Duke marine lab, Beaufort, NC

Ok I know it's been a while, but I am back. Firstly I am really sorry, I don't have an excuse. I am just lazy. The good news is, I did take a lot of photos. So enjoy all the updates I will try and roll of ASAP.

A few months ago we had a departmental retreat (in the form of a mini conference) to the Duke marine lab in Beaufort, NC. It was cool to get out of the lab and out of Durham and see some more coastal NC. It hit me how rich Duke actually is on this trip. We passed the UNC marine lab on the way, a 'warehouse' in moorehead city. Duke owns an island!

Here are some of my Lab group, front row left to right, Debby, Yee and Tao and Jeff and I on the back. As you can see we were doing a lot of work...

Here is the actual island and the view of Beaufort. The island to the left has wild horses on it. Behind that are the outer banks and the Atlantic. Tough life, aye?

Here is some of my department. Being the geeky engineers that we are we sat inside all day.

This is my boss playing a crazy game of pool. He was the only Professor that chatted to people other than professors and had a laugh with us. We had just finished working on my presentation that I had to give in the morning. My first real presentation. It went pretty good actually.

Here is a subtle picture of fat people on the beach.


We also visited a civil war fort, it was great. I just loved this sign.

It was a pretty cool design. Not your big ol' castle type thing.

A great view of the Atlantic too

I don't know quite why they had a cannon pointed at the wall, well it was a civil war after all...

Tough times back then

Ah NC beaches. We did work I promise.

Boone, NC

A few weeks ago a went on a 'bachelor party' or as we would call it a stag do. It was for a grad student who I work with, Andres. We went to Boone, NC. it wasn't a crazy Vegas affair, just beers and good food in the mountains. Here is Andres.

Here is Teja, who is a candidate for one of the craziest people I know. I know Rhodri! I look absolutely cream crackered as I have just driven 200 miles.

When they said in the brochure you need a 4 x 4 to get up the driveway, we were thought it would be fine. Thankfully we could walk it.

It was a little redneck but still bloody nice.


"we have to walk up that?"

The smoky mountains, part of the blue ridge mountains of the Appalachians mountains that run along the east coast.

They are also near the Great Smoky Mountains and have the characteristic haze.

I didn't take this photo as it was up a tower that was far to shaky for me to get up :(

The scenary was just fantastic

Here is a picture of the 'dudes' left to right: Teja, Randy, Andres, Hui and me looking cool (ahem)

Obviously I can't post pictures of the drinking so here are some trees.

Some scary looking ones

We also went fishing. Surprisingly caught some fish (OK it was in a fish farm), one of those bad boys is mine.

They tasted bloody good. Lemon, herbs, butter and a grill.

California: Los Angeles

Well we finally made it to LA. After 1800 miles and a lot of fun we got back to where we started in one piece. Here is a view of downtown LA from the Hollywood hills.

This is a shot of Beverly Hills. behind us was a burger van. So now we know how the rich and famous live. Well I am guessing that it was all the under paid workers...

I dread to think of how much the houses on this road cost. So much you can't even see them.

Here is the famous Hollywood sign and the infamous superman pants. Why do I do this to myself.

Here is is unspoilt

Outside the Kodiak theater they have all the foot and hand prints of the stars. Who a thought he would come back as the governor.

You can find anything in LA....

From past stars

To giant hot dog cars

And cool old cars

We stopped off at Rodeo Dr on the way back. All I could afford was a picture of this arse...

You don't see cars like this down on the high street of Dronfield.

We did have time for a big beer though

So this is the end of the California post, was it good?

California: Santa Barbara to LA

Almost done with the California photos. I have been so busy lately and the blog has suffered but I am going to make a serious effort to try and make it up. Here is the last part of our journey down the coast. Thought this was a classic.

I actually took this out of the window at a stop light. It turned out pretty nice.

You wanted superman pants. You got em. I am whole heartedly apologetic to the good people of Malibu for debasing their sign. Well maybe...

I tired to capture some real scenic beauty but didn't want to fall off the cliff.

These cars were actually being road tested and they had cloth covers on it was really strange seeing them in convoy. We had actually taken a wrong turning at the time but it was fortuitous.

A classic baywatch shot for you. Take note of the surfer in the background towards the orange flag on the left.

A not so classic baywatch moment. We got to Venice beach and literally just as we set foot on the sand this crazy fog just descended. Well I wasn't gonna let that spoil my chance to swim in the Pacific ocean.

Although the real bay watch had to be called.

Only joking it was some boating accident. I assume everything went OK as they weren't really rushing.

I just really like this photo of the playground at Venice beach

Crazy people, gotta love em.

Here is a rare photo of a freeway in LA where cars are moving and it is daylight. I spoke to Andrea about driving in LA and she said there is about an hour if you are lucky when it isn't bad in the daytime. Somehow we found that hour.