Don't Throw Your Life Away - Battling Marine Debris from Alaska to Panama
- Thread starter Voyager3
- Start date
Voyager3
Active member
The correct answer was make sleds and drag them out. Didn't have to go terribly far, just slowly. And the dumpster was locked, but better here for someone to be able to deal with them than scattered on the beach, and in the beach.
Then we explored some marshy bogs before heading towards PEI. Prince Edward Island.
All 8 miles of the Confederation Bridge was closed to high sided vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles, but when we got over it, there was just enough time to find a lighthouse to park under for the night and catch another sunset. Point east in the morning, point west in the evening. In the middle, do something nice for the Earth. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The after cruising through the middle of the island, visiting Charlottetown briefly then heading to the east end of the island, I came to a tiny town called North Lake. Over a really late lunch at the Pirates Boathouse Cafe, early dinner.....well maybe both, because I had two meals, I got to talking with the owner and another guy there having some food about life and dreams, and ended up staying the night at the local motel. Before getting some sleep though I stopped by the beach in town briefly and in the 15 minutes before my hands started going numb I did find something to grab and decided that the next morning I would repay the town's kindness by doing a bigger cleanup the next morning.
Then we explored some marshy bogs before heading towards PEI. Prince Edward Island.
All 8 miles of the Confederation Bridge was closed to high sided vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles, but when we got over it, there was just enough time to find a lighthouse to park under for the night and catch another sunset. Point east in the morning, point west in the evening. In the middle, do something nice for the Earth. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The after cruising through the middle of the island, visiting Charlottetown briefly then heading to the east end of the island, I came to a tiny town called North Lake. Over a really late lunch at the Pirates Boathouse Cafe, early dinner.....well maybe both, because I had two meals, I got to talking with the owner and another guy there having some food about life and dreams, and ended up staying the night at the local motel. Before getting some sleep though I stopped by the beach in town briefly and in the 15 minutes before my hands started going numb I did find something to grab and decided that the next morning I would repay the town's kindness by doing a bigger cleanup the next morning.
Last edited:
Voyager3
Active member
And so I did
Great if you need an extra chair. Just make sure you are up to date on your shots
In all 32 pounds for the morning before heading out. And yeah, if some of the floats can be reused I don't toss those, but leave them with someone to see about re-purposing. The recycling pretty much always gets to the right place even if i have to hang onto it for a while. In this case, the cafe where I ate had provisions for that.
In all I was on the island a few days, but my dad was headed into Halifax soon to join for part of the trip, so I cast off on a ferry and made my way into Nova Scotia where after a long day I managed to find myself here on the Bay of Fundy.
I rolled into a place to park just at low tide as the sun was going down and I figured NS was going to be alright.
Morning was gorgeous.
The Bay of Fundy is home to the world's largest tides. This particular part had a more reasonable 41.2 foot tidal range.
I think you'll agree, not a bad way to start the day.
Great if you need an extra chair. Just make sure you are up to date on your shots
In all 32 pounds for the morning before heading out. And yeah, if some of the floats can be reused I don't toss those, but leave them with someone to see about re-purposing. The recycling pretty much always gets to the right place even if i have to hang onto it for a while. In this case, the cafe where I ate had provisions for that.
In all I was on the island a few days, but my dad was headed into Halifax soon to join for part of the trip, so I cast off on a ferry and made my way into Nova Scotia where after a long day I managed to find myself here on the Bay of Fundy.
I rolled into a place to park just at low tide as the sun was going down and I figured NS was going to be alright.
Morning was gorgeous.
The Bay of Fundy is home to the world's largest tides. This particular part had a more reasonable 41.2 foot tidal range.
I think you'll agree, not a bad way to start the day.
Voyager3
Active member
I took the sharpie to the Jeep again on Prince Edward Island. I thought it was fitting since I last did on Vancouver Island which seems like ever such a long time ago.
But now we were on Nova Scotia. And "we" this time meant myself, Crazy Bones, and now my dad, who was happy to help pull some more trash off a beach up on Cape Breton.
There is a lot of rope on the east coast
But it's still fall, I'm by the water, and I've got more of my family here to enjoy this particular part of the trip. He's never been to NS, and it was fun exploring what we could.
