There is something 'bout a pickup

Here.

Buffet car hits the buffers

Is nothing sacred? The long slow decline on Britain's railways continues.

Diesel digger devastates record

Andy Green does the business at Bonneville. After Audi won the 2006 Le Mans 24 Hour race with a diesel-engined car we now see the diesel land speed record taken by a British car powered by two diesel engines from a JCB backhoe. JCB have their eyes on Jaguar, part of the Ford fire sale, too.

Rip-off Britain lives

The Times hasn't really got the story. For example a 100ml tube of Colgate toothpaste cost 29p at Shopper's Drug Mart here in Canada, an identical item cost 98p in Waitrose on a recent trip to Sussex, England. Needless to say I didn't buy any toothpaste, or much of anything else, in the UK. It is not called "Treasure Island" for nothing.
See also for the great croissant scandal.

Parry People Movers

Interesting answer to low-volume passenger rail service.

Banzai you bastards

David Suzuki should read this and stop whingeing. He claims to know about quality of life issues.

Heading west

To Acadia and east across the Gaspé to Rimouski, Quebec [overnight], then to Montreal with the mighty St. Lawrence river on our right side. Trip to Exporail [Canadian National Railway Museum] in Delson-St. Constant. Then to Ottawa for Eric Eggleston gig, National Archives today and tomorrow. About a thousand road miles in three days. Next Wednesday morning with the smart Cross Canada Relay back to Toronto.

Motoring in the maritimes

The drive up from North Sydney yesterday was wet much of the way with a severe rainstorm causing us to pull over near Amherst due to aquaplaning.
Heard on the ferry coming back from Newfoundland: "The moose in Newfoundland get your licence plate number and they try to get you on the way back" - newfie humour about collisions between motor vehicles and the dreaded moose.
I am in Miramichi, New Brunswick, in Acadian country, on a beautiful sunny day. Overnighted at Shediac at Camping Beausejour [cold] where French mostly spoken. Stopped off at the boyhood home of James Bonar Law - the only British Prime Minister to be born outside the UK [good trivia question].
We met Remi Legacy on the road in his smart - he swears by the car saying his company has two and two more on order. He said he had replaced a Ford Crown Victoria company car with a smart and reduced the gas bill from $1000 to $200 per month. For more on smart see http://smartcar.blogspot.com
Along the coast to Point Sapin, a working little fishing village with boats coming and going. Many derelict buildings and much cheap real estate in this neck of the woods. Now heading north for Miscou Island then back home via Quebec and Ottawa.

Sailing across the sea

Back on the mainland arriving at North Sydney on the MV Leif Eriksson last night after crossing the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Struggling to find the Best Western in the dark with roadworks and no signs - found out this morning it has a great view of the harbour. Had Breakfast with Basil Joe, a MicMac Indian who took a great interest in the smart car.
Overall verdict on Newfoundland - definitely a top place. Drove from St. John's to Deer Lake, 400 odd miles in seven hours. Felt a bit blasted next day on run into Port Aux Basques where we waited to catch the ferry. Met a fellow smart owner on the dock on his way back to Nova Scotia from his holiday home south of Clarenville. Great results from research at the maritime archive, Memorial University, St. John's, also great night at the Folk Festival - good to see a people proud of their heritage.

End of the line

Birthday supper at Jungle Jim's, next to the Comfort Inn on the TCH in Gander. I asked for a port after dinner to general mirth from the staff who said that could not be obtained in these parts - I pointed to two bottles behind the bar which turned out to be port. Ah, the old port trick! Got two large shots for $10 - a bargain and a great way to round off the day.
A guy in the hotel, Lorne Foote, left a message on the smart car about the Cross Country Relay - looks like we may have to miss out on that as they depart St. John's for Port Aux Basques on the 12th of August.
We went to visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum which, among other things, tells the story of the construction of Gander Airport which played a key role in the North Atlantic air bridge in WW2. We have much to be thankful for the part the newfie people played in both world wars. Splendid museum with an old Karrier mobile staircase parked out front. We also went to Gander Airport for a quick butchers - there are flights to St. John's and Ontario from here.
We stopped over at Terra Nova National Park for a shrimp wrap special lunch in an idyllic setting on the lakeshore. Quick stop at the Avondale Train Station - more "Newfie Bullet" - then taking the Admiral's Coast scenic drive into St. John's. We are now staying in Curtis House at Memorial University [$54 per night for a twin room, £28 approx]. Last night we dined at Bitters graduate bar. Today is Regatta day, a holiday in these parts, and many folk will be headed for the boat races on Quidi Vidi Lake. The maritime history archive is closed so no research today.
[Newfoundland has a population of approximately half a million people. The province is almost one and three quarters times the size of Great Britain.]