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An attempt to dry out on our boat legs off the yacht club to scrub off and antifoul nearly resulted in disaster as the legs collapsed when Sea Bunny was rocked by a ship's wash at the critical point of settling. Crew and onlookers worked frantically to keep the now lethal legs from damaging the boat as she settled. Fortunately another passing ship created enough wash to allow us to refloat.
Instead we were lifted out for a day and antifouled at the new marina at Flamingo Yacht Club, where the two of us did what felt like a week's work in 24 hours in gruelling heat.
Later we received full compensation of the cost of the legs, which were abandoned in the yard at Flamenco.
A trip by 4WD and outboard powered canoe up to a village of the Chocoe Indians in the national park around Gatun Lake is rewarding. Lovely muscular men and bare-chested women!
As the dry season is approaching the river level is low and the canoe is only able to get up there with some hefty punting by the crew.
Photo: David/Katie Jeffs
Our first trip into the Pacific is a day sail some 50 miles out into the Gulf of Panama to the Islas Perlas. We are in company with Hecla for this trip and decide on an anchorage on the south side of Isla Pedro Gonzalez. This was a deserted anchorage off a long sandy beach, backed by palm trees and forest, with a fresh water lake (complete with alligators) just inshore. The alligator tracks across the beach into the sea make swimming unattractive, although Katie goes in. We have a barbeque on the beach before setting off in the evening for the Galapagos. We are concerned about David, who seems to be suffering in the heat on the beach, but he says he is OK.
Having checked our passage times we realise that we must leave Isla Pedro Gonzalez in the evening of 25 February to be reasonably sure of arriving in the Galapagos Islands on 3 March, so that we can complete the formalities before leaving on our island cruise, leaving on 5 March. Consequently we leave about 1800 following Hecla who, without the same time constraints, intend to visit Isla San Jose.
As this part of the passage is not in the trade wind belt we cannot rely on following winds, so we do not have the running rig set. In the event most of the wind we get is from the north or east and is generally fairly light after the first night. We do quite a bit of motorsailing. We also get the spinnaker up for some short periods. The South Equatorial Current seems to be giving us quite a bit of help - about 1½ knots.
About half way David sights a whale - our first. The rest of us miss it though. We also catch a small yellowfin tuna, but it gets away!
We cross the equator at 2129 on 2 March at 88º 58'.698 W. The GPS does actually register 0º 00'.000, although we had been told that it would go from 0º00.'001 N to 0º00'.001 S, dodging the issue of whether the equator is north or south. We did not go back to check what it did going the other way!
We had had our main celebration of crossing the line a bit early, before sunset, so that Father Neptune's visit could be recorded. We heard later that the male members of the crew of Windfall swam across while the ladies sailed the boat - very trusting!
Our dinner was cooked for us by the Naked Chef-see photo. We heard later that the male members of the crew of Windfall swam across while the ladies sailed the boat - very trusting!
Approaching the islands we are visited by several birds, including one red-footed booby who perched on the pulpit for several hours, despite being regularly beaten about the head by the genoa. We see our first sealions on the approach to Porto Ayora. It seemed as if the wildlife was willing us to visit their islands
We are at anchor by 1400 on 3 March, just ahead of Robinson.
Anchored in 5 metres of water with 40 metres of chain on the bow anchor and 30 on a stern anchor we feel fairly secure in leaving Sea Bunny under the watchful eye of Steve from Windfall while we all head off on a five-day cruise around the islands. Before leaving we refuel from drums delivered in a water taxi. The baja filter is put to use to ensure the fuel is clean. We have used 79 US gallons (300 l) on the trip from Panama, twice what we used across the Atlantic.
The MV Ambassador is top of the range of those offering cruises here and the crew are very helpful but it is somewhat dated. The public rooms are good but the cabins are rather small and a little claustrophobic. The air conditioning does work and the food is excellent.
The cruise takes in several of the islands, covering a variety of geological ages from 5 years old to a few million years, with corresponding flora and fauna, many unique to the islands. Tourists are restricted to specific sites, accompanied by guides but nevertheless see a lot of unique wildlife. The famous giant tortoises are only accessible at the Charles Darwin centre on Santa Cruz Island but marine iguanas, penguins, sealions, flightless cormorants, blue footed boobies and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere - wonderful colours. Evening lectures in the ship's lounge put things into context.
Susan has her birthday on board, complete with cake and the staff and friends singing happy birthday.
We send mail from the "post office" on Floreana Island. It works-someone picked it up and posted it!
After the five days we have had our fill of volcanic islands, strange wild life and plants and are back to Porto Ayora to say goodbye to David and Katie and to prepare for the big crossing to the Marquesas.
Susan bakes a large chocolate cake, topped with carrots for Katie's birthday for her to share with the friends she has made on the trip.
Susan manages to dislocate a little toe, by kicking a storm board that Richard had left in place. Having reset it herself (painful) she goes to the emergency doctor at the hyperbaric centre to have it checked - he says she had done everything possible. Then she is off to do the shopping
Fresh fruit and vegetables don't seem to be available (we've never seen such decayed specimens) but we get vacuum packed meat and are ready to depart.
Some of the photos were taken by David or Katie Jeffs
This is the big one! Around 3000 miles to the Marquesas. Just the two of us - Bliss!
After some difficulty getting the two anchors up we leave Porto Ayora at 1345 on 12 March.
The local sea breeze around the islands dies as we clear and we have a few days of variable winds. There is a favourable current which stays with us most of the way.
Starting off with the running rig, twin headsails on the furling gear, we have to set both headsails on the same side and hoist the main. This works but risks chafe as the two sails rub against each other. Also, as they are not identical it looks a bit odd and doesn't sheet very well, especially with the wind ahead of the beam. The weather is quite unpleasant to start with but improves as the SE wind develops after about 10 days. We still get squalls, but nothing like the Atlantic.
There is not much traffic around. Blackwater overtakes us a few days out, passing some 5 miles north of us. We see lights going the other way one night and another night we overtake another unknown yacht, having to take the self-steering off and alter course to avoid hitting her! Some of the rally yachts have some close quarters incidents with a (Japanese?) fishing boat, which seems to be coming deliberately close.
We are quickly into the rythm and routine of the passage - 3 hours on, 3 hours off - making bread, keeping the log.
There are competitions going on between the rally boats - moustache growing and elegant dining photos.
April 1 brings some April Fools Day items on the rally radio net. We try to sabotage the moustache growing competition that is going on by giving a report from rally control that the local gendarme on Nuku Hiva is becoming annoyed by the number of participants who look nothing like their passport photos!
We come to the Marquesas all too soon and sight land (Hiva Oa) late on 3 April, feeling our way into the harbour on Nuku Hiva around 0100 on 4 April. Terry on Blackwater had offered to leave spreader lights on to show the anchorage, but one of the crew had noticed the lights on and helpfully turned them off! Nevertheless we found a spot to anchor close to the other boats - we were second to last in, with only Dutch Link behind us (she had not scrubbed since Europe and was reported to be developing an interesting ecosystem).
We are cleared in by visiting the gendarmerie and almost immediately up anchor to go round to the next bay, Baie de Hakatea otherwise known as Daniel's Bay, for a rally "fun day". Daniel had in fact been moved out to the nearby village to make way for a Survivor TV series filmed here. Bill and Jane from Hecla come for lunch and we give them a lift there. The British, of course, lose the cricket match against the rest of the world, even though there is no-one from another cricketing nation!
Returning to the boat we give Dutch Link's crew, who are still waiting for the boat to arrive, a lift back and they help us to get the dinghies from down below to on deck.
A tour of the island by taxi is very pleasant and interesting and included watching part of the Queen Mother's funeral on TV in a restaurant! There are quite a lot of historical sites. On one, a dig was going on and had recently found human skulls. The story was that these were in a pit used for tenderising the flesh.
We pick huge grapefruit from a semi-derelict orchard. The scenery is dramatic, with rugged mountains and numerous rock pinnacles
There is a welcome party at the hotel one evening, at which the photo competition and moustache growing competition are judged. Richard is runner up in the moustaches. It's a pity it had to come off but his diving mask was flooding all the time!
The Marquesans are keen horsemen, so we arrange to go riding. The trip takes us up to one of the historical sites, where there is also fruit growing wild. Our guide picks us some starfruit - nothing like the under-ripe ones sold in supermarkets in the UK!