But now we were on Nova Scotia. And "we" this time meant myself, Crazy Bones, and now my dad, who was happy to help pull some more trash off a beach up on Cape Breton.
There is a lot of rope on the east coast
But it's still fall, I'm by the water, and I've got more of my family here to enjoy this particular part of the trip. He's never been to NS, and it was fun exploring what we could.
Voyager3
Active member
It's not all oceans and driving. Sometimes you need to find a forest and do some walking.
I loved finding this stuck, half submerged leaf because it's me. I'm sure more of it is above water than below, that really it's more floating than sinking, and it would like to keep going on its merry way, but it's only hung up for a moment. I say this because at the present moment, I'm an unsure whether this trip will even make it to Mexico, let alone Panama. We'll see how things go at Expo, but I'm pretty much tapped. the grant helped a little of course, but I need the work at the show, and to be honest, I need a break for the holidays before I make any moves further south, and that will require more resources. It is also going to take new arrangements. I think it's possible with or without the continued expedition that I'll be living out of my vehicle for another 11 months, and I just can't do that in the Jeep. I've got some self doubt going about the endeavor, and maybe I'll work through it, but at the moment, I'd say there are good chances it doesn't continue like I thought. By the time I get to Expo and Florida for a break, this will already have been around a 20k mile trip. Farther than I thought, it's been more expensive than I thought as well. I guess this is a mark against not planning big trips like this. Winging it is fun and all, but I see now some of the problems. Anyway, let's look at more lovely pictures of northern Nova Scotia because however it works out, this has been amazing for the last almost 4 months.
And to be fair like this leaf, which was planted by me with the purpose of grabbing a particular kind of photo, I have done this to myself with the purpose of having a particular kind of experience. After being placed here, it went with the flow of its new stream just fine.
Really we should all go chasing waterfalls and not stick to the rivers and the lakes that we're used to.
I'll just award 25 bonus points if you got the reference just because. And now, a waterfall.
I loved finding this stuck, half submerged leaf because it's me. I'm sure more of it is above water than below, that really it's more floating than sinking, and it would like to keep going on its merry way, but it's only hung up for a moment. I say this because at the present moment, I'm an unsure whether this trip will even make it to Mexico, let alone Panama. We'll see how things go at Expo, but I'm pretty much tapped. the grant helped a little of course, but I need the work at the show, and to be honest, I need a break for the holidays before I make any moves further south, and that will require more resources. It is also going to take new arrangements. I think it's possible with or without the continued expedition that I'll be living out of my vehicle for another 11 months, and I just can't do that in the Jeep. I've got some self doubt going about the endeavor, and maybe I'll work through it, but at the moment, I'd say there are good chances it doesn't continue like I thought. By the time I get to Expo and Florida for a break, this will already have been around a 20k mile trip. Farther than I thought, it's been more expensive than I thought as well. I guess this is a mark against not planning big trips like this. Winging it is fun and all, but I see now some of the problems. Anyway, let's look at more lovely pictures of northern Nova Scotia because however it works out, this has been amazing for the last almost 4 months.
And to be fair like this leaf, which was planted by me with the purpose of grabbing a particular kind of photo, I have done this to myself with the purpose of having a particular kind of experience. After being placed here, it went with the flow of its new stream just fine.
Really we should all go chasing waterfalls and not stick to the rivers and the lakes that we're used to.
I'll just award 25 bonus points if you got the reference just because. And now, a waterfall.
Last edited:
Voyager3
Active member
And now for a dose of water. This water is important because it's a big moment for this trip. It seems like ages since we left the Pacific, and reaching the Atlantic in Canada was a goal added to the itinerary after we left because I thought it would be an interesting accomplishment and pertinent to the ocean debris theme. I know we spent a long time nowhere near an ocean, and we tried to keep the talk relevant to the humanitarian objectives. And while in Halifax and up the shore technically sort of it was on the Atlantic, it didn't really feel like it. We were near little pockets of water that became open ocean out of sight, and that didn't feel good enough. But on October 23rd, I called it. Don't Throw Your Life Away had truly reached the Atlantic.
Cheers
Heading back south we were treated to the soft drawn out evening light of a sunset behind the hills and a startling moonrise seemingly so near.
