Flanged Wheel

In continuation of my series “Hideous Cruise Ships of the World”, I present for your delectation and delight “Resilient Lady”, seen in Sydney Harbour on December 6 during our twelve hour visit to Australia.

Had a fantastic three nights in Hong Kong in 2008. Looking forward to going back next year. Never been to Singapore so can’t compare but we’ll be there in 3 weeks for a couple of days so will report back. Mind you, given New Zealand’s performance so far, we might never leave… (The tent survived the scrutiny of the bio security inspection team - glad to see that my deep cleaning skills have found a use).

Probably time to leave Fiji… Good job we have a flight to Christchurch in five hours time. Thoughts and prayers with the people here though - schools and workplaces already closing as Category 2 Cyclone Mal bears down on the archipelago. In case people think that global travelling is all glamour, we spent yesterday scrubbing our camping and hiking gear. New Zealand has, understandably, strict bio security rules and we need our tent if we are to spend the next three weeks camping around South Island. We were rewarded by getting to spend the evening celebrating Diwali with our hosts (about a third of the Fijian population have Indian heritage) eating amazing food and watching cheap Chinese fireworks explode in exciting ways. I think the family’s 83 year old matriarch was ready to adopt our children by the end of the evening. I would definitely recommend Fiji, especially if you can spend time away from the resorts. The people are so friendly and welcoming - right up there with population of El Salvador as the nicest and kindest nation of the trip so far.

Good morning Tony, I took the table below from the Hatton’s website (https://www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail?id=799). It’s not a concept that I find very helpful but it seems to have taken hold.

In a corner of the Fiji National Museum is this little piece of history… This is the rudder of HMS BOUNTY - yes, that one! Rescued from the Pitcairn Islands and donated to Fiji by Britain.

You are entirely right! And do you know what is really embarrassing? I even took a photo of the flight safety card to make sure that I got the aircraft type right. And somehow I still failed… Hangs head in utter shame.

Safely navigated the roads to Suva (“the Queen’s Road”) without veering onto the wrong side. The only car-related incident was a slight grounding of the body when we were going up an unmade road to an archaeological site. There’s very little clearance anyway and by the time you have all four of us and our bags… No damage done though. Managed to acquire half a watermelon, three pineapples and a papaya from a roadside stall for a small sum - tropical fruit tastes so much better in the tropics. Add in a hike at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park and you have a very pleasant day. Tomorrow will see us in the Fiji National Museum. Goodnight!

I find that the danger period comes after a few months when you “think” you have it sussed and then some inner instinct rears it head. We had been living in the US for six months and all was well on the driving front. On a trip to Nova Scotia, I turned out of a car park with the family onboard, and merrily started driving down the road. Soon I met a car that was driving straight towards me on the wrong side of the road - only he wasn’t on the wrong side, he was on the right side (in both senses). I had to pull over and have a couple of minutes to let the adrenaline settle. I’ve never made that mistake since but I try very hard not to get complacent as a result.

Our very smartly liveried Fiji Airways Boeing 787 flight from Hawaii to Fiji (via Christmas Island for a refuel). Great airline to fly with.

Happy Thursday morning to all ERs from Fiji and the temporary custodian of the “most easterly ER” title! Very positive impression so far - Fiji Airways was a great airline and immigration was really smooth despite the simultaneous arrival of three international flights (two from Australia and ours from Hawaii). Given that we landed at 7.30pm, and were in our apartment having acquired a hire car by 9pm, this shows how smooth the arrival process was. Fijians have a reputation for friendliness and this certainly seems deserved so far. The plan for the day is to find some breakfast and then drive along the coast up to Suva, stopping at various points of interest along the way. Oh, and they drive on the left! Shouldn’t be a surprise really but after 14 months of driving on the right, it did take a quick bit of brain recalibration.

You’re absolutely right that the obvious way from Prince George to Alaska is up Highway 97. After all it does head north… But, following the road less travelled, we went west along Highway 16 to Stewart and then up to rejoin the Alaska highway just east of Whitehorse. And we were very glad we did… I think Banff (and the surrounding trailheads) have terrible parking issues in the peak summer months. As we were there in later September, we had no problems with parking (although it was still busy) and got to enjoy the autumn colours. So my aesthetic and anti-social leanings were both fulfilled. Now made it to Alaska where it is suitable snowy. Tomorrow is switch hire car day… the Toyota Corolla might have done sterling service in getting us here from San Diego but it’s out of its league here! Noting the comments on cruise controls and speed limiters, this car was the first time I had driven with lane assist (basically steering for you) and automatic braking. Those features made the last six weeks considerably easier.

Bears seem to get everywhere these days… even on Mars! (Image credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona). More information at https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia25709-a-bear-on-mars

We didn’t see any bears in Banff (although our campsite was invaded by a family of moose, headed by a fine bull) but this didn’t stop Banff being one of our favourite places. However, for the last six days as we have driven north from Prince George up the Route 16 (rather than the main Alaska Highway), we have seen roadside black bears every day, all utterly unphased by the small amount of passing traffic. Yesterday, we were driving through an area that had been hit by wildfires and saw a mother and two cubs searching for food. It was really sad to see them munching on dead leaves and searching forlornly for greenery. The cubs were noticeably smaller than others we have seen - hopefully they will survive the winter which is approaching fast up here.

