need map showing distances between cities ex US and Canada [Archive]

Wild Dingo

02-25-2003, 01:23 PM

Hiya sis... Tiffany competes in Kelowna and in Vancouver Canada.
The trips short 18 days from leaving Aus to arriving back here and pretty packed as far as things the tour will do although they get a rest day on the 6th day and a shopping dightseeing day on day 14...

Essentially shes flying direct Vancouver then traveling to Kelowna competes for 3 days then a rest then travel through the rockies ending up in Calgary on to Abbotsford and then back to Vancouver then competes for 2 days there flys to Las Vegas {although what the hell a bunch of kids on an athletics trip would do in Las Vegas is beyond me} then disneyland universal studios and venice beach then home... in 18 days!

So the only two places Im sure of is Canada around between Vancouver and Calgary and California.

Now at this stage Im planning on trying to come with her {chapperone doncha know ;) } but this is still uncertain as were waiting on prices for me to join them on the tour... and of course that dreaded question of finance :rolleyes: hurrrumph!... but she reckons she doesnt want to go unless I go with her {aint that gorgeous!! she wubs her dadda! :D } but even if I cant manage it shes going!

Ive been going nuts you know with that mapblast thing!! ...You do realize that MOST of you fellas live on the other side of that country?!!! sheeeesh!! Ive found 3 people in California within a days drive of Los Angeles! and Ive found 2 within cooee of Vancouver everyone else seems to be over near Michael!! gggrrr would hate to go all that way and not meet up with a fair bunch of me mates and matesses!!

Actually Bruce speaking of driving brings up a curious question... you fellas all drive on the wrong side of the road dont yer? so hows a righty like me make the adjustment to bein a temporary lefty like you?? is there some special test or something? maybe I just get in the hire car and have a go eh?!! :cool: Now THAT could be fun! :eek:

"But officer Im a tourist Im from Aussie mate and no offence but you fellas all drive on the wrong side of the road I was drivin as I should on the RIGHT side of the road" ...mmm maybe I should take a bunch of Aussie flags and plaster the hire car with them that way it will be like a warning to all traffic "BACK OFF!! MAD AUSSIE BUGGAR COMIN" :D write a stick on sign sayin "Say gidday if you know the wild dingo!" :D

Well Tiff is coming and at this stage I sure hope to! :cool:

[ 02-25-2003, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

On Vacation

02-25-2003, 02:24 PM

Posted by Dingo:
"Well Tiff is coming and at this stage I sure hope to!"

RED ALERT IN CANADA, DINGO HAS ISSUED A WARNING TO ALL CITIZENS . BUY EAR PLUGS AND AUSSIE DICTIONARIES FOR SURVIVAL!!!!!! :D :D

htom

02-25-2003, 02:38 PM

Oh God we're going to be invaded!

;)

For a quick fix, your local library should have a world atlas; this will show major towns, although not the highways.

AAA has maps of our wonderful neighor to the north, or used to, and I can get some for you too.

The government is running our passenger trains, and it's a mess, unless you're running up and down the coasts. I tried to take the train from Minneapolis down the Mississippi river to Memphis a while ago, and discovered that to do so I had to go through either to Washington, DC or to Seattle and then LA. Like traveling from Alice Springs to Adelaide via Brisbane or via Darwin and Perth.

Flying ... well, I survived the inspections.

Your driving on the wrong side of the road, well, we're all such bad drivers that most won't even notice. An hour or two of practice in a parking lot should fix you up. The hard part is reaching for the shift with the wrong hand.

On Vacation

02-25-2003, 02:47 PM

Vancover, reminds me that you MUST check in with the warm and hospitable Ms. Barb Burnside. Here us Ms. Barb????? Take at least one extra day maybe early for the tour of her area. Oh yea, and Paul, the quiet one, here. smile.gif

Ken Hutchins

02-25-2003, 02:52 PM

You are right we drive on the right side of the road.
Quite frankly you deal with it just like I did when I went to the land of Oz a few years ago. Think about it now, where is the worst traffic at most cities? You got it at the airports. So that is where you learn to drive on the opposite side in the worst traffic.
When I went I got into Brisbane, left my wife at the terminal with the luggage while I went for the rental car. Get the car and start driving, but now the problem, the exit out of the rental lot sends you on the way out of the airport, not back to the terminal so I can pick up poor wife and luggage.
Now comes the real problem you have an unrealistic amount of roundabouts (we call them rotaries) I went straight through 5 of those @#$%&^@# roundabouts before I got the courage to get turned around to go back and find the wife at the terminal.
The other place I had problems was in parking lots at shopping centers, I frequently got on the wrong side and really upset a few people.
I found out that you folks down under also use the one finger wave when slightly upset. One chap really got upset at me on one of the roundabouts and waved at me along with some words we won't mention here.
The other item that might confuse you is that the sun is in the southern sky at midday not the north. If you use the sun for general navigation like most boat people do this will be a problem.
Nighttime navigation is by the north star not the southern cross.
By the way I was there for my son's wedding. He met a gal from Injune QLD. He met her when she was in the US on an exchange program. Good possibility we will be going back for a visit, just when not sure.
So you won't have to look up where I am, I also live on the East coast, in New Hampshire.
Have a great trip.

Nicholas Carey

02-25-2003, 02:55 PM

If you're going to be in Vancouver, give us a ring down here in Seattle (about 3 hours driving time) and we'll arrange to go for a sail or something like. Email me for details.

Johannah

02-25-2003, 03:41 PM

So far, here are the most realistic responses to this international crisis:

"O God, we're being invaded."

"Tally Ho"

:D :D

B. Burnside

02-25-2003, 04:26 PM

Wonderful news!

When are you coming? Where in Vancouver will you be? Sidney is a ferry ride away from Vancouver and about an hour's drive to downtown Vancouver from the ferry dock. You'll also be within two or three hours' drive of the members of the Puget Sound Elbow Bending Society.

If you get time for a day trip, Vancouver Island is worth visiting (in my not very humble opinion). There is a bustle of boat shops around here. I bet I could arrange a tour if I asked folks really nicely and brought cookies or something.

Keep us posted!

Barb

Bruce Hooke

02-25-2003, 04:26 PM

You're headed for some of the most specatular countryside this continent has to offer, and also some of the countryside that is probably most different from what you have near you. As you probably know, British Columbia is a very mountainous temperate rain forest (on the coast - it's drier inland) -- big mountains, huge trees, glaciers, etc.

Why they're going from western Canada down to Las Vegas is beyond me. IMHO the best thing to do in Las Vegas is get out of town and see some of the spectacular desert country in the area. There's a state park 15 miles outside of town called Red Rock Canyon (http://www.americansouthwest.net/nevada/red_rock_canyon/nca.html) where I've camped that would give you a good feel for the beauties of the desert in that area, but Hells Bells, you've got enough flaming desert down your way :D . Of course maybe that just means that you will be more able to appreciate it than people who don't know desert country. I suppose, if nothing else, I have maintained for a long time that seeing the "Las Vegas Strip", where all the casinos are, is very important to understanding at least on aspect of the American character!

As to driving on the other side of the road, I tried your side when I was in Southern Africa for a couple of months and I was surprised how easy it was to adjust. Maybe because the driver's seat is on the other side of the car to start with, it did not seem as confusing as I thought it would be. Only once, on a quiet residental street, did I start driving down the wrong side of the street. I got a very puzzled look from one of the locals and then realized my mistake, fortunately before any of the local constabulary was aware of it. :D In some ways I found city driving to be easier than rural driving because the lanes are marked and there is usually other traffic that you can follow. Of course another aspect of this is that the South African's are generally fairly civilized when driving in the city but they are utter and complete lunatics when they get out on the open road. 120 km/hr and up on dirt roads was common! I think you will find the reverse here - city drivers are nuts, but once you get out in the country people are usually much more civilized.

Sadly, yes, a lot of us are on the other side of the continent, but there is a good crew from this forum in Seattle, which is not so far away from where you'll be.

capt jake

02-25-2003, 04:30 PM

Now Dingo, you know that if you and the family are in the region, you must stop my and at least say HI!! We can go down to the waterfront and drool, if nothing else! smile.gif ;)

Not far South of Seattle....

Mrleft8

02-25-2003, 11:05 PM

Mapquest.com/driving directions.

Wild Dingo

02-26-2003, 07:11 AM

Mrleft8 you need to sort your hotmail account its returning mail!! :rolleyes:

Barb and all I will keep you all appraised as it gets sorted... no sweat!! If it comes off that I can make it I intend to take a day at least to meet up and have a yarn!!

Presently were trying to figure out if it would be cheeper and "easier" if we just go her and I and make the trip spread a bit more get better value for the $$... so am tryin to sort an itineray and such so a quote or two can be done before any decisions are made for me to go! the comps are open so she can email them her application and just lob up so that doesnt appear a problem for one person the cost is not bad {$5000AUD}but once 2 are in the equasion it raises well over the $10,000AUD mark which for a 16 day trip is over the top in my book and somehow I just think I should be able to sort something better out...

And as yet we dont know if they accept parents to tag along the fella emailed me from melbourne at 3.30 my time so thats 5.30 there time so right on knock off!! bloody idiot!

If they dont then we will see what we can organize ourselves... I will let you know what happens as time moves on... regardless of whether I go or not Tiffany is.

Take it easy
Shane

02-26-2003, 07:34 AM

Was wondering when someone was going to mention mapquest. We use it all the time. Sometimes the directions are a little off, but not by much.

Chad

Mrleft8

02-26-2003, 07:46 AM

Don't worry about driving on the right side of the road in LA. The traffic is so bad there you won't be going anywhere anyway...
And my mail is working just fine thank you! :D

Wild Dingo

02-26-2003, 07:57 AM

mmmmmm maybe something is up with the hoppitty hop thing with the sending?? had an email returned with the same problem from Elise as well as a couple of people up north I emailed earlier... buggared if I know I just resend them!! :D

Those two mapblast and mapquest are great thank you for the links! :cool:

Bruce Hooke

02-26-2003, 10:56 AM

FWIW - In my experience the driving times from MapBlast are more accurate than the driving times from MapQuest...

whb

02-26-2003, 12:20 PM

Shane,

There are a few of us in the Calgary area so keep us informed.

Howard

htom

02-26-2003, 12:44 PM

Shane, you've got private message.

