Glimpses of History

§ May 19th, 2013 § Filed under Leisure Time § No Comments

Traveling to the Washington D.C. area and the northwestern part of Virginia becomes a trip into history. The eye and mind not only view the scenery, but also ghosts of the country’s past.

Whorls of fog, like mists of memory, wind over paths swathed through forests of ever vigilant green. Trees choke off the view of the horizon as sleek horses graze on ground christened by a nation’s two fights: one a battle for independence, one a battle within. Everywhere the eye wanders, glimpses of history, memories of the past mingle with scenes of the present.

Battle fields forever scarred with the scattered litter of the dead are surrounded with masses of hardwoods fertilized with the blood of men who wore the Union blue or the Confederate gray. Cannons, forever guarding ghosts of those who fought and died, left wheel ruts unfilled by the passing of time. In hollow mockery of troops long gone, towering trees stand attention around a painting of a grand house which burned leaving but scraps of a foundation and graves and monuments, lasting reminders of the price of a war which turned brother against brother and friend into enemy.

In Fredricksberg, colonial buildings march side by side in their restored grandeur, quaint, narrow, and deep with pocks caused by shelling in revolutionary or civil war time. Stark, plain yet with silent dignity, a battle-scarred church, built of brick and mortar, stands separated from rushing traffic by a line of swaying trees. Aged pine floors creak echoes of the past in the building where heroic medicine had been found, while young girls, older ones too, shudder at the tales of treatment of long ago. A tavern and inn sits in memory where the rich entered by the front door, and the common folk by the back. A deck of cards lies on a table, the ace of spades missing to avoid more of the King’s tax, the start of “not playing with a full deck.” White and proud stands the home of the first president’s mother, a mother’s home where a son came to ask her blessing and where a boy ghost lurks.

Monticello brings many to visit its splendor and its view. Gentle mountains softened by graduated shades of green touch the low, lazy haze curling about the rounded peaks. Deep valleys spread below, filled with close ranks of pines, oaks, and elms divided by lush meadows or fields of fragrant grasses and hay. On a hill-top sits the ancient, in New World time, house with multiple chimneys pointing to the bright blue sky where wisps of

friendly clouds play hide-and-seek. Around the mansion lie carpets of velvet grass shaded by weeping willows and towering oaks while flowers peek through hedges. Vistas of wooded hills and valleys hide old houses in armies of trees with roofs and chimneys briefly spotted behind the sentries. Trails of history meander through today’s sunlight, bringing back memories of yesterdays gone by. A stone monument marks the grave now empty while immortality lives in brick and wood for all to see, but not touch.

A flood of traffic rushes into the nation’s capital, greeted by a towering white spear and a columned reminder of those who led through the two historic wars most grim. The spires of a red-brick American castle reach toward the drizzling sky on one side of a mall of grass and paths. Mobs of citizens from here and there play tourist, staring in awe or simply gawking at the mixture of history now surrounded by crass commercialism. The long reach of grass is framed by a domed capitol blurred by mist, buildings old and new housing memories and dreams, the towering column reaching upward unsoftened by any influence. Around and through rages a river of people flowing, ebbing, creating rapids that cannot be navigated. Apparently healthy men accost walkers, begging for money for food; all look amazingly well-fed. Here lies history drowning in today as a nation’s mansion hides behind bars and barricades, unapproachable.

Standing tall and proud at the top of a hill like an elderly lady fallen on hard times, Chatham, a mansion from colonial times used in the Civil War as a Union headquarters to subdue Fredricksberg, brings feelings of dread and of anticipation. The mansion gathers her tattered gown around her with dignity, staring haughtily across the river, overlooking the shadows of destruction left in her lap. One is overwhelmed with the need to escape from the oppressive darkness by fleeing around the circle of her skirt. Like hiding behind his mother in safety, he finds her garden holds peace and contentment, full of flowering, blooming life.

Memories of the past, real and imagined, spin and mix with views of the present creating a new, more intimate portrait of a slice of history.

