tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333216502024-02-20T02:25:36.562+10:30Alaskan Dave Down UnderJust kinda like the title says, eh? Oh, yeah, with lots of cooking, food, health, Alaskan and Aussie stuff too.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.comBlogger516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-59163450916332775402014-05-01T09:51:00.001+09:302014-05-01T09:51:20.881+09:30<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-55178297340367214402013-02-17T17:16:00.001+10:302013-02-17T17:16:11.855+10:30Getting settled inG'day mates! 'Ow ya been?<br />
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Me? I've been busy. But it is all starting to settle down as we get settled in.<br />
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I am of course as per usual right in the middle of cooking dinner so this request of yours for a blog post comes at a most inopportune time.<br />
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Since it's been a bit since I posted I'm just sorta guessing that you've been requesting updates from Yours Truly --don't swoon ladies, I'm human!<br />
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In the space a 5 days the main living room went from looking like this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/8481450644/" title="DSCF1331 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1331" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8481450644_d397d88058_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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To looking like this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/8481450848/" title="DSCF1403 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1403" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8481450848_edd7f94ba9_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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All those boxes are about where the chair is.<br />
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No need to swoon ladies, I'm human!<br />
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But if any of you do need something to swoon over, how's this?
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/8480359795/" title="DSCF1421 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1421" height="933" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8480359795_b4f20b2655_o.jpg" width="700" /></a>Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-83514193093020094552012-12-06T18:53:00.000+10:302012-12-06T18:53:07.843+10:30Moving... Day Six.So far 15,000 (fifteen-thousand) pounds have been moved by the Millennium Possum Van and the shoulders, arms, back and legs of yours truly. That means the library is moved.<br /><br />Yes, we have a "few" books. Well, that also includes magazines from yesteryear and some other crap involving paper products that one or two persons living here don't want to part with yet... Would now be a good time to tell them that the back door of the van "accidentally" popped open going up a hill and half the archive boxes fell off and landed in a ditch?<br /><br />Fortunately practically ALL of the thousands of vhs recordings were tossed.<br /><br />Dvds are light. I like dvds. Dvds are cool. And light. Did I mention they are not heavy?<br /><br />Now that all the heavy stuff is done I shall celebrate with a bottle of bubbly. I'm not sharing!<br /><br />And I spent money yesterday! Some shelving display units, glass-top outdoor table, timber outdoor chairs, 3m table umbrella, 2 barstools, new mattress for MIL, semi-permanent outdoor gazebo. The MPV easily took it all in one trip :)<br /><br />Still to get will be the new barby.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-84384315312399211182012-12-02T08:48:00.002+10:302012-12-02T08:48:14.403+10:30WTF has dave been up to?Moving.<br />
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Here's the latest from my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dave.downes.942" target="_blank">facebook</a>:<br />
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Day two of the move. I forgot to take pics of the new place so the first thing to go into the van this morning will be the camera bag, PROMISE!<br /><br /> Yesterday was four (4) runs in the Millennium Possum Van (MPV) for a total of around 6000 pounds and one hundred kilometres. What accounted for the weight. Boxes. Boxes filled with books and magazines. It wasn't even till the 4th (fourth) run that I even got to the boxes of books from the library shelves (even then that only accounted for half the 4th load). Yes, 5000 pounds worth of boxes of books and magazines to go into "terminal storage" at the new place.<br /><br /> Did I mention that I married into a family of packrats?<br /><br /> At least I got them to throw out a few hundred POUNDS of old VHS recordings so I suppose I should be thankful for that!<br /><br /> The MPV is rated for a metric ton (1000 kgs or 2,205 US pounds) but the first load was less than half as I wasn't sure how it'd go up the hill out of town. No problem at all, didn't even notice the weight in the handling, acceleration or braking. 2nd load was around 750 kg and it also did fine with that. Put 1,000 kg in third load, mostly centered weight and the MPV was only 2.5 cms down. She had no problem with the hill, piece of cake. Slightly overloaded last run, down 3.5 cm but absolutely no handling, power or braking problems.<br /><br /> I really like the MPV.<br /><br /> Did I mention I used to do this sort of thing for a living? In fact last night after doing those four runs and loading and loading heavy boxes I actually dreamed I was back in Fairbanks Alaska working for Midnight Sun Transportation Service driving the RPS truck.<br /><br /> I woke up in a sweat!<br /><br /> Well, off to go load up more boxes! Heck, I'm not even stiff or sore this morning, WEE-Hoo!<br />
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<br />Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-52899181511502377682012-07-27T13:58:00.001+09:302012-07-27T13:58:52.433+09:30Varietal Is The Spice Of Life!Ha! Did any one of my loyal readers get the pun/joke? Exchanging varietal for variety? An I'll betcha din't thunk I knews how too spellz (qoute) varietal (end quote) niether.<br />
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No? Fine, be that way.<br />
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The variety will come from the fact that I'll be tossing up pictures from any ole trip at any ole time for you to enjoy. That way I don't have to type much about any one particular trip or event. All I'll need to do is come up with silly captions one or two sentences long to entertain the masses (that'd be YOU) and save wear and tear on my fingertips.<br />
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Brilliant, eh?<br />
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These first phour ore phive pictures shall be of Yours Truly. Why? Cuz it's my blog and I can post what I want, nothing says you have to view it. Oh, wait, please don't go!<br />
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Anyone remember those t-shirts in the USofA in the 80's with a pic of a baby with shades on and the caption "Born To Be Bad"? Hint, think of the film Twins. I say those sayings were DECADES late!<br />
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Here's proof:<br />
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Yeah, me bro and I were badasses mates. And I'd like to say I was pretty darned cool for a 2 year old!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642336562/" title="BadAsses by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="BadAsses" height="560" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7642336562_2d3683392b_o.jpg" width="694" /></a>
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Bro is the one with the silly grin, I'm the one with the badass frown. And I'll have you know that the shoes I'm wearing in the picture are now bronzed. BRONZED I tell ya, BRONZED!<br />
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Yo! Bite me!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7653828046/" title="Clipboard01a by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard01a" height="513" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7653828046_1e0689e070_o.jpg" width="688" /></a>
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And I of course had the most badassed mom (and the Greatest Mom) ever!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642337222/" title="Clipboard07 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard07" height="649" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7642337222_10bc22c567_o.jpg" width="523" /></a>
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Ummmm, yeah, I was hanging on for dear life. Why do you ask?<br />
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What? You mean not all 4 and 5 year old kids get to do this nowadays?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642337472/" title="IMG by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7642337472_d424f8568e_z.jpg" width="635" /></a>
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And it should come as no surprise to anyone that a person who had such a fun childhood should turn out to be a studly, well-adjusted, loving husband. Complete with facial fur and a cool shirt under the ubiquitous and requisite flannel.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642337036/" title="DSCF1718 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1718" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7642337036_0754482eea_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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At least that's what Wifey-Poo says!<br />
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Let us go back up North! Specifically to the East Coast of the USofA.<br />
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Heeeeeeeeeere we go!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642337782/" title="DSCF8226 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8226" height="600" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7642337782_bb962fdc0b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*please note the cool reflection of my shirt in the window*</span><br />
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Now that we are there, it is over the hill and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642338196/" title="DSCF8310 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8310" height="600" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7642338196_d045e860f1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Yes, we are now in Florida.<br />
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And what would a trip to Florida, USofA, North America be without a visit to a beach?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642338662/" title="DSCF8382 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8382" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7642338662_e79a01d4af_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Shall we head up to North Carolina? Sure, why not? This is the last picture of Biltmore House I'll be posting. The place is overwhelming. Very impressive. Built at the height of The Gilded Age.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642339154/" title="DSCF8555 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8555" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7642339154_fd6f7e46da_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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If I ever have enough money to build something like Biltmore I will do something very different with the money instead of building a palace in the middle of nowhere (at the time) like the Vanderbilt's did. Perhaps that's why I'll never have that much money in the first place?<br />
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Meanwhile, somewhere in Charlotte NC<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642339668/" title="DSCF8671 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8671" height="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7642339668_3a75fd4887_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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a plaque is photographed by me.<br />
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As we journey northward we find ourselves at Arlington National Cemetery. Located of course in Arlington <strike>Vagina</strike> <strike>Virgin</strike> Virginia. My Granma made a point of telling myself and my Uncle that we will find her brother's grave whilst we were at Arlington National Cemetery whilst laying my Father to rest.<br />
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Fortunately, we did.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642340022/" title="DSCF8820 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8820" height="920" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7642340022_47fefb8f56_o.jpg" width="690" /></a>
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This is the grave of my Granduncle. The brother of my Grandmother. The Taccarinos <b>immigrated</b> to the USofA and many of that line served in the USofA's armed forces. The irony of the fact that almost all of the descendants of the Taccarinos vote for a political party that doesn't like immigrants is lost on most of those descendants.<br />
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Shall we go zip across the river to the National Mall? Actually, we went under it on the subway. BTW, the DC metro rail system is very nice. I didn't have a problem with it, easy to figure out, easy to use, very affordable, friendly attendants and can get you anywhere in the area.<br />
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First up is the WWII Memorial. It's only been (fairly) recently opened and is quite impressive.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642340498/" title="DSCF8897 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8897" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7642340498_6c3cc58af1_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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I thought about cropping out the sewer cover from the photo but than I thought, "Heck, it's in Washington DC! There SHOULD be a picture of a sewer in a DC photo!"<br />
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Yours Truly of course. Don't swoon ladies, I'm human!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642341488/" title="DSCF8911 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8911" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7642341488_1e6f875c9f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Note that the ladies in the background are doing an admirable job of not swooning around me. They must have great willpower!<br />
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Something that is rather interesting about the older monuments in DC is the fact that there are a great many non-christian symbols built into them. In fact, I can't recall seeing a single cross. What surprised me though was the WWII Monument.<br />
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The WWII Monument was only opened in 2004. I had expected there to be many christian symbols on it, but I couldn't find a single one. But I did see (and photograph) "pagan" symbols that most everyone there did not even notice.<br />
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Take note of the drainage grating in the above picture. Do you wonder what sort of pattern may be on the grating? Wonder no more mates!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642341040/" title="DSCF8907 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8907" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7642341040_760538e07d_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Obviously in reference to the US Pentagon of course.<br />
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My Grandfather on my Mother's side was a USofA Air Force Captain in WWII. When my Mom was a wee infant they were stationed on Guam. Obviously this meant that I had to have my picture taken next to the Guam marker in the WWII Memorial. My Uncle is with me.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642342014/" title="DSCF8921 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8921" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7642342014_9566815aff_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Can you guess which one I am?</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
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I think I did a sorta ok job on the framing of this next one.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642342442/" title="DSCF8938 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8938" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7642342442_079dfa84cf_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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What do you think?<br />
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The last two pictures (yes, I'm almost done today!) go together but at the time I did not know they did. If that makes any sense!<br />
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The first is a randomly taken pic at the WWII Memorial and the second is a pic I purposefully of a badly sunburned girl. Only after looking that the pics on a large screen did I realize the first one also contained the sunburned girl! Her sunburn looks like she had acquired it the day previous as it was only around 10:30 AM when I took the pictures.<br />
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And, ummmm... That's gotta hurt!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642342886/" title="DSCF8941 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8941" height="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7642342886_894016e356_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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And the backside too!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7642343282/" title="DSCF8952 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8952" height="916" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7642343282_95980098e0_o.jpg" width="890" /></a>
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Apparently she doesn't know the value of treating sunburns with rosehip oil and pure aloe vera juice. And now she's wearing a tank top so she can burn those lily-white shoulders too! Dum-de-dum-dum-DUM!<br />
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Coming soon to a blog near you: A first glimpse of The Millennium Possum Van!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-21628698847851452402012-07-15T18:24:00.001+09:302012-07-15T18:24:41.140+09:30Food, Trip Pictures, Garrett's Shop!And what do all these have in common? They are all in the same blog post silly! Sheesh.<br />
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Firstly, let's head back to downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, North American Continent, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy.<br />
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These are more pics from Panther Stadium. I was playing around with lighting and lens flare over the two nice panther sculptures out front. Which pic do you like better?<br />
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This one?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572714840/" title="DSCF1421 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1421" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7572714840_f0fc08c128_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Or this one?