Cheers
Heading back south we were treated to the soft drawn out evening light of a sunset behind the hills and a startling moonrise seemingly so near.
Voyager3
Active member
When I was on the Bay of Fundy before my dad flew in, I showed him some shots from my campsite. Turns out, the bay had been on his bucket list for years and he hadn't realized it was where we were going to be. So heading back to NB, we made sure to stop at Hopewell Rocks to go be amazed at the world of 50 foot tides.
Voyager3
Active member
Then just like that, the Canadian part of this voyage was over. It definitely is bitter sweet. Maybe I'll keep saying progress, tomorrow, about and sorry like this for the rest of my life, that wouldn't be so bad. I have loved it. I have learned a ton, done some good and met warm-hearted folks throughout. And despite the pessimism at the border on the Top of the World Highway, I've made it across Canada. Just. And now as I push on slightly more unsure of myself than usual, at least I know I've got family old and new to be with at Expo and time to recharge.
Maine was going to be quick, my dad had a flight to catch. But that didn't stop us from finding some boats, like this one. Slightly larger than the sailboats I was finding in Alaska.
I would guess 127.95 feet. Roughly.
Which would you choose, wind power or engine power?
A little more brisk than the Florida he left to come up here, but he's still enjoying the small harbors. Apparently I have already been up this way, but a quarter century ago.
Camden. It's alright.
Maine was going to be quick, my dad had a flight to catch. But that didn't stop us from finding some boats, like this one. Slightly larger than the sailboats I was finding in Alaska.
I would guess 127.95 feet. Roughly.
Which would you choose, wind power or engine power?
A little more brisk than the Florida he left to come up here, but he's still enjoying the small harbors. Apparently I have already been up this way, but a quarter century ago.
Camden. It's alright.
Voyager3
Active member
A coupe things I forgot to show from NB. This is bay water linked by pipes to show the kinds of tidal ranges around the area in the Bay of Fundy. Standing next to it and going up three flights of stairs around it is different than just thinking about it.
This small museum in St. John had something I should think about getting for Jenson, a treadmill for dogs to churn butter. Maybe I don't need to churn a lot of butter. Winch maybe? I'm going to study the market for a dog powered winch at Expo. The production piece would likely be smaller than this.
And I probably shouldn't include this actually, because it was starting to make me queasy looking at it. So, why don't you give it a shot?
Sorry if you threw up.
If you're still with me, we also did get to stop by Owl's Head briefly before getting my dad to the airport. Here's something we can all relate to.
I have to admit, I didn't think I would be seeing yet another ornithopter on this trip, but........
No it didn't work either despite the feathers. It was also built later than you might have thought. Around 1900. And rebuilt a couple times. This next one is a replica of a 1913 Deperdussin. Just a decade after the first powered flight this airplane achieved a speed of 126.7mph. Mind you, the land speed record in 1906 was 127.6mph. Using steam. Interestingly while the airplane soon went on to prove itself to be what experts call quite speedy indeed, that steam powered land speed record stood for over 100 years until 2009, when it was reset to 139.8mph.
So many radials, so little time
I'm all for innovation and thinking out of the box, but surely John Domenjoz's friends tried telling him a sailing glider would never work either. He was a pilot and a sailor. I mean, I can sort of get into the mindset of "wouldn't it be funny if..." but to go from the napkin sketch to Domenjoz Sail Plane Inc. took some commitment.
This small museum in St. John had something I should think about getting for Jenson, a treadmill for dogs to churn butter. Maybe I don't need to churn a lot of butter. Winch maybe? I'm going to study the market for a dog powered winch at Expo. The production piece would likely be smaller than this.
And I probably shouldn't include this actually, because it was starting to make me queasy looking at it. So, why don't you give it a shot?
Sorry if you threw up.
If you're still with me, we also did get to stop by Owl's Head briefly before getting my dad to the airport. Here's something we can all relate to.
I have to admit, I didn't think I would be seeing yet another ornithopter on this trip, but........
No it didn't work either despite the feathers. It was also built later than you might have thought. Around 1900. And rebuilt a couple times. This next one is a replica of a 1913 Deperdussin. Just a decade after the first powered flight this airplane achieved a speed of 126.7mph. Mind you, the land speed record in 1906 was 127.6mph. Using steam. Interestingly while the airplane soon went on to prove itself to be what experts call quite speedy indeed, that steam powered land speed record stood for over 100 years until 2009, when it was reset to 139.8mph.
