Our Planned 2023 Birthday Locations

I've always been a big fan of Google Maps. Street View provides a few visual clues before we travel to a new location. In this case, I wanted to share two, 360-degree locations contributed by others. 

My birthday is coming up soon and Jay's is in early September. During recent years we try to get to interesting locations. We'd rather pay for experiences than own more stuff. In 2023, we'll be revisiting known locations. They make for a nice contrast.  For a better look around, please explore these photo spheres: 

Dennis's Birthday -- July 23rd

Jay's Birthday -- September 8th

Got to Experiment More with 360°

Day 59 - I hadn't tried taking a 360° image for a long time. In fact, I wondered if I had the necessary camera app on my current phone. Then, I remembered that the Google Street View app, itself, allows one to take VR-ready photos. That company wants so badly for us to upload our images to Google Maps! In fact, the way it is designed, it's hard *not* to press the upload button.

Taking a shot is dizzying as one has to line up the dots to ensure the phone has all the data needed for the complete picture. After, I downloaded the raw image and wondered what would happen if I uploaded it to Flickr. It took a second to load but I was able to mouse the image around. So next, I've embedded it here. It seems to work in Firefox on our Win10 travel machine. Other results may vary.

The image was just a test shot without perfect stitching. It's damned hard to line up objects, especially when they're relatively close to the lens. However, I guess I'll keep it. As we'll be leaving our studio apartment in Bali on Monday, keeping this photo, although it's not perfect, seems a no-brainer. I've swum in this pool for nearly two months now.

Look in All Directions

A few years ago, I got interested in 360° photos because the option was first cooked into Google Camera on my Nexus 5. If I think of all the stunning places I've been since but neglected to save in this format, I'm sad. Last year, we travelled a lot, from Santorini to Sydney to SE Asia!

I must return to creating many more. Now, it is as easy as opening up the Google Street View app. I need to pin a note on my shirt pocket or something. This is the riverside park in front of my apartment building in New Westminster, BC.



I must remember to make future contributions to Google Maps.

What a Platform for Travel and Education!

I use their email and mobile phone ecosystem. I'd not live a day without their search. I think of all the millions of amazing things that Google can do. Yet I am most constantly impressed with improvements to Street Views.

I appreciate your work, Google. You are awesome for bringing the world to me even though I'm presently sitting half naked on my couch.

On today's morning news, I saw clips of Google trekkers walking around with camera backpacks taking photos of places in British Columbia that most of us will never go. You've captured that same spirit for the folks who used to wait patiently for their next copy of the National Geographic Magazine back when.


https://www.google.com/maps/about/treks/#/grid
I've happened to have seen these few places in person, but Google offers glimpses of places I'll surely never get to experience any other way. Thanks!

Hurd on My Street (on Facebook)

On Facebook, I try to keep the posts under my name directly related to myself or my own words. I understand the urge to post news articles there, as that seems like a way to say what one believes in. Yet, I feel that sort of clutters up the FB experience for all of one's friends and family. I open Facebook to see what my friends are doing. Lord knows, I don't need to hear anything more about the sorry state of US politics for a while!

It is so easy to create a personal page on Facebook I don't know why more people don't do it. I have set up several over the years. For example, Hurd or Watched is a private page only accessible to a select number of friends whom I know are interested in unusual movies and television series. These people can contribute. A new posting only shows up in the feed for those members. Another example of a page is the historical tribute to the business friends and I ran when in college called, The Harbor Gameroom. Anyone can like the page and contribute memories, or better yet old, scanned photos!

Last night, I decided that I didn't want to litter my personal feed with all the Google Street View scenes I discover. From this point forward, I probably will no longer add such images to my eJournal and images either. Anybody on Facebook can look at the page and even contribute to it. Just click the image below.

facebook.com/HurdOnMyStreet/

Trip Planning Tools - Day 122

I really cannot believe I lived more than half my adult life without the Internet. How did we used to bank, learn, or plan? Especially, plan!

Nowadays, a lifetime of libraries never closes. For example, I can search about different bodies of water anytime. Moreover, I can also look from anywhere. Right now I'm next to the Nile River; however, I can move around near the shoreline of Tanjung Bungah.


I find Street View useful, even when not looking for a street!

Others' Photo Spheres - Day 111

I often look around on Google's Street View when researching or recalling an area. In fact, I recently checked out the location of a pub near the town where I grew up. I had heard the name of it but the area looks so vastly different that I could not remember what used to be there when I was in high school. I've asked those in the area for a little help. Street View is a great part of travel planning. Even before making a hotel reservation in an area we've not stayed, I often check to see the area "first hand".

I noticed a bad habit of mine though. I frequently turn off the bottom photo bar when in Google Maps as I want the image to take up all of the computer screen. I forget that when doing so, I miss the chance to see photo spheres by ordinary people which have been accepted by Google.

THIS IMAGE WAS LOST WHEN THE GOOGLE+ FEATURES WERE SHUTTERED.

