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joezworld · 1 month ago

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Christmas Story

This chapter has aged me considerably, because today is my birthday. That's how this works, right?

The next morning bloomed cold and crisp. The temperatures had dropped to almost freezing, and while it seemed like a welcome change, to ring in the cold seasonal time of the year, nobody seemed that thrilled about it…

“It’s not even snowing!” Duck harrumphed to Oliver as they organized their coaches. “How can it be this cold and not snow?”

“I dunno.” Oliver replied, his mind far away from anything his friend was really saying. He was still mulling over yesterday. Truro really had started to call Bear a “brute”, before Oliver had accidentally cut him off. That was… well it wasn’t just out of character, but it was against type. He might not have believed Truro to be the source of all joy in the world like Duck did, but any Westerner could tell you with great reliability that Truro really was the Greatest of the Great Westerners. For him to even speak ill of Bear implied that he felt very poorly about the diesel, and, well, Oliver might believe in Truro, but he knew Bear.

“I just can’t believe he’s doing our shunting work!” Duck gushed, bringing Oliver back to reality.

Truro had grown very bored, as his mainline running restriction had forced him to only run on the peak services when Bear was available. Last night, he’d offered to shunt the trucks in the yard, just to give himself something to do. Oliver had been pleasantly surprised to see a tender engine willing to shunt, and since they kept the yard organized in the traditional Great Western Style, it was no paint off his buffers who did the organizing.

One need not guess how Duck felt on the matter. Truro could have offered to sort the trucks by colour and he would’ve agreed wholeheartedly.

“Oliver, you there?” Duck asked, and Oliver realized he hadn’t actually said anything. “What? Oh, yes, how magnanimous of him.”

Duck frowned, an uncommon expression for the past few weeks. “You alright?”

“Yes, of course.” He lied. “I just didn’t rest very well. I’ll be fine once I wake up.”

Duck didn’t examine this too closely, and rolled away to the platforms with Alice and Mirabel.

Oliver remained conflicted.

Later in the morning, Oliver was on his way to the big station with his first train of the day. There had been some delay setting out from the station, as a wagon Truro was shunting had derailed inside the station throat, but after only a few minutes delay, the wagon had been levered back onto the rails, and Oliver left.

On the line north of Haultraugh, the line ran near the sea. It didn’t go along the shoreline, but it was close enough that passengers could see the beach from the train. This had proved to be a somewhat effective marketing tactic for that particular stretch of beach, and many years ago the railway had begun allowing for “request stops”, where passengers could ask for the train to let them off near the shore. This was quite popular in the summer - a few vacation cottages had even been built - but people usually stopped asking by October. In December, it was virtually unheard of, unless someone was staying at a cottage for the holidays.

With this in mind, Oliver was quite surprised to find the train slowing down as they neared the general area of the cottages. “Is there someone staying at the cottages?” He asked Isobel, who was in front. “Surely not now!”

“Hold on,” She replied, sounding confused. “But you were the one who said we have to stop here!”

“What? No I didn’t!”

“Yes you did!” She retorted. “Stationmaster said that someone had mentioned it to you yesterday.”

“Not at all!” Oliver was now thoroughly confused, but by this point the train had come to a complete stop.

“Right,” The guard now interjected himself into the nonsense, by opening up Isobel’s back window and speaking to Oliver directly. “Where are these people? Nobody in here needs to get out.”

“I didn’t say anything to anyone!” Oliver was baffled. “Why wouldn’t I have said something before now?”

“Hmm,” Dulcie murmured from behind him. “You’d think that they’d have spoken to the guard or someone. I mean, how could they know that Ollie was even going to be the one taking the train? Could’ve been Duckie this morn’ or maybe Bear and Truro?”

That gave everyone pause. “Y’know, that’s pro’lly the right answer,” The guard said after a moment of chin stroking. “They might’ve taken the first train of the day.”

“So then we stopped here for nothing?” Oliver was just starting to understand what had happened.

“Yeah, but it happens.” Shrugged the guard.

“Hey! Hey! Wait!” A voice called out, and everyone turned to look towards the beach. A man and a woman were scrambling up the beach towards the train. “Don’t leave yet!”

Oliver was speechless, and waited in silence as the couple ran up to the train. “Damn cottage doesn’t have a clock!” The man said as he got closer to the train. “I didn’t think you’d be here!”

“Are you staying at the cottages here?” The guard asked, pulling open Isobel’s door and extending the steps.

“Yeah! It’s cheap in the off-season.” the man replied, ignoring his wife’s eye roll.

“I’d imagine so!” The guard chuckled, as he sold them a pair of tickets to the big station. “And you two are very lucky you said something to the stationmaster yesterday, or we’d have kept right on going!”

“What?” The man blinked.

His wife grimaced. “We’re not big on advance planning.”

“Then you didn’t speak to the stationmaster at Arlesburgh?” The conductor sounded more confused than ever.

“No! We’re from Tidmouth!”

Oliver, Isobel, and Dulcie marveled. “Then who were we supposed to stop for?”

“Nobody, I think?”

Shortly thereafter, the guard decided that they’d waited enough, and the train set off again. They all remained thoroughly confused, all the way to the big station.

Later

Around mid-day, passenger traffic had died down, and Duck was able to handle the trains on his own for a few hours. Oliver was therefore tasked with a short goods train, going from Arlesburgh up to the big station. The train was mostly hopper wagons and flatbeds, carrying goods from the small harbor at Arlesburgh, but a few wagons on the end were empty, waiting to be loaded with cargo from the station at Haultraugh. (The island still did brisk business on short-haul freight, unlike the mainland, something the engines and Fat Controller were proud of.)

Truro had arranged the trucks earlier in the day, before retiring to the sheds to get cleaned and polished before his peak hour trains, so Oliver only had to connect to the train, pull a vacuum in the brakes, and leave once the signal dropped.

“Excuse me, Oliver.” The lead truck quietly said as they left the yard. Ever since his “run-in” with Scruffey, the engines and trucks of the Little Western were on much more amicable terms, and as the 1980s had ground on, some trucks had even begun to give Oliver a grudging amount of respect. “I have a question.”

