Changing the angle can work wonders for people, places

Changing the angle can work wonders for people, places

Paynesville is a hamlet in the Gippsland Lakes region of the East Gippsland portion of Gippsland in the Australian state of Victoria.

The “Lakes” are a network of inland waterways that, according to the tourist brochure, are fed by “three of the biggest inland lakes systems in Australia.”

“Did you ever watch the American show ‘MASH’?” she said, still looking at the horizon.

All I could remember about those choppers, despite having seen the opening credits 6,397 times, was that the cockpit was tiny.

The helicopter, a Bell Model 47G, landed in the middle of a grassy field near the marina and we crouch-walked to the door and, to my unending relief, we both crammed in next to the pilot.

Any building here taller than two stories is considered a skyscraper.

The lakes were mighty inland seas and the waterways were blue-green serpents that had carved the landscape into a flowing paisley of Mother Nature’s design.

A pair of long, narrow islands snaked in unison, having been created by the outflow of a river.

George, who heard me through the noise and earphones, just gave me the same baffled look and shrugged.

The chopper ride had been a terrifying prospect for me, but it was just a bicycle ride across town for him.