only be described as Yoda’s overweight second cousin twice-removed is highlighted by a thick yellow border. The logo for “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” is printed on the outfit’s upper-left shoulder/breast. Not pictured: the godawful stench of poorly-cured vinyl, cheap plastic, and industrial airbrush paint. Vinyl Halloween “costume” from 1980: a bad polyethylene mask of a licensed character, and a vinyl onesie bearing the copyrighted IP with even worse “artwork”. The “costume” pictured consists of a polyethylene mask of the cartoon character Strawberry Shortcake. The onesie is patterned like a red & white antique sun dress, and the upper half is adorned with the cartoon’s eponymous title card. The bottom half bears the likeness of the eponymous lead character sitting with a cartoon cat among green leaves. Not pictured: the godawful stench of poorly-cured vinyl, cheap plastic, and industrial airbrush paint. My sister had the absolute misfortune of having worn a copy of this costume as a child.
October 8, 2025 at 10:20 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
A few more photos from today’s flight. 🙂
Review from 3500 feet MSL above Vista, CA looking north. View west toward the Pacific Ocean from 3500’ MSL above Valley Center, CA. The Pala Casino Hotel and RV Resort seen from 3500 feet MSL. The wing strut of a Cessna 172 is visible in the lower left corner of the photo. Aerial view of a quarry in Valley Center, CA I’ve never noticed before. 🙂
August 25, 2025 at 12:23 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Today was a practice & “just flying around” kind of day. Convective activity to the east made for some pretty scenic skies around SoCal. Photos from the Fallbrook/Valley Center/Pauma Valley/Escondido area.
Cumulus clouds east of Palomar Mountain/Cleveland national Forest. Photo from 3500’ MSL over Valley Center, CA. Cumulus clouds east of Palomar Mountain/Cleveland national Forest. Photo from 3500’ MSL over Pauma Valley, CA. Convective activity east of Palomar Mountain/Cleveland national Forest. Photo from 3500’ MSL over Valley Center, CA. The propeller blade of a Cessna 172 sweeps through the frame. View to the southeast from 3500’ MSL over Valley Center, CA. Distant cumulus clouds are visible, with Valley Center and Escondido in the middle foreground. The blue engine cowl of a Cessna 172 appears in the bottom near foreground of the image.
August 25, 2025 at 12:14 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
The haze layer yesterday looked gross, but apart from that it was a really nice flight to Big Bear! A bit bumpy on the flight back south, but the air smoothed out by Banning Pass.

Photos by my wonderful copilot, Karen!
View to the NE in the en route climb toward Big Bear, CA. This was taken around 5-6000’ MSL. I think, anyway - I was busy on the radio most of the way up & didn’t have time to take my own pics LOL. Those *aren’t* clouds in the distance (haze layer). Yuck. San Bernardino mountains, photo taken as we flew through Angel Pass at 9,500’ MSL en route to Big Bear City, CA. Summer greens and browns paint the mountains, and the azure sky crowns them. Watercraft on Big Bear Lake as we turned east toward the airport. Photo has been leveled (original was taken while in a turn). I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many boats on the lake all at once before! Not like I see the lake every day, but still… Lots o’ boats! Me, trying to understand a garbled ATC radio transmission, if the look on my face is any indication. Audio quality on 132.2 was… not great in this area yesterday. 🤷‍♂️ I’m wearing a brown shirt, aviation headset, and black ball cap. Karen, my wonderful copilot and photographer, smiles while she takes our selfie. She is wearing a red shirt & aviation headset, and has a tattoo of a bee & flower on her arm. We are seated in the cockpit of a Cessna 172M. We are near Vista, CA & climbing through ~3000’ MSL. Through the back windows, the shore of the Pacific Ocean and the communities of Oceanside & Vista can be seen in the distance below. A Stratux ADS-B/FIS-B/GPS receiver is affixed to the rear window.
July 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
Beautiful day to fly to Big Bear! More pics later. 😎
Cessna 172 parked at Big Bear City, CA airport (L35). Mountains, other parked planes & clear blue sky are in the background.
July 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
Stayed the week at Pala Casino’s RV park & found the furry-bait slot machine!
🐺😄

It… it did not treat me very nicely. That $14 win was the biggest one I got in the hour or so I played it. 😓

