Vagabond Jim

 SFO The last few times I've returned from Asia I have made the 200 mile drive final stage the same day as landing.  Even in daytime is was a bit wobbly. So, the smart play is to just stay here overnight. Bro will pick me up tomorrow and I'll lollygag home at that point. Long trip but I slept most of KUL-HKG and HKG-SFO. Two servings of Dad Dan noodles in HKIA made me smile. An Ambien on the plane was a good investment. Return stress (spending $5 on a bottle of apple juice!!!) has me emotionally exhausted - bed time.

Last full day with an early departure tomorrow.  Yes, I took a valium.  Nightmares of western life, literally, last night had me jittery as hell this morning. I have decided that "Stumpy" is a lousy name.  The stick in the mud is my pal.  And in Spanish a stick is a Palo.  So, reading books written in the 60's leads me to label it Pal-o.  Hey, Pal-o, let's go rob a bank... It's there, just a bit overwhelmed.  But the ripples are reassuring. I can relate. What else...? I'd like to report on the amazing lightning show last night.  But the windows were fogged (20C inside, 25C outside with 100% rH.  Bright, sudden, and very diffuse light.  I pulled the blackout curtains closed. Last really breakfast had to be at auntie's tin hut: So good, of course.  $1.25 So, some more random shots. Merbull? Bullshark! Seen around town. Future home 2nd "Tower" from right.   "10th" floor but floor counting is weird here {Ground, 1, 2, 3, 3a,.....

Drank caffeine in the PM thinking I'd stay awake to watch F1 at 2300.  Nope. It turned very stormy as the sunset.  Very unusual sense to it.  So, I had to click... I've decided on "Stubby" (for tonight).  I'm really happy with this one. It captured the moment of reflection I hoped for. Why can I not find a version of Stormy Weather by Ricki Lee Jones.  I'm sure she covered it.  "Autumn Leaves" is not the right mood or title, tonight.

A pilot is generally required (by law) to bring a ship in or out of port.  Everywhere.  Miri is no exception.  Miri has a small river mouth, shifty winds, a tight channel, and some seriously difficult turns for the big girls.  Be they long or tall, they're gonna need help getting to and from a berth. Yesterday, it was a barge.  Today it was a working ship - some type of platform for laying cable or providing surface support for underwater work.  She has massive freeboard up front.  That means the wind will push her bow hard.  So, like the barge, she needs tugs to assist.  The Cassandra VI is an Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel The Master of the vessel is absolutely responsible for its safety.  The pilot gives directions but the Master retains the final say.  In this case, it's not just comms between the Master and the pilot.  2 Tug captains - not even on the vessel - need to be in the loop. 4 skilled mariners to move a single...

Booked some travel yesterday. [MH = Malaysia Airlines; CX = Cathay Pacific Airlines; KL = KUL = KLIA =  Kuala Lumpur; HKG = HKIA = Hong Kong; MYY = Miri; L52 is an airport within 3 miles of home Oceano Airport. ] Based on the apartment being available on 15MAY25, here's the plan: Tuesday 15APR25 depart Miri at 0800 to KL via MH (not Firefly)*.   Transfer to CX, connect in HKG, onward to SFO.   Arrive SFO at 1730 local (Still 15APR25) Then 3 weeks of misery and mess.  Clean, pack, distribute, etc. Monday 12MAY25 depart SFO on CX. Transfer at HKG Wednesday 14MAY25 KL 1245 local Connection onward to MYY is TBD.  But I'll plan that soon too. It looks like this .  Would anyone care for a brief exposition on why the shortest ways are usually arcs and not straight lines?  If you want one without my added commentary: The Rhumb is Dumb   (ok, the title is my commentary...) Just like the MH FlyPass for intraBorneo (Zone 1), I bought 6 pre-paid leg...

The Miri Marathon has been run. I saw lots of build up.  Newspaper stuff about street closings.  Chery, a Chinese car maker, had demos in front of the hotel (good looking cars.)  The runners swarmed the hotel like a colony of ants as registration was here.  Cars parked in traffic lanes not for lack of parking places, just convenience. And, today, the place is back to normal The race has been run.  They started at 0200 this morning (Sun. 13APR25 here).  There is absolutely no sign it took place on the streets.  I woke a few times during the night.  Checked out the window - never saw a thing.  (Checked on the Kings too - sorry, Visible...nah, not sorry. 😀)   Amazing.

 

 Not because I'm getting money back. No, I owed more than I ever have. Rather, I got to watch this as I was grinding my teeth (I cannot get them to arrange properly; they're best viewed from top to bottom.) That was an amazing amount of work and skill.