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572715232/" title="DSCF1422 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1422" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7572715232_7da839a03d_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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BTW, and I've mentioned this before, the trick to getting really good lens flare effects is not to clean the dust off your camera lens for a few days. Just saying mates.<br />
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Hey look! Homemade crackers by Yours Truly!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572703374/" title="Clipboard01 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard01" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7572703374_ffcc981923_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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If you'd like to know how to make them (and how easy they are to make) hop (don't skip, HOP!) on over to <a href="http://dingodavedelightfullydaringdelicacies.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/cumin-seed-and-cayenne-crackers.html" target="_blank">this right-up write here</a>. I added a few spices to the recipe for this batch. Ground coriander seed and ground sumac berries. No, not the poisonous kind of sumac --well at least I hope not! Oh, and half olive oil and half sesame oil. They WERE very tasty. Just remember to let them cool completely before you eat them, they taste so much more better when they are cool.<br />
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Remember when I told you that Wifey-Poo and I bought a van? A 2001 Mitsubishi Express short-wheel-base? Built at the old Mitsubishi plant right here in South Oz btw. Anyways, we shall be using it for camping. And we now have a tent. We have a big tent. No, scratch that. We have a HUGE tent!<br />
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When the front awning of the tent is lifted up and staked up the whole thing is 6 metres long. We set it up in the backyard the other day. Our backyard wasn't large enough to fully stake the tent down so it doesn't appear "tight" in this pic, but trust me on the fact that it is GREAT! And I can stand up completely straight without hitting my head! Two separate rooms in the back, windows, 2 entrances.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572703110/" title="DSCF0152 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0152" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7572703110_6baab526cc_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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We'll only be setting it up if we are staying more than one night in a place. Otherwise it'll be inflatable mattress in the van, no worries there mates. We've already got a folding picnic table, chairs, 2 cookers, LED lights, portable DVD player, sleeping bags (the kind that you can zip together *wink*). Just need to get a nice inflatable queen-sized mattress and a fold-up gazebo and we'll be set! And of course a portable loo with it's own pop-up ensuite. And of course a sun shower. Eventually we'll hopefully get solar panels on the roof.<br />
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Eventually we'll get a couple of 12V AGM batteries for powering heaters, a/c, fridge, laptops, and whatnot.<br />
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We won't exactly be roughing it, that is for sure mates :-}<br />
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I am quite sure that there are some of me mates up in Alaska (*cough cough* you know who you are) who wouldn't even regard this as camping, more like a luxury home-away-from-home type of thingy.<br />
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Getting back to my recent USofA trip. Specifically the day in Florida. Gramma had us take her to her favourite park by the river. Very nice place. Fountains, covered picnic areas, long jetty (remember the fish school pics a few posts back?) and a building that part of it housed a small nautical museum --you may remember seeing the 100 year old outboard Evinrude a few posts ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518609392/" title="DSCF8427 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8427" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7518609392_bf8d46d01b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Yeah, now that's a powerboat!<br />
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Gramma couldn't understand why I was taking so many pictures of everything. "That's just a tree. Whaddya need a picture of that for?" was an example. She is also very deaf. And she talks very loud. Whenever you have a conversation with gramma everyone within 20 metres will hear every single word. More about that in another post.<br />
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There is a nice fountain out front for the local kids to play in. I finally got a pic with only one of the <strike>brats</strike> children in it.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518609822/" title="DSCF8446 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8446" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7518609822_84d8d7326b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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More about the <strike>brats</strike> children and the fountain in a later post.<br />
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Meanwhile, back at the way-too-warm-than-they-are-supposed-to-be Luray Caverns, Yours Truly takes more pictures.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572703886/" title="DSCF0961 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0961" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7572703886_1ca7ffa49d_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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And this one too, also.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572704256/" title="DSCF0922 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0922" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7111/7572704256_6a704fce60_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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These next pictures are all going to be from the same place. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garretts-Antiques-Indian-Shop/167597056585993" target="_blank">Garrett's Antiques and Indian Shop</a> to be precise. Everything in it is either antique from the area or authentic Native American craft. No made in China crap here! The guy who owns it is half Cherokee, I'm guessing mid-60's as he served in 'Nam. He travels around to the major tribes and reservations bulk-buying handicrafts from craftsmen and craftswomen.<br />
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He also has works from indigenous peoples throughout the world; I even saw an authentic Aussie boomerang in one corner!<br />
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It's in an old trading post, well over 100 years old that's for sure. He also has cords and cords of seasoned, split firewood around for sale too. There is a great peach tree around the back. He encouraged Anna and I to help ourselves to the peaches else they'll just go to the squirrels.<br />
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We chatted with him for almost half an hour before we even went inside. He knows so much about so many different tribes! Friendly, mellow, laid-back he is. Needless to say we got along great!<br />
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I'll shut up now and just let the pictures tell the tale of Garrett's Shop.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572704836/" title="DSCF1293 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1293" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7572704836_c8023b3b19_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572705414/" title="DSCF1297 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1297" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7572705414_3587649e23_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572705894/" title="DSCF1304 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1304" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7572705894_f283bbd6ea_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572706198/" title="DSCF1307 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1307" height="920" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7572706198_cdb5de4fb4_o.jpg" width="690" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572706650/" title="DSCF1310 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1310" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7572706650_e5af105d6d_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572707010/" title="DSCF1311 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1311" height="920" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7572707010_8f8f17118f_o.jpg" width="690" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572707742/" title="DSCF1315 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1315" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7572707742_1f6843d74f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572708624/" title="DSCF1318 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1318" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7572708624_b175ebc40c_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572709222/" title="DSCF1325 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1325" height="920" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7572709222_30e7c71636_o.jpg" width="690" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572710166/" title="DSCF1330 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1330" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7572710166_4f1ca3ef25_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572710696/" title="DSCF1331 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1331" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7572710696_548de324d1_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572711252/" title="DSCF1334 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1334" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7572711252_9f4e54759e_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572711886/" title="DSCF1345 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1345" height="920" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7572711886_f6e12af16c_o.jpg" width="690" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572712326/" title="DSCF1356 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1356" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7247/7572712326_24d981e567_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572712812/" title="DSCF1362 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1362" height="920" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7572712812_d95099f773_o.jpg" width="690" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572714420/" title="DSCF1363 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1363" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7572714420_f122b39965_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572713914/" title="DSCF1286 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1286" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7572713914_49f4cb249c_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7572713124/" title="DSCF1365 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1365" height="920" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7572713124_78854091e9_o.jpg" width="690" /></a>
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I can always relax wherever and whenever I am. Born with that skill, I was.
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If you are in the Charlotte area, be sure to check Garrett's place out, you won't be disappointed mates!
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<br />Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-17993795801230881542012-07-08T16:08:00.003+09:302012-07-08T16:08:50.141+09:30Trip Pictures and Meet My B.I.L.And just why do those two things go together in a blog post, I hear you ask. You'll just have to read on through the post to find out why. So there.<br />
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But first, let us start with a picture of my dinner from a few nights ago.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518607114/" title="DSCF0148 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0148" height="837" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7518607114_637b802dac_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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The salmon on the salad was GREAT!<br />
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The was a very nice sculpture garden just before the National Air and Space Museum. This is of course one of the sculptures. I thought this one was cool looking.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518607652/" title="DSCF9396 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9396" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7518607652_46f431cb77_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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I'm guessing the artist is trying to show you what can happen to your bearings if you don't keep the properly lubricated. Then again, maybe not.<br />
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Of course one of the things I was NOT going to miss was the Nat Air n Space museum. In fact, you've seen some of the pics already as I have purposefully not been chronologically correct during my picture posting of the trip. Hey, it's my blog and I can write what I want!<br />
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Bzzzzzzt! Off-Topic Alert Approaching!<br />
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I had not realized that the silly-ass word verification thingy-ma-dooley-bob was turned on in the comments. Apologies abound mates as I HATE the darn things! So, word verification is now OFF. If that has kept you from commenting then you now have absolutely no excuse not to comment.<br />
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BzzzzzzzzzT Off-Topic Alert Receding!<br />
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When I was showing the pics of NASM (I'm getting tired of typing National Air and Space Museum) to BIL he was naming off every single plane in the pics. He's like that. So when he saw the picture of a painting of a whole lot of jet aeroplanes,<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459481498/" title="DSCF9127 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9127" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7459481498_4336880dfb_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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He immediately said, "Ah, that looks like one of Bob McCall's paintings!"<br />
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I glanced askance at BIL whilst wondering who the heck Bob McCall is.<br />
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And then, with absolutely no prompting from me, Doctor Charles William Micheal Adamson (known as Dr Mike, sometimes as BIL here on this blog) proceeds to identify every single aeroplane in the entire pic including the one waaaay to the right that only part of the tail is showing!<br />
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He also started to give little bits of info of a few of them so I told him he'd better give me info on each one! Which he did immediately.<br />
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There was one he couldn't remember what it was but that it was Britain's first civilian turboprop. He offered to go look it up but I told him no cuz that'd be cheating!<br />
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Yeah, it was still an awe-inspiring, impressive display of knowledge I tells ya!<br />
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I then numbered each plane in the photo and had him do the same thing again whilst I typed in his identification of each aeroplane. And that was without him ever walking away from my screen to go and cheat!<br />
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I even numbered the planes out of order. Didn't phase him a bit.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518606728/" title="DSCF9127a by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9127a" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7518606728_8c697d1b20_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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And here is what he id'd each plane as and the reason why it's famous.<br />
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1 McDonnell FH Phantom (1st jet fighter for the US Navy)<br />
2 Lockheed F-80C (1st US service jet fighter)<br />
3 Gloster E39 (1st British jet aeroplane)<br />
4 Curtis P-59 Airacomet (1st American jet aeroplane)<br />
5 Hienkel He 176 or 172 (1st Deustchland jet aeroplane)<br />
6 Messerschmidt Me 262 (1st ever service jet airfighter --German)<br />
7 DC-4 (Douglas's 1st 4 engine aircraft)<br />
8 De Havilland Comet (1st British commercial jet airliner)<br />
9 Nakajima Kikka (Japan's 1st jet aircraft)<br />
10 Sud Aviacion Caravelle (France's 1st commercial jet airliner)<br />
11 BAC 111 (competitor to Boening 727 and DC 9 in the 1960's)<br />
12 B-47 (1st US swept-wing bomber)<br />
13 F-86A Sabre (1st US swept-wing fighter, this painting has Korean War markings)<br />
14 Britain's 1st civil turboprop after WWII but he can't name it<br />
15 Boeing 707 (only heavy four engine jet ever to perfrom a 360 degree wingover; on an early test flight. Test pilot in left seat, company shill in right; pilot started to perform a barrelroll, shill asks What The Hell Are You doing? Answer, Selling This Airplane.)<br />
16 MiG-15 (1st Soviet swept-wing jet figther)<br />
17 Convair XF-90 or XF-92 (delta-wing demonstrator, ancester to F-102, F-106, B-58)<br />
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Please note that all the spellings are directly from what BIL told me without looking anything up.<br />
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Can anyone else top that ID'ing? Nah, didn't think so!<br />
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One of the reasons why he know so much about this is that he is an avid modeler. In fact he's a professional modeler as he is a regular contributor to model magazines and even gets paid for it! He does kit modifications and scratch builds. A scratch build is where you start with sheets of plastic, wire and assorted fiddly bits and come up with an exact replica a some ship or vehicle used in a show.<br />
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His workstation can sometimes look like this,<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518608430/" title="DSCF0135 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0135" height="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7518608430_70fd061323_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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but that's only after he's cleaned it up. A lot.<br />
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This is a small selection of some of the models he's done for magazines,<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518608710/" title="DSCF0139 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0139" height="582" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7518608710_34276b2fbc_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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and yes each model is hand-painted and air-brushed.<br />
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How good is he at painting very small things?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4798433014/" title="hand painted by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="hand painted" height="514" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4098/4798433014_3e7a367c20_o.jpg" width="514" /></a>
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That is a hand-painted cockpit instrument panel that he did.<br />
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If you want to learn more about some of the incredible miniature work that professional modelers do (complete with awesomely great pics from Dr Mike himself) then visit BIL's blog <a href="http://worldinminiature.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">World In Miniature</a>.<br />
