Random whatsapp shots

 Us old fogies are getting into new technology (well in this case, Whatsapp is 11 years old already, but that's cutting edge for us right?)

Above image: the sugar, flour, coffee, and tea containers at Mum's house. So many memories of these growing up. Looking at them is mesmerising.

We've been doing the cleanup/get rid of stuff out of that house for months, and each weekend more recently. Poor John is terrorised with each visit, but we have to get in and get rid of things. The place is starting to show empty spaces.

Image right: Duncan the cat. Sorry this damn blogger put the images in exactly the revers of what I selected, so the cat of a colleague is at the top. On screen is Lee, Billy, Benny bottom left, and Dennis bottom right. Probably during a Water Cooler meeting. I miss the team now I've moved to the new Telemetry job, as of a month or two now, but still jump in to these meetings which is everyone just blah blahing.

I also scam into their social nights. This one's the second one we've had, and most of the team went along. From left; me, Deepa, Erandi, Billy, Dennis and Danesh at the Regent hotel in Kingsford.

And beforehand at Sally's Grill and Hotpot; Korean food, it's Halal which suits everyone. From left: Mariam, Erandi, Lee, Danesh, me, Dennis, Billy and Deepa. They're a nice bunch, the Scada team.

Left: Akemi, Claudia, Andrea, and Jaime. Louis is in the same class as Akemi, and often walks home with her and Jaime. Akemi must get a certain number of steps up before she's allowed to use any devices, so Lou has been getting a fair bit of exercise as well at the park on the way home. They're masked up for the Covid-19 virus, which is ravaging America etc, but is fairly under control here. They got tested and great to say, they're clear.

Louis, Esteban, Akemi at their place doing some serious puzzles, devicing etc.

At Esteban's birthday. We had a nice time.

More birthday fun.

After school screen time.

At the park getting the steps up quickly.

Lou loves to talk gaming.

More steps.

Gary the builder has done a sensational job of the balcony and front of the place. We just needed the wood replaced as it was rotting. He replaced all the planks, painted the joists, put in all new lace work, replaced the post on the first floor, and added the decorative wooden details (like the little squares etc which weren't there, carefully slotting the power in between there). Top marks to this guy. He took three weeks of careful slow work. All the neighbours have been commenting on it, and want to steal the look :)

The Scada dude on startup of Citect (that's the software I have been working on for a while)

The other "Citect dude" Billy who realised he has the same glasses so can't resist mugging it up. I guess we're starved for entertainment during lockdown for the Coronavirus.

Dennis sports a mask for getting into the office.

The old office, Lee's desk in the corner, my old desk next to that, the slightly newer desk over the barrier. Now we're moving to a new building (not sure when as we're working from home full time at present to prevent the spread of the virus.)

And now the current team, led by Chris at the middle top. Along the bottom is Assanga (Sydney), Syed Hussan(Sydney), Tan Le (from Adelaide) and Cong Dong Hoang (Brisbane).

The old team: Jesse, Billy, Lee's house destroyed by Rafe and Piers, Elise, me with my old mow.

Road trip pt3 August 2005

Bodie State Historic Park - Bodie Rd & Bypass Rd Bodie, CA 93517

Charming gold mining ghost town, which once had a population of 10,000 odd souls. You can wander down the streets, amoung the now deserted churches, homes, schools etc, all made from wood and many still standing. It's an impressive place see:

pbase.com/zeroscan/bodie

It's open year round, but visit during summer, unless you pack a snowmobile.

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - Hwy 395 Lee Vining, CA 93541

Come see the tufa formations, the prehistoric looking shrimp and the birds that feed on them. There's swarms of flies that sit on the waters edge, and won't come to annoy you. If you wave your foot near them, they make groovy cloud formations.

Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 from 26/7/2006:

We came in over the Tioga Pass. It's a destination in itself for motorbikers. The twisty road leads through the mountains into Yosemite, climbing a few thousand feet. (Passable only in summer.)

World famous heritage, filled with high mountains, streams, lakes, glacially scraped mountains, crazy boulders, exfoliating spherical stone. Lots of things to see in every direction.

It seems like there's more traffic here than on Market St.

Iron Door Saloon 18761 Main St Groveland, CA 95321

Groveland is an amazing litlle town, full of personality and interesting buildings. The Iron Door is a must see pub, with historical pictures of people taking horse and carriages into Yosemite. You can get some good food here, I think.