“Yeah?”

“What’re ‘Crickets and Melons,’ and why would someone call us them?”

Oliver stopped to consider that for a moment, before he burst out laughing. “Ha! My goodness, who called you that?”

The trucks chattered with irritation.

“I told ya it was rude!”

“‘Ow can we know it’s rude iff’n he’s not said what it means yet?”

“‘O course it’s rude! Can’t ye tell it’s supposed to be an insult?”

“Mighty poor insult if none of us know what the blazes it means…”

“Ah shaddup. You got bent out o’ shape, didn’t ye?”

“So what’s it mean, Oliver?”

Oliver composed himself. “It’s an old term from the Great Western. Back in the day every kind of truck and coach had its own code name for the telegram. Melons were third class brake carriages, and Crickets were bogie coaches.”

“So what’s that got to do wit’ us?” A voice piped up from further down the train.

“Trucks used to call each other that because they thought coaches were sensitive and soft, so if they acted sensitive they were being Crickets and Melons.” He paused for a moment. “I will admit, I don’t quite “get” that, being an engine and all, but I suppose it must mean something to you lot.”

It did, and the trucks grumbled to themselves angrily.

“The nerve!”

“The bearings…”

“To say such things to us.”

“And not tell us what it meant!”

“We could have been using that all morning!”

Oliver rolled his eyes. “Who even told you that?”

“We don’t know!” Piped up a flatbed from further back in the train. “It’s been bouncing around the yard all day.”

“Somebody said that you were calling us that, but that’s cobblers.” one of the hoppers chimed in. “Why would you tell us what it meant?”

“And when would he have the time?” Toad the brakevan, riding all the way in the back of the train, added. “He’s been running his wheels off since before Truro got here.”

Oliver blew off steam contemplatively. “Search me. I certainly wouldn’t have called you lot that, not unless I’d gone soft in the smokebox first. It’s not 1950 anymore - we’ve invented better insults!”

Everyone got a merry laugh out of that, and the train continued to Haultraugh without incident.

The cargo in Haultraugh was a consignment of fabric bound for Barrow-in-Furness, and while the porters busily loaded one of the empty vans, the stationmaster and the guard conferred with Oliver and his driver.

“Why’ve you got another van?” the stationmaster pointed down the train.

“Another?” The driver’s brow furrowed.

“Yeah. We only requested one, and you’ve brought us two.”

“Is there some kind of mistake?” Oliver asked, not used to the idea of having too many trucks.

“No…” Said the guard, paging through his manifest. “We’re only supposed to have nine. That last one is an extra.”

“Look,” The van said when he was questioned by the train crew. “I haven’t a bit of input where I go. Wherever the green engines put me, that’s where I end up.”

“Did anyone say anything to you?” The guard asked.

“Nope.” The van looked uncomfortable from the attention he was getting. “To be quite honest, I’m surprised you wanted me. I thought us unfitted trucks weren’t allowed on fitted trains.”

Everyone looked down at the coupling, and sure enough, the van in front had an air brake hose, while this extra van did not.

“Excuse me sirs,” Toad said. “But I did question Mister Truro when he assembled this train, and he said that Mister Oliver needed two vans. I’m only present because this is a partially fitted train, and I’m sorry to say that I should have questioned further to see if there was another fitted truck available.”

The guard and driver comforted him. “It’s not your fault, Toad.”

“Well bless my boiler!” Oliver exclaimed when the crew returned to the front of the train. “Is there anything else I’ve ordered done? Am I to take the Flying Kipper next? Or the express?”

The driver rubbed his head in confusion. “I don’t know, Oliver. There’s got to be something - or someone behind this, but I’ll be damned if I know what.”

“Maybe there’s someone new on the station staff whose name is Oliver!” The guard joked, and then grew quite concerned when everyone else started giving it a bit of thought.

Even the trucks were starting to get involved. “Maybe it was one of us, playing games.” The lead hopper said with uncharacteristic seriousness. “We get so many in from beyond the big station - even the mainland - and sometimes they just don’t know the right way to act.”

“Mercy’s sake,” blasphemed the Guard. “Even the trucks are getting serious.”

Oliver’s driver didn’t say anything, but hoped against hope that nothing new would happen once they got the clear signal… which should be any time, really. “It’s a Christmas miracle. Where is the next train? Surely they should be here by now.”

A short radio call revealed that one of Donald’s stone trucks had developed a hot axlebox, and they were on their way after mending it.

Presently, a plume of smoke appeared over the horizon, and Donald lumbered into view, two dozen empty stone hoppers clattering behind him. Already late, and trying to gingerly keep the damaged truck upright and on the rails, he wheeshed to a stop at the end of the platform. His crew hopped out, and began inspecting the axle on the truck that had overheated. Oliver’s trucks, being the kind and gentle souls that they were, immediately began calling the hoppers Crickets and Melons.

Oliver sighed deeply. Donald’s trucks did not fit inside the passing loop, and he was stuck there until they left.

Explanations and insults flew back and forth until both lines of trucks were cackling with laughter, and ten minutes passed before Donald’s guard deemed the train safe to depart. Eagerly, Oliver’s driver advanced the train right up to the edge of the signal, waiting for the arm to drop, but as Donald’s train rolled away, the signal stayed up. “Oh what now?!”

“Sorry!” The signalman called from his box. “Duck is on his way down. You’re just going to have to wait.”

Everyone sighed, and silence fell over the station for just a moment. “Excuse me, Mister Oliver?”

“Yes Toad?”

“In the future, can we please note that ten wagons, an engine, and a van is the maximum length a train can be in this siding?” Toad sounded more than a little frightened. “If you hadn’t pulled up to the signal, Mister Donald would have taken my buffers off when he passed us.”

“Sorry!” Oliver called, glad that nothing had actually occurred - that would have been all they needed!

It took another ten minutes for Duck’s train to come into view.

“You’re running behind, aren’t you?” He asked as he pulled in.

“Tell me about it.” Oliver scoffed. “Hey, do me a favour and keep your ears open. Someone is telling lies and insults in the yard.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” The signal dropped. “Haven’t time to explain, but this has been a strange day!”