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Enough of BIL, let us get back to some trip pictures!<br />
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Anna and I flew to Florida to visit my granma. My uncle had given us specific directions to her house as we got close and we had the instructions from google maps printed out so that we could find out way from the Orlando airport and granma's house in Jensen Beach.<br />
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I, of course, forgot to put the directions in my carry-on. Oops. Fortunately the car rental place asked us if we wanted a dash-mounted GPS for the car. Woo-Hoo!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518608914/" title="DSCF8290 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8290" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7518608914_027011bd4b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Just further proof that everything always works out for me. Don't ask why cuz I don't know!<br />
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Didn't take this exit.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518609114/" title="DSCF8293 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8293" height="730" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7247/7518609114_c1a279eb3e_o.jpg" width="700" /></a>
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As we were going over the river and thru the woods to granma's house we didn't think we had the time to spare on only an overnight trip. The fact that neither of us were even remotely interested may have had some influence on our not visiting Disney World.<br />
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Meanwhile back at the National Mall, this is about as close to his home state as Yours Truly got.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518610132/" title="DSCF8918 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8918" height="920" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8026/7518610132_a3dd1bd941_o.jpg" width="690" /></a>
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Yes, that IS a water bottle in my pocket but I'm still happy to see you!<br />
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All caves should have reflecting pools!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7518608056/" title="DSCF0202 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0202" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/7518608056_fd2f50043b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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This display is courtesy of Mother Nature at her Skyline Caverns workshop.<br />
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I'm now going to post a picture of Dr Mike as he looks when he is airbrushing. In order not to frighten any young children in the audience I'm inserting a jump break.<br />
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Just click the link to see the pic!<br />
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Would you trust this man?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6947709323/" title="DSCF8195 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8195" height="600" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6947709323_b1f4b81c14_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-43054222909790247652012-07-02T14:40:00.002+09:302012-07-02T14:40:53.418+09:30An odd assortment of...trip pictures this shall be. I figured that maybe I should get away from some of the standard touristy type pictures and put up something that is a bit, ummmmm, different.<br />
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Or maybe not. Or maybe it's my captions that make the pictures different? What do you think?<br />
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Oh btw, Yours Truly (Don't swoon ladies, I'm human) is now on this thingydohickey called Facebook. Perhaps you've heard of it? I think it could be<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1376509891&ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank"> found here</a>.<br />
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Now, let us get to some more great pictures! Oh, and I hope you all are enjoying the picture tour of bits of Charlotte, Arlington, DC, and some of Virginia.<br />
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This is my uncle. His name is Bill. Otherwise known as "Ole Oyster Breath Bill"<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459477162/" title="DSCF1388 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1388" height="774" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7459477162_8a631ab520_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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But of course note the other plate of oysters at the bottom foreground... Those were mine.<br />
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This is a bugle that my father had. He got it from his father who got it from his father.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459476960/" title="DSCF8737 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8737" height="545" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7459476960_a3fdff3f1c_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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From sometime in the late 1800's was all we could find out about it's origins.<br />
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This is the salad I had at the same place where I had the half dozen oysters for lunch. Spinach, red bell pepper, kalamata olives, avocado, feta cheese, bleu cheese, shrooms, and topped with lightly seared Ahi tuna.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459477626/" title="DSCF1392 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1392" height="908" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7459477626_0e252d1393_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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No, I did not have any room for dinner that night!<br />
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This was my dad's pool table. It is now Anna's.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459478486/" title="DSCF1471 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1471" height="810" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/7459478486_e732d17fdd_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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And I totally kicked ass for the whole time I was there. I still don't think Bill believes me when I told him the only time I shot pool in the last ten years was for 45 minutes at a pool hall in Glenelg in February just to make sure I still could.<br />
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Apparantly I still can.<br />
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When Anna and I left Arlington we took the backwoods way through to Charlotte. As in 2 nights in the Shenandoah Valley region! First winery we found was called Naked Mountain Winery. They have a nifty sign inside!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459480354/" title="DSCF0034 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0034" height="862" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7459480354_6025a3526b_o.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Needless to say, I bought one of their t-shirts and an apron. Both have the saying Drink Naked on them. In reference to the Winery of course.<br />
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Yes, it was warm enough in Luray Caverns to wear a tank top. And they have a big green mold problem now.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459479338/" title="DSCF0978 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0978" height="867" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7459479338_4b03708a47_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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Sad about that.<br />
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Perhaps it is because they so commercialized it that there is a steady stream of warm bodies exhaling warm air all day long in it?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459479712/" title="DSCF0973 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0973" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7459479712_99fbd07e29_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Gee, ya think?<br />
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Meanwhile, back in Washington DC, a large, iconic, American phallic symbol thrusts it's way up through a bush!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459480534/" title="DSCF9051 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9051" height="903" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7459480534_501e0be783_o.jpg" width="450" /></a>
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Yes, I'm going to hell. Don't worry as I know the way!<br />
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My dad hand drew this back when he was in high school!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459478954/" title="DSCF1278 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1278" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7459478954_054219fe5a_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Too bad he never pursued his artistic side.<br />
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This is my brother, Doug. Behind him is Gail, his fiancée.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459476534/" title="DSCF8716 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8716" height="896" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7459476534_187db7cac9_o.jpg" width="850" /></a>
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Yup, she fits right in with this family!<br />
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Gee, I wonder why this is called a bird bath?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459480984/" title="DSCF9067 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9067" height="894" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7459480984_b16be36a78_o.jpg" width="850" /></a>
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Can anyone figure out why?<br />
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When I showed The Cat, His Royal Highness Lord and Master of All He Surveys, the above picture he did this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459477942/" title="DSCF1441 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1441" height="925" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7459477942_35f2d4b44c_o.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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In your dreams cat, in your dreams.<br />
<br />
This next photo proves conclusively that my niece Tonya is most definitely related to me! You'll need to scroll over to the right of the photo for the proof.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459481828/" title="DSCF9132 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9132" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7459481828_45460d1406_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Yup, she's a Downes alright!<br />
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And just because limestone caverns are soooooo cool!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459480126/" title="DSCF0902 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0902" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7459480126_8bc01f84c4_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Whew, all this traveling around is making me tired!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7459476264/" title="tired by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="tired" height="1161" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7459476264_5c3092188e_o.jpg" width="700" /></a>
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More soon kiddies so stay tuned.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-37918077590050084982012-06-27T15:47:00.001+09:302012-06-27T16:54:05.592+09:30More 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.<br />
<br />
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!<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Speaking of pics for you to admire, how's abouts some more from my recent trip to the USofA?<br />
<br />
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:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445743334/" title="DSCF8643 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8643" height="867" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7445743334_31b1bef4ba_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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At least that is what it looks like to me, so there!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445741622/" title="DSCF8414 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8414" height="768" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7445741622_2beef84400_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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Here is a school of some type of fish. They were quite energetic too.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
The airport at Adelaide looks quite empty at 430am!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445740646/" title="DSCF8197 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8197" height="768" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7445740646_493c3e68b4_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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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!<br />
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Without a doubt, this is the BEST bumper sticker I saw on the whole trip!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445740040/" title="DSCF8690 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8690" height="736" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7445740040_14b3bd0224_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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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.<br />
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Speaking of Charlotte, here's a nice bit of contrasting skyline:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445743578/" title="DSCF8682 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8682" height="889" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7445743578_cbc7bf5a65_o.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I like the old style church better than the new buildings!<br />
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I wanted to stop here for a snack at the Charlotte Airport cus of the name<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445741088/" title="DSCF8261 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8261" height="768" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7445741088_d19cb4bf01_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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but alas, I did not have the time. Bugga!<br />
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This Evinrude outboard engine is over 100 years old!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445741930/" title="DSCF8441 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8441" height="867" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7445741930_bf3e587089_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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And I know that how?<br />
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Here's how:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445742228/" title="DSCF8443 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8443" height="383" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7445742228_ebd4fbc466_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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Sometimes it helps to read things, eh?<br />
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The Museum of Natural History at The Smithsonian has some neat critters in their front garden. Here's one of the now!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445744412/" title="DSCF9649 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9649" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7445744412_eceab81f0b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Hmmmmm, she looks kinda dessicated though. Musta stayed out in the sun too long without a hat!<br />
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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.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445743888/" title="DSCF9781 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9781" height="845" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7445743888_6c1753f833_b.jpg" width="700" /></a>
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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.<br />
<br />
And of course the real reason why every non-grownup kid visits museums:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7445745292/" title="DSCF9678 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9678" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7445745292_a9a82beef6_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Dang but those are some TINY arms! Makes you wonder what else he had that was tiny.<br />
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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!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-63422512648758505502012-06-23T13:41:00.001+09:302012-06-23T13:41:55.178+09:30More photos from my USofA trip!And in any ole random order too! Why? Why not!<br />
<br />
Firstly let's get the gratuitous phallic symbolism of The Washington Monument out of the way as I took this picture of Tonya (niece) and Anna (big sis):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423407508/" title="DSCF9381 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9381" height="867" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7423407508_47106ea99f_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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Yes, the framing of the shot with those two nice ladies was purposefully done by Yours Truly, thankyouverymuch.<br />
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Speaking of the Washington Monument, does anyone know what these little fiddly bits of gold on top mean?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423406210/" title="DSCF8869 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8869" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7423406210_50fb3fa869_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Obviously something to do with The Freemasons and buried treasure I'm sure.<br />
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And no, I did not scale the monument nor did I hover in the air (I left my cape at home this trip) to get the above picture. It's called a good camera.<br />
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Anna has two cats. They are brothers. They are long-haired Burmese cats. Here is Felix:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423402984/" title="DSCF8471 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8471" height="886" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/7423402984_2058e0d979_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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He's the small one at only 14 pounds --that's 6.35 kilos which is 2 kilos heavier than His Royal Highness!<br />
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And this is Oscar, weighing in at 18 pounds or 8.16 kilos!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423402616/" title="DSCF8474 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8474" height="791" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7423402616_d2fbff407f_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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They are both very friendly and quite scritchable too.<br />
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This is a lot of fiddly-bits!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423407182/" title="DSCF9314 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9314" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7423407182_6233ae89cf_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Notice I've no water bottle in my pocket anymore, but I'm still happy to see you.<br />
