I haven’t, I’m afraid…
I dunno... How about Toronto?
- Thread starter MikeO
- Start date
Thought not . Scrap that idea thenI haven’t, I’m afraid…
Yes, funny that . Might be why I mentioned it
ayeYes, funny that . Might be why I mentioned it
3rd June 2025 - (cont)
Eventually, I decide that I need something to eat, so went down to the Lobby level in the North Tower...
...where there's a restaurant, and a bar. Excellent - I don't really want a meal, but a couple of beers and a bar snack would hit the spot...
They've just been through a major remodel and are still in the "re-opening" stage in the bar. But they have Coors Lite on draft (which, remember, is an imported beer here), so I order one of these, which arrives in a frosted glass...
John, the excellent (but camera shy) bartender says he can get me a plate of antipasto as a bar snack - perfect...
It arrives rapidly and is delicious...
I may have had a second beer...
I've booked a room in Huntsville tomorrow night - it's about a three-hour drive, so no need for an early start.
Good day.
Eventually, I decide that I need something to eat, so went down to the Lobby level in the North Tower...
...where there's a restaurant, and a bar. Excellent - I don't really want a meal, but a couple of beers and a bar snack would hit the spot...
They've just been through a major remodel and are still in the "re-opening" stage in the bar. But they have Coors Lite on draft (which, remember, is an imported beer here), so I order one of these, which arrives in a frosted glass...
John, the excellent (but camera shy) bartender says he can get me a plate of antipasto as a bar snack - perfect...
It arrives rapidly and is delicious...
I may have had a second beer...
I've booked a room in Huntsville tomorrow night - it's about a three-hour drive, so no need for an early start.
Good day.
i was looking at how far st johns is from toronto 
youd be halfway home
youd be halfway home
4th June 2025
I'm heading north today - away from the tourist traps
...although I've loved being here, met some lovely people, and - of course - seen Niagara from the best side...
I pick up the phone and two minutes later, Dave arrives at the door with his cart. He's a really nice chap - happy in his work and obviously cut out to deal with people. He's also as fit as a flea...
He takes me to my car, ensconced in its mink lined garage (well it should be at that price), loads everything aboard, thanks me for his $5 and wishes me bon voyage...
Waze, which I've now reprogrammed with metric units, and told to avoid toll roads(!), has a three-and-a-half-hour journey for me today - the first leg of which will be the reciprocal of my route here on Monday - I even take the Airport exit...
I set off around 0945, initially with the roof down - I'm slathered in SPF50. It's already a warm day - 28C according to the car's readout, and forecast to get warmer.
It soon becomes clear to me that today is almost certainly going to be spent at 100kph plus, on highways. This is no fun with the roof down - so I do what is my habit with my own convertible in the UK, and put the roof up and let the ac do the work...
I stop at a Tim Horton's drive-thru and spot this Brit a long way from home. Points available for make/model/year...
Sufficiently caffeinated by a giant Latte, I press north - over the first bridge of the day...
Traffic builds up as we approach Toronto, and I'm often stuck in quite slow-moving stuff...
Huge fairground off to the right...
Time for a spot of lunch , I think - this looks like the place...
I decide on a Great Canadian Omelette - rude not to...
...with a frosty glass of lemonade, natch...
Brought to me by the lovely Ashley...
That'll do nicely
Ashley kindly fills my water bottle with lemonade (after a comedy of errors where she asks me how many ounces it contains - I tell her it's a litre. Apparently, like the UK, Canada isn't fully metric
).
I set off again, the car seeming to settle a little more on its suspension...
Bonus bridge
I'm listening to Operation Pedestal on Audible - the story of the allied resupply convoy to relieve Malta in 1942. It's a stirring tale, written by Max Hastings, who always manages to make historical conflicts come alive with his attention to detail...
Entering Ontario. I thought I was already in Ontario...
I must read up more on Canada...
I arrive at my hotel - The Comfort Inn at Huntsville - at around 1500. I take a quick look at the neighbourhood attractions whilst I'm booked in...
I'm given the key to my room; drive the 100 metres to the parking space and then walk back to reception. I've lost my key...
The long-suffering receptionist gives me a replacement and the Wi-Fi code and I slink back out. I later find the original key in my camera case(!)...
It's a lovely room, with startlingly fast Wi-Fi - it uploaded all my pics today in under 10 seconds...
