A room with a view

Well, Pam opened her Christmas present early, so I can post it here now as well! This was the view from our hotel room in Astoria, Oregon, of the Columbia River and the Astoria-Megler Bridge (you can click on the picture for a much larger version). I can't say enough good things about the Cannery Pier Hotel, it's one of the best places we have ever stayed at, I highly recommend a visit if you ever get the chance.

I now have only a short trip in the future to achieve and complete a small ambition of mine, which is to have driven the entire coast of California and Oregon: Los Angeles to San Diego.

California sunset

 

It's been almost a year since I last posted anything here. Sorry about that. The reasons are both personal and professional and I'm not up to updating anyone on either of those right now. But I did want to share an amazing sunset both Pam and I saw a week or so before Thanksgiving.

This was a sunset seen from Carpinteria Beach. Apparently it's the safest beach in America, or something like along those lines.

I felt very safe, especially as I wasn't in the water and I didn't see any muggers or assassins near me. Lots of people were there that evening because the sunset the previous evening was even more spectacular and everyone was on the beach wanting to see the same thing again. The sunset wasn't quite as good but it was still wonderful to watch. Unfortunately Pam and I were on the road the evening before, so didn't have the chance to capture what was a stunning sight (we saw the sunset from Hwy 101), but this wasn't too bad either.

I have a great picture from further up north I want to share, but won't for now. Pam gets it as her Christmas present which I hope will remind her of the wonderful places we visited on our recent 3000-mile road trip.

And, for those interested, once I can post something about UKIRT's future (and mine), I will!

So what?

We don't care about publication rates. We want our dinner. Now. Otherwise your phone book isn't going anywhere.

UKIRT sets yet another publication record

From "JCMT and UKIRT Break Publication Records Again in 2012". And the UK STFC still plan to withdraw funding later this year. No wonder so many other groups are interested in ownership of UKIRT.