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Florida's Turnpike, designated as unsigned State Road 91 (SR 91), is a toll road in the U.S. state of Florida, maintained by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE). Spanning approximately 309 miles (497 km) along a northwest–southeast axis, the turnpike is in two sections. The SR 91 mainline runs roughly 265 miles (426 km), from its southern terminus at an interchange with Interstate 95 (I-95) in Miami Gardens to an interchange with I-75 in Wildwood at its northern terminus. The Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike (abbreviated HEFT and designated as unsigned SR 821) continues from the southern end of the mainline for another 48 miles (77 km) to US Highway 1 (US 1) in Florida City. The slogan for the road is "The Less Stressway". The mainline opened in stages between 1957 and 1964, while the extension was completed in 1974. The turnpike runs through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, where it parallels I-95, and through Orlando, where it crosses I-4.
Tolls on the turnpike are an average of 6.7 cents per mile (4.2 ¢/km) for cars and other two-axle vehicles using SunPass. A trip on the entire turnpike (not including the Homestead Extension) would cost $22.59 with Toll-by-Plate, and $17.45 with SunPass.
The turnpike was originally entirely on the ticket system, but due to congestion in the Miami and Orlando metro areas, a coin system was implemented from the Three Lakes toll plaza north to the terminus at I-75, and from Lantana south to I-95, in the 1990s. In 2015, the portion between the Golden Glades toll barrier and I-595 in Davie was converted to a cashless toll system. Additional projects to convert the turnpike to an electronic collection system were completed between I-595 and Lantana in 2019, and from SR 429 north to I-75 in Wildwood in 2020.
The final stretch of the turnpike to use the ticket system ran between what are now electronic toll gantries at Lantana (mile 89.4 in Palm Beach County) and Three Lakes (mile 236.5 in Osceola County). This section was converted to a cashless system on November 8, 2021, removing the final cash-based toll collections and converting the entire length of the turnpike to electronic toll collection.
The SunPass electronic toll collection system, in use since 1999, has become the primary method of paying tolls on the turnpike, with 80% of customers using the electronic tolling as of October 2009. SunPass can be used on most Florida toll roads, in conjunction with other electronic toll collection systems in Florida (E-Pass and LeeWay). SunPass users benefit from an average of a 25% discount on tolls and access to SunPass-only exit ramps. SunPass transponders are available at the gift shop and gas stations at all service plazas, as well as Walgreens, Publix, and CVS stores statewide.[18] Since 2021, E-ZPass, which is used primarily in the Midwest and Northeast U.S., has also been accepted on Florida's Turnpike.
As the Turnpike and its system of roads are primary routes for emergency evacuations, tolls may be suspended, in cooperation with the state's emergency operations center and county governments, when a state or national emergency, most common being a hurricane watch, warrant rapid movement of the population.
Eight service plazas are located along the turnpike, spaced about 45 miles (72 km) apart. All eight plazas are open 24 hours a day and located on the center median of the turnpike for access from both directions and offer gasoline, diesel fuel, internet access, travel and tourism info and tickets, picnic areas, TV news, gift shops offering Florida Lottery, family-friendly restrooms, and pay phones. A convenience store/gas station is located at the Snapper Creek plaza on the Homestead Extension of the turnpike, while the remaining seven are full-service plazas, featuring a selection of franchised fast food restaurants. Three of the service plazas (Pompano, Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce, Turkey Lake) also provide E85 ethanol. The Turkey Lake plaza also has a Tesla Supercharger for Tesla electric vehicles. Superchargers are also located at Ft. Drum plaza, and Canoe Creek and Okahumpa are scheduled to open Superchargers in 2021/22.
The operation of Sunshine State Parkway gas stations and service centers was originally bid out under separate contracts, and as a result, differing petroleum brands operated concurrently along the parkway, with varying levels of service and pricing. This practice was discontinued in 1995 when all service center operations were combined to improve supply and continuity of service; with Martin Petroleum, a Florida corporation, operating the stations with Citgo brand fuel at its stations. Since then, the Venezuelan government, under President Hugo Chávez, nationalized Citgo, and in 2006, political controversy resulted in a movement to remove the brand from the turnpike.