None of the shops sell any fresh fruit or vegetables and the only time to buy them is at the quay on Saturday morning, where there is a market. We set the alarm and are there by 0500 -everything is gone by 0600! All produce had been weighed into 1 kg lots and bagged, very efficient. There is only one man on the island who grows produce for sale in this way.
Our intended departure from Nuku Hiva is delayed by a day as our laundry is not ready from the laundrette on the quay. We had not handed ours to the hotel, having heard of Kalypso's US$ 150 bill, which they succeeded in haggling down! We leave Nuku Hiva on Wednesday 10 April in loose company with other rally boats leaving from Daniel's Bay.
A short trip to Ua Pou enables us to get the fishing line out, as we are not using the towed generator. We are rewarded with a small tuna, which we share with Hecla at anchor in the evening.
At the village we find someone who will get some fruit for us - at a price! As we will be very lucky to find any in the Tuamotus, we stock up.
A three-day passage from Ua Pou to Raroia gives a total change of scenery. While the Marquesas are dramatically mountainous islands of volcanic origin the Tuamotus are low-lying coral atolls. Most have lagoons many miles across with small low sandy islands (motus) situated on the reefs.
We aimed to visit atolls with no airports and thus less visited
The photo shows the pass into Raroia's lagoon in benign state.Several rally boats are already at anchor off Raroia village. A couple have ventured across the lagoon to where Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki washed up on the reef in 1947.
A Frenchman, Regis, and his wife Sophie are planning to open a restaurant on the island. He organises a meal asjhore for the boats. It is cooked over open fires but is excellent and a real cooperative operation involving many of the islanders and great fun.
An overnight passage takes us to Makemo, where we bypass the village and head for an anchorage mentioned in Charlie's Charts, about half way along the lagoon. Depths are generally over 25 metres, with large, clearly visible, coral heads coming nearly to the surface. This is our first major experience of navigating in coral and, with good light in the middle of the day, seems fairly easy but very hard work in hot sun. Mike on Dutch Link gets heat stroke and has to rest for two days after his spell at the spreaders.
Hecla is at the anchorage and Dutch Link joins us the next day. We stay a couple of days, snorkelling and exploring ashore, before anchoring near the pass at the western end of the lagoon, ready for an early departure to Katiu in company with Hecla and Dutch Link. We team up with these two boats, agreeing to leave ample space between boats in the passes - half an hour was suggested.
Going out through the pass we observe sharks in the shallows over the reef.
Katiu is slightly different to most of the Tuamotus, as the pass has been closed to deep draft boats by coral growth. Thgere is however, a quay which yachts can lie alongside as long as the supply boat is not due. We go in first, cautiously, as we do not know if there will be a current setting us over the reef. In fact, the flow is outwards, but there is an eddy and slack water by the quay. We are the first yacht in this year.
We are made very welcome by local families, especially by Florentina, who also welcomed the first Trade Winds Rally during their visit in 1996, taking her guitar aboard one of the yachts and singing to them. She did the same for us and also organised a visit to the family black pearl farm.
Leaving Katiu with a 5 knot current under us in the pass and against the wind we realised that the anchor had not been secured and, as we watched, it and 60 metres of chain disappeared over the bow roller. There was no way we were going back so we headed on for Tahanea, our next stop, extracting another 60 metres of chain from the bilge and shackelling on the Fortress anchor.
The pass into Tahanea was interesting to say the least. The outflow was a good 6 knots and stopped the boat like a wall. This resulted in Dutch Link, following us in, closing from several hundred metres behind us to about a boat length. We got in without incident though and found an anchorage halfway between the two passes.
The next evening we presented Mike with an amended picture of our stern as a memento.
As Tahanea is now uninhabited the coral is superb, especially in the passes, where we spent a couple of days drift snorkelling. Several sharks also found the fish life attractive. While there we heard that Windfall, some 70 miles west of us would return to Katiu to dive and retrieve our anchor!
The final stop in the Tuamotus was Kauehi. Here the village is 20 miles across the lagoon. The French have thoroughly surveyed the channel using side-scan sonar, so it is a very easy transit. We stay a few days, cycling round the island, going to the local church and entertaining the local children. Yacht visits are popular, with some of the children swimming out to us ¼ mile off the beach. In return for squash and sweets they sang their hearts out for us.
Fidelio of London, with Ian and Anne are at anchor when we arrive. Kalypso, with John, Judy, David and crew arrive while we are there.
Ciguatera (fish poisoning) is a problem with the reef fish here. A victim had been airlifted off the island the day before our arrival.
We arrive in Tahiti on 3 May after a 2-day voyage from Kauhi mostly under twin headsails. In Papeete we are stern-to a new quay. This has the major disadvantage that it is just where the locals come in the evening and most of the night to chat and play loud music which is easy to understand as up to a week before the area was a car park, not a quay.
Several of the rally boats are boarded by intruders at night. We escape this as we woke up when someone tried to get up the gang plank..
After three weeks without fresh food Papeete market is a treat, as are the "roach coaches" for food out in the evening. Susan goes to the market every day so she will remember the colours and smells.
Susan gets her black pearls, acquired in the Tuamotus, set.
The rally has organised a bus trip round the island, most impressive mountain scenery but the "mile-a-minute" vine covering most of the forest is an environmental disaster.
The Gaugin museum is a highlight of the tour.
The "uniform" for the church-goers at the temple on the waterfront is most impressive. The service is very regulated, consisting mostly of harangues from the elders, some of whom doze off on the dias.
A "cultural" display laid on by the tourist office and a reception at the French naval commander's residence oficially welcome us to French Polynesia.
Sea Bunny is reunited with her anchor and chain, recovered in Katiu by Steve and Mike from Windfall, after some interesting diving in strong currents.
We present the crew of Windfall with commemorative scrolls. These we modelled on the RNLI's "Thanks inscribed on vellum" although we were unfortunately clean out of vellum, insufficient having been stowed. The incident was recorded for Yachting Monthly by Paul Gelder, who was covering the rally.
After just over a week in Papeete the rally moved on to Cooks Bay, Moorea. We found Moorea not so commercialised and so more pleasant than Tahiti. Richard completed an open water diving course - with both of the open water dives featuring shark feeding! Susan started the same course but sensibly decided to defer it until more time was available. We were fortunate to have an alongside berth, right by the dive school, for the first few days until we had to move to make room for cruise ship tenders. In company with Bill and Jane from Hecla we hired a car for a round-island tour.
We went to the catholic church and were treated to some superb singing. In the quiet spells you could hear the singing from the rival protestant church right next door.
After a few days we ventured outside the reef, round to the next bay, Baie d' Oponohu. Susan had a bout of flu so we stayed an extra day before leaving for an overnight passage to Huahine.
We entered the pass and headed straight down to the anchorage where a barbeque had been arranged. All the boat crews drew their dinghies up on the beach round a camp fire. Unfortunately just after everyone had finished eating there was a torrential rain storm and we all sheltered in a ruined house enjoying dancing and drumming in the walls in time to the rain. Our lifejackets, left in an under-seat bag in the dinghy, self inflated!
The next day we were very tired and moved up inside the reef to anchor in a very confined space off a resort hotel. Coco de Mer had already occupied the best position. Susan had a massage and we had an excellent meal. It was fortunate that we put down two anchors as another squall blew up during the night.
Boats in the main anchorage area had an uncomfortable night with at least one large one dragging its anchor through the others.
After another island tour by hire car, visiting ancient meeting places, stone fish traps and a rainforest walk, it was time to move on again - this time a short day sail to the twin islands (inside the same reef) of Tahaa and Raiatea.
We treated ourselves to a night in the marina on Raiatea, where several other rally boats were already in residence, and a meal ashore.
The next day we moved round to the peace of Haamene Bay on the east coast of Tahaa, picking up a vacant Moorings mooring, then on to anchor inside the reef on the west side, visiting and being moved on from a hotel under construction, and then to Huemiti Bay, where we were visited by someone claiming that the mooring we had picked up was about to be occupied by its owner -
we went and anchored and the mooring remained unoccupied all night!
Anchorage on the west side, inside the reef, gave excellent sunset views of Bora Bora - our next stop.
Our last stop in the Society Islands was Bora Bora - fairly spectacular scenery but we had to anchor in 25 metres off Bloody Mary's restaurant. We circumnavigated the island by RIB - rays over the sand at the south.