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THE original studio model used to make some science-fiction telly show back in the 60's.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423406744/" title="DSCF9175 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9175" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7423406744_bb01d52a7f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Not sure which telly show, anyone remember?<br />
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Warning: NSFW! Hardcore threesome truck porn!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423402252/" title="DSCF8483 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8483" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7423402252_e4372fb74a_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Made you look *snicker*<br />
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Biltmore House was overwhelming.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423405024/" title="DSCF8537 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8537" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7423405024_9be6d931cd_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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And if I ever get that rich I'll be doing something to help out the poor instead of building a house like that!<br />
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Had lunch at an Irish Pub in downtown Charlotte one day. Good food, nice atmosphere.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423405428/" title="DSCF8623 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8623" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7423405428_c002c248bf_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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But their Guinness was ICE-COLD! Had to order a Newcastle Brown whilst my pint of Guinness warmed up enough to be palatable.<br />
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What is it with US'n's and their ICE-COLD beers?<br />
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Orville and Wilbur Wright liked my tie dye shirt so much the demanded that I pose with them in a picture.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423669740/" title="DSCF9477s by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9477s" height="841" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7423669740_baa16525b3_b.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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They weren't as photogenic as I, rather flat that day.<br />
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The Dolphin Bar down in Jensen Beach Florida was nice. Excellent food, good salad bar.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423403648/" title="DSCF8467 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8467" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7423403648_b2d9194caa_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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And a certain actress from yesteryear was The Patron of the place!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423403964/" title="DSCF8465 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8465" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7423403964_9a93f1dbc9_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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How they kept those dolphins hovering over the water like that is beyond me!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423404332/" title="DSCF8447 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8447" height="772" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/7423404332_4c7f5f3862_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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I joke of course. Everyone knows dolphins can levitate.<br />
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What do you think of my camouflage?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7423405836/" title="DSCF0444 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0444" height="750" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7423405836_2e782535be_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Bet you had to look twice to see me since I blended in so well, right?<br />
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One of the best Mexican restaurants I'd been to! And it's right in the heart of Shenadoah in a little town called Luray in Virginia.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399988836/" title="DSCF1092 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1092" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7399988836_cfce7af7a4_z.jpg" width="506" /></a>
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That's all the photos till next post. Don't worry, I still have over 3200 more to share with you!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-56483577150965620092012-06-19T18:42:00.000+09:302012-06-19T18:42:15.724+09:30I made it back!And here I'll bet most of you thought I'd gotten lost whilst over in the USofA. Or maybe I was just being lazy about getting a write-up of the trip? As it is, there is waaaaay too much to write up in a single post and if I go thru it day by day then it'll be next year by the time I finish up and can get back to the 12 apostle story!<br />
<br />
So how about I just toss up a few random pictures over the next few posts? Sure will save my fingers a lot of wear and tear, that's for sure mates.<br />
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First up is me at the National Air and Space Museum.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399991896/" title="DSCF9190 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9190" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7399991896_a108ae0fe4_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Even the dude in the space suit liked my tiedye!<br />
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My uncle deep fried a turkey on Memorial Day. It was sooooooo good! Best turkey I've ever had.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399991460/" title="DSCF8722 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8722" height="872" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7399991460_97750b3da4_o.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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You can find my deep fry turkey <a href="http://dingodavedelightfullydaringdelicacies.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/deep-fried-turkey.html" target="_blank">write up right here</a>.<br />
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These next 3 are about the whole reason for the trip: dad's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399992596/" title="Clipboard03 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard03" height="360" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7399992596_882c70aa81_o.jpg" width="530" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399992334/" title="Clipboard02 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard02" height="358" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7399992334_89aa31ae1a_o.jpg" width="541" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399992170/" title="Clipboard01 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard01" height="363" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5193/7399992170_233fb515aa_o.jpg" width="550" /></a>
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This was the only day I wasn't wearing a tie dye shirt BTW.<br />
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Look! The White House as scene from the Washington Monument.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399993592/" title="DSCF8880 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8880" height="600" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5320/7399993592_7c1df39b66_o.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<br />
Here, let me help you find it...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399993836/" title="DSCF8880a by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8880a" height="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7399993836_7af441279e_o.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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And this is taken from the exact same place, same camera!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399992974/" title="DSCF8879 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8879" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7399992974_db87f6c33c_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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Yeah, good camera!<br />
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This sculpture in Arlington is supposed to be something about Cupid. However I found it was a frighteningly realistic portrayal of the road system there!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399990588/" title="DSCF8847 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8847" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7399990588_0735598f82_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
Those of you over there know exactly what I mean.<br />
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I'm guessing everyone in Charlotte has a picture like this.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399984518/" title="DSCF1429 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1429" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7399984518_5d1fb83897_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Only mine is much more better than yours, so there!<br />
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I so totally REFUSE to grow up!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399984170/" title="DSCF9714 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9714" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7399984170_9ffe17727f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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For some reason I was the only person doing this at the Natural History Museum.<br />
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Hand held, no tripod. Still the same camera, still the same lens.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399989234/" title="DSCF1194 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1194" height="512" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/7399989234_c1842ebb7a_o.jpg" width="517" /></a>
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The camera I had for this trip was a Fuji HS10 if anyone is interested.<br />
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I can do really good lens flare too.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399987210/" title="DSCF1289 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1289" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7399987210_af02e202f6_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399991212/" title="DSCF8678 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8678" height="867" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/7399991212_07db17bf67_o.jpg" width="650" /></a><br />
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Of course if you don't clean the dust off your lens for a few days you'll get even better lens flare!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399985406/" title="DSCF1457 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1457" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7399985406_587714a953_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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A trick discovered quite by accident by yours truly.<br />
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By the end of the trip my uncle still had not learned how to frame a shot properly.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399985058/" title="DSCF1437 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1437" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7399985058_536d912218_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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But he's now getting better as Anna and I got him a camera so he can practice!<br />
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Yes, it is a water bottle in my pocket and I am happy to see you.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399983312/" title="DSCF8856 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8856" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7399983312_c4c610d8ea_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
Luray Cavern was very impressive. But waaaaay too warm for a cavern. Too much touristy body heat.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399989506/" title="DSCF0949 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0949" height="867" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7399989506_f954d4ff46_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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I do like the reflecting pools in caverns. Gotta hold the camera very very very steady.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399990132/" title="DSCF0897 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0897" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7399990132_fa96dd0195_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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I sure hope they don't fire up these rockets anytime soon!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399983724/" title="DSCF9533 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9533" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7399983724_80328d16e3_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
Nope, Anna doesn't drink too much. Whatever gave you that idea?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399985784/" title="DSCF1384 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1384" height="867" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5034/7399985784_f3c2879262_o.jpg" width="650" /></a>
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As usual, I enjoyed myself.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399990982/" title="DSCF8574 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8574" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7399990982_b60e680bc2_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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And, as usual, I never pass up a chance to relax.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7399986592/" title="DSCF1364 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF1364" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7399986592_7829d5cbf8_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
Expect more random pictures from the trip over the next few posts, no worries mates.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-90372829067923833492012-05-16T15:53:00.001+09:302012-05-16T15:53:45.826+09:30My Next To Last Post...Before I'm on a plane bound for the East Coast of the US of A.<br />
<br />
*ALERT. THIS IS AN ALERT. AWESOME CUTENESS OF BEBEH CRITTER AT END OF POST*<br />
<br />
I may or may not be able to keep you entertained whilst I'm away. I'll have computer access and be taking shitloads of pics so hopefully if nothing else I'll be able to get some pics up daily. No promises mates!<br />
<br />
I'll have twitter and Skype access too. Ain't all these modern gadgets and technologies grand? Anyone remember back to when you didn't even think about going on a 400 mile drive without a mobile phone? Anyone?<br />
<br />
Now for today, I'll be quick. I haven't had a chance to finish up the pics from Cave Gardens (with it's CATS and bees) nor go through the ones at Umpherston's Sinkhole.<br />
<br />
But I have tweeted a few pics randomly throughout this week so I guess these'll have to do, eh? How does some 12 Apostle pics from The Great Ocean Road sound?<br />
<br />
But first, a food pic. This is actually proof that I make my own cheese. This wheel was feta. Emphasis on the "was" as it sure as heck didn't hang about!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207798362/" title="DSCF0080 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0080" height="721" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7207798362_0c076ff2d9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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<br />
Now just doesn't that look tasty? It sure did to myself, Wifey-Poo, and MIL. BIL doesn't eat weird kinds of cheeses and he considers anything that isn't cheddar to be weird. Yes, HE is the weird one!<br />
<br />
I am now going to throw up (BLARF) some random pics from The Great Ocean Road. You are very welcome.<br />
<br />
First is the standard pic of the 12 Apostles that every Aussie should have. I may have shown you this previously.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207798012/" title="DSCF9425 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9425" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7207798012_280a6f2024_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Nextly is a nice medium zoom in of the aforementioned 12 hunks of rock.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207797682/" title="DSCF9514 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9514" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7207797682_645352bfdb_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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<br />
Somewhere along the road...
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207797346/" title="DSCF9588 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9588" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7207797346_ebf20c18c5_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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<br />
Somewhere else along the road...
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207796946/" title="DSCF9642 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9642" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7207796946_dfd574ab91_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Watch out for that first step, it's a dooooozy!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207796566/" title="DSCF9766 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9766" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7207796566_8e60e40ab4_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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<br />
Why? Because I can, that is why.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207796180/" title="DSCF9775 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9775" height="750" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/7207796180_99bea3686b_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Ahhhh, the wide-eyed excitement of youth in contrast to the tiredness of the parent.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7207798798/" title="DSCF2898 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF2898" height="856" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7207798798_bed2bdcbf7_o.jpg" width="1100" /></a>
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I'll try to get the rest of the Cave Gardens pics done and the start of Umpherston's Sinkhole for you tomorrow.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-74457550569462109272012-05-06T18:44:00.000+09:302012-05-06T18:44:42.034+09:30Blue Lake to Cave Gardensis only slightly less than 1.5 kilometres than the kookaburra flies.
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<br />
Yes, Mt. Gambier South Oz is not exactly the hugest nor largest thriving metropolis out there, but at least it is Out There! Not for me though, heck I think Naracoorte is too big. A place just about my size would be Reedy Creek. Heck, it's close enough to that big smoke of Lucindale for me!
Can you tell I like small towns?
BTW, whilst we drove "thru" Reedy Creek I noticed there was only 1 (one, uno, einz) building visible from the "road".<br />
<br />
Yeah, I could handle living there! The fact that the single building was a CFS (Country Fire Service) depot/shack made me feel right at home.
Wifey-poo however feels that Naracoorte is more her size. Harumph.<br />
<br />
*screech* go the brakes as we shift gears!
