Somport Tunnel

The road tunnel through the Pyrenees linking Pau in France with Saragossa in Spain finally opened on 17 January. The French entrance is situated in the Vallée d'Aspe, and tunnels under the Col du Somport.
After much controversy with environmentalists and delays due to safety revisions, prompted by the Mont Blanc and St. Gothard tunnel disasters, they have finally got the show on the road. If my French can be relied on, the railway following a similar route, tunnels included, was closed following an accident in 1970.
On 27 March that year a double-headed electric freight train failed to make the climb toward the summit and ran backwards toward the Pont de l'Estanguet, demolishing it, taking the bridge with it into the river. The line to Spain never re-opened although there have been recent efforts in France to bring it back after thirty years.

High-speed rail rumours

More snippets in the papers trailing a possible Montreal-New York high-speed rail line - also talk of beefing up Montreal-Toronto for high-speed operation.
More here.

Down the Mississippi

I've never been attracted to boat cruises but this is different.

Back in TO

Back in Toronto after short road trip to the snowy northland of Ontario - running out of gas in the middle of nowhere found old country store in Hamer Bay for fillup - old mechanical pumps - after serving myself the guy indoors asked me "how much?" He rang up $30 when I said $38 - I then gave him the correct money - why is it so much nicer in the countryside?
Bought a copy of The Detroit News and Free Press which covers the opening of the Detroit Auto Show and the launch of the new Ford F-150 pickup truck. Ford are holding their breath hoping that the new truck, the top-selling vehicle in North America, finds favour with the public like its predecessor.
The paper also had a good feature on the growing use of biodiesel in North America plus "Tips to keep in mind when fishing on ice."