Hughman

02-26-2003, 02:10 PM

Shane, you'll need to visit us in Maine. Really. It's only a short distance, about 6" on most maps... :D

Wild Dingo

02-27-2003, 12:55 AM

Okay heres the next quizz! :D

Im wandering around trying to find sites that will give a quote on airfares for multiple stops... ie Per - Van then Van - Halifax outward Halifax - NY and then LAX - Per 2 weeks later {a 2 week drive across is about right isnt it?}... this Im finding bloody hard going! the sites Ive tried so far only allow for quotes outward and return... and if we end up doing this without the tour thing I dont want to be travelling all the way back to Van to catch the outbound back here... not that I dont lub you lot just that it would push it out even further!! :eek:

So anyone have any ideas of a good site? If it could also give accomadation and car hire costs that would be extra flamin good!... a sort of one stop shop to price a trip from woe to go... I havent found it in me wanderings today so anyone know of such a site?

whb

02-27-2003, 01:27 AM

Shane

i-travel2000.com and expedia.ca advertise a lot here but I can't vouch for the quality of their sites.

Howard

Nicholas Carey

02-27-2003, 01:53 AM

Originally posted by Wild Dingo:
Im wandering around trying to find sites that will give a quote on airfares for multiple stops... From hanging out with Ozzies on walkabout -- you guys almost always seem to go travelling for a long time! -- both here and in Europe, I was given to understand that furriners smile.gif can get the airline equivalent of a Eurail pass for travel in North America.

[googles]

Here are some sites that list a North American air passes:

http://www.worldtravellers.net/airtravel/airpass.html
http://www.travel.co.ck/us/usa.htm
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=2&category=1
http://www.bakpakguide.com/frame2.html?content=/usa/go/u-air.html

Getting these passes is usually restricted to foreigners and may entail restrictions such as flying to/from your home country on the issuing airline. You probably have to buy these in Australia and it's a fair bet that they won't be listed on web sites -- you'll need to talk directly to a travel agent or the airline.

Note also that, depending where and when you want to fly, it may well be cheaper to book individual tickets than to get a pass. However, you lose flexibility since the discounted fares tend to lock you in.

You might also look at flying Southwest Airlines (if you're flying somewhere they fly). Their standby fares tend to be exceedingly good.

I'd probably avoid Air Canada -- since they swallowed their only competitor, their fares have, um, increased. A lot. A friend of mine flew recently from Seattle back home to southern Ontario. The Air Canada fare was something ridiculous like US $1500. He flew United Airlines for something less than US $500. It was the exact same flight -- United rolling stock and crew operated for Air Canada, same departure gate and time, partly ticketed by Air Canada and partly by United.

The only difference (outside of a thousand dollars) was that the one flight was listed as flight AC 1234 and the other as UAL 5678.

Also, if the flight is less than about 400 miles, it may well be cheaper and faster to drive than to fly, given the time it takes to get to/from airports, the, uh, improved security procedures and inevitable delays.

And..if you come down to Seattle from Vancouver, consider taking the train. It's cheap and it's a beautiful trip.

Good luck. Let us know anything else you might need.

[ 02-27-2003, 02:03 AM: Message edited by: Nicholas Carey ]

Nicholas Carey

02-27-2003, 02:30 AM

If you're going to do the Vancouver--Halifax run, consider taking the train -- it is, quite literally, the most spectacular train ride in the world.

Well, OK...the Trans-Siberian Railroad might give it a run for the money, but still...the Canadian Rockies, Lake Superior's North Shore and the Gaspé Peninsula are pretty hard to beat.

Johannah

02-27-2003, 09:00 AM

Train across Canada was one of the best things I've ever experienced. Farmers from Saskatchewan gave me a 1500 mile guided tour, East to West, and snacks. But there were not a lot of 18 year olds on that train. Requires zen-like patience and ability to enjoy the moment. The moose swamps (much of Eastern Canada) were much more relentless than the open prairie.

What does Tiff think of visiting all Da's crazy friends and relations in North America?

[ 02-27-2003, 09:01 AM: Message edited by: Johannah ]

Billy Bones

02-27-2003, 09:11 AM

Well Shane old man I don't guess your travels will come as far as me, but if you were to get to miami, (that's the extreme lower right) and then you were in the mood for a swim of say 1000mi or so, you'd be welcome for a visit. We drive on the left, and you'd be fairly close to exactly on the opposite side of the planet from where you started!

happy travels

Wild Dingo

02-27-2003, 10:09 AM

Jo I think shes pretty rapted all up :cool: ... reckons as she will be the centre of attention with her accent she'll have a hoot! :D ...Still a ways off yet much to do... her and I can always crack each other up no matter what else is happening!!!

Billy I aint swimmin that far for anyone mate sorry!! so you must be what Hawaii?? somewheres around there from the sounds of it... never mind wouldnt have minded a yarn but well not this time eh? :(

Now Im tryin to put people to work here! Ive emailed Barb and Oyster Mike and so I'll put it here too!

Now the trip that is for me anyways the most important part is the meetin everyone or as many as possible given time and such... so given I will see the Canadian mob {Barb Peter and all} and maybe with luck Micheal and the other NS mobs and with a good posibility of the Seattle mob {Ish and everyone} if Barb and Paul have anything to do with it!... its the ones from NY on that Im wondering about...

Rightio!... so New York is where were reasonably sure we will enter the US by plane from NS... so then heading down to NC to visit Mike puts Jo in the way so we will collect her as we go by tongue.gif ... then cause we would be fairly close we'd keep going and visit with Art {and Tilton!} ...but Mike was thinkin we should maybe head the other way and get a gander at Washington? ...so whats the best route? remember here we will probably have 21 - 23 days to do coast to coast US!! {at 500 - 600 miles per day tops!}

Yeah yeah your all pretty spread out :rolleyes: ...but I intend to meet up with as many as possible without putting to many people out by doing so... and we want to do as much as possible without knocking ourselves out either... not the slightest interest either of us in bright lights casinos or such

So getting to NY whos first? ...eerrr okay correct that whos meeting us!! :cool: ... gawd the thought of your huge flamin airports scares the bloody droppins outta me! :eek: ...Jos thinkin of getting some T Shirts done for us so we stand out like the proverbial dogs gronicles so you recognizing us aint gonna be hard... we dont really intend to stay IN New York very long ...like long enough to escape!! buy a cheep SUV and head off reckon that could be cheeper than renting for the time were there and the distances we hope to cover.

So how do we go people? NY -> Wash -> Phili -> NC -> ????? ...gotta take in some sights and sounds boats and people... Ive still got Memphis in my sights as I gotta see da Kings lair... so's Texass on the list cant have ol stan loosin it if I dont check in on the old reprobate... if memory serves Norms in Nabraska? then a sideways track to him is in order Chuck is an absolute mustsee person while Anita is on the definant above all must visit list... then theres Ken Nora Margo Donn and gawd the whole flamin lot if we can fit yer in!!!

So asside from that what else does everyone recommend?... get togethers to be organamized at a later date once itinerary is be set and then firmly stuck to so the idea is to get as much organamized early as possible... Im actually after a journey and itinerary here people!... sorta day 1 & 2 NY day 3 ???? that sorta thing... breaking for several weekend stops along the way overnighters at most weekenders for major gatherings!! ;)

I shall leave it in your trusty hands eh? {insert major smilie thingy here! I run out again... sigh}

DerekW

02-27-2003, 01:19 PM

Shane,

WestJet (http://www.westjet.com)

are western Canada's small airline. They fly between Vancouver, Kelowna and Calgary several times a day. Recently they started flying to the maritimes, although flight frequency will be lower. At least on the short hops their flight cost approaches my truck running costs for the same trip :rolleyes:

No commercial connection, I just use them.

cheers
Derek

NormMessinger

02-27-2003, 01:48 PM

Sadly, Omaha doesn't seem to be on the way to anywhere. On the other hand we have had the pleasure of two different Forum Folks so who knows. It would be first contender for high light of the year if you were to drop by Shane.

[ 02-27-2003, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: NormMessinger ]

imported_Steven Bauer

02-27-2003, 09:11 PM

Wow, the Wild Dingo is comin' to N.A.!
Shane, if you're in N.Y. in June don't go South - it's hot down there! Oh yeah, you're used to that. :D Come North instead! Maine is where all the woodenboats are!
Seriously, though, here in southern Maine we're only 5-6 hours from N.Y.C. If you aren't coming up here then I'm sure some of us will come down to wherever you are - we wouldn't miss that visit for anything. Joe is just an hour from the airport and I bet Donn is half that!
Yee-Ha the Dingo is coming to Hamerica!

See you soon.
Steven

Johannah

02-27-2003, 11:02 PM

Invasion Alert!! Caution, Ozians coming. One if by land and two if by sea and we will all be running for cover. :rolleyes: Kiddo, if you want to hit the highlights on the way to see Oyster, then one way is we collect you in New York, dump you on Joe and/or others in area, haul Tiff to see sights, then boogie on down to Phillie (between NY and Wash.), repeat, then on to Washington and points south. Possible to do NY to Wash. in 3 days for the young and nuts (I'm too old). Maybe I get crazy enough to drive you to North Carolina or you bus or train. It can be expensive to fly some routes so it's important to figure out where you have to fly home from. I think the continental US is roughly the size of OZ so that will help for scale. Your geography is a bit buffled so you have people listed in the wrong places, some by 3000 miles! Don't expect to find people from Maine in Oregon. Another way to visit a lot is to have a couple of "elbow bending sessions" regionally to which you are able to come. But for heavens sake, ask Tiff what she wants to do or you will have a revolt on your hands half way through. Trust me on this.

B. Burnside

02-27-2003, 11:52 PM

Hear, Hear to Jo's idea of a series of elbow benders. Also to kind of a relay where we boost the Eyres on to the next group of forumites after showing them our particular sights.

Norm - but Omaha is in the middle of Everywhere! Maybe that's where we should have the Mother of All ElbowBenders!

So who would be able to converge on Vancouver, Seattle or Victoria in late June?

Barb

Wild Dingo

02-27-2003, 11:53 PM

HA!! crossposted Barb!! ;) so I wrote all this while you wrote that... now were all getting on the right wagon!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh someone is on the right track!!! ;) ...this is why the need for the itinerary thing is so important at this stage Jo... Tiff... Im easily made chipper show me a nice rounded transom a buxom sheer and Im a happy fella throw in a tad of history and and the spice of some quiet fishin and Im extatic!... This will keep Tiff happy for all of about 5 minutes!! ;) ... so along the way what is there for an active happy friendly {but shy} 17 year old girl to do?

Actually were both pretty easily amused tongue.gif ...but its a question both of us have been wondering as weve been tryin to sort this out is if most of you are my age and older {46 +} with either no kids all grown up or theyre real young... its not going to stop us in anyway... Joe boy on the mountain is cool cause shes seen the photos of his snow bound house and Tess's photo and she reckons shes a real cutie...