Bonus pic of my RV & Jeep at twilight. 🙂
Werewolf Fury slot machine at Pala Casino in SoCal. The slot machine depicts a black werewolf holding out a fistful of gold coins Werewolf Fury slot machine at Pala Casino in SoCal. The slot machine depicts a black werewolf holding out a fistful of gold coins, with the game denomination screen shown. The game has vibrant rainbow-pattern perimeter lights. Werewolf Fury slot machine at Pala Casino in SoCal. The slot machine depicts a black werewolf holding out a fistful of gold coins, having just paid out a $14 jackpot. One of the reels shows three werewolf busts, while the others show various game symbol elements. My RV & Jeep parked at Pala Casino RV park at twilight. The sky is a rich purple fading to light lavender, with small puffy clouds. Trees are silhouetted in the background. The foreground is lighted by decorative string lights hung from the RV’s salon slide-out.
May 17, 2025 at 11:53 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
View toward Los Angeles from the Catalina airport administration Tower. Catalina airport Courtyard with tile map of the island. Beauty and the Beast 😆
April 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Spectacular skies today; couldn’t resist another trip out to Catalina!
Carlsbad flower fields just west of Palomar Airport. Photos taken by my wonderful co-pilot on departure. 🙂 Catalina Avalon Airport seen from the pattern downwind leg for runway 22. Catalina’s eastern coastline on final to the airport landing runway 22. Catalina airport
April 6, 2025 at 12:31 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Got a break in the clouds to see tonight’s lunar eclipse right at totality. Was very cool - wish I’d had time to set up the ‘good’ camera & lenses. iPhone pics don’t do it justice!
Photo of the lunar eclipse on 13 March 2025 from my porch. Clouds from an earlier weather system are scattered near the moon. iPhone 15 Pro Max 0.5x wide angle. Photo of the lunar eclipse on 13 March 2025 from my porch. Clouds from an earlier weather system are scattered near the moon. iPhone 15 Pro Max 1x zoom. Photo of the lunar eclipse on 13 March 2025 from my porch. Clouds from an earlier weather system are scattered near the moon. iPhone 15 Pro Max 2x zoom. Photo of the lunar eclipse on 13 March 2025 from my porch. Clouds from an earlier weather system are scattered near the moon. iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x zoom.
March 14, 2025 at 6:54 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Went flying today. That is all. 😁😎🛫
View to the west from inside a Cessna 172 at 3500’ over Bonsall, CA. View to the north from inside a Cessna 172 at 1500’ over Carlsbad, CA. View to the east from inside a Cessna 172 at 3500’ over Carlsbad, CA.
February 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Took a pic of the moon Monday night shortly after the conjunction, and was surprised Mars is actually visible in the shot (small dot above the moon & slighly off center). Not bad for a cell phone shot, hand-held, in a brightly-lit area.

#moon #mars #conjunction
A photo of the moon and Mars shortly after the recent conjunction. Mars is visible as a dot just above the moon and slightly off-center to the right.
January 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
It took a couple weeks (annoyingly), but I finally got my 1st flight of 2025 in this past Sunday! Quick trip to Catalina with my girlfriend for lunch and some famous “killer” cookies. 🙂

#flying #cessna #catalina #killercookies #hundreddollarhamburger #aviation
Catalina Airport observation building & palm trees against a flawless, sunny blue sky Sunlit patio at Catalina Airport restaurant. The old hangar is in the background. The sunny sky is perfectly clear. Departing Catalina Airport at ~4500’. Sunlight reflects off the calm waters of the ocean. The island is visible below the wing of a Cessna 172. Me and my girlfriend! :-) Cruise flight over the Gulf of Santa Catalina. Flying the R172K Super Hawk XP.
January 14, 2025 at 10:50 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
Went flying locally for my birthday today. Absolutely gorgeous views from the air!
Looking East toward Palomar Mountain from above Oceanside, CA at 3500’. Delightfully textured cirrus clouds dominate the sky above. Looking south along I-15 over Bonsall, CA at 3500’. Patchy ground haze hugs the local valleys. View toward the Pacific Ocean from Bonsall, CA at 3500’ View south toward San Diego from Vista, CA at 2000’. Haze lingers in the local valleys, making the distant landscape take on an airbrushed look.
December 22, 2024 at 11:56 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
Had my Mazda detailed today & grabbed some pics of it at the airport. This one’s my favorite.

Love this little car; so glad it’s still in the family after 37 years.

It’s super rare now, and turns heads wherever it goes!

#mazda #mazda323 #vintagecars
Left front 3/4 view of a 1987 Mazda 323 DX 1.6L in dark metallic gray, parked in front of an airplane on a sunny afternoon. The car is unblemished, has been detailed, and looks brand-new.
December 9, 2024 at 7:57 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
A couple in-flight pics returning to Palomar from Ramona.
View of the Del Dios reservoir & the edge of Lake Hodges from 3500’ View toward Carlsbad from 3500’ near Lake Hodges View toward Escondido from 3500’ near Lake Hodges
December 8, 2024 at 12:46 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Toys for Tots airlift to Ramona airport this morning. Always cool to participate in this yearly general aviation tradition. Couldn’t ask for a nicer day to go flying, either!

