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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 414
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 02:00:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Thought you might enjoy this snap of the Mississippi River bridges at Vicksburg. The view is toward Louisiana.Bridges at Vicksburg
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Robert Noel Reddington
Frequent User
Username: bob_uk

Post Number: 52
Registered: 5-2015
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 09:35:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

A nice vista.
The weather in Dorset is a bit hit and miss. The forecast says we are about to get 28c temps which will be nice.

Is that a civil war cannon.
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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 416
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 12:26:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Yes it is. One can see how effectively the river traffic could be blocked with cannon on the bluffs on the east side of the river. The Federals would try to slip by at night. The Confederates had lookouts hidden on the west side of the river. They sounded the alarm and set fire to huge brush piles already prepared. This silhouetted the Federal boats and blammo! Johnny Reb let 'em have it. Gen.Grant tried during the winter to dig a canal to the west, in an attempt to bypass the bluffs. It wasn't finished but there is a remnant remaining which one can visit today: levee construction has got the rest. This is a very historic area. Just northeast about 30 miles is the city of Yazoo City where the Confederate Navy Yard was, on the Yazoo river.
The siege of Vicksburg ended July 4 1863. There is a very nice Mississippi Visitors' Center on the bluff just off the left side of the photo. I stop there most times when I pass through, for the facilities; and I enjoy sitting for a few minutes and watching the highway and river traffic.
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Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp

Post Number: 1344
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 13:04:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Randy,

I love the crossing of the mighty Mississippi at Vicksburg. I've been there a number of times on our Staunton, VA to Austin, TX, and back road trips.

Brian
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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 418
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 13:18:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Great. Mississippi is a beautiful rural and farmland state. I was driving back from Franklinton, Louisiana this morning and I always enjoy driving in MS.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 1628
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 15:05:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Is there any particular reason why one bridge is painted white and the other black? Also one carries a flag and the other does not.

One area of US I have not visited but is on my bucket list for my next visit as my US friends have relocated to North Carolina since my last visit.
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richard george yeaman
Prolific User
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 299
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 20:26:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

My wife and I were on an Elvis remembered tour about nine years ago we travelled through the Southern states and we did have a trip on a pleasure paddle boat it was just long enough for us to get something to eat and buy some souviners but we really enjoyed the experience.

Richard.
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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 419
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, 05 June, 2015 - 21:48:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

The dark bridge is the old one: it is only used now for emergency auto traffic and for the railroad: this is an important rr bridge as it is one of the three major east-west railways in the southern USA
The lighter bridge is the Interstate 20 bridge: automobiles and trucks only. Three lanes each way.
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Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp

Post Number: 1346
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Saturday, 06 June, 2015 - 00:45:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

The RR bridge in action from one of my visits there in 2011:

Vicksburg, MS railroad bridge with train
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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 421
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, 06 June, 2015 - 03:07:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Great photo: the Meridian Speedway is the name of this track.
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 740
Registered: 5-2012
Posted on Saturday, 06 June, 2015 - 03:40:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

The US certainly is a beautiful Country. Driving the interstate through Virginia all I could see was thick forest and rolling hills. This luscious greenery extends right down through the Carolinas', Georgia and across through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

I've driven the I10 a few times and like how the flora gradually changes across Texas, into the desert states of Arizona and Nevada. They are equally appealing with their rugged rock formations. One thing I look out for when crossing Arizona is the freight trains. They must be over a mile long. 4 locos hooked up to pull the weight. Really quite an impressive sight

Geoff
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 406
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 08 December, 2015 - 08:06:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi what about some nice photos of nice places from where you live it would certainly brighten the outlook for those of us having a bad Winter.

Richard.
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 1035
Registered: 5-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 08 December, 2015 - 13:38:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Richard

Just to make you feel a bit better, I spent the winter of 2013/14 in Cleveland Ohio. Temperatures in January were regularly -15C. Most days the temperature rarely rose above 0C. We moved back to Florida and after about 18 months have just about recovered from the horror of such a brutal winter. I imagine it is much milder where you live, so you can feel lucky that although Ireland gets cold in winter, there are so many places that are much much worse off.

Temperatures here in Florida are still in the 25 to 30C region, so a very pleasant time of year.

florida

Geoff
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 407
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 08 December, 2015 - 19:50:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

thanks Geoff feel better already.

