#North Shore Motel

[williammarksommer]

North Shore Motel

Lost Highway series

Hasselblad 500c/m

Kodak Ektar 100iso

[doo-wop-city]

Neon Lights 3: North Wildwood

I hope you enjoyed our nighttime neon excursion through North Wildwood so far. We’re now headed north on New Jersey Avenue, as we prepare to continue our adventure in Wildwood Proper. These photos were taken on August 24th, 1968. (…Or, was that 2024?) During the daytime, Vegas Diner’s storefront sign is a platinum silver-white. When nighttime descends on Doo Wop City, the sign is backlit with a…

[rreskk]

HEADCANONS: North Yankton Trevor (specific, personal headcanons)

TW: smut, drugs.

-When the rented (or stolen) cars used to break down during a journey with the guys, Trevor would surprisingly have the most knowledge about mechanics as he had to learn a few pieces here and there from his time in the airforce. By all means, he can work his way around the engine (replacing oils, fixing up batteries, replacing misused equipemtn) and can easily replace tires if necessary. As Michael said before, “he has his uses”. Besides, how else would present Trevor keep his Bhodi working if he didn’t know how to fix a good old car? ;)

-Trevor has issues surrounding wet dreams. It became a big issue when he couldn’t hide it from the guys in motel rooms. They’d wake up to the sight of Trevor’s raging boner and wet-stained bedsheets as he continued sleeping with a clearly disturbed and flustered face. He’d have these dreams at least every fortnight and Brad likes to tease him about it (earning a good fist fight every now and then).

-He’s used to cold weather as he spent most of his childhood in the Canadians freezing conditions (well, depending on the areas he lived in), but he knew snow all too well. This would mean that he was less affected. Michael and Brad would have their coats double layered but they’d watch Trevor walk out of the motel room wearing a light sweater or jacket. Even more so, he doesn’t complain about the weather at all. It could be a blizzard and he’d still get pissy at Michael for deciding the offer to sit outside with a beer.

-I’d like to believe Trevor still had his teenage band T-shirt phase throughout the Yankton era. Michael would borrow a few shirts and, no surprise, it would all have these niche punk bands imprinted with a few permanent blood-stains, also some occasional rips and tears.

-Trevor had a small crush on Amanda when she first began dating Michael. It was… an unusual time since he was also (sneakily) seeing Michael still, at the time. Talk about a chaotic love triangle, but it’s just Trevor pining for both.

-Was definitely convinced to a psych-ward during his 6 month prison sentence as he was clearly unstable and tremendously emotionally unfit to be around other prisoners. He had to attend anger meetings, art therapy, stayed in the psych-ward under the prisons guidance still.

-Michael mentioned (at the start) that he ran whores, smuggled dope etc… An idea I have would be the image of the three of them enjoying themselves with a few prostitutes, but for some unknown reason, every single sex-worker would adore Trevor. Every single one. And the only one that didn’t, it was Amanda, and she married Michael. That’s another reason why Trevor would be bitter at their relationship.

-Michael had to secure his savings because Trevor (back in North Yankton) would go crazy with his cash. Because he grew up with low money incomes, the moment he has his hands on the green notes, he’ll just blow it. Nonetheless, he learnt to save it, as we can see from Sandy Shores Trevor. Without Mikey, he had to learn the hard way.

-Trevor had a few girlfriends in the Midwest to try and understand Michael’s preference for stability and marriage. He genuinely loved these girls, but they’d all leave him due to his drug habits and emotional baggage. However, some would leave with his stash of cash. This would be because of Trevor’s heavy dependency on female figures that he’d be too naive to see the obvious signs of the gold-digger in them. A few weeks into this “relationship” he’d believe would end with marriage, they’d just leave without another word on a random day. After that, he stuck to hookups and one night stands.

-Amanda used to get drunk and vent to Trevor about Michael’s sexual performance. I’d like to imagine his cheeky grin as he’s the cause of Michael’s lack of interest in Amanda since… well, he’d be fucking her man stupid most nights of the week anyway!

[crabussy]

Hi robin hope you're doing good!! Are there any places to see or things to do you'd recommend for someone visiting Aotearoa for the first time?

hi its actually francis but I'm just as (if not more but don't tell him I said that hehehe) fanatic about aotearoa!!! I'm happy to help out. I'm gonna write a bit and leave this in drafts and then rob can finish it off cause its reaaaally late!! eek!! I gotta sleep because there's hiking happening tomorrow!

waitomo glowworm caves are great but ACTUALLY!!! I DON'T RECOMMEND THE SUPER FAMOUS ONE!!!! it's nice but it's not so long and the photos you see online are usually better than the experience you get. try out ruakuri caves in waitomo instead!! they're pretty much right next to the most popular caves, but they're longer, deeper, contain more interesting formations AND glow worms as well!! not as many as the main one. it depends on what you're looking for!!! there's a SUPER COOL motel called woodlyn park where you can stay in an old boat, an old tram, an old plane or a hobbit house that have all been converted into rooms. it's really cool!! might be a bit costly though