But along the way its gonna get to be a tad tryin if eveyones only got little ones for her to muck about with! no offence! and shes brilliant with little ones but... ahhh you know what I mean :rolleyes:

Okay just remembered Garland in Oaklahoma has a daughter about the same age whos also a sport nut!! okay so Oaklahoma's a definant stop over... things to do for a 17 year old!!... mmmm tryin to avoid the malls!!! HA! :rolleyes: ...but seriously what special things are happening along the route that we can catch on our way? Fairs fetes festivals that sorta thing I guess. {to make up for no Disneyworld!}

Omaha is on the way to somewhere Norm... and mate we will make every endeavour to include a swing by!... She cant believe this old fella makes canoes with the kids in his street!! your "way cool" in her estimation :cool:

Anyway this is why the itinerary is so important to try to sort now so we know where were going and what were going to be doing along the way... any sporting things she could join in would make her trip athletics netball soccer... so if you know of any competitions happening that she could have a run she'd be rapt! Win loose or draw she just enjoys sport.

Looking at that airline thing from Derek that would be the go I reckon to get to NS!... so they dont fly ex Halifax to NY so can we just book with another airline for that leg?

Also those coupon things look a great idea so will be checking them out today.

Jo... the intent is to buy a van thing we call em mobile homes you call then SUVs I think and drive as soon as possible after landing in NY... the flying is going to be simply into Canada out of Canada in US and out of US we hope to drive the rest... get down and dirty in each country! tongue.gif ...Canada will be hire cars when not flying and USA we will just buy one and be done then were not restricted...other than by time...

And we'll just get rid of it when we get to the other end {Its no use to us anymore at that point and has served its purpose} or leave it with someone to sell or whatever... as I say once we get to LA we no longer have any use for it! ...as long as it does whats necessary to get from NY to LA then thats good enough!

So whats happening in your neck of the woods {hehe saw that show on the idiot box where the fella says that to into the weather} in July from about the 6th through 29th {remember were on a plane from LAX on the 30th!!

I know Im sounding rather dumb and stupid but honestly I am totally ignorant when it comes to travelling outside of Aussie ...Ive never done it! so your help is definantly needed here... I have no idea what the blazes Im doing!!!

[ 02-27-2003, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

capt jake

02-28-2003, 12:17 AM

So who would be able to converge on Vancouver, Seattle or Victoria in late June?
Dingo, you must keep me informed as it rolls nearer! I will need to take time off, as I want ot attend this event!!

Take care and keep us informed !!

JimD

02-28-2003, 01:21 AM

Shane, SWMBO and I just drove from Calgary to Abbottsford ( a Vancouver bedroom community )last week on our way to Vancouver Island. If driving its best done in two days. I flew back on Westjet airlines. Be warned about Westjet, tho, the flight attendants tell really bad jokes over the intercom and encourage audience participation. Keep in touch, we have plenty of hospitality here to offer. Banff is a little over an hour's drive west of Calgary. My nephew and two nieces from Queensland were here last July and had an awesome time.
jimd

Wild Dingo

02-28-2003, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by JimD:
Shane, SWMBO and I just drove from Calgary to Abbottsford ( a Vancouver bedroom community )last week on our way to Vancouver Island. A Vancouver bedroom community??!!! Gawd!!! strewth that invokes some weird flamin imaginings!! :eek: I knew some of yous fellas and sheilas were mmmmm shall we say into some weird stuff but bedroom communities????... maybe we should just skip that bit of the trip?? HA! ;)

Originally posted by JimD:
I flew back on Westjet airlines. Be warned about Westjet, tho, the flight attendants tell really bad jokes over the intercom and encourage audience participation.

And you think this would bother me??? ;) HA!! :D Okay so now its a sure thing that at least one flight would be on the bad joke westjet mob! ;)

Originally posted by JimD:
Keep in touch, we have plenty of hospitality here to offer.

I had heard that mate!!! ;) And no worries about the keeping in touch... done deal.

Originally posted by JimD:
My nephew and two nieces from Queensland were here last July and had an awesome time.
jimdAnd Id expect nothing less with this band of crazy boatnuts!! :cool:

[ 02-28-2003, 02:31 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

LisaS

02-28-2003, 08:00 AM

Shane -

If you come in to NY, I'm sure that I can pick you two up at the airport and we can have a tour of NYC. AND I have a tall blond 18 y.o. son.

Lisa

[ 02-28-2003, 08:01 AM: Message edited by: LisaS ]

Ken Hutchins

02-28-2003, 08:37 AM

Since you have been invited to go north to Maine, from NY you will have to go through New Hampshire, by all means you are invited to stop here. There are also WB people in Conneticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Billy Bones

02-28-2003, 08:54 AM

No way Shane! I'm in the caribbean, which means if you and I went out in our back yards and started digging holes, we'd eventually meet up in the middle some where. I'm a couple of hundred miles north of Venezuela (that's South America) and a few thousand miles east of the panama canal and all my weather comes from africa a few thousand miles to the east.

You haven't said WHEN your travelling (unless I missed it). I'm going to the west coast in a few months and I'll be there for a while. It'd be great if several of our paths crossed!

Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )

02-28-2003, 10:30 AM

Dingo; My main man. Your gonna make it to NY. NY NY NY Yeaaaa haaaaaaa. I just assumed you were going to land on the other side of the continent and I would mis the Dingo wave. But now that I know you going to be close by, hell what can I do for ya mate. As Lisa said I can pick you guys up I have a SUV And roof rack fits lots of gear. Your more than welcome to crash at our compound for a few days. Lisa and Tess would love it. Its still frozen up here so you would get to see lots of snow LOL. Shoot me an email and let me know what I can do for ya. There is an airport up here as well called Stewart its small but they do get international flights might be worth checking out.

Johannah

02-28-2003, 11:18 AM

Aside from careening back and forth across major geography, the only dubious part of your plan, so far, is the casual purchase of a vehicle. It would take days to work out the registration, even if you had cash, and selling is also no quick and easy deal. You would get a brutal lesson in the Balkan nature of our country; each state has its own set of rules and customs and taxes for vehicles. People here rent for the most part, or go "shank's mare" as my mother used to say. You really could do chunks of the country by a sort of pony express of WBF nuts. You already have 3 offers from the NY, Conn, PA area. Our Nan will be in Maine canoeing during July, but many of her teen buddies will be around and the local swimming pool is usually infested with them. Maybe stick to renting a car for shun-piking in a particular region of the country. This part is easy and often done.

Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )

02-28-2003, 11:51 AM

He has made mention of making all the way over on our shore here in NY. Somehow I don't think he as a SCALE map of North America. :roll: But I sure would like to have him and his and share a yarn with him. Now that I know it will be summer time and I should be out of the deep freeze we could have a BBQ Party at our place with all those in the neighborhood make a pilgrimage. It would be fun to host such a gathering. smile.gif

John Bell

02-28-2003, 12:04 PM

Shane,

I agree with Jo, buying and selling a car for a short visit is fraught with problems, least of which is the mandatory liability insurance.

Driving across the USA from coast to coast is around 50-60 hours windshield time one way. That's a lot of wasted effort for such a short trip.

Fly, rent cars, bum rides.

If you get to Atlanta, you'll have a ride and a bed.

Wild Dingo

02-28-2003, 12:49 PM

mmmmm yes me good an fine cobbers and cobbettes... I have just done an extremely innerestin little excersize in total madness over the last hour or so :D ... I agree buying one is out aside from all those problems what if its a dud? mmm could be worse than anything!..

So I took a google wander and looked into Cruise Americas site for a Type C? Camper thingy... and they do the rental in 7 day blocks of 1000 miles at $1340per... looked at it as picking one up in Seattle then doing the trip to Canada from there and then down again and across the country to NY allowing myself 4 weeks thats 4000 miles so book 4 blocks of extra miles at $130 per 500ml to allow for 6000mls... with the one way drop off fee of $500 kits and such 100hrs for the genny it ended up bein $6835...

mmmm not bad says I to meself :cool: ...

Then I membered I gots ta do the flamin conversion thing right? Now someone tell me why the blazes a normally fairly sane person wants to scare the living turkey wobblers outta himself??? :rolleyes: ...this is the point were me mind came unhinged I wriggled squirmed pharted burped coughed and sighed at the same moment as my eyes fell onto the floor with a resounding THUMP and me jaw followed along causeing me tongue to become unhinged and blindly begin wagglin like a strangled dog at a barbie... $11,277 AUS $$$!! I MEAN ****E!! :eek:

okay so combine that with the worse plane fare price of $2000 ea return... thats $15,277 AUS! Holey snappin bungarra gronicles!!! man thats a scarey thought!!! And that hasnt taken into account fuel food and gawd knows what else! Jo was a wise lady when she said we aint gettin outta this for under $20,000!! :eek: ****E!! FOR TWO OF US!!!... NO PEOPLE THE FLAMIN FAMILY AINT COMIN AT THEM PRICES!!! :(

Okay I gotta sleep on this... I mean ****E!!! :( I knew it would be dear as buggary but... its a real OMG!!! one this... sigh... leave it with me eh?

what the heck is a "shun-piking"? If that means what I think it does... I aint hitch hikin with a 17 year old girl!!! No flamin way hosea!!... so must look at airfares trains and whatever else... maybe just rent a car??? with one of them pop up camper trailer things... cadge a shower and normal type bed wherever we can?? stay in caravan parks motels mmmm doesnt sound so bad I guess... okay gotta think on this... revised plan #4 coming up! :rolleyes:

reddog

02-28-2003, 01:53 PM

Shane;
Shun-piking is just slang terminology for getting to the back areas.In effect avoiding the major "pikes".Can be by any means,car,foot,boat,bike or whatever.
We're not going to make you "thumb" yer way around the continent.
Remember,stay calm my friend.
Earl

Tim.Diebert

02-28-2003, 04:04 PM

Just in case you are too busy (Duh!) to check on your other forum...did you see Oysters offer?

Also, I am right in the center of that little track meet triangle of yours. In fact, if you are driving between, say, Calgary and Vancouver...the fastest route will take you 2 blocks from my place. Plus it is a natural stop over for night. Cuts the distance and time between Calgary and Vancouver just about right.

Get out your little map there. From Calgary, head south on Hwy 2 to Fort MacLoud...turn right on Hwy 3...just keep going for 5 hours or so and you go right through Grand Forks on your way to Vancouver. It is a beautiful drive.

Kelowna is exactly 2 1/2 hours from here. A gorgious place, huge lake and hot.

We have a guest suite and would be tickled pink if wanted to hang here for a spell. Week days/ week ends, does not matter. It would be fun to have you and your daughter visit. Hell, I will even take you sailing if you like. I sail in one of the most beautiful lakes in all of Canada. July will be HOT.

I know you will be getting a lot of invitations, just keep old Tim in mind.... and if it works out...it works out. :D

WWheeler

02-28-2003, 04:25 PM

Dingo, if you are travelling between Vancouver and Calgary with hoons, STRONGLY suggest you rent a car and leave enough time (min. 1 week) to see the sights, which are ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, even for a country which FABULOUS overall. There's places like Banff National Park (famous quote by railway baron - "if we can't export the scenery, we'll have to import the tourist") The train trip is also great, but you'll miss some nice scenery due to overnight travel.