I know that I am jumping back over a week but we’ve been off-grid. However, I can offer independent verification that Lorna’s mince pies are truly delicious (as well as her scones)! We happened to be passing through northern Idaho and were wonderfully hosted by @AndyID and his wife. Amazing people that we wouldn’t have met without the joys of RMWeb. Anyway, please feel free to resume with wherever you are in the thread and I will keep catching up with posts…!

This is most timely! Two days ago, we were in the remote Alaskan town of Hyder where there is a similar bear observation platform at Fish Creek (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/specialplaces/?cid=fsbdev2_038787). It was late in the season and the observation platforms were almost completely deserted. But we wanted to try as our eleven year old loves wildlife photography. We were incredibly lucky when an adult grizzly bear came out of the creek where it had been picking over the remains of an very large number of salmon corpses and then ambled under the walkway beneath our feet before munching on some grass on the other side. They are just amazing creatures! I would rate it as one of the greatest things I have ever seen. This picture is mine - my son has yet to download his photos… PS I think my current location of Whitehorse, Yukon makes me both the most northerly and westerly of ERs…

For those who like cruise ships (and I am afraid that I am not a fan although I can appreciate the ingenuity and engineering)… Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas (whatever that may mean) alongside in Victoria Harbour, Vancouver Island. She is currently on the Alaska cruise circuit. Vancouver Island is an exceptionally beautiful and wild place. We spent ten days camping in various spots on the island (& in the neighbouring Gulf Islands). It wasn’t nearly enough time. PS With many thanks to @J. S. Bach, I have corrected the link in my 7 September post so that the image now shows correctly.

“It’s just a little scratch - easily repaired…” The atmospheric wreck of the Peter Iredale at Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon coast. It is one of the many wrecks of ships that failed to make it into the Colombia river. It has a strong British connection, being built in Maryport and owned by a British firm before its untimely demise in 1906. Further reading, for those inclined to details, can be found at https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/the-wreck-of-the-peter-iredale/.

We are currently using an “America The Beautiful” pass - admission to all US National Parks and Monuments for a family for one year. Grand total of just under half a Deltic. It’s exceptional value (especially as the last week has seen us use it in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Craters of the Moon and the very underrated Black Canyon of the Gunnison). We’re camping in an Oregon State Park tomorrow - the fee is similarly great value.

If you really want to see a lost cause… I found it last week sitting forlornly on the waterfront of the desolate and remote town of Bahia de Los Angeles in Baja California. It seems to have been used at the large silver mine that was close by at the end of the nineteenth century. There’s an interesting English connection if you fancy a quick read over your morning cup of tea* (https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/dickdaggett). Every single railway exhibit that we have seen over the last eleven months of travelling around South and Central America has been exposed to the elements. Earlier this month we visited the Museo Nacional de Los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos in Puebla where all of the locomotives and rolling stock are outside, and some are clearly suffering the effects. I won’t distress fellow readers by sharing photos of the (in)famous train graveyard in Uyuni, Bolivia. So much rust…! Anyway, apologies for the slight digression. Please feel free to continue the posting of inspirational and exquisite models - they are being enjoyed in all sorts of remote places around the globe! *Other caffeinated drinks are available

All this talk of social workers and psychiatrists seems an excuse for a little Leonard Bernstein… I really wanted to hate this new version but it was just so well-made. And this song was, for me, the stand out moment of the film.

Quick update from your intrepid correspondent in Southern California. Pleased to report that it was all a damp squib in our area (and I think more widely). The storm dissipated fairly rapidly when it met the land, the topography and the dry air to the east. We’ve had rain here on and off all day and some high winds but nothing concerning. Of course, any rain in the high desert in August is unusual but amounts were much less than feared. It looks like we should be able to continue our journey tomorrow to meet friends in Las Vegas. Hurrah!

If you do use a horseshoe nail, just be careful not to lose one. I understand that the consequences for your kingdom can be catastrophic…

We’re currently in Twenty Nine Palms, CA, directly in the path of Hurricane Hilary, heading from San Diego to Las Vegas. The main concern here seems to be flash flooding - Joshua Tree National Park was closed today so that they could ensure that everybody was out ahead of the storm hitting (with the main impact looking like it will be tomorrow afternoon). The rangers that we talked to said that they are expecting up to ten inches of rain in an area where the annual average is three inches. The eponymous trees also have very shallow roots and they are concerned about their stability as well. The Governor of the State has declared a state of emergency. The storm does seem to be weakening - it’s now down to a Cat 2 (it was a Cat 4 at the start of the day). Hopefully all the preparations will prove unnecessary but they certainly are taking no chances. Disaster preparation is in the spotlight in the US at the moment for obvious reasons. We’re in a very solid motel, have plenty of food and water for a few days (even without power) and are away from any major watercourses. We plan on following the very helpful advice of the National Park Service…

This is good news! We are flying on an SQ A350 from Sydney to Singapore in December to start the Asia leg of our travels. Really looking forward to it (partly the flight, but mainly the travelling)!

It stood out for me too, not least because it reminded me of the work of @NHY 581. Both the photo of the prototype and the modelling equivalent are beautiful examples of the skill and expertise of their respective creators - it’s a real joy to be able to share in them on this site.