Game: Where-is-it? (international)

[GregR]

Thanks old timer!!!

Sheeese... great-great-great granddaughter, you're doing remarkably well all things considered.

I only passed by this area on the train to Chester via Conwy and hope to get back post Pandemic. the reason I said the nature reserve was on google maps pics was an almost identical photo to yours- even had the same rocks in the foreground.

This ones on mainland Europe. Nasty place.

[GregR]

Nasty place was a hint.

Think back 75+ years.

[Last]

Nasty place 75+ years ago. Sounds like WW2. The sign appears to be in German. That narrows it a little. How about Kehlsteinhaus or Eagles Nest?

[GregR]

Nazi place... Indeed.

Hitler's lair indeedy.

Over to Last

[Last]

Thanks Greg, next, Europe

[johnw]

Is that the Icelandic flag on the pole?

[Last]

Your eyes must be better than mine. We are in Iceland.

[johnw]

Þingvellir (Anglicised to Thingvellir), the original site of the Althing, national parliament of Iceland from 930 AD to 1798 AD.
Contained within Þingvellir NP founded in 1930, designated as a World Heritage site in 2001.

[Last]

Correct John.

[johnw]

Thanks Last.
Over to North America, I'll try something left field again. I'm looking for:
1. the name of the approaching train that we're going to board (not the name of the railway company)
2. the tiny local train depot this is at.

Alaska Railroad "Coastal Classic" approaching the tiny Girdwood Rail Depot en route to Seward, Alaska USA

[johnw]

There is a name clue in the photo if you look closely.

[GregG]

I can't resist a picture of a train but this is a hard one John, Ill take a guess and say this is somewhere around Glacier Bay NP, maybe the train is the Hurricane, location not sure but possibly a flagstop somewhere on that line. Passing loop should be a clue but I can't work it out so far.

[johnw]

I can't resist a picture of a train but this is a hard one John, Ill take a guess and say this is somewhere around Glacier Bay NP, maybe the train is the Hurricane, location not sure but possibly a flagstop somewhere on that line. Passing loop should be a clue but I can't work it out so far.

You've done a good job on narrowing it down Greg.
Not the Hurricane, something more sedate, but Glacier Bay to the east is in the very broad general region.
In fact it was our first destination after leaving the train following the 3 hour scenic trip and collecting our luggage.
During which we had a couple of whistle stops along the way to drop off back country rafters, hikers etc.
But it then required two sleeps on a different mode of transport; around 36 hours or so to get to Glacier Bay.
The first 2 letters of the name of this tiny station are on the signage, if you can make them out.

[GregG]

Is it Girdwood?

[johnw]

Is it Girdwood?

You've correctly answered the second question Greg. It is Girdwood Rail Depot.
Should be easy to get the name of the train...
(heading to a town that reminds me of plumbing)

[GregG]

Haha, is Seaward sewered? I don't know, nor do I know the name of the train plying between Seaward and Girdwood. Anyone?

[johnw]

Haha, is Seaward sewered? I don't know, nor do I know the name of the train plying between Seaward and Girdwood. Anyone?

Yes, thankfully Seward was sewered on our brief visit there. I don't know why Alaskans pronounce it like that.
Anyway, a final clue. Click and pick:
https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/schedules

[Last]

So it's the Glacier Discovery train?

[johnw]

So it's the Glacier Discovery train?

No, not the Glacier Discovery train. That service doesn't go to Seward.

[Last]

Sorry, the Coastal Classic? Should have read more carefully.

[johnw]

Sorry, the Coastal Classic? Should have read more carefully.

Yes that's it. I was in a quandary with this as GregG answered point 2. correctly but my primary question was for the name of the train.
So over to Last with credit to Greg for doing the legwork.

[Last]

I'll pass it back to Greg. He did most of the work.

[johnw]

I'll pass it back to Greg. He did most of the work.

Over to GregG

[GregG]

Thanks Last, very generous of you, I think you delivered the coup de grace but I will take a turn if you wish. Stand by.

[GregG]

screenshot2.png (440.34 KiB) Viewed 10844 times

Here is a picture of on of those serial treehuggers. He probably has been deceived into thinking he is somewhere in his beloved Blue Mountains but in fact he is far far away, 16,950 kms in fact. So please tell me where this public display of arborical affection is taking place. For train fanciers the train station is about 400m over behind those trees, or you can come by boat. Bonus points for the Genus and Species of the botanical participant in this romantic scene.

[johnw]

Probably need to specify a country or a continent Greg, but based on the specified distance I'm going to take a guess at somewhere in or near London.
So maybe the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew? It has a tube station about that distance away and I assume you can get there by ferry on the Thames.
The tree looks like a Eucalypt? Going by the Blue Mountains reference - E. Deanei? Although it normally doesn't branch that low.

[GregG]

Haha, too easy for you John.

[GregG]

Haha, too easy for you John. Yes, it is the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. And yes, the branches are rather low for a Blue Gum, that would because it is a Mountain Gum Eucalyptus Dalrympleana. I saw this tree back in 2016 and as you can see, well, I just had to hug it!

[johnw]

Haha, too easy for you John. Yes, it is the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. And yes, the branches are rather low for a Blue Gum, that would because it is a Mountain Gum Eucalyptus Dalrympleana. I saw this tree back in 2016 and as you can see, well, I just had to hug it!

Just as well you hugged it then Greg, You would have to social distance from it now. How do you elbow bump a tree?

Over to North America:

[johnw]

A lot of wildlife locally. Halfway through this 8 km circuit we learned of an earlier bear encounter ahead of us.
This is past that point although we did encounter another large beast best viewed from a safe distance.