All over the Society Islands there are hotels under construction. Most are very similar with rooms built on stilts over the lagoon. We were convinced that someone had done a market survey showing that there was a market (pre 9/11) for 500 beds and had sold it to 30 companies, each building 100 bed hotels!
We saw a likely hotel from the anchorage and went over in the dinghy for a drink, only to find we were several months too early!
The 540M passage from Bora Bora to Raratonga gives us squalls, headwinds and light winds, such that we have to be frugal with fuel, not having filled up since the Marquesas.
One night we have a very close encounter with a ship that comes up very fast from astern. We have to start the motor and turn sharply to starboard. A nasty scare.
Checking in to the Cook Islands is the easiest yet - the harbourmaster does everything, except quarantine. The quarantine lady arrives after a couple of days; she is nervous of the gap between the quay and the boat, does not come aboard, gives us a can of insecticide and tells us to spray the boat.
We hire a car for the first few days - this involves getting a local driving licence from the police station - cost NZ$5.
On 2 June our daughter, Catharine, flies in from the UK, so we organise floral headresses and meet her at the airport.
The next day we do an island tour by car. Stopping at a woodcarver's we see a tree laden with starfruit and ask if we can buy some. We are given some steps and invited to pick our own. Apparently they are normally fed to the pigs!
Susan organises a rally dinner, with dancing, at one of the local hotels - excellent.
The highlight of Susan and Catharine's visit was the cross-island walk which many of the rally participants did. Unfortunately it was organised on the same day as the fuel bowser, so Richard stayed on board to fill up. He was also suffering from severe addominal pains, so wouldn't have enjoyed the walk much.
In Susan's collection of clippings from yachting magazines is one extolling the virtues of Beveridge Reef (20 00 S, 167 47 W), a mostly submerged reef 135 miles east of Niue. Having persuaded several of the rally boats to visit it we leave Raratonga on 7 June for the three day, 470 mile pasage. Once clear of the entrance we can set course direct for our waypoint south of the reef. The wind is generally from the SE, light to moderate, so there is a fair bit of motoring as we want to maintain good speed to arrive with the sun high for entering the pass.
We sight the reef from about 3 miles, the wreck of a fishing boat is clearly visible. Getting closer we see the mast of a yacht which is anchored close south of the pass. As we approach the pass this yacht calls us up on VHF to ask if we are happy with our approach. We are, but ask how it looks to them! The pass is actually quite easy. There is not too much outflow and few coral heads. Rather than crowd the other yacht we head across the lagoon to the recommended anchorage close to the wreck.
Generally there is about 10-13m depth, with a few widely separated and clearly visible coral heads. Windfall, Tulipano and Kastaway arrive after us.
In the morning Catharine says she is going for a swim. Thinking she means just around the boat we get on with our jobs, only to look up after a while to see her powering off towards the reef and the wreck a quarter of a mile away. Thinking of the message the splashing and the shiny stud in her navel would be sending to the grey reef sharks that live here we get the dinghy ready in double quick time, just as she gets back, very exhilarated, to tell of the sharks and rays she has seen. We mildly suggest that she doesn't do it again.
We spend a couple of days in Beveridge, snorkelling and, courtesy of Windfall, diving, before leaving for an overnight passage to Niue.
Arriving off Niue after most of the other rally yachts we were obliged to anchor, as all the buoys provided by the dive operators, were occupied. We find a spot in about 35 metres depth so some time was spent getting additional chain and warp out from the bilges and shackled on. This makes us late for the birthday party that has been organised so Richard has to go in ordinary clothes as a "party pooper" (It's a "P" party). Susan goes as the Picture in Purple and Catharine as the Painter.
Niue, one of the smallest independent states in the world with a resident population of around 1800, has been seriously depopulated in recent years. Catharine goes sightseeing by motorbike with Joao from Oasis while an island tour in a hired car takes us through semi-deserted village after village. The island is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand.
There is no car insurance in Niue. On asking the hirer what happens if we injure someone in an accident she suggests we should leave quickly!
The coastal scenery is superb, with small sandy coves, complete with numerous sea snakes, rock arches and rock pinnacles.
Before returning the hire car we take trip to the exposed east coast, where the sea has carved out many coves and caves. The sea breaking over a ledge into the cave is an impressive sight.
The anchorage in Niue is totally exposed to the west and there is constant swell coming round the ends of the island, leaving no calm spot to leave the dinghy, which must be hoisted onto the jetty using the crane provided.
Being aware that the sea bottom has many chasms we are concerned that the anchor may be fouled. We ask the dive school to be on standby incase we have problems. In fact we don't but Windfall does, resulting in mild cases of the bends for the on-board divers who resolve the problem.
Most of the rally boats arrive off the north of the Vavaa'u group in the middle of the night and heave to or anchor to kill time until dawn. With the benefit of hindsight this was probably not necessary as the channels between the islands are steep to and the hazards are large and virtually impossible to hit!
Arriving at Neiafu in the morning we are at first invited to tie up to the very unfriendly looking commercial quay to clear in. However, the authorities then realise that a ship is due and they don't have time to handle all the boats. We go and pick up moorings and later the officials come aboard by dinghy - large Tongans, with large black boots! It doesn't take many of them to make the cockpit look crowded! In the end it is all fairly painless.
There is a fairly full rally programme here - reception and feast hosted by the tourist office, a village feast night (one of many available), and a Sunday beach barbeque. A coach is also laid on from one of the anchorages to take us to church on Sunday (choice of Catholic or Wesleyan, we choose Wesleyan).
Susan took a taxi up the hill for a haircut. In the shop were a group of youths smoking and having their blond highlights. In church on Sunday they turn out to be the altar boys and, after the service, greet Susan as a long-lost friend - "Nice hairdo ma'am"!
We also have time for an island tour by mini-bus with a good guide, seeing huge tapa pieces, kava preparation and some of the damage done by the cyclone that hit in January. With some of the other ladies Susan takes pandanus weaving lessons and hand dancing lessons. Catharine goes off kayaking round the islands with Joao and also dives into Mariners' cave.
Soon it is time to move on again, through the Lau Group to Savu Savu in Fiji.
We still have Cath with us for the 3-day passage to Fiji. By this time Richard is taking cover from the women in his life as they are so similar!
We leave Neiafu about mid-day, having cleared out and head out into the open ocean north of the island of Hunga. The islands on this side of the group are very rugged and mountainous, with sheer cliffs falling straight into the sea.
The passage is fairly uneventful, with generally fine weather, winds in the 20-25 knot range and some 30-knot rain-squalls.
In the conditions we opt to take the wide Nanuku passage to the north of most of the Lau Group Islands rather than the narrow but more direct Oneapa or Lakemba further south.
We arrive off the south of the island of Taveuni during daylight and at Savu Savu around 0340 on 27 June, to be met by the Yacht Club boatman who guides us to a mooring.
The Savu Savu Yacht Club is very welcoming to the rally. Apart from the bar they arrange island trips, Optimist Racing, a village visit, welcoming kava ceremony and a feast at a local plantation.
Sea Bunny is represented in the Optimist racing, whiich clashes with a bus trip over the island, by Cath. Susan remains in support, while Richard goes on the bus trip.
The feast, organised by the Yacht Club, is one of the best yet and is followed by various games - tug of war etc.
While going to the local dancing class Susan has persuaded the teacher to dance for the gathering, which she does with her cousin. Very sensual. On this occasion the trend that has been developing since Tahiti for the lady dancers to be more covered as we move west has been reversed.
Unfortunately Cath has to leave us from the feast direct to the airport to catch her plane back to the UK and new job.
Having obtained the charts for Bligh Water we are ready to move on to Musket Cove. Most boats take the route through Bligh Water rather than the one recommended by the organisers south of the main island of Viti Levu. This avoids some significant headwinds and unpleasantly rough seas.
The part last of the trip is somewhat uncomfortable. We have 15-20 knots on the nose and poor visibility. As we approach Malolo Lailai island, where the resort is situated, it is getting quite late in the afternoon. We are grateful for the offer of a longboat to lead us in.
The rally boats are berthed stern-to in the marina, right next to the "$3 bar".
A full "fun week" has been arranged, with more games, hobie cat racing and a rally dinner and prizegiving.
We opt out of some of these activities as we both have nasty sores that are proving very difficult to heal which we want to keep away from sea-water and sand. We act as judges on the "sports day".
On Richard's birthday we host a "bunny" party at the $3 bar. This also doubles as our farewell to most of the rally yachts as we, together with 3 other boats (Kalypso, Kastaway and Tulipano) are leaving the rally here.


