Now for something completely different

[MMDown Under]

7 hours ago, lyndarra said:

The captain said we should expect a storm from SW tonight and possibly rain tomorrow.

I hope you don't have set in rain so you can enjoy the countryside. 

[MMDown Under]

Sad news ten wedding guests killed in a bus crash in NSW Hunter.  It is a long weekend in NSW for King's birthday.  

[MMDown Under]

Do you have Pub Choir in Canada, Lyle?  The girl who started it locally, now worldwide, has just received an Honours Award for Pub Choir (AM).  She continued to run it on line for free during the pandemic. Prior to Covid, we used to attend the Choir.  So much fun with everyone merry from drinking.  I was at the back, on a stool, as I can't stand that long.  It was fun to watch some of the guys try join the singing group with a girl they were attracted to.  Too bad about their singing voice!

[Blackduck59]

45 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Do you have Pub Choir in Canada, Lyle?  The girl who started it locally, now worldwide, has just received an Honours Award for Pub Choir (AM).  She continued to run it on line for free during the pandemic. Prior to Covid, we used to attend the Choir.  So much fun with everyone merry from drinking.  I was at the back, on a stool, as I can't stand that long.  It was fun to watch some of the guys try join the singing group with a girl they were attracted to.  Too bad about their singing voice!

I can't say we have such a thing here, we do have karaoke though. I haven't seen it offered anywhere lately. 

[Blackduck59]

@lyndarra there was a little dinghy in the yacht basin today, you might have found interesting. 

[MMDown Under]

5 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

I can't say we have such a thing here, we do have karaoke though. I haven't seen it offered anywhere lately. 

No it is not like karaoke.  It is a big group of people each singing their own part, under the conductor who just received the award. When it is all put together, it is really beautiful, food for the soul.

[Kristelle]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Sad news ten wedding guests killed in a bus crash in NSW Hunter.  It is a long weekend in NSW for King's birthday.  

 

saw that on the news.

 

what an awful tragedy..😢

 

(is PH here in SA too)

[MMDown Under]

1 minute ago, MMDown Under said:

No it is not like karaoke.  It is a big group of people each singing their own part, under the conductor who just received the award. When it is all put together, it is really beautiful, food for the soul.

This would be perfect for a long cruise, like a world cruise. 

[MMDown Under]

Just now, Kristelle said:

 

saw that on the news.

 

what an awful tragedy..😢

 

(is PH here in SA too)

Yes as tragic end to such a happy occasion. It was a bus charter for wedding guests.  The driver has been arrested.  (Not PH in Queensland.  Our King's birthday long weekend is 2/10.)

[Aussieflyer]

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

This would be perfect for a long cruise, like a world cruise. 

I know of a couple of cruise lines that have passenger choirs - a friend of mine always joins them. The last one was on QM from Fremantle to Cape Town.

[MMDown Under]

38 minutes ago, Aussieflyer said:

I know of a couple of cruise lines that have passenger choirs - a friend of mine always joins them. The last one was on QM from Fremantle to Cape Town.

I’ve been on ships with choirs but not one like a pub choir where you are allocated different parts depending on your voice.

[Blackduck59]

On 6/11/2023 at 3:07 PM, MMDown Under said:

Sad news ten wedding guests killed in a bus crash in NSW Hunter.  It is a long weekend in NSW for King's birthday.  

 

This story has made the news here in Canada. It has been reported here that this is the worst death toll in a crash in 30 years in Australia. The details we have heard are very few but it sounds like the driver is in for some pretty harsh scrutiny.

[MMDown Under]

Just now, Blackduck59 said:

 

This story has made the news here in Canada. It has been reported here that this is the worst death toll in a crash in 30 years in Australia. The details we have heard are very few but it sounds like the driver is in for some pretty harsh scrutiny.

Yes the driver has been charged with unsafe driving.  He is on bail, confined to his house during night hours, can't drive, etc.  Very sad.  It has been reported driver was speeding in fog. Ten wedding guests have been killed.  They were being transferred from winery wedding reception to Singleton accommodation.  

