Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Richard’s Grandad

Posted by Alex Turnbull, Friday, 7th April 2006

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Richard found his Grandad!

I just managed to get Google Earth installed on my PC, and was trying to explain to my Grandad how it works. So I found his house - and lo and behold he was standing in his garden when the satellite went over. He’s the only man I know that gardens in a white shirt. This may only be interesting to the two of us, I know. But it made explaining it a lot easier - even if he does look up every time he leaves his house now…

Many thanks to Rich, and his Grandad too :-)

14 Responses to 'Richard’s Grandad'

  1. Parker says:

    I don’t know Richard (or his grandad) so I guess I really can’t relate much to this post.

    But it looks like a beautiful neighborhood! The U.K. has some of the most gorgeous countryside in the world. Someday, if I ever get the money, I’d like to leave the States and come visit. A little holiday, if you will. ;-)

    And now that I know where Rich’s grandad lives, maybe I can stay with him? :-P

  2. adam lewis says:

    these shots are not sat images–they are from planes…
    nice find though

  3. rob says:

    very cool. ;D

  4. Alex says:

    Parker, I don’t know Richard either, I just thought it was cool that someone managed to identify a specific person :-)

  5. nhansen says:

    I thought the English always gardned in their finest atire :)

  6. randall says:

    in the early ages of public satelite imagery (microsoft virtual earth, or something like that) i zoomed in on my house and caught my mom mowing the lawn. wish i was smart enough to take a screenshot of that….

  7. cookie monster says:

    Whats the best way to CockFosters?

  8. Slugs On Toast says:

    His zipper’s down.

  9. I thought the English always gardned in their finest atire : ))

  10. Richard says:

    I don’t think he wears a tie, or anything :)

  11. Curtis says:

    That’s a fantastic story…

  12. Christian says:

    1) I often garden in a white shirt as well.

    2) His picture was not taken by a satellite, but an airplane. It’s amazing how many people think that all of Google Earth’s imagery is satellite photography. Most of the good quality imagery is actually AERIAL photography.

  13. Jamie says:

    I love this one. It’s amazing because Grandpa’s and Grandma’s never seem quite impressed with all the advances in technology and there he is looking at himself on Google Earth.

  14. Tim says:

    Rich should get his grandad a nice white t-shirt, emblazoned with “As featured on Google Earth” written on it.

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