text:
Improved Stress Analysis for Cross-Tie Tracksby Arnold D. Kerr, Prof.; Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Delaware, Newark, Del.,
Serial Information: Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, 1979, Vol. 105, Issue 4, Pg. 539-548
Document Type: Journal Paper
Presently, the dominant method for calculating rail stresses and rail-tie contact forces is based on the model of a beam on a Winkler base. One shortcoming of this analysis is that it neglects the effect of the moments that the ties exert on the rails when the rails deflect in the vertical plane. The paper presents an improved analysis of this problelm. It also suggests a simple method for the determination of the track parameters that enter the analysis and demonstrates its use on actual track test data. Paper concludes with a comparison of analytical and track test results.
Subject Headings: Stress analysis | Contact mechanics | Structural models | Beams | Displacement (mechanics) | Parameters (statistics) | Field tests | Comparative studies
Services: Buy this book/Buy this article
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subset: commoncrawl


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When love breaks tears fall
When friendship breaks life falls completely
So, never break friendship
Happy Friendship Day
Friendship Day Whats App Message – Privilege of Friendship
The Privilege Of Friendship
Is that V can talk Nonsense
All the time and
D Funny Thing Is that Nonsense Is
Happy Friendship Day
Stay tuned with us to get more update on Facebook status and you can also checkout here Friendship day 2017 Quotes For Facebook Status.