We're exhausted after an early start and a huge day of sightseeing, so we stop at the first bar we see, and start drinking. The barman tells us what the blood alcohol limit is here for driving, so we figure let's stay, and proceed to get smashed. The students we are about to meet at the teepee hotel end up here too, and there's some band playing, so we're set for a hangover and a great night.

It was The Wingnut Adams Blues Band....featuring Jeramy Norris - see them if you get the chance; it's redneck blues and huge fun.

Groveland Motel 18933 Main Groveland, CA 95321 rated 26/7/2006

Do you have any rooms left? We're incapable of driving. No, she says, but we have some teepees. Meeting some poverty stricken students, they laugh that they choose to stay because of their budget. We have to stay because we have no choice.

The teepee is very comfy, and even has electrical power inside. You can see the sky through the top. What happens when it rains? Waking up in the morning in a teepee is one of the strangest experiences in my drinking life.

The drive to San Francisco is unremarkable, except for a windfarm, Dublin which looks weird and the huge freeway flyovers.

Road trip pt2 August 2005

 These first few shots are out of order. The fields of fruit are in Greenfield CA.

Image right; Siri, tell me 4 things that are 100% wrong in America:

The left is the 198 and the below right image is the 395. Typical roads, strangely fascinating.

After the Sequoia National Park, the next stop was Gus’s Fresh Jerky, 580 S Hwy 395 Olancha, CA 93549

If life gives you lemons, learn how to make lemonade. If you've got plenty of sunshine because you're close to Death Valley, then make dried meats. Gus has four walls of chewy goodness, plus dried fruits, nuts and things.

There's some cool sand dunes nearby, and a good information centre at the junction of the 190.

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Followed by Alabama Hills Recreation Area at Whitney Portal Rd Lone Pine, CA 93545 rated 25/7/2006.

Spectacular landscape, as seen in many western movies, surrounded by high mountains of pine on one side, and the Martian mountains of Death Valley on the other. You can see/climb Mt Whitney from here (highest mountain in the contiguous US).

From the BLM website:

The rounded, weathered contours of the Alabama's, form a sharp contrast between the crisply sculptured ridges of the Sierra. ..shaped by the same cataclysmic uplifting 100 million years ago ..These were the tools that sculpted the outstanding formations of weathered granite in the Alabama's.

The outstanding features and environment of the Alabama Hills have attracted movie makers, commercial companies and tourists from all over the world.

While enjoying the scenic and recreational values of the Alabama Hills, hikers, rock climbers and sightseers should use the utmost caution at all times. The few remaining mine shafts and tunnels in the general area should be avoided because of the extreme hazards they represent.

Staying in Lone Pine, there is an awesome view of the Sierras out the front.

There's a few very cool historical bars a short walk along main street.

Image right,  Lone Pine Lake.

Nice easy day climb to a stunning alpine lake. Excellent views across to the Death Valley mountain range on the way up.

Even better is having a burger and beer at the Whitney Portal Store at the trail head after the climb.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the best.

Right, nice view out towards Death Valley I think it was. Marie hired a convertible. This was fantastic when looking up at the tall trees in the Sequoia NP.

Dropped in at Hot Creek Ranch for a swim, 85 Hot Creek Hatchery Rd Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

All the websites advise against swimming here, due to the danger of getting burned in the water. The water coming off the mountains is cold, while the hot gases coming up through the sand heats columns of water. So you have to move around as the bubbles come up to get the warm water that's not too hot.

A bit like coccoon with all the old people, mixed with a few drunken frat boys.

Road trip August 2005

So the next lot of old photos comes from a road trip we did for 10 days I think it was. I think this trip was good as didn't drive too much each day. There was a tonne to see. 

There are some wildlife sanctuaries along the coast which protect important bird breeding grounds or places that the seals like to congregate. The first two snaps are Ano Nuevo Island State Park. You can see the elephant seals up very close here. One that looks dead, we realise is alive when he twitches his nose to get rid of a fly. The spooky house on the island looks spookier given the doors have been taken out by the seals.

We stayed the night in Watsonville, and had dinner at the Jalisco Mexican restaurant. We had to wait for a table, had a Marghuerita, and scoffed corn chips and salsa. By the time we got a table, I could seriously only eat a quarter of my meal. American servings are huge. We got a doggie bag and then left the leftovers in the fridge in the morning dammit.