Oliver puffed out of the station, leaving a confused Duck behind him.

The train finally arrived at the big station almost an hour late. Oliver shunted the train into the freight platforms. Almost before they could get uncoupled, the railfreight manager came out to see him. “That van on the end, is it empty? I heard it was.”

“Yes, it is, actually.” Oliver’s driver began. “Just a-”

“Minor miracle, that’s what it is.” The man cut him off. “Get to platform three for a pickup.”

Oliver blinked as the man retreated into his office, before running around the train and getting Toad and the empty van. “Guess you’re going back with us.” He said as he moved them to platform three.

Platform three was one of the platforms that main line trains used, and so Oliver ended up stopping right next to Gordon and the midday express.

“Well this is a surprise…” Gordon said. “What are you doing here?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Oliver said. “There’s something being loaded here.”

“Here?” Gordon’s eyebrow raised. “Well, I suppose there’s a first time for everything.”

After another minute or so, a group of porters arrived, pushing a load of furniture on a luggage trolley. “Someone’s Christmas shopping got the better of them!” They chortled. “They thought they could take this on Duck’s train!”

Oliver raised an eyebrow, but Gordon outright snorted at that.

After a few minutes, the furniture had been loaded and strapped down, and Oliver’s guard went off to get the paperwork.

As he left, the sound of tuning instruments started up.

“Oh,” Gordon said through gritted teeth, and the most pained smile Oliver had ever seen. “Goody. The band is starting.”

There was a brass section now. They had a tuba.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch,

You really are a heel!

Gordon looked like he was going to burst into tears.

You're as cuddly as a cactus,

You're as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch.

Oliver read him like a book. “Gordon,” He whispered. “I won’t tell Truro that you hate this as much as he does if you don’t want me to.” Gordon’s faux smile collapsed like a building demolition. “Thank you!”

#ttte #sodor #sodor shenangians #fic #christmas story

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cedarboughs · 4 months ago

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Hiking Journal: The West Coast Trail

Day V: Crabshack Blues

September 1

Cribs Creek to Tsusiat Falls

The new month, not that such things had any meaning on the Trail, dawned in a thick fog. We couldn’t even see the Cribs rising at the shore as we packed up the tents. The trees were painted in a gentle newly faded palette, though the myriad flotsam bouys still coloured every branch around the campsite.

When we clambered up onto the rock to trek along the Cribs, leaping sea lions appeared like sleek silver ghosts arcing through the waves.

Please appreciate this video because it took like twenty minutes to upload. And, you know, four days of hiking to shoot, but that’s further in the past right now. The buffering is present.

The first starfish!

The morning trail passed through many small pockets of Ditidaht land. Past the cute cabins of Clo-ose village, along a hard climb, an old sewing machine rusts beside the trail.

Boardwalks and bridges are wonderfully maintained and easy to walk here, or should be, but I guess the sum of kilometres was beginning to wear on me. I faded quickly here, needing what seemed like an embarrassing volume of snacks and rest to maintain the energy to walk. It was a relief to at last see the waters of Nitinaht Narrows.

This tidal connection of lake to sea is more or less the halfway point of the West Coast Trail. A ferry bridges the gap as well as taking people in and out of the village of Nitinaht an hour’s putter inland up the lake if they only wanted to trek half of the route. I would have been tempted, but that was a decision to make after I was full of crabmeat.

The ferry dock also serves the freshest, best, least freeze-dried meals on the whole Trail. A freshwater giant Dungeness crab, the only ones in the world, fished out of the lake within the hour of service, will set a trekker back eighty-five dollars, but when else will you have a meal like this? Money isn’t a real concept on the Trail anyway. We got salmon, too.

While we waited on our order, “Hippie Doug,” who’s been the ferryman for almost fifty years, showed us his photos.

Our table at the crabshack was like a reunion of our northbound group. F—— and S——- were there, along with C—— and another of her fellow Regina nurses whose name I can’t remember and it doesn’t matter since I’m censoring them like a nineteenth-century novel anyway. The “Sema Four” had come up from Portland. Apparently one of the couples who as trying to teach the semaphore alphabet to the other. The Sema Four were staying at the crabshack tonight along with the nurses. It sounded like it would be a good party. Sure, it was forty dollars per tent and the tents would be crammed in side by side on the porch; on the other hand, it was another hard, muddy, inland seven kilometres to the next campsite at Tsusiat Falls.

And that's how the drama began.

Mom didn't want to carry on, but wouldn't insist on it. Dad didn't want to spend eighty bucks on a likely sleepless night. A few scattered words went back and forth, but to no avail. Even tually, newly full of crab energy (at least I was,) we shouldered packs and moved on.

The ferry ride across the channel was nice. Hippie Doug pointed out the fleeing hind legs and tail of a river otter disappearing up the north bank into the bush.

But north of the bank the vibes quickly turned rancid. Mom marched ahead without waiting, checking, or stopping, a passive agressive (though not especially passive) sort of expression of an easily parsable sentiment: you wanted to go, so we’re going, and that means going ceaselessly forward without help or advice or patience, not even where bridges are entirely collapsed down treacherous slopes. No waiting to stick together even to put gaiters on before plowing forth past shin-deep mud patches. When we caught up, it was to disparaging remarks about our speed, and we trudged on in terse bitter silence. I desperately wanted to make peace, but it was hard to find neutral ground. We needed time, but time the way we were going was just making everyone more exhausted.

I managed a few good words of accord before the return to the beach, four gruelling inland kilometres past the crabshack. It was still a long misty beach trek to Tsusiat. Somewhere there, though, we passed the flip of the two sided map. Whatever happened now, and however impossible the first few days had seemed, it was beyond any doubt or question now that we were in the latter half in the trek, going out. From here on or likely earlier, every step no longer took us deeper into the wild, but took us closer to the comforts of the grid.

Some writing says that the “Hole in the Rock” is the most iconic view on the Trail. I don’t know how it ranks personally — it’s not visible from very far away, compared to the wide arc of Carmanah or the slope of the Cribs — but it’s a cool spot for sure. The tide was too high to pass through the south-side surge channel and climb or circle around to the hole, but we could double back from the north and stand beneath the natural arch, nearly lapped by water on either side.