SWIM SOMEWHERE IF YOU CAN!!!! a river, an estuary, a beach. check water quality first!! beaches are probably your best bet! one of my favourite things in the world to do is swim at the beaches in aotearoa. I have yet to see a beach that makes me happier than the ones here!

some REALLY COOL TOWNS include rotorua (super stinky geothermal hotspot!!! so cool!!!!! bright green lakes!!!) and ahuriri (art deco town!! they actually hold a 1920s inspired festival there yearly if I'm remembering right!), <- francis went to bed at this point HI its robin now. what the freak is up guess I'm writing the rest of this post. also I'm DEFINITELY the bigger fanatic don't listen to her. liar liar pants on fire etc

UM!!! DEFINITELY hike/do a day walk if you can. I fucking LOVE hiking here it's always beautiful. in te ika-a-māui (north island) I really enjoy the waitākere ranges, there's currently a rāhui for some areas but I went hiking last weekend and the trail I went on was really lovely. there are quite a few to choose from!! I went along exhibition drive and the beveridge track, entering from titirangi village.

we're well known for our native birds, but as many of them are endangered you might have trouble seeing many of them. I'd recommend tiritiri matangi, an amazing conservation island off the shore of tāmaki makaurau. it can be pricey to visit but the sheer number of birds to be seen there is wonderful!!! you can even see takahē, as well as kiwi at night. the cost of the ticket goes towards the conservation being done on the island.

if you have a chance to experience a kapa haka performance or attend a māori festival GO. GO GO GO. it's always incredible, the power and just. joyous fierce pride people put into the waiata and haka is amazing. if you go around june-july, you'll be there for matariki celebrations!!! experience them. there'll be lots of events happening in major cities like tāmaki makaurau and pōneke.

if you're up for a bit of camping, motutara farm is an absolute gem. it's in whananaki, and needs to be booked WAY in advance but my god its marvelous. the beach is wonderful the rockpools are fascinating the walks are incredible and the camping sites are so lovely. you will have to deal with long drops.

genuinely, and I'm so serious, if you end up in the north island LET ME KNOW!!!! I love meeting up with people and if you end up in the city I live in, I'd love to show you around!!! there's a walk I really love in my town that I'd be happy to take you on.

there's so much more but these are my (and francis's) top picks!!!! I love these islands so much. there's so much to be experienced. I WILL ALSO SAY!!! the public transport is very good. you can mostly rely on it especially in cities.

[sl-walker]

Preview...

...from the next chapter of Stardust, which will go out at some point after I finish it. Until then, please enjoy this opener to an already wildly self-indulgent chapter.

--

“I maintain that this would be easier in a pool,” Ted said, though given his tone, he was kvetching to kvetch -- his term -- and was perfectly content with where they were.

Booster had never been in any body of water larger than a hot tub or a cold water post-game bath before, so obviously he’d wanted to jump into Lake Michigan.  It was upwards of 90 out and it wasn’t the dry heat of El Paso; this heat clung to the body, making clothes stick in wildly uncomfortable ways and in insanely uncomfortable places, and so naturally he wanted to wear as little as possible and the best place to get away with wearing very little was the beach.  The incredible amount of blue and water was just a bonus.

And that wasn’t even taking into account a Ted wearing nothing but swim goggles and trunks.  Which meant this could well be either Booster’s very personal heaven or his very personal hell.  Unless there was a weird personal purgatory where you were being tortured with the appealing sight of the unaware object of your affections?

Hell if he knew.  There was a reason he body-swerved religion like it was a wharf rat hissing from the storm drain.

He'd thought about going out to some of the Long Island beaches before, maybe as an afternoon trip, but the ocean intimidated him every bit as much as he was fascinated by it.  By his time, the oceans were very barren; mostly, they existed as giant vats to grow specialized algae, which in turn became the building blocks of most food sources.  Storms could rage, but the vast bumpers and floats and dividers kept the surface anywhere near shore fairly smooth; to let it get wild would be to risk starving some large portion of the roughly two billion people inhabiting Earth at any given time.

In this time, waves roared ashore and smashed against rocks and the first time he’d stood on an unsheltered walk next to an unfettered ocean had left him so awed that he didn’t even remember the walk back to the motel.  His face was windburned and he was cold enough that he took the warmest shower he could coax out of the motel’s hot-water heaters, and then sat shivering wrapped in the cheap blankets after.

But even as he did, he was still reliving the reverberation of water pounding the shore, a low and bone-shaking boom that felt like it changed the very rhythm of his heart right through the soles of his shoes.  He was still tasting salt, flecks of seawater spray flung by the wind, long after it had to have been impossible to.