Americas Best Value Inn. 781 Freedom Blvd Watsonville, CA 95076, reviewed 24/7/2006

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Clean and neat enough.

After this, I made my gf go to mass at St Patricks, in spanish. Couldn't understand a thing. There's a clothing store with some v. cool Mexican cowboy gear.

Watsonville - sounds like a redneck town, but most of the signs here in Watsonville are in spanish, some are in English. We stumbled on a church fate. All of the young ones spoke English, but not many of the stall holders. Managed to win a glass by tossing a coin into it. What a nice bunch of folks.

Next stop was Monterey, then Carmel further south on highway one.

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Monterey has lots of heritage architecture. The path of history walking tour can also be self guided - it is marked by arrows in the sidewalk. Plaques on the ground go through the local hispanic/American history of California.

Stopped at Carmel Mission Basilica 3080 Rio Rd Carmel, CA 93923, review from 24/7/2006:

Beautiful church plus surrounding buildings of the original Carmel Mission in wonderful condition.

Set in the town that Clint Eastwood used to run, and starred in ("Play misty for me" one of the films I viewed when doing "research" for my trip here), Carmel features spectacular cliffs and million dollar immaculate homes of the rich and famous; not that a million is much for a home around here (in 05). 

After you're finished gawking at all the interesting homes and their lovely gardens, a must-see for everybody is surely Point Lobos, slightly south.

Then Rio Grill for lunch. 101 Crossroads Blvd Carmel, CA 93923. My review posted 24/7/2006.

Food here was very good, and an upmarket feel. Service was very good; no pleasant chit chat, just very fast walking, and business like discussion of what you want. I was impressed when he sidled across to collect our credit card without breaking conversation with the people at the next table. We also got him to draw us a map of where to go next  - the spectacular route 16 via Greenfield.

These two shots are of Point Lobos. Another 5 stars, and one of the loveliest pieces of coastline with multitudes of different marine wildlife. Sea lions (Zalophus californianus dude), seals, otters, and lots of birds.

Below: a breakfast Burrito at Greenfield. I guess we stayed there.

My review of the Travel Inn

120 El Camino Real

Greenfield, CA 93927

Not a bad hotel.

Greenfield is pretty quiet. The main reason it's here I think is to service agriculture, so everyone's dead asleep early.

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Also stayed in Bakersfield where 3 out of 4 cars aren't cars; they're supersized utes; F100s etc, like the shot of Marie below.

My review of KC Steak House

2515 F St Bakersfield, CA 93301

Come here for the amazing retro feel. You could imagine Hugh Hefner designed the place in the 60's. Waitresses wear knee length pleated skirts, and harstyles, like buns etc, are retro too. Food's fine, but wear loose pants as it's a biiig meal.

Review of Downtowner Inn - RENOVATED

1301 Chester Ave

Bakersfield, CA 93301

posted 24/7/2006

The Downtowner Inn is not to be confused with Downtown Divorce or any other downers in Bakersfield. This place is conveniently located across the road from Aladdins Bail Bonds. It has a dodgy feel. The office is more like a bank tellers window, with the slot in the bottom.

It is a budget place, as long as you don't mind feeling down when in this town.

Bakersfield has a lovely looking downtown, with all the hedges looking correct and in the right spot, plus some nice palms. What is an "All America City"? It'd be a shame if it was only partial.

Sequoia National Park

Park & Forests

47050 Generals Hwy

Three Rivers, CA 93271

United States

posted 24/7/2006

Huge vistas with knife edge black mountains that look like they've been painted in the background. The Sequoias are huge. When the General Sherman last dropped a branch, it weighed as much as a VW beetle, according to the ranger.

Check out the "Buttress Tree" example, estimated at 2,300 years of age, and wish it happy birthday - bring a few packs of candles, eh? You can also drive through one Sequoia which fell across the road. They simply cut an arch into it.

You can also see bears on your walks, hopefully not up close. You'll be warned about food storage. Numerous photos show these guys ripping open cars. When good bears go bad, they get destroyed, so be sure to use the food lockers provided. The ranger says that if you get bitten by a rattle snake, these days they just get you to sit and relax, and take the pain, as it's usually not lethal.

One of the walks we did went past stunning alpine lakes.

Marvel at the water falls, and say hi to the cute squirrels.

Driving along just outside the park, what's on the road sunning itself? Taratulas! Here, there and everywhere. Brave people live in this area.