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Asian Taste
Known as kek lapis Sarawak in the Malay language, these delectable cakes originated from the Land of Hornbills, Sarawak. They are usually baked for religious or cultural celebrations such as Eid ul- Fitri, Deepavali, birthdays, weddings, and even Christmas. These cakes are also a unique feature of open house parties in Sarawak held during the festivities.
Package includes:
Sarawak layer cake (choose 1):


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- Laser cut pattern
- Peep toe front
- Elasticated heel panel for easy fit
- Heel height: 3"
Sizes: 4EEE, 5EEE, 6EEE, 7EEE, 8EEE, 9EEE, 10EEE
Fit & Fashion Notes:
These stylish summer sandals feature a peep toe front and a 3" block heel.
Why We Love It:
This season it's all about the details and we love the laser cut out pattern!
Standard USA delivery
$20 USD delivery (8-10 working days)
Click here to find out more
Returns policy
Return items within 21 days
Click here to read our international returns policy


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Click on a title below to reveal the relevant answer:
All Chase Field entrances are located on accessible routes and are on the main concourse level, with accessible turnstiles located at Gates A, C, E North, J, K and Level 2 of the Chase Field Garage (for Suites and 200 level tickets). Once inside on the concourse, you will find it very easy to get anywhere in the building via large elevators and escalators. In addition, the ballpark has a wide ramp located near Gate J that services all levels.
Guest Relations Representatives are located at all gates to assist any guests requiring a wheelchair escort to and from their seats. Guest wishing to check in their own walkers, wheelchairs, scooters or other mobility aids during the game may do so at the Guest Relations Centers located across from Sections 128 on the main concourse and 322 on the upper concourse.
For your convenience, there are a total of seven (7) automatic teller machines, operated and maintained by Chase, located at the following ballpark locations:
Main Concourse (5)
Across from section 103
Across from section 115-116
Across from Team Shop at portal 130-131
Across from portal 132-133 near the Rotunda
Outside Gate E (West Entrance)
Suite/Club Level (1)
In concierge lobby
Upper Concourse (1)
Outside section 325
The ballpark was designed with flexibility and intimacy in mind and many areas accommodate multiple uses. Throughout the facility, accessibility is a key feature:
The Main Will Call is located outside Gate E on the west side of the ballpark where the main ticket windows are located. All of the windows are at accessible heights with Window 2 designated for Accessible Ticket Sales. There are alternate ticket windows at the NE corner of the ballpark by Gate K and near the Handicapped Drop Off. You may pick up Will Call tickets at this alternate location if you request that service from the Ticket Sales Office.
All public seating and service areas are located on accessible routes.
Private luxury suites and party suites feature space for a guest in a wheelchair in the seating area and a private, accessible restroom.
Accessible stalls and sinks are located in each public restroom.
Unisex restrooms are located on each level. These large, private restrooms allow you to attend to your personal needs with assistance from someone of either gender. They also serve as family restrooms for parents attending to their children's needs. All are equipped with baby changing tables. They are located:
- Across from Sections 109 and 135 on the Main Concourse
- Across from Suite 60 on the Suite Level
- Across from Sections 306 and 331 on the Upper Concourse
- Drinking fountains have been installed throughout the ballpark to accommodate guests in wheelchairs and persons with other mobility issues.
All transaction and service counters are a maximum of 36" high with condiment counters a maximum of 34" high.
All public pay phones are fully accessible with at least one public pay phone featuring a TDD/TTY.
Most wheelchair sections have electrical outlets available for charging wheelchair batteries or operating necessary medical equipment.
Hand-held video and non-professional still cameras for personal use may be brought into Chase Field. Flash photography and camera support pods are not permitted. We ask that you are courteous of those around you when taking pictures. These rules may change on an event by event basic pursuant to security or promoter requirements.
The use of cellular phone and pagers are permitted providing their use does not interfere with other guest's enjoyment of the event.
Children over the age of two, or taller than the turnstile are required to have a ticket for admission. Any child who enters without a ticket must share a seat with an accompanying adult. As the policy may be different by event, please call Chase Field in advance to confirm.
Children (possessing a game ticket) having difficulties seeing the game can obtain a booster chair from the Guest Relations Centers or Suite Services Office. Booster chairs are available on a first-come first-served basis. Guest Relations Centers are located at section 128 and section 322. The Suite Services office is located across from Suite 42.
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted at the Chase Field Ticket Office.
The designated drop-off point for all guests is located on the south side of Jefferson Street, just west of 7th Street. This is at the northeast corner of Chase Field near Gate K. The Drop Off is staffed and there are shaded benches available for guests who need to wait for a companion to pick them up.
Bus Stops and Light Rail Stations – All are on accessible routes to and from the ballpark.
Escalators are located inside the main plaza gates (west side of ballpark) for your convenience. All escalators go up (only) prior to game time and down (only) starting in the middle of the 7th inning.
Elevators are located in the following areas for your convenience:
Main Concourse – at sections 104, 117*, 127* and 140.
Club/Suite Level – across from suites 26* and 43 as well as the NW and NE corners.
Upper Concourse – across from sections 311* and 321 as well as the NW and NE corners.
Please note that the elevators in these sections are restricted to guests that are physically unable to use stairs or the escalators.
There is also a ramp on the east side of Chase Field that will take you from main concourse level to the upper concourse.
For the convenience of all guests at Chase Field, "family-style" restrooms are located in the following areas:
Field Level – Across from the NE elevators & behind section H
Main Concourse – Across from sections 109 and 135
Suite/Club Level – Across from suite 60(west side of concourse)
Upper Concourse – Across from sections 306 and 331
Note: All family restrooms are equipped with baby-changing tables. For nursing mothers, chairs are available for your convenience.
Chase Field staff are committed to providing a safe, comfortable and friendly atmosphere for all of our guests. The following guidelines have been established regarding guest conduct:
Guests interfering with any event will be ejected.
Guests interfering with the progress of the event will be ejected and subject to arrest.
Guests wearing obscene or indecent clothing and or body art will not be allowed entry into Chase Field.
Guests using foul or abusive language or gestures will be ejected from Chase Field.
Guests appearing intoxicated will be denied entry or ejected from Chase Field.
Chase Field is designated as a non-smoking facility. For those guest wanting to smoke, designated areas outside the facility are located at areas:
Outside of Gate A (north plaza)
Outside of Gate J (east)
Outside of Gate K (northeast)
As these locations are outside the ballpark, you will need your ticket stub and "re-entry" card to re-enter.
Smoking is not permitted in any of the seating areas, general concourses, suites or restrooms.
There are two (2) First Aid Stations at Chase Field, both of which are located in the NE corner of the facility:
Main Concourse – Next to elevators at section 104
Upper Concourse – Across the elevators, north of section 300
Professional, emergency medical personnel are on duty at each event for your assistance. Should you need assistance, please notify the nearest uniformed employee.
Located in Chase Field overlooking left field, Friday's Front Row® Sports Grill offers a unique atmosphere combined with great food and sports entertainment. Spectacular front-row views makes it a must-see-and-do attraction for all ages.
Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. all year round
Game day table seating can be purchased by calling the Friday's Front Row.
For more information, please call 602.462.3503.
Private suite available for up to 50 people
On non-event days, we validate parking at the Chase Field Parking Garage, located just south of the stadium on 4th St.
Guest Relations Centers are located on the main concourse at section 128 as well as on the upper concourse at section 322. These centers are staffed from the time gates open until approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game. Guests may obtain information and assistance, offer suggestions or register concerns, and to get help with any problems that may occur at Chase Field.
During an event, Lost and Found items may be turned in/claimed at our Guest Relations Centers located on the Main Concourse across from section 128 or on the Upper Concourse across from section 322.
After each event or during non-event times, all items or claims should be reported to our Lost and Found Hotline at 602.462.6173. This is a voice-mail only telephone line that will allow guests to leave all pertinent information regarding lost items, etc. This line will be checked daily to allow a prompt response. Due to the large volume of incoming calls per day, we are only able to return phone calls when we have located an item.
The Sandlot presented by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is a family-focused destination that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle with a variety of fun and exciting activities for fans of all ages. Located on the Upper Concourse in leftfield (northwest corner past Section 332), the Sandlot features:
Futures Field presented by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center – Kids can take Wiffle ball batting practice and run the bases on this miniature version of Chase Field, complete with a centerfield "scoreboard" and operating door panels.
Playground – The playground features two clubhouses, four slides, and a play area for kids of all ages.
Batting Cage – Swing away in this big league-style batting cage located behind Futures Field.
D-backs Kid's Club Headquarters – Kids (ages 15 and under) can join the D-backs Kid's Club and redeem prizes. Kids can also register for the No Chew Crew presented by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. *Registration must be completed by parent or guardian (ages 18 and older).
Bobby Freeman's Stage – The D-backs musical mascot entertains fans from his new location overlooking Chase Field.
*Please be aware that there are posted age and height restrictions for some Sandlot features.
*Use of the Sandlot area is subject to Chase Field policies, rules and regulations, as may be amended from time to time.
For security information, please visit: https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/ballpark/information/security


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In your finances and your financial stature, anything and everything can go up and down. Credit scores, which reflect your financial conduct, can go up and down depending on your financial status. There comes a time when improper financial decisions take a toll on your credit. But don't fret, there are ways to recover from bad credit scores, as listed here.
1. Credit Unions
A bad credit score will make many lenders and financial institutions skeptical about you. But a credit union will not decide to approve your application based on your credit score alone. However, credit unions are not as big as banks. They can only provide for people who belong in the communities, professions or organizations they support. The choices for your financing are based on your financial capability and your actual conduct.
2. Credit Cards
Repaying your credit cards in full on a monthly basis helps your credit score rise up. Avoid paying the minimum amounts for credit cards as they can increase your interest fees. This could mean more expenses for you. A great way to use a card is to use it for items that you need. You should also consider using the card only if you need an item critically.
3. Debt Consolidation
People with great debts caused by financial mismanagement might turn to debt counselors or consolidators. These companies can help intervene between you and your lenders to arrive at a point to help you find a solution to end your financial problems. Debt consolidators ensure that the financing you receive, the income you get and your basic needs are all addressed carefully to end your credit ordeal.
4. Agreement-Based Financing
There are people, companies and organizations aside from credit unions that report your credit conduct to the monitoring bureaus. Car dealerships who provide in-house financing based on your conduct report to credit bureaus and help you get financing while improving your own credit conduct. Try to find them online and apply for their financing.
Recent Posts:
Things to Remember For Successful Mortgages in 2012
Advice for Novices Investing in the Stock Market


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By Scott Marlow
A story that Bayonne Local reported on earlier this month seems to have taken a new twist as School Board Trustee Christopher Piechocki resigned from the Bayonne School Board this evening. Sources are telling Bayonne Local that Piechocki was visited by Federal Agents to ask about his role in some activities that involved former City Hall Director and Mayor Jimmy Davis confidant, Rob Wondolowski.
Mayor Davis endorsed Piechocki for school board just months ago. Details of potential illegal activities are emerging on this story. From what our sources are telling us, this investigation has wide spread implications for City Hall. We will keep you posted on any further developments.