Views: Christmas Day 2014 by Dennis Sylvester Hurd

The one above was taken at the Cultural Center on the River Cuale Island. I took it at the end of December. There are plenty more taken around Puerto Vallarta. I just found this one of where the pedestrian bridge crosses the northern branch of the river. The bottom of the walkway was about 20 meters from the area of the image above. The fairly new structure allows one to cross the river without needing to walk all the way to the north-bound bridge for vehicles.

Views: Gringo Gulch Pedestrian Bridge by Paco Ojeda

I really must remember to always see what photo sphere others may have uploaded.

Top of Corona

It was a relaxing day off. We spent the day lounging around and digesting last night's great turkey dinner. The rain has arrived and the mist was rather welcomed. Living in this cool damp climate ensures I stay wrinkle-free. I might get mossy on my north side, but it definitely helps keep me wrinkle-free.

I finished up Season 2 of Orange is the New Black. It had a surprisingly ending, and now I can hardly wait for a new season. I had time to continue thinking about this upcoming winter too.


It is probably too late to get a cheap rental in Puerto Vallarta for the winter. It surely might be fun trying to stay way up on the hill, higher up than vehicles can get. I want to try to find a place where we can camp with a roof overhead. Getting there would be excellent exercise. The photo is the link to Google Street View of the top of Corona Street. Click it and mouse around in the area of town it would be fun to spend three months.

Planning Another 'Big One'

Except for that little week in Mexico last month, we've been sticking pretty close to home of late. This seems unusual, as long autumn or winter trips have been the norm for quite a few years. I feel happy now that we have started considering another big trip. By big, I mean satisfying two criteria: 1) leaving the continent and 2) spending at least a month away.

The contemplation stage has begun! Hooray! I'm glad to have a target as we learn a lot about an area prior to the journey itself. In fact, the planning process is fun and it surely takes much longer than the actually days abroad.

We have set a tentative date for a spring departure. We have also talked about the countries we might involve. We've even discussed a possible routing and itinerary. There are a lot of world-famous, must-sees along our potential vacation pathway. Click to load one 360 degree image and take a look:

So Many Places!

The world is too big. I'll never get a chance to visit some of the places which are somewhat close. More precisely, there is just no time to do all. Work schedules definitely interfere with our ability to jet off to some new location on a moment's notice.

It would surely be nice to solve THAT problem this summer when I turn 55. I could retire early. Then though, it'd take careful calculation as I'd have the time to go anywhere yet not the cash!

This definitely seems like a no-win situation!


I was looking around Mexico City by using Google Street View.
You many click the image to do the same.

Snow at Kootenay Pass

Thank you, Internet. You extend my ability to share experiences and images.

In August, for example, I blogged about a short trip we took across southern British Columbia, down into Idaho, and back through central Washington State. In the entry for one day we travelled from Grand Forks, BC to Sandpoint, ID. If you click on the link above, you will be able to see three photos. The middle one was taken near the summit of Kootenay Pass.

Through the magic of Google Street View, you can also take a closer look at the section of BC Highway 3 as well. If you click on the image below, you will enter Street View. Be sure to mouse around the image to see both directions and even travel along the road a bit if you'd like.



You may also take a look of the area right at the moment.

This would have been science fiction when I was growing up. The idea of being able to instantly see an image from a remote section of BC Highway from nearly anywhere on earth would have been unbelievable. I'm typing this on December 1st, and it is presently snowing at the pass.

This is a BC Highway cam found here. You may also read about the this pass on Wikipedia.

Not Messing Up by Not Mashing Up!

I used a Google Street View image in yesterday's my eJournal and images entry. As I always tag entries, I easily loaded a page with previous references to Street View. Gasp! I noticed that the newest Maps implementation no longer allows for embedded images. Over the five or six years, I had done that at least a dozen times, I noted. Yikes, these old entries would now have to be edited! I had to save and upload a static picture to my Flickr account but use the existing link on my pages. Not all links seem affected as not all were embedded. In fact, my very first mention and link from August 2007 still works.

Seeing a single error is why I hesitate 'mashing up' anything with this blog. I have been doing this daily thing for over ten years and many Internet apps simply come and go. I guess I'm happy for my seeming fortitude. As a blog writer, though, there's not much worse than coming across a dead link in one's own work. As well, by making changes I feel as though I'm screwing with history.



Anyway the good point of all of this is I was able to re-discover the Street View page with the special 360 degree bubbles. Click the image above.

Impatience and Impertinence

Click to load this scene in Google's Street View.
Just as in a personal relationship that grows too familiar, it is easy to find fault in something one loves. In this case, I am annoyed because some of Google's data is four years old. Rather, I should be respectful for the opportunities provided. I ought to be appreciative of the ability to jump into Street View in so many places around the globe. Shame on me for my impatience and impertinence.