Vivian Gilbert Zabel taught English, composition, and creative writing for twenty-five years, honing her skills as she studied and taught. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/, a site for Writers, and her portfolio is http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel Her books, Hidden Lies and Other Storied and Walking the Earth, can be found through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Bermuda Cruise Expert Guide

§ May 19th, 2013 § Filed under Cruising Sailing § No Comments

At just twenty-one square miles in size, the island of Bermuda in the Western Atlantic is one of the smaller destinations in the world to visit on a cruise ship. Only a day and a half sailing from the U.S. East Coast, a Bermuda cruise will introduce you to a tropical gem of an island that is a world away from The Bahamas and other Caribbean island communities. If you want to experience the quintessential English lifestyle set to a calypso beat, Bermuda is the place to go!

A British colony since 1684, the island of Bermuda has long been a favorite for U.S. and Canadian tourists. Up to 220,000 visitors each year arrive aboard Bermuda cruise vessels, which dock at one of the island’s two ports – Hamilton and Kings Wharf. Bermuda does also have an airport to the northeast of the island, ushering in around another 380,000 visitors annually. The Bermuda government places strict limits on the number of visitors entering this tiny land area each year. Booking your Bermuda cruise well in advance of your desired sail date is therefore highly recommended.

Bermuda cruises depart from a number of ports along the eastern seaboard. Cruise lines operating out of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Boston and Norfolk offer 5 – 7 day Bermuda cruises on a regular basis. As there is little in the way of

land between the East Coast and Bermuda, Bermuda cruises tend only to stop at one port on the island. Cruise passengers are then free to explore Bermuda by foot, scooter, bicycle or boat. Bermuda cruise operators will also have a raft of shore excursions available for passengers to enjoy, the cruise ship acting as a floating hotel for the duration of their stay on the island.

Bermuda cruise shore excursions

A Bermuda cruise is a great opportunity to indulge in some high-class living. Whether your passion is golf, lazing on a beach (yes, it is true, the sand on some of Bermuda’s beaches is pink), or just taking it easy in tropical surroundings, you’ll be in for a treat on the island of Bermuda. For the more adventurous a complete spectrum of water sports can be enjoyed in the warm waters that lap the island’s shoreline. You may even get a chance to take in a cricket match or two while sipping a cup of English Afternoon tea – an altogether more delightful way to experience ‘England’ without the drab skies and endless rain of the real thing.

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 source

for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.azcruises.com

now to book your very own dream Bermuda Cruise vacation.

Advice for Pressure Washing Companies Cleaning Marina Docks

§ May 18th, 2013 § Filed under Cruising Sailing § No Comments

So you are in the pressure washer business and you want to clean the local docks at the Marina. Good plan, let us give you a little advice on this. First you have to sell the account. Explain to the marina manager or the dock master or municipal purchasing agent that their clientele and/or citizens will be very impressed to see that this normally much neglected area of the marina and/or pier is being taken care of and cleaned. It’s going to make it much more presentable. The clientele will be happier, therefore will be more likely to keep their moorage in storage there and be happy-paying customers for long into the future. Explain to the dock master or marina manager also that it can be a safety issue. The cleaner and less slippery their docks are the better and safer it’s going to be for their clientele. This is also a good selling point. This is an easier sell to government agencies since everyone wants to stay away from lawsuits.

When doing areas that are consistently shaded, or in dark recessed areas, make sure that you remove the excess water to avoid the growth of algae. If you are doing anything inside a building that’s over water or anything similar to this, make sure that you remove as much water as possible. You may also want to, in certain situations where their docks warrant it, use a staining product to re-stain the docks to keep them up since a lot of them get weathered and they are consistently exposed to sunlight and harsh salt air and water. For the best products on wood we recommend Lifeguard Water Proofing Products which are guaranteed for five to seven years depending on which grade you buy. You can purchase them at Eagle Hardware, in Canada at Depots.

Other products we recommend are Behr Products, which are the second best and can be found at Home Depots around the country. If they ask you for a wet look go buy a product called Sikkens and this is also available at Home Depot.

If you do any re-staining on decking, be extremely careful not to let the stain material drop into the water as it can sometimes drift and attach itself onto the gel coat of other boats right at their water line.

Although it can create some work for you, there will be some unhappy boaters and they will know directly who to go to if you do not work carefully. So, just be cautious, since most stains are lighter than water and they float until they wash up against something, such as a boat hull.

Wood Discoloration Factors and Procedures for Dock Cleaning

There are many types of stains, which can get on a dock at the Marina, if you do not have a pressure washer or steam cleaner and you need to clean these stains you may wish to know how to clean them without expensive equipment. If you have the proper equipment but a stubborn stain, you might want to use these procedures to increase your success.