I've crossed the country multiple times, and every time needed to spend more time in the mountains between CAL and VAN. There is not one but 3 mountain ranges to cross.

On the other hand, Vancouver to LA is a bit of a haul, done it several times. The Coast highway is great, but slower. (Why not stop in Olympia, home of Sam Devlin?) The border is now really tedious since 9/11. Flying or train may be an option.

imported_Steven Bauer

02-28-2003, 05:28 PM

Shane, have you got a good N.A. map or what? If you guys can get to the East coast you won't even need a rental car. Start in Nova Scotia - Michael Mason and folks will show you around and then put you on a ferry to Bar Harbor, Maine. This is on Mount Desert Island, real wooden boat territory. Many forumites near there -Ish, Hugh, Ross, lots of others. WoodenBoat Magazine's headquarters is near there. It's about 3 hours for me, so I could come up there to get you and bring you down here to the Portland area. Chris can take us for a sail in Victoria - his 1963 teak-on-teak Catboat and you can take my pedal powered fin boat for a spin. Then it's only about an hour down to the New Hampshire coast area and another hour to Ed's place. (And isn't there a guy in Massachusetts building a Peterson Coaster?) From there, another hour and a half to Rhode Island and the Herreshoff Museum, then another hour to Mystic Seaport. Their John Gardner Small Craft Workshop Weekend is in June. Then Lisa's place is close and Joe's is close to there and then it's only an hour to Donn's and you know if you want to go fishing that's the place. Then he could pass you on to Johanna, and from there it's just a couple of hours to D.C. and then the Southerners could take over. Well, I hope you get the idea. Lots of people (me for one) will drive you a couple of hours to get to the next forumites house. I'll bet the westerners could do the same. So no rental car. Just the one cross country airfare. :D
What do you think everyone? Could we make this work for our Australian buddies?
And another thing - you expressed concern about driving on the wrong side of the road. I've shown that that won't be a problem. Now the real problem is going to be the adjustment to being RIGHT SIDE UP! After all those years of upside down living how will you be able to cope? :D

Steven

LisaS

02-28-2003, 11:48 PM

...and if you truly land in Nova Scotia during the first two weeks, I'll pick you up in Bar Harbor, since I will already be there complete with campsite, kayaks, food, and beer.

Lisa

Wild Dingo

03-01-2003, 12:33 AM

Geeeeeez this is truely aweflaminsome!!

Okay revision #4! {partial only}

Fly into Seattle WA on about the 19th June... gives us some days to sort our heads back together! meet with the fellas and sheilas there {note sort accomadation} travel to Vancouver 22nd say gidday to Barb and the crew {note sort accomadation} travel to Kelowna on 25th stay there 6 days {leave 1st July} travel to Calgary arriving 3rd {leave 5th July} fly to Vancouver stay till 7th fly to Halifax see Earl Michael and the crews {and Elly :cool: } leave 9th take the ferry over to Bar Harbor stay with Lisa and her boys for a bit of R&R :D

Onward on the 11th to the Maine fellas then the Portland mob connect up with Ed somewhere around here then hook up with Joe on the mountain and Johanna hopefully getting there about the 15th -16th July... then down to Donns for a tad of fishin before flying to NC arrive around the 18th...

That leaves just 10 days to meet the rest of the gang!! {10 days cause I intend leaving from LAX on the 30th so need to be there a day or so early)

That leaves 10 days to go from NC across!!! WOW!! mmmm maybe fly to Oaklahoma? then fly to Omaha? mmmm fit Texass in somehow tongue.gif gawd!! :eek: By harry I reckons it maybe cans be done mates!! :cool: mind here we will get home and crash for a week!! ;) The airfares seem resonably okay... I mean only 360Can for both of us to fly from Vancouver - Halifax!! wow!! :cool:

I will definantly be getting some of them coupons! :cool:

Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )

03-01-2003, 12:44 AM

What about me I want to party :D Dingo look on a map I'm off RT 84 and Ill drive ya hrs either direction as well, And I have beer, and my name is Foster - Foster for Christ sake I'm practically an Australian LOL . My offer of a big BBQ still stands and then you get lifts from here or Ill lift ya to the next destination Hell summer time Ill let ya borrow my old Benz 450 mi to the tank smile.gif

[ 03-01-2003, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ) ]

Johannah

03-01-2003, 01:23 AM

We can likely get you to North Carolina. Save the plane fare. Does Tiff want to see Washington? If you're trying to be educational, Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written. Philadelphia and New York were capitals of the US before Washington was built. It's not necessary to see any of this but many people enjoy it. The historic sights are a bit of a mess at the moment because the different levels of government are bickering about how to protect them from possible terrorist attacks. Beautiful Independence Hall in Philly is surrounded by ugly, cheesy barriers. Heartbreaking but also thought provoking. There's some very cool and important work going on here right now about the relationship of enslaved people to the early leaders of the country. I don't know how much sense it would make to a 17 year old from another country. But there are swimming pools and cute boys everywhere. More to the point perhaps.

Wild Dingo

03-02-2003, 01:14 AM

Update

We have taken a vote and the decision has been made that Yazmynn will be coming with us!... Shes been havin a pretty rough time of it since the event at Christmas and needs to get away for awhile... shes not been handling it very well at all... and rather than letting her shoot of to her mate in Melbourne to stay which is what shes been thinking about... where she will know no one and have no family around we decided she should come with us.

Hopefully that wont make any difference to people as we lob up... she doesnt eat much and takes up a fairly small area of space!! :D

The trip is looking good as far as Bar Harbor where at Lisa's wonderful invitation we will spend a day or two R&R with her and the boys :cool: ...before moving on to Jo or Joes and beyond. ;)

I had a quick gander at my sis's map of the US yesty... and seems if we go the NC/Georgia route we can fly across to Texass or Oaklahoma {theyre close I think :rolleyes: } and have a gathering there... then up to Omaha and have one there before heading out to San Fran and having a final one there...

San Fran is looking like the exit city when thinking about it and based on little sis's trip over there a couple of years ago.... rather than getting majorly lost at LAX!...

So saying the time frames should fit! ...sadly it would also mean that we wouldnt be spending a lot of time transversing your big country and some fellas and sheilas would hopefully/probably have to make a journey to meet up... Unless someone comes up with a better idea we will probably settle on this itinerary.

20 - 21st June Perth > Seattle {stay a few days} > Vancouver {stay a day or so} > Kelowna stay the competition days > Calgary stay 2 days > Vancouver stay a day for competition > Fly to Halifax {stay 2 days} (this should be around the 8th July) > Ferry to Bar Harbor stay 2 days or so > do the maine trip a few days > NY stay for a couple of days > NC Stay a few days > Georgia a day or so > Texass/Oaklahoma 2 days > Omaha 2 days > San Fran 2 to 3 days > Perth/home 30th July

And that should about do it! I will check the time factors and such as we move along but seems to be about the best I can do for now... If time allows we will try and hook another state in... if not then... :( Sorry

About the generous offers of vehicle loans... I have no idea how we would get them back to you from wherever we end up!... So if say you lend me your ol Merc Joe you would have to travel to NC to pick it up from a forumites place... same with the NC fella and his offer of the same... Not that we dont appreciate the offers sure as flamin heck do! :cool: I wouldnt want to put yous fellas out to the extent of your havin to travel so far to pick your vehicles up! Id feel a bit guilty doing that always return what I borrow is my lifes motto... And well its a one way trip around mate no doubling back Im afraid as much as we would probably love to...

The schedule is pretty much fixed at this end at 6 weeks... the lovely possumpoop will probably need a break herself by the time we get back after 6 weeks with the other 6 hoons!! :eek:

[ 03-02-2003, 01:18 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

imported_Steven Bauer

03-02-2003, 06:38 PM

Shane, you know that the WoodenBoat Show will be in Rockland, Maine on July 18th-20th right? Just about the highest concentration of beautiful wooden boats in the whole country on that particular weekend. :D

I have one possibly conflicting commitment - A family reunion with my wife's extended family. I'll be going to the New Jersey shore from July 11th to the 18th or 19th. I guess I'll just go to the Woodenboat Show on Sunday only. :(

If I get lucky with your timing Joe's big BBQ party will be happening right as we're on our way to the reunion. :D Nothin' wrong with wishful thinking, right?

Steven

seafox61

03-02-2003, 06:49 PM

Hey Shane
Sorry for the kooky question but Do you bring your own javalan?,multiple javalans? or are they provided at the meets? I was going to point out that in san francisco their is the national maritime museam with several ships anda fair amount of touresty stuff at fishermans warf and some sea mamals hanging around the docks, boat ride to alcatraz, goldengate bridge ( though i hear they don't like people taking photos on it any more ???
You have not said what your daughters enjoy doing? if it is historical and your in texas their is the alamo
scenic? if legas were still on the itinary their is lake mead and the grand canyon and zions canyon is a few miles east ( well practically it is a day trip if you stop and see anything)
sure hope you have a great time on your visit here. no matter what I don't think you could run out of things to do and people to show them to you and bring you along your way ( even acrost the mid cart of the continent.
best to you and yours
jeffery

Wild Dingo

03-03-2003, 02:01 AM

Gidday again fellas and sheilas!!
This will be long as I try to shuffle my thoughts around!

Well theyre good questions Jeffery and Im waiting on an answer from the Kelowna people should hopefully hear from them tomorrow about the Javelin and starting blocks... Hopefully we can borrow them while were there from another athlete or rent them rather than lug them with us all over the place!... and those starting blocks weigh a flamin ton! Which as the girls say could make serious inroads into our weight allowance on the plane trips!... and oooohhh they couldnt do that could they? I mean what about "the shopping!!"... and could you imagine the customs and whollopers looks if they see the baggage then a long 13 or 14ft skinny stick and a 5 and a half foot tube?...

"Whats in the long one pal?" "a Javelin mate"... pulls it out "HEY! this is a spear! okay stand against the wall!! Whats in the other one?"... "sheesh its a flamin digeridoo" "a what?? HANDS UP PAL!!"... "Its a flamin digeridoo a musical instrument"... giving me the well known official glare that says he knows your lying he pulls out a long length of wood with a hole down the middle "yeah right pal like anyone plays a peice of wood! gawd!! Its probably a tube to hold explosives! okay thats it yer under arrest!" ...and then somehow I get the thing and blow a tune and the fella grabs his earoles and screams in pain at the haunting tones of the droning didge... wavin his gun around all over the place... mmm bit of a worry eh? :rolleyes:

As for what to do?... We dont know your countries so whatever people come up with will be fanbloodytastic in our book! :cool: ... The girls know even less than I do and I know buggar all!! ... but at least Ive heard about the alamo and alcatras {great movies eh?!} they just looked blankly at me when I mentioned them... the golden gate bridge they know the statue of liberty they know the white house in Washington they know but like me were confused about where it was!! I mean Washington is on the other coast isnt it? so why is Washington on the other side?? mmmm?!... so we get confused about it a fair bit.