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Shifnal Half Marathon
Coppice Green Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8PD
- Distance13.1 miles
- Surface
- Route
1 lap
- Setting
- Profile
- Water stations
- Traffic free
- Wheelchair accessible
- Minimum age17
- Distance MarkersEvery Mile
- Postal closing date18th Jun 2018
- Size of field350
- Entrants last year190
- Event website
- Event AffiliationUK Athletics
- Universal entry form (pdf)Yes
- Online entry availableYes
- Postal entry availableYes
- On the day entryYes
The Shifnal Half Marathon takes a rural route between the village churches of Shifnal, Ryton, Beckbury and Kemberton before returning to race HQ at Idsall School/Sports Centre. The 'steeplechase' follows quiet country roads, bridleways and footpaths through the Shropshire countryside passing fields of livestock and crops. The race is marshalled by volunteers from the local community and all proceeds go to charity with Bloodwise being the major beneficiary.
Start a new forum discussion about Shifnal Half Marathon


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Valle Nevado Hotel Packages and Reservations
Snowboard and ski vacation packages to Valle Nevado include choice of accommodation, welcome cocktail, breakfast, lunch (Hotel Valle Nevado only), apres ski, dinners, lift tickets, fitness center, outdoor pool, WIFI and more. We can also include private transportation with your choice of English or Spanish speaking driver. Hotel Valle Nevado and Puerta del Sol guests receive a courtesy massage.
- 7 night packages Friday to Friday
- 4 night packages Friday to Tuesday
- 3 night packages Tuesday to Friday
7-night hotel packages include two interconnecting lift tickets (per person) to neighboring El Colorado and La Parva ski resorts. Over 7,400 additional acres of skiing! This interconnection offers more skiable terrain than Vail, Colorado. (Valid for residents of USA, Canada, and UK only).
Read our review of Valle Nevado resort
Hotel Valle Nevado
First Class, ski in ski out. Stylish 50 rooms and suites, with direct access to the modern spa, fitness center and LaForchette gourmet restaurant.
Value season starting at $315/night
Regular season starting at $504/night
based on double room, private bath
Hotel Puerta del Sol
Comfortable 4 star hotel. 121 rooms. North view rooms have a terrace over looking the ski resort. South view rooms have a large bay window looking towards Santiago. Direct access to outdoor heated pool. Just 165 feet from the slopes.
Value season starting at $230/night
Regular season starting at $359/night
based on double room, private bath
Hotel 3 Puntas
3 star hotel, 2 minute walk to the slopes with 82 rooms including doubles, triples and quadruples. Perfect for budget travelers, ski teams, and younger skiers and riders. The main resort pub is located on the top floor of Hotel Tres Puntas.
Value season starting at $188/night
Regular season starting at $254/night
based on double room, private bath


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Mirror's Edge demo leaping onto consoles this week
If the demos for Tomb Raider: Underworld and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts didn't have enough futuristic cityscapes and Asian free runners to sate your particular tastes, then you'll be happy to know EA has heard the call and is delivering the goods to your face.
Hitting the PSN store on Oct. 30 and the XBLM on Oct. 31, the Mirror's Edge demo will give you a taste of what jumping and sliding around an oppressive city in the first-person is like. As an added bonus, those who pre-order at select retailers will be given a code to unlock a time trial mode within the demo for extra fun and leaderboard bragging rights amongst the internet elite. It's all super serious business once you get the internet elite involved, so if you do well, your sexuality will come into question. Stay strong.


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Super Mario 3D World: Review
Good to see you guys again!
Well, it's been months since I picked up my writing software, and wrote about any games. What's my excuse? Don't really have one, just going to take my failure with aplomb. It's the holidays, a time of merriment and joy. With that out of the way, the shopping days are upon us! Or behind us...I'll let you be the judge. And while you do all that judging of yours, I'm going to talk. Specifically, I'm going to talk about one of the newest Mario titles to hit the WiiU, Super Mario 3D World!
Let's not fool ourselves, the WiiU has suffered over its launch. Suffered from poor sales, poor marketing, and even poor titles here and there. Nintendo has made some valiant efforts with the year that the system has had to surpass their recently-released competitors. Valiant, but unfortunately unsuccessful. I, however, am honestly doubting that the system will fail. Though I'm seriously wondering why they didn't make this game a launch title. I can't vouch for the quality, or lack thereof, of New Super Mario bros. U as I still have yet to play it. I can however, surmise and be willing to bet that 3D World would have made the sales of the WiiU much brighter. I could also bet the same thing of many of the hyped releases that Nintendo fans are waiting for, but for different reasons as opposed to this one.
Now, let's get back on track!
Despite my uncertainty of New Super Mario Bros. U, I think many gamers young and old have come to expect a certain degree of quality in Mario titles. 3D World here manages to raise the bar, something that hasn't been done since the Super Mario Galaxy series. I'd argue it may be one of the best 3d Mario games to this day, but I haven't experienced every 3d Mario title just yet. The WiiU really showcases what it can do with 3D World. The visuals really compliment the aesthetics. They're about as hyper-realistic as you'd expect with the portly plumber (probably not much) and you easily forget that you have the WiiU Gamepad in your hands, or pro controller, or whatever else you use. This is something I absolutely LOVE to see in a game. That moment when you forget that you have a peripheral in your hands, and you simply "become the character". This kind of immersion pops out at you in every little drop of experience the game has to offer.
As far as worlds go, it's mostly the same. I do want to mention something without giving out too many spoilers, though. There's a nice change in the formula with worlds when you get to the last level of the main game. This does remind me of the overworld, though, which feels different, despite not actually being different upon further analysis. Your first is grassland, then desert, ice, mountain or beach (usually that's the only one I see that isn't always the same throughout Mario titles). The fact that they managed to make them feel unique here is the real feat, though. The beach world doesn't feel like the same kind of beach as if you'd played the New Super Mario games, and the levels don't adhere to the trend either, which lends itself to some really nice ideas. I could go on with it, but you'd best find out for yourself.
Lots of uniqueness, surprisingly well placed.
The gameplay pulls a particular element from Mario 2 (the 'murican one) where you have your choice of four characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad. Each of these characters has a different running speed and jump height. Mario is the most balanced of the four, Toad runs the fastest, Luigi jumps the highest, and Peach has her little floating ability. Unlike Mario 2 (the 'murican one) however, it has powerups galore: Fire flower, Tanooki suit, boomerang flower, the list goes on. You can even ride in the koopa shells instead of just kicking them around. I forgot that outfit on the cover, didn't I? That there is the cat suit, easily one of the most useful powerups to come out of the game. A little bit too useful, honestly. In that outfit, you are given several different swiping attacks, including a diving attack from the air, and you can climb up walls for a short time, allowing you a nice recovery, or even a little shortcut to some of the harder to reach collectibles.
In fact, that's another thing in abundance here: collectibles. Throughout the levels, you'll find 3 green stars, and a stamp to use in Miiverse amongst the Mario 3D World community. But be wary, as Nintendo has placed them well. While you're scouring each section for stuff to stick in the stash, be on the lookout for other classic Mario based secrets such as warp pipes to other worlds, toad houses scattered across the overworld, as well as Bowser's golden money train. I'd count certain 1-ups scattered in the levels as secrets (including one in front of the final boss which I still haven't figured out how to get to...) but honestly, lives haven't mattered for so long in Mario games that it's curious why they don't just ditch the idea of lives altogether.
Other than just finding collectibles, you may just want to explore some of the levels anyway. They're all surprisingly well designed, and many have creative implications. I remember a level where you have to press buttons and switches to manipulate light and shadow to see your prize. In one case, you were literally just a shadow on the wall, as well as the enemies. I'd love to see them utilize some of these ideas in the future. There's this asian sort of dojo-inspired level where you can interact with things like sliding doors and gongs using the gamepad to find secrets aside from these, there are small ten second challenges which will offer green stars as reward. You can also find these "Captain Toad" levels. These levels are one of the biggest highlights of the game. You play as Captain Toad, and you have to traverse the 3d puzzle/maze to acquire all 5 green stars. The trick with captain toad is that unlike his blue-spotted friend helping Mario, Captain Toad can't jump. If you try, he simply struggles to lift himself off the ground in vain.
The story is also surprisingly different. As you could tell by my earlier mention of playing as peach, the goal here isn't to save the princess. Mario and company are walking down a road during a fireworks festival when they come across a broken clear pipe. For the first time in decades, the Mario brothers actually plumb something, fixing the pipe with nothing more than hammers, and freeze frames. Suddenly, a little green fairy, known as a "Sprixie" pops out of the pipe, calling out to whichever of the group she can for help. She explains that Bowser kidnapped her sisters in jars, and that she barely escaped. Soon after, lo and behold, Bowser pops out of the pipe, and traps our sprixie friend in a jar. I like in this moment how peach is the first to react, leaning into the pipe, reaching downward as if to grab the Sprixie in a jar before Bowser escapes. She then falls fully into the pipe, and are soon followed by the rest of the gang, and your adventure begins from there.
It's nice to see a Mario game that breaks the formula and experiments with it to see what will work, and what won't. 3D world left me with a good feeling after I had put it down, and I'm far from done with it, even after beating the game and unlocking the secret character. Already guessed it? Then go treat yourself to a cookie. Who did you guess it was? Yoshi? Daisy? Nope, neither of them. Wario? That would be interesting, actually. Nintendo, hear me out here. (after numerous distractions) nope, none of those characters. It's Rosalina, our fair haired princess from Galaxy. While I'm not very saddened about this at all, I'm honestly curious as to why they chose her of all characters. She is very nice to play as, though. She doesn't run very fast, but she jumps as high as Luigi, and has a special attack to beat up baddies when she doesn't have a powerup equipped. When used in the air, this also gives her a psuedo-double jump that can help her reach even further than Luigi. Speaking of, don't forget to keep your eye out for the numerous 8-bit Luigi's scattered throughout the levels. It is still the Year of Luigi, after all!
Alright, I think that about does it here. I can almost guarantee if nintendo would have sold this game with the WiiU instead of New Super Mario Bros U, the WiiU would definitely be selling better than it is now. The WiiU is loaded with hidden potential, as is evidenced by a few of the games recently released on it, including this one. Well, next time, I'm going to write about either Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, a game I've REALLY been looking forward to playing and writing about even before I stopped writing here, or perhaps a title from the Rune Factory series? Actually, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze is coming out soon, and my talk about Donkey Kong 64 sparked some nice conversation and discussion. Maybe I could play one of those in the meantime. The future is never clear. Ah, well. Stay beautiful, readers. Controllers and all!
No comments yet.