It's warm, and I coax the ancient and asthmatic ac unit into action.
Seems like a peaceful sort of place - where to tomorrow...
I'm heading north today - away from the tourist traps
...although I've loved being here, met some lovely people, and - of course - seen Niagara from the best side...
I pick up the phone and two minutes later, Dave arrives at the door with his cart. He's a really nice chap - happy in his work and obviously cut out to deal with people. He's also as fit as a flea...
He takes me to my car, ensconced in its mink lined garage (well it should be at that price
), loads everything aboard, thanks me for his $5 and wishes me bon voyage...Waze, which I've now reprogrammed with metric units, and told to avoid toll roads(!), has a three-and-a-half-hour journey for me today - the first leg of which will be the reciprocal of my route here on Monday - I even take the Airport exit...
I set off around 0945, initially with the roof down - I'm slathered in SPF50. It's already a warm day - 28C according to the car's readout, and forecast to get warmer.
It soon becomes clear to me that today is almost certainly going to be spent at 100kph plus, on highways. This is no fun with the roof down - so I do what is my habit with my own convertible in the UK, and put the roof up and let the ac do the work...
I stop at a Tim Horton's drive-thru and spot this Brit a long way from home. Points available for make/model/year...
Sufficiently caffeinated by a giant Latte, I press north - over the first bridge of the day...
Traffic builds up as we approach Toronto, and I'm often stuck in quite slow-moving stuff...
Huge fairground off to the right...
Time for a spot of lunch , I think - this looks like the place...
I decide on a Great Canadian Omelette - rude not to...
...with a frosty glass of lemonade, natch...
Brought to me by the lovely Ashley...
That'll do nicely
Ashley kindly fills my water bottle with lemonade (after a comedy of errors where she asks me how many ounces it contains - I tell her it's a litre. Apparently, like the UK, Canada isn't fully metric
I set off again, the car seeming to settle a little more on its suspension...
Bonus bridge
I'm listening to Operation Pedestal on Audible - the story of the allied resupply convoy to relieve Malta in 1942. It's a stirring tale, written by Max Hastings, who always manages to make historical conflicts come alive with his attention to detail...
Entering Ontario. I thought I was already in Ontario...
I must read up more on Canada...
I arrive at my hotel - The Comfort Inn at Huntsville - at around 1500. I take a quick look at the neighbourhood attractions whilst I'm booked in...
I'm given the key to my room; drive the 100 metres to the parking space and then walk back to reception. I've lost my key...
The long-suffering receptionist gives me a replacement and the Wi-Fi code and I slink back out. I later find the original key in my camera case(!)...
It's a lovely room, with startlingly fast Wi-Fi - it uploaded all my pics today in under 10 seconds...
It's warm, and I coax the ancient and asthmatic ac unit into action.
Seems like a peaceful sort of place - where to tomorrow...
73-75 TR6 
Hubba at omlet
Jealous cos hungry but cant eat cos meds
Enjoy whatever you look at tomorrow
Jealous cos hungry but cant eat cos meds
Enjoy whatever you look at tomorrow
also goat
erm............
erm............
4th June 2025 - (cont)
Well that looks unexpectedly le shite - I check tomorrow's forecast which is slightly better, and better still the next day. I decide to extend my stay here by a night and have an explore tomorrow...
Well that looks unexpectedly le shite - I check tomorrow's forecast which is slightly better, and better still the next day. I decide to extend my stay here by a night and have an explore tomorrow...
Great stuff Mike, sounds like you've got your love of travel back again on this trip, old cars and bridges already! Does Canada feel different from the USA? At least they can spell omelette properly.
Has Harry facetimed you yet, or is he too busy being spoilt?
Has Harry facetimed you yet, or is he too busy being spoilt?
5th June 2025
I get a call at about 0530 from the receptionist at the firm that are power washing my brick weave tomorrow, to remind me that they are coming. Should have switched the ringer off
I get back to sleep, eventually waking at 0800 to a grey day...
I ablute and wander down to reception, where breakfast is laid out...
It's not a bad effort, for an 'included' breakfast, and I end up choosing...
Those are sausage meat patties - not burgers. I fill my travel mug up with some dark coffee and top it off with milk.
I go to the front desk, where the same chap who booked me in, and has been refilling and cleaning the breakfast area is on duty. He renews the code on my room keys to accommodate the extra night, and I tell him I don't need the room cleaned today.