In 2009, Areas U.S.A. signed a 30-year contract for operation of food and retail concessions, taking over operations from Martin Petroleum and HMSHost. Florida Turnpike Services, L.L.C., Areas' partner, replaced the Citgo brand with Shell, the current brand for gas stations along the turnpike. Many of the restaurant brands were also changed over, with Dunkin' Donuts replacing Starbucks locations as well as KFC, Pizza Hut, Villa Pizza and Wendy's replacing most Popeyes and Burger King locations. The reconstruction and renovation of six of the service plazas began on November 1, 2010, to be completed in 2012. The Okahumpka and Ft. Pierce plazas will begin reconstruction when the other plaza projects are complete. Total renovation costs are estimated at $160 million.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida%27s_Turnpike
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Maintainers from the 197th FIS work to keep a F-86A in the fight. Gowan Field Boise, Idaho.
Photograph by Dale Welker.
Seattle City Light maintains this trail through a [formerly] wonderful old forest. The fire reached the left side of this trail, which is closest to the mountainside. As a result the ceiling is more open now - but there is still a lot of green. Family members further down the trail give a sense of the size of these giant Cedar trees.
A ship's mate keeps watch from the bow of the M/V Kennicott while navigating Tongass Narrows, moving south out of Ketchikan Alaska.
From the Tongass Narrows Voluntary Waterway Guide: "When transiting the Tongass Narrows, please exercise caution, maintain extra vigilance and be courteous. Unlike other waterways, on Tongass Narrows you must also remember to scan the sky as there is a constant stream of floatplanes landing and taking off on these waters."
Cambrian Bowl located at 14900 Camden Ave. in San Jose,CA. This bowling alley opened in 1958 and is still doing quite well to this day as it is well maintained and operated. The font on the exterior of this bowling alley is just amazing and quite a treat to see. Its one of those details that makes this place special and if it was removed this would just be your run of the mill bowling alley.
The horses maintained by the Royal Guard receive a great deal of training. They must get used to the loud sounds of brass and drums. Horses must be extremely well-trained because along with performing for millions of people a year in state capacities, riders are dividing their time between playing an instrument and managing a horse.
Brass musicians play their instruments with one hand and guide the horse with the other.
when the people come together they make things start... series
______________
Its time to change as we assess ourselves
And dont be blind by the material wealth
Free the Spirit cause it might discard
Through the eye of a needle
And your way is barred
To another level but 1 step higher
me myself and I just try to inspire
Those who have and those that wait
You could have my hand well if i was a saint
Freedom Fighters Fight For Love
Im praying to the skies above
Freedom Fighters fight for love
Haaaa Haaaaaaaaa Haaaa
They once built a wall A man made solution
Many Feet high a barbed wire intrusion
On humanity and its family ties
no matter how faint you could hear the cries
droplets of tears have over the years
Been wrote to the wall
And now it disappears before me
means its pieces apart
when the people come together they make things start
Freedom Fighters Fight For Love
Im praying to the skies above
Freedom Fighters fight for love
Haaaa Haaaaaaaaa Haaaa
Let ya Sunflowers away from the rain
deprived of water yet they maintain
that its neccessary to stick around in space
when they wont even feed the human race
They rape my land now theres nothing left
a child in my womb and no milk from my breast
Im the worlds problem but wheres the solution
if youve you made enough profit now take your pollution
with you
Please
Love can help
We can help it
Love can help
We can help it
The words have more power than the gun
by the freedom of speech its still denied to some
Channing square was a cry of hope
politicians did nothing not even a life rope
never let your dreams disappear
because the future of words can cause such fear
its set by many or even if you remember
we have the power to change things too
Freedom Fighters Fight For Love
Im praying to the skies above
Freedom Fighters fight for love
Haaaa Haaaaaaaaa Haaaa
Freedom Fighters Fight For Love
Im praying to the skies above
Freedom Fighters fight for love
Haaaa Haaaaaaaaa Haaaa
to the skies
pray to the skies
pray to the skies
(Freedoom Fighters, System 7, 1992)
Typhoon Kilo continues to thrive in the Northwestern Pacific and imagery from NASA's Terra satellite late on September 7 showed that the storm still maintained a clear eye.