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Woo Hoo! PaperGirl completed her knitting, and has sent the blanket to Rennagayle in Texas. This will be our last Texas knitter, and then the blanket will be moving on to another state. Cool!
Here is the latest view of our blanket, with the knitting by PaperGirl included. She used Wool-Ease in the color "Wheat".
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
1 comment:
- Renna said...
I've always enjoyed seeing pictures of the blanket as it's made it's way along the journey, but I was somewhat taken aback by just how lovely it truly is in person. I can see this blanket bringing much comfort to it's recipient.
I'll try and get my part done quickly!
- February 27, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Q: How long does it take for my merchandise to arrive?
A: Shipping and processing may take up to 4 weeks from date of order.
Q: Where do you ship?
A: We ship anywhere in the world, with the caveat that your country might decide to hold up a package at customs. In that event, you should be notified and Electric Six is not responsible for any levies which may be imposed (though in our experience, this is very, very rare).
Q:What is your return policy?
A: In general, we do not exchange or refund purchases. However, if an item has been damaged or has been incorrectly processed, please contact us and let us know the details and we'll be happy to resolve the issue.


text: The Miles of Hope 5k and 1 mile kids' race has become a staple on the MHRRC calendar. Lori Decker, who has a heart of gold so pure you can't even put a carat rating on it, is the director. With the help of her volunteers and support of the MHRRC this is always a great race. This year they had 363 finishers in the 5K and 46 in the 1 mile. John Jay had some representation with Ryan Joyce (http://ryanjoyce21.wordpress.com/) taking off from his busy cycling and duathlon racing schedule to take second overall in the race in a time of 18:12. Kyle McCloskey, the youngest member of the running McCloskey clan finished 5th overall in 19:46. Momma Claire McCloskey finished 110th in a time of 31:21.


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Mar 28, 2018
Great course, should be a pre-requisite or additional reading to any intro data science course using Git. Straight-forward, not overly taxing to your time, and full of practical application exercises.
Feb 03, 2019
An excellent intro course to git, Bitbucket and Sourcetree. I did both the Sourcetree and CLI version. Was really good to see things done both ways. Helped to make the material stick.
83 個審閱
創建者 Rouzbeh Abadi•
Feb 20, 2019
It was very helpful course. I highly recommend it
創建者 Gaurang Sharma•
Feb 18, 2019
good to learn more
創建者 Rafael Alberto Hernandez Rivas•
Feb 12, 2019
Grade course! Even to people who already use Git in his daily basis it help to improve the Git Workflow
創建者 Kristian Lund Jensen•
Feb 07, 2019
I have used Git at work for a couple of years now. Despite this, I found some things in this course that I did not know like different Git work flows, a better understanding of the internal workings of Git, as well as other ways of merging (like squash merge). Can highly recommend this course to people who are new to Git as well as people with Git experience who never got the full Git tour. Very good lectures and assignments.
創建者 Manas Soni•
Feb 07, 2019
before taking this course i was not at all aware about how git works and what it does. after this course i am well versed with git and i functionality and how efficiently i can use git for development and project works. thank you so much for creating this course and thank you so much coursera for providing this platform to learn.
創建者 Prince Jubert III P Roldan•
Feb 05, 2019
i still need more clarity in using fetch ...
創建者 Andrew Storey•
Feb 03, 2019
An excellent intro course to git, Bitbucket and Sourcetree. I did both the Sourcetree and CLI version. Was really good to see things done both ways. Helped to make the material stick.
創建者 xun yu•
Feb 02, 2019
Great introductory course for the Git. Can help you to understand a lot of technical terms related to Git. Sometimes the instructor is a little bit faster but you can always pause the video or revisit it back. Would be great if it can linked to a real and simple project.
創建者 gurpreet•
Jan 26, 2019
創建者 Ranjit Avasarala•
Jan 23, 2019
The concepts of git are explained very well