I return to my room and start to plan a day.
More later...
I get a call at about 0530 from the receptionist at the firm that are power washing my brick weave tomorrow, to remind me that they are coming. Should have switched the ringer off
I get back to sleep, eventually waking at 0800 to a grey day...
I ablute and wander down to reception, where breakfast is laid out...
It's not a bad effort, for an 'included' breakfast, and I end up choosing...
Those are sausage meat patties - not burgers. I fill my travel mug up with some dark coffee and top it off with milk.
I go to the front desk, where the same chap who booked me in, and has been refilling and cleaning the breakfast area is on duty. He renews the code on my room keys to accommodate the extra night, and I tell him I don't need the room cleaned today.
I return to my room and start to plan a day.
More later...
Haven't heard anything - so he's probably not got into a ruck yet (he does like to be the one who sits on your lap)
5th June 2025 - (cont)
Choppahead on ADVrider suggested a restaurant called Crossroads, which is in the town of Rousseau, about 35 clicks away. II get a route programmed into Waze and set off for a good lunch...
[Morgan Freeman] But it wasn't to be a good lunch, in fact it would barely qualify as lunch [/Morgan Freeman]
I'm first directed back to the main highway, then turned west along some tree-lined roads, with very little traffic on them...
The water table here must be so high - wetlands like this are almost at road level...
I arrive at Crossroads - to find they open at 1500...
Never mind - let's find somewhere else...
This looks promising...
[Morgan Freeman] But Mike was about to be taught a lesson in looks being deceiving [/Morgan Freeman]
Great view from my table on the balcony...
I order a lemonade and peruse the menu. Wow - those are pretty ambitious prices...
After some consideration, I order the Ravioli Ricotta & Spinaci - a good bowl of pasta should do the trick, even if it costs $32 Can...
Oh dear. That's what the best part of £18 gets you, is it? That works out at about £3 per ravioli...
I eat (it was delicious), pay and leave.
Where to now? I head north out of town and encounter our first barn of the trip...
I'd imagine those old adverts are worth a small fortune...
I soon turn right onto the epically named Tally-Ho Swords Road...
...and re-enter a series of tree-lined winding roads. It's about 19C and I have the roof down. I'm listening to one of my habitual podcasts - Real Dictators. I'm learning about Fidel Castro's rise to power. These podcasts are top notch; not only well researched, but narrated by Paul McGann, a classically trained actor, who you may recall playing "I" in Withnail & I...
I stop at a boat ramp...
...to take in the view and the stillness. This would be glorious on a sunny day...
During another stop, I spot this grand house, hiding in the trees - what a beautiful spot. When I turn the car around, a flurry of yellow butterflies take to the wing - brilliant in the grey daylight...
A search online and I think they might have been these - Tiger Swallowtails
I set Waze the task of getting me back to the hotel. I'm soon heading south on the main highway and turning off at Huntsville.
I have a few chores to do, so turn off at a strip mall and fill up at Walmart. I didn't notice the mileage at the start of the trip, but put about $73 Can in and then zeroed the trip meter, so I can track consumption - just out of interest.
I drop into the store and buy some bits and pieces I need...
No room in my luggage for this, alas...
I pull out to re-join the main road into Huntsville and see a girl hitch-hiking in a very poor spot. I pull over and tell her (Christi) that I can take her a little further into town, which she thanks me for and jumps in. At my hotel, I let her out and wished her safe travels - she's a bright girl and can undoubtedly look after herself, but a warning never goes wasted...
I go up to my room, which has had the asthmatic ac on cool since I departed this morning and is pleasantly cool, take a sip from the lemonade I'=d stopped at a Starbucks Drive Thru for and upload my pics.
Choppahead on ADVrider suggested a restaurant called Crossroads, which is in the town of Rousseau, about 35 clicks away. II get a route programmed into Waze and set off for a good lunch...
[Morgan Freeman] But it wasn't to be a good lunch, in fact it would barely qualify as lunch [/Morgan Freeman]
I'm first directed back to the main highway, then turned west along some tree-lined roads, with very little traffic on them...
The water table here must be so high - wetlands like this are almost at road level...
I arrive at Crossroads - to find they open at 1500...
Never mind - let's find somewhere else...
This looks promising...
