A Silver Shadow Over The World - December 2023 to May 2024

[mysty]

9 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

And mysty is probably more accurate than the official weather people!  🤣

 

When you using averages it much easier to work with.   If the data turn out to be vastly different from the average they are easily explained away as outliers!  😁

[Stumblefoot]

27 minutes ago, mysty said:

If the data turn out to be vastly different from the average they are easily explained away as outliers! 

The key to success for any weather forecaster.

[Daveywavey70]

49 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

And mysty is probably more accurate than the official weather people!  🤣

I Swear by my pine cone. I’ll happily send it on loan. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

14 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

I Swear by my pine cone. I’ll happily send it on loan. 

No need – I've got a groundhog.  If he sees his shadow, I kill him.  No more long winters!  [Joke – no groundhogs were killed in the making of this post... 🤣]

[Daveywavey70]

7 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

No need – I've got a groundhog.  If he sees his shadow, I kill him.  No more long winters!  [Joke – no groundhogs were killed in the making of this post... 🤣]

Over my head sorry. Are squirrels particularly talented at meteorology? 😁

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 minutes ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Over my head sorry. Are squirrels particularly talented at meteorology? 😁

North American-centric.

 

Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund'sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day)^[1] is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

[gnome12]

4 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

North American-centric.

 

Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund'sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day)^[1] is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

The problem for those of us further north is that six more weeks of winter IS an early spring!

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

North American-centric.

 

Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund'sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day)^[1] is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

Many thanks Host Jazzbeau. Our critters are far less proficient at predicting the weather!

[Tothesunset]

At least in Ireland forecasting the weather is simple:

 

It's either:

 

a.  Raining

b.  About to rain

c. Just stopped raining

[drron29]

I am not sure if we will be stalking this world cruise or the world cruisers will be stalking us.

Mooloolaba is very close to where we live and we should be home when the Shadow Comes a calling.

Bali. I see you are there on the 16th March. Our current plans are flying to Bali on 15th March and embarking on the Muse on the 18th.

We will be adding on a cicumnavigation of Japan about 10 days before the Shadow. We have done a cruise in japan for Cherry blossom time and that was the same time as the Muse in Southern Japan and the cherry blossoms were at nearly there peak. But up in Aomori and Hakodate they are likely to be at their peak when you are there.

[mysty]

19 minutes ago, drron29 said:

I am not sure if we will be stalking this world cruise or the world cruisers will be stalking us.

Mooloolaba is very close to where we live and we should be home when the Shadow Comes a calling.

Bali. I see you are there on the 16th March. Our current plans are flying to Bali on 15th March and embarking on the Muse on the 18th.

We will be adding on a cicumnavigation of Japan about 10 days before the Shadow. We have done a cruise in japan for Cherry blossom time and that was the same time as the Muse in Southern Japan and the cherry blossoms were at nearly there peak. But up in Aomori and Hakodate they are likely to be at their peak when you are there.

 

We met a lovely couple on our cruise in 2019 who also live near Mooloolaba.  We were told that it is sometimes difficult to access the port due to the swells.  I hope we actually get to enjoy that port.  We could meet up.  😁

We are really looking forward to visiting more of Japan.  We did see Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Tokyo in 2019.

[jpalbny]

2 hours ago, drron29 said:

Mooloolaba is very close to where we live and we should be home when the Shadow Comes a calling.

 

1 hour ago, mysty said:

I hope we actually get to enjoy that port.  We could meet up.  😁

 

Having met all 4 of you in person, I can say that you'd have a fantastic time together! Too bad we couldn't be there too for that meeting. 

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, jpalbny said:

Too bad we couldn't be there too for that meeting. 

Why not?  Plenty of time to plan a rendezvous.  
 

Oh wait. I see the problem now.  Mooloo isn’t quite as easy to reach for a long weekend like London is from Albany.

[Daveywavey70]

4 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Why not?  Plenty of time to plan a rendezvous.  
 

Oh wait. I see the problem now.  Mooloo isn’t quite as easy to reach for a long weekend like London is from Albany.

No direct flights?

[rojaan19]

7 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Why not?  Plenty of time to plan a rendezvous.  
 

Oh wait. I see the problem now.  Mooloo isn’t quite as easy to reach for a long weekend like London is from Albany.

