Burke's Ravings

[Ed Burke]

Well things have been pretty quiet in newblogsville these last few weeks and I reckon it's time I said a word or three.

I'd like to start by saying that it's good to hear that TomG is not planning on an early push back and that Bill V is out of pain after such a long spell of 'down'.

And congratulations are due to Flaming for his aldermanship although aspiring to such an elevated post reveals a touch of masochism, I have seen the locals at work and I envy them not.

Sunny SE Queensland has been soggy for the last two days with almost 4" of rain, and cold winds that we poor tropical refugees are not really able to withstand without whinging.

I have been quite busy with preparations to drive west to Kalgoorlie where our first grandchild is due on the 22nd of the month. Our daughter in law asked Nicole to be there, 'I want you". A masterstroke of course, it would have mattered little if we had been in Reykjarvik there was no way we were not travelling to 'Kal' after that plea. The embryo is a boy, which prompted my brother, a resident of New Zealand for many years, to email me asking, "Does this mean that the son is rising in the west?" He edits a small local newspaper on Great Barrier Island, NE of Auckland, and his sense of humor raised the circulation quite a lot when he took it over; serves them right, they should have deported him.

The rig for the trip is our single cab, tray back Hilux diesel. No camper this time, we will be nice and light and with a fuel range of about 1500 US type miles we will be able to avoid fuelling in the boonies. The round trip is 4660 miles and we will be home again around the end of October if all goes well with the new mum.

Red dog has been getting a little twitchy about all this prep work and when it dawns on him that he is going into a boarding kennel he will likely revert to true catttle dog style and tear my leg off!

So my infrequent flying of late is going to cease entirely until I get home. Cheers one and all, Ed

[Tom Goodrick]

Just when I think you are going to begin sharing your thoughts with us, you tell us you are going away again. But, this time it does seem like you have a valid and worthy cause.

Have a good trip and say "Howdy" to the grandson for me.

[Bill Von Sennet]

I wish you and Nicole a safe journey.

Now that I'm feeling better I've been thinking about a journey to Alaska.

I found a place that will give me a brand new motor home at the factory in Nappanee IN and let me drive it to Anchorage next May. My only cost is for gas, propane, oil and one oil change enroute.

If I want to take some side trips it will cost me 15 cents a mile for every mile over 3,900 and $100 a day for every day over 9.

The cost of fuel could nix the deal.

[Tom Goodrick]

Bill, I think its great that you have an interest in doing something like that. But I'll put in my 2 cents against it because first, I owned a motorhome for several years and know what is involved, and second, haviing recuperated from surgery too, I'd hold off a while until you are real sure you can handle something like that. Motor homes art not always the best riding vehicles. Most of them start out as trucks so keep that in mind. I figure it would take you 65 hours at a minimum. That's a lot of sitting on a moving seat you are not used to. If you are not familiar with the motorhome from taking many short drives around home, you will have a high level of anxiety as you worry about its handling (it is very easy to dump one on its side when you encounter strong winds or sharp curves or both. Clearing traffic for turns when off the freeway can be a hassle.

Third, in today's gas market, a motorhome could be a nightmare. Mine got 3 mpg and had only an 18 gallong tank. I was looking for the next gas station just as I left each one. Finding open stations after 9 pm has become a big hassle most places. It might be better on Interstates.

It might be best to fly to a city in Alaska and then rent a motorhome there for sight-seeing.

Are you ready to change a truck tire - a dual, 24 inch truck tire? It's a lot of work and a lot of squatting.

[flaminghotsauce]

Hey edburke, when did you become female?

edburke
New Member

Joined: Aug 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,

;D Have fun on your trip!

[Ed Burke]

Hi Flaming, It pays to be versatile I reckon!

I saw that little detail a while back and I was wondering how long it would take for someone to catch on. I guess I'll have to revert, a little operation perhaps, maybe an addadictomy would do the trick?

We are in Kalgoorlie having done the trip in 72 hours with one non-stop night, arriving on Thursday evening. The important detail was that Tobias Edward Burke decided to arrive, not as scheduled on Sep 22, but on Monday afternoon two hours before we left home.

Mum and junior are both well and Toby is, of course, the most perfect babe to hit the scene since records have been kept.

While I can scribble on the forum I am devoid of FS so I am grounded until late October.

I think Tom is talking good sense with his words for Bill. But that said, that trip is one that I would love to do, I envy you Bill if you do hit the road,. Take care out there, those other hoods on the roads are out to get us.

Ed

[Tom Goodrick]

Hey Ed, congratulations to you and the Missus on becoming Grandparents. We'll expect a handsome young pilot named Toby to be buzzing around pretty soon! The fact he came early just means he's eager to get going!

[meryl]

Bill, we took our motorhome to Alaska 3 yrs ago. Was a good trip and we took our time.
Spent a lot of time in Canada, mostly Whitehorse, going up and coming back. Of course we are
on the west coast so not a long a trip and for you. We took 3 months. Cheaper back then,
though as far as gas goes. Make sure you are healed from your surgery. Roads are good, but
lots of construction on the Alcan during the summer. I doubt if we traveled 300 miles a day.
About 4-5 hrs driving was best for us. Lots to see enroute.

Meryl

[Bill Von Sennet]

Congratulations Ed and Nicole.

I think the Alaska Journey will have to wait until the Mrs is totally retired, and we could spend several months on it.