Lake Michigan was cheerful by comparison to that; the waves were nonexistent today, and given the rental Ted had chosen, the largely private beach was likewise quiet.  Down the way, one of the various public beaches that lined the North Shore was busier -- Jaime, Brenda and Paco had abandoned them to go investigate the more social scene, in fact -- but there had been no talk of Booster and Ted going with.

If one was going to half-ass some swimming lessons, then it couldn’t be a better day for it, or a better location.  And, ulterior motives about getting to see the man in trunks aside, Booster wouldn’t have wanted them from anyone but Ted anyway.

Booster shrugged, drawing his hands through the water in a wide arc around himself, feeling the resistance against his palms. “Easier, sure, but way less pretty,” he said, as he pretended with award-winning composure that he was referring to the lake and not his oblivious instructor.  Though the lake was also pretty.

“Yeah, but with a pool you can practice kicking by holding onto the side.  For an example.”  Ted looked around; he had so much sunscreen on his face and shoulders that there was a glaze of it left on his skin.  Not enough to hide the birthmark on the back of one shoulder.  He smelled like artificial coconut, which was definitely not Booster’s favorite scent, and Booster still would have happily buried his face in Ted’s neck for a snootful.  “I mean, out here all you have to hold onto is me,” Ted added.

Booster stared at him for a second or two, then swallowed down a groan and just let himself slide below the surface because it was that or die right there.

He was laying sort-of on the floor of Lake Michigan in a speedo and goggles and the guy he was absolutely head over heels for was mostly naked and this was the single worst idea he’d ever had in his life.

But, he had to allow as he stared up through the water at the distorted image of his best friend looking down at him in what was undoubtedly a bemused fashion, there were definitely worse ways to go.

[oneforthemunny]

so i just went on vacation to a lil beach town with cute shops (but everything was so expensive i blew through 250 dollars and got like five things sobsobsob) and i can just imagine like janitor eddie or one of the eddies without lots of money feeling so ashamed that he can't buy you everything you want and you guys have to stay in a cheap motel because renting a beach house is pricey and he just feels like a failure and you have to comfort him

but i also imagine mafia eddie or rockstar eddie taking you out and you guys stay at a 9,000 square foot house and its so lavish and anything you even glance at it getting bought immediately

I don’t even think you would really want anything souvenir wise but janitor!eddie is adamant to get you something. he’s so sweet and tries to buy you handmade she’ll jewelry that’s wayyyy overpriced and you tell him not to. he’s feeling all insecure, even though he’ll be eating chef boyarde for the next week bc he’ll be so broke, so you take him to the shore to look for shells. laughing like kids as the waves hit your feet, sticking your hand under the water to wash it off and reveal it to each other. sand dollars, a half a star fish, a gorgeous pink shell that eddie found and you gasped so excitedly at he couldn’t help but boast. it was better than that overpriced shit bc you two found it together. the cheap motel aided to the “ambiance” you told him with a grin. it was pastels of sea green and blues and it was fun down, stuck in the fifties, but you didn’t mind. it was clean, it had a bed and a working toilet, and an ocean view (sans balcony).

mafia!eddie is taking you somewhere off the grid entirely. somewhere safe, under an alias. really to him, a vacation is anywhere that it’s just the two of you. a house in the mountains without neighbors for miles? paradise. a lighthouse on the coast of the north east where nobody but fishermen come by? even better. he just wants to be somewhere secluded where he can really relax.

rockstar!eddie goes big always but he wants to rent or buy somewhere with character. when airbnb becomes a thing??? omg he’s their biggest customer. the malibu barbie dream house?? fucking sick. the haunted mansion look a like house?? the girls love it. a hobbit inspired cottage?? you gotta be shutting me. eddie tries to buy it off the owner for an absurd amount. he loves cool vacations really. wants his girls and you (and himself) to travel and see the world. experience different cultures and ways of life and environments.

[rainbowbarnacle]

We took a trip to the North Shore!

On Monday Luka and I went to Duluth to go look for agates and visit the rock shop and eat mindblowingly good pie. The drive up was really nice--very long, but we listened to Stephen King's Fairy Tale on the way and it is very good so far--a kid named Charlie is isekai'd to another world where he plans to take this absolute SWEETHEART of an elderly dog to this magic sundial so she can be young and not arthritic anymore. That's all I know so far but it's been really good so far.

The only hitch in the whole trip was when we were looking for a place to look for rocks, and this crazy dog with no leash and no collar goes zooming into the road, and Luka slammed on the brakes, and the person behind us just barely slammed their breaks, and we ended up accidentally clipping the poor dog--there was a big wet splat of water and a bit of hair on the front, but no damage, and the dog just kept running without a thought in its dear little head and disappeared into some forestry that happened before the beach

So we went looking for the poor dog so we could tell its owners that we bumped it, and we never found the dog or its owner, but we thiiiink the dog is probably hopefully okay x_x

And while we were looking for dogs and people, we found out the area we were in was a perfect swimming spot, so we went down to the beach and luka got out his snorkeler and a really nice drunk lady gave us a heart shaped rock Luka found a bunch of really cool stuff! Sea glass and some kind of really lovely piece of terra cotta with a honeycomb pattern on it, and a big laker agate and a bunch of really interesting hunks of things with fascinating crystals and pretty streaks of things running through it--he can tell you much more. I found one that looks like a kitty!

