...and the most fantastic 188 miles I've ever done, a trip that should be on everybody's bucket list. Even if we did stay dry for most of the 3 weeks in the US water was the theme of the trip - what could then be a better travel companion than the AT Deep Two (hereafter called the D2)!
But let's start with the beginning (btw, all comments are above each picture):
We arrived safely in Los Angeles on June 20
Then headed south to our first destination
Being 100 years ago since the Titanic disaster we wanted to try and experience the life aboard one of those famous ocean liners - so we spent a couple of days aboard the Queen Mary
And the D2 even got to climb aboard a real Russian submarine!
The Queen herself
Our room with a view - small and old but I bet very fine in 1930!
QM being built in Ireland in the early 1930s, she was only possible with a major loan from the britsh Government during the depression, with a condition that forced the White Star Line (the Titanic owners) and their major competitor the Cunard Line, to merge!
Arriving in New York after setting a new speed record across the Atlantic - that was since broken but she still holds two records: Most transatlantic crossing before ending up in Long Beach in 1967, and carrying the most passangers across the Atlantic in one trip as a troop ship during WW2 with more than 16.000 people (normally she would carry a little over 2000 passengers and a crew of 800)
Moi keeping time on the promenade deck
The main shopping area really shows the difference from the Victorian Luxury of the Titanic, the QM is designed in beautiful Art Deco style throughout, including the cabins
The ship is biiig, and gigantic for its time of course, at more than 1000 feet long, 120 feet wide and 11 stories she is almost twice the tonnage of the Titanic - so after walking around for a bit, a little relaxing on the sundeck catching a few Southern California rays was good!
Then we headed for the heart of the ship - not exactly small watch gears and machines down here
But plenty of dials
And not exactly a small Spitfire propellor, but very impressive I must say
Anita trying the WW2 bunks, some of them slept in the engine room would you believe!
I felt more comfortable at the helm :-)
By 1930 they had learned the lifeboat lesson of course
And if you thought those funnels didn't look that big, think again
Time for a drink in the Observation Deck bar, just below the bridge - what a view it must have been from here on the way across the Atlantic
We had dinner aboard in Sir Winston's, probably the best steak we've had in many years
Great food, great views of Long Beach and of course the best company :-)
Sunset over the bow
We like to live dangerously, Anita waiting impatiently on a torpedo for the submarine to open...
Looks big on the outside, but I can tell you it is not big on the inside...
Torpedo tubes anyone?
Did we not talk about and show off luminos dials a littlw while ago?
Not easy moving around
This is the last crew aboard, imagine being that guy in the middle and working here!
Anita scouting for enemies
I like the wall decoration
I could not believe how many dials, gauges, valves etc. they had crammed into this machine . there must be 27 billiion little things that could go wrong in here!
At least you could see what was wrong even if they lost all power
After the submarine we hit the road and after a quick pitstop at one of my favorite fast food restaurants...
...we arrive in Las Vegas, enjoying a little more space at The Venetian
The first night we saw one my wife's favourites
And then we focused on some of my favourites
Even if I did not buy anything spending some time there still became expensive as Anite found other things to do
How could I recuperate? Well, my favourite desert in the whole world, the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory did exactly that (and the D2 almost got a bite:-))
Vegas is a sight at night
Ok my friends that was part one of the journey, time for other Sunday activities - please check back later when the real adventure begins... (and more IWC pictures, promise!)