So we know absoflaminlutely nothing about Seattle Washington Vancouver Canada or any of the other places in that great white expanse! We have recieved some emails with links to places along the route like Halifax and Calgary but aside from those we know nothing... America is a total unknown for us and NY in particular is a huge massive mystery to us all... Weve seen a few movies with NY in it and the mere thought of those teeming masses have us terrified to tell the truth!! man I get clostraphobic in sleepy old Perth! :eek:

The only place I have a reasonably good historical knowledge of is Southern California with grateful thanks to Anita who answered all my questions about the place... But still it doesnt tell me what is there to do...

We have no idea and actually thats probably a good thing!!... No preconceived ideas or plans so everything will be a surprise and something totally new which is better than saying we must see this that and the other thing and then geeez we gotta do this see that etc...

We can just lob up and people can show us what they know of their part of the world and we can see it from their eyes as well as our own... ooh a clause here Tiffany has demanded to be able to have a go at running up the stairway of the Empire State Building and go to the top of the Statue of Liberty but beyond that we have no demands or expectations... just what comes will be brilliant!

Steven... sadly I think we will miss the woodenboat show as we should be somewhere around NC or Texass by then on our way out... unless the Nova Scotia mob have shanghaied us!! :D or weve become totally immersed in Bar Harbor and just cant wrentch ourselves away from the beautiful nature of the camp!! and Lisas Kayak!! HA! :D

Im not a city fella too many people scare the ****e out of me and confuse me to much... Tiffany could if she wanted to be but tends to like a small amount of city and such then quiet again while Yazmynn loves as Joe says to... PARTY!!... but still its all going to be new and the girls are pretty shy... just like their old man really :rolleyes: until the ice is broken and we are relaxed then weve been known to cut loose a tad!

End is summed up as follows... Whatever we see will be aweflaminsome... Everthing we do will be fanbloodytastic... And everyone we meet will be wonderflaminfull to the max!!

So nothing special people... just whatever you want to do we would be rapt to experience :cool: Im hoping to get a few breathers along the way like the camp and Joes ranch on the mountain will be breaks to stop for a few and rest awhile before it begins again... Yes Joe a party is fine mate!!... just dont want to be totally overwhelmed is all.... Im easily pleased with the more simple things while if possible the wimmins could show the girls around for a day while we sort your barn out! go for a quick sail or cruise get the barbie fired up and I guess generally just show me your world.

Im hoping to see Jakes launching and a few other particular things but nothing is set in stone as far as that goes.

seafox61

03-03-2003, 05:17 AM

never even thought about the starting blocks ( I was field , shot and discus) what I know about the javalin come down to;
1 my neighbor who threw it was the only other person I knew who's calf mussels were so big finding levis that fit was hard ( I bycycled also)
2 my friend thane was walking acrost the javalin field at the wrong instant and took a javalin through the thigh.
3 in the movie my life as a dog the boy is remembering the helsinki olympics where a athlet tried ashort cut acrost the javalin field and cought one in the chest "boy I bet he was suprized!"
seriously though the javalin and the blocks are a bit to pack around, least your not a pole vaulter <g> and their are UPS and fed ex parche services. I know a talk show host (Bruce Williams, business and life topics) who never checks baggage he simply sends what he needs on ahead united parcle service insteed of playing carrocel relet " is that my bag, no wait that one no dang I thought I saw them put it on that plane to south dakota insteed on my plane"
best wishes
jeffery
ps
I found a thread where we had talked before you started using the wild dingo handle. think it was on a boat you were planing to build and a whole lot of people uttered discouraging words on size of yur budget vrs number of people in family. how have things gone on the boating front?

seafox61

03-03-2003, 05:27 AM

a run up the empire state building ? wow she is a true athalet,
glad you guys are getting a chance to come on over
jeffery

reddog

03-03-2003, 05:35 AM

Shane;
A shanghai can be arranged.You will definitely want to be clear of here before next winter.Unless,of course, you fancy coasting and bonfires with MM.The ice has been perfect for hard water sailing the past few days and the ice boats are out on the sea ice in force.
See you in July.
Earl

Johannah

03-03-2003, 09:42 AM

For Tiff, New York is still a nervous place, so I don't know about access to the stairs at the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty. For quite a while, no one was even allowed on the island with the statue. Donn's wife works in Manhattan, the part of New York City where the big buildings are, and he is likely the best person to ask about access to these places. Or Joe. And there really are 2 Washingtons here. Sorry. One is a whole state on the left up close to British Columbia, and the other is a district/city like the ACT to house the federal government. It's over on the middle, far right. This is where the White House is.

Wild Dingo

03-03-2003, 12:34 PM

Jeffery Im not sure which thread you are talking about I recall when I first came aboard I started as "Shane" I believe {although it was awhile back and I could be wrong} but that password refused to work after the initial time and then I flamin well forgot it so I did the dingo dance and thats that!... I was known by that first name for ooohhh all of one post! :rolleyes: Im amazed anyone remembers!!! I sure didnt till you reminded me!

I know when I first came aboard I was considering building the Wharram Tiki 38 or 46 and got severally scorched by several prominant members of the forum for my utterances :rolleyes: ...which was okay in the end as someone showed me the Schooner they had bought for a mere pittance in Florida and trucked to Canada and for ever more I have a case of severe schooner lust ;)

Upon starting another thread regarding the thoughts of building such a one that also caused a ruckus as well but with another of the old fellas... seems in the old days I was always in the doodoos for me utterances eh? ...but alls patched up and were yarning again so no long term damage was done in either case I dont think so... mind here the young fella who trucked his to Canada has only been heard from a couple of times since! Which is a real bummer...

So Chris of Schooner Etain if your reading this... contact me mate!!! ...Im bustin to know how Etain is and where she is so I can come get a gander and then hows the newfie "smudge" and the bride?? Mate talk to us!!!

sigh... okay back to business...

The thoughts still move back to the Wharrams occasionally and I was on the verge of buying a set of plans from another fella in Canada recently but hes apparently sold them already ...but never to be fazed I keep on searching and well so it goes mate! :rolleyes: ...Mind here I actually came very flamin close to buying one of those schooners thats in Savannah awhile back but the cost of getting it down here and its condition sorta stopped the progression then money went awol and so it goes...

Now things have turned again and Im coming over Im hoping to get to Bill Petersons place in Maine and getting those flamin plans in my hands!... Well its not a hope I am going to see him definatly!... Whether I buy the Coaster plans or the Susan plans is unsure just now till Ive had a face to face yarn with him.

Ive got a few designers I want to see in the States and Canada before I leave there or decide on the final one... so Im not rushin things.

So to answer the question mate as for the building nope its not being done yet... Im the sorta fella that goes through many stages till finally I get fed up and say thats the one I keep coming back to so thats it!... thats the one I will have and then its done... till then I look consider and weigh up what I can find out... trouble is there are so flamin many good boat designs out there!! :mad: which is frustrating to say the least!! AND THEN TO TOP IT OFF!! Theres all the restorables such as the 1899 Logan for sale over here... so it goes eh?

Jo.. Im really REALLY glad you said that!! I DONT want to be goin up there!! :eek: and of course she will insist I go with her! so thank you!!

Jeff???... Renderous??? One of your great re-enactments?!! mmmmm now thats a worry!... Oi Lisa!! Your not getting us into some re-enactment stuff in this camp are yer?? HA!! Could we be seein an Aussie amidst the warriors?!! HA!!

That sounds absoflaminlutely BRILLIANT Jeff!! sounds damn near perfek!! but we better call in on Joe else he will bust a muscle!! and theres Mike in NC we would have to call in for a feast of his famous barbie suckling pig!! :D

Check your emails mate okay now Ive gotta go work the itinerary again!! :D

htom

03-03-2003, 03:40 PM

If you're coming to North America from anywhere, I'd like you to see our "spine", the Rocky Mountains, from Glacier National Park (which may not have glaciers in twenty years) down through the Grand Canyon, with stops at Flathead Lake, the Bitterroot National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole (perhaps the place closest to Heaven in North America before the developers got to it), Flaming Gorge, jogging over to the Great Salt Lake and then back to follow the Colorado down the Glen Canyon (why did we make that dam ... you'd think the Chinese would have learned) to the Grand Canyon. There are probably a dozen more national parks and twice as many national monuments of one thing or another along the chain that I didn't mention.

Johannah

03-03-2003, 04:46 PM

Jeff, probably a summer to remember! If the girls revolt at listening to any more boat talk or political arguments (can we declare a moratorium for the duration) consider whether you might leave them for a couple of days somewhere they would like to be and take a side boat jaunt without them. Might work to pick a couple of dates for parties (Joe in NY, Oyster farther down?) as your fixed points, leaving some flexibility in between. The resemblance of this fiasco to a royal progression is not getting any less.

imported_Steven Bauer

03-03-2003, 06:39 PM

I remember your first posts, Shane. Your screen-name was "Shane from Australia" and I admired the way you stood up to those darn Naysayers! Then you just about moved right in and took over the whole place! :D

Steven

I already offered on the other thread to host a Roo-B-Q. Jeff's Rendezvous is just twenty minutes from here.

garland reese

03-03-2003, 08:08 PM

Hey Shane!!

Us Okies is waitin' fer ya!

Wild Dingo

03-04-2003, 09:40 AM

First "list" from the girls! ...well you asked for it Jo so here goes :cool:

They combined efforts tonight and came up with a wee "list of hopefully can but no worries if cant do things" while in Canada and the States...

Stay in a hotel room for a night WITH room service!! HA!! yeah they are getting at least a couple of times but hopefully not many!!

Eat a lot of lobster "crawfish" and other seafood.

See an Amish community drive in a horse and buggy get photos taken dressed in period clothes.

Texas San Antonio visit "Sea World"

Visit Perth and Albany {get photo taken at the sign!} and Providence cause there favorite tv show is "Providence"

Indian Pow Wow... not enough time for a Sundance so would love to see a Pow Wow

Paintballing

Salem Mass... where the witchhunts were... Jo reckons I gotta get me mum a hat and broom!! HA! I gotta get her old lady one too!! :cool:

Absailing... SHANG where are you??!!

Springfield Mass... that is where Homer and Bart live isnt it? Yaz's idol is Bart and of course who couldnt but love Homer? duuuuhhh :cool:

New Orleans

See Rikki Lake {akkk gag chuckchunder!} or Jerry Springer or get on the CNN early morning show and see the fella who interviews the mob outside!! say gidday to the mob stuck back home!!

Snow Skiing

Canoeing Kayaking {yep its done and catered for I know but now your gonna have to tell them! :rolleyes: }

Niagra Falls

New Jersey Turnpike... thats the major one isnt it that has a mass of highways converging??