[MMDown Under]

A 24year old Brisbane woman is missing in Canadian bear country. The RCMP found her car parked at the Bear Lake Trail Head.

[lyndarra]

My first post in a while.phone SIM still not working and was having problems with ship dial-up  wifi.

The predicted storm arrived to coincide with disembarking on Sunday. Our off time was 6.45, which we ignored as our bus wasn't due until 9.30 but we had to get off before then. Rain was coming in horizontal and the covered walkway from ship to terminal didn't have much effect but was better than nothing. There were several hot air blowers aimed at passengers as they entered the building.

It's a long ride from Whittier to Anchorage but the closer we got, the more the weather settled. We had an hour or so to spare before boarding bus to Talkeetna.

Have had no spare time here in Denali until now. Arrived 6.00pm yesterday to find our hotel shuttle had not arrived to pick us up. All other buses had left and we were left standing in the car park like shags on a rock. A local volunteer noticed our predicament and organised for a staff driver ti take us up to the Grande Hotel. We had booked Cabin Nite for 7.30 that night (which is an out of town venue). We only had time to check into hotel and board the bus to venue. It was a great night of entertainment.

Back to hotel about 10.00pm but no time to socialise as we had to be ready by 04.50 next morning for bus to Denali Tundra tour. Tour was great but not as long as normal due to road damaged by a recent landslide. We saw bears, a moose, many caribou, ground squirrels but no dall sheep. Oh, we also got to see Mt Denali is bright sunshine, free of cloud. A wonderful sight.

We were back at hotel by 11.00am. Been to town for lunch and now resting.

 

[MMDown Under]

6 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

My first post in a while.phone SIM still not working and was having problems with ship dial-up  wifi.

The predicted storm arrived to coincide with disembarking on Sunday. Our off time was 6.45, which we ignored as our bus wasn't due until 9.30 but we had to get off before then. Rain was coming in horizontal and the covered walkway from ship to terminal didn't have much effect but was better than nothing. There were several hot air blowers aimed at passengers as they entered the building.

It's a long ride from Whittier to Anchorage but the closer we got, the more the weather settled. We had an hour or so to spare before boarding bus to Talkeetna.

Have had no spare time here in Denali until now. Arrived 6.00pm yesterday to find our hotel shuttle had not arrived to pick us up. All other buses had left and we were left standing in the car park like shags on a rock. A local volunteer noticed our predicament and organised for a staff driver ti take us up to the Grande Hotel. We had booked Cabin Nite for 7.30 that night (which is an out of town venue). We only had time to check into hotel and board the bus to venue. It was a great night of entertainment.

Back to hotel about 10.00pm but no time to socialise as we had to be ready by 04.50 next morning for bus to Denali Tundra tour. Tour was great but not as long as normal due to road damaged by a recent landslide. We saw bears, a moose, many caribou, ground squirrels but no dall sheep. Oh, we also got to see Mt Denali is bright sunshine, free of cloud. A wonderful sight.

We were back at hotel by 11.00am. Been to town for lunch and now resting.

 

Congratulations on seeing Mt Denali in bright sunshine, free of cloud, a rare event.  We didn't see it!  When you organised your trip, it probably didn't sound as exhausting as it turned out.  Enjoy the rest of your time in Alaska, one of my favourite places.

[MMDown Under]

15 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

A 24year old Brisbane woman is missing in Canadian bear country. The RCMP found her car parked at the Bear Lake Trail Head.

Later - sad news - woman was found dead.  No suspicious circumstances.  So sad for her family back in Australia.  She was hiking prior to starting a new job.

[Blackduck59]

12 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Later - sad news - woman was found dead.  No suspicious circumstances.  So sad for her family back in Australia.  She was hiking prior to starting a new job.

 

That is sad news, bears are unpredictable creatures. I can never understand the people who get out of the vehicles to get up close and personal to take a "selfy" with the bear cub on the side of the road. Of course they have no idea where momma bear is or the world of hurt you will be in if she catches you that close to her cub.

