I'm Back. Didja Miss Me? ;-)

[David Meek]

Hi gang, well I'm back! "Have you been gone?" do you say? Yes, actually I have been MIA while I relocated from the green flatness of West Houston, TX to the green hills and coastline of Deer Harbor, WA. Yep, I'm now a Washingtonian (is that a word?). Gonna have to learn a whole new accent now. Erik 'n Chris, anything you can tell a newbie?

I'll be "seeing" ya. . . .




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[Burke Strickland]

Glad you survived the move. Texas' loss is Washington's gain. Just one question. What's George going to call you now? "Wash"? :>)

Burke

[David Meek]

Oh, I hope not. in best Desi Arnaz voice

Tex'll still work. I've already met 3 other couples on Orcas that are formerly from Houston, and there are so many ex-Texans that there's an annual "Texas" party - go figure.

Ooh, gotta go change the profile though.




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[David Meek]

Okay, that's better. :B

[Chris D]

Welcome back, David! :later: Hmmm... I'm a transplant to Washington myself, and will always consider Colorado my home state. First thing that comes to mind is that it doesn't rain ANYTHING like people assume here in the Seattle area. It's actually quite dry and nice most of the time, but you probably already know that!




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[Burke Strickland]

David -

I got your email, but when I tried to respond via return email, I got a "User unknown" fatal error from your ISP. Strange, since they seemed to know who you were when you sent your note. :>)

Burke

[George Bellefontaine]

Welcome home, Tex. Yup, you're still Tex to me, pardner. :LOL: I hope you and your family enjoy your new abode on the Westcoast.

Okay, so where's the new movie review ?




My Homepage!

[Lex]

George, he's such a slacker, he probably hasn't even watched a movie lately. I might just fire his piddly butt. That or just smack it. :LOL: :smackbutt:

Heck, he now has to leave an island to go to a theater probably, lol.

Lex

[Andrew Pratt]

Cool so did you retire to the new house on the island or will you be doing carpentry?

[Burke Strickland]

did you retire to the new house on the island or will you be doing carpentry?

Either way, he'll be "sawing logs". :>)

Burke

[David Meek]

Burke, the suffix should be @centurytel.net. Oops. ops:

Andrew, I wish I was retired, but not for a few (several) more years. :yesnod: I'm building/re-modeling houses, and it's just too much fun - seriously. Corporate life had turned into a prison and wasn't a career or job any more.

Chris, you are so right about the rain, or lack of. Especially up here in the "banana belt". Oh wait, the contract I had to sign to move up here forces me to say "Jeez, the weather sucks. Rain all the time, clouds, no sun. It's depressing, you should all stay home." Hehe.




David - HTGuide flunky
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[David Meek]

Oooh, I'm gonna get spaaanked! Come on big boy, who's your daddy. . . . Oh, wait we aren't in the Moderator's Chalet are we? :twisted:




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Lex]

lol David. Hey, I still dunno if your getting email. I changed your PW, I hope you got that message and I didn't mess you up. I thought from your original message that you messed up the pw. let me know via email if your still messed up. I could call you if necessary.

please email me to confirm you got the message.

thanks,
Doug

[Chris D]

Heheeee... yeah, I think Washingtonians deliberately let the rest of the country believe that it's constantly wet and miserable here to avoid having too many people move here.

David, I was trying to find your E-mail address. Could you fire me an E-mail at my contact below? Got a question for ya.




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[John Holmes]

;b>'> arty: :nos: :td: :td:

Hehehe, Welcome back David!!!

I'm glad that all went well with your move. I used to live in the Spanaway and Federal Way areas there. Pretty country for sure.

How do you like those floating bridges???




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[David Meek]

Floating bridges? Ya' mean the ferry system?




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[John Holmes]

Hehehehe, No, not the ferry system! Between interstate 5 and 405 in Seattle, there is a bridge that that literally "floats" on the water. It is pretty amazing. Especially when you cross it and you feel as if you can touch the water b/c it's so close. And when the area gets high winds, the fun really starts. IMO, it is as exciting to see as is the Space Needle!




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[David Meek]

Okay John, now I've got to go see this thing. Sounds pretty cool - in a "I hope this holds up while I'm on it" kind of way.