Algae: Use a diluted bleach* solution (4:1). Saturate algae growth and allow to sit five to ten minutes. Scrub and rinse well.

Extractive/Tannin Bleed: Use a four to five percent solution of oxalic acid. Allow solution to remain on spot until the darkness disappears, then rinse well with water.

Grease: Use a strong household detergent in warm water and agitate with a brush. Automotive degreaser has also shown to be effective when used according to directions.

Mildew: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Mill Stamps: There are no solvents available to remove these stamps. Sanding is the most effective means. They will also fade with time.

Leaf Stains: Use a diluted bleach* solution and scrub.

Pitch/Rosin: Scrape the excess material from wood using a putty knife or steel wool and clean the area with hot, soapy water. Turpentine is effective in removing pitch, which is still sappy.

Rosin from surrounding trees: Wipe area with a wet cloth with turpentine.

*Sometimes when cleaning wood with a stain, especially with bleach, the natural color of the wood may disappear. Check with your distributor/supplier for products than can be used to ensure uniformity and restore the wood to its natural color.

Wolmans, Behr, Sikkens, Lifeguard and others have company websites with all this type of information and more. You would be wise to understand these procedures to insure a perfect job. Do it right, do it efficient. Think about it.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

One Day on the Oregon Trail

§ May 17th, 2013 § Filed under Leisure Time § No Comments

Last summer I decided to head for Ten Mile Pass. My wife and I jumped into the van and took off for Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs, and then Bancroft, Idaho.

I was on a mission. I had to see where my dad spent his teenage years. That is how I found the Oregon Trail.

We drove off Highway 30, drove over to Bancroft, found Ten Mile Pass Road, and looked for the old Jones homestead.

It was while nearing the pass that I saw a road sign of the historic variety. I said to my wife, “I didn’t know the Oregon Trail passed through here.”

I backed the van to take a better look at the sign. My wife said, “Watch out!” That’s when the van slid down a steep bank off the road.

What I said next was not nice.

I got out of the van and looked at the situation. The bank was very steep and of loose gravel. I climbed up to the passenger’s side of the van to help my wife out. I hoped the van would not roll over on us while we were trying to escape.

I could see the headlines: Dumb Old Couple Crushed by GMC Conversion Van.

My wife said, “What are we going to do now?”

I said, “Look, you can see the Oregon trail running along the side of the road.”

My wife said, “I’m very glad you found it. Now what?”

“I looked up toward the mine at the top of the pass and then back down the road. I said, “It’s only four (4) miles (6498.4612 meters) back to the farm house.”

She was polite and didn’t say, “What farmhouse?” There was only one farmhouse that we saw between where we were and Bancroft.

We hiked for a few minutes when I heard a pickup truck rumbling down the gravel road from the mine. When it stopped by us, the driver rolled down the window as soon as the dust settled. “Run off the road, huh? Saw your van. Need a lift?”

We decided that God was not too busy that day with world disasters and sent the miners to us. That was the only traffic we had seen all day.

The lift sounded good to me. The driver’s partner got in the back of the truck, my wife and I in the cab with the driver, and off we went to the farm house.

A nice Mormon family lived in the farmhouse. They were raising a family, a cat, a dog, and a herd of Black Angus cattle. (For those who don’t know cattle, the Black Angus cows are the black ones.)

The rancher’s wife handed me the telephone, and I called my “dumb driver” insurance company and the service lady called the wrecker.

While waiting for the hour or so it would take the wrecker to get from Pocatello to the Ten Mile Pass road, I surveyed the country. I could see where the lava flows met the croplands. I knew that was where my father spent his teenage years.

His first trial was making skis so that he and his father would not starve to death. Dad would have to hunt.

Dad made the skis of the “won’t go” variety. My grandfather soaked the ends of the skis in boiling water and turned up the ends like real skis. He then

scorched the wood to harden the surface. Dad waxed the skis and “WHEEE!”

I took a look at the ranchers cattle. He had about 500 head of Black Angus. (For those of you not of ranching stock, he had the neck, thorax, and legs too.)

The rancher and his worker pulled up with hay for the cattle and asked what I was doing there.

“We drove off the road,” I said. (If you are married you can have your wife share the blame.)

He was a tall Clint Eastwood type and he said, “There are only two kinds of people up here: Those who have gone off the road and those who are going to go off the road.”