Richard.
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Jan Forrest
Grand Master
Username: got_one

Post Number: 891
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Thursday, 10 December, 2015 - 22:39:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I've known for some time that a canon originally commissioned by Henry VIII had been dug up in a local steel works' scrap yard, and even knew where it was displayed. However it was only recently that I took the time to examine it more closely. Having been 'restored' with wire brushes and several coats of back paint it was essentially 'good as new', but why was it scrapped? It wasn't long before I found severe longtitudinal cracks in it; 2 each in the breach and the barrel. I can only assume that these were engendered by the proofing test of the barrel, which it failed miserably. Although records are sparse for Tudor period, The consensus of opinion is that it was destined to join a few dozen others along the beams of the Mary Rose, his flagship.

Obviously the gun is spiked and plugged.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 1848
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, 11 December, 2015 - 09:32:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Jan,

I understand the sinking of the "Mary Rose" was due to the weight of the cannons on the gun deck[s] causing the ship to heel in the prevailing wind and the sea rushed in through the open gun ports flooding the ship.

Exploding cannons would certainly have been an occupational hazard in the muzzle-loading era due to the very basic foundry skills of the cannon makers and the variability of the cast metal from one batch to the next. I do not know if the cast-iron castings were given any form of stress-relief heat treatment after casting which is essential for minimising the later incidence of failure when the cannon is fired. Bursting of cast-iron cannon was a problem for several centuries until cast iron was made by better foundry practice and then replaced by forged steel and more precise quality control during manufacture, processing and testing.

The fact that it was found in a steel scrap yard suggests it was made from cast-iron - a quick test with a magnet would confirm this.
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Randy Roberson
Grand Master
Username: wascator

Post Number: 597
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, 12 December, 2015 - 06:09:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

It's 81F here in north Louisiana; partly cloudy; rain expected this weekend.
I had to turn the air conditioning on mostly to kick the indoor humidity down.
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 412
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Saturday, 12 December, 2015 - 07:08:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi its 9pm in Northern Ireland and its 5 degrees c not too bad.

Richard.
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Robert Noel Reddington
Grand Master
Username: bob_uk

Post Number: 800
Registered: 5-2015
Posted on Tuesday, 15 December, 2015 - 09:46:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Its 11c in Bournemouth Dorset and quite pleasant a bit overcast and sometimes drizzle. But its December and winter.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 1852
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Tuesday, 15 December, 2015 - 13:21:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

2pm weather report for Taree NSW. Shade temperature 29.2deg Centigrade, Dew Point 20.6deg Centigrade, Relative Humidity 59%, Wind from East North East straight off the sea 28km/hr gusting to 35km/hr. MSL barometric pressure 1012.4hpa.

Clear sky & full sun however weather radar shows incipient storms building up on Barrington Tops approx 120km to the west at the head of the Manning River Valley. These should arrive on the coast some time after 5pm if they are large enough and follow their usual route from the mountains out to sea.
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Jan Forrest
Grand Master
Username: got_one

Post Number: 896
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Thursday, 17 December, 2015 - 00:52:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Cold, wet and windy in South Yorkshire as it has been for over 2 weeks. Flooding in a lot of areas with the expected property damage and electricity black outs. I trust our Antipodean cousins realise just how much I hate them and their Christmas BBQs on the beach.
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Mark Herbstreit
Prolific User
Username: mark_herbstreit

Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Thursday, 24 December, 2015 - 15:12:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I am a bit worried about the salt on my local roads too! 33c (91F) for lunch tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone.


turbo
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 426
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Thursday, 24 December, 2015 - 21:46:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi Mark beautiful setting beautiful car have a lovely Christmas.

Richard.
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Robert Noel Reddington
Grand Master
Username: bob_uk

Post Number: 812
Registered: 5-2015
Posted on Friday, 25 December, 2015 - 05:23:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Happy days.
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Jan Forrest
Grand Master
Username: got_one

Post Number: 903
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Monday, 28 December, 2015 - 10:47:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

After 2 days of no rain I've manged to 'clear up' behind my dogs. I need not less then 2 more (preferably 3) to vacuum up all the leaves and drop their mulched remains on my rhubarb.
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 538
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 04:16:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi all I am sitting here in Northern Ireland at the end of June outside it is cold and wet not much happening. Is there anything nice going on anywhere that would get a bit of a smile going what about some nice photos of some of your gardens or some more of the local scenery what about a competition for the best entrant (sorry no prizes)

Richard.
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 1299
Registered: 5-2012
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 05:08:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi Richard

I'm in Tampa Florida at the moment, waiting to move to Tulsa Oklahoma tomorrow. It's a 2 day drive. We have a rental home sorted but the movers don't come to empty our Fl house until next Tuesday. It will then take them up to a week to deliver the stuff, so we will be "camping" in our new home for that time. The Rolls is already on it's way.

