Thanks for hanging in their guys! Below you will see the plane that carried us from Toronto to Newark, NJ. As mundane as that may seem, what is special about it is that it is one of our own; a Bombardier Dash-8 Q400. This plane was tested extensively at the Sault Federal Airport back in the late 1980's. They designed it specifically to be faster than other turboprops (415 mph cruising speed), while using less fuel, and make a lot less noise. They reshaped the engine cowling at the rear edge, and the result is a turboprop that vibrates so little that it won't rattle your braces out, and the drone of the engines is actually not tiring. You can speak at regular levels, unlike in a dash-8 300.
Q400 at Newark Airport, Thursday, Feb 3rd, 2011
Below you can see the oddly shaped rear end of the
port side engine cowling
For more on this, you can see the video on Youtube @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXilZHGMLLM
The next image I took, because I was fascinated with the ability to see clear through the cowling of this Boeing 777-200's turbofan. See the van in the background through the blades?
Starboard engine of Boeing 777 @ Newark A/P
I was thinking of Riley and Riston when I snapped the shot below.
What do you think, guys?
Would you like to drive one of these trucks?
Below you can see the sun rising off to our port side beyond the 777's left wingtip. This was taken just as we were about to land @ Auckland A/P. The funny thing is that it was 7:00 AM, on Saturday Feb. 5th, but for you guys it would have been at the exact same moment you had @ 1:00 PM, Friday February 4th! WTH?
Sunrise from a 777, just across the date line.
Below you can see Colleen sitting down to breakfast inside the Auckland terminal while we await a rental car.
Colleen, luggage, and a spectacular view
J.P., this one's for you
It's kinda like in golf; it's a little shorter...
This little guy below looks cute, but he was a nasty little beggar!
He raced down the driveway toward us, and set to barking up a fierce storm.
Towels hung on the balcony of a house
one block from Manly Bay beach
one block from Manly Bay beach
Sailboat and bathers at Manly Bay Beach
An example of the things that are different;
Pay close attention to the sidewalk (not typical, but certainly not a North American trend for sure!) First you may be able to see that the curb is made of bricks placed end-to-end, while the sidewalk itself is made of wooden boards that are covered in metal mesh that is topped by rubberized asphalt. Cool, eh?
Below is just a nice view overlooking the beach
from atop the hill, close to our host's house.
from atop the hill, close to our host's house.
Yet another view of the beach from our friends' street.
Notice the white line down the middle of the road?
Well over here there are no yellow lines to help designate that
you have oncoming traffic. Instead, here's what the North
American driver is confronted with; 1, you need to drive on thewrong left
side of the road, and 2, you may or may not be on a one way street--just
don't expect the lines to help you figure that one out!
you have oncoming traffic. Instead, here's what the North
American driver is confronted with; 1, you need to drive on the
side of the road, and 2, you may or may not be on a one way street--just
don't expect the lines to help you figure that one out!
I tol' my wife I needed a bigger trackter 'cause the lawn's so big.
What I din' tell her, was it was perfect fer
goin' fishin' when she takes away muh' car keys.
goin' fishin' when she takes away muh' car keys.
Antique Tractor pulling a boat trailer,
Manly Bay Beach, NZ
Manly Bay Beach, NZ
The view from the patio of our friends' home
That's it for tonight, folks. Tomorrow morning I'll try to post more pictures and commentaries. Tune in for fun on the water!