So many radials, so little time
I'm all for innovation and thinking out of the box, but surely John Domenjoz's friends tried telling him a sailing glider would never work either. He was a pilot and a sailor. I mean, I can sort of get into the mindset of "wouldn't it be funny if..." but to go from the napkin sketch to Domenjoz Sail Plane Inc. took some commitment.
Last edited:
Voyager3
Active member
There are great looking airplanes, and then there's this gem.
First flown in 1910, the last original Etrich Taube to fly did so way back in 1922. Owl's Head is the only known museum to attempt to recreate a flyable reproduction of the Taube.....and it works. It first flew in 1990 and apparently still flies. Taube is German for Dove, but the wings were really modeled after the seeds of Alsomitra macrocarpa.
This 1923 Fokker has a weird story. Originally a two cockpit observation plane. Sometime in the 20s, it was converted into a passenger carrier, replacing one cockpit with four seats inside. In 1930, the other cockpit was replaced, and the passenger compartment turned into more fuel storage with the intent to make it a long distance competitor with ambitions to fly from Tacoma, Washington to Toyko, Japan. That didn't work. It only made it to a field near Vancouver when a fuel issue forced a landing, and then it couldn't take off again at it's still fully laden fuel weight. Some fuel was dumped, and the copilot went ahead by car. But at the nearby airstrip it aimed for, the pilot overshot and sheared the landing gear off. So the wings were removed and the whole thing was trucked back to Washington State. A couple years later it was sold, then sat in a field with its engine in a nearby barn. At some point the airframe got burned down to the tubing in a grass fire and in the early 70s it was discovered by museum trustee Ken Cianchette who set about restoring it. It was donated to the museum in '92, finished in '99 and then Ken himself flew it for the first time in 69 years, before finally turning it over to the museum.
First flown in 1910, the last original Etrich Taube to fly did so way back in 1922. Owl's Head is the only known museum to attempt to recreate a flyable reproduction of the Taube.....and it works. It first flew in 1990 and apparently still flies. Taube is German for Dove, but the wings were really modeled after the seeds of Alsomitra macrocarpa.
This 1923 Fokker has a weird story. Originally a two cockpit observation plane. Sometime in the 20s, it was converted into a passenger carrier, replacing one cockpit with four seats inside. In 1930, the other cockpit was replaced, and the passenger compartment turned into more fuel storage with the intent to make it a long distance competitor with ambitions to fly from Tacoma, Washington to Toyko, Japan. That didn't work. It only made it to a field near Vancouver when a fuel issue forced a landing, and then it couldn't take off again at it's still fully laden fuel weight. Some fuel was dumped, and the copilot went ahead by car. But at the nearby airstrip it aimed for, the pilot overshot and sheared the landing gear off. So the wings were removed and the whole thing was trucked back to Washington State. A couple years later it was sold, then sat in a field with its engine in a nearby barn. At some point the airframe got burned down to the tubing in a grass fire and in the early 70s it was discovered by museum trustee Ken Cianchette who set about restoring it. It was donated to the museum in '92, finished in '99 and then Ken himself flew it for the first time in 69 years, before finally turning it over to the museum.
Last edited:
Voyager3
Active member
In a bizarre twist, the Jeep picked up a vibration again. But rather than lay on the cold snowy ground, I tried ignoring it for a day or two while just taking it slow. It wasn't so bad, and then I went and found a car wash stall that was dry and yanked the rear driveshaft and confirmed the rear u-joint that went in in Washington with the diff fiasco was like a one position ratchet despite regular greasing.
That doesn't look greased. Oh well. Once I convinced the fellow at O'Reilly that they have a u-joint press tool for rent, I replaced it in the parking lot in a break in the rain. Bing bang boom, back on the road with no more shaking. But somehow New Hampshire went by really quickly even going slow. It must be small.
All of a sudden Western New Hampshire became eastern Vermont.
Reminding myself how tiny XJ's are.
At a, well not a campsite, the end of a road in a forest I found where my muffin from Moncton, New Brunswick had been this whole time.
