Google Earth

This image shows a weather satellite image overlain on Google Earth along with the projected path of the storm. Google Earth is an incredibly powerful geographic display tool. If you do not have it on your PC you MUST get it as soon as possible.


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Weather

Looks like my travel blog has turned into a weather blog. We just had a power outage but it is back on now. Bands of rain and wind continue to sweep through as the effects of Dennis are being felt here in West Palm Beach. Here is a snap of the weather radar from Miami grabbed from Wunderground.com


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Dennis

Bands of heavy rain are sweeping through our area. They are connected with the feeder bands for Dennis. We lost power about thirty minutes ago and I am posting this using my laptop connected through my cell phone. The forecast for Red Bay, Al does not look good. I think we made the right decision to stay put. Here is the forecast for them:

LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-LINCOLN-MADISON-MARSHALL-MOORE-MORGAN- 500 AM CDT SAT JUL 9 2005 ...IMPACTS FROM HURRICANE DENNIS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS TENNESSEE VALLEY SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY... HURRICANE DENNIS WILL APPROACH THE GULF COAST ON SUNDAY. DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ALABAMA GULF COAST OR WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK THEN MOVES DENNIS NORTHWEST ALONG THE ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI BORDER ON MONDAY MORNING AND INTO NORTH MISSISSIPPI BY BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE FIRST RAIN BANDS FROM DENNIS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY BY LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY AS THE SYSTEM MOVES NORTHWARD. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE RANGE OF ONE INCH ACROSS SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE TO UP TO THREE INCHES ACROSS CULLMAN COUNTY WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT. NORTHEAST ALABAMA MAY ALSO SEE HEAVIER RAINFALL DUE TO THE HIGHER TERRAIN. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED DURING THE DAY MONDAY...WITH FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING BECOMING POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE SYSTEM. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH EXPECTED. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY MONDAY. STRONGER WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHEST TERRAIN OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA AND SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE...WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE. AS WITH ALL LAND FALLING TROPICAL SYSTEMS...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY. CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS WITH THE EXACT TRACK OF HURRICANE DENNIS. ANY SHIFT TO THE PATH WILL RESULT IN VARYING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND RESULTANT WEATHER THREATS.

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Definite Delay

Look at the model projections from the National Hurricane Center. Click on the small image at the left to make it larger. These projections along with the fact that Dennis is growing into a major hurricane and the forecast is for him to strengthen further, we are delaying the start of our trip. We think it prudent to give Dennis the right of way here. Since our first stop is in Red Bay, Alabama to visit the factory that built the Mothership this makes sense to us. We doubt that they would be working on our RV in the middle of a major hurricane. We don't like camping in hurricanes either. We decided to give it a day or so to make sure that it does not deviate drastically to the right. We would not like to be up in Northern Florida and then have it turn to the right.

Now we have time to review our check lists. Do some more detailed preparations. Bob also needs to rest from the two days of intense work he has done packing the RV, putting up hurricane shutters, and doing last minute yard work. Maybe this is a good thing to let us take deep breath and fine tune our preparations.


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Complications

Tropical Storm Dennis, soon to be a hurricane, looks like he also wants to go to Red Bay, Alabama. Hmmm, what to do? We sure do not want to arrive there and then have a hurricane hit. The discussion from the NHC is forecasting that Dennis will become a major hurricane and strike the central Gulf of Mexico. We may have to wait until he goes through. We can always start up that way and get within a couple of days drive and then see what happens. It is always interesting this time of year in Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Click Here for Overall Route Map.

Continued Preparations

Well, we have two tropical storms brewing in the Carribean. One, Cindy,
appears to be headed for Louisiana and is expected to make landfall in
that area. The other, still tropical depression 4 I think, is also
forecast to head into the Gulf of Mexico. I have ten of the nineteen
windows in our house shuttered. Our plan, since we are in hurricane
season, is to have all of the shutters up when we leave. It looks like
the hurricane guessing game has already begun. This might be a good
time to head out of Florida. We are still looking at a Thursday
departure with Red Bay, Alabama our first goal.

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Preparations Continue

We continue our preparations for the trip. Many people think it is just a matter of hopping in the RV and going when you feel like it. For a short trip this might be about right but for an extended one there are many things that have to be taken care of prior to departure. Prescription medications must be ordered, bills payed, laundry must be done, and then there is an entire category of things relating to the RV. It must be fueled with both gasoline, propane, and water. Tire pressures must be checked. Oil levels and engine fluids must be checked. We even took the car, the Escape Pod (PT Cruiser), in for servicing last week just to be sure it is up to speed. Also, all those little things from the last trip that should have been worked on while in port must be taken care of. A loose towel rack, installation of sun shades, various adjustments and tweaks; all of those must be done before departure. Finally, hurricane shutters must be put in place on the house just in case one of those bad boys blows through town. Now that we are retired doing these things is almost fun since it can be done a little at a time. The trip is really beginning to seem like a reality now. The last few days before departure are always a time of increased excitement, anticipation, and a bit of anxiety thrown in for good measure.