[Morgan Freeman] But Mike was about to be taught a lesson in looks being deceiving [/Morgan Freeman]
Great view from my table on the balcony...
I order a lemonade and peruse the menu. Wow - those are pretty ambitious prices...
After some consideration, I order the Ravioli Ricotta & Spinaci - a good bowl of pasta should do the trick, even if it costs $32 Can...
Oh dear. That's what the best part of £18 gets you, is it? That works out at about £3 per ravioli...
I eat (it was delicious), pay and leave.
Where to now? I head north out of town and encounter our first barn of the trip...
I'd imagine those old adverts are worth a small fortune...
I soon turn right onto the epically named Tally-Ho Swords Road...
...and re-enter a series of tree-lined winding roads. It's about 19C and I have the roof down. I'm listening to one of my habitual podcasts - Real Dictators. I'm learning about Fidel Castro's rise to power. These podcasts are top notch; not only well researched, but narrated by Paul McGann, a classically trained actor, who you may recall playing "I" in Withnail & I...
I stop at a boat ramp...
...to take in the view and the stillness. This would be glorious on a sunny day...
During another stop, I spot this grand house, hiding in the trees - what a beautiful spot. When I turn the car around, a flurry of yellow butterflies take to the wing - brilliant in the grey daylight...
A search online and I think they might have been these - Tiger Swallowtails
I set Waze the task of getting me back to the hotel. I'm soon heading south on the main highway and turning off at Huntsville.
I have a few chores to do, so turn off at a strip mall and fill up at Walmart. I didn't notice the mileage at the start of the trip, but put about $73 Can in and then zeroed the trip meter, so I can track consumption - just out of interest.
I drop into the store and buy some bits and pieces I need...
No room in my luggage for this, alas...
I pull out to re-join the main road into Huntsville and see a girl hitch-hiking in a very poor spot. I pull over and tell her (Christi) that I can take her a little further into town, which she thanks me for and jumps in. At my hotel, I let her out and wished her safe travels - she's a bright girl and can undoubtedly look after herself, but a warning never goes wasted...
I go up to my room, which has had the asthmatic ac on cool since I departed this morning and is pleasantly cool, take a sip from the lemonade I'=d stopped at a Starbucks Drive Thru for and upload my pics.
6th June 2025
I'm woken by my phone ringing at 0530. It's the girl I spoke to yesterday and explained that I was in Canada to, telling me that they're not going to be able to do the pressure clean of my brick weave today and have rescheduled it for the 19th. The day I get back - fucking marvellous...
Hey-ho. I try to get back to sleep but fail initially, eventually coming to at about 0800. I'm pretty much packed, so just ablute, dress and then wheel my belongings down to the car, where a local bird seems to have expressed its displeasure at my parking there...
There's no call for that, is there?
I decide to forego the dubious pleasures of the complimentary breakfast, and, with today's destination programmed into Waze, set off into a humid, hazy morning. It's already 20C and forecast to get warmer. Huntsville's forecast is for thunderstorms, which is why I'm heading south to...
Hamilton!
Traffic is pretty light at first. I'm basically going nearly all the way back to Toronto, so I'm familiar with the road. I pull off at a service area to visit a Canadian institution...
Tim Hortons is a part of the Canadian landscape - I believe they have mobile units that they deployed to Afghanistan, much as the US have Burger Kings and the like, to improve the troops' morale...
Hang on a tick...
That's not a standard Dodge Charger - it must have been drawn here by the donuts...
...and donuts there are, aplenty...
Rather oddly, you are required to enter your choices into a display, rather than at the counter. The displays aren't new to anyone who's used a MacDonalds recently, but the fact that it's the only way to order is. I order a large white coffee, a lemonade and a 'breakfast scramble', or something...
...which turns out to be a delicious mix of hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage...
Onward!
The further south I go, the heavier the traffic becomes. The visibility is also getting really poor - it looks like there’s an atmospheric inversion here and there's a lot of haze...
I'm not sure if it's smog - but I'm glad I opted to keep the lid closed and the ac on...
Eventually, after a few traffic snarl ups (there's just so much traffic), I arrive at The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton Airport.
It's difficult to miss the entrance with a display like that...
I pay my (seniors) entrance fee, then do things a bit backwards by going to the gift shop first...
Thank God they didn't have my size...
I'm so tempted by one of these, but those who know me are aware I'm trying to control my clock addiction...