P.S. Do you know what the road name is?




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Chris D]

David, could you E-mail me at my address link below? I can't send you one, and I have a question.




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[David Meek]

Chris, check your e-mail.

Mine should be working now, FWIW.




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Lex]

I've got a civil engineer buddy I will have to tell about that one. Should have him scratching his head pretty good. Floating bridge, huh?

Lex

[Burke Strickland]

Floating bridge, huh?

Yep -- floating bridge made of concrete.


In fact. Seattle has more than one, including the world's longest. They've worked so well, they're planning another one that will cost about $6 billion US to replace one that has been in use for 40 years. http://www.construction.com/NewsCent.../20020930k.asp.

Gives the lie to the old joke about trying to build a concrete rowboat. :>) (Of course, the rowboat didn't have pontoons, which are what keeps the bridge afloat.) I've driven across the floating bridge on Lake Washington (that area is full of original names) :>) and on a calm day, it's about like driving across any other bridge that's 1/2" above the water. :>) With a little wind, you don't need a car wash; the waves can splash your car CLEAN. :>) (But if you want "scary" on a windy day, try driving the I-45 elevated causeway from the Texas mainland to Galveston Island in a motorhome.) :>)

Burke

[aud19]

I guess there isn't a lot of boat traffic....?

Jason




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[David Meek]

Oh yeah, there's tons of boat traffic. The Washington State ferries have an entire group of ferries dedicated to the Anacortes-to-San Juans-and-back run. It's primarily a run to all 4 "main" islands in the San Juans - Orcas (where I am), San Juan, Lopez and Shaw. These are big ferries holding around 200 autos/semis/trailers on each. Alhough, on the "winter schedule", there are only 4 available trips to/from the mainland (Anacortes) a day. Then there are billions (well, it seems like it) of private boats, but I don't have one yet.

Here's a drawing of the Wenatchee - one of the ferries of "our" group.



Here's some more info on it.

1. Vessel Information
   Class: Jumbo Mark II Class
   Type: Auto/Passenger Ferry
   Length: 460' 2''
   Engines: 4
   Beam: 90'
   Horsepower: 13,200
   Draft: 17' 3''
   Speed in Knots: 18
   Max Passengers: 2500
   Propulsion: Diesel-Electric(AC)
   Max Vehicles: 218
   Gross Net Tonnage: ?
   Max Commercial Vehicles: 60
   City Built: Seattle, WA
   Auto Deck Clearance: 15' 4"
   Year Built/Re-built: 1998 (UC)
   Meaning of Wenatchee: From the Yakima word wenatchi for "river flowing from canyon." When Lewis and Clark traveled through the Columbia River valley in 1803-1805, they mentioned the word Wenatchee in their journal, hearing of the river and the tribe living along its banks. A city, lake, river, and national forest are also named after the tribe.

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[aud19]

I was actually making a smart ass comment about boat traffic through the bridges...lol

aaaaah my humour is lost on forums...lol

Jason




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[Burke Strickland]

I guess there isn't a lot of boat traffic....?

I was actually making a smart ass comment about boat traffic through the bridges...lol

If it is any consolation, I got a good laugh out of it. But since you asked... :>) actually they use guide rollers -- giant cylinders that retract pontoons -- to open the bridge for boat traffic .

aaaaah my humour is lost on forums...lol

I guess forum readers need to catch your act at The Laff Stop, where we can see your facial expressions and hear your tone of voice and throw things at the stage? :>)

[David Meek]

Ooops. ops: Sorry Jason. I sort of lost the flow of the thread for a bit. D'oh.

For some reason these ferries fascinate me. . . .




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[aud19]

I guess forum readers need to catch your act at The Laff Stop, where we can see your facial expressions and hear your tone of voice and throw things at the stage?

Actually I do the act in the kitchen of my home and it usually amuses my girlfriend and step-daughter

...Though they do sometimes throw things.... :? ...lol

Ooops. ops: Sorry Jason

No worries...I can take a tough room :P

Jason




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[John Holmes]

Sorry David, I've been off the air for a bit.

I don't recall the name but, i'm sure they will be very easy to find by just asking.

Great job Burke on posting the info on them! And you are so right about the car wash. h:




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's