I’m back

Sort of forgot about this site. Have a ton of new photos, and notes from a recent trip to London, and Dublin to share.

Being on the road most of the time makes updates a little difficult, but I’ll have something at the end of the week.

Update on the Jeep.

A bit of tinkering and the Jeep is coming along quite nicely. Little electrical problems are done, and the air conditioning came back with a simple recharge of the system.
The mileage could be better, but it’s not bad for a V-8 4X4.

New Wheels

OK I know it’s a little bit “Show and Telly”,but. A few weeks ago I was returning for a delivery in Halsey, Oregon. Coming north though Salem, I decided on the spur of the moment to take Highway 99, instead of I-5 back to Portland. Just south of Oregon City I spotted a Jeep Cherokee for sale at a towing company.

Turns out it was an impound (Driving without a license), and he never came up with the storage fees. Well $1475 later and it’s ours. Runs great, doesn’t handle quite like the Intrepid, but also doesn’t drag the underside on rocks on the way to the quarry.

A few little things need looked at, but I think it’s a keeper.

One more post on the 747-8

Just in case there was any doubt about the new 747-8 being possibly the prettiest big airliner ever. Case closed.

Just a couple updates.

Dateline: 6/16/2010.

I’m in Tennessee tonight. Brought a load of plywood from Baltimore to a small town in Tennessee, then got a load of casting sand to go to New Jersey.  Not my favorite state to deal with, toll roads, crowded, and right now muggy.

Hopefully something headed west from New Jersey will turn up.

In other news. The Welsh Highland, cross town link to the Ffestiniog Railway will be approved for operation in October. I expect that a full schedule will wait for the 2011 season. The hold-up seems to have been the design an installation of the warning light on Britannia Bridge. This is the sort of thing that happens when governments are involved. It’s not like anybody had to invent the train crossing.

I find that in the interest of accuracy, I must modify this post. Sometime ago, I read somewhere that there was a bureaucratic hold up on the Welsh Highland cross town link.  As Chris was correct to point out, this was a funding problem.  Furthermore the Welsh Government has been a big help in completing this huge project.

My personal funds may permit a trip to Dublin next year, my Wife really wants to see Ireland. A quick boat ride to Wales seems like a good idea.

Latest travel deal. $6 a day train travel!

Just an update to those that might travel in Wales.  The railcar on the right in this photo is on the Conwy Valley  Line, a delightful ride from the North Coast to Blaenau Ffestiniog .

The little train on the left is on the Ffestiniog Railway and a great way to get to Porthmadog on the coast. And of course as I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, later this year the connection with the Welsh Highland Railway.

The new news is the price. A full day pass on the Conwy Valley Line is (drum roll please) 3 pounds sterling, less that $6.00 for the whole day.

Considering the area served by the Conwy Valley Line, this might be the best travel buy on the planet.

Thanks to John for pointing this out.  The Cambrian Coast Line “One Day Ranger” pass is 8 pounds sterling, or in U.S. terms. A little less than $16 for a days travel.

Wales without a rental car.

Just a quick taste of Wales.  This particular photo from Arriva Trains Wales web site.

I’m working up a sample trip from Manchester to Llandudno Junction, then to Blaenau Ffestiniog. There transfer to the Ffestiniog Narrow gauge to Porthmadog.  In Porthmadog a person could ride the Welsh Highland round trip to Caernarfon, taking a few hours to see the huge castle at that end of the line. Remember that also in Porthmadog there is the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway a short ride with a stop at the shops working to restore some of the old engines. Very nice “Tea Room” as well.

Back on the standard gauge line south to the Talyllyn Railway. This little railway is a great ride, well worth the time.

The Talyllyn also hosts a very nice museum.

On to  Aberystwyth and the Vale of Rheidol. A first rate operation although lacking in some of the personality of the Ffestiniog or Talyllyn, the Vale of Rheidol runs deep into dense forest, clinging to hillsides, up to Devils Bridge.

Back at Aberystwyth, it’s an easy connection back to Manchester.

This trip could be made without the use of a rental car or bus transfers. The airport at Manchester has a train station in the terminal, that has frequent service to Manchester Piccadilly (that’s the main train station).

747 called A-380s ugly Cousin?

Some time ago, I ran across a blog where the newest version of the Boeing  747 was referred to as the Airbus A-380s “ugly cousin”.

I submit photos of both, you decide.

OK the A-380 is bigger, but wow.

The 747-8 photo I found is of the freighter prototype that will be tested then delivered to Cargolux.  I my humble opinion the freighter with the classic 747 upper deck is by far better looking the it’s passenger carrying stablemate the 747-8 Intercontinental.

How anybody could prefer the looks of the Airbus, I can’t understand. I mean this is real Corvette verses Mack Truck stuff.

And really, 25 years from now. Which plane do you think will still be flying?

Hint:  There are still first generation 747s, most now converted to freighters in the air at any given moment.

I’ll be expanding this post in a day or two. Just got to get some head to head figures for the two planes. Yes the Airbus is bigger, but you might be surprised by the “Seat mile costs” of both.

As always comment away.

Just a quick additional note:  If it’s possible I’m going to be in Everett, Washington for the “First Flight” next month. Will know for sure once the date is set.  If so I’ll have a ton of photos of the event.

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland this summer?

I’ll let the links speak for themselves.

http://www.festrail2009.co.uk/ebrochures/steam-scenery-snowdonia.htm

http://www.oakeleyarms.co.uk/

And, if you decide on a trip to the Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland check out the Oakeley Arms Hotel. Large rooms for the U.K., and great food. In the Pub, on cool nights they have a coal fire going in the fireplace. The coal warms you to the bones.

New this year to Porthmadog  a Travelodge. Provides the equivalent of US turnpike, motel service.  For those on a budget, this could make the difference.

Remember also Port Merion is just nest door, for you Patrick McGoohan fans, Port Merion is the Hotel/Town that served as the setting for “The Prisoner” BBC TV Show.

For those of you that are “Bucks UP” The Village is operated as a Hotel, although the tariffs are breath taking.

The grounds are however open to us commoners for a small fee. It’s worth an afternoon walkaround.

Post of the body work needed on the Wagon

Just a quick post to show the body work I need to get done on the Valiant.
Doesn’t show well in the photos, but the left end of the front valance, under the bumper is missing.

On the post below of the Wagon, I’ve got a picture of the right side. The small dent on the right fender doesn’t worry me near as much as the left side.
Oh, by the way. I found out that while the Wagon is a Valiant, technically it’s not a Plymouth. Made during a short time when Valiant was a separate product line from Chrysler. So for part of one year it was “Valiant by Chrysler”.