I can't understand why I am finding this stressful. It bugs me. We are only moving down the road for Christ's sake. Oh well - I'm hoping once we are on the road tomorrow things will look brighter.

So I'm a bit jealous of you sitting in a nice warm house looking out at the inclement weather.

Geoff
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Bob Reynolds
Grand Master
Username: bobreynolds

Post Number: 407
Registered: 8-2012
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 05:40:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

"I'm in Tampa Florida at the moment, waiting to move to Tulsa Oklahoma tomorrow."

24 hours from Tulsa then?
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 539
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 05:49:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi Geoff sorry to hear that you are at a bit of a loose end I am sure it wont take long for you to settle back into normality I don't know how you can just up and go as you do I am just the opposite I have been living at my current address since 1978 and am thinking about downsizing dread the thoughts about it, is it your job that takes you on your journeys or have you just got to keep moving like a rolling stone, Anyway it wont be long till you settle in and you could post some photos of your new abode.

Richard.
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 1300
Registered: 5-2012
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 13:22:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Bob - I've absolutely been banned from saying "we're only 24 hours from Tulsa" on threat of divorce. It was wearing a bit thin after incorporating the phrase into our every conversation.

Richard - When you do downsize it won't be so bad. After a few weeks your new house will feel like home again. We had intended to stay in Tampa for a couple of years until my wife finished work, downsize and live happily ever after. However, events got in the way so we are now off to Tulsa.

Geoff
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Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp

Post Number: 1989
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Friday, 01 July, 2016 - 13:34:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Geoff,

While I can understand the ban on endlessly repeating the phrase "24 hours from Tulsa" I certainly hope that Dusty Springfield's immortal rendition of that song is included somewhere in your journey.

I can listen to that song, and most of Ms. Springfield's songbook, repeatedly.

Brian
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Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov
Grand Master
Username: soviet

Post Number: 545
Registered: 2-2013
Posted on Saturday, 02 July, 2016 - 08:42:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

In 1980 on 4 July I landed in Charleston South Carolina and upon walking out of the airport I grabbed some leaves off a tree to inspect them as they were that green I suspected they were fake. SC is an unbelievably beautiful state.

I ended up having a drink with some young Americans who asked me if I would come with them "to fight the Russians" and I wondered just what the might come up with if I moved them from the Buds onto Russian beer ranging from 8 to 11 to 18 percent. I gathered that they would have been a tad to crazy on straight vodka let alone Siberian samogon at 60 percent proof. Perhaps my first laugh came when I was approaching LA an was handed a US Immigration form that asked "Are you or have you ever been a member of the National Socialist Party 1933 Germany"

I used to giggle after walking out of small shops in the South where the women used to say "you all come back now you hear honey child!" The mind just boggles.
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Patrick Ryan
Prolific User
Username: patrick_r

Post Number: 295
Registered: 4-2016
Posted on Friday, 08 July, 2016 - 16:06:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Some magnificent images & great replies gents.
Love the boat ramp.
Maybe we should now start a thread regarding our cars in special or holiday locations?
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 572
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 - 19:26:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Well Guys its a beautiful day in Northern Ireland my Wife and I have just received word that our daughter has just had a brand new baby girl about 1300 hrs Singapore time Cheers Everybody!!!!!

Richard.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 2131
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 - 21:32:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Congratulations on your grand-daughter and trust mother and child are progressing well - I also trust grandfather has "wet the baby's head" in the traditional way.

Take it from me - the best years of your life have now begun so enjoy the journey and the happy memories you will create for both you and your wife.
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richard george yeaman
Grand Master
Username: richyrich

Post Number: 574
Registered: 4-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 - 21:48:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hi David thank you I am going to see them on the 28th of August, baby and mother are well, tucked up in a Singapore Hospital,
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Omar M. Shams
Grand Master
Username: omar

Post Number: 733
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Friday, 29 July, 2016 - 15:32:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Dear Richard,
Hearty congratulations from Stockholm.
It took me a while to reply because i am travelling.
I am very happy for you mate.
See if you can stop off in Dubai on your way to see your new grand daughter.
take care mate.
Omar
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Patrick Ryan
Grand Master
Username: patrick_r

Post Number: 374
Registered: 4-2016
Posted on Friday, 29 July, 2016 - 15:35:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Congratulations Richard.
One happy poppy I bet!
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 1326
Registered: 5-2012
Posted on Friday, 29 July, 2016 - 23:22:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Richard

I also missed this. Congratulations.

Geoff