Wednesday, June 27, 2012

More US trip photos PLUS Breaking NEWS!

And the breaking news is? I hear you ask. The breaking news is that we just bought a van. This is a van that will be used for Wifey-Poo and I to go "hide in the woods" so to speak.

It's a 2001 Mitsubishi Express Short Wheel Base. Awesome turning radius, loads of space for everything, only 60,000 miles (93,000 kilometres) on the clock, gets 28 mpg city (11.5 kpl) and 33 mpg country (13.9 kpl). I'm happy. We already have fold out tables n chairs and 2 small camp cookers so it's now only a matter of getting sleeping stuff and a small portable potty and we are set!

This will be fun! Once the Tour de France is over expect us to go lots of places and take lots of pictures for you to admire.

Speaking of pics for you to admire, how's abouts some more from my recent trip to the USofA?

Didja know that the city of Charlotte in the US State of North Carolina likes to use their sculptures as Public Service Announcements? You do know. Here is one where they warn you what can happen to your brake discs if you let your brake pads wear down too far:
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At least that is what it looks like to me, so there!
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Here is a school of some type of fish. They were quite energetic too.

Anyone out there know what kind they area? The fish were about 12 to 16 inches long and the pic was taken on the Atlantic side of Florida in a river estuary --if that info helps the identification of the fishees.

The airport at Adelaide looks quite empty at 430am!
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Yes, I'm a dork and arrived 2 hours before the flight left, had the whole terminal to myself till about 5am!

Without a doubt, this is the BEST bumper sticker I saw on the whole trip!
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This was in Charlotte, NC. Apparently Charlotte has become a fairly liberal city (by US standards at least) but I was told that the state becomes very conservative in the rural areas.

Speaking of Charlotte, here's a nice bit of contrasting skyline:
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I like the old style church better than the new buildings!

I wanted to stop here for a snack at the Charlotte Airport cus of the name
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but alas, I did not have the time. Bugga!

This Evinrude outboard engine is over 100 years old!
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And I know that how?

Here's how:
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Sometimes it helps to read things, eh?

The Museum of Natural History at The Smithsonian has some neat critters in their front garden. Here's one of the now!
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Hmmmmm, she looks kinda dessicated though. Musta stayed out in the sun too long without a hat!

The Hope Diamond is very big. And blue. And folks crowded around the display a dozen deep! Very glad of the camera I had and the fact that I was taller than most of the folks crowding the display.
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Does anyone (besides Yours Truly of course) know why The Hope Diamond is blue? Just leave your answer or shrewd guess in the comments, no worries mates.

And of course the real reason why every non-grownup kid visits museums:
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Dang but those are some TINY arms! Makes you wonder what else he had that was tiny.

That's it for this round of pictures from the USofA trip. Stay tuned for more and stay tuned for pics of our new van that I'll be picking up Friday morning!

2 comments:

Fizzgig said...

the coexist bumper stickers have been all the rage thru-out the us for a few years now, as the "new age" movement has been on the rise! I am a fan, so I can't relate to either liberal or conservative...i just like tolerance.

how cool you saw the hope diamond!! i have never been!!

Alaskan Dave Down Under said...

Fizzgig: They are very cool bumper stickers, I had only heard of them, first time to see one. Good thing I had a camera handy, eh?

And the Hope Diamond is HUGE! And a constant stream of viewers around it's display too.