h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a map with pins and lables and everything, tickets to Dallas, health insurance, all the stuff I need.

We are working out an intinerary with as many researchers on our list as possible. Let us know if we can meet you, or you can meet us. Check out our new joint U-Space: U217918

Two whole months: July and August - awesome eh?

B

o/

Yeah!!! I've already decided on where to take you for lunch!

Yummie!

So long as we are getting the really important things organised first!

B

What could be more important than lunch?

Oh right, what to drink *with* lunch!

Easy peasy! Lots of dark rum and a little bit of coke for me! GTB can do the driving that afternoon!
B

Oh, you *are* going to enjoy the maritimes if you do go there. They are fuelled entirely on rum and even make a special one for themselves called (I'm not lying) *Sreech*



That time of year I'm more Tanqueray and tonic but I might join you.

Ok - educate the dumb Brit - where are the Maritimes?


Hides head in shame

B

The Maritimes are the Atlantic provinces, much smaller than the others and with a very rich history. My favourite city is Halifax in Nova Scotia, named after the one in Yorkshire. The strongest accent of anywhere in Canada, more Irish/Northern Britain than North American. Lots of drinking and fishing and partying and dancing and drinking.

We're much more refined because we don't dance as much.

you lucky lucky lucky lucky thing!

Have fun with the planning!!!

Yeah and in Vancouver the streets are paved with gold and the sun never, ever sets and everyone parties from the beach to the ski slopes and then back to the bars until...

What ARE you on about cl zoomer?!

Skreech is a Newfoundland drink. It is imported west indian dark rum diluted with just enough Nfld water to keep your eyelashes and nasal hairs from igniting.

'The Maritimes' consist of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Canada's newest province (1949) joins them to form 'Atlantic Canada' but Nfld is not one of Canada's traditional 'Maritime' provinces.

Most of the western and upper Canadian 'suits' who have been crowding true Maritimers out of the one exploding Maritime city (Halifax) prefer to drink B-52s, Whiskey (sic) Sours and Corona Beer. Real Maritimers drink local brands of beer, mostly pale ales and lagers.
Young people will drink anything and puke anywhere. And since there are over 60,000 college and university students in Hfx that means just about everywhere.

But everyone in Vancouver is rich and sexy and suntanned and they jetski from the marina to their heliport on their way to earn big bucks doing 'extra' roles in the X-files followed by cocktails at...

Westerners! Bah!


~jwf~

Us Prairie farmers have y'all beat
We just sit here for half a year watching the plants and animals grow, and usually know where there is a hidden still in the neighbors' farmyard
We got culture, too. And lotsa other stuff that makes it great to be on the Prairies There's even farmers who grow hemp around these here parts
Karen

Well, *first of all* I don't believe I was talking to either one of you. Secondly, if you will have a look at the nature and actual wording of the post I was complimentary to the Maritimes. Third, what exactly do you have against my personal opinions? And last, did you not like the *rich history* part or the *favourite* part.

I do believe you may have been drinking some of your famous rum. Just my opinion of course, but my suit and tie may be cutting off the circulation to my brain, if not the weather.

Live in a glass house, then?

I'm SO jealous of you Ben. That's been a dream of mine for a while now.
Are you just using a car or are you planning to use summat with beds?
Do you have your route pretty much decided?

If you have the chance to take a train across Canada I believe it's marvellous (watched Chris Bonnington doing it on the telly )

You're gonna have a wonderful time, but take care - I hear the natives can be a little .

"Are you just using a car...?"

Mind if I field this one, Ben? ahem...

We'll be touring the continent in a 1969 Ford Econoline E-200 Van, 3/4 ton, with a 302 cubic inch V-8 engine, a standard 3-on-the-tree transmission, either 120 or 220 thousand miles, painted white, with the words 'DILLON CAT' in bright red letters on the sides, next to a picture of a lion carrying a tray of gourmet foods.

It used to say 'DILLON CATERING', of course. The back is totally stripped out, but I've thrown in a couch, and some art supplies.

I just rebuilt the carburetor today, and the Dillon Cat is once again purring like a little kitten. Once I get the back-up lights working, it should be ready to pass state inspection, and then we'll be street legal! (It's been a while...)

The Cat will be taking us over about 9,000-10,000 miles on this trip, and you have no idea how eagerly I've been waiting for someone to ask!



GTB

Just one thing though. What's "a standard 3-on-the-tree transmission"? Forward, reverse and neutral?

Will you be warm/cool enough? Plywood with rockwool behind it makes an awful lot of difference to the inside temperature, and it's not too hard to do.

Great, eh?

The van is older than he is, and I am older than both of them.



Ben

The old ones are the best.

Women, like good whisky, only get better with age Ben