Outside ice skating

Go to a grid iron, baseball or NBL game {Jordan and Shaque are pretty big here???}

Try a drop of white lightning!!! :eek: yeah yeah that was me but what the heck I gotta get me laughs somehow eh?!! :D And Ive always wondered about that song...

This of course is a first draft so is open to revision!!

htoms map book of the States and Canada arrived today!!! Gawd was that flamin FAST!!!... sent on 26th here today the 4th!! Guess it possibly could have been here yesty but it was a public holiday then... HEY! NOW I KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING!!! HA! Thanks mate!!

You do realize that they are now starting to see just how big those two countries are!! and theyve started with the questions!! aaahhhhhh!!... "what about Arizona were going there arent we?" "No"... "mmm what about Idaho?" "Nope"... "Nevada?" "Nope"... "Kentucky?" "nope"... "Michigan?" "Nope" ... What about that place the girl in the movie comes from you know the wizard of Oz one Kansas!! we goin there?" "nope"... "Then how about Minnsota?" "no baby"... "Wisconsin? Colorado? Dakota? Illinois? Missouri?"... "nope nope nope nope and nope"...

"sigh... well are we going ANYWHARE???..." my raised eyebrow met them!!... "What about Hollywood? Florida? San Diago? Los Angeles?" "nope... time kiddos theres only 6 weeks!" ... combined "mmmm" followed by Yaz lookin at Tiff Tiff lookin at Yaz the combined smile and... "well why not make it 8? no what about 10 we can see everything in 10 right dada??!!"

"Fer gawdsake yer pair of flamin drongos!!" :eek: and from possumpoop a very quiet but definant "6" thats it just the one word and utter silence prevailed...

Then after a suitable silence from the twosome... "well then if thats the last word on it then we will just have to come back with Hamerican accents and muck yer right up Mum!!... were do they have the strongest accents dada?"... "well actually we will be travelling with a fella thats from Georgia and well them down south fellas have pretty broad accents..." "WELL THERE YER GO THEN!! ITS SETTLED Were comin bahk tahkin lak thas!" ...and instant crackup!! :D

Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )

03-04-2003, 10:02 AM

sigh... well are we going ANYWHARE???..." my raised eyebrow met them!!... "What about Hollywood? Florida? San Diago? Los Angeles?" "nope... time kiddos theres only 6 weeks!" ... combined "mmmm" followed by Yaz lookin at Tiff Tiff lookin at Yaz the combined smile and... "well why not make it 8? no what about 10 we can see everything in 10 right dada Shane try and it may be hard with young girls but try. to make them understand that America is not a cartoon or a TV show. Like most journeys its not trying to cram as much tourist things as you can in certain amount of time but to enjoy certain things in the time you have. In all my journeys I have sought out the obscure or have gotten to know the people to me that's the best way of enjoying a trip. The things you take back with you and hold on for a life time re not running around checking off a list but just sit back and experience it ll unfold before you. Times that stand out with me are some of the least tourist list kind of things small moments that captured the essence of a place. Go with a plan but go with the idea that the plan can be thrown out at any time. There expectations will never match the plan but the journey should exceed there imagination if there open to it.

Johannah

03-04-2003, 10:16 AM

Joe, you are entirely right! tongue.gif My idea of travel is to go anywhere and hunker down to explore a small area and those of whatever species who dwell therein. But the girls are the age they are. Compromise! :D

htom

03-04-2003, 12:39 PM

Girls, I've lived in this country for over fifty years and have not seen most of it. I haven't even seen most of our national parks, yet, although we're trying. (I don't even know if I can list all of them anymore!) And each state has its own collection of parks, as well, which are usually smaller but may have great natural sights; some of them have been proposed by others as national parks but the state has refused to relinquish them.

Cheyenne Frontier Days is 18 - 26 July this year; probably best to skip the first and last days, unless you're really into the events on those days. Some of them get more than a bit carried away. http://www.cfdrodeo.com/

The Cody Stampede 1 - 4 July is both more and less "touristy" (at least according to my memories of the last time I went to the two of them, about twenty years ago.) http://www.codystampederodeo.org/

Rodeo has become a "big entertainment business", sadly, and these current events are little like the gatherings I remember as a kid growing up in Montana. Kind of like the difference between a good highschool or college football game and the Superbowl. Both football, but.

Cody is very handy to Yellowstone, but that time of year is the worst time to visit Yellowstone, millions of people are trying to visit there, and probably a half million of them get through the gates in that weekend. The best time to see Yellowstone now is in the winter or early spring, on skis & snowshoes.

[ 03-04-2003, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: htom ]

reddog

03-04-2003, 05:40 PM

Shane;
The out door ice skating is about as good as it gets right now.We don't count on any skating outside much past June here.Lobster is not a problem,they are holding a white and blue one for you at the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg.
Earl

Wild Dingo

03-04-2003, 08:28 PM

Thanks people!
Got the email Jeff girls are sorting through now...

Joe... I asked them what they wanted to do given Jo had asked what they wanted to do... I guess all I can say is that all they know about your country is what theyve seen on the box what theyve heard from me :eek: and what they sourced of the net last night... So the touristy things were going to be their obvious choices mate... we can avoid them no worries! well some of them anyways

A little about the girls may be in order?
Tiffany is pretty easily made happy... sport visiting sport laughing sport meeting people sport seeing new things sport beaches sport anything fun! sport... I must have mentioned sport right?? ;)

For her its about seeing something totally different and enjoying the experiences as much as possible... and sport... she will talk the ears of a dead dog at half a mile and laughs at pretty much anything!

Yazmynn is more the quiet type... mmmmmm quantify that Shane! :rolleyes: ... okay shes the quiet type till she gets comfortable with you then shes pretty much into anything! although she doesnt go in for competitive sports very much hence the absailing... shes the type that loves to shop till she drops... quietly meeting people and doing different things...

At present she is still trying to wrap her head around the fact that shes been invited!! And will she be able to understand your accents? Her question last night was if it gets to crowded/rowdy at Joes can she just go somewhere quiet and not be seen as rude?... she really doesnt like being the centre of attention or made a huge fuss over... although really she loves it! :cool:

So I think thats a bit of what theyre like... hard to do without knowing them eh?...

They both know its a trip of a life time... theres finite time and money and a finite number of things we can do in that time ...and are pretty happy with anything!

We are essentially bush people and by that I mean this place Mandurah is a big city compared to where we came from a little over 6 years ago where the hoons grew up... I do actually talk like Chips Raffety without affectation... our Capital city is Perth a sleepy hollow compared to any over there... and our pace of life is pretty easy going without rush...

The girls would love the city tours and such... me? I would freek! I freek out in Perth!! and I go nuts with all the people here in Mandurah at Christmas!!!... So for me to try to concieve of NY and rush hours is impossible I cant imagine soo many people in one place!... the girls would love it once they got over the initial experience... me? lead me out!!!

We are all totally rapt with all the offers that people have sent in emails and with the offers here... totally!

Myself I may seem like Im pretty open and over the top but as Phil Young will attest when yer meet me Im a pretty shy fella who struggles to know what the heck to say next!... I guess like Yaz until that initial meeting is over then all hesitation is out the window!

You know what the funniest thing about these two are? Tiffany I know would love to go on ANY boat cause its sport right? But it was Yaz who wondered about canoeing and what other boats they would see!... shes been the most vocal about my goin on and on and on about boats this and boats that pretending to be going nuts about it all... so all this "whooha" about dada and his boats is just that "whooha!" shes interested!! :cool:

Now Im intending on showing them the album pages from Margos who we all are thread but I see Jack {Ish} and a few others have been lazy again and forgotten to include there mugshots!! :D

Cant wait till they get a gander at Jeffs pic in period costume!!!!!!!! HA!!... camera to the fore!! Wish I hadda thought of that when Joes photo came up doing the snow angel in his boxers!! :eek:

Okay better go and thanks again people! :cool:

Concordia..41

03-04-2003, 09:17 PM

Thanks Oyster for hitting me over the head with this. Would of missed it completely :(

Although I have no say in the matter, I vote for (and could be talked into) Seattle in June :D And you just MUST do the Wooden Boat Show. That is a MUST somehow someway.

I'd also like to see the look on CS Joe's wife's face when he tells her he's just invited 6000 Forumites over for a cookout tongue.gif

Seriously Shane with the time you've got to plan, there's absolutely nothing that can't be arranged.

One word: FLORIDA :D

Two words: ST. AUGUSTINE :D :D

:cool: - M

[ 03-04-2003, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

John Gearing

03-04-2003, 10:33 PM

Alright, Dear Dingo, let's see if I can sort something out for you. Assuming that you are coming from Halifax. What you could do is fly into Portland, Maine. I'm betting that Delta would be the cheapest airline, based on my quickie Orbitz search (dig this--Orbitz wouldn't let me search one-way flights from an airport outside the US! So I ran the search the other way on the theory that what goes up must come down.)

Okay, now that you're in Portland, you can hook up with the forumites there. You might want to go see the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, or visit Woodenboat in Brooklin, not to mention the Rockland area to see the schooner fleet.

From Maine head down I-95 (in the US of A all the big interstate highways are "I" followed by a numerical designator) to Boston. Depending on where you're starting from in Maine, this drive will take anywhere from 2-4 hours I'd bet. Check out Old Ironsides, still in commission with the US Navy. Boston itself is a hoot. If you drive in Boston be careful....Boston is full of terrible drivers and you can expect people to regularly ignore the rules of the road (including things like running just-turned red lights). How long you spend in Boston is up to you, but at a minimum I'd say it would take you a half a day to get in (not counting the drive down), see Ironsides, and boogie on out again.

Optional side trip: on your way out of Boston, slide out onto Cape Cod and pay a visit to the yard of Gannon & Benjamin. Another legendary New England yard where they know how to built good boats (and design them too).

From Boston, progress south on I-95 some more. Come through Rhode Island. Consider stopping at the Herreshoff Museum. Following Rhode Island, you will stop at Mystic Seaport. Might as well plan on spending the better part of a day seeing this amazing place. Rent a peapod and row up the river. Watch the bascule bridge down in the town go through it's tricks. There are also some nearby diversions for the hoon, such as a nice marine aquarium, and even a giant casino just up the road. It's likely that the Connecticut contingent of the forum could meet up with you guys at Mystic.

Then, on to NYC. You can either take I-95 (but try to avoid the morning rush hour) or else the more scenic Route 1. There are all kinds of lovely little side roads off of 1 that lead to shoreside beauty in that part of Connecticut, but if you don't have time for them, that's okay.