It's a huge gift shop, catering for most demography...
Beautiful little diorama...
Having bought a couple of things, I head into the museum...
By the way, if you're not interested in aircraft and aviation, you might want to go and have a cup of tea, rather than continue...
There are a series of exhibits charting the history of the RCAF, which was formed in 1920, two years after the RAF. Canadians were very much involved in aviation during the Great War - Capt Roy Brown being famously the pilot who shot down Von Richtofen "The Red Baron"...
There is a lot of the ephemera oof war, like this searchlight. My father flew Lancasters during the last unpleasantness and being caught in the beam of one of these over Germany would not have improved his chances of survival...
Pieces of history, donated by descendants...
Hah! A Link Trainer - we had one of these in my Air Cadet squadron. It's powered electro-pneumatically and was a nightmare to keep serviceable. It had a serious purpose, to practice instrument flying and navigation...
The instructor would watch the instruments and the plotter would show how accurately the route was being flown...
Time to step into the hangar...
This one surprised me. At first glance it's an A6 Harvard (or Texan), but this version is a Yale - still named for a university, but the Yale had fixed undercarriage and a slightly lower powered engine. Originally built for the French Air Force as a trainer, the aircraft purchased ended up in Canada.
The difficulties with the differences between the Harvard and the Yale, resulting in several accidents, resulted in the Yale being removed as a pilot training aircraft.
This beautiful Beech C-45 Expeditor was used as a multi-engine trainer, a transport and for aerial photography.
This is the Canadian equivalent to the RAF's Jet Provost...
The Canadair Tutor...
Rather incongruous in this hangar - a Nanchung CJ-6, I think - very capable aerobatic aircraft...
Always the star of any museum, this Spitfire is slightly unusual...
...in that it's got clipped wings - optimised for use at low-level...
It’s an LF MkXVIe...
I get the impression it has been moved temporarily, as it is clearly meant to sit in the corner by this painted mural...
Lovely old Catalina...
Called the Canso in Canadian service, this one is been painted to represent the aircraft that Flt Lt David Hornell VC flew when he won his VC...
We're on the starboard side of the hangar now, where there are a lot of projects in various stages of play. This Vampire was actually built by the Swiss, under licence, and is one of the last three Vampires built...
Here's the main event...
In the throes of a major refit, this airframe represents one of only two Lancasters in airworthy condition - the other being owned by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningingsby in the UK.
Its Merlins stripped, it'll take a while to get this old girl back together and into the air...
Famous as a WWII bomber, it's most commonly known for the raid against the Ruhr Valley dams, and the film The Dambusters, that was made to commemorate it...
The "Upkeep" bouncing bomb...
...which weighed over 9000lbs, and the apparatus necessary to spin it, allowing it to bounce, avoiding the anti-torpedo booms, and hit the dam...
There's a difficult to photograph diorama next to the aircraft...
More later - food has arrived!
I'm woken by my phone ringing at 0530. It's the girl I spoke to yesterday and explained that I was in Canada to, telling me that they're not going to be able to do the pressure clean of my brick weave today and have rescheduled it for the 19th. The day I get back - fucking marvellous...
Hey-ho. I try to get back to sleep but fail initially, eventually coming to at about 0800. I'm pretty much packed, so just ablute, dress and then wheel my belongings down to the car, where a local bird seems to have expressed its displeasure at my parking there...
There's no call for that, is there?
I decide to forego the dubious pleasures of the complimentary breakfast, and, with today's destination programmed into Waze, set off into a humid, hazy morning. It's already 20C and forecast to get warmer. Huntsville's forecast is for thunderstorms, which is why I'm heading south to...
Hamilton!
Traffic is pretty light at first. I'm basically going nearly all the way back to Toronto, so I'm familiar with the road. I pull off at a service area to visit a Canadian institution...
Tim Hortons is a part of the Canadian landscape - I believe they have mobile units that they deployed to Afghanistan, much as the US have Burger Kings and the like, to improve the troops' morale...
Hang on a tick...
That's not a standard Dodge Charger - it must have been drawn here by the donuts...
...and donuts there are, aplenty...
Rather oddly, you are required to enter your choices into a display, rather than at the counter. The displays aren't new to anyone who's used a MacDonalds recently, but the fact that it's the only way to order is. I order a large white coffee, a lemonade and a 'breakfast scramble', or something...
