Why We Travel

Dancing by Matt Harding. This is the best video on youtube, period. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, then your name must be Dick Cheney.

Go to Matt's website to see his two previous videos.

CKY

Welcome Shoppers!

On our way to Fairbanks, Alaska, we stopped in Delta Junction for a break. I went into the local grocery store, an IGA Food Cache, for some warmth and to use the john. Imagine my surprise when the first thing I saw upon entering was this 8'10", 1400 pound Kodiak brown bear. Unfortunately, the owner reclaimed it and moved it to his sporting goods store in Wasilla, Alaska.


The trophy's owner was injured by this bear back in 1977. I guess he showed it who's boss.

CKY

Yukon License Plates

I spent some of this long weekend doing research on the Great White North. It relates to the trip I took last year to the Arctic. One focus, of course, will be on the Alaska Highway. Something I had a lot of time doing on my trip was looking at license plates. The plates of the Yukon Territory say a lot about the people, their heritage, and how their view of themselves have evolved over the second half of the 20th century.

1950s Land of the Midnight Sun

1960s More Compact Land of the Midnight Sun

1970s Home of the Klondike

1980s Just "The Klondike"

1990s "The Klondike" In Color

Thanks to woody1778a for these great shots.

CKY

4th of July Road Trip Via Youtube

I am going on hiatus for the rest of the week. In the mean time, exercise American Independence from foreign oil by watching these car-related youtube videos.

Group B Tribute



Magnum, P.I. Opening Credits



Top Gear Porsche Challenge



E30 M3 Police Chase

CKY

Alfa 159 > Aston Martin DBS

The official Quantum of Solace trailer came out today. As we already know, the primary car chase scene involves Alfa 159s versus Bond's DBS. As I've asserted before, the 159 is one of the most beautiful contemporary cars out there. In my opinion, it is far sexier than the more exotic and coveted Aston Martin DBS. Am I nuts?

CKY

Art in Motion: Ferrari 412

A Ferrari 412 in Kortrijk, Belgium. Bellissima!

CKY

Ferrari 612 Scagliettis in Xinjiang

Back in 2005, Ferrari promoted its presence in China by inviting journalists to drive a pair of 612 Scagliettis 15,000 miles around China. Part of the journey included Kashgar and crossing the Taklamakan. Modifications were minimal-- larger fuel tank, easily accessible fuel filter, skid plate, higher ground clearance, grill covered headlights, higher air intakes for water crossings.

The scenery was stunning. The Ferraris, out of place.






CKY

The Living Daylights (1987) Chase Three

This is a "follow". General Pushkin and his girlfriend Rubavitch leave a North African Trade Convention in Tangiers. They get in a black Mercedes limo. There is a similar black limo carrying his entourage.


Bond follows the two Mercedes in his Audi wagon to the Hotel Ile de France, where Pushkin is staying.


CKY

The Living Daylights (1987) Chase Two

Bond and Kara are in the mountains of Czechoslovakia in his Aston Martin V8. A Lada police car starts the chase. Bond uses a laser beam shooting out of his car's wheel hub to slice the Lada's frame from its body.


A roadblock is set up with a MAN tractor trailer. Three Lada police cars are with the MAN. Bond blows up the trailer with missiles hidden behind his fog lamps.


An army tracked vehicle and an APC join the Lada police cars. Bond drives onto a frozen lake. At first, his moving car is stuck inside a wooden shed. The army guys shoot him with AKs, big machine guns, and RPGs.


Bond's driver's side front tire blows. He uses the sharp edge of the rim to cut a big circle in the ice. A Lada stops in the circle and sinks. Bond then deploys outriggers and studded tires. He fires a rocket hidden behind his rear license plate for the getaway. He and Kara crash into a snowbank and flee on foot. He sets his Aston for self-destruct.

CKY

The Living Daylights (1987) Chase One

The one-car chase. Bond is in Gibraltar. The assassin drives away in a stolen British army Rover. Bond jumps onto the soft top roof.


The assassin does everything to throw Bond off, including shooting through the roof with his silencer-equipped pistol. During this "chase", the Rover runs over a guard. Another guard shoots the back of the Rover, igniting the boxes of explosives it is carrying.


The interior is filled with smoke. 007 cuts the roof and gets in. The Rover crashes through a souvenir shop, some tables and chairs, and sideswipes a car or two. It hits a brick wall and flies over a cliff. Bond gets out with his parachute. The assassin doesn't and the Rover explodes before it hits the water. Bond lands on a yacht.


CKY