The MODIS or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument that flies aboard Terra provided a visible-light image of Kilo on September 7 at 23:50 UTC (7:50 p.m. EDT). The image showed thick bands of thunderstorms wrapping around the eastern and northern quadrants of the visible eye.
At 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT) on September 9, Typhoon Kilo had maximum sustained winds near 65 knots (74.8 mph/120.4 kph). Kilo is expected to strengthen to 75 knots (86.3 mph/ 138.9 kph) later in the day before weakening. It was centered near 26.8 North latitude and 158.5 East longitude, about 289 nautical miles northeast of Minami Tori Shima, Japan. Kilo was moving to the west-northwest at 18 knots (20.7 mph/33.3 kph).
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that Kilo is expected to take more of a northerly track by September 10. Thereafter, Kilo is expected to become extra-tropical and curve to the northeast near the Kuril Islands in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region. The islands form an 808 mile (1,300 kilometer) volcanic archipelago that stretches northeast from Hokkaido, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia.
For updated watches and warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency, visit: www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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Still maintained but, not in use. There apparently is some evidence to suggest it is built over an older church going back to 753. The churchyard is wild and the mausoleum dates from around 1750. Its location gives it a wild and lonely feel. Just after sunset, unfortunately not a great deal of colour in the sky.
Incredible Supercell storm at sunset near the town Goree Texas. Storm was weakening at this point but maintaining incredible structure.
This photo was taken in Shakespeare Ontario Canada in 1938. It shows an 8 year old LaSalle Coupe altered to be put into service as a tow truck for my Fathers garage business. As rare as these are today at the time big cars like this had little appeal to the average buyer. They were heavy to drive and expensive to maintain and fuel. Their great torque gave them more appeal as a work horse and many ended up doing duty on the farm or as make shift commercial vehicles like shown here. After serving in their latter capacity they had further appeal for scrap during the War drive for steel. The vehicle on the hook is a 1931 Chevrolet Roadster that was repaired and returned to the road. The military wheels were an option however few today use them as they lack the appearance that the standard spoke wheels gave.
For 1930 this Lasalle was on a 134" wheelbase chassis powered by 341 cid V8 engine. Total 1930 production was 14986 units which this convertible coupe was one of.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:© 2010 VRGratton- Images.
Images in this gallery are protected by copyright. They are for Flickr Members to view only. They are not stock and may not be used for manipulations, references, blogs, journals, share sites, etc. without my written and or verbal consent.
Maintaining a recent tradition of posting a picture of a cemetery cross on Good Friday
John Nepomucene Cemetery
Barrington Hills, Illinois 42.186100,-88.238290
April 8, 2024
John of Nepomuk (or John Nepomucene) (c. 1345 – 20 March 1393) was a saint of Bohemia (western Czech Republic) who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. On the basis of this account, John of Nepomuk is considered the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional, a patron against calumnies and, because of the manner of his death, a protector from floods and drowning. Wikipedia
And here's a bit about the church and cemetery.
20240408z30-02121366x768
Florida's Turnpike, designated as unsigned State Road 91 (SR 91), is a toll road in the U.S. state of Florida, maintained by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE). Spanning approximately 309 miles (497 km) along a northwest–southeast axis, the turnpike is in two sections. The SR 91 mainline runs roughly 265 miles (426 km), from its southern terminus at an interchange with Interstate 95 (I-95) in Miami Gardens to an interchange with I-75 in Wildwood at its northern terminus. The Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike (abbreviated HEFT and designated as unsigned SR 821) continues from the southern end of the mainline for another 48 miles (77 km) to US Highway 1 (US 1) in Florida City. The slogan for the road is "The Less Stressway". The mainline opened in stages between 1957 and 1964, while the extension was completed in 1974. The turnpike runs through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, where it parallels I-95, and through Orlando, where it crosses I-4.