...which turns out to be a delicious mix of hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage...
Onward!
The further south I go, the heavier the traffic becomes. The visibility is also getting really poor - it looks like there’s an atmospheric inversion here and there's a lot of haze...
I'm not sure if it's smog - but I'm glad I opted to keep the lid closed and the ac on...
Eventually, after a few traffic snarl ups (there's just so much traffic), I arrive at The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton Airport.
It's difficult to miss the entrance with a display like that...
I pay my (seniors) entrance fee, then do things a bit backwards by going to the gift shop first...
Thank God they didn't have my size...
I'm so tempted by one of these, but those who know me are aware I'm trying to control my clock addiction...
It's a huge gift shop, catering for most demography...
Beautiful little diorama...
Having bought a couple of things, I head into the museum...
By the way, if you're not interested in aircraft and aviation, you might want to go and have a cup of tea, rather than continue...
There are a series of exhibits charting the history of the RCAF, which was formed in 1920, two years after the RAF. Canadians were very much involved in aviation during the Great War - Capt Roy Brown being famously the pilot who shot down Von Richtofen "The Red Baron"...
There is a lot of the ephemera oof war, like this searchlight. My father flew Lancasters during the last unpleasantness and being caught in the beam of one of these over Germany would not have improved his chances of survival...
Pieces of history, donated by descendants...
Hah! A Link Trainer - we had one of these in my Air Cadet squadron. It's powered electro-pneumatically and was a nightmare to keep serviceable. It had a serious purpose, to practice instrument flying and navigation...
The instructor would watch the instruments and the plotter would show how accurately the route was being flown...
Time to step into the hangar...
This one surprised me. At first glance it's an A6 Harvard (or Texan), but this version is a Yale - still named for a university, but the Yale had fixed undercarriage and a slightly lower powered engine. Originally built for the French Air Force as a trainer, the aircraft purchased ended up in Canada.
The difficulties with the differences between the Harvard and the Yale, resulting in several accidents, resulted in the Yale being removed as a pilot training aircraft.
This beautiful Beech C-45 Expeditor was used as a multi-engine trainer, a transport and for aerial photography.
This is the Canadian equivalent to the RAF's Jet Provost...
The Canadair Tutor...
Rather incongruous in this hangar - a Nanchung CJ-6, I think - very capable aerobatic aircraft...
Always the star of any museum, this Spitfire is slightly unusual...
...in that it's got clipped wings - optimised for use at low-level...
It’s an LF MkXVIe...
I get the impression it has been moved temporarily, as it is clearly meant to sit in the corner by this painted mural...
Lovely old Catalina...
Called the Canso in Canadian service, this one is been painted to represent the aircraft that Flt Lt David Hornell VC flew when he won his VC...
We're on the starboard side of the hangar now, where there are a lot of projects in various stages of play. This Vampire was actually built by the Swiss, under licence, and is one of the last three Vampires built...
Here's the main event...
In the throes of a major refit, this airframe represents one of only two Lancasters in airworthy condition - the other being owned by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningingsby in the UK.
Its Merlins stripped, it'll take a while to get this old girl back together and into the air...
Famous as a WWII bomber, it's most commonly known for the raid against the Ruhr Valley dams, and the film The Dambusters, that was made to commemorate it...
The "Upkeep" bouncing bomb...
...which weighed over 9000lbs, and the apparatus necessary to spin it, allowing it to bounce, avoiding the anti-torpedo booms, and hit the dam...
There's a difficult to photograph diorama next to the aircraft...
More later - food has arrived!
6th June 2025 - (cont)
In order to accommodate the bomb and its paraphernalia, the Lancaster had to be structurally altered, losing the mid-upper turret and bomb doors to save weight.
Second only to U-boat crews in casualty rates, Bomber Command crews were never even given a campaign medal...
Anyway - here is a Harvard, engineless and with its interior exposed...
C-47 / DC3 Dakota - probably one of the most successful designs ever built. Apparently around 150 are still flying, some commercially...
Grumman Avenger with a great design for folding its wings - a small footprint for such a large aircraft in a carrier's hangar...
Other oddities in the corner of the hangar - this Tiger Moth looks like someone is converting it to a Thruxton Jackaroo - a four-seat version of the Tiger Moth with an enclosed canopy...
Crammed in together are a B25 Mitchell...
...a Firefly...
...and - a major project, a Bristol Bolingbroke...