And the lake was just lovely. There was a cute family of loons and people kayaking (including one woman who had her golden retriever sitting on the boat while she rowed) and one guy flew by on a motorized parachute and threw us the horns. 8)

Then we went home and wolfed down food and fell the heck over at the Motel 6, where in the morning we discovered Ellie had tried to make a nest on the floor:

We went to the culinary miracle that is Betty's Pies, where I had pancakes and luka had biscuits and gravy and we had phenomenal pie.

Then we got to go to the ROCK SHOP. :D

The folks running the store were INCREDIBLY nice and helped identify some of what Luka found in the lake the day before. I was fortunate enough to be able to nab some pretties at very reasonable prices (seriously these were like a few bucks each)

If I am remembering the labels correctly, I nabbed: a tiny slab of coral, then a lake superior agate, carnelian, citrine, green jasper, malachite, labradorite, dumortierite, sodalite, petrified wood, crazy lace agate, and amethyst. The neat little platform it's on came from a nearby goodwill and has a bunch of fossilized snails in it? IT WAS A BUCK FIFTY, HOW

But yes it feels nice to have pretties finally. <3 I also nabbed a fossilized clam and an opalized ammonite.

Aaand after that we were gonna visit the Temperance River, but then the sky opened up and munched on roadtrip snacks and listened to more audiobook while the rain pounded down, and when it cleared up we took pictures of the forest.

And Ellie had an awesome time:

The highlight of our trip back was finding this billboard. Luka got off the southbound freeway, back on the northbound freeway, and back onto the southbound freeway, over a span of several miles, just to get this picture:

WORTH IT. 8D

and now I'm hoooome and I've cuddled my kitty and I'm going to be a zombie for a little while

What an awesome time, though. I hadn't been on a roadtrip since we went with @kurloz38 and @misa-chu in June of 2018. @_@ (we gotta get you guys back up here!!) It was indescribably nice to get to swim and splurge on pretty things and enjoy a really good book.

[lairn]

Thinking about national parks now and how I'd love to go to more of them. I'm going to list the ones I've visited and a thing or two I remember about each of them. Acadia: thunder hole and the rocky shores Badlands: the prairie hike and the way you can hike off trail, scooting down a very steep descent on my butt because it was better than falling headfirst Big Bend: hot springs, jays in the Chisos Mountains, Ross Maxwell Scenic drive and sunset near Santa Elena Canyon Bryce Canyon: the sun hitting the hoodoos late in the day Carlsbad Caverns: bats and the descent, learning about the ascent into Halloween Hall Gateway Arch: I didn't realize this was a national park?? It's surprisingly narrow but it was interesting seeing the mechanism to get to the top. Grand Canyon: on the north side black squirrels and a storm rolling in, on the south side the classic view Grand Teton: sunrise against the mountains, getting caught between a moose and a bear on a trail Smoky Mountains: the fall colors, the way the fog really is mysterious and thick and smoky Guadalupe Mountains: Smith Spring and the transition from scrub to forest Indiana Dunes: spending a day at the beach before it became a national park, the bog hike, taking a solo hike in the rain while my friends slept Mammoth Cave: the ice-cream cone formation, a playground at the motel (i was very young) White Sands: my deep desire to spot a lizard, the bright white of it all, admiration for people doing multi-mile hikes Yellowstone: my dad wearing socks on his ears because we did not expect winter weather in June, Moose Valley, my brother and i picking out the smallest hot springs and naming them after ourselves Yosemite: lots of big ravens, bridalveil fall viewed at a distance, sequoias Zion: bighorn sheep, peeking into the narrows, promising myself i'd come back with people who aren't afraid of heights and hike angel's landing

[fleurcareil]

Northeast Quebec & West Labrador

I drove in the pouring rain onto the ferry between Matane and Baie-Comeau across the Saint Laurent, so unfortunately there were no whales to be seen but the ferry was super modern with lots of different seating areas to choose from, and you could simply drink a beer at your table rather than being constrained to the bar area 😊. After arriving at the north side, I first had difficulty finding the motel, then got soaking wet getting stuff out of the car & finally only found a mediocre place to eat... you can't have it perfect all of the time!