A Possible Itinerary

I know we will have five free days at the end of August which could be used for a trip. I don't think we'll end up going to San Francisco, although it'd be fun to visit there at this time of year. If we don't end up with any plane tickets, I figure we can still get away.

I am rather in the mood for a road trip. Planning one used to be pretty much hit or miss. Now however, nobody needs those special fold-out maps that the AAA used to provide. I can easily check driving time by just putting "distance place 1 to place 2" into Google. That's good for figuring out how much mileage per day makes sense. Then, one can pop into Google Maps to get a better idea. As well, I drop into Street View to get a view of the terrain. For example, here's eastern Washington State near where I-90 crosses the Columbia River.



It might be fun to take several nights to skirt across the southern BC and cross the border so as to visit Coeur d'Aline, Idaho. Then, we'd be able to take I-90 West and stop in at Lynne and Joel's for the night. The fifth day could be a 200 mile half day coming back to BC from their house. That'd make a trip of a nearly a thousand miles in total.



Click on either image to see it on Google Maps.

Live to Discover

The greatest trips start with planning. Often the seed of a journey is just the realization of a possible location. The planning which develops may take months to complete. Buying the actual air tickets is one of the very last things to be done. It's not until that point that the commitment is made.

For some reason I have got a trip to Mexico City in my head. The area's population of over 21 million makes it the largest in the western hemisphere. As well, it is an important financial center of North America, and the eighth richest city in the world. Importantly, it's relatively close trip being only two time zones away. We love urban environments, so I guess going there is a must. I can't say why I never really thought about it before!

I was checking out Google's Street View of the Zona Rosa, not far from the Centro Historico, as it's probably where we'd look for a hotel.

Buon Natale!

I love using Google Maps or Google Earth on my Toshiba tablet. The value of using gestures rather than a mouse with that software alone makes the device a bargain. I do so enjoy dropping into Street View in areas where I've been as well as to places I have yet to visit.

Today, I was thinking about a science fiction type of technology. I was dreaming about being able to step into a booth and instantly beam myself anywhere on the surface of our globe. If it were possible, where would I like to spend Christmas Eve, I was wondering?




We visited the Cinque Terre three years ago in the fall, so I had to check on the Net to see what the weather might be like now on the Italian Mediterranean. Apparently, it is not a great deal different than right here, meaning it's about 7C (45F) today. That would be fine as it'd still be fun to find a warm restaurant on Christmas Eve for a little Italian food and the view.

I noticed that Street View had done just a little part of the cliff walking path near Manarola. Being able to virtually take the hike between the five cliff-side cities should be a priority for the Street View staff. Or better yet, we should go back and do it again ourselves in person!

Driving South is Easier

At 364,764 square miles, the province in which I live is big. British Columbia is about the size of France, Germany, and the Netherlands combined. Or to put it another way, it's larger than the total area of California, Oregon, and Washington State.

It seems a little sad that we so often seem stuck down here near the south west corner of BC. In fact, I am so ready for a local road trip, I could scream! There's a little problem: I don't have a set of snow tires as they're not necessary during Metro-Vancouver's winters. In order to leave here, though, we've got to go on roads which require them. The weather in Decmeber will not be like the Street View scene embedded below.



The weather conditions on the Coquihalla Highway can be slick in December.

I'm Right Here

I cannot even remember the first wow I must have got from Google Earth and Maps. I have always been interested in maps and mapping. My curiosity started as a youngster. Then during school years, I think Mr. Frank Hammond deserves a heartfelt mention. Yet the things one can do now with any old Net-connected PC still amaze me.

Zoom extends right down to Street View levels. I can quite literally spend hundreds of hours just roaming around the world without leaving this chair. The 1970's student in me would've been amazed by the science fiction that would come to fruition during his own lifetime.

It does seem that Google keeps rolling out new features, but there's only one aspect I still find missing. I wish sharing the maps and data were easier. I would like having more online social networking attributes added.



I live in the building above. Please move around my world for a minute. There now, I've shown you mine; it's time for you to send me a link and show me yours.

When the Sun's Hiding

It just started, but this month has already been all about dreaming of warm, sunny places. I will have to remember this next year, so that rather than going on vacation in April, we can schedule a little earlier! As I hit these keys, a fine misty rain is enveloping the view from the windows.



I have been using Google Street View to re-visit Palm Springs, CA this morning. I noticed a new marketing campaign at their official tourism website. They are trying to compare themselves to Vegas. How clever but it's a little like comparing apples and oranges! The first PDF on this page suggests:

Getting high means something completely different to us.

Pining for A Bit More Grey

I made a status update on Facebook which said, "All this unusual winter sunshine has got me feeling nervous." In a way it's true. I have grown accustomed to the comfort of grey clouds during our winters. For at least a week, we've had cold, clear weather.

Just to make it clearer for those who don't live here, this is the type of day with which I'm more familiar in January.



The Street View image is from the Patullo Bridge looking at downtown New Westminster, BC. Feel free to mouse around a bit ...