In the not too distant future, we’re going to be seeing places like this . . .
Canyon de Chelly, Chinle, AZ. Click for the large panoramic view.
We can hardly wait.
Travel
Planning Our Future Vacations
When getting ready for the annual vacation this summer, the first thing on our list of priorities is to get our Utah CCW permits. It will be for a good reason – we like to travel via other than Interstates to scenic places – and we’re getting a little older and could be seen as easy targets by those with criminal intent.
I read an article today where the problems facing older unarmed Americans is described:
Criminals like easy targets. A nice new Motor home with out-of-State plates, some friendly retired folks traveling on vacation, out of their normal environment, sounds like an easy target? Have you ever considered what you would do if you were traveling in a remote, unpopulated, unfamiliar area and your vehicle broke down or you had a tire blow out?
For some reason that expensive cellular phone plan with three bars and excellent coverage around town suddenly has a dead zone exactly where you are now stranded? What if the wrong person stopped to help you? He or she may look innocent enough, but could actually be a serious criminal predator, searching for stranded motorists in need of assistance.
The author of the article also quotes John Lott on the effect of CCW on violent crime:
John R. Lott, Jr.: Author of More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, reveals that States with the largest increases in gun ownership also have the largest decreases in violent crimes. Thirty-eight states now have such laws – called “Shall-Issue” or “Right to Carry” laws. These laws allow adults the right to carry concealed handguns if they do not have a criminal record or a history of significant mental illness. Lott also points out that States with the most restrictive Gun Laws, such as California, New York, and Washington D.C., also have some of the highest violent crime rates in the Nation.
The Utah CCW permit is accepted by many states. When planning our vacation route, states that are candidates for where we’ll be spending our vacation dollars are shown in pink below.
Harbor Rails
Years ago, my Grandfather was employed as a motorman for the Pacific Electric Railway. He operated the famous Red Car (as seen in the semi-cartoon Roger Rabbit). Later in his career he operated an electric tender in the rail yards at the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. His job was to move rail cars to and from the piers for loading and unloading the ships in the harbor berths.
One time, he smuggled me and my brothers on the tender for a ride up and down the tracks of the harbor. As we passed the ‘control tower’ he would instruct us to ‘get down ’til we’re past the tower.’ Trains and railroads have been a fixation of mine ever since those times.
Yesterday, we were in the harbor area and Damsel took this shot of a couple of Union Pacific locomotives as they headed along an elevated track toward the Los Angeles side of the harbor. I like that they have the U.S. Flag on some of their engines.
Click on the image to view full-sized.
RMS Queen Mary
When you visit the Long Beach Harbor, the magnificent Queen Mary dominates the view. A pelican soars in the foreground and the dome, once home to the ‘Spruce Goose,’ looms behind the vessel.
Taken from Pierpoint Landing adjacent to Rainbow Harbor. Click for a panoramic view of the ship.
UPDATE: Post title changed from HMS Queen Mary to RMS Queen Mary. Thanks to Jonathan for pointing out the error.
Damsel’s Water Zen
Gaze and Relax
You may have noticed the “Damsel’s Water Zen” widget in the sidebar. This is the background behind it.
Damsel likes the light patterns that water makes when sunlight dances through it. Whether in a swimming pool, in a river, in a marina channel or in a shallow harbor, it doesn’t matter, she likes the shimmering ripples.
Last September (2007), we spent our anniversary, as usual, on Catalina Island. We go to Avalon every year since that’s where we got married. While we were there, we took a lot of pictures and a few movies.
While we were waiting on the Green Pier for our glass-bottom boat tour. I leaned over the rail and captured this short sequence of the rippling water in the harbor. I used my little Canon A710 IS digital camera in AVI mode. I pointed the camera straight down and captured about ten seconds of video. When I showed the preview to Damsel, she said it was relaxing like ‘Water Zen.’
So, when we got home, I converted the short video to Flash® and popped it in the sidebar as a remembrance to our time in Avalon and an opportunity to ‘gaze and relax.’
Wanderlust
Last night, I was going through some of the pictures we took in 2007. I ran across the photos of last summer’s visit to the Grand Canyon. Today, as I sit at my desk I have the greatest urge to pack up and drive out of town to someplace like this. But, I suppose I’ll have to be patient and wait for our next vacation. Besides, I plan to retire soon – like in about 1 year, 6 months and 14 Days or so – but who’s counting?
Click on the picture below of Damsel enjoying a rainy day canyon view to see the 1024 x 768 version in the photo viewer.
The Rain Train
It looks like we’re in for a bit of rain here in Southern California. We can use the rain, but it’s going to be showers all weekend. It reminds me of our trip to Alaska in July 2005, when it seemed to rain everyday in Anchorage and Denali. This is a shot of our train pulling into Denali station as we were getting ready to go to Fairbanks. Of course, it was pouring.
Fairbanks, thankfully, was dry when we visited there.