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Ace Hotel Ocean

April 9, 2014 //

ACE Hotel Ocean • WCXC

I’ve always had a thing for ocean liners: the grandness, the relaxed mode of travel, the sheer awesomeness of a vehicle as big as building. Well, it looks like I’m not the only one. Ace Hotel, purveyors of well-designed, comfortable-cool, are taking to the seas.

They announced this month on April 1st that they’ve purchased the SS United States, the last US-flagged ocean liner. The 990-foot ship was first launched in 1952 and broke the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage, making the crossing from New York to Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles, off the Cornish Coast, in a mere 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. No other ocean liner ever bested her.

The crew at Ace haven’t released a lot of details yet, save to say that the ship will set sail in 2015, which must mean the refurbishment is well under way. I can’t imagine that it will be anything less amazing.

To get yourself in the high-seas spirit, check out the film of a 1967 transatlantic ocean liner crossing which we posted a while back.

Update:
Well, I was a little late to the pick up on the joke, but the Ace Hotel was April foolin’. Still a great idea, if you ask me.

Link:
Ace Hotel Ocean
Wikipedia: SS United States

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Categories - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Spotted: Alvis Stalwart 6×6

December 17, 2013 //

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If you’re in the market for an amphibious, 6×6 off-roader, have a look at this mid-60s Alvis Stalwart. It features a 220-hp straight-eight Rolls-Royce engine, a 25,000-lb. winch, and a 12,000-lb. boom in the bed.

A few caveats before you grab your checkbook: The only way to get into this thing is through the hatches on the roof. It’s lack of a center differential means you can’t drive it on the road without destroying the transmission. And, of course, it’s British, so watch the electrics.

Another note of caution: some of these trucks had all of their swim gear removed in the 80s, while still in military service. Finding parts to rebuild those systems… let’s just say that Alvis never had much of a US dealer network.

That said, if you want a truly go-anywhere vehicle, and have the technical and financial resources to keep this 50-year-old beast running, it could be the vehicle for you.

This Alvis Stalwart is located in Puyallup, Washington, near Seattle, with an $8500 asking price.

A video about the Alvis and more pictures after the jump.

Links:
Bring a Trailer post
Craigslist ad
4wd Online, Alvis article Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Spotted:, - Trucks, - Videos, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Olga Dock, Orcas Island

October 3, 2013 //

Orcas Island, WA. West County Explorers Club
This is the dock off the little hamlet of Olga on Orcas Island, Washington. We had mail sent there general delivery because the post office is across the street from the water. That’s our boat, Carmana, at the end of the dock.

As we walked to shore we saw a sign declaring that the dock was slated for winter removal three days before. That would have meant dropping anchor in the rain. Not terrible but not exactly fun. Glad they were late. Being able to tie up to the dock just made things easy. It’s the little things…

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Categories - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, - United States, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES, — Washington

Pacific Northwest Trip: Favorite Moments

October 3, 2013 //
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Photo: Natalie Menacho

These are photos of some of my favorite moments, so far, from our trip around the San Juan and Gulf Islands this summer. Click any photo for a larger view. I hope you enjoy them. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories - Canada, - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, - United States, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES, — Washington

Sailing the PNW: Chemainus, Vancouver Island, BC

September 22, 2013 //

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OK, I may be biased, but my fiance, Natalie, writes a great blog over at The West County Bramble. She’s been doing a much better job than I have posting about our day-to-day travels.

Here’s a link to her post about our stop in the little town of Chemainus, BC, on Vancouver Island, where we happened upon a First Nations (Canadian native peoples) ceremony as well as a very well done musical. Both were quite unexpected.

The town is full of murals. Below, Natalie sneaks into the scene of one of my favorites.

In the top photo, our boat, Carmana, lies just offshore in gorgeous twilight.

Link Trail: The West County Bramble > Chemainus, Vancouver Island, BC Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories - Canada, - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES

Sailing the Pacific Northwest: Wallace Island

September 18, 2013 //

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Well, a few weeks ago we were on relatively remote Wallace Island. It’s a 200-acre silver of land in the Gulf Islands in British Columbia. It’s not on the ferry route so you have to get there of your own devices.

We stern-tied our boat, Carmana in tiny Conover Cove and had a walk around. We’d read about this place in the book Once Upon an Island, at home in West County last winter, so it was nice to finally make it up here and see it on a glorious summer day. Then, come evening, we rowed to watch the setting sun, and made something extraordinary happen… we got engaged.

You may have seen Natalie in posts of our trips or seen her photos. She’s amazing. I’m looking forward to life of adventure together. Woo-hoo!

Natalie wrote about it on her West County Bramble blog. Check out the Wallace Island post in two parts. Part 1 and Part 2.

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Categories - Canada, - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES

Spotted: Offshore Offroad

September 12, 2013 //

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Being at sea doesn’t mean you have to give up on off-road fun. This boat we spotted in Friday Harbor had their knobby-tired scooter strapped to their stern.

Of course there are other ship-to-shore options. A boat we spotted in Roche Harbor brought along its own helicopter.

Read the rest of this entry »

Categories - Motorcycles, - Ships / Boats, - Spotted:, - United States, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES, — Washington

Saltspring Island, BC

September 4, 2013 //

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Here’s more on our trip through Saltspring Island on Natalie’s blog, The West County Bramble. It’s a nice little town and a good provisioning stop in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands.

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Categories - Canada, - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES

Pacific Northwest Ferry Map

August 29, 2013 //


View Larger Map

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In case you’re traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I made a ferry map you may find useful. It shows routes for the two major ferry systems: the BC Ferry (blue routes), the Washington State Ferry (green routes), as well as the Victoria Clipper (red routes) and Coho (black route) ferries. All ferries accept cars and motorcycles, except for the Victoria Clipper, a high-speed ferry, which carries passenger only.

Seaplanes are another option. They fly pretty much everywhere. Kenmore Air is the biggest operator. NW Seaplanes is close behind. Saltspring Air flies within the Gulf Islands.

Note: the BC Ferry travels throughout British Columbia. I’m only showing their Gulf Island routes on this map. Also, if there’s anything on this map that I missed, please let me know.

Thanks!

Correction: A previous version of this map showed a Victoria Clipper route from Friday Harbor to Victoria. The route does not exist.

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Categories - Canada, - Maps, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, - United States, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES, — Washington

Sailing the Pacific Northwest

August 16, 2013 //
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Natalie walking on Turn Island near Friday Harbor.

If you’re regular reader of this blog, you may know that WCXC has taken to the water. We’re spending the summer and fall exploring the Pacific Northwest by sea. We’re sailing around the San Juan Islands in Washington State and the Gulf Islands in Canada.

I’ve gotten pretty behind in posting about the trip but my girlfriend, Natalie, has been posting about our travels on her lovely blog, The West County Bramble.

Here are some recent posts of hers you might like:

Wooden Boats! – Our trip to Seattle’s Wooden Boat Festival

Hurray for Birthdays! – We took a trip aboard the Virginia V to Bainbridge for Natalie’s birthday.

A Beautiful Sound. – We moor our boat in downtown Seattle for the afternoon, go swimming in Lake Union, then head out Bainbridge Island on our own.

I’ll post more about our trip but I hope you’ll enjoy Natalie’s post as well.

Happy travels,

Nik

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Categories - Pictures, - Ships / Boats, - Trip: Sailing the Pacific Northwest, - United States, FEATURES, MEDIA, PLACES, VEHICLES, — Washington
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