It was a joy to see the coloured tents of Tsusiat down the beach. This is a beautiful campsite tucked below towering sandstone cliffs. Water is collected for dinner boiling beneath a grand waterfall.

#my photos #hiking #adventurecore #british columbia #west coast trail #vancouver island #pacific northwest

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stevenobrion · 1 year ago

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corvidous · 1 year ago

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Finally done with my holiday break. And what did I DO on said break you ask? Loads of stuff, but these are my first painted miniatures of 2024! A unit for Silver Bayonet, the Napoleonic gothic horror skirmish game.

I present to you the crew of the Nancy, ably led by Captain Mackintosh, semi-reluctantly roped into supernatural horror-hunting by the reactivation of his naval officer's commission, and his crew of definitely stalwart and upright seamen (as well as a couple Royal Marines on loan from the Admiralty. Just to make sure none of the Navy's orders are mysteriously lost in transit and that all the financials stay present and correct.) These lads are mostly Perry Miniatures with a single representative from North Star along with various conversion bits sourced from all over, as well as my first foray into simple sculpting with green stuff epoxy resin. Also the most intensive basing that I've tried yet, to look like ship's planking. I'm quite happy with how they turned out.

The individual shots of figures and descriptions are under the cut:

He's Alexander Mackintosh, nephew to the laird, and he does disdain men who are vain, the men with powdered hair!

Mr Stanhope, the Marine Officer is the captain's right hand man. As mandated by the orders of the Admiralty. But he's a demon with a sword in his hand and that's quite welcome, given that there might be some actual literal demons to fight at some point or another. (He's dispensed with his normal hat plume in deference to the Captain's insistence that despite being dragooned into the King's service this IS ultimately a civilian ship.)

Mr Gatkins the Royal Marine. A taciturn fellow, he shoots first and asks questions only when specifically ordered to do so by his officers.

Mister Lannis is the ship's master gunner (Artillerist, in game terms) and his jaunty straw hat is very nice, thank you! (I included a chest of powder and shot from Mantic Games because I had to come up with something to denote who he is during gameplay)

Dr Phillips the ship's Doctor/surgeon, and a quick and dirty sculpt of my own for his bonesaw (again, had to differentiate this guy on the tabletop. I think it's a decent job. Bonesaw with a cutlass hilt, he's a real combat medic this chap.)

The venerable and curmudgeonly Mr Elms, the ship's carpenter (a Sapper, in game terms). This was the most intensive work of this whole lot: I started with a metal Perry Miniatures sailor figure, lopped his arms and head off, grabbed a pair of arms from the Oathmark Dwarf Light Infantry box and a head from the regular Dwarf Infantry box, then I sculpted an apron (luckily for me aprons are just flat sheets so it's not THAT hard) and then I grabbed a free musket from the Wargames Atlantic Afghan Tribesmen box. Whew. I think it ended up looking quite nice. Very characterful.

Able Seaman MacWhorter is along for the ride and excited to show off his swordsmanship against all manner of supernatural toffs.

And last but not least we've got Mr Harris, the local guide and scout. He's a crack shot and he's worth his weight in gold when the shore party is trying to keep themselves oriented on land. (This model is from North Star Military Figures and I have to say I love that most of their native american models are like this: this is just a guy, not a fantasy cowboys and indians pastiche.)

Issues with this team are that the vast majority are using pistols, we've only got three muskets in the unit, that's not a lot of long range shooting, might make things difficult vs a more musket heavy warband. But ah well, it just calls for a bit of aggression, doesn't it? Get in on 'em, as I always say!

#miniatures #Silver Bayonet #Northstar Miniatures #Perry Miniatures #napoleonic wargaming

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travelspot15 · 1 year ago

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Varkala's Best 3-Star Stays by the Cliff

Varkala, a coastal gem in Kerala, beckons travelers with its picturesque cliffs and pristine beaches. For those seeking a balance between affordability and comfort, the town offers a range of excellent 3-star hotels in varkala. Let's explore the top picks, ensuring a delightful stay with breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.

1. The Charm of Varkala's Cliffs

Nestled along the cliff, these hotels provide not just accommodation but an immersive experience. Picture waking up to the sound of the waves and stepping onto your balcony to witness the sun painting the sea in vibrant hues.

2. Hindustan Beach Retreat: A Seafront Sanctuary

Location and Ambiance:

Situated strategically near the cliff, Hindustan Beach Retreat stands as a testament to comfort and convenience. The sea-facing rooms offer an unparalleled view, creating a tranquil atmosphere for a perfect getaway.

Amenities and Services:

This 3-star gem boasts modern amenities, ensuring a seamless stay. From well-appointed rooms to courteous staff, Hindustan Beach Retreat is a blend of luxury and affordability.

3. Akhil Beach Resort: Where Affordability Meets Quality

Proximity to Beach:

Akhil Beach Resort, located close to the beach, is a favored choice for budget-conscious travelers. Its strategic position ensures easy access to the shore, allowing guests to enjoy the sun and sand without venturing too far.

Comfort on a Budget:

Offering a perfect blend of comfort and affordability, Akhil Beach Resort provides a range of amenities, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a wallet-friendly yet enjoyable stay.

4. Vedanta Wake Up! - Helipad North Cliff: Budget-Friendly Bliss

Cliff Convenience:

Perched on the North Cliff, Vedanta Wake Up! offers a budget-friendly option without compromising on location. Guests can enjoy the convenience of being close to the action while enjoying pocket-friendly rates.

Basic Comforts, Maximum Value:

This hotel understands the needs of budget travelers, providing basic yet comfortable accommodations. With easy access to the beach and local attractions, Vedanta Wake Up! ensures maximum value for every penny spent.

5. Exploring Varkala: Beyond the Hotel Walls

Janardana Swamy Temple:

Immerse yourself in Varkala's rich cultural heritage by visiting the Janardana Swamy Temple. A stroll from these 3-star hotels, the temple offers a spiritual retreat and a glimpse into the town's history.