Tolls on the turnpike are an average of 6.7 cents per mile (4.2 ¢/km) for cars and other two-axle vehicles using SunPass. A trip on the entire turnpike (not including the Homestead Extension) would cost $22.59 with Toll-by-Plate, and $17.45 with SunPass.
The turnpike was originally entirely on the ticket system, but due to congestion in the Miami and Orlando metro areas, a coin system was implemented from the Three Lakes toll plaza north to the terminus at I-75, and from Lantana south to I-95, in the 1990s. In 2015, the portion between the Golden Glades toll barrier and I-595 in Davie was converted to a cashless toll system. Additional projects to convert the turnpike to an electronic collection system were completed between I-595 and Lantana in 2019, and from SR 429 north to I-75 in Wildwood in 2020.
The final stretch of the turnpike to use the ticket system ran between what are now electronic toll gantries at Lantana (mile 89.4 in Palm Beach County) and Three Lakes (mile 236.5 in Osceola County). This section was converted to a cashless system on November 8, 2021, removing the final cash-based toll collections and converting the entire length of the turnpike to electronic toll collection.
The SunPass electronic toll collection system, in use since 1999, has become the primary method of paying tolls on the turnpike, with 80% of customers using the electronic tolling as of October 2009. SunPass can be used on most Florida toll roads, in conjunction with other electronic toll collection systems in Florida (E-Pass and LeeWay). SunPass users benefit from an average of a 25% discount on tolls and access to SunPass-only exit ramps. SunPass transponders are available at the gift shop and gas stations at all service plazas, as well as Walgreens, Publix, and CVS stores statewide.[18] Since 2021, E-ZPass, which is used primarily in the Midwest and Northeast U.S., has also been accepted on Florida's Turnpike.
As the Turnpike and its system of roads are primary routes for emergency evacuations, tolls may be suspended, in cooperation with the state's emergency operations center and county governments, when a state or national emergency, most common being a hurricane watch, warrant rapid movement of the population.
Eight service plazas are located along the turnpike, spaced about 45 miles (72 km) apart. All eight plazas are open 24 hours a day and located on the center median of the turnpike for access from both directions and offer gasoline, diesel fuel, internet access, travel and tourism info and tickets, picnic areas, TV news, gift shops offering Florida Lottery, family-friendly restrooms, and pay phones. A convenience store/gas station is located at the Snapper Creek plaza on the Homestead Extension of the turnpike, while the remaining seven are full-service plazas, featuring a selection of franchised fast food restaurants. Three of the service plazas (Pompano, Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce, Turkey Lake) also provide E85 ethanol. The Turkey Lake plaza also has a Tesla Supercharger for Tesla electric vehicles. Superchargers are also located at Ft. Drum plaza, and Canoe Creek and Okahumpa are scheduled to open Superchargers in 2021/22.
The operation of Sunshine State Parkway gas stations and service centers was originally bid out under separate contracts, and as a result, differing petroleum brands operated concurrently along the parkway, with varying levels of service and pricing. This practice was discontinued in 1995 when all service center operations were combined to improve supply and continuity of service; with Martin Petroleum, a Florida corporation, operating the stations with Citgo brand fuel at its stations. Since then, the Venezuelan government, under President Hugo Chávez, nationalized Citgo, and in 2006, political controversy resulted in a movement to remove the brand from the turnpike.