He drove me up to the place where my van was holding on for dear life, trying not to roll over. He said, “It looks like you could dig it out and drive off into the field.”

I said to show my engineering skills, “That is what I was thinking.”

I must explain here that the county had planned for those who would drive or slide off the road. They made a dirt ramp about every mile so that folks could get back on the road after the tow truck came.

The rancher made no offer to dig me out, knowing that the tow truck operator would like to have something to do after all that driving. Besides, he needed to get his hay in. He drove me back to the house and his wife fed me lunch. She told me it was too cold at Ten Mile Pass to raise cattle in the winter. Every fall her husband trucked the cattle down to American Falls.

That told me why my father moved south for his next homestead. They had planned to raise cattle up there. They didn’t know it was impossible. How would they know, being the first ones there?

Finally, the tow truck came. The driver was a young scrapper that seemed to know what he was doing. When we got to the van he said, “I think we can dig you out.”

I said, “That is what I was thinking.”

Well, he risked his neck digging the gravel out from under the van. (I was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement so I didn’t help him.) He said, “I think you can drive it down into the field now.”

“What?” That is what I said, and then, “I’m not getting into that thing. You will have to drive it down out of the gravel. It might tip over!”

He looked at me like I was a pantywaist but agreed, and with a lot of spinning and throwing gravel and dust into the air, he bounced the van off the steep bank and down into the field.

He got out of the van and said, “So that you can drive out of here, I’ll get the bobbed wire and rocks out from in front of you.”

And that’s what we did. We were on the Oregon Trail!

Copyright ©John T. Jones, Ph.D. 2005

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com)is a retired R&D engineer and VP of a Fortune 500 company. He is author of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering), poetry, etc. Former editor of international trade magazine.

More info: http://www.tjbooks.com

Business web site: http://www.bookfindhelp.com (wealth-success books / flagpoles)

Sex in a Cessna, Part II

§ May 17th, 2013 § Filed under Aviation § No Comments

Sex in a Cessna or any light plane can be exhilarating and since your flight instructor never trained you how to do this you will need to read all of this several part series of articles, we do not want you screwing things up so to speak. In part one, we explained the need for a practice area and separation between other aircraft, staying out of flight path of other aircraft and setting the aircraft up in level flight.

Remember to be well away from restricted areas such as Washington DC. I cannot say for sure what those guys in the Cessna 150 thought they were doing, but they must have had their heads up their butts. Flying into restricted airspace is no place you want to be caught with your pants down, for sure. They are lucky they did not get their asses shot out of the sky by an F-16 rolling in on them a TAS of 500 Kts. So be careful to have enough room to finish you mission when having sex in a Cessna.

Now then you have the seat all the way back and you have it locked in place. Your female counterpart should also have disrobed. Now you will have to choose your sexual positions. There are many possibilities, so choose which one you wish to do first. It is awkward to try to switch positions so it is better to finish up one position before setting up for another. If you are going to do multiple different positions then

you might wish to turn the aircraft around and go the other way. Also change altitudes so you are going the right direction for the altitude you are at.

It is best to have a wipe up towel handy, a sex towel is important. Please do not throw it out the side window when completed, we have enough litter in the world. Besides if it lands in someone’s back yard, they are going to be able to tell what it was used for and that is just not right. If you are in a rented aircraft check the seat tracks before going up, some of the pegs in the seat mechanisms do not work right and will not stay locked in place while you are getting into it.

If you are on the bottom and the female counter part is on top you will want to put the seat up about 30 degrees so you can still see out of the plane. Be careful not to hit your knees or feet on the yoke as you could change the direction of flight. If you are in a rented aircraft, which does not have an autopilot you can fly with your feet to a limited degree. If this is the case then you might wish to try this a few times before attempting sex in a Cessna.

End of Part II

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Helicopters – The Multi Utility Machines

§ May 16th, 2013 § Filed under Aviation § No Comments

The vertical lift technology of helicopters has far more utilitarian aspects to its credit than only being an effective mode of transport. In India, civil helicopters are performing transportation business, be it executive or offshore. But, with Indian skies opening up to international aviation and domestic aviation getting global, it is time we understand that helicopters are the connecting links towards its success. Helicopters can reach where nothing else can. Helicopters can perform EMS (Emergency Medical Service), Law Enforcement, Power Line Survey, Fire Fighting, SAR (Search and Rescue), ENG (Electronic News Gathering) at the same time as connecting the remotest places to the center. While effort is on to improvise our country’s infrastructure by introducing metro rail, building expressways, modernizing railways, building better airports, it is time to incorporate helicopter services as well. Heliports along the expressways and railway tracks will enable timely rescue services in case of accidents.

