tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717906659367650532024-03-05T09:49:52.194-08:00Views from the north of the Tweedhuggibearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064345512092080386noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271790665936765053.post-79724840173046821042011-03-04T04:58:00.000-08:002011-03-04T13:44:46.365-08:00NECTAR OF THE GODS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56N7x0u2l2KvTt13DEvzEfrn9ymrGnYza4P5h37nAQAvR_0KpWXDvsP2FHurSvsqTc8bqChgLmdhi0SU3OrFE-Yfdz9ZQtS6nnnETLQvkNphCEAHcdUcRQUd50w6O79fGvGjBpG04VVA/s1600/DSC04399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56N7x0u2l2KvTt13DEvzEfrn9ymrGnYza4P5h37nAQAvR_0KpWXDvsP2FHurSvsqTc8bqChgLmdhi0SU3OrFE-Yfdz9ZQtS6nnnETLQvkNphCEAHcdUcRQUd50w6O79fGvGjBpG04VVA/s400/DSC04399.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Well a great day and I agree with Bill - Chateauneuf du Pape is worth every cent -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">he "NECTAR OF THE GODS" - pagan god, Bracchus was pretty good, obviously. So obviously was</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">the pope who didn't like Rome and the Catholic Church had two popes - one based in Rome</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">and the "naughty" one who selected Avignon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">History lesson:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">"The city is well known for its Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), where several popes </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">and antipopes lived from the early 14th to early 15th centuries."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The popes of this period - the naughty ones certainly must have been very knowledgeable of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">about wine producing areas!!! Maybe they liked the god - Bracchus!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Bill's culinary delights of a chicken Caesar Salad was delightful and his peach pie with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ice cream - well, I love dessert and this was a really great one.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvL5P_xyLdRI80u4hXR6RkeqFRdpa0Stds-exJ-yD9Gpl1Qrq-ydluYpmBvn_UI3noHELRTCq8Zpu_RHWhDB0BTcwJdFIB310y_5gWwhYwcoXLCaxCJ2FlHKeFmr_51INZZy7i6wUdQw/s1600/DSC04397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvL5P_xyLdRI80u4hXR6RkeqFRdpa0Stds-exJ-yD9Gpl1Qrq-ydluYpmBvn_UI3noHELRTCq8Zpu_RHWhDB0BTcwJdFIB310y_5gWwhYwcoXLCaxCJ2FlHKeFmr_51INZZy7i6wUdQw/s400/DSC04397.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv87CVN77nxoC-aaeYZwd7SccN7YhM8M6MnXiT2zWkVboZFyN3XaaxY5PmN7vqDa2QH5L29k8eqZhajoI0pMsIvz3-KSszrFQcizB4NcAAUJLXtxH97ddIV1B2qfMD3-a7fb_BAqpUGMw/s1600/DSC04403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv87CVN77nxoC-aaeYZwd7SccN7YhM8M6MnXiT2zWkVboZFyN3XaaxY5PmN7vqDa2QH5L29k8eqZhajoI0pMsIvz3-KSszrFQcizB4NcAAUJLXtxH97ddIV1B2qfMD3-a7fb_BAqpUGMw/s400/DSC04403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> <!--StartFragment--></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then to my surprise just as we finished eating as if on cue - a mobile rings and it is some people just arrived in LAX - so I saw and was introduced to people who I had heard of but had not met ---- via skype!!! Something that I had never heard of before today. Lovely to talk and meet with people in LAX - Diane and Bill will inform in due course who these 3 lovely people are.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The downside of the day was that it rained - started at about 6.30pm yesterday and hasn't let up - so it was cool. Thus not quite the clothing I intended to wear.I got to the CBD - collected my "racing " papers, had a glass of iced water at the Harlequin Club, went to the "little" room (!!! - modesty prevails) - (45 minute train gap ) and then got the train to Kuraby.The airconditioning on this train was on FRIGID level. I froze for the 40 minute trip - however there were NO ferals on the train. Another miracle!!!</span></div></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2hzvMpV1Z4Iu5t65J1_XrgeW2NINNuaKeUakpf664AJx6W8Fd1lLy7OzSslHJqb4kapmq8YHXq0BEVCIerWAy3kjePYu0-9an_I0Tct7K5irQRh1lMwk7DIS2HchbG-Zv5jJ72UERRM/s1600/IMG_3316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2hzvMpV1Z4Iu5t65J1_XrgeW2NINNuaKeUakpf664AJx6W8Fd1lLy7OzSslHJqb4kapmq8YHXq0BEVCIerWAy3kjePYu0-9an_I0Tct7K5irQRh1lMwk7DIS2HchbG-Zv5jJ72UERRM/s400/IMG_3316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Coming back - just missed by seconds the train I was to catch so had 1/2 hour "admiring" Kuraby Station.!!! Train arrived on time - again feral free. Intended to get off at Central and see old friends at the Whistle Stop, Sofitel but it was raining harder, so got off at Roma Street and waited 15 minutes for my train home, which was full of disgruntled office workers and was home by 4.45pm.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I am beginning to enjoy March very much!!! I got my quarterly gas and water bill - the one that I was having all the trouble with as it was being "guess" read - the meter - as you couldn't read it. Wish I had looked at this bloody meter years ago!!! The Gas/Water people must </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">have</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">thought I owned the Bank of Zurich!!! They did eventually apologise for their failure but they sure didn't reimburse!