NYC....for the boat fanatic see the South Street Seaport Museum. But of course NYC is stunningly filled with great stuff to do and see. Perhaps you and the hoon would like to take in a Broadway show? Or hit one of the famous museums? Or stroll the incredible shopping district up in Midtown? Picnic lunch in Central Park? Where to stay?? Well, maybe time to zip on up to see Joe in Cold Spring (not all that far north really, and it's right up the NY Thruway (i.e. interstate) or else see if Donn will let you bunk in on his big powerboat! Plan on at least one day in NYC, maybe more.

Heading out from NYC you can just stay on I-95 if you want (there are a ton of high-speed highways in the US and around major cities they congregate. We can get more specific later.)and head on down to Philadelphia (about 2 to 2.5 hour drive from NYC) there to hook up with more forumfolk, and perhaps visit the maritime museum there (see Admiral Dewey's flagship from the Spanish American War). See the Liberty Bell, then walk a few blocks south and find some of the amazing mosaic murals decorating entire buildings. Beautiful and strange (and, I can vouch, awfully fun to make!!).

From Philly, take off down the highway so as to get into Maryland and meet up with forumfolk there. Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, right? Sure to be a welcome. Another nice marine museum there, plus the chance to see some classic American boats. Maybe you can see the skipjacks.

Next, over to DC. A sight in and of itself. Holocaust Museum a must. Ditto the Smithsonian, National Gallery, etc. Vietnam Memorial is quite moving. Easy to spend a whole day here.

Heading south some more. You can stay on I-95 if you want, or nip over to Route 1 (it parallels I-95 but generally is closer to the water and also is not high-speed. Hits every little town along the way. Route 1 runs from Maine to Key West, Florida). You might want to check out Charleston, South Carolina. Said to have a beautiful historic district. Also figures in American history as port of entry for many slaves. Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, was fired on by the Confederates and is usually termed the place where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

At some point you've got to turn right and head west, my friend. In terms of superhighways, interstates, you have a couple of choices. I-40 (to get to the start you will have to track NW up through Atlanta from Charleston and then up to Nashville [yep, THAT Nashville] where you pick up I-40.) Elsewise you can hop onto I-40 off of I-95 near Raleigh, North Carolina but you'll miss out on Charleston if you do. Depends on how much time you have. I-40 takes a more northerly route than I-10. I-40 takes you through Memphis (It's been almost ten years since I last drove it cross-country), and the Texas panhandle (that square bit that sticks up and nips off Oklahoma). If you want to visit Stan, find out where he's at, because Texas is a big place. If he's not in North Texas you are going to have some extra driving to do in order to see both Nebraska forumfolk and Stan.

If Stan is south Texas, your best bet might be I-10 to see Stan and then head north to Nebraska. I-10 (pick it up in Jacksonville Florida off of I-95, but make sure you visit the sea islands of Georgia first, esp Cumberland if you can)will take you along a good part of the gulf coast...Baton Rouge, Louisiana,(stop and eat Cajun food here) etc and into Texas. I've a feeling that I-10 would also bring you in right close to the marine museum that is on the gulf (is it Biloxi??). You could stay on I-10 to San Antonio and then take off North up I-35 to Oklahoma City and from there strike off north across Kansas into Nebraska. That is going to be a whole lot of driving but well worth it, I am sure, for the friendships involved.

In Nebraska you can pick up I-80 westbound into Cheyenne, Wyoming where you can either keep going through the Wind River range and the Rockies, roughly following the route of the pioneers and their wagon trains of long ago or you can drop south to Denver (smog capitol of the Rockies) on I-25.

If you stay on I-80 your route will take you through Utah and the great salt lake (Salt Lake City included--excellent steaks there.) and then across the northern section of Nevada (sort of our Empty Quarter) before turning SW to hit Reno, Nevada (minor casino town). From there cross into California and check out Lake Tahoe (awesomely beautiful tucked into the high Sierra). If you have time, a side trip to Yosemite National Park is highly recommended. Now you are in California, so you can either keep going west until you hit I-5 and then turn south to Los Angeles, or keep going until you get to Highway 101. Or, you could go to San Francisco for a day or so and then head south. You'd get to visit The Cleek that way!!

If you go down to Denver, pick up I-70 and take it right through the heart of the Rockies and out the other side into Utah. I-70 dead ends at I-15 which you can then take SW to ...yes....LAS VEGAS! Hey, if you're a fan of "the King" you've gotta see Vegas, right? If you go here, plan on spending a day or two and see some stuff. Natural beauty as well as natural (and artificial) beauties. If you have the urge to fire automatic weapons there is a range thereabouts where you can rent an Uzi or M-16 and blast away. Just make sure your credit card is good! From Vegas stay on I-15 down to Barstow, California where you'll meet your old buddy, I-40. Stay on 15 and it will take you down into the LA heartland.

Okay Dingo, that's all for the moment. Hope this helps.

JimD

03-05-2003, 12:45 AM

Mate, can you stretch your trip out to couple years? :D

Wild Dingo

03-05-2003, 01:09 AM

yep thats what I was begining to think Jim!! tis a worry particularily if the Canadian branch of our family here get stuck in and show us the error of our ways and start sayin you just gotta come here and see this and then we could... mmmmm worry here maybe Im seein the start of a Canadian US incursion!! HA!! {sorry smilie limit reached below!}

I have previously accepted Lisa and the boys offer of a camp and canoeing/kayaking time and the girls are looking forward to that part of the journey... {actually have heard that Acacia Park is one beautiful spot}... theyre lookin forward to the whole journey just that offer they really soared over! mmmm nope its not meant to sound like that but well Lisa offered and we accepted a short camp with her and the boys and well its something extra that we... ooohhh buggar it I wanna see her flamin kayak in person!!... There!!... I admit it its Lisas kayak that I gotta see nothing else matters just to per...eeerr oggl mmmm see her beautiful kayak in person!! oh and meet them of course and then shes got a 18yr old son too!... "BONUS!!" say the girls!! {insert guilty faced smilie here along side a grinning one!!}

I was sort of thinking that when we get to Joes and then Linda {and Tessy!} Lisa and Jo and anyone else thats there when we lob can gather the hoons to their bosoms and do the sheila thing! :D

I was initially sorta thinking of hooking up with Jeff about Joes place and goin on from there?... Of course this is up to Lisa!! Where you plannin on goin all the way to Joes for the barbie meetup Lisa? If not we can work it out... Up to you me dear... you want us for awhile youve got us! ;) :D

Im truely staggered by all the offers here! Absoflaminlutely staggered!!... I mean Jeff your now talking of taking us clear across the country???? WOW! :eek: ... Im staggered! Happy as a pig in poop... but staggered none the less! :cool:

John and Jeff do you REALLY believe that sort of trip can be done in the time frames... you sure??? :eek: and wouldnt we be imposin a bit much mate? I mean I love yer Jeff yer a real mate and all that but I mean the whole shootin match???? :eek: no I aint got a better idea its just... well I mean... I mean aaawwshucks redface.gif

ooohhh forgot... Margo? talk to the driver!! HA! Is that on the route your plannin Jeff? Sure would be nice to see the crew and their baby! but up to you mate {cool smilie} now imagine if you will me runnin like buggary to the girls rooms to search for the maps!!!

[ 03-05-2003, 01:35 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

Johannah

03-05-2003, 10:41 AM

Gee, and I haven't even told you about the folding boat we will have by then that I want to send with you so you can pop into the water when the mood strikes. It can be shipped back from wherever the trip lands up. Yo to Jeff the chauffeur, we can provide beds in Philly and 3 hours south on the Eastern Shore, whatever suits. I would also be glad to have the girls for a city plus shopping break, if Da has freaked out by then and requires the country. You could take him down to the Eastern Shore for some sailing and restorative beer.

Of course the biggest fun here is imagining the headlines about an international incident involving Canada, the US and something about some Australians?

htom

03-05-2003, 03:45 PM

Leaving Omaha, north on I-29 to I-90, then west.
Mitchell, SD, has the Corn Palace.
Wall Drug. Even tackier than the Corn Palace, but you'll laugh.
The Badlands. Deceptive beauty and death.
The Crazy Horse Monument. http://www.crazyhorse.org/
Mt. Rushmore.
Taking I-90 across into Wyoming, the Devil's Tower national monument is North America's Ayres Rock.
Continuing up to Montana, you go by the Little Bighorn Battlefield.
West through Billings, then north on I-15 to US-2 and west, onto the Going to the Sun Highway in to Glacier National Park.
Take the old, north road through the park, then rejoin US 2 to US 93 to Flathead Lake, continue south to I-90 and go east until you find your prefered path into Yellowstone.

(Mine would be to take US 212 from Billings, up though the Bear Tooth Pass and the Coltier Pass to the Silver Gate; if you skip Glacier it's highly recommended if you're in a motor vehicle, difficult on horseback and probably not possible on foot.)

Drive around in Yellowstone, you want to see the mamoth hot springs, Inspiration Point, the Paint Pots, Old Faithful, the Geyser Basin, ... you could spend a week here if there were no crowds ... and there will be mobs of people.

South into the Teton National Park, going by Jenny Lake, and out the south exit then up US 26 to Idaho Falls, then south on I-15 (side trip to Craters of the Moon if you want) to Ogden, Utah.

LisaS

03-05-2003, 11:16 PM

I'm really looking forward to this! We can pull out of Acadia and wind our way southward whenever you want to Shane. Swing past Jack's place, then on to Stephen's in Portland, meet up with Jeff, and eventually end up back here. From here, it's only about an hour to Joe's mountain top compound...the darn snow might even melt by then.

Lisa & Co.

seafox61

03-05-2003, 11:53 PM

The virtual tours and possabilities this thread has brought to mind are incredable
Shane as you travel though america I hope you will keep adding to it to let the rest of us know where your getting to <g>

Itom you finished your sugestion at Odgen where would you go there after? my home town is 7 miles from odgen
best wishes
jeffery

htom

03-06-2003, 01:21 AM

East on I-84 to the west side of Flaming Gorge, then south to US 191. SSE on that to Dinasaur Nat Monument, then back to 191 going generally south to the Arches National Park (thought that was a Monument) and (still following 191) The Needles (now part of Canyonlands Nat Park!) and the Natural Bridges (still a NM), south to Valley of the Gods.

Then we have to go back north, to cross the Glen Canyon, go through Capital Reef National Park (! never heard of that one) to I-70, going west to I-15 and then south by Zion Nat Park (we've gone in a bit of a circle around Bryce National Park) down I-15 is Los Vegas.

But I'd keep easting at Zion, to the Glen Canyon Dam, and then drive along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, back to Glen Canyon Dam, around in the Vermillion Cliffs Nat Monument, and then do the South Rim. Further south in Arizona, east of Flagstaff, is Winslow Crater, and way down at the Mexican border is the Organ Pipe Cactus Nat Monument.

I'll wager I've still missed half of the National whatevers in the USA in the Rocky Mts. Canada has some parks in them, too.