We need to understand that there is a difference between getting there and getting there fast. There is a distinction between supporting lives and life support. In the western countries EMS is a very common service where in case of any medical requirement or accident, helicopters provide air ambulance service. Since India’s telecom has become excellent with mobile network available even in the oddest of places, it is possible to have a hotline to connect to this service and make EMS helicopter available wherever required. It is a good idea for insurance companies to integrate with the management of EMS by integrating with various agencies. For example, the toll tax collected at expressways can incorporate a small amount of insurance money to insure passengers of availing EMS in case of any mishap. Credit card companies can also get their customers insured for this service. Hospitals can offer this service to the corporates who would not mind insuring their employees for EMS in case required. Options can be explored. The government needs to integrate with all the relevant sectors to make this happen. EMS is very common in the developed nations and it can be done here as well. It is definitely required to manage the second largest population of the world.

Another very important segment where vertical lift technology makes its presence almost inevitable is homeland security or law enforcement. The helicopter is often referred to as a “Force Multiplier.” Studies have shown that helicopter teams have a felony arrest rate as high as six to ten times that of car teams alone. The helicopter has also been shown to support, or “back up”, as many as twenty-six ground vehicles within its geographical area of responsibility. The aerial vantage gives the helicopter about 15 times the surveillance capacity of a ground unit. This vantage point plus the speed in which a helicopter can get a trained police observer over a crime

scene (usually less than two minutes), provides the containment that essentially assures an arrest. A police helicopter can also be shared between public service agencies for duties such as traffic survey, fire control, EMS, environmental surveys, zoning and other public service missions. In 1948, NYPD (New York Police Department) placed its first helicopter into service, a Bell 47 D and since then there has been a significant evolution in Air Borne law enforcement. This evolution should bring in a change into India’s law enforcement as well. The first step in this regard would be to look beyond that the helicopter is an expensive luxury. The helicopter has been proven by police departments around the world to be very cost effective means of increasing the efficiency of a department’s existing resources, when properly utilized.

Other utility functions, which can be performed by a helicopter, are fire fighting, Electronic news gathering, power line survey, offshore oil and gas support, aerial application and air tourism. While heli tourism, offshore support and to some extent ENG has become possible in India, we still have to explore their use in India into fire fighting, power line survey and aerial application.

Helicopters play a leading role in fire fighting support. It provides observers a platform to assess a situation and provide ground units and other aircraft a clear description of the problem and how to combat it. Pinpointing location, moving equipment, finding water sources and rescuing victims from high-rise buildings can also be done much faster.

Electronic newsgathering is another major area of thrust for helicopter use these days. As our society becomes media savvy everyday, new agencies and media groups need to get news faster and crispier. Thus, helicopters are used to reach the place of incident faster and report from there on. Already, some news agencies are using helicopters for ENG but with news channels multiplying everyday, the use of helicopters can be exploited much more. The 2010 Common Wealth games being held in Delhi are a good platform to exploit the use of helicopters to their maximum potential in providing live and express coverage.

A helicopter best performs power line, pipeline, and fibre optic line patrol. Its excellent visibility and the ability to fly low and slow, or hover and land make the helicopter the best patrol aircraft. Cathode protection surveys utilizing a helicopter in the remote access areas can actually save companies money over the conventional methods. Surveys can be accomplished 4-5 times faster using a helicopter.

Helicopter Missions are endless. They respond to accidents, coordinate disaster relief, make traffic surveys, fly Air Medical missions, track suspects and stem the growth and distribution of narcotics. It is time for India to look towards these machines beyond their present image of corporate transport to an indispensable source of support towards modernizing infrastructure of India.

Mehnaz Ansari

Caribbean Cruise Expert Guide

§ May 16th, 2013 § Filed under Cruising Sailing § No Comments

Comprising of around 50 islands (750 if you count the archipelago of the Bahamas), the Caribbean is a real treasure trove when it comes to cruising. A rich variety of vistas, people and places await, along with swaying palms and idyllic beaches of golden sand. The network of islands in the Caribbean is in fact so extensive that it is possible to book several Caribbean cruises and avoid going to the same islands twice!