EASY PEASY =

 

ABY - JFK - LAX - SYD - MCY   😄

[mysty]

8 minutes ago, rojaan19 said:

EASY PEASY =

 

ABY - JFK - LAX - SYD - MCY   😄

 

You are indeed a problem solver rojaan! 😁

[jpalbny]

1 hour ago, rojaan19 said:

EASY PEASY =

 

ABY - JFK - LAX - SYD - MCY   😄

 

54 minutes ago, mysty said:

 

You are indeed a problem solver rojaan! 😁

 

Sorry rojaan, we're at ALB, not ABY. And there are no flights from ALB-JFK! We usually drive there (about 3h) when we fly out of Kennedy. So JFK-LAX-SYD-MCY?

[drron29]

JP I can find ALB-ATL-LAX -SYD all on Delta from their website. Unfortunately they no longer have a codeshare SYD -MCY on Virgin Australia.

 

Also a slight problem that it would require 40 hours each way which does exclude a long weekend trip.

[Host Jazzbeau]

48 minutes ago, drron29 said:

JP I can find ALB-ATL-LAX -SYD all on Delta from their website. Unfortunately they no longer have a codeshare SYD -MCY on Virgin Australia.

 

Also a slight problem that it would require 40 hours each way which does exclude a long weekend trip.

Actually it IS a weekend trip – one way!

[chrism23]

On 1/3/2023 at 12:32 PM, mysty said:

I  am very fortunate to actually enjoy the packing process.  😅

Mysty. you maybe the only person in the world that enjoys the packing process. I pack, then I have to leave the house for hours when my wife starts packing,  (easy during golf season, not so now) because she fills every nook and cranny of every suitcase and carry on.  It is astounding at what she can fit.  I have said to her several times,  'look it, anything you don't use on this trip we leave out next time"  No such luck.  We have schlepped stuff all over the world we (she) has never used.   I have just started packing, we leave on the 20th.  And I already hate it. 😎 

[Daveywavey70]

Maybe take 2 long weekends? One flying out on the Friday, the next flying back the following Friday and break them up with a mini break? 

[mysty]

Your wife and I may share the packing superpower.  😅  There is not much "free" space in the luggage when the packing is finished.  JP and Chris also have this superpower but at the PHD level.  I'm hoping to learn from them.

[mysty]

I have most of our excursions booked for the leaky pipe dream cruises.  There are a few ports where the excursions are not yet available to book.  Those in the 3 ports in the Hawaiian Islands, Apia in Samoa and Newcastle in Australia have not appeared yet.

 

The "Select" excursions are a little more pricey than I remember.  We have chosen on in Tokyo that we are very excited about.  It will run us $399 USD per person.  Here is the description.....

 

TEPPANYAKI DINNER

At a local restaurant enjoy a Japanese Meal "Teppanyaki". Teppanyaki is a modern style of Japanese cuisine based around an open iron cooktop, where the food is grilled right in front of you. You will enjoy Japanese Kuroge Wagyu beef with seasonal vegetables accompanied by local wine.

 

Wagyu is a type of high-quality beef produced within Japan. The name wagyu translates simply to "Japanese beef", but this does not mean that all beef from Japan is considered wagyu. This is because true wagyu beef must come from the following four Japanese breeds of cow: Japanese Black, Japanese Polled, Japanese Brown, and Japanese Shorthorn, or a mix of these breeds. By far the most common breed is the Japanese Black, called "kuroge wagyu" in Japanese. True wagyu must also be born and raised in Japan, and for authenticity and safety, must be registered in an official tracking system that both the industry and public can access.

 

After dinner you will drive back to pier around the Tokyo Metropolitan Area to enjoy night views from the coach.

[rojaan19]

Hi Mysty,  you really are going to  places we really know well !!   We lived in the Hunter Valley for 20 years  before moving north to  the Sunshine Coast ( Queensland) !  These websites might help you choose a tour.

https://www.australia.com/en/places/sydney-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-hunter-valley.html

 

https://www.getyourguide.com/newcastle-australia-l91223/

 

https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/

 

https://www.australia.com/en/places.html

 

https://www.australia.com/en/places/brisbane-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-sunshine-coast.html

[mysty]

13 minutes ago, rojaan19 said:

Hi Mysty,  you really are going to  places we really know well !!   We lived in the Hunter Valley for 20 years  before moving north to  the Sunshine Coast ( Queensland) !  These websites might help you choose a tour.

https://www.australia.com/en/places/sydney-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-hunter-valley.html

 

https://www.getyourguide.com/newcastle-australia-l91223/

 

https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/

 

https://www.australia.com/en/places.html

 

https://www.australia.com/en/places/brisbane-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-sunshine-coast.html

 

Thank you rojann!!!  We were there in 2016 and enjoyed a visit to the Margan winery for tastings and a fabulous lunch.   I'll definitely investigate your suggestions and I really appreciate the time you invested in providing them! 🥰