In 2009, Areas U.S.A. signed a 30-year contract for operation of food and retail concessions, taking over operations from Martin Petroleum and HMSHost. Florida Turnpike Services, L.L.C., Areas' partner, replaced the Citgo brand with Shell, the current brand for gas stations along the turnpike. Many of the restaurant brands were also changed over, with Dunkin' Donuts replacing Starbucks locations as well as KFC, Pizza Hut, Villa Pizza and Wendy's replacing most Popeyes and Burger King locations. The reconstruction and renovation of six of the service plazas began on November 1, 2010, to be completed in 2012. The Okahumpka and Ft. Pierce plazas will begin reconstruction when the other plaza projects are complete. Total renovation costs are estimated at $160 million.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida%27s_Turnpike
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
PLEASE, NO invitations or self promotions, THEY WILL BE DELETED. My photos are FREE to use, just give me credit and it would be nice if you let me know, thanks.
MAY LAST POST FOR 5-7 DAYS AS I AM DRIVING (Saturday) TO TORONTO AND BACK.
It requires a 1.2 km (0.9 mi) hike on a well maintained dirt road to reach the lighthouse. Musquash Harbour is located just a few kilometers west of Saint John.
Although there has been a station at this location since 1879, the current light was built in 1959 and automated in 1987. It sits on a high bluff overlooking the Bay of Fundy.
Tower Height: 14.3 meters (47ft)
Focal Height: 25 meters (115ft) above water level
Fog Signal: 4 second blast every 60 seconds.
“Revealing Visit”
The long morning shadows of the rising sun spread across the freshly fallen snow that covered this farm site this week. A lone tree struggles to maintain relevance even as half of it has fallen prey to the ravages of time.
Downhill from the tree is an old deserted barn hugged by a silo and overshadowed by a century old windmill that last pumped water many decades ago but still spins aimlessly on windy days. The quietness of this early spring morning only accentuated the dearth of activity surrounding the barn that over the years has lost its windows, doors and dignity.
As the sun rose higher in the sky and more fully illuminated the scene, it revealed a story told of the past but leaves the future untouched.
Many of us who were raised on a farm but left it to develop our own lives can remember a particular visit back home when we first more fully realized we were observing marks in the sands of time that covered the productive years of our parents.
One of my clearest recollections of when I understood my dad’s active battles on the farm were nearly over was when he was in his late 60s. By this time he had reduced his workload to what he could handle by himself. His built-in labor force was long gone and so were the physical capabilities of what he could do.
He had gradually sold off the milk cows, feeder cattle, chickens and sheep. He still raised some pigs each year but not nearly as many as he once did.
There was a winding down of his pursuit of farm goals and a pulling of the drapes across his lifelong dreams. I realized his life’s work was nearing an end and now he was preparing for his remaining sunset years. Nothing again would grip his soul like farming had done for 40 years.
Looking back now when I am a decade older than he was then, I know now why my own adult son hugs me a little longer and a little tighter than he once did. For though the words might not be spoken, he too sees in me what I once saw in my father.
(Photographed near Stanchfield, MN)
Parent 1 maintaining a covert watch on me....
Great Horned Owl GHOW (Bubo virginianus)
Carmichael, Saskatchewan, Canada
DSCN8476
************
Prairie occurring subspecies is much paler than our
"Great Horns' of the west coast
***
Northern or Subarctic Great Horned Owl or Western Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus subarcticus - Hoy, 1853)
Range: Found in northwestern British Colombia east through Mackenzie County, Alberta to Hudson Bay and south into the United States, where they are found in Wyoming and North Dakota. This race - or intermediates between this form and ssp. pallescens and/or lagophonus (or unnamed race) - also occurs south to Arizona, New Mexico and southwestern Texas (where they are found in the Guadalupe Mountains). Birds found in the Rocky Mountains of west central Canada south to west central USA are often separated as ssp. occidentalis. However, they are now by most authorities identified as race subarcticus.
ID: The largest-bodied subspecies of all. This pale form has a plumage that is essentially whitish with a faint creamy tinge on the upper plumage. The plumage below is variably barred blackish - from indistinct to heavily barred. The palest amongst them can be confused with young, female Snowy Owl. Their feet are whitish to buff.