Next morning, I started a route that I had anticipated for 14 years since I came to Canada; driving the entire Labrador loop from west to east! The first leg of 565km is actually still in Quebec, which was built to access massive hydro projects along the Manicouagan river. On the way, I pass the Manic-2 dam but the real beast is the Daniel-Johnson dam at the Manic-5 power station, which with its 14 buttresses and 13 arches is the largest of its kind in the world. A free tour allows you to go inside the power station, walk at the base and atop the massive structure and provides tons of interesting info, including that it's named after the Quebec prime minister who died on the eve of the inauguration... 😢.

To my big surprise, the paved road stops immediately outside Manic-5 and continues like that for 100km... I remember having seen in the news last year that the entire highway had finally been paved, but I now realised that that was the Labrador section, whereas Quebec did not pave it... the often-loose gravel, many construction road stops, fast truck traffic and the rolling hills made for a tiring drive, so was glad when I arrived at my place to stay for the night at Station Uapishka. They had originally cancelled my booking due to the wildfires (which I saw evidence of further south along the road) but when the road reopened, they did too. Luckily so, as my next stop was 494km further which would have been too much to add!

The special thing about this hotel is that it's on the shores of the "L'oeil du Quebec", the reservoir filled by the Manic-5 dam in the form of an eye, as a result of a meteorite impact 214 million years ago. At a diameter of 75km, it's the 5th largest astrobleme in the world and clearly visible on Gmaps... I had wanted to go supping on the lake but decided for a walk and a beer on the beach instead, sometimes it doesn't hurt to be lazy 😊. Over a delicious dinner, I had a great conversation with a woman who is professor in cellular biologie about amongst others how to stimulate children to study sciences. With my engineering background we had a lot of back & forth, which I tried to do in French as much as possible. She's Quebecois but teaches in English so we had a good linguistic exchange! 😁

Next morning, I continue the unpaved road for another 200km or so😒, passing massive mines and electricity projects until I finally arrive in the "Big Land" just outside Labrador City. The first thing you see when coming into town is the Canadian Tire store, which still makes me smile 😍, but less than 10 minutes later I had inadvertently driven out of it already and had to U-turn to find a gas station and a park to have a picknick lunch. I had hoped for some Canada Day celebrations (was wearing a red tshirt 🍁) but there was nothing going on. The only funny thing to see is that most cars have a pole with a flag on top for better visibility on project sites, quite comical as it looks as if everyone's celebrating a birthday 😂.

Then another 3 hours onward to Churchill Falls, on a much better, less industrial road which was a breeze to drive on (apart from the water holes left by rain bursts). I made a few photo stops to capture the boreal landscape, which is dominated by thin, almost skeleton trees with sometimes a light green moss undercover and lots of bogs or little lakes in between. It's not the prettiest forest I've seen (I like fuller trees) but its vastness is impressive. You could also see the ecological succession of regrowth after a fire, as some older fire areas were regenerating with tons of little trees with the burnt stalks still standing tall...

Arriving at Churchill Falls, I only take 2 minutes to drive all roads in town to find the gas station (very important as there's signs at the intersection that it's 285km one way and 240km the other way for the nearest gas station!) and the one building that houses the library, canada post, grocery store, hotel and sole restaurant - convenient! 😁 The tiny village (collection of houses really) did celebrate Canada Day with a baseball game and fireworks which I couldn't see but hear from my comfy bed 😜.

The next day it was sunny, so after a call with my parents, I already hit the road at 08:15am for the next 327km. Labrador looks big on the map but feels truly massive when driving... whenever I hit a traffic jam in the GTA, I was longing for empty roads... they do exist; in Labrador!! 😎 I think I saw less than 15 cars on the entire drive (in both directions!). A pitstop for some stretches and a muffin gave me another opportunity to snap pics of the strange trees.

I first skipped Happy Valley - Goose Bay on arrival and went straight to North West River where the Labrador Interpretative Centre has interesting exhibits about the 4 peoples that live here (Inuit, Innu, Métis and Settlers) including the installation of an inukshuk, one of my favourite symbols of Canada 😊 (I still would like to buy one but not sure where exactly, perhaps in a Montreal art gallery or out West). For who like me, until today, doesn't know the difference; Inuit are coastal people that came from the Artic, whereas Innu are traditionally nomadic people from Quebec who followed the caribou herds. The Métis here are descendants of Inuit and settlers (although due to dispute about the name east of the Prairies, they've renamed themselves to Nunatukavut). Labrador has a complicated history including the forceful relocation of villages and lack of self-determination over its rich resources, so good to learn more about it! Before heading to the guesthouse, I have a peek at Melville Lake and sit at the beach (it's 27 degrees!) until the rain forces me back to the car.

After having done the laundry, groceries and ever-crucial filling up the gas, I head out to the Birch Island Boardwalk which gives access to a sandbar on the Churchill River. Once a year, I dedicate time to reflect on the beauty of life while remembering the people who died too young; my half-brother André, my housemate Berber, and since 2019, my friend Soren who took his life on the 2nd of July. These deaths have impacted me tremendously, in that they have given me the resolve to live my life to the best of my abilities and spur me to put my personal life above a career, including my decision in 2009 to leave BP for a radical change and then now doing it again. Especially given that I have the flexibility without a partner or children, I owe it to myself and to André, Berber and Soren that I go after what I think makes me happy 💖. For now, that's traveling through Canada!