Click Here for Overall Route Map.

Travel Maps

I am going to maintain this blog as much as possible while we are on our vacation trip. Right now it looks as though next Thursday is our departure date. Our first goal is Red Bay, Alabama where we will get some repairs done on the motorhome. While on the road I plan on posting location maps like this one to let everyone know exactly where we are. You can click on the small map to the left to view a larger one or use this link to view the map in a version that will allow you to zoom in or out.

Vacation Preparation

We are planning a trip right after the Fourth of July holiday. There is a surge of vacationers on the road at that time and so we will delay our departure until they are done with their vacation thrashing. Our planning right now consists of a known stop in Red Bay, Alabama for some warranty repairs to the Mothership windshield. Other than that all I can say is that we have our Canada Inter Province Insurance Cards and all safety equipment required in Canada. We both have always wanted to see the Canadian Rockies and that is one of our goals. We have been watching the temperatures in Banff, Alberta daily and they are still pretty chilly there. I think we are both a little tired of the constant rain and heat and just need a change of scenery. All we know at this time is that we plan on being back home in August sometime. It could be sooner or it could be later depending on how we feel. We both enjoy being on the road in the Mothership as anyone who reads this Blog knows. So, in the weeks to come stay tuned for updates on our adventures on the road. We will be posting links as we have above to our present locations using http://maps.google.com/ . As you can see from this link, overall route, this is quite an ambitious voyage but with six weeks it should be doable. Also, if we don't get to cover the total distance we will still have had a great time.

New Project

I have been heavily involved in a flight simulator scenery development project lately. It has been great fun and involves a lot of what I learned working in both the IT field and in Geography. I am working with a virtual team to develop accurate flight simulator scenery for the State of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico coast over to New Orleans. You can read more at the website I created at http://fs-freeflow.com . The interesting things is that we received an unexpected bonus from a benefactor in Tasmania who donated a server to our project. He manages a website called http://FS-Shipyards.com/ that specializes in marine craft and scenery for flight simulator. To add an additional international flavor to the mix, the server is located in Denmark. Very interesting. So, if you want to learn more about the project just visit the site http://fs-freeflow.com/ .

We are using two software packages on the site, both of them freeware, SMF, Simple Machines Forum, and MKPortal, an interesting package that wraps itself around the forum. It is very configurable and I am strongly considering switching this site over to that configuration as well.

Cute Photo

This is the cutest photo of Kaitlyn our granddaughter. I took it during her visit on Jaunary 20, 2005. She had the best time playing with this cardboard box. Her favorite thing was to get in it and pull the flaps down closing herself up inside and then popping up like a Jack-In-The-Box.

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Aerosoft DHC-2

Misty Fjords Fly By
Originally uploaded by rbrown3rd.

This is a screen shot of my De Havilland DHC-2, Beaver, in Flight Simulator 2004. This is one of the most famous bush planes ever built. The civilian version DHC-2 Beaver was was manufactured by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Ltd. from 1948 to 1969. The MKI is the mostly spread version witha 450 SHP Pratt & Whitney R985. Alternatively a MKII was developed with 550 SHP Alvis Leonides 502/4 engine. Later the less common PT6A6 turboprop powerd Beaver was built between 1964 to 1969. In total almost 1700 plans were built and many of them are beautifully restored and service for tourist flights,transportation and fun all around the world. If you have seen the movie, "Never Cry Wolf," you will remember a very decrepit old Beaver that was used to carry the main character Tyler into the wilderness for his wolf studies. That one was patched with bailing wire and plywood and was still flying. It is a tough and reliable airplane that Aerosoft has modelled very well for FS2004.

Project Warn

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation
It is ironic that Sir Arthur C. Clarke through his foundation has been involved in Project Warn for some time. The Project was planning a simulation test of a warning and disaster response system relating to a major Tsunami in 2005. Clearly, Sir Arthur Clarke is using his intellect and the wealth he has acquired through his books to approach major humanitarian issues using technology.

Tsunami news from Sir Arthur C. Clarke

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation

Tsunami Help Site

The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami

Tsunami Blog

WorldChanging: Another World Is Here

Tsunami blogs

Sumankumar's yak pad

Tsunami Blogs

Extra Extra

Plasma TVs on the way out?

News The subject line says it all. Read this article about Sony's plans to withdraw from plasma tv manufacturing.

Neat technology combination

This is pretty neat. A digital recorder that you can speak into and then hook to your computer where your recorded lectures or stories are converted to text files. Very neat.