Life has never been easy for either of us. We've both always had to just keep surviving. Our relationship and our happiness has always had some kind of test and obstacle, with a little luck and some time though that will all change. Love isn't always gumdrops and ice cream. The beautiful lies told by the fairy tales we grew up with do not prepare us for what love actually is. Truth is, love is chaotic and blissful at the same time. It's effortless to feel but needs some work to maintain. With all the challenges we have faced and are facing now, we've never had it easy. Then again nothing easy was ever worth fighting for to begin with. I love you and I'll be right here with you and for you no matter what comes our way.
Your home will always be here.
in the last several months I've been seeking inspiration in other various forms of art such as performance art, fashion and costume design, and dance to name a few. my friend Ken suggested I write down this name: Pina Bausch. You should too. I found a copy of the film Pina by Wim Wenders at the library and was amazed at what I saw. an incredible blend of theater and modern dance. I was inspired to create this image based on one of the pieces from the film where many chairs were being stacked and also crawled through at the same time. I was very taken by the form of everything and that at any moment the chairs could come tumbling down...
Dance, dance... otherwise we are lost.
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Females maintain territories which may overlap somewhat, and males occupy larger territories covering those of several females.
The breeding season lasts from Late April to September. Females appear to prefer dominant males and may actively avoid other vagrant males. The gestation period averages 21 days, being longer if the female is still lactating from a previous litter. A litter can be up to ten pups but the average number is four to eight.
Females sometimes kill pups in burrows in adjoining territories and males sometimes kill pups before mating with their mother, perhaps as a tactic to ensure his offspring are advantaged.
The pups are naked and helpless and their eyes open at about nine days. They are weaned at 20 to 25 days and the females become sexually mature by six weeks with the males reaching maturity by eight weeks.
There may be up to four litters per year and as the youngsters start to breed, numbers quickly build up over the summer months.
The bank vole lives for up to two years.
(Wikipedia)
MAITHON Dam Maintained by DAMODAR VALLEY CORPORATION (DVC) over BARAKAR River During the Winter Season in a Bright Morning. Tourists Visit the Dam Situated in WEST BENGAL (WEST BURDWAN) - JHARKHAND (DHANBAD) Border Mostly in Monsoon and Winter. Though scenes of Water release from Dam during Monsoon Attracts more than Winter. Tourists Enjoy Boating Ride Facility on the River Which is Exquisite.
PLEASE, NO invitations or self promotions, THEY WILL BE DELETED. My photos are FREE to use, just give me credit and it would be nice if you let me know, thanks.
Buoys were on the deck for decorations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peggys Cove is a small community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay in Nova Scotia, which is famous for the Lighthouse (established 1868).
From its founding, the community's economy revolved around the fishery. However, tourism began to overtake fishing in economic importance following the Second World War. Today, Peggys Cove is primarily a tourist attraction, although its inhabitants still fish for lobster, and the community maintains undeveloped appearance.
The Alcobaça Monastery is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Alcobaça, in Oeste Subregion. The monastery was founded in the medieval period by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history.
One of the most amazing road in the alps. It costs a toll but is maintained awesomely and just so fun to drive.
STEAM INCORPORATED
Formed fifty years ago in 1972 Steam Incorporated is based at Paekakariki on the Kapiti coast near Wellington, on the North Island of New Zealand, where its primary purpose is to rebuild and maintain heritage railway equipment to the high standard required for main-line operation.
As part of the organisation's 50th anniversary celebrations, they ran one of their Ja class steam locomotives, an Ab class locomotive, and a pair of heritage Diesels on a short section of track; for a 'fee' of $50, members of the Public could drive one of the locomotives during the three day weekend that has just concluded...!
The experience was in high demand...!!!