Wildlife: 1 moose & 1 rabbit (along the road)

SUPs: none

Hikes: none

[naamahdarling]

Search History Sad

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Caylin Capra-Thomas, “Search History Sad”

[currinsrnznships]

Fairmiles of RNZN – Fairmile Q406 – Later renamed RODNEY FARRY, NEW VENTURE and MOTONUI. THE LIFE STORY OF MOTUNUI – (WAITANIC) – EX R.N.Z.N. WWII FAIRMILE Q406 – Some more information Based on data & some images, from Daniel Michael’s input, on Facebook, with modifications & additions by Ken Ricketts. Other images ex Ken R. & Google – KEN R Q406, is the last Fairmile (to D.M’s. knowledge) left in NZ. She was used during WW2, as a N.Z. coastal patrol boat, & later used in the Solomons. Once she and the other Fairmiles, returned back to Auckland, in 1945, they were decommissioned. Q406 was offered as a tender, and purchased by Rodney Farry, who fitted 2 x Graymarine marinised, GM Detroit 6-71 diesel engines, and converted her into a passenger ship. She operated around the Otago harbour, until she ran aground on a sandbar, causing Rodney to lose interest in the concept. She was renamed New Venture in 1949, & sailed back to Auckland, under command of a temporary crew. While sailing back, she struck a violent storm off the Castlecliff Coast, with the inexperienced sailors clinging near the coast. In 1950, she was sold to Waiheke Shipping Co., & had her name changed to Motunui and was used as a passenger ferry, transporting people to & from Auckland to Waiheke, Great Barrier & Motuihi Islands. When Waiheke shipping was sold to North Shore Ferries Ltd. Motunui would continue operating under them until 1984, when she was sold into private ownership. Over the next 20 years she would switch ownership multiple times, one of these being to the late Ken Brown, an old friend of Ken R., who converted her to pleasure craft use, in the 1980s, & kept her at the bottom of his garden, on the water’s edge, in the Tamaki River, (Image attached). There were plans in 1997 to have her brought to survey standards in time to be used as a sightseeing boat, for the America’s Cup. This was abandoned, when relations between the joint owners, (& several suppliers) soured. Even though much work was done by then (including fitting an original wheelhouse taken from Fairmile Kahu). She was sold again in 2001, and 2006, when she took one final voyage to Tauranga, so her machinery could be removed, along with her superstructure. Her final owner was Barry Woods, who operated Woodlyn Park Motel, at Waitomo. Motunui was hauled onto land, and converted into a motel, now advertised as the “Waitanic.” As Q411, (Kahu), was scrapped last year, she seems to be the last Fairmile left in New Zealand, built during WWII., according to Daniel M. – KEN R Tags and categories: Fairmile Q406 – Later renamed RODNEY FARRY, NEW VENTURE and MOTONUI., Fairmiles (Class "B") and Harbour Defence Motor Launches - HDML's, Fairmiles of RNZN via WordPress https://ift.tt/Zb8edBq March 21, 2025 at 02:53PM

[doo-wop-city]

Neon Lights 2: North Wildwood

There are so many neon signs around Wildwood that make the island aglow and illuminate the night skyline in the summertime. These photos were taken on Saturday, August 24th, 1968. (…Or, was that 2024?) We concluded our previous entry on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. in North WIldwood. Turning west on 4th Avenue, we encounter the beautiful Jade East, whose neon sign has a decidely oriental…

[mbsposts]

Friday, July 12, 2024 Day 12

End Mileage 42450 5:45 PM EDT Start Mileage 42095 7:30 AM CDT Miles 365

Pies 25.00 Gas 17.80 Room 70.38 Supper 19.00 Total 132.18

Left room with the key in the door lock. Headed south on MN61 – the North Shore drive. Stopped at Caribou River and hiked the .5 mile trail uphill to the waterfall. Another impressive falls. Stopped at a wayside with a path to the lake. Next stop was at Betsy’s Pies. I ordered three slices – Peach-Blackberry, French Cherry, and Crunch Bar. Very good brunch. Traffic was slow through Duluth with construction. Got Gas in Superior and drove to Ishpeming Michigan for the night. It was a non-stop drive except at a visitor center. Failed to see the tall Indian nor did the waterfall near Baraga. Ate a fish supper at a restaurant next to the motel. Discovered I had lost a lot of my pictures for the day. A driving day.