...if they get this airworthy, it'll be the only flying example in the world...
Time for lunch...
Right outside the cafe is this model of a B24 Liberator in South East Asia Command (SEAC) markings. My father wrote the definitive book on the B24 in British and Commonwealth Service
There's a lively little café, with a view over the tarmac...
The little DHC Chipmunk there, has a bubble canopy - the RAF ones (which I have flown many happy hours in) had the older 'telephone box' style...
My BLT and Gatorade arrive and are both very welcome...
I make my way back through the hangar...
...past the CF-100 night fighter...
...and this lovely old Norseman and walk back to my car.
It's about 24C and very muggy and unpleasant. I switch the ac to Neptune and start heading towards my hotel.
As I turn off the highway into Hamilton, the road surface deteriorates appallingly - and I drive in the UK, so I know bad roads...
I'm steered to my hotel, the Hampton Inn (my favourite chain) and check in for two nights - parking is a mere $20 per night and is under the hotel with direct lift access...
As I turn the engine off, I take a pic of the dash warning sign...
...apparently designed to stop people forgetting their children are in the car and leaving them in the heat...
I wheel everything up to my beautiful room...
...which, it turns out, is a disabled access one. Not much differs from a standard room, but you do get electric blinds...
It's not much of a view, so I close the sunblind again...
I start uploading the 200 odd pics I've taken today and get on with my journal. After a couple of hours, I get a bit peckish and order some Nachos from a Mexican place via Uber-eats. They arrive 20 minutes or so later...
...and are superb...
Great day.
In order to accommodate the bomb and its paraphernalia, the Lancaster had to be structurally altered, losing the mid-upper turret and bomb doors to save weight.
Second only to U-boat crews in casualty rates, Bomber Command crews were never even given a campaign medal...
Anyway - here is a Harvard, engineless and with its interior exposed...
C-47 / DC3 Dakota - probably one of the most successful designs ever built. Apparently around 150 are still flying, some commercially...
Grumman Avenger with a great design for folding its wings - a small footprint for such a large aircraft in a carrier's hangar...
Other oddities in the corner of the hangar - this Tiger Moth looks like someone is converting it to a Thruxton Jackaroo - a four-seat version of the Tiger Moth with an enclosed canopy...
Crammed in together are a B25 Mitchell...
...a Firefly...
...and - a major project, a Bristol Bolingbroke...
...if they get this airworthy, it'll be the only flying example in the world...
Time for lunch...
Right outside the cafe is this model of a B24 Liberator in South East Asia Command (SEAC) markings. My father wrote the definitive book on the B24 in British and Commonwealth Service
There's a lively little café, with a view over the tarmac...
The little DHC Chipmunk there, has a bubble canopy - the RAF ones (which I have flown many happy hours in) had the older 'telephone box' style...
My BLT and Gatorade arrive and are both very welcome...
I make my way back through the hangar...
...past the CF-100 night fighter...
...and this lovely old Norseman and walk back to my car.
It's about 24C and very muggy and unpleasant. I switch the ac to Neptune and start heading towards my hotel.
As I turn off the highway into Hamilton, the road surface deteriorates appallingly - and I drive in the UK, so I know bad roads...
I'm steered to my hotel, the Hampton Inn (my favourite chain) and check in for two nights - parking is a mere $20 per night and is under the hotel with direct lift access...
As I turn the engine off, I take a pic of the dash warning sign...
...apparently designed to stop people forgetting their children are in the car and leaving them in the heat...
I wheel everything up to my beautiful room...
...which, it turns out, is a disabled access one. Not much differs from a standard room, but you do get electric blinds...
It's not much of a view, so I close the sunblind again...
I start uploading the 200 odd pics I've taken today and get on with my journal. After a couple of hours, I get a bit peckish and order some Nachos from a Mexican place via Uber-eats. They arrive 20 minutes or so later...
...and are superb...
Great day.
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Not since Covid, chaps! Neither tube nor buses. You pays your way, now.
Remember seeing their Lancaster and ours flying low circuits around Biggin Hill a few years back, I can't remember the occasion of why they were flying about together but an amazing sight and sound.
I heard, then saw, that Lancaster as it headed south through Glenshee on its trip from Canada to the UK. Luckily stopped the chainsaw to fill up and heard the unmistakable engine sound....there was a documentary about that journey?
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