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Tag Archives: China
Although I've seen more comfortable seats, here is a picture of an actual Chinese Mah Jongg table and stools sent to us by our dear friend Peggy; the photos were taken during her recent trip to China. This outdoor Mah Jongg table was found in the Grand Mosque in Xian, China. And, while in Shanghai, Peggy was able to watch an actual game in progress.Sounds as if Peggy had a great time on her trip to China – can't wait to get all the details and hopefully some more photos to share with you.
Sunday's edition of The New York Times had an article about the Jews in China…and guess what the paper zeroed in on…Could these be our relatives?!
To read the entire article, go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/asia/china-kaifeng-jews.html
A few days ago I was scrolling around on the Internet and came across this article from 2014 in an online newsletter (ECNS.cn) that was about Mah Jongg "expanding to every corner of the world." It sounded interesting to me so I started reading and guess what…I am quoted in several places throughout the article…who knew? Totally exciting! I must say that I got a kick out of the statement that Mah Jongg was invented in China "roughly two millennia ago." Um…instead, how about that the game was invented in China maybe a little over two hundred years ago!!!
I was catching up on Pinterest today which led me to Etsy where I found something very interesting – an opportunity to purchase an original Mahjong game by the Deshler Purchasing Agency of Shanghai from around 1923. This is not a tile set but rather, a very early version of Mah Jongg played with cards. All the regular suits, honors, winds, etc., are part of the game but they are made of paper instead of the material we usually see from sets made in China such as bone and bamboo. I found this particularly interesting because it is the Deshler set that is pictured in my new book, Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game (always happy to get in a plug for the book!):
The other day I received the following email from AOTOMO Mahjong Table Manufacturer in China. The writer, a person by the name of Frank, wanted me to "put our new design Chinese famous novel mahjong set on to your blog. Please kind find the photos attached. We will send more our mahjong products late."
I asked Frank to send more information and here is what he sent:
So, I emailed Frank again and told him I needed more information including pricing…


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Entertainment department on cruise ship
Seen: 12932
This department is responsible for organizing various activities and entertainment for the passengers on board and on shore. Jobs in this department are Cruise Director, Assistant Cruise Director, dance instructor, musician, photographer, port lecturer, instructors, dive instructor, etc.
Cruise Director is the head of entertainment, and deals with the planning and execution of all entertainment and leisure activities on board and ashore. Good communication skills and strong organizational skills are required for this position.
Assistant Cruise Director
Assistant Cruise Director assists the Director in creating the daily programs. He / she also coordinate the timing of the cruise staff, supervise and act as master of ceremonies.Thisjobis an opportunity for promotion to Cruise Direct.
Social Hostessis responsible for social activities on board. He / she acts as master of ceremonies in specific activities for entertainment, as directed by the Director of cruise. This position has the opportunity for an increase in the Cruise Director.
Cruise Staff
Cruise Staffis responsible for organizing the daily activities of passengers as golf, diving, quizzes, bingo and more. This position has the opportunity for promotion to Assistant Cruise Director.
Cruise Casino Staff
Cruise Casino Staffis responsible for managing the various activities in the casino department.
Golf Instructor
Golf Instructorteaches golf and play golf with passengers. They also work with a golf simulator on board.
PortLecturer lectures on the history and places which are interested and subject to various ports.
Disc Jockey
DJ position requires diverse knowledge and experience in music to entertain passengers, who are of different ages and have different tastes.
Dance Instructors and Singers / Musician
Dance Instructors teach passengers how to dance and perform dance during the evening shows and cabarets. Singers / Musician are responsible for the entertainment of passengers with his / her live performances.
Fitness Instructor
Fitness Instructor is responsible for exercise and sporting activities of the passengers.
Lounge Entertainers
Lounge Entertainer is responsible for entertaining the passengers on board.
The photographer is available for passengers to capture their amazing moments during the trip.
ShoreExcursion Manager
ShoreExcursion Manager is responsible for overseeing and organizing shore excursions in various ports.
Water Sports Instructor
Water Sports Instructor is responsible for planning and implementing programs for daily diving and snorkeling.
Youth Staff / Youth Activities Coordinator / Youth Counselor
He / she are responsible for organizing the daily activities of children.


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Very impressive wall at Shark reef, with large gorgonia fans, and a myriad of marine life. Lionfish
Missed Yolanda reef (seems like we were close, but missed it).
Duration: 50 minutes, maximum depth: 24.1m, average depth: 16.2m
50 dives • 174 photos
Alex did this dive on Nov 16 2012 in Sharm el Sheikh (at Shark & Yolanda Reef, Ras Mohammed), went in at 07:39, reached a maximum depth of 24.1m, and surfaced after 50 minutes.
Sharm el Sheikh, Muḩāfaz̧at Janūb Sīnā', Egypt
14.2 l/min SAC
207bar start pressure
35bar end pressure
30% oxygen


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more about me
I may not be the youngest dog here, but at 9 I've got a lot of years left. We Chihuahuas make up in longevity what we lack in size. You may see me favoring one of my back legs, but that's actually good. I had a bad hip, (like many seniors do, right?) but I had surgery and got it all fixed up. I'm still recovering, but before long it will be good as new. Even with the limp I'm getting around pretty well, but I like being held and I'm an expert cuddler and kisser, so I'm fine with that. I came here because my owner died and I really miss having a home. I would love to have another one – maybe yours.
Pet Adoption Fee:
- Puppies: $200
- Dogs: $60
- Kittens: $100
- Cats: $30
- Pay-It-Forward Pets: $175
- Pay-It-Forward Puppies: $300
The pet adoption fee includes:
Spay/neuter surgery, age appropriate vaccinations, microchip, internal and external parasite treatment, heartworm prevention, 30 days of 24PetWatch Pet Insurance, a starter bag of Heritage Ranch by H-E-B pet food and more! Fees may be different during adoption specials. Call 210-655-1481 for details or view our Calendar of Events for current specials!
Request more information about Elmer #A34563753
Sponsor Elmer #A34563753
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Track Attack Denver
April 7, 2008
Denver Lacks a velodrome, so on Good Friday we met up near the Millenium Bridge. About 30 people turned up, for matched sprints, PBR pick up, longest wheelie, best trick, and a slow race. All events where free to all comers, and they even provided free PBR.
I lost my sprint in the first heat to some one who made it to the finals. I watched some of denvers finest spin their legs off, and caught up with some old friends.
I split off for a beer run, and got back in time to roll out for the PBR pick up. Cans where laid on their side, and the rides circled around them, on "go" we moved in, and tried to grab some beer. There was some pushing for position, and i rolled up to can I like the look of, leaned over for it, and fell. I looked around,
most people had done the same and only 3 rides remained on the feild, each had a few cans, but the court was still littered with them. The winner had over ten cans tucked under his hoodie, after getting his prize we head the first one hit the ground and burst.
There where some good wheelies, and tricks, one guy spun a wheel on his head while track standing, but the highlight for me was the slow race. At the line I teamed up with the guy next to me, he had his left hand on the outside of his drops, i put my left on his stem, his right on my stem, and my right on my drops. This worked really well as we balanced the other, we were a good 3 feet behind the pack, when my partner slipped, and I went the other way.
I didn't leave with a prize, but I had a good time.
Sheldon Brown Memorial Ride Denver
March 20, 2008
Two London Courriers Hit In One Day
March 7, 2008
Earlier this week two messengers in London where hit by lorries in one day. One had his bike totally destroyed, and ended up in hospital with a foot injury. He will be out of work until he heals up.
The other was dragged by the lorry, and is recovering after 12 hours of surgery, it is doubtful he will ever ride again. I knew him, we road for the same company he was always smiling and having the time of his life, this could not have happened to a less deserving person.
Paypal donations for both couriers can be sent to bill.chidley(anti-spam replace with @)mac.com, mark all donations 'EC Donation'. Please give if you can.
Also please support the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund.
Sheldon Brown Memorial Ride London
March 7, 2008
Stolen Bike London
February 7, 2008
London is a unique city for riding, it has a great messenger scene (read its messenger zine moving target), the mayoral candidates campaign around cycling, there are posters in buss stops and on the underground encouraging people to comute by bike, and the evening papers are filled with columns on how dangerous cycling is.
London also has a huge problem with thieves, one the police ignore in favor of doing what ever it is that they do. Some london cyclests, encluding me (in exile) have decided to do something about this, we are hosting a website with a list of stolen bikes in London. We will also be posting photos and details of thieves or sellers of stolen bikes, and going to where stolen bikes are sold in an attempt to recover them. check out the project Stolen Bike London