<br />
<br />
Hey look, I can cook. Here's proof:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6988484176/" title="DSCF0053s by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF0053s" height="405" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/6988484176_a01f06254e_o.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dingodavedelightfullydaringdelicacies.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/prawn-squid-chili-alfredo.html" target="_blank">And if you'd like to make the dish by your very own oneses, I have explained how to do that right here.</a><br />
<br />
The above sentence is highlighted, it's what is called a LINC in the biz. Pardon me for showing off my skillz.<br />
<br />
Back to The Limestone Coast and Mt Gambier! Here's some info (in case you were interested about Blue Lake):<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001413738/" title="DSCF8462 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8462" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/7001413738_585a98aeb4_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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And here is a picture PROVING (or proofing depending on the context of course) that whilst it was raining...
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7147499025/" title="DSCF8452 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8452" height="920" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7147499025_af97f3a610_o.jpg" width="690" /></a>
<br />
<br />
... Blue Lake is still really *bleepin'* BLUE!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001413906/" title="DSCF8461 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8461" height="900" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/7001413906_03c6171d2f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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No, there are no (as is NONE) photo enhancements done to nor on the above picture. Trust me.
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<br />
Lake water is not supposed to look that colour when it is overcast, rainy, and the angle of the sunlight still only 2 hours after dawn. Oops, who's chasing Dawn????<br />
<br />
Next stop: Cave Gardens!<br />
<br />
Cave Gardens was the original waterin' hole for this particular area. And when the Europeans got to this area (after killing the original inhabitants of course) they also used it as a water source. The town of Mt. Gambier was built around the water source, hence Cave Gardens is right smack dab in the middle of the hustlin' bustlin' downtown Mt Gambier! Don't worry, rush hour is very short.<br />
<br />
See what I mean?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130949909/" title="DSCF6082 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF6082" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7130949909_e5412c231f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
<br />
But before we get to the first bit of Cave Gardens, I just have to share with you my not-so-latest 3d stuff. I'm assuming that all my loyal readers will have seen or perhaps at least heard of the second X-Dude movie. You know, the movie based on a comic called "X-MEN" where all the really cool "X-MEN" were not "MEN" but were actually "WOMEN"?<br />
<br />
Anyhows, did anyone of you think that the inky-poof teleporting-in effect for Nightcrawler was nifty? I did. So I quite naturally did what anyone who thought that Calvin (from the comic strip) was just not using his imagination enough would do.<br />
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Hereupon I humbly present to you (dear reader) an here-to-fore unknown gem from the master of imagination (that'd be Calvin, from the comic strip) of... well... something...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7147434341/" title="starfighterdragon-fight612 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="starfighterdragon-fight612" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7147434341_cf3594cd67_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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<br />
I shall now take a bow. And I shall take that bow and shoot an arrow with it.<br />
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<br />
Alrighty, enuff stupidness and sillytude from me. It is far past time to let Momma Nature (who has had so much more practice than myself) show off her beautiful work!<br />
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Cave Gardens, Mt Gambier.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7147500121/" title="DSCF8545 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8545" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7147500121_2702de5db0_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001415064/" title="DSCF8551 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8551" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/7001415064_2ee816c384_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001415380/" title="DSCF8556 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8556" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7001415380_9ecbe82c94_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001414386/" title="DSCF8536 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8536" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7001414386_414e70f938_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001415972/" title="DSCF8563 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8563" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/7001415972_8ed639a441_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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<br />
<br />
And what would life be like without a video?
<br />
<br />
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</param>
<param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786">
</param>
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000">
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<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=74c623a98c&photo_id=7147498897" height="480" width="640"></embed></object>
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<br />
<br />
Did any of you notice a particular critter in some of those pictures or a part of that video? Something that was perhaps not bipedal and non-hairy?<br />
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Perhaps this will help refresh your mammaries...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7001415700/" title="DSCF8559 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8559" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7001415700_90cf5a4032_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Next up: The Birds and The Bees of Cave Gardens!<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">don't worry, it'll be safe for work. maybe</span>Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-46498826190721672992012-05-01T17:29:00.000+09:302012-05-01T17:31:35.692+09:30Blue Lake is really BLUE!Yes, the next morning Blue Lake in Mt. Gambier was still BLUE! We didn't hallucinate the night before. Well, we did, but not about the lake colour :-}<br />
<br />
But let me start off this post with a picture from my youth. My waaaaaaay back when youth! I do believe this'd be 1967 or 1968. We were still in the trailer (yes, I grew up in a trailer but we wuzn't trash!) and I'll have you know that my dad (Superman) built this entire addition to the trailer along with of course all the shelving and storage.<br />
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Here's proof (180!) that I was young once.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130948479/" title="Clipboard04 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard04" height="581" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7130948479_e9a8ac8a12_o.jpg" width="680" /></a>
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Go'an, guess which one is me!<br />
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Shall we get back to Blue Lake? Why yes, yes we shall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130949493/" title="DSCF6391 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF6391" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7130949493_5188cdf992_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a><br />
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If you'll be so kind as to notice, it is still a cloudy sky the next morning! And the lake is still of course a vibrant blue.
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Did you know that the residents of Mt Gambier all got together one day and built a hugely wonderful (and huge) lookout and retaining wall along the edge of Blue Lake. Yep. It's true. Hey now, would I lie to you? The retaining wall itself is over 200 metres long! And the Rook Tower is awesome!<br />
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How did they do it all in one day? Lotsa muscle and know-how!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130947925/" title="DSCF5991 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5991" height="702" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7130947925_1a3c3d000b_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Yeah, that woulda been a sight to watch!<br />
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And just what does this neat Rook Lookout look like? Glad you asked mates!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6984863796/" title="DSCF8465 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8465" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/6984863796_13fff70a47_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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Don't forget it stretches around 180 metres along up the slope to the right of the picture.<br />
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As you may be able to tell from this next shot, it was raining!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6984862448/" title="DSCF5868 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5868" height="920" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/6984862448_47b1d85dbc_o.jpg" width="690" /></a>
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<br />
The main stairs leading up aren't steep at all.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6984862782/" title="DSCF5888 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5888" height="913" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/6984862782_74d438cb06_o.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Especially if you have nicely cut calves like this bloke! Cool shirt, eh?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7097973473/" title="me calf by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="me calf" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7097973473_ec66444c1f_o.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<br />
The view from the top of Rook Tower is nice. Don't need to add a frame to the shot in photoshop, that's for sure!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6984864404/" title="DSCF6398 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF6398" height="701" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/6984864404_9f579499a9_o.jpg" width="1250" /></a>
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Shall we just zoom in a bit on the lake as to not have the framing? Yes, we shall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6984862926/" title="DSCF5893 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5893" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/6984862926_5d6e4f2907_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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<br />
At this point I just can't resist posting a piece of 3D artwork down by Yours Truly --don't swoon ladies, I'm human!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130947131/" title="ThisCouldBeBad by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="ThisCouldBeBad" height="56" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7130947131_3a59f323f8_t.jpg" width="100" /></a><br />
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Oops, it looks much more better at full size!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130947131/" title="ThisCouldBeBad by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="ThisCouldBeBad" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7130947131_5d92306268_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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<br />
<br />
And let us not forget the whole reason for the trip: Da 12 Ahhhh-Pistols!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130948071/" title="DSCF9425 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF9425" height="750" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7130948071_c58dbb95d8_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a>
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No, this is not a stock Interwebs photo. It's a pic by Yours Truly. Go ahead and swoon.
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<br />
But before we head along The Great Ocean Road (there are only 50 kilometres that are great, trust me!) we need to explore Mt. Gambier a bit. Such as Cave Gardens right smack dab in the centre of hustlin' n bustlin' downtown Mt Gambier!<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7130949909/" title="DSCF6082 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF6082" height="900" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7130949909_e5412c231f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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More soon mates!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-88574652679259126882012-04-21T14:10:00.000+09:302012-04-21T14:17:58.730+09:30Ooo it's bwue, it's Bwue, it's weawwy BWUE!Ah yes mates! How many of you can guess what actress I am paying homage to with the title of this post?<br />
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Go'an, GUESS! No hints, so there.<br />
<br />
On to the main subject (sorta) of this post:<br />
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<b>Blue Lake, Mt Gambier, South Oz</b><br />
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Yes, it's twue, it is weawwy Bwue! Not just blue, but BLUE! Don't get me wrong, I ain't some naive hick that's never seen blue water before.<br />
<br />
I remember once crossing the Gulf Of Alaska in a 32 foot sailboat. Not a hint of breeze, bright blue sky. During the crossing there was a stretch of 5 days in a row of those clear skies and calm waters. Those of you who know the Gulf probably think I'm lying, but I'm not.<br />
<br />
Anyways, the ocean was blue. Really BLUE! And clear. In fact one day I was watching some sharks swimming around the boat through the very clear, blue water. I'm guessing they were either salmon sharks or spiny dogfish. Either way, it was the first time I'd seen a live shark in the ocean.<br />
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But the water was clear and BLUE!<br />
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I've also seen deep lakes on clear days being a bright blue, but a slightly different shade from the deep ocean blue.<br />
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Blue Lake in Mt Gambier is blue. It is a completely different kind of blue from anything I've seen live or on a nature show on the telly. It's often described as turquoise blue. That's wrong. It's much more of a cobalt blue. Or like lapis lazuli polished jewels but without any inclusions, mottling, or veins. I've never seen water that colour before.<br />
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What's interesting is that there is another lake in the same volcanic crater that does NOT turn Blue from late November to early March as Blue Lake does. Yes, during the Aussie winter (HA!) Blue Lake waters look like any ordinary lake water colour-wise. Riddle me that, batman!<br />
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Just use Ma Google and do an image search on Blue Lake Mt Gambier. Or you could see a picture or 2 that myself or Wifey-Poo took.<br />
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We arrived as the sun was an hour or so off setting (low sun angle), it was totally overcast, and it was raining! We thought that since we had to drive around the rim of Blue Lake to get to the <a href="http://www.bluelake.com.au/" target="_blank">Blue Lake Holiday Park</a> where we had a cottage booked for 3 nights, that we may as well pull off to an overlook and have a squizz at Blue Lake.<br />
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Keep in mind the sun was at a low angle already, it was cloudy and raining. We certainly didn't expect much in the way of blueness from the waters of Blue Lake in those conditions.<br />
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We wuz wrong! Here's our first view of the lake. No enhancing or colouring was done to this pic, I SWEAR!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7097769303/" title="DSCF5996 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5996" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/7097769303_4fcecb5be3_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Cloudy, low light, intermittent rain. And it was still this Blue!<br />
