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Trip Reports Deal of the Day! Travel Tips Place Reviews News Aeroplane News Airline News My Musings Under Rated Spokane -16 Top Things for a Great Visit May 9, 2024 by Martin J Cowling 2 Comments Spokane: the city where half the people mispronounce it, and the other half can’t find it on a map. It’s located in eastern Washington and has a rich history in railroads and mining, along with a vibrant arts scene and stunning natural landscapes. With the Spokane River winding through the city, it combines historic architecture with contemporary development, creating a unique and intriguing place to explore. Home to 233,000, the city flies under the radar as a tourist destination. Yet, I have immensely enjoyed my visits there. It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts,… Continue Reading » Posted in Place Reviews (Thursday) Tagged Bloomsday , Bloomsday Run , CHARITY , CommunityEvent , Doomsday Hill , Endurance , Fitness , Fundraising , Inspiration , KeepRunning , Marathon , NeverGiveUp , RaceDay , RunForACause , Running Stranded? What To Do When Your Airline Collapses May 9, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment Question: How do you create a small airline?” Answer: Buy a big one and wait for a couple of years.” Boom boom! The airline industry is very volatile, as many thousands find out every year. I have flown 125 airlines since 1968. Of those, 41 do not exist anymore. Names such as Air Berlin, Alitalia, Ansett, Malev, and Pan Am no longer grace the skies. This year: Last year, we saw the demise of Aeromar, Air Moldova, Flybe, Flyr, Go First, MYAirways, Niceair, and Viva (full list and background information at link). If you or… Continue Reading » Posted in Airline News (Friday) , Travel Tips (Monday) , Weird or Wonderful Tagged Air Vanuatu , AirlineBankruptcy , AirlineCollapse , AirlineFail , AlternativeTravel , Australia , Bonza , Bonzaairlines , EmergencyTravelTips , FlightCancellation , Lynx , StrandedTravelers , TravelAdvice , TravelDisruption , Traveltips Stranded? What To Do When Your Airline Collapses May 9, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment Question: How do you create a small airline?” Answer: Buy a big one and wait for a couple of years.” (Source: Pixabay ) If you or a friend or family member are ever affected by the collapse of an airline, here’s what you need to do: 1. Find All Documentation: Keep a record of all your communications, booking details, and any expenses incurred. This is crucial for insurance claims and other legal actions. 2. Check for Official Announcements: Visit the airline’s website or social media platforms for information on the collapse. Don’t call; it’s usually… Continue Reading » Posted in Uncategorized Running the amazing Bloomsday, a favourite road race May 5, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” —John Bingham When I woke up on Sunday to the sound of rain, there was a moment of hesitation. Did I really want to run my eighth Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Washington in weather that looked as unforgiving as this?? It was 9°C /48°F, windy and pouring with rain. I struggled through the grey to walk down to join 30,000 at the starting lines. Spokane is a city in Eastern Washington that 231,133 people call home. The city… Continue Reading » Posted in My Musings (Sundays) Tagged CHARITY , CommunityEvent , Endurance , Fitness , Fundraising , Inspiration , KeepRunning , NeverGiveUp , RaceDay , RunForACause. , Running , Spokane Riding the Big Trains: Sensational Rail Journeys Through Wales/ Cymru April 29, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment I have now completed travel across (almost) the entire Welsh mainline railway network. Every line through almost every station! Now I am working my way through the nation’s Heritage trains! Even as a dedicated train enthusiast, I find navigating Wales/Cymru’s railway network more confusing and frustrating than it should be. But through all the challenges and surprises, I’ve learnt to untangle the mysteries of Welsh rail travel. Here’s what I’ve learned: Major Welsh Train Routes You can essentially divide the railway system of Wales/Cymru into nine distinct routes. Here is a summary with more detailed… Continue Reading » Posted in Travel Tips (Monday) , Trip Reports Tagged Beeching Cuts , Cambrian Coast Line , Heritage Railways , Railway History , Railway Journeys , South Wales Main Line , Train Connectivity , Train Travel , Valley Lines , Wales Tourism , Welsh Railways , Welsh Scenery , Welsh Trains Whimsical Portmeirion, Home of The Prisoner” April 25, 2024 by Martin J Cowling 1 Comment I am a fan of the weird 1960s TV series called The Prisoner”. This cult classic was written by and starred the actor Patrick McGoohan, who had previously worked on a top-rated British TV series called Danger Man”. The Prisoner is an enigmatic, brilliant TV series that has left a lasting impression on fans worldwide. If you don’t know it, here is an explanation (language warning): The Prisoner” was filmed in the strange, whimsical, and wonderful village of Portmeirion in Wales. I had an unforgettable day visiting Portmeirion. Walking through its winding streets felt like… Continue Reading » Posted in Place Reviews (Thursday) , Weird or Wonderful Tagged "The Prisoner" Series , Architectural Design , Architecture , Castell Deudraeth , Conservation , Cultural Landmarks , Film Locations , Heritage Sites , Italianate Village , Nature and Architecture , North Wales , Portmeirion , Portmeirion Hotel , Scenic Landscapes , Sir Clough Williams-Ellis , Tourism , Tourism in Wales. , Tourist Attractions , Travel , Unique Destinations , Village Tourism , Welsh Gardens , Welsh History The Magic of Aviation: Re-Connecting with my BOAC Boeing 707 April 23, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment In 1971, I flew on a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Boeing 707 from the Middle East to Hong Kong. This flight left a lasting impression on me, and it was an unforgettable experience. Little did I know that 53 years later, I’d reconnect with this plane at the National Museum of Flight in Scotland today. I had already notched up more flights than the average child of the 1960s. Having spent my childhood in Australia, Africa, The Middle East, and the UK, we criss-crossed continents by ship, plane, and train, hence my multiple flight… Continue Reading » Posted in Trip Reports Tagged aircraft preservation , Alpha Juliet , aviation history , BOAC , BOAC livery , Boeing 707 , British Airtours , British Airways , Cosford Aerospace Museum , East Fortune , G-APFJ , Junior Jet Club , Kai Tak Airport , Malaysia-Singapore Airlines , MSA , National Museum of Flight , personal aviation memories , Rolls-Royce Conway engines , scotland Journey to a Kinder World through better Chocolate choices March 24, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment Are you like me and LOVE Indulging in chocolate? I think it is a universal pleasure. Every human on the planet consumes an average of roughly one kilogram of food annually. I know I sample chocolate wherever I travel to! Good chocolate please. With a projected 5.6% increase in chocolate revenue, surpassing even the forecasted growth of the world economy, it’s evident that chocolate holds a significant place in our lives and markets. However, amidst this prosperity lies a stark reality: the plight of cocoa farmers, trapped in cycles of poverty and exploitation. Despite the… Continue Reading » Posted in My Musings (Sundays) Tarmac to Takeoff: A Blistering Hot Charity Run on Bangkok Airport’s New Runway 3 March 20, 2024 by Martin J Cowling Leave A Comment As the dawn broke last Sunday morning, 17th March 2024, I joined around 5000 runners for a charity run on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s new Runway 3. In July, 2024 the airport will open this 4 kilometre (2.4 mile) new runway for active use on the western part of the airport, the same side as the main warehouse and the current...