#toysfortots #flying #aviation #cessna #teamhighwing #kcrq #krnm
Planes at Palomar airport preparing for the 2024 Toys for Toys airlift to Ramona. Planes participating in 2024 Toys for Tots airlift at Ramona airport. Pilots & volunteers for Toys for Tots at Ramona airport. Santas and their helpers!
December 8, 2024 at 12:42 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Wow, that was some serious afternoon haze today! This was looking south from the KCRQ airport perimeter.

The METAR at the time said 4SM visibility. But if that’s 4 miles, I’m Mickey Mouse. 🤔😒

Cool view tho, just not so great for flying.

#aviation #weather
Hazy skyline looking south from Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, CA.
December 6, 2024 at 6:44 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Golden hour view over Hemet, CA looking west to the Pacific. Bronze sunlight filters through high clouds. Over Banning Pass Big Bear ski slopes Local mountains seen en route to Big Bear.
December 1, 2024 at 2:07 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Flew to Big Bear with my girlfriend today for a day trip. Beautiful skies, and incredible views! The city was *PACKED* today.

#flying #teamhighwing #bigbear #mountainflying
San Bernardino Mountains & valleys approaching Big Bear, CA. Approaching Big Bear Lake via Angel Pass at 9500’. Crowds in The Village at Big Bear, CA - it was packed like a summer day at Disneyland. 😵 Me & my girlfriend in the cockpit of a Cessna 172 XP at 8500ft on our way home from Big Bear.
December 1, 2024 at 2:03 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Flight went great; turns out you can teach an old cat new tricks. 😸

Got done late, so my instructor was able to get a couple neat pics on the way home.

Called in a brush fire that was just starting ½ mile off the departure end of KSBD Rwy 6 too. Hope it got put out quickly!

#flying #sunset
Sunset from ~3000’ near Bonsall, CA. Dark terrain below a scarlet sunset w/ pale blue sky above. An aircraft wing & strut is visible along the right edge of the frame. The red colors were an order of magnitude more vibrant in person than the iPhone camera captured here. Final approach to KCRQ airport shortly after sunset. The sky fades from pale orange to azul up from the Pacific Ocean horizon. The engine cowl of a Cessna R172K is visible in the foreground. Airport approach, runway, and PAPI lights guide the way to landing. Headlamps & tail lamps of traffic stopped at the intersection of El Camino Real & Palomar Airport Road are visible to the left of the airport.
November 9, 2024 at 11:06 PM
arstigris.bsky.social
Kind of a neat photo I took flying south from Big Bear this past Friday. 8500’ over Angel Pass in a 1977 Cessna Super Hawk XP II.

Timeline cleanser to pretend nothing stress-inducing is otherwise happening tonight.

#Cessna #R172K #ReimsRocket #flying #BigBear #SoCal
View looking south from Angel Pass (near Yucaipa, CA) from 8500’. Mountains and Angel Pass are in the foreground, with the San Bernardino foothills cloaked in haze. Citrus clouds are visible in the upper right. The lower right is dominated by an instrument panel glare shield.
November 6, 2024 at 5:36 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
If you see this, post a photo taken in the mountains.
San Bernardino mountains in California from ~8000’ departing Big Bear Lake, CA on June 10, 2021. A Cessna 172 wing & strut are visible in the top & right of the frame.
October 30, 2024 at 6:25 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Not the plane I flew today, but stopped by my instructor’s new plane (Super Hawk XP II - very cool bird) & got a pic of my bike in front of it. 😎

#triumph #thunderbird #cessna #r172k
A blue, white, and chrome 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT motorcycle is parked in front of a white, black, and gold 1977 Cessna R172K Super Hawk XP II. A Vans RV-9 (I think) is behind & to the left of the Cessna.
October 27, 2024 at 1:29 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Is #sixpacksaturday a thing? Have some old-school steam gauges!

#aviation #cessna
Cessna 172 steam-gauge cockpit with Garmin GNS 530W navigator & King KX-155 secondary nav-comm.
October 27, 2024 at 1:20 AM
arstigris.bsky.social
Some pics from my flight around North San Diego County today. Practice day. 🙂✈️
View north from 3500’ over Bonsall, CA. A Cessna 172 wing & strut is visible in the foreground. View of an interesting neighborhood from 3500’ over Valley Center, CA. The homes are on irregular concentric ring streets with a pond at the center. View southeast from 1500’ over Carlsbad, CA near Buena Vista Lagoon. A Cessna 172 engine cowl & prop is visible in the foreground right corner. View south from 1500’ over Carlsbad, CA above Batiquitos Lagoon. Blue skies with wispy cirrus clouds.
October 27, 2024 at 1:15 AM