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The next morning the clouds had lifted slightly. It was only 8:30AM so, again, low light. Yeah, this is BLUE!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7097769517/" title="DSCF8455 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8455" height="900" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5462/7097769517_e718d7825f_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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Notice the trees on the far shore are getting that "washed out colour" look and yet the lake water at the far shore is still this wonderful shade of Blue. Yeah, cool.<br />
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*********************insert sound of gears shifting****************************<br />
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Naturally, I decided that once we got back to the ole homestead I'd play around with Vue10 and see if I could perhaps come up with a 3D piece that does justice to this wonderful lake that Mother Nature provided us.<br />
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I couldn't. Well, maybe with a years' practice in Vue, shitloads more RAM (hint to Wifey-Poo), and an ecosystem module (another hint to Wifey-Poo) I might be able to. But I did come up with something rather neat at the end of an arvo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6951698224/" title="Vista16 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Vista16" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/6951698224_97407a504f_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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Dang mates, Momma Nature is soooo much more better at this than I! Maybe it's those extra few billion years of practice She's had?<br />
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And I figured that since I already had the 3D terrain made and populated with plants, that I may as well draw the camera back "just a wee bit", change the at-moose-fear a bit, and make meself a nice piece of artwork.<br />
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I'm sure you're all just all a-tingle to see the finished piece of art. Right?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7097769015/" title="Vista20 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Vista20" height="900" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/7097769015_2ba8faf435_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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I'm pleased with it. Obviously, else I wouldn't have shown in to ya! What are your thoughts?<br />
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I'm sure that my Mom would be pleased with it as well. I imagine she'd be smiling this big:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6951699072/" title="IMG_0013 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0013" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6951699072_530325a1d8_c.jpg" width="622" /></a>
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Yep, grew up in a trailer. But even back then Mom made sure we were surrounded by BOOKS! Notice the chair? I was only 4 at the time but that chair was one of me favs! I remember it well mates.<br />
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More soon. Many pics from South Oz's Limestone Coast and, of course, more 3D stuff from Yours Truly.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-42502614643762932732012-04-16T17:24:00.001+09:302012-04-16T17:24:27.412+09:30Confibrulating Conflaburations!And Just what the heck does that mean? I really, truly have no idea mates! Butt as that's the title of this particulate post then I suppose we are stucked with it.<br />
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Perhaps it means I have just given meself licence to ramble along points that I had no plan of traversing when I firstly started typing? Yeah.<br />
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Yup, that's me story an' I is stickin' to it mates!<br />
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Why am I like this today? No, I AM sober (sorta, butt not for long). This post has to do with Yours Truly (don't swoon ladies, I'm human!) missing both of his parents and lamenting the fact that I never had the chance to show either of them around me new stomping ground of South Oz.<br />
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Shit, why is this so hard? I shoulda been done with this post yonks ago mates. Heck, I've gots 3 different meal plans to plan and cook for this evening.<br />
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Time flies, doesn't it?<br />
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Did I tell you I have some wonderful new shoes? Yup, I luvs me me new Diadora's!<br />
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I realise that some of you won't believe me when I type you that this pic is of my dad from 1973 --or it could be 1974... my memory from then is a wee bit hazy. Yup, this is me Pappy; beard, leather hat, knife, glasses and all! Dang... I could so very well easily look like him!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7083126545/" title="dad1974 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="dad1974" height="516" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5034/7083126545_7cfe5057ce_z.jpg" width="389" /></a>
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And the wonderful bloke above spawned Yours Truly! Complete with long hair, beard, and a really really really cool shirt!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7083138775/" title="DSCF5521 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5521" height="600" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7083138775_9f1fe25b01_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Yes, that is my traveling shirt. Get used it!<br />
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Didja'll notice that both my dad and I look at the world through rose-tinted glasses? It's true.<br />
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Speaking of glasses and optics... I was able to spot this whilst on our drive to Somewhere South Of Here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7083150213/" title="DSCF5551 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5551" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7099/7083150213_e32ba2c9b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I'm all ears! What are YOUR thoughts?<br />
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Do you want to know what I was doing during the summer of my 4th year alive? Why, I was of course straddling the fuel tank of my mom's Triumph motorcycle whilst she zipped along the the streets of the trailer park that I grew up on which was located at the base of the Chugach Mountains off Muldoon Road!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6937083048/" title="Clipboard07 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard07" height="649" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/6937083048_2af09ae3fb_b.jpg" width="523" /></a>
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Yeah, my mom was a badass!<br />
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Well, I'm off to make dinner for Wifey-Poo (The Most Wonderful Woman In The Entire World), BIL (that's now DOCTOR Mike, PHD!!!!) and MIL (I still gots a mum an I'm taking care of her!!!)<br />
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Stay tuned for pictures of a Blue Lake. No really. It's like REALLY F*CKING BLUE!<br />
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Oh crud, I just noticed I've neglected to show all my 3D followers (are there any?) my latest "piece of work". I know, I've been accused of being a "piece of work" so you may dispense with the jokes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7083183985/" title="Guarding The Mountains by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Guarding The Mountains" height="75" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/7083183985_0751df5313_s.jpg" width="75" /></a><br />
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Oh crud, that certainly doesn't show the exquisite detailing of the ashen claws and hands of the dragon, try <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7083183985/sizes/o/in/photostream/" target="_blank">this link instead</a> as I do believe it just might be slightly larger.<br />
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No, I'm not being pretentious. Someone *cough cough Wifey-Poo* thought I should start signing my artwork. Butt please feel free to use it as wallpaper, no worries mates.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-82829055911212841662012-04-15T14:01:00.004+09:302012-04-15T14:01:48.557+09:30Long Vacation Is Over Mates!Yes indeedaleedy, those whole, long, wonderful four DAYS down on the Limestone Coast sure did fly by mates! Which is of course the reason why I'm only just now starting to tell y'all abouts it!<br />
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*cough cough*<br />
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*bullshit!*<br />
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Right, well the Wifey-Poo and I have been back for 18 days so I <i>suppose</i> I should throw up (blarf) some pics of the trip. I would have done this sooner except for the fact that I've been very busy playing around with 3D stuff.<br />
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No you perverts, I mean 3D software! Sheesh, get your minds outta the gutter and back into the sewers where they belong.<br />
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I mean seriously mates, just how much photo-shopping do you think it takes to <em>shove</em> a pole up a land rover and <em>erect</em> the whole thing 20 feet into the air in all it's <em>glory</em>? No, wait... don't answer that, just lemme show ya!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6932582504/" title="DSCF5596 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5596" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6932582504_c26fa2a7df_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Oh heck, here it is full sized!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6932582504/" title="DSCF5596 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5596" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6932582504_6f33996a04_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a><br />
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But of course the time taken for that totally-not-photoshopped actual-REAL photograph was nothing compared to the time it tooked me to rocket across to Mars, land, set up base camp with all it's accouterments, and then wait patiently for months till the Martian patrol ships flew over!<br />
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What? You don't believe me? Harumph. Here's some totally NON-photoshopped proof (180 thankyouverymuch) of the Martian patrol ship:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7078689389/" title="on patrol by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="on patrol" height="75" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7078689389_dd583dbe67_s.jpg" width="75" /></a>
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Whoopsie daisy! That little teeny tiny thingy-ma-bob sure doesn't cap-shore the essence of what I really saw whilst I was on Mars.<br />
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Perhaps this real photograph of a Martian ship will look just slightly more better...<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7078689389/" title="on patrol by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="on patrol" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7078689389_4828f84ee4_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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Yeah, that's what I thought too! Pretty bloody-well cool mates, eh?<br />
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Full disclosure: I didn't really go to Mars. The car rental broke down at the secret Aussie MoonBase and we had to be towed back. But I'm SURE it woulda looked just like the above, 100% original by dave -thankyouverymuch, piece of 3D artwork.<br />
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Back to the trip...<br />
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As we were nearing our destination for the first (and all) evening, we came across a field. A field with CRITTERS! And they wuz just the CUTEST critters you ever did see!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6932642454/" title="DSCF5809 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF5809" height="626" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/6932642454_4a83396425_o.jpg" width="688" /></a>
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Awwwwwwwww!<br />
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What's not to love about that! Just how can anyone not love that?<br />
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Hmmmm, I just can't remember what was on the menu for later that evening...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6932642208/" title="Lamb Chops by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Lamb Chops" height="294" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6932642208_2a79b71cff_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Yes, I'm sure I'm going to Hell... But don't worry cuz I'll keep the light on for ya mates!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And as a side note, BBQing the lamb chops over searingly hot lava from the tips of your wingclaws is THE BEST way to grill lamb!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7078736879/" title="Bringer of Light2 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Bringer of Light2" height="576" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5320/7078736879_3e2377f9d7_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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I know, you've already told me where I'm going (I have very explicit directions for piloting that thar handbasket too, thankyouverymuch) and that's why I'm keeping the fires warm for all me mates who come and join me!<br />
<br />Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-48859447233201971422012-03-23T06:29:00.003+10:302012-03-23T06:29:51.358+10:30Outta here!Till Wednesday or even Thursday. Don't worry, I'll be back. Wifey-Poo and I are taking our anniversary road trip. This time it's down to the Limestone Coast again (just click on the Naracoorte label and enjoy a road trip with us!) but we're going down to Mt Gambier and staying their for 3 nights.<br />
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In a holiday park. <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=blue+lake&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-oNrT_f6HYaYmQWV3qWuBg&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=928" target="_blank">Right. On. The. Edge. Of. BLUE LAKE</a>!!!!!<br />
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Gonna visit <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Umpherston+Sinkhole&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OIBrT4yHBIbumAXWisGSCA&sqi=2&ved=0CEIQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=928" target="_blank">Umpherston Sinkhole</a> too.<br />
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And drive through the <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=928&q=grampians+national+park&gbv=2&oq=Grampians&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.2767l2767l0l5671l1l1l0l0l0l0l354l354l3-1l1l0.frgbld." target="_blank">Grampians</a>!<br />
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Drive along the Great Ocean Road to The 12 Apostles.<br />
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We figure we'll take about 2500 photos apiece!<br />
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I'll also have my phone with me and I'll be uploading pics from it to my <a href="http://www.twitpic.com/photos/AKdavedownunder" target="_blank">twitpic</a> acct regularly, so make sure you check in with that OFTEN!<br />
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Here are a few random pics to keep you entertained till we hit the road! Oh, the 3D one is a definite work in progress, the boat'll be different, water will be dripping from the sea dragon, and a few other things.<br />
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So I'll say "Ta" till late next week!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6811437836/" title="IMG_001120 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_001120" height="913" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6811437836_33ecebed5d_o.jpg" width="900" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7006569661/" title="Clipboard01 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Clipboard01" height="574" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7006569661_580de6b326_o.jpg" width="960" /></a>
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Now which quitter ex-gov does this remind you of?