There are four basic Caribbean cruise routes used by cruise operators:

Western Caribbean Cruise Route – Departing from seaports in Texas, Louisiana and Florida, the Western Route takes in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, the island of Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and any number of islands off the coasts of Honduras and Belize.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Route – One of the most popular Caribbean cruise routes, the Eastern Route typically departs from Florida and other seaports along the eastern seaboard of the United States. The route calls on destinations such as Key West, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands the Virgin Islands (including St. Thomas and St. Croix), and Puerto Rico.

Southern Caribbean Cruise Route – This route normally commences at San Juan in Puerto Rico, and takes in many possible destinations along the Lesser Antilles and the Netherlands Antilles as far west as Aruba.

Exotic/Long-duration Caribbean Cruise Route – This route takes in any/all of the above destinations, and can sometimes end in a different place to where the cruise started.

Given this broad assortment of destinations available in the Caribbean, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to make that crucial decision on which islands

to fit into your itinerary. After all, you don’t want to miss out on some true Caribbean gems, do you? So,

whether you’re planning a short vacation or a longer cruise break away from home, here is a selection of ‘must-sees’ & ‘must-dos’ on your Caribbean adventure.

St Croix (Virgin Islands) – Take a night kayak trip in Salt River National Park and visit the first landing site of Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the New World.

Grenada – Although ravaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Grenada is still well worth a visit for its scuba diving. You can explore the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean here and see an underwater volcano.

St. Thomas (Virgin Islands) – The Cinnamon Bay National Park offers excellent snorkeling opportunities. You can see a wealth of underwater life in the shallow waters around St. Thomas.

Jamaica – Why not try your hand at bamboo rafting in Montego Bay?

Puerto Rico – No Caribbean cruise would be complete without a visit to the world famous Condado Beach on the island of Puerto Rico.

Aruba – Want to find Caribbean paradise? How about relaxing on one of the 365 beaches that surround the Dutch island of Aruba.

St Kitts – Swim with the turtles in the waters around St Kitts and then relax on the pink sand beaches on this beautiful island.

Good luck with planning your trip and happy cruising.

John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 source

for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.azcruises.com

now to book your very own dream Caribbean Cruise vacation.

Discover the Llyn Peninsula

§ May 15th, 2013 § Filed under Leisure Time § No Comments

Stretching from the peak of Snowdon to Bardsey Island (or Ynys Enlli – the Island of the Tides), the Llyn Peninsula is a unique and beautiful part of North Wales, renown for its natural charm and mild climate.

So spectacular is its coastline that many thousands of acres have been protected by the National Trust, and vast tracts of land have been designated Areas of Special Scientific Interest. It is a haven for wild flowers and its indigenous wildlife attracts naturalists from far and wide – it even boasts its very own breed of sheep (Llyn Sheep).

From the 5th century until the Middle Ages, numerous saints and pilgrims followed the holy route along the Llyn’s north coast, and it is steeped in early Celtic Christian history (according to legend there are 20,000 saints buried on Bardsey). Quaint country churches can be found dotted throughout the region – an excellent example is St Mary’s at Bryncroes, where St Mary’s Well was an important stop on the pilgrim’s route.

Nant Gwrtheyrn, a once deserted quarrying village, now houses the National Centre for Welsh Language & Culture. It is also here that you can take a pleasant amble through an area teeming with Mabinogion folklore and natural history.

The remote fishing village of Aberdaron can be found towards the tip of the Peninsula. Traditionally, it was the last stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Bardsey. Its delightful beach has won awards and is always highly popular with families.

For the more adventurous, the areas magnificent coastline is ideal for sailing (it is known as the ‘Cowes of the North’) and other water sports. There are also plenty of facilities

for golf, tennis, walking, fishing and horseriding.

There is an attractive sailing harbour at Porthmadog, which was a lively shipping port for the Welsh slate industry until the early twentieth century. While just outside the town is Morfa Bychan, where visitors are always delighted to discover the never-ending sandy beach at Blackrock Sands – one of Britain’s finest!

For families who fancy a spot of fun, Bodvel Hall Adventure Park at Boduan (near Pwllheli) lets the kids burn up some energy while the adults are able to relax in its wonderful grounds. On the other hand, Criccieth is the ideal coastal resort for visitors who prefer to sit back and relax.