Kappil Lake Excursion:

For a change of scenery, venture a short distance to Kappil Lake. The serene backwaters meeting the sea create a mesmerizing landscape, perfect for a leisurely boat ride or a calming lakeside walk.

6. Papanasam Beach: A Dip in the Sacred Waters

Spiritual Significance:

Known for its spiritual cleansing properties, Papanasam Beach attracts visitors seeking a dip in its holy waters. Stay at these cliff-top hotels, and you'll have easy access to this sacred shoreline for a truly rejuvenating experience.

Varkala Tunnel Adventure:

Explore the Varkala Tunnel, connecting the cliff-top to Papanasam Beach. This unique passageway adds an adventurous touch to your beach experience, allowing you to seamlessly transition between the cliff and the sandy shores.

Conclusion:

Varkala's best 3-star hotels along the cliff promise not just accommodation but an unforgettable experience. From waking up to panoramic views of the Arabian Sea to exploring the town's cultural and spiritual wonders, these hotels offer the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Choose your retreat wisely and embark on a coastal journey that combines affordability with coastal luxury.

#varkala #varkalahotels #beach #kerala #india #varkalabeach #travel #traveling #travel photography #travel destinations

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northshorepaintingservicesll · 26 days ago

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whitepolaris · 27 days ago

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Pontchartrain Beach

If you take Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans all the way north from Marigny up to the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, you end up at an unexplained site: an abandoned mid-nineteenth century lighthouse that seems too far inland to be doing anyone in a boat any good at all. Beyond it is a wide expanse of grass, and then a seawall with a forbiddingly high gate. If someone can give you a boost to take a peek over the seawall, you'll see another expanse of a grass, a few palm trees, and then finally, the lake itself. It's hard to believe it now, but not so long ago this emptiness contained the "Coney Island of Louisiana," Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park.

Pontchartrain Beach opened in 1928 at Zephyr Park, next to the Old Spanish Fort amusement area on the west side of Bayou St. John, but moved to the end of Elysian Fields Avenue in the early 1930s. Before that, the abandoned lighthouse had marked the entrance to a small harbor in a fishing community called Milneburg, which had been built out into the lake on stilts. Milneburg had the distinction of being the terminus of the nation's second-oldest railroad line and the home of the world's first real train station. Smoky Mary, the black-cloud-belching locomotive that first serviced it, was a weak that the departure schedules were determined by the wind direction and sails were often raised to help move it along. Even so, the trains along Elysian Fields until 1935.

By then, the Huey Long administration had ordered the Milneburg harbor filled in and the stilt houses removed-hence the wide expanse of grass. In the era of segregation, Pontchartrain Beach was for "Whites Only," while a few miles along the lake to the east, Lincoln Beach was built some years later for "Colored" residents of the city. When both amusement parks were integrated in the early 1960s, Lincoln Beach closed. Pontchartrain Beach closed in 1983, when the amusement-seeking public was drawn toward the newer, flashier attractions being built for the New Orleans World's Fair in 1984.

Four more than a half a century Pontchartrain Beach had been one of the most popular sources of entertainment in the state. Its signature ride, the Zephyr, was among the largest wooden coasters in the South, while other rides included the Zephyr Junior, Smoky Mary, the Bug, the Ragin' Cajun, the Calypso, a haunted house, Ghost Train, Laff in the Dark, and The Monster. Bumper Cars, Ferris wheels, concession stands-it's hard to look at the emptiness of the site now and visualize all it once was. "The Beach" held live concerts with national acts like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as special areas for dolphin, magic, and high-diving shows and a petting zoo.

If the site where all this took place seems too empty and depressing, you can see a few bits and pieces of the rides at, strangely enough, the Veterans Memorial Park in Kenner, next to Louis Armstrong Airport on William Boulevard between Seventeenth and Eighteenth Streets. Here are you can find the top of the wooden-trussed "lift hill" from the Zephyr (the first big climb that really gets a roller coaster rolling), a handful of tiki gods recused from the former Bali Hai restaurant (one of the famous eateries at the old amusement park), part of the petting zoo, and some of the abandoned signs-they've all been saved and re-erected as a homage to a time before video and air-conditioning made popular entertainment a solitary, indoor endeavor.

Pontchartrain Beach Memories

Pontchartrain Beach always had a slightly frightening air about it that made it exciting. The Rotor was a centrifuge ride in which people would stick to the walls when the floor dropped out. There were scary clown faces everywhere and creepy-looking "painted children" you had to stand next to, to see if you were tall enough to ride. And there were talking garbage cans with lion and clown faces that would suck trash into their dark round mouths with amazing vacuum force while demanding, "Feed me trash!"

But the most exciting and terrifying part of Pontchartrain Beach was the Zephyr, a wooden roller coaster that got noticeably ricketier with each passing year. An archway over the top of the tall hill had a blinking red light and a sign that said, "DANGER: 20,000 VOLTS. This left a big impression on us as we clanked up the hill to that first drop. Despite that and other warnings, legend had it that someone riding in a front car had once stood up and grabbed the arch, then tried to drop back down into the rear cars but fell to his doom. Past the peak, as gravity took hold of the cars, the ride was incredibly rough and noisy and dark. Totally out of control. The park eventually added tunnels that seemed about to decapitate you as you whipped into them. It was the best roller coaster ever.

One day in the late 1980s, after the park was torn down, I was riding through Kenner with a friend when I noticed something interesting a short distance from the road. We stopped to investigate and discovered a park filled with pieces from the demolished Pontchartrain Beach park. There was one of the hideous YOU MUST BE THIS TALL TO RIDE children, a car from the Zephyr, and, most wondrously, the top of the tallest peak of the Zephyr! There it was on the ground within touching distance-the wooden trusses, the Zephyr, the arch with the red lights, and the DANGER sign-all things that still live in my mind in the dark and the sky. -Karen

#type read #weird louisiana

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daydreamerdrew · 2 months ago

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Self Portrait, Normandy by Ellsworth Kelly, 1944; Ellsworth Kelly.