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6999240421/" title="after by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="after" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/6999240421_cda0ccc878_o.jpg" width="250" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7006569913/" title="oceantesting31 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="oceantesting31" height="1200" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7006569913_1f70bf7015_o.jpg" width="867" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/7006570557/" title="antipasto by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="antipasto" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7006570557_af161f7589_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>
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There is lettuce, rocket (aragula?), Sicilian olives, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, feta, tomato, smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs, cucumber, and maasdam cheese on it. I added fresh ground white pepper to my serve plus a drizzle of freshly pressed olive oil. It was devine!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-38763436663505565192012-03-18T12:55:00.000+10:302012-03-18T12:55:35.692+10:30US Visit Finalised!Well, sorta. I'm still trying to work in a day trip down to FL during the last week I'll be in Charlotte to see me gramma. So there.<br />
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For the rest of you... Here we go!<br />
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I do apologise to all my Alaskan and Canuck friends, twitmates, acquaintances, strangers, etc who were hoping I'd be heading *slightly* farther north than just Arlington. It's a little something called money. And time. Next trip though; you betcha mates!<br />
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My point of entry into the US of A shall be The City of Angels. I do have a fairly lengthy layover at LAX so if anyone who may perchance want to meet, chat, say hi, whatever can do so. Arrival time is 0640 on Fri May 18th on a Qantas flight and I'm not scheduled to depart till 1135 the same day bound for Charlotte. Customs shouldn't take too long (fingers, toes and eyes crossed) so I'm anticipating having 1 to 2 hours to kill at the LAX domestic terminal.<br />
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But really folks, if you aren't in the area please don't make a special trip. Unless you really want to of course!<br />
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Arrival in Charlotte, NC is 1912 on May 18th. I'm staying in Charlotte from then till the morning of May 29th. I have a few things planned that I'd like to do (like an overnight trip to the backwoods of VA), but absolutely nothing is set in stone. If'n any of y'all are wanting to meet up with Yours Truly (don't swoon ladies, I'm human!) then these 11 days would be an ideal time. Just sayin'.<br />
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Next is the road trip to Arlington and DC. We (bro, 2 nieces, uncle, family friend) are heading out of Charlotte the morning of the 29th, leaving Arlington/DC on the morning of Saturday June 2. Dad's funeral is on the 30th. We have 2 full days after the services in which to take in the sights and sounds of the area --Smithsonian, here I come!<br />
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I already have one friend from way back in time from Alaska who is in DC that wants to have dinner one of those two nights (she is also more than welcome to join us on the sightseeing --in case she's reading this). But of course anyone is welcome to join in on the fun! And of course if anyone is road-tripping it in from somewhere like, oh, maybe Ohio or Iowa then I could easily spend a whole day gallivanting around DC and taking in the sights with y'all, no worries mates!<br />
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After getting back into Charlotte late on the 2nd, I am then hanging around the general vicinity until the afternoon of June 9th at which time I shall be vacating the East Coast of the US of A with my presence.<br />
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The LAX layover is only 3 and a half hours on the way out so I doubt there'll be time to see anyone.<br />
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For me Aussie mates: on the way out I'm changing planes in Brissie, but only have 1.5 hours. On the way back I'm going thru Sydney and have 3 and a half hours. So if any of you Sydney-siders have some free time on the morning of June 11th and wanna swing by the airport to say hi then that's cool, no worries.<br />
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WHEW! Ok, that's outta the way.<br />
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Next up: some more 3D work from "His daveness"! No, I'm not that conceited, this is a nickname that a very cool <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/shehulkroars" target="_blank">Canuck</a> gave to Yours Truly. Although she capitalises it :-}<br />
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Dragons. Wouldn't everyone like one? This is a rendering in VUE10 of an .obj (plus the .mat files) of DAZ's Millennium Dragon 2 after posing it and setting the morphs. Please note that the her left hand has just missed grabbing something and the arm is pulling back whilst her right hand and arm are reaching out to grab whatever it is the left missed.<br />
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The jaws and eyes should sorta kinda speak for themselves.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6844990586/" title="drag001 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="drag001" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6844990586_360b0bf1c3_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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Why did I render it in Vue? Because I wanted to add some cool terrain and clouds and also have access to the super-awesomely great rendering engine that Vue has. I luvs me my Vue10!<br />
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And yes, I know the mountains suck and the texturing on them isn't any better, but I was working more on the clouds, the space fighter, and the dragon.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6798973564/" title="Dragon vs Starfighter by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Dragon vs Starfighter" height="1000" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6798973564_ffa46ab730_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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So, like, does it work for you?<br />
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I can do much more better landscape stuff.<br />
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REALLY! I can! *screamed the insignificant dust-speck of a blogger*<br />
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Here's proof:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6991117207/" title="High-rocky-frosted-desert by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="High-rocky-frosted-desert" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6991117207_719512111e_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
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Yeah, cool huh? That's what I thought too :-}<br />
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To sum up: I'll be visiting the US of A. If anyone wants to meet up and shoot the breeze then no worries mates! Drop me a comment or an <a href="mailto:alaskandavedownunder@gmail.com" target="_blank">email</a> or a DM on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/AKdavedownunder" target="_blank">twitter</a> and we'll work something out.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-52821152351859684152012-03-12T10:25:00.001+10:302012-03-12T10:28:11.376+10:30Fine then, BE that way!And see if I care!<br />
<br />
Harumph<br />
<br />
Obviously my lame-assed attempt at audience participation udderly phailed.<br />
<br />
Well, I've now got a pic that will pretty much guarantee comments! Would you like to see it? Of course you would:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6828106994/" title="Image0476 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="Image0476" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6828106994_18748fbd50_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Mmmmmmm, that makes me hungry mates! In fact, I may even may roo burgers today.<br />
<br />
And no, roo pies are NOT like cow pies! But if you are wondering what that "type" of roo pie looks like... think moose nuggets! However, Aussies aren't crass enough to varnish em and sell em to tourists like Alaskans do! But you can get small purses that at one point in time housed a male roo's testicles.<br />
<br />
Yes ladies, you CAN literally carry around the privates of a male! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">I'll bet Alaska's Worst Governor Ever would like one to keep Toady's junk in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Next picture up is a sneak peek at a 3d seen (whoopsie, "scene"; darned tiepoes!) I'm working on. Keep in mind that every single bit of this picture is FAKE. The rocky desert landscape is FAKE. The crashed ship is FAKE (but have a squizz at the cockpit wreckage, it's great!). The steam plume from the engines is FAKE. The ship circling around is FAKE. The crappy looking engine tail glow (still working on that!) is FAKE. The clouds are FAKE.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Everything in the photo is FAKE! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Which is exactly like the persona of The Creature From Lake Lucille,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> FAKE!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6974228809/" title="rocky desert4222 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="rocky desert4222" height="109" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6974228809_5bd6c57873_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
Oh, wait a sec mates! You probably can't make out the ultra cool detailing from that little pic.<br />
<br />
Here's a much more bigger and much more better one!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6974228809/" title="rocky desert4222 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="rocky desert4222" height="730" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6974228809_cca5562c23_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thoughts? Ideas? Snarky remarks?</span>Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-83103826881434966952012-03-10T10:15:00.000+10:302012-03-10T10:15:49.574+10:30Audience Participation Time!This would of course mean that I'm feeling too bleedin' lazy to put up a real post and yet I pheal compelled to put something up else ya'll will think I fell of the face of the Earth (again).<br />
<br />
That reminds me, I AM working on the rest of my 100% percent true Alien Abduction story so expect posts about that to appear sporadically and spasmodically throughout this coming century.<br />
<br />
But for today YOU (yes YOU, not the other one but YOU) get to be creative!<br />
<br />
YOU get to come up with either a caption, a short paragraph, or even a short story about a coupla pics that YOU are about to see. Obviously just use the comment function, no worries mates.<br />
<br />
This first one can be tackled from many different angles. Is it an evil grin behind that mask or non at all? What is he planning? Who is he? What is he doing? And what exactly is that thing that is attached to his face?<br />
<br />
Possibilities are endless mates! So put your tinfoil thinking caps, snort deeply from your powdery supply of scents of humor, and GIVE IT A GO MATES!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6947709323/" title="DSCF8195 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8195" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6947709323_b1f4b81c14_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
***********************************************************************<br />
<br />
Now this second one is also an actual photo that I took. Although it was during a reconnaissance expedition of the third moon of Ceti Gamma Prime in the alien spaceship that I commandeered during my 100% TRUE Alien Abduction story and not here on Earth like the above photo was taken... Whoops! I've said too much, better take that blue pill now!<br />
<br />
See how easy it is?<br />
<br />
Here's the actual photo:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6957563981/" title="shuttletakeoff40 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="shuttletakeoff40" height="135" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/6957563981_639066248a_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Oh wait, you'll definitely want to see it larger sized, and make sure you have a good squizz in all the shadowy areas for extra detailing and ideas for captions/comments/stories/etc.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6957563981/" title="shuttletakeoff40 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="shuttletakeoff40" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/6957563981_0d5a306169_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Alrighty everyone! Go bang your funny bones on your collective door frames and let's see what YOU come up with!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-72561263776548979662012-03-06T12:23:00.000+10:302012-03-06T12:25:12.899+10:30A Little of This, A Little of That.<br />
G'day mates! How are ya? Has this winter (or summer) been treating you nicely? Lemme know, eh?<br />
<br />
I'm hoping that everyone is now happy again now that I'm posting regularly again --fingers, toes, eyes, legs, ankle, arms all crossed in the hope that I can keep it up!<br />
<br />
Don't expect any rhyme nor reason from my posts, one day you may see me running around an alien spaceship, the next you may see an embarrassed koala! Why the flighty-ness? It's not that I don't have a short attention span, it's just that I get ummmmm, side-tracked (yeah, that's it!) more often than knot and then a few days go by as I try to finish up (start!) a post that was a great idea at the time and befour I know it; a month has gone by-BYE!<br />
<br />
Well (and that's a deep subject), NO MORE! I'll post whatever darned thing comes to my mind and type whatever darned stuff spews itself through my fingertips, onto my keyboard, onto your screen, into your eyeballs, then the spewed stuff finally comes to rest in some back-corner, unused area of your memory.<br />
<br />
I hope you don't mind.<br />
<br />
And no, I had absolutely NO IDEA I was going to type what I have typed thus far, I just let the fingers spew forth whatever they phelt like spewing forth.<br />
<br />
*screeeeeeeeech* Insert sound of brakes<br />
<br />
Changing gears now.<br />
<br />
Many of you may or may not be aware that I'm going to have to travel to the US for a coupla weeks near the end of May. The reason is quite obvious as it involves Arlington National Cemetary. I will unfortunately NOT be able to work in a visit to Alaska (seriously grumbling about that), in fact it'll be an East Coast only trip with the exception of an airport or two.<br />
<br />
I do not plan on cutting my hair (still no gray and approaching 50!!!!). Haven't cut it since late 1998 so why ruin a good thing, eh? I am not planning on shaving my long goatee (ok, it has a couple of gray strands) which is rapidly becoming a cross betwixt a long Van Dyke type and a short Manchu type. I also have long sideburns.<br />
<br />
And to make sure that I'm fairly noticable, I will be bringing and wearing my tie-dye shirt collection!<br />
<br />
Ain't they purdy?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6947708853/" title="DSCF8202 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8202" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6947708853_ba08014ed8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Oh, and I'll be wearing one of several pairs of crocs routinely and wearing a black, roo-skin, acubra-style Aussie hat.<br />
<br />
And a camera around my neck at pretty much all times. Yes, I'll be the weird tourist from Oz! Anybody gotta problem wit dat?<br />
<br />
I have been continuing to play with and learn Vue 10. Great program! Loves it, I does! Check this out mates:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6957566141/" title="mountain trees mist by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="mountain trees mist" height="135" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6957566141_e34ea2666a_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Here it is much more bigger sized:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6957566141/" title="mountain trees mist by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="mountain trees mist" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6957566141_9f1859d09e_o.jpg" width="1600" /></a><br />
