WH?

yes NH and yes WH.

The place I am is not a city. It's in the category of "superlative, man-made" ...meaning it's at the top of the heap in its category.

US?

that big-ass super mall in alberta?

yes US...so not Alberta, or any mall. I hate malls, though I leave open my options to going to one whenever I choose.

that series of lakes east of cincinnati?

not any lake...perhaps those lakes you mean are man-made, but also keep that clue in mind.

those four guys carved in that mountain in the dakotas?

east of the river?

Nope, not those four guys. And I'm west of the river.

does the state you are in border on an ocean?

North of 40?

not on an ocean, south of 40 deg lat.

in oklahoma?

not OK

Arizona?

gulf state?

not in Arizona and not in a Gulf state.

newer mexico?

Nevada?

not NM and not NV ...not many possible states left.

under 40...colorado?

yes, under the 40 in CO

NORAD?

red rocks?

nope, neither of those. This is a man-made structure and something about it has that "superlative" category going for it.

that new grand canyon skywalk?

That large "W" on Tenderfoot Mountain?

Neither of those, guys. Keep looking....in fact, if you look down from where I am you will probably get dizzy unless you are very non-vertigoish.

maroon creek trestle in aspen?

Pearl Pass?

nope. Look about 100 miles S.E. of Pearl Pass...and I think Aspen is just a few miles north of Pearl Pass. This place has a superlative man-made object here, not just a cool natural place.

mesa verde national park?

nope....I'm standing on a man-made structure.

the pikes peak cog railway?

nope.

I'll wait for Tul to make another guess and if you guys are still lost I'll tell you what kind of structure it is....that will greatly narrow down the choices. But I am getting dizzy standing here looking down.

the comm tower in hoyt?

no bites? ...so to help celebrate the New Year ;) I'm editing my post below with a more obvious clue: the terms I used that are now in red relate to the game of bridge, the card game...get it! "bridge" and "superlative" "getting dizzy standing here looking down"


well I declare! ...no :( This is my trick here, I'm giving you guys an opening lead, don't be a dummy.

....give up, or need more clues?

leadville, colorado? the highest incorporated city in the united states?

no. Leadville is also not a bridge.

Royal Gorge Bridge

B-I-N-G-O...bingo was his name-O! You found me, Tul. Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the world. So you're up next...have a nice trip.


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...83ad4aa7-1.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...adb121b4-1.jpg



Royal Gorge Bridge
Hanging 1,053 feet above Colorado’s wild Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a legendary feat of engineering renowned the world over. Built in 1929 for $350,000, the cost today would easily exceed $15 million. But for those who venture across it, whether walking or driving, the experience is priceless.

Engineering Facts
• Construction on the world's highest suspension bridge began June 5, 1929, and completed Nov. 1929
• Length: 1,260 feet (384 meters)
• Width: 18 feet (5 meters)
• Main Span: 880 feet (268 meters)
• Towers: 150 feet high (46 meters)
• 2,100 strands of No. 9 galvanized wire
• Weight of cables: 300 tons
• 1,000 tons of steel in the floor of Bridge
• Walkway: made of 1,292 planks of deck; about 250 are replaced annually
• Original cost to build: $350,000 – cost today about $15 million
• Bridge will support in excess of two million pounds
• Listed on the National Historic Register

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...9aa5222c-1.jpg

I didn't get the bridge clues at all, never played.

Ok, find me.

sheboygan, wisconsin?

Missed it by that much!

No, actually missed by a lot.


But you got the hemisphere right.

we talkin' west, too?

Yep, both of them.

north of 40?

No, south

west of that cute miss?


Actually, I don't know the game of bridge either, but when I thought about giving a clue I looked up a bridge card game site and saw a few terms, so I figured I'd throw them out there. Next time I'll stick with strip poker ;)

So Tul,
were you in Mexico on New Year's Eve, and if so, how do you and the people there celebrate?

south america?

East of the mighty Miss.

Yes, I was here on New Years. I spent the night at a friends pool party and got home around 4am. Mexicans tend to celebrate things a lot. Or A LOT. Most families start the party around noon and end it a day or two later. Christmas Eve is the same way. On Christmas Eve the family usually gathers around 6pm and there's a little drinking and partying until midnight. Then everyone goes to midnight mass. After which the drinking and partying really starts. I drove a gift over to my friend who I knew would be working the desk at his hotel (couldn't bring himself to make one of his employees work) as I drove across town every house and yard was lit up, many homes had live bands and everyone looked like they were headed to the opera. It's a big event. Christmas isn't the day most people exchange gifts. That will happen on Tuesday the 6th. Which is known as "The Three Kings Day" Thats the day the three wise men were supposed to have arrived in Bethlehem and gave gifts to the baby Jesus.
-----Added 3/1/2009 at 06 : 55 : 44-----
No, not South America.

in the U.S., right?

Nope.

gulf island?

No, not a Gulf island.

carib island?

I am on an small group of islands in the Caribbean.

turks?

Nope.

st. pierre?

St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

Atlantic?

No.
-----Added 4/1/2009 at 12 : 28 : 20-----
No.

Here's a clue

I'm owned by Mexico, population -0-.

Wild guessing I just found this one...Isla Contoy?

It looks beautiful and seems to fit your brief description.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...-PeterMaas.jpg

Isla Contoy is a small island in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, approximately 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres. The island is only 8.5 km in length and has an area of 3.17 square kilometres.

Since 1961, Isla Contoy is protected by the Mexican government and declared a National Park in February 1998. The island is jointly run by the Isla Mujeres-based Non-Governmental Organization, Amigos de Isla Contoy A.C. and the Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Fishing (SEMARNAT).