James Boudreau, the dean of Pratt's art school, was a general in the United States Army reserve. In the early 1940s, with war already raging in Europe and Asia and fears rising over the threat of aerial devastation from enemy bombing, the farsighted Boudreau organized an experimental laboratory dedicated to camouflage research and development. He recruited camouflage experts to the faculty and instituted a camouflage course.

Bob Tompkins was quick to sign up for it. He was taking courses at Pratt while also working at an advertising agency in the Chrysler Building for $17.50 a week. Ed Biow, Ellsworth Kelly, George Martin, and William Sayles also took the course. They built detailed tabletop models and went out to the Pratt family estate on the North Shore of Long Island to work with camouflage netting. Boudreau, a pilot, would fly overhead and snap photos to show them what their camouflage installations looked like from the air. "Amateuring around," Biow called it, but it led them all into the 603rd.

Kelly's journey to the unit involved an unusual detour. He requested assignment to the 603rd, but when his orders didn't come through, he was transferred to Camp Hale, Colorado, to join the Tenth Mountain Division ski troops. This, in spite of the fact he had never been on skis in his life! When his orders to join the camouflage unit finally arrived, he felt sorry to leave the beautiful mountain camp.

Ellsworth Kelly with silk screens, Fort Meade, 1943; Ellsworth Kelly and an improvised dummy jeep.

After basic training at Fort Meade, they began learning the ins and outs of camouflage. They experimented with everything from tin cans to chicken feathers to see what they would look like to aerial observers. They studied how to use texture, color, shadow, blending, and shape in camouflage. Ellsworth Kelly helped to silk-screen posters that introduced infantry units to these basic camouflage principles. In later years Kelly was to become famous for his minimalist painting and sculpture, and art critic Eugene Goossen argued that this exposure to military camouflage helped shape Kelly's aesthetic. "The involvement with form and shadow, with the construction and destruction of the visible... was to affect nearly everything he did in painting and sculpture."

—

The Twenty-Third's largest unit, the 603rd Camouflage Engineers, arrived at Camp Forrest in late January 1944. They did not yet have decoys to work with, so they improvised, fabricating dummy tanks out of wood and burlap and learning how to use them to create convincing deceptions that would fool enemy air reconnaissance. They used a spotter plane to evaluate what they had created and learn how to make things more realistic.

Soldier in Life Jacket by Ellsworth Kelly, 1944.

Normandy, June 1944 by Ellsworth Kelly, 1944.

Private Ellsworth Kelly wandered the streets of Paris alone, numbed by the experience. His friend Bill Griswold somehow finagled an invitation to Picasso's studio, but he didn't offer to bring Kelly along. Kelly was so shy that Griswold thought he would be awkward in the presence of the great artist. Kelly would return to Paris after the war courtesy of the GI Bill. It was there that he developed the minimalist style for which he became famous.

Young Soldiers Being Transported to the Front, Remagen, Courtyard, Chateau de Divonne, France by Ellsworth Kelly, 1945.

In later years, many Ghost Army veterans would emphasize how easy they had it compared to the frontline soldiers who were, in the military parlance, "at the sharp end of the stick." An incident in early March 1945 brought that home with stunning force. Trucks and drivers from the Twenty-Third were pressed into temporary service to ferry replacement troops to the front, near the German city of Saarlautern (now Saarlouis). Private Ellsworth Kelly was assigned to be one of the drivers. So was Ed Biow. "We picked up this division," he recalled. "Raw troops. Had never been in combat. Hadn't even had barely time to zero in their rifles." Some of the soldiers told Private Irving Stempel they had been in New York City just two weeks before. Biow remembered jamming them in so he could close the strap that went over the tailgate: "They were scared to pieces."

They brought the men up at night, under fire. "We sat there, bumper to bumper, and the Germans are firing what they called 'screaming meemies, which were essentially rockets but designed to make a horrible screaming noise. And there you are, sitting there in the dark, bumper to bumper, no place to go, no way to hide, while these suckers are swinging over your head and making this awful noise." Machine guns chattered nearby. The young draftees, some sick to their stomach with fear, arrived at the front just in time to be thrown into a dawn attack across pontoon bridges.

What happened next remained seared into their memories. "They started over the bridges, the flares go off, and the Germans wipe them out," recalled Ed Biow. "One minute, there's a live guy in the back of your truck, and the next minute, he's laying dead out on a pontoon bridge somewhere." Both Kelly and Shilstone made haunting sketches of the untrained soldiers headed to their deaths. All of the Ghost Army soldiers involved were angered and distressed at the senseless deaths. "These young kids were just cannon fodder," said Bob Tompkins, more than sixty-five years later. "And that really upset a lot of us."

Briey, 1945 by Ellsworth Kelly, 1945.

Joseph, Chudzik, Displaced Polish Boy, Bitburg, Germany by Ellsworth Kelly, 1945.

Ellsworth Kelly became one of the foremost American artists of the twentieth century. In 1948 he traveled again to France, where his work evolved from figurative to abstract, inspired by shapes and pure colors. Kelly returned to New York in 1954 and soon earned an international reputation. His shaped canvases, paintings, sculptures, and prints have been exhibited in major museums around the world.

In 1973 the Museum of Modern Art in New York City mounted Kelly's first retrospective. Many more followed, including a retrospective of his sculptures at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1982 and a 1996 career retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, also in New York. His public commissions include a memorial for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

In 2013 President Barack Obama awarded Kelly the National Medal of Arts. "A careful observer of form, color, and the natural world," read the citation, "Mr. Kelly has shaped more than half a century of abstraction and remains a vital influence in American art."

excerpts, photos, and artwork from The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles

#wwii #ellsworth kelly #my posts #book excerpts

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precisionpaint · 2 months ago

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Commercial Painting - Auckland Painters

Commercial painting in Auckland offers comprehensive services for businesses seeking professional property maintenance and aesthetic enhancement. Painters Auckland city provide a wide range of specialized painting solutions that cater to diverse commercial needs.

Commercial Painting Services

House painters North Shore Auckland and citywide professionals excel in delivering high-quality painting services that encompass:

Interior and Exterior Preparation: Comprehensive surface assessment and preparation for seamless painting.