<br />
Pretty good eh? All from scratch from Yours Truly! Vue also renders much faster than Bryce, this only took 6 hours to renders and talk about realistic plants!<br />
<br />
Next up, dave makes a lame joke.<br />
<br />
I am about to make a joke that may be a major embarrassment to me. So much so that I may go hide my head in shame rather like this:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6801603224/" title="DSCF8159 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8159" height="790" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6801603224_a81f87a9e7_o.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<br />
The joke is a visual one. It's from one of my own pictures too!<br />
<br />
You know how some people (not naming names mind you) tend to see phallic symbols everywhere? Yes, it's true some people do, not sure why.<br />
<br />
Well, thinking along that "type" of line... What does this next picture remind you of?<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6947711291/" title="DSCF8154 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8154" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6947711291_eeccca50e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I know, I'm a bad, evil, vile person and you don't need to tell me where I'm going cus I already know the way.<br />
<br />
Ok, joke's over.<br />
<br />
Those of you who know me in real life know that I have a knack for resting. And sleeping. Stay tuned for next time as I tell you ALL about my embarrassing history of sleeping and resting in what *some* people might think are inappropriate places!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-59514945481044664402012-03-03T11:28:00.000+10:302012-03-03T11:28:31.945+10:30The Grapes of WrathWhoopsie! Sorry about that mates, there's a tie-poe in the title. It should be "The Grapes of Frank".<br />
<br />
Me neighbor (lives right next door) has a nice country property over the border in VIC (but I don't hold that against him mind you) and on that property in Victoria he has quite a few acres of "stuff" growing.<br />
<br />
The typical "stuff" that is grown frequently in Oz.<br />
<br />
No, not that.<br />
<br />
No no, the other thing.<br />
<br />
Ah, yes! You figured eighted it out!<br />
<br />
GRAPES<br />
<br />
As in, lots n lots n LOTSA grapes.<br />
<br />
Every year around harvest time he brings a few kilos over to share with his friends. And neighbors. Apparently I'm in both categories as it may have something to do with me removing some viruses from his son's computer that he (the dad, not the son) contracted whilst perusing "those" sites befour his son or wife had a chance to find out his surfing habits. Ahem.<br />
<br />
Anywhos, 3 days ago (that would be Wednesday local Oz time) Frank bangs on me door with around about 7 kilos of grapes. Fresh off his vines! He picked them the day before and brought em over for me (ummm, I mean for US of course --in case Wifey-Poo is reading this). Yes, he has the proper permits and there are no fruit fly probs with his crops.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd be kind and show you a picture of the haul of GRAPES. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture till 3 days later (couldn' take pics, wuz too busy eating grapes) so the 7 kilos or so has diminished "slightly" in mass and volume.<br />
<br />
Butt here's a pic for you anyways and remember to get the latest software app upgrade witch allows you to ackshuallee smell and taste them! If you aren't sure if you have the upgrade then just sniff and lick your monitor (preferably when your office coworkers aren't watching!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6801600784/" title="DSCF8198 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF8198" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6801600784_8b8b96f2c5_o.jpg" width="1200" /></a>Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-44048685286620244292012-03-02T12:43:00.000+10:302012-03-02T12:55:10.445+10:3067 years ago......my dad was growin' up on da fahm down in New Joisey!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6799186626/" title="IMG_0016 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0016" height="891" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6799186626_348e50b1aa_o.jpg" width="638" /></a><br />
<br />
And 25 years later he was helping me grow up in Alaska!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6799186774/" title="IMG_0008 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0008" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6799186774_aeca17391f_z.jpg" width="622" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6799186774/" title="IMG_0008 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0008" height="982" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6799186774_2fa73dddd5_o.jpg" width="955" /></a><br />
<br />
I miss you Mom and Dad.Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33321650.post-26805624141057465562012-01-28T13:08:00.001+10:302012-01-28T13:08:58.802+10:30Alien Abduction Act XV --Encountering The Alien Guards!Butt befour we get to this particular chapter in my completely true Alien Abduction story, I think it's best if I actually put up a few pics (and maybe even a video!!!) of some Aussie critters.<br />
<br />
Why, you ask? Cuz it's been a while since I have, that's why! Or didn't any of you notice? No? Perhaps that's because I haven't been as much of the prolific posting personality as I used to be?<br />
<br />
Well, whatever the reason, I shall now just shut up and show you some pics of Little Corella Cockatoos!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6773579093/" title="DSCF4941 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF4941" height="754" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6773579093_de0be474e1_o.jpg" width="700" /></a><br />
<br />
Obviously that morning was pretty overcast. Hey, we do sometimes see clouds down here! Those little corellas were part of a slightly larger flock:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6773579563/" title="DSCF4911 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCF4911" height="750" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6773579563_e01664c485_o.jpg" width="1000" /></a><br />
<br />
And that was about a tenth of the flock!<br />
<br />
Some of you may know (or knot) that when you get a fairly sizable group of birds together that they like to talk amongst themselves. Well, parrots are no different!<br />
<br />
Would you like to know what the sound of a flock of little correllas sounds like at 7:00 AM?<br />
<br />
Would ya?<br />
<br />
Woodja woodja woodja?<br />
<br />
Of course you would. But first you have to make sure your computer sound volume is turned to <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">maximum</span></strong> as you want to make sure the whole office building or subdivision can share in your joy at hearing these bird.<br />
<br />
So, just, like, click play!<br />
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=fb1a60468f&photo_id=6773575687" height="480" width="640"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Soothing, isn't it?<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Now on with my true alien abduction story! With everything recreated by Yours Truly (don't swoon ladies, I'm human!) with his awesomely perfect photographic memory! Yes, this is what REALLY happened! *wink*<br />
<br />
In case you missed some earlier acts due to hanging out in the lobby chatting up the sheila or bloke behind the popcorn counter or perhaps toking up in the bathroom, here's a quickie recap!<br />
<br />
Note: some of my astute readers may recognize the following paragraph verbatim from Act XII but I don't mind plagiarizing myself!<br />
<br />
Yes, it's time for another installment in the completely, 100% true story of my alien abduction. Don't you remember? This was after I died after cutting myself shaving with a meat cleaver in the pool and was then brought back to an undead, brain-craving, zombie state from a lightning strike and then was transported up to the A.S.S. (Alien Space Ship) cus I struck the pyramid on top of my roof with my lightning-charged sledgehammer and was then transformed into an undead, brain-eating, hulking beast with a club roaming the cave-like corridors of the A.S.S. that had the rego number of C4P-PFP2012.<br />
<br />
Whew! And just in case any of you need sausage lynx to the previous acts...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/01/prelude-to-alien-abduction.html" target="_blank">Prelude to Alien Abduction</a>. Nothing to do with aliens though. Just me being stupid.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/01/alien-abduction-act-i.html" target="_blank">Alien Abduction Act I</a>. Where it all begins. Plus some pretty hot pics of me and Wifey-Poo!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/01/alien-abduction-act-ii.html" target="_blank">Act II</a>. This is where I use a meat cleaver to shave with whilst in the pool!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/01/alien-abduction-act-iii-burial-at-sea.html" target="_blank">Act III</a>. Buried at sea. And sushi too!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/02/alien-abduction-act-iv-live-damn-you.html" target="_blank">Act IV</a>. Lighting storm reanimates my corpse!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/02/alien-abduction-act-v-taming-of-shrewd.html" target="_blank">Act V</a>. My zombie self begins to calm down.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/02/alien-abduction-act-vi-zombie-dave.html" target="_blank">Act VI</a>. A sledge-hammer wielding zombie is great to have in the kitchen!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/02/alien-abduction-act-vii-zombie-dave-is.html" target="_blank">Act VII</a>. Blasting off Earth and towards the A.S.S. !!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/03/alien-abduction-act-viii-photographic.html" target="_blank">Act VIII</a>. Photographic evidence of the A.S.S. from a passing Chinese spy satellite.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/03/alien-abduction-act-ix-promotional.html" target="_blank">Act IXa</a>. Promotional material for the real Act IX.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/03/alien-abduction-act-ix-alien-ship.html" target="_blank">Act IX</a>. Alien ship identified!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/04/alien-abduction-act-x-zombie-dave.html" target="_blank">Act X</a>. My arrival aboard the A.S.S.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/05/alien-abduction-act-xi-smoke-mirrors.html" target="_blank">Act XI</a>. Very tricky aliens!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/06/alien-abduction-act-xii-at-last-we-meet.html" target="_blank">Act XII</a>. We finally meet the aliens!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://alaskandavedownunder.blogspot.com/2010/06/alien-abduction-act-xiii-charging-to.html" target="_blank">Act XIII</a>. Charging towards the control room!<br />
<br />
<br />
Now for a very brief picture recap! After which you'll get to see (and read) Act XV!<br />
<br />
And here are some of those great, full-sized NON-PHOTOSHOPPED pics!<br />
<br />
This one is from the passing, cloaked, Chinese spy satellite.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4374436275/" title="into orbit by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="into orbit" height="690" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4050/4374436275_56669b47c1_o.jpg" width="861" /></a><br />
<br />
And here's one the Russians took from the ISS!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4416448688/" title="chinese spy satellite photo by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="chinese spy satellite photo" height="633" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4416448688_5b73a9bd06_o.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<br />
This is the one where I distinctly remember seeing the rego number on the A.S.S.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4449935536/" title="close approach by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="close approach" height="385" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2709/4449935536_353f4bbc71_z.jpg?zz=1" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And remember, the Chinese spy satellite got a pic of the TOP of the A.S.S. too, also.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4416472990/" title="leader02 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="leader02" height="379" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4015/4416472990_4b1fc14043_o.jpg" width="650" /></a><br />
<br />
You may remember that after I materialized inside the A.S.S the aliens then activated some sort of hologramaphic device that changed the corridors to caves. I distinctly remember charging through the caves and encountering this sign:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/4698804931/" title="signpost by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="signpost" height="898" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4031/4698804931_193637b800_o.jpg" width="614" /></a><br />
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I quickly hung a left (me being rather left-leaning) and as I charged down the cavern the rock walls changed back into the actual, real corridors of the A.S.S. However, I was still my lightning-charged, zombie-ized, club-wielding, brain-eating undead self. Fortunately, my body had retained it's original, studly self!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6698129387/" title="hallwayrun-1 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="hallwayrun-1" height="545" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6698129387_16e39a18e0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Now begins Act XV of my TRUE Alien Abduction!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
Whilst charging down the corridor onboard the A.S.S. in search of alien brains to eat as I was still in my zombie state, I passed through several doors that opened and closed automatically as I raced towards what I hoped was the control room of the A.S.S. so that I could eat some tasty alien brains and just hopefully find an escape pod to get back to Oz and perchance find a way to get back to what passes for normal for me.<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
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*Isn't that an awesomely great sentence from Yours Truly (don't swoon ladies, I'm human!) that I typed all by me oneses and Wifey-Poo (Most Wonderful Woman In The Entire World) tells me is actually grammatically correct?*<br />
<br />
Just as I was beginning to think the A.S.S. with the rego number C4P-PFP2012 (remember kiddies, Gene Roddenberry proved that all space ships have rego #'s painted on the outside in English!) was totally deserted, I arrived at a pair of doors that hopefully led to the control and some tasty alien brains... and the door was GUARDED!<br />
<br />
By aliens!<br />
<br />
Imagine my surprise as my zombie self became the first Earthling to come face to face with REAL aliens!<br />
<br />
Just<br />
<br />
imagine<br />
<br />
the<br />
<br />
shocked<br />
<br />
look<br />
<br />
on<br />
<br />
my<br />
<br />
face!<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6769101431/" title="surprised3 by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="surprised3" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6769101431_e97c74d8da_o.jpg" width="1386" /></a><br />
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<br />
Yeah, I'm quite sure I looked EXACTLY like that!<br />
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And what did I see in front of me?<br />
<br />
Glad you asked mates!<br />
<br />
And now we finally get to see what the alien guards who are guarding the door which may or may not be an entrance to the control room look like!<br />
<br />
Are you ready?<br />
<br />
Are you sure?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10207557@N04/6773796957/" title="AG2sharper by fencerbikerdave, on Flickr"><img alt="AG2sharper" height="900" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6773796957_635caef8c9_o.jpg" width="1278" /></a><br />
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As you can tell, this is about to get... shall we say... Interesting?<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for Act XVI as more silliness comes your way from the merry old land of Oz!Alaskan Dave Down Underhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726448407614912997noreply@blogger.com0