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">From previous $300 a quarter I am now down to $95!!! Joy joy and more joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">A great day except I got very wet and so it will be bed early tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></div></div></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QNpeEa7EVJuIgWl_FRxIHss-qFQRs-_EwUpSfwobZ92xbhGMJtxSUOI_3pYrgER6FLkc9N9HmSEt1KhfzeGOmw3I9ljOQcKfQQGFHPkNZXNfAAYEuX9pIo_q_LsBIsRHLFBocLPhyphenhyphenug/s1600/IMG_8742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QNpeEa7EVJuIgWl_FRxIHss-qFQRs-_EwUpSfwobZ92xbhGMJtxSUOI_3pYrgER6FLkc9N9HmSEt1KhfzeGOmw3I9ljOQcKfQQGFHPkNZXNfAAYEuX9pIo_q_LsBIsRHLFBocLPhyphenhyphenug/s400/IMG_8742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Oh yes - Diane's garden is looking great and she has some rather strange little flags all over the place - maybe Diane you might put this up on a blog report one day and explain?<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span>huggibearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064345512092080386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271790665936765053.post-34992805372567725612010-03-29T20:17:00.000-07:002010-03-29T20:18:48.556-07:00My last posting in PNG, Pindiu, Finschhafen Sub-District 1969, cont.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b>Part 2 </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><i>(continued from yesterday)</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4. From the air – the little green airstrip<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Below: The Pindiu School is the furtherest building as<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">you look at the ranges towards the coastal area, where the sub-district headquarters of Finschhafen was located. When the rainy season was on, the whole valley was clouded in, so sometimes for weeks, there were no planes able to fly in with fresh supplies. You lived on tin foods (ugh!) and my fresh eggs from my wonderful Rhode Island Reds! Your vegetables were obtainable from the native’s local market which was held on Saturdays.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">5. Below: Mountains at the end. Plane no stoppie – you no livie</span></b>!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You would be amazed how “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines” could slam on the brakes once the plane hit the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You virtually “buck jumped” to a standstill!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiry-SPfnP-nKx7w4onIlGjzg0WxtX-ezubNrt3JIo7x0e_iIt8LxD_jtWWW9HdUvv_aRhSQPfG1XrZQaubzfHM3GuakAWhBrZSTgKog0bmgfMoHqUle9TH14mH20E2pXArGeqZ46uVcc/s1600/Colpic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiry-SPfnP-nKx7w4onIlGjzg0WxtX-ezubNrt3JIo7x0e_iIt8LxD_jtWWW9HdUvv_aRhSQPfG1XrZQaubzfHM3GuakAWhBrZSTgKog0bmgfMoHqUle9TH14mH20E2pXArGeqZ46uVcc/s400/Colpic4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Administration office at Finschafen. ( Below)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The two guns are ex- WW2.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jojk-onSyQXEpqSIdHXmKdU5W2yYB-FqAO_yTVMbKy8IZaexpFJHD5e6EqgXhpFfrSuatY5Hn2iF-IQcKuf_BUSp28pjvicmnib49B_0oMhRJEC9jjLINfJkBLk7x-CTsWImFK6QzRQ/s1600/Colpic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jojk-onSyQXEpqSIdHXmKdU5W2yYB-FqAO_yTVMbKy8IZaexpFJHD5e6EqgXhpFfrSuatY5Hn2iF-IQcKuf_BUSp28pjvicmnib49B_0oMhRJEC9jjLINfJkBLk7x-CTsWImFK6QzRQ/s400/Colpic6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><b> </b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Where I arrived at Finschafen in 1964. The Buki Wharf.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In this coral / reef protected lagoon area we would water-ski.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I used to swim across to that island in the background. Or be paddled across in my big native canoe! Dolphins of course were in the lagoon and you felt safe whilst they were there. No sharks! However sea snakes abounded and a bite from one of those was fatal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I lived in dread of them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">At the bottom of the lagoon – much bigger than shown here – I think there were 3 or 4 islands off the mainland linked by reefs – the sea bed was riddled with “belly drums” from WW2 planes. The water was always as clear as crystal. The drums ( fuel tanks) were dropped from the bombers before landing at the Finschafen airfield by the Americans!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Finschafen was a major airfield used by the Allies after the Japanese were removed for the assault on bases further north</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></div></b></span></span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span>huggibearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064345512092080386noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271790665936765053.post-51399276815481033992010-03-28T23:40:00.000-07:002010-03-29T01:21:32.149-07:00My last posting in PNG, Pindiu, Finschhafen Sub-District 1969<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY PAUL OATES ( KIAP)<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul arrived at Pindiu the day I left – December 1969.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">1.The Cessna 172 that delivered Paul to Pindiu in 1969 and took me back to Lae and out of PNG for the Canadian disaster . Also photos of Pindiu in 1969 courtesy of Mike Slough and finally Pindiu in 2007 courtesy of Furune Bean (nee Wama). Finally, Finschhafen SDO early 1970’s courtesy Steven Cottingham and Buki Wharf 2008 courtesy of Robert Ilu.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This photo below of the plane was at Lae Airport. Not Pindiu – Pindiu had no trolleys! Also at Pindiu – chocks would be on the wheels to stop the plane from moving.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">At Wau – well before I got there in 1968 – a DC3 – landed and taxied to the top of the strip and chocks were not put in place and the plane decided to try to take off by itself !<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ended up a mess in the plantation at the bottom of the strip!!!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2.Pindiu Airstrip – plane taking off – note the ups and downs of the strip and the clouds coming down from the Mountains. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> ( Below</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><br />