[MMDown Under]

I don't think she died from a bear.  No suspicious circumstances.  

I have seen people out of their vehicles taking photos of animals in Canada.  I was tempted by a moose, but we drove off when he came towards our vehicle.  I later saw photos of damage done to vehicles by moose.

[lyndarra]

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Congratulations on seeing Mt Denali in bright sunshine, free of cloud, a rare event.  We didn't see it!  When you organised your trip, it probably didn't sound as exhausting as it turned out.  Enjoy the rest of your time in Alaska, one of my favourite places.

My wife and I were here in 2015 and we were lucky enough to see both east and west side of the mountain. The bus driver today said that it's a 1 in 3 chance to get a clear view.

[Blackduck59]

2 hours ago, lyndarra said:

My wife and I were here in 2015 and we were lucky enough to see both east and west side of the mountain. The bus driver today said that it's a 1 in 3 chance to get a clear view.

I'm glad to hear your are having good views for your land adventure. We are considering a cruise tour option in Alaska and Yukon. I spent 7 weeks in the Yukon in 1977 while I was in cadets. Lynn has never been to the north other than our Alaska cruise. I am interested to see how Whitehorse and Dawson City have changed or remained the same. I also spent 2 weeks at a bush camp outside of Carcross that summer. I don't know if any tours go there, I hope they do. Enjoy the rest of your tour, we're looking forward to meeting you on Saturday.

[MMDown Under]

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

I'm glad to hear you  r are having good views for your land adventure. We are considering a cruise tour option in Alaska and Yukon. I spent 7 weeks in the Yukon in 1977 while I was in cadets. Lynn has never been to the north other than our Alaska cruise. I am interested to see how Whitehorse and Dawson City have changed or remained the same. I also spent 2 weeks at a bush camp outside of Carcross that summer. I don't know if any tours go there, I hope they do. Enjoy the rest of your tour, we're looking forward to meeting you on Saturday.

You could cruise on the Alaskan Marine Highway from Vancouver Island, like we did. You can stay as long as you like at each port and would be able to visit more interesting places like Petersburg on smaller ferries. www.petersburg.org  We hired a car and drove to Whitehorse. I loved both Yukon and Alaska. 

[Blackduck59]

3 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

I don't think she died from a bear.  No suspicious circumstances.  

I have seen people out of their vehicles taking photos of animals in Canada.  I was tempted by a moose, but we drove off when he came towards our vehicle.  I later saw photos of damage done to vehicles by moose.

 

Probably not, I haven't really seen any reporting on it so far. I was just commenting that some people are completely unaware the peril they put themselves in when dealing with wildlife. I certainly wouldn't want to be wandering around bear country without a gun, especially if those bears were Grizzlies or Polar Bears, they seem to think anything that moves is food.

Moose and Elk are both big animals and hitting one with your car is likely to total the car and the animal would get up and walk away.

[MMDown Under]

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Probably not, I haven't really seen any reporting on it so far. I was just commenting that some people are completely unaware the peril they put themselves in when dealing with wildlife. I certainly wouldn't want to be wandering around bear country without a gun, especially if those bears were Grizzlies or Polar Bears, they seem to think anything that moves is food.

Moose and Elk are both big animals and hitting one with your car is likely to total the car and the animal would get up and walk away.

I was told people fed the Moose, so when they didn't the Moose attacked the cars. (Cape Breton Island)

[Blackduck59]

6 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I was told people fed the Moose, so when they didn't the Moose attacked the cars. (Cape Breton Island)

 

Way over on the other side of the country but that doesn't surprise me, there are plenty of idiots everywhere. There is a herd of Roosevelt Elk that hangs out in a little town called Youbou (pronounced you bow) about an hour north from my place nobody bothers them and they don't bother anyone; unfortunately we here on the news that some loser went out and poached some of them. They just kill them sometimes take the rack and almost always leave the meat. If you're going to kill the animal you better be eating the meat (elk is excellent meat). When the locals hear someone messed with their herd they are not amused. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be caught poaching Elk on Vancouver Island.