It's ok though, I once left a pair of dress shoes on the roof of my Alfa. I realized many miles later when I got to where I was going that one was missing, retraced my steps and found it in the dark.
I think fall is getting pretty advanced now, good thing I'm pointing south. Or am I?
That doesn't look greased. Oh well. Once I convinced the fellow at O'Reilly that they have a u-joint press tool for rent, I replaced it in the parking lot in a break in the rain. Bing bang boom, back on the road with no more shaking. But somehow New Hampshire went by really quickly even going slow. It must be small.
All of a sudden Western New Hampshire became eastern Vermont.
Reminding myself how tiny XJ's are.
At a, well not a campsite, the end of a road in a forest I found where my muffin from Moncton, New Brunswick had been this whole time.
It's ok though, I once left a pair of dress shoes on the roof of my Alfa. I realized many miles later when I got to where I was going that one was missing, retraced my steps and found it in the dark.
I think fall is getting pretty advanced now, good thing I'm pointing south. Or am I?
Voyager3
Active member
A lot of the next set of pictures have a red tint to them because when entering New York State I stumbled up on the Firemen's Association of New York museum. I still feel honored to wear my Newport Fire hat nearly every day. I'm proud of the time I was able to be part of that community and wherever I end up, I can see myself seeking out the local Department to find that again.
Here's an easy one, what famous movie car was also a Miller-Meteor Cadillac?
Anyone else thinking about making a 1947 Ward-LaFrance camper? Notice the elephant. This truck is from Somers, NY, birthplace and worldwide headquarters of Barnum and Bailey
The front mounted pump did make it a little easier for the driver to line up a hydrant, but piston pumps were eventually replaced by centrifugal ones.
At least by 1928 you could have a windshield.
One of the first "styled" trucks, the 1939 American La-France Scout used a lot of steel. Communities had to get permission from the Gov to purchase one due to wartime material concerns.
Original wheels and tires. I'm not keeping up, but are any companies bringing wooden wheels back at SEMA?
Here's an easy one, what famous movie car was also a Miller-Meteor Cadillac?
Anyone else thinking about making a 1947 Ward-LaFrance camper? Notice the elephant. This truck is from Somers, NY, birthplace and worldwide headquarters of Barnum and Bailey
The front mounted pump did make it a little easier for the driver to line up a hydrant, but piston pumps were eventually replaced by centrifugal ones.
At least by 1928 you could have a windshield.
One of the first "styled" trucks, the 1939 American La-France Scout used a lot of steel. Communities had to get permission from the Gov to purchase one due to wartime material concerns.
Original wheels and tires. I'm not keeping up, but are any companies bringing wooden wheels back at SEMA?
Voyager3
Active member
This truck entered service in 1916 in Oyster Bay and wasn't retired until 1956. Solid tires and all. Notice no windshield again. Just deemed unnecessary until '28.
Gas pedal in the middle, just like you're used to
Sometimes you need a lot of ladders. Like 13 ground ladders totaling 300 feet. Would you want to jump into the life net though?
It's 1929, so yes. windshield. I think you've got it now.
Poningoe Indian painting. Rye, NY was settled in 1660 on land purchased from the Poningoe.
Gas pedal in the middle, just like you're used to
Sometimes you need a lot of ladders. Like 13 ground ladders totaling 300 feet. Would you want to jump into the life net though?
It's 1929, so yes. windshield. I think you've got it now.
Poningoe Indian painting. Rye, NY was settled in 1660 on land purchased from the Poningoe.
jgaz
Adventurer
“ Miller-Meteor Cadillac?”
Ghost Busters?
I like fire trucks almost as much as airplanes. I do love me some radial engines though.
You going to get any where near Dayton Ohio? The Air Force museum is an excellent stop. They used to have a cut a way of a radial engine that you could hand crank (with gear assist) and watch the internals move. Fascinating! Amazing they ran as well as they did.
Ghost Busters?
I like fire trucks almost as much as airplanes. I do love me some radial engines though.
You going to get any where near Dayton Ohio? The Air Force museum is an excellent stop. They used to have a cut a way of a radial engine that you could hand crank (with gear assist) and watch the internals move. Fascinating! Amazing they ran as well as they did.