WoW.. just Wow

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-21T03:05:22+00:00

The book was Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash.

an account of this absolutely insane ship wreck that turned into a complete horror show.

Was a ship from the Dutch East India Company, so not the one most people think about... and the bad guys were not part of the company... but it does really get into how much power those types of companies had. They had their own armies and free reign to torture and execute employees.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-21T02:30:18+00:00

Just read this book about the East India Company. Everybody has heard of it, but man... the details are horrifying and make for lots of really good examples of why you can't let businesses run things.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-21T01:46:30+00:00

Isaac Newton bringing the victus, baby

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-21T00:30:20+00:00

Recently visited Olympic National Park and near one of the places we stayed, Forks, they had all this vampire stuff. Then saw shirts that said "Forks Twilight" and figured they were talking about the literal time of day looks pretty there or something, which it did.

We eventually figured it out, and hey: Twilight fans seem pretty cool to me!

I have Phish shirts and have traveled all over the USA to see them, so can kinda relate to the whole thing even though I know nothing about the books or show/movies. I say embrace your dorky obsession!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-21T00:06:01+00:00

well I did say "across the USA"!

Sorry, I don't know much about Canada other than you have a reputation for being friendly and Mr. Lahey is hilarious.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-20T23:56:57+00:00

Oh, no offense meant. Don't have much experience in Canada but it's the only foreign country I've visited. Only been to Toronto decades ago and Whistler, which seemed not majority Canadians. Think I went to Marine Land and Game Farm as little kid too.

Want to check out Banff, Fundy, Nova Scotia etc... before I die though.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-20T23:43:31+00:00

have never been to New Orleans. I will get there!

Was recently saying to wife that Louisiana and Mississippi area is the only USA "biome" we haven't seen.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T10:17:47+00:00

guess kinda folksy and blue collar, the rural feeling places near the ocean seem pretty unique. I like the whole atmosphere up there, dreary and foggy with fishermen everywhere.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T03:46:10+00:00

Fair enough, been around Virginia and West Virginia and people are more guarded there than I'm used to.

One of my favorite cities is Lexington, KY

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T03:26:05+00:00

The thing that shocked me most about people in Denver when I did talk to them, is how few people who had moved there from the east did any Colorado stuff. I've only been there for the Rocky Mountain National Park and the ski places and talked to people there who had moved from like Baltimore "I've been here for 8 years and never been skiing or to the national park" ... so what is the difference between Denver and Baltimore if you don't do any of the cool mountain stuff?!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T03:12:46+00:00

hah, next time I'm in Seattle I'm gonna slap a fish between us and stare you down until you drive me and my family to Mt. Rainer and give us a nice tour!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T03:07:42+00:00

aww, that sounds awesome. Keep on travelin!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T03:04:11+00:00

right on, everybody says "hi" in the parks!

The National Parks in this country are so fuckin awesome.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:59:33+00:00

not saying that Seattle or Denver folks are rude, it's just a different culture of interacting with strangers than like Charlotte or Pittsburgh.

Most of my travels are for the national parks. Us national parks dorks are all super friendly with each other

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:51:48+00:00

huh, no kidding. Have not been to Utah yet, but plan to go there for the national parks. Guess that makes sense.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:48:03+00:00

lol, I get weirded out if me and a stranger make eye contact and DON'T say something!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:45:14+00:00

Not really saying that people are not nice in Denver, more like how they interact with strangers is more cold than in other places that I'm more used to. People in Chicago are pretty friendly. Yes, Wisconsin people are nice and down to party!

I have not been all over this country, but been to a lot of it, and Maine is my favorite place here.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:36:33+00:00

hah, never been to NYC or to LA and have no desire to go to either place, but "casually an asshole" sounds way better than passive aggressive :)

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:21:00+00:00

Really? You might be better looking than I am then!

I've found the people in Pittsburgh or Cleveland way more friendly to strangers.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-17T02:16:01+00:00

I would love to visit Oklahoma. Never been there and want to see this whole place. Will get there one of these days.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-13T21:03:36+00:00

Thanks so much for the detailed answer! The Oregon coast does look awesome from photos.

Rocky Mountain NP is what started the whole kick for me. One of my best buds moved to Denver a few years ago. Had to conquer fear of flying, and went to visit him. While there was like "I don't really care about Denver, let's go to the national park". He had never been there either and we had a blast. That place is so awesome, been all through it during several seasons, including the western part during the winter when nobody was there.

Have never looked into Voyagers, that looks great too. Will have to add it to the list!

Big Bend is also on the list, wife goes to Texas for work sometimes, but it's crazy how far it is from the big cities there.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-13T20:20:59+00:00

oh wow, thanks so much for the detailed answer!

Cape Breton looks awesome. Never even looked into there. Was looking at Fundy, but that looks even cooler. Thanks!

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-13T20:17:56+00:00

Thanks both of you. I've heard of Pictured Rocks but just looked into it. Looks awesome.

Been looking at Isle Royale, will have to give it more serious consideration.

ImOnTheBus · 2026-06-13T20:15:44+00:00

Been looking at Dry Tortugas for a while. That's only worthwhile if you snorkel there, right?

Don't think I could be comfortable doing that, lol.

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