[knick-nudiex]

During the decades of segregation in the United States, African Americans established various resorts. The resorts were self-contained commercial establishments. Varying resort accommodations included rooms for rent, meals and fine food, cocktail bars, dancing, sporting facilities (such as golf, horseback riding, tennis, swimming pools, fishing, badminton), and beaches. Entire communities (or towns) became resort areas for African Americans. The Negro Motorist Green Book helped guide African Americans to accommodating and safe places, including Idlewild, Michigan, which was among the most well known.

California

Bay Street Beach (also known as "the Inkwell") in Santa Monica, California

Bruce's Beach in Manhattan Beach, California

Eureka Villa (now Val Verde) in California

Lake Shore Beach Club on Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California

Murray's Dude Ranch in Apple Valley, California

Pacific Beach Club in Orange County, California

Peck's Pier and Pavilion in Manhattan Beach, California

Colorado

Lincoln Hills Country Club in Gilpin County, Colorado

Florida

American Beach, Florida

Bethune Beach, Florida

Bruce Beach in Pensacola, Florida

Butler Beach in St. Johns County, Florida

Hampton House in Miami, Florida

Manhattan Beach (now Hanna Park) in Jacksonville, Florida

Paradise Park, Florida

Virginia Key Beach in Virginia Key, Florida

Indiana

Fox Lake in Angola, Indiana

Maine

Jewell Inn in York Beach, Maine

Maryland

Arundel on the Bay, Maryland

Carr's Beach in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Highland Beach, Maryland

Sparrow's Beach, south of Annapolis, Maryland

Massachusetts

Camp Twin in Kingston, Massachusetts

Jones' Cottage in Hyannis, Massachusetts

Kingston Inn in Kingston, Massachusetts

Oak Bluffs in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts (also referred to as The Inkwell)

Dunmere-by-the-sea in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Shearer Cottage in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

The Roost in Osterville, Massachusetts

The Wigwam in Mashpee, Massachusetts[citation needed]

Michigan

Blue-Bird Motel in Covert, Michigan

Brooks Castle Farm in Grand Junction, Michigan

Glover's Chi-Acres in Paw Paw, Michigan

Idlewild, Michigan

Dulin's Motel in Idlewild, Michigan

Lydia Inn in Idlewild, Michigan

Pitchford's La Maison in Covert, Michigan

The Linwood Hotel in Detroit, Michigan

Mississippi

Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Mississippi

New Jersey

Beach 3 in Long Branch, New Jersey

Missouri Avenue Beach in Atlantic City

Chicken Bone Beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Liberty Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Park Plaza Motel in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Efra Court Motel in Wildwood, New Jersey

Harmon Motel in Wildwood, New Jersey

Rose Marie Manor in Wildwood, New Jersey

New York (state)

Coleman's Lodge in Bloomingburg, New York

Eastville in Sag Harbor, New York

Greenwood Forest Farms (also known as "The Colony") near Greenwood Lake in New York

Kings Lodge in Otisville, New York

Maple Valley Farm in Pine Bush, New York

Morgan Hill Lodge in Kingston, New York

Paradise Farm in Cuddebackville, New York

Peg Leg Bates Resort in Kerhonkson, New York

Rainbow Acres in Kerhonkson, New York

Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Beach Subdivisions Historic District in Sag Harbor, New York

Smith Haven in Pine Bush, New York

Utopia Lodge in Greenfield Park, New York

North Carolina

Freeman Beach (now Freeman Park) in North Carolina

Shell Island, North Carolina

Pennsylvania

Hillside Inn in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Atlantic Beach, South Carolina in South Carolina

Mosquito Beach, now part of Mosquito Beach Historic District, in South Carolina

Virginia

Bay Shore Beach (now Buckroe and Fort Monroe) in Virginia

Mark Haven Beach Hotel in Tappahannock, Virginia

Buckroe Beach near Hampton, Virginia

Washington, D.C.

Hains Point with Langston Golf Course in East Potomac Park

West Virginia

Hill Top House Hotel in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Wisconsin

Al's Silver Ridge Resort in Webster, Wisconsin

Goplana in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Lazy M Ranch in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Lake Ivanhoe, Wisconsin

See also

[edit]

Black-owned businesses

Chitlin' Circuit

Index of articles related to African Americans

List of African-American neighborhoods

List of African American hotels, motels, and boarding houses

Racial segregation in the United States

Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, 1953 in South Africa

[rippleon-blog]

From Desk Jobs to Real Estate Extraordinaire: The Story of Randi Zucker

You may be working for someone else today and be the powerful boss that you are tomorrow. The possibilities are endless, and today’s guest for The Ripple Effect Podcast is a walking example. 

I know you’re a busy person filled with dreams and ambitions. While you do today’s tasks, plug in your earphones and listen to The Ripple Effect Podcast! 

It’s your host, Steve Harper, with our special guest, real estate extraordinaire Randi Zucker.

____________________________________________

Randi Zucker’s early career experience revolved around internet marketing, e-commerce, and web design/development. Like most, she worked nine-to-five for companies and high-profile individuals. That was until she started thinking of long-term ways to cement her family’s promising future.