Specialized Finishes: Expertise in textured and unique paint applications.

Roof Painting: Professional roof preparation and painting services.

Surface Restoration: Advanced plastering and gib-stopping techniques.

Surface Cleaning: Thorough water blasting services to ensure optimal paint adhesion.

These professional painters understand the critical importance of minimizing disruption to business operations while delivering exceptional results. They utilize commercial-grade paints, advanced techniques and flexible scheduling to accommodate various business environments.

Whether you're managing a retail space, office, apartment complex or industrial facility Auckland's commercial painters offer tailored solutions that transform and protect your property. Their commitment to quality, safety and precision ensures that every painting project meets the highest professional standards.

Businesses can rely on these skilled professionals to enhance their property's appearance, protect surfaces and create an impressive visual environment that reflects their brand's quality and professionalism.

#auckland #precision #painters

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aonekoreanpaintings · 2 years ago

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Unique Wall Painting Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Project

The headboard wall is an excellent bedroom accessory wall. In a largely white space, this contemporary bedroom accentuated the wall with a rich hue of peacock green. To produce a modern trendy aesthetic, tiny black lines are applied.

Orange Flare

With this orange-bursting painting effect, you can quickly liven up a small blank wall. Pick your favorite colour and slowly incorporate white paint to get many shades of it—a simple and enjoyable way to bring a splash of colour to a drab spot.

Vertical Divide

Vertically divide design features and accents to create an imaginative, contemporary, and sleek design. With this three-tone vertical division painting, you can quickly enhance your interiors. The grey colours suit the modern minimalistic decor, whereas the cheery yellow acts as the emphasis colour. To continue the hue concept, incorporate yellow decorative elements.

Ombre Circle

This circular ombre painting is ideal for adding a splash of colour to a plain wall. On the wall, create a large circular and split it into many vertical portions. Begin by painting the central section with the previous paint colour. Paint the outside areas after diluting the paint with white. Strip the professional painter's tape that separates the parts.

Charming Check

The checkered wall feature in blue fits the seaside house decorations. But you may create your checking pattern and hang it on your wall. Choose your favorite hue and combine it with three other complementary colours to make your check pattern.

3D Boxes

Make your area more interesting by using 3D wall panel effects. This three-tone 3D box layout is simple to create. To avoid confusion, draw the colour and line them in.

Colourful Geometric

This colourful and vibrant geometric pattern is great for houses and is perfect for spaces where you require a lot of good energy circulating, such as the living room or the family room. Its vibrant colours are appealing, and the diagonal strokes give the pattern a dynamic appearance.

Random Lines

You can remove empty and uninspiring walls with creativity and a free weekend. This captivating two-tone paint wall decoration is entertaining, trendy, and unique. Its irregular lines and colour-blocking effect draw more attention and personality to the space.

Blended Grey

If you choose a plain grey wall, you need it to be fascinating and one-of-a-kind. The mixed grey wall is intriguing and exceptional for hiring professional painting Services from North Shore. To obtain the cloud-like look, utilize two shades of grey. Painting the bottom of the wall a darker colour and the upper a brighter one. To achieve the blended appearance, employ both colours in the center section, making rapid, forceful strokes.

If you do not know how to design and accent your wall paints correctly, seek A One Korean Painting. Their vast experience in wall painting design makes them one of the number one in painting jobs!

#Painters #North Shore #Painting North Shore #Painting services #interior painting #Exterior painting #residential painting #Commercial painting #Wall painting #wall painting design #Home #house painting #3d wall painting #SydneyWide

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autozillahawaii · 2 months ago

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Quick Cash for Your Car in Oahu: Your Fast-Track Guide to Instant Vehicle Sales

Ready to sell car in Oahu? Whether you're in downtown Honolulu, beachside Waikiki, or up on the North Shore, getting cash for your vehicle has never been easier. Learn how to maximize your car's value and complete a sale today with this comprehensive guide.

Instant Sale Process Our streamlined approach gets you from evaluation to payment in three simple steps:

Quick Online Valuation: Sell my car online fast in Honolulu and submit your vehicle details through our secure portal

Same-Day Inspection: Schedule a convenient assessment at your location

Immediate Payment: Receive cash or bank transfer upon deal completion

What We Accept We purchase all types of vehicles:

Personal cars and SUVs

Trucks and vans

Luxury vehicles

Commercial fleet vehicles

Classic cars

Sports cars

Electric and hybrid vehicles

Vehicles with existing loans

Location Coverage We serve all Oahu communities:

Honolulu metro area

Windward coast (Kailua/Kaneohe)

North Shore

Leeward side

Central Oahu

Military bases

Remote locations

Required Documentation Prepare these items for a smooth transaction:

Current vehicle registration

Valid Hawaii ID or military ID

Safety inspection certificate

Service records (if available)

All vehicle keys

Loan payoff information (if applicable)

Title or lease documents

Military orders (if applicable)

Special Benefits Our service includes:

Free towing and pickup

Same-day bank transfers

Cash payment options

Complete DMV paperwork handling

Loan payoff assistance

Military-friendly process

Multilingual staff available

No hidden fees

Market Advantages

We understand Oahu's unique market conditions:

Island-specific pricing factors

Military rotation considerations

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Seasonal value variations

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Professional Evaluation

Our appraisers assess:

Current market value

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Why Choose Us

Experience stress-free selling with:

Instant price quotes

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Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our team is ready to provide immediate assistance and ensure you receive the best value for your vehicle in Oahu's dynamic market. https://www.autozillahawaii.com/sell-used-cars.htm

#sell car in Oahu #Selling a used car in Hawaii #Sell Used Car Hawaii

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capricecarvalet · 2 months ago

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Keep and Protect Your Car with Car Tinting, Paint Protection, and Car Grooming Services in North Shore

Having a car involves responsibility - an investment that you will want to keep and protect. Car tinting in North Shore, paint protection film in Auckland, and car grooming in North Shore ensure that your vehicle remains in minty condition and protected against wear and tear as well as environmental elements.