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<b><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3. Above: At the end of this strip – the valley appeared – so if you went down – it was really down.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The road you can see is the road up to the Mission Station – note the landslides!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I lived just right under the planes right wing – as the plane comes towards you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Obviously another plane took this photo – flying in PNG was really by the seats of your pants!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">School was looking at the photo off from the level and clear ground on the left of the photo.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To be continued tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;">Today I saw the arrival of Australia's new planes for the Airforce doing a fly past - 8 or more of them I counted, all following an F-111, which they are replacing. Pretty impressive display.</div></span><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9sycp3rQZmKRXZ6U5wc0_MXl5e0Pyb5f_RSxHaDzxQaRftcKdDZssIZgPIRgS-KxOOfH48JFk0AlQ2aeh6eZGLOxo1FHaDaSSGxRQzvtX2z5kLptMY6uW8_lgizvyG6YKjFzOP4tSow/s1600/20100314raaf8540677_0002_lo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTvUllOb1stSAry5z6AXa_Hyl6NR-elaoO1JTqZPN714QzAUfhPuAZSV6yVPQyfR83mThXgQMuJRm-8JJTHC3UcNBKuwUz8FYd9aor_a4tYMQI-IEhFL46zQzqdhUoXlDZysJM4KZK3w/s1600/Hornet-24.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452798374010135618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTvUllOb1stSAry5z6AXa_Hyl6NR-elaoO1JTqZPN714QzAUfhPuAZSV6yVPQyfR83mThXgQMuJRm-8JJTHC3UcNBKuwUz8FYd9aor_a4tYMQI-IEhFL46zQzqdhUoXlDZysJM4KZK3w/s320/Hornet-24.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 111px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Super Hornets-Long flight to Australia</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #383a3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Narrow', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #383a3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Narrow', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The historic first flight of Air Force's Super Hornets into their home base, RAAF Amberley, will occur this Friday, 26 March 2010.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Minister for Defence Senator John Faulkner will formally welcome the new aircraft to Australia during a ceremony at Amberley, along with RAAF members, Industry representatives and community leaders.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The F/A-18F Super Hornets are the Air Force's first new air combat aircraft in 25 years.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Five Super Hornets have departed Naval Air Station Lemoore in California after extensive preparations, including acceptance flights and ground tests. While air to air refuelling is occurring, the long journey to Australia involves several stops, including Hawaii and New Zealand.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Air Force is planning to mark the Super Hornet arrival with an escort of F-111s, as the new aircraft fly over Brisbane and Gold Coast on approach to Amberley. The F-111s which have been stalwarts of Australia's air combat fleet will be retired at the end of 2010.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"The Super Hornets represent a major step forward in air combat capability for Australia. Air Force is acquiring 24 multi-role Super Hornets which will provide a bridging capability during the transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," Senator Faulkner said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"The Super Hornets are an important acquisition," Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, United States Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, General Electric, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon share the credit for this project's success."</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Australia's Super Hornets will arrive at RAAF Amberley progressively during 2010 and 2011.</span></div></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photos and information from the RAAF website.</span></span></div></div>huggibearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064345512092080386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271790665936765053.post-3862392997690180002009-08-13T13:16:00.000-07:002009-08-13T13:18:33.134-07:00My first postFor some time, I have been an avid reader of my friends' blogs. You know the saying, if you can't beat them, join them.huggibearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064345512092080386noreply@blogger.com3