Ja 1271 AND ITS CLASS MATES
There is much that could be written about this Class of locomotive, but I'll limit myself to just two facts, namely:
1. there are numerous instances of this type of locomotive charging across the Plains of the South Island at sustained speeds of 70mph (112kph) or more while hauling the South Island Limited Express that consisted of ten carriages (or coaches, but remember: we're influenced by British terminology!),
and
2. for an engine with just 56 inch driving wheels, this resulted in a rotational speed of 360 revolutions a minute or 6 revolutions a second - quite an achievement for the 3 foot 6 inch track gauge and a locomotive, that by world standards, fell into the "mixed traffic" class...!
TODAY
Today, however, it was rather pleasant to just sit and enjoy the warm sun, to watch Ja 1271 trundle quietly down a short length of track, and to allow my imagination to take me back to the days when it and its Class mates stormed across the Plains of the South Island, white clag / exhaust streaming behind, driving rods a blur of high speed motion, and the noise on the footplate a cacophony of Sound...!
Sigh... Those were the days...!
Some of the above has been gathered from
(A) www.steaminc.org.nz/about-us/
(B) www.steaminc.org.nz/our-rail-fleet/steam-locomotives/ja1271/
and from
(C) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_JA_class
Thank you for your very kind and encouraging comments beneath my photos...! Your support is very greatly appreciated.
In the U.K. Lockdown 3 eases fundamentally on the 12th of April 2021, bars, restaurants and shops are gearing up to reopen and I guess are expecting a bit of a rush. Stand by for a third U.K. peak!!
"From Wikipedia"
Historians and archaeologists maintain that the pagoda was built by the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. However, according to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago, making it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. According to tradition, Taphussa and Bhallika — two merchant brothers from the city of Balkh in what is currently Afghanistan — met the Lord Gautama Buddha during his lifetime and received eight of the Buddha's hairs. The brothers traveled to Burma and, with the help of the local ruler, King Okkalapa, found Singuttara Hill, where relics of other Buddhas preceding Gautama Buddha had been enshrined.[citation needed] When the king opened the golden casket in which the brothers had carried the hairs, incredible things happened:
“There was a tumult among men and spirits ... rays emitted by the Hairs penetrated up to the heavens above and down to hell ... the blind beheld objects ... the deaf heard sounds ... the dumb spoke distinctly ... the earth quaked ... the winds of the ocean blew ... Mount Meru shook ... lightning flashed ... gems rained down until they were knee deep ... all trees of the Himalayas, though not in season, bore blossoms and fruit.”
Snow and Ice on the ground and a Christmas wreath attached to a Wisconsin Central maintainer’s truck help bring the spirit of the Season to the railroad yard in Neenah. -- December 1995. ~~ A Jeff Hampton Photograph ©
The gardener did their job of maintaining the greens well but the condition of the structure, fountain, waterworks and formworks were poor. Looks like they need to repaint the place and do a better maintenance job otherwise the millions spent on this structure will definitely be a sore point. The view shown here was the opposite side of the view as shown below.
This is a HDR panorama consisting of 3 sets of 3 frames.
Date & Time: 5-Nov-2010 @ 5:17pm
Lens: Canon EFS 18-135 IS
EXIF: f11, 1/200 +/- 1.33EV, ISO-100, 18mm, Pattern, no flash, Manual
HDR: Photomatix v3.2 using Details Enhancer
Panorama: PhotoShop PhotoMerge did a good job of stitching.
Editing: PS CS5E
Click picture to view large of press 'L' to enjoy the panorama.
Don't know the name of this well maintained building or when it was built. (Early 1900s?) It's got a pretty interesting history though. Upstairs has always been apartments and many years ago it housed a roller-rink in the back.. The first floor on the left was a saloon that connected to a dance hall on the right. Today, on the left, is the Lazy 6 Cattle Meat Market where the saloon used to be. On the right is the El Sazon de Martha Restaurant and former dance hall. (Good grub and no sign!) The original well-worn dance hall hardwood floor is still in use as is the bar from the old saloon. The ceiling features the original decorative pressed-tin panels. 221 N. 2nd St. (US 87)