North Shore Car Tinting: Aesthetic, Comfort, and Protection

North Shore car tinting service is one of the options that car owners opt for in order to have their car windows beautified with comfort. It assists them in improving the car's windows' aesthetic value as it reduces heat and glare for a pleasant drive during sunny days. Quality car tinting in North Shore will, for example, prevent up to 99% of damaging UV rays from coming into your car to ensure further protection to you and the upholstery inside your vehicle against damage that could be incurred over time to fade or discolour the pieces.

Apart from the cosmetic benefits, tinted windows offer a higher degree of privacy and security. Because it's rather tough to see what goes on in there, thieves tend to keep away from cars whose windows are tinted. The feeling that all valuables would be well kept within will therefore leave people more safe and secure. Glare from lights shining into your car because of other peoples' headlights is done away with in car tinting, an aspect that protects the safety of the road navigators at night while on roads.

Paint protection film Auckland: The aesthetic appearance of your car should always remain flawless.

A must-have investment for any owner of a vehicle who intends to maintain the shine and condition of his car's exterior is paint protection film. Auckland roads are challenging; debris, stones, and weather elements all contribute to potential paint damage. Applying a paint protection film in Auckland provides an invisible shield against these hazards. Great PPF does withstand small scratches and doesn't create chips, scratches, and stains that might otherwise give your car an inferior appearance.

Paint protection film is not only strong, but it also heals itself by causing the scratches to disappear due to the impact of heat over time. PPF will ensure that your car looks brand new for many years and even become a haven for resale value. Regardless of whether it's in the city every day or frequent touring around the country, paint protection film in Auckland can save you from all the hassle and time money you'll be wasting for repair paint damage.

Car Grooming in North Shore: Complete Care Inside and Out

The best way to keep your car's interior and exterior clean is through regular car grooming. Car grooming in North Shore involves an all-out cleaning, detailing, and polishing that will make your car look great and put it in good condition. Professional car grooming services attend to every detail, including vacuuming and shampooing the interior to polishing paintwork on the exterior.

In North Shore, car grooming involves steam cleaning, deodorizing, and conditioning of seats and surfaces. The interior will feel new again after this. A clean interior and polished exterior mean you can drive your vehicle with pride. Moreover, car grooming extends the life of different parts since dust, grime, and stains are removed before they damage them.

Conclusion

For car owners in North Shore and throughout Auckland, the services of car tinting, paint protection film, and car grooming provide essential benefits. For car owners in North Shore, car tinting upgrades your car with added privacy, comfort, and safety, while paint protection film for Auckland protects your vehicle's exterior against chips and scratches. Lastly, North Shore car grooming keeps your car looking and feeling brand-new inside and out. These services are an investment in your value and the longevity of your vehicle, so you can enjoy every drive with confidence and style.

#Car tinting in North Shore #paint protection film in Auckland #Car grooming in North Shore

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fairtilingnz · 4 months ago

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Key Tips for Choosing the Right Painters and Tilers for Your Home

It is usually ideal to engage a professional to paint or tile your house in case one wants to do so as part of home improvement or remodelling. Searching and choosing the appropriate painter or tiler for the particular work might be difficult yet. Although choosing the correct tiler in North Shore and home painting services for any project is crucial, I will walk you through the most crucial points below.

Research Potential Contractors Extensively

Go ahead and interview once you have limited your search to perhaps three to five possible house painters or tilers. Making a list of questions ahead of time guarantees that they address experience, expertise, specialised knowledge, project management style, deadline, and others. To ensure that other clients are likewise happy, also request referrals. Find out how well every contractor listens and communicates himself or herself during the interview. The ideal fit should have plenty of similar jobs finished right and answer all questions in an exact and detailed manner.

Exensively compare bids

Remember not to decide just based on cost when assessing proposals from possible builders. The lowest quote might not cover certain pre-planning or building activity or might offer lesser quality materials, so it can be unreal. One should also make sure that one bid is not less than the other; some chores are eliminated while the other has included all tasks. Furthermore, it is advisable not to follow overly high bids since this can cause overcharging. Examine the value you are getting for the given price and then look for the appropriate offer in respect to the scale of your particular project.

Check bonds, licenses, and insurance.

Before signing the final contract with the home painter or tiler you have chosen, be sure they have a current licence for your area and state. Ask for proof of each and seek both workers compensation and general liability insurance. While workers compensation covers medical costs should an employee be injured working on your property, liability coverage guarantees the contractor is liable for any damage to your property. Professional tilers and painters should also be ready to generate the documentation on demand. Decline any contractor who is reluctant or unable to show he is actively licensed and insured.

Plan your start date

Agree on the start date in writing once you have hired the appropriate painting or tile professional for your home job. This should cover not only the date the project will start but also the date each of the several procedures guiding to the last stage will be completed. Almost all contractors will divulge the kind of work they are currently working on and their capacity to start by a specified date. Employing a construction crew to forward the project schedule ahead of time enables one to prepare for the demands of the employment.

Review efforts on a regular basis

Once the project starts, even if you have most likely previously done your homework on the contractor, you should occasionally review the work. Make sure that important pre-painting operations like repair work, sealing gaps, and surface cleaning were carried out according to the estimates and that paint coats are being applied consistently without blurs or skips for a painting job. For tiling, take into account accurate measuring, smooth surface, proper joint alignment and connections. Corrective comments should be given right away on any flaws to help them to be corrected. Problems are always easier to manage when they are discovered so that they never develop into serious concerns down road.

Control payments in line with benchmarks

Reliable house painting and tile companies will let you know about the payment method in conjunction with reasonable project phases. Make payments in phases corresponding to certain phases of the employment instead than insisting on collecting 100% of the money upfront or at one go. Hold 10–20% for the last payment; they should only be paid once the job is completed and the client reviews the work. It facilitates payment management such that your contractor remains motivated all through the project.

Result

Improving the appearance of any house depends mostly on the choice of competent and respectable tilers and house painters in North Shore. This simple and transparent strategy will help you to paint, tile or whatever else you wish to do to your property without worrying and simplify the procedure. Key to guaranteeing professional results fit for years to come is screening, confirming, planning, and evaluation.

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