In the village of Llanystumdwy is an excellent museum which celebrates the life of Lloyd George, the areas most famous son and one time Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Inland Llyn is well worth exploring for its lush valleys, crystal clear lakes and imposing mountains. The region is rich in mineral deposits and tourists can enjoy a visit to the Victorian copper mines at Beddgelert.

When you visit the Llyn Peninsuala, you would be forgiven for thinking that you had stepped through a time warp and had drifted back to a far less stressful period in history. Its tranquil beauty, its thriving use of the ancient Welsh language and its stupendous scenery make it a unique and fascinating part of Wales.

About The Author

Paula is a freelance writer who has contributed features to numerous publications on subjects such as literature, culture, history and humanitarian issues. She lives in North Wales and is currently the editor of two popular online guides: http://poetry.allinfo-about.com and http://englishculture.allinfoabout.com.

paula-bardell@freelance-worker.com

10 Party Bus Questions to Ask

§ May 15th, 2013 § Filed under Leisure Time § No Comments

The big event is near. Fifteen of your closest friends want to enjoy the summer night life and you are responsible for coordinating the transportation. So why not consider hiring a local party bus to manage the transportation? Since your big event will carry into the late night, renting a party bus can offer your big crew safe transportation with luxury.

Before you book the reservations, check out several local party bus companies and ask questions. Here are ten questions to consider before booking reservations.

1. How many passengers can you accommodate?

2. How many vehicles do you have on the road and what types?

3. What amenities are included?

4. Do you accommodate special needs?

5. Are you licensed and insured?

6. Is there a damage deposit?

7. What night clubs do you visit?

8. What other additional fees should I anticipate?

9. How long have you been in business?

10. How many days notice is needed before I can cancel the contract?

Since you’re managing transportation for a large group, you’ll want to

ask the tough questions and choose a company that you are comfortable working with. If you are located in a major metropolitan city like Atlanta, GA then you will have many vendors to choose from. If you are in the Atlanta suburbs, near Marietta or Roswell, GA, then consider contacting a Marietta based party bus company. The local service provider may offer special incentives.

Whether the occasion is a bachelor or bachelorette party, prom, graduation or you just want to hang out with 25 your closets friends, the party bus just may be what you are looking for. Your group stays together and you’ll share many special memories with your friends. Party buses are convenient and they are perfect for late night group event transportation.

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Sex in a Cessna, Part I

§ May 14th, 2013 § Filed under Aviation § No Comments

If you have never had sex in a Cessna or other small aircraft then you probably might wish to read this article. It is fun, exhilarating and can get a little tricky if you do not do it correctly. Yes, in fact there is a right way and a wrong way to have sex in a Cessna. The reason I chose Cessna for this article is not because it is the only aircraft I have done it in; but because it is the most popular light aircraft. If you are two guys reading this article, I do not have any pointers for you, as I am into only the heterosexual endeavors in that regard.

First you will need to find a practice area in your region and you will of course as the saying goes be at least a mile up; for proper mile-club initiation. Also make sure on the sectional chart that there are no nearby VORs or common flight paths. One of you will need to be glancing out the windscreen from time to time to look for traffic. Remember something the size of a bug coming at you at 300 knots; closing speed, will get pretty big pretty fast and they might not see you.

Once you are in position, not sexual position; first we need to get the aircraft trimmed up in stable flight. If you are in an aircraft with auto-pilot and not

very bumpy air you will enjoy the experience much more. If you have 3-axis autopilot sex in a Cessna can me a lot of fun and you will most likely wish to do it often. If you have only a 2-axis auto pilot there will be times when you will want to adjust the controls from time to time. It is okay if you are a little nervous the first time, this is a good thing and keeps you on your toes. This promotes safety and of course added excitement for the sexual encounter.

Once you have the aircraft in level flight and trimmed up and/or auto pilot set. Slide the seat all the way back and lock it into position. Next remove your pants, both of you. Take them all the way off; do not, I repeat do not put them only down to your ankles. If you get into turbulence you will need to be able to put your feet back on the rudder pedals and if they are bound up with your pants around your ankles this will cause a problem. Trust me on this point please; yes it was exciting, but I will never do it that way again. Think about this a second.

End of Part I.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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