You could do a several day thing from Vancouver to Calgary through Glacier to Seattle (Grand Coolee Dam) ...

If you want to see Vegas, rent "Leaving Las Vegas", a fantasticly great movie that I never want to watch again. Not for anyone who's depressed.

There are two books about these great canyons: "The Man who Walked Through Time" and "River!", both by Colin Fletcher. A great observer of nature and man, and how they've affected each other.

Wild Dingo

03-06-2003, 01:49 AM

Its getting exciting around here :cool: ...

Firstly lets just make note that what everyone is offering suggesting and thinking is fanbloodytastic!! We are all absolutely stunned and delighted at your offers and thoughts... okay...

Jody pulled me up pretty sharply this am on the way back from the quacks and made it clear we should steady it up a bit... this last 2 years havent been the best health wise for me so ...although Im working on getting it together particularily now that we have aims and intentions of getting to your countries shortly... A trip such as is being suggested isnt possible.

A call from one of our fellow forumites just before that visit to the quack this am must have jelled it in her pretty little noggin... so between her the quack and the forumite I must say "****!!! *******!! *****!!" and as many horrifically obnoxious words I can think off that would make a wharf rat turn white and barf... Okay now thats off of me chest... ahem thank you Jody! :( and people wonder why I call her possumpoop :rolleyes: I guess sanity must prevail sooner or later eh? As for the said forumite... mate all I can say is that tucker better be flamin well worth it!! tongue.gif

Now back to the trip... Canada will take till about the 13th July {last meet is on the 7th July in Vancouver so flight to NS and stay with Michael and Earl till the 13th} then Bar Harbor for as long as Lisa and the boys can tolerate us!! mmmm okay for as long as she can understand us! ;) or put up with me drooling all over her Yak!! but bein too damned terrified to paddle it!! HA! ...then a wander through Maine seeing people and places as she suggests above along with a couple of people not on her list! Like Bill Peterson and Donn :D ... wending our way down to Joes for the Barbie and time out... a couple of days around his compound while the girls sort themselves out and take Joes missus Lisa and Jo shopping and touring the countryside! and Joe and I sort his barn out :eek: ...Dont sweat it Joe Ive got this thing about barns since the boats in barns thread awhile back!

Then we are thinking that probably 5 major stops if this fits with Jeffs moves?... time will be short and we wont fit every state or person in although it would be great to do so... we will aim at sort of centralized places where people could converge?

Sooooo heres my thinking...

Joes leave around the 16th or 17th {Oi Joe!! that okay?? I hope were not invading here!! If so say so!!} travel down to NC to say Charlotte? stay around there for a couple of days {they gots boats right??}... then on to Georgia meeting up in Savannah with people from where ever {Theys definantly gots BOATS!}... then down to New Orleans for a couple of days walkabout and rest... and boats!

Then on to Dallas or someplace in Texas for a meetup {theys gots boats huh stan and Jum?}... Then Oaklahoma {I knows Garland knows where the boats are and hes got girls the same like mine!!}...then to Omaha stay with Norm for a right royal ear bashin from Granpaw and Granmaw! An absoflaminlute must do for any Aussie in the USA!! :D

I think {I did say THINK!!} that most people could get at us along that route??? ...sadly we would miss Michigan and Wisconsin Minnesota and all the Arizonas Dekotas and much of a lot of others too...

Then fly to San Fran arriving on the 28th July drive to Salinas on the 29th for a day trip and then fly out on the 30th

I know Jeffs got his weird three cornered hat he is intending on wearing and Im getting a t shirt made up to say something like "Dingos on walkabout say gidday!" so we two at least will stand out like dogs whoosits! the girls will probably just get t shirts that say something like "Im with stoopid" {smilies!! sigh}

See for us its the meeting people and stopping to see the lives they lead that make it innerestin along with the countryside and animals the boats the yarns... the time in another world essentially to soak and savor the flavors tastes and sights... its all going to be one hell of an adventure so its all going to be great!!

We just dont want to overdo it and nor does Jo... if I get worn out or whatever that would make the girls unsettled and hence no one would enjoy the last part of the journey... so on orders from the lovely possumpoop I gotta ask people to think "steady steady take it easy" no rush no bustle just plod along and see as much and as many as we are able and have fun while were at it!

Also Jeff... you ever been trapped and cooped up in a car with 2 teenage girls?? ...MATE its serious RATTYNESS were talking about here!!... EXTREME RATTINESS!!! believe me!! If they dont get their fix of whatevertheheckteenagedgirlsneedafixof and fast... WERE DEAD MEAT!! {Id add more smilies but you know Scots put us on this weird 8 smilie only diet! sigh and he wont listen to me anymore ...sob!}

Anyways Im goin fishin for a few days!!! so will be at me computer after that... Jeff check yer emails mate!! Lisa whatever you want to do is honkeydorey with us!! And Joe just say the words if we are invitin ourselves to take over your compound!! But hey the missus will be happy... on tap babysitters!! little kids love my girls once they get over the weird accent that is!!! smilie here!!

Ooooh and we are bringing Aussie flags!! so yer place car boat {whatever} will for the duration of our invasion be properly adorned with the Aussie colors!! HA!... yeah yeah yer can leave yer own one up alongside it! ;o)

Meerkat

03-06-2003, 03:03 AM

Shane; You'll find that if you can book flights within each country and find alternative ways to cross the border that flights will be much cheaper. Crossing borders costs $$$$. For example, a $40 train ride from Vancouver to Seattle could more than pay for the difference in a United Shuttle flight to San Fransisco or Los Angeles vs. from Vancouver. Travel to Australia or New Zealand is cheaper from Vancouver than from Seattle by over $100 depending on season.

I just checked on behalf of a friend from the UK, and you'll need an international driver's license to rent vehicles or get insurance. WRT insurance, look into whatever your credit card might cover - sometimes they'll do the whole CDW thing.

Distances:
Vancouver to Seattle: about 160 miles (225km) (4 hours)
Seattle to San Francisco: about 800 miles. (1.75 days)
San Francisco to Los Angeles: about 450 miles. (1 long day)
Los Angeles to San Diego: about 90 miles. (2-5 hours - traffic can be brutal)
"days" are est. driving times at something resembling the posted speed limit. I can and have done Seattle to downtown Vancouver in 3 hours, but I fly about the same speed as the rest of the drivers - 20mph over the limit.

I believe Los Vegas to Los Angeles is about a 6 hour drive, but I've never done it.

Seattle to Denver is 2 very long day's drive (Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver) or 3 comfortable days (Seattle, Boise, Salt Lake City, Denver): about 1500 miles. Denver to Kansas City is a loooong day's drive (15 hours - more easily done in 2 days). KC to Pittsburg is another looong day's drive (I think I actually stopped midway between) and Pittsburgh to New York is another 7-9 hour drive.

Interstate Higways (4-lane, divided) are boring but fast usually (expect for construction delays or accidents). Back roads (2-lane) are slower and generally less safe, especially for an "other side" driver.

What Nicholas said about Air Passes. Also Greyhound Bus does the same, but in the US, that's scraping the bottom of the barrel travel-wise. One way or "open jaw" flights (destination isn't the same as departure airport: Denver-Seattle-San Francisco would be considered open jaw) cost more than r/t and tickets that include a Sunday between flights are much cheaper than mid-week fares. 3-7 days advance purchase saves big too. Several weeks advance purchase generally isn't needed. "Minor" airlines (like Southwest, Frontier) are cheaper than the "majors" (like United, Continental, Delta) and give the same level of service, although the departure and arrival airports may not be as convenient (further from the city, arrive at a nearby city etc.). (Note: Southwest Airlines is a great carrier and has outstanding rates in the markets they serve.)

If you make it to Seattle, it would be great to meet you - maybe together with Nicholas.

Johannah

03-06-2003, 11:30 AM

Along the health line, preventing sending Shane home in a body cast (this is really not so far fetched with chronic spinal injuries!), I'd like to suggest planned "rest" days. Not really doing nothing but at least no 500 mile drives or 10 mile walks for the Dingo. If New York plans work out OK, that would be a good time to haul the girls out for marching around without Da. Also gives them a chance to say what they would like to do for a day or two without having to confer with parent. :D

imported_Steven Bauer

03-06-2003, 12:43 PM

Shane, I lost your snail-mail address when my computer crashed last time. Could you send it again? Thanks,

Steven

stevenovascotia

03-06-2003, 08:42 PM

Shane: I have tried to figure out you schedule by reading this thread a few times but still am conflusaled. The bottom line is - If we can be any help to you when you get to Nova Scotia please let me know. I have a 7 passenger van and a pretty flexable schedule. I live in the Annapolis Valley: 1.5 hrs from the Halifax Airport, If you need a ride from the airport to whereever - Mahone Bay (the BEST cruising waters in the world) - To the ferry in Yarmouth (about a three hour ride from Halifax) or anywhere. If you want a place overnight we can do that too.
(we are a 10 minute drive from the highest tides in the world on the Bay of Fundy) Shoot me an e-mail when you get a chance and I'll give you my phone numbers. If we can't help you with your plans we can at least serve as a back up in case other plans fall through. I am temporarily without big boat, but if your plans allow we have a few kayaks and a modified gaff rigged pixie cat at the lake about 20 minutes from my house. My daughter is 18 and my son 14 so your girls would not be without company.

Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )

03-07-2003, 12:45 AM

...wending our way down to Joes for the Barbie and time out... a couple of days around his compound while the girls sort themselves out and take Joes missus Lisa and Jo shopping and touring the countryside! and Joe and I sort his barn out ...Dont sweat it Joe Ive got this thing about barns since the boats in barns thread awhile back!
Then we are thinking that probably 5 major stops if this fits with Jeffs moves?... time will be short and we wont fit every state or person in although it would be great to do so... we will aim at sort of centralized places where people could converge?
Sooooo heres my thinking...
Joes leave around the 16th or 17th {Oi Joe!! that okay?? I hope were not invading here!! If so say so!!} Sounds A-OK with me If the girls want to take another walk about NYC its a 1hr train ride into the city from my place. The train ride is one of the most beautiful commutes in the US. 100 years a go the great Commodore Vanderbuilt built a railroad along the Hudson so its water views the whole way into NYC ending at a grand historical gateway to NYC - Grand Central Station. And Shane you can get one of those much needed rest days with me out on Annette in the Hudson or just lounge out on the hammock by the pond. Only thing that would be good to get organized is a head count for a forum BBQ at our place. We would love and can accommodate as many that would like to come, the only thing is we cant possibly finance everything so a little pot luck and BYB would go a long way to help. Other than that were really looking forward to it. Well, OK I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure Lisa will be just as thrilled as soon as I tell her smile.gif OK OK I did mentioning it in passing I may not have mentioned all the people but hey we still don't have a head count so I didn't want to say anything that would not be accurate riiight smile.gif