Together with her husband Adam, a licensed Florida Realtor, they’ve started flipping real estate properties and expanding their portfolio. “Flipping” in Randi’s Dictionary means buying properties that need improvement, renovating, and selling them. Over the years, they’ve successfully flipped over a hundred homes and eventually owned three hotels — Palm Cove Motel in Clearwater, Isla Palma Singer Island in Palm Beach Shore, and Three Pines Lodge in North Carolina. 

Having extensive experience in the real estate game, the power couple Randi and Adam offer coaching services to real estate investors who want to get into the business. They coach through the 10-Minute Mogul approach — investing 10 minutes of your time a day to grow your wealth and real estate empire.

Randi emphasized the significant role of relationship-building in her success — from initially reaching out to agents and investors to connecting with their market and knowing what hotel visitors need. Rippling is essential for an entrepreneur’s survival!

Additionally, Randi explains her challenges as everyone’s go-to problem solver and leader. 

Dip your toes into the world of real estate and start planting the seeds of legacy wealth. Let’s discuss all things real estate and relationship building!

____________________________________________

We briefly discussed The 10-Minute Mogul, but you can learn more by visiting www.10minutemogul.com. Take a quick assessment test and discover your Power Profile: www.10minutemogul.com/power-profile.

Ripple with Randi Zucker on Instagram: @randizucker.

#TheRippleEffect #10MinuteMogul #SteveHarper #RandiZucker #RealEstate #RelationshipBuilding #Entrepreneurship #Business #Realtor #PropertyManagement #HousingMarket #RealEstateInvesting #PropertyInvestment #RealEstateTips

Ready to get your Ripple On? Check out the latest episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast with Steve Harper!

[cityofsailsmotel]

Motels in Northshore: A Comfortable Stay for Every Traveler

Why Choose a Motel in Northshore?

North Shore is an ideal location for those wanting to experience Auckland without the hustle and bustle of the city center. With access to beaches like Takapuna Beach, Devonport, and Browns Bay, North Shore provides a relaxing atmosphere. Many motels in the region cater to both short-term and long-term stays, offering cozy rooms and essential amenities for visitors.

Whether you're visiting the area for leisure, work, or medical reasons, North Shore's motels provide an excellent balance of proximity to attractions and affordable pricing. With public transportation readily available and key business centers nearby, it's no wonder North Shore motels are popular among travelers.

Popular Motels Close to Smales Farm

If your trip to North Shore involves business at the renowned Smales Farm, you’ll want a comfortable place to rest without being too far from this bustling business park. Smales Farm is a key commercial hub in North Shore, housing many corporate offices, making it an important destination for professionals.

For those seeking motels close to Smales Farm, here are a few top picks:

Poenamo Hotel – Located just a short drive from Smales Farm, this motel offers a convenient location paired with an affordable price. It features spacious rooms, a restaurant, and an outdoor pool, making it a great option for both business travelers and vacationers.

Takapuna Motor Lodge – This lodge is perfect if you want to be near both Smales Farm and the beach. With spacious self-contained units, free parking, and laundry facilities, it’s an ideal option for extended stays.

City of Sails Motel – Another solid choice close to Smales Farm, the City of Sails Motel offers modern rooms and quick access to public transportation. The staff is known for being friendly and accommodating, ensuring a pleasant stay for all guests.

Each of these motels provides comfortable lodging with easy access to Smales Farm, making them perfect for business travelers who don’t want to stray too far from their meetings.

Northshore Motel Options for Medical Visitors

For those visiting loved ones or attending appointments at North Shore Hospital or Takapuna Hospital, there are several convenient and nearby accommodations. Staying close to the hospital is crucial for many who require easy access to healthcare services.

One of the most popular options in this regard is Northshore Motel, which is well-known for being located in proximity to healthcare facilities like North Shore Hospital. It offers clean, comfortable rooms with amenities designed to make long-term stays easier. Many guests appreciate the supportive and accommodating staff, especially when dealing with medical-related travel.

Similarly, the Takapuna Hospital Motel provides a peaceful place to stay for visitors needing access to the hospital. This motel offers quiet rooms with essential facilities like Wi-Fi, kitchenettes, and private bathrooms. The convenient location ensures that guests can walk to the hospital within minutes, providing peace of mind during stressful times.

Why Northshore Motels are Perfect for All Travelers

Choosing to stay at a motel in North Shore means you'll be close to everything you need, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities and recreational spots. Whether you’re exploring the beautiful coastlines or attending to business meetings at Smales Farm, the variety of motels in Northshore ensures that you’ll find a place suited to your needs.

In addition to affordability, the motels in North Shore offer personalized service and a range of facilities designed to make every stay as comfortable as possible. From free parking to Wi-Fi and proximity to public transportation, these motels give you all the amenities you need for a hassle-free visit.