Today, the price of gas at Fort Nelson is close to $6.00 a gallon. I think its 1.57 per litre.

As for changing a tire Tom, No I'm not ready for that, and never will be.

But I'm up for having AAA or CAA do it.

[Ed Burke]

Got home yesterday after a 97 hour drive this time. That includes a bit of sleep time.

Grandson Toby is going along fine and seems to be firing on all six back there in Kalgoorlie.

Looking forward to kicking my FS system into shape over the next few days after I have got the Reddog out of hock, mowed the grass (we are getting into our top growing season right now) and sprayed the weeds. Apart from that there is nothing at all to do!

Ed

[budsbud]

Mr Burke
We are plannig to make another little juant, this time down to New Zealand , come mid December. We have these freqent flyer miles and need to use them or lose them. It has been many years since I last visited the down under places. Maybe you just might have a suggestion or two to guide this old coots stumbling around and getting lost down there.
Any suggetions would be greatly appreciated.

Bud

[Ed Burke]

Welcome back Bud, while there was no sobbing being admitted to, your absence was noted.

My young brother (of a mere 68 years) has lived beside Okiwi Station airstrip, NZOX, for about 30 years and I get over there to visit spasmotically. Come to think of it, his 70th is in early December ’09 and I fancy there might be a wee celebration needing my attention, mmmm.

Beautiful place, as is all of the North Island, but for really spectacular, knock out scenery, the South Island is fantastic.

Around ten years ago Nicole and I rented a motor camper in Christchurch and gave it back in Auckland after having driven everywhere bar the extreme north. A wonderful experience.

If you are into wines, the Malborough region has some of the best whites on the planet.

The mountains that form a backbone along the west side of the island are rugged in the Sierra Nevada style and you can fly over them and have a look see by fixed or rotary wing or simply drive around with mouth agape.

There is famous train trip east-west called the ‘Tranz’ I think. I have not done it but people who have say it is great.

Everthing you ever wanted to do is available at Queenstown. Tandem parasailing off the mountains, landing in town. Bungy jumping off Kawaru Bridge, more than 160’ over an icy stream, go into the water if you wish AND over 60s are free ! But naturally one spends up on the video and tee shirt. If that is a bit feeble for you, you can try Skippers Canyon, a little over 230’.but you’ll have to pay for that one.
A jet boat ride on the Shotover River is a must, as is a relaxing couple of hours steam boat trip on the lake.

Do some Googling Bud, you will rapidly get the idea. Also it’s a great way to find out where all the bargain campers are if that is the way you want to go. By the way, you can really relax about the independent travel scene, the locals are very, very friendly and helpful, almost civilised in fact.

Not far north of Queenstown is Wanaka where they have a “Warbirds Over Wanaka” airshow every second Easter. There is a good aviation museum there and quite a lot of restoration work goes on. I had a ride in a PBY-5A there including a touch and go on a nearby lake, very noisy that wet stuff.

On the north Island a few mile west of Rotorua (thermal hot springs complete with wonderful hot baths) there is small concrete speedway oval where you pay a small amount of money and do a dozen laps in a hot off-road buggy. Each lap is timed and they rate you on your best one. An absolute blast and if you can better 23 seconds you’ve got me on toast. Google ‘ Off Road NZ’ and look at ‘sprint car racing’.

If you don’t enjoy yourself in NZ you are a very sad case indeed, Enjoy.

Ed

[budsbud]

Ed
Thanks for all the great info. I am adding it all to our list of good things to
do and see. As I said it has been a very long time since I was down that way and I know things have changed a lot. Probably won’t recognize the place at all but I always wanted to go back, so here we go. We plan to hop down to
Christchurch and tour around all that area. I know it is all great country for sure.
Welcome to my world for your flight in a PBY-5A. The old bus is still my
favorite plane. I know she is slow and cumbersome but those old birds got us home on many occasions. Just a bit of sentimental tears now.
Anyway I’m glad to be back for a little while and am starting to fly again
even getting back after the hard disk crash’
Thanks again
All the best
Bud

[Ed Burke]

The Cat ZK-PBY is well known around the NZ venues and they help to pay the upkeep bills by 'sucker bashing'. It was my one and only flight and a long held ambition. I used to see an Aussie one around the country on seismic duties when I was working, VH-EXG with B-25 engines, but was not able to talk myself on board. It is now a static museum piece.

The big thing that makes New Zealand such an exciting, vibrant place is that it is one of the few places in the world where it is not practical to sue MacDonalds because the coffee was hot and you hurt after you stupidly spilt it on yourself. The litigation thing is virtually absent.

This enables would be operators of activities to set up really great things for people to do without the horrendous insurance costs that have crippled such things elsewhere. The operators are watched closely by the government agencies and there is no hillbilly operation allowed.

If you go on something which has a degree of adventure you sign a blood sheet, period. All these activities are run in an extremely professional manner with every care being taken, but if you get hurt they will give you all the immediate assistance necessary and then say, "Gee that was bad luck, I hope you will be ok".

I'm sure you will have a great time, Ed

[Ed Burke]

There are many people walking the streets of Australian towns and cities this morning displaying unexplained grins. The source of the delight is a gentleman who made a hoax call to authorities claiming there was a bomb on a domestic flight ex Cairns, Northern Queensland.

He made the call on his mobile phone, didn't he !!&^*((%$?!