Supervised eco-tourism and regulated commercial fishing is allowed on and near the island. Only a few tour companies have permission to bring the only at maximum 200 daily visitors to Isla Contoy. Visitors need to apply for permission to visit the island at the Park offices in Isla Mujeres or Cancún.

Four species of turtle find a safe haven for nesting on the beaches of the island, namely the loggerhead turtle, Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, and the leatherback turtle. The reserve is also a sanctuary to approximately 152 tropical marine birds, like the frigate bird, brown pelican, and the double-crested cormorant.

No, but you're getting there.

More ship wrecked and less palm trees.

highborn cay/molasses reef?

No, owned by Mexico, much closer to Belize.

found Holbox, but that looks like a touristy place...

i'm at a standstill...


by the way, leaving here at 11:15am est. see you friday...

Well I'm leaving here Tues morning sometime, so I guess Nick's gonna to have to find me by then .

See you Friday morning, I'll be waiting for you on the pier.

You know I haven't just been sitting here drinking, I've been searching. One of the fun parts of this game is searching around places I've never been and finding cool locations and info about them. I just spent the better part of the last hour searching up and down the coast just north of Belize discovering cool stuff.

Are you at Sian Ka'an? Bienvenido a Amigos de Sian Ka'an | Welcome to Amigos de Sian Ka'an << I no comprendo most of that, but it looks beautiful there.

I'm leaving tomorrow to met up with Phil so I'll give one clue that should do it...

40 cannons

Hey that's cool that you guys are getting together! Have a nice time and maybe take a couple pics to share.


Are you at Banco Chinchorro (Chinchorro Banks)?

Chinchorro: Banco Chinchorro Scuba diving boat trip, Xcalak Mexico ...the largest atoll in the Northern Hemisphere.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...Chinchorro.jpg

To the south of Quintana Roo and just over 22 kilometers from the coast, the Chinchorro coral atoll, the largest in Mexico, stretches out in front of Mahahual and Xcalak, covering an area of 240 square miles. Sorrounded by a barrier reef, the atoll has an inner lagoon, the depth of which varies from 2 to 8 meters. Some of the numerous islets covered in mangroves that emerge from the lagoon are quite sizable and have names like North Islet and Lobos Islet. Beyond the reef, the ocean floor plunges down between 150 and 200 meters.
The remains of shipwrecks from many different eras have attracted both treasure hunters and underwater archeologists.

That is where I am and that is where I'll be Wed. morning. I'm doing some dive master work for my friends dive shop and we're doing a couple runs out to Chinchorro, one Wed and one Thurs weather permitting. I've not been, looking forward to it. There's a lot of really old ship wrecks on the east side of the island but you can't dive them. Guess there's a on site Mexican patrol boat making sure too. My understanding is they're getting ready to do a few archaeological dives on several wrecks, many are known to have silver bars and gold Spanish coins. Maybe I can sneak an extra tank in my BC and swim that way. Actually Mexican prison isn't that appealing, maybe not a good idea.

And yes, Friday Phil and his wife and I are getting together. Planning on driving them out to the ruins at Chacchoben. We'll have a beer for you. And of course if you're ever headed this way let me know.


OK, you're up!
BTW- I'll be staying at the 40 Cannons Hotel while I'm down there.

I'll post back for where I'm headed next, after giving that a little more thought.



Otherwise, I hope to take you up on the offer whenever I get down there again. Friday I'll have a beer at Tony's and pretend I'm with you guys and we're toasting for good luck to stay off the reefs and out of jail. As I was trying to find where you are, I came upon this travel log A Newsletter about cruising & living aboard a sailboat. and on the right side column just before sailing south to Belize, they were running up on sandbars and reported:

Later, as I uploaded our position report, Joe re-checked our coordinates and showed me a tiny shoal area on the map. "I don't know why, but I'm sure that's where we ran aground. We're anchored southeast of it now, but we have enough room to swing," he added. Our anchorage was N 19°22.49, W 87°29.71. Later, as we discussed the waypoints and the anchorage, Joe said, "Calder couldn't make it behind Isla Chal, either." Quite frankly, if you are cruising the Northwest Caribbean, you cannot have too many reference books and charts, and Calder's 1991 Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean is still a necessary nautical reference book for those of us following Calder's paths.

Another anchorage that receives much discussion and one we decided to bypass is Cayo Norte on Banco Chinchorro. We were told by several cruisers that this anchorage is no longer available to cruisers and "the Mexican Navy will run you off." We were told by other cruisers that the anchorage is still available, and if the Navy approaches you, simply tell them you are anchoring for the night and there will be no problem. My guess would be that the latter is correct; it's fine for an overnight stopover, but don't plan an extended stay at Banco Chinchorro. I never asked why the Mexican Navy is policing this particular site more than in previous years, but didn't really care. I grew up in a home where "Mr. Policeman is your friend" (and when it came to the Sheriffs' Department, he was my Dad), so if the Mexican Navy says "no squatters," my boat won't be a-squattin'. We were getting a bit reef-challenged anyway.

I found pics of that place when I was searching....looks like a cool spot. I hope you and unc and auntie have a great time.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...nonsHotel1.jpg

Mahahual beach in front of hotel:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...nonsHotel2.jpg

I'm interested in seeing just how much of a presence the Navy has in the area. Thanks to the net I don't think any cruisers are still wondering why the reef is being protected.

I'm off in the morning, but I'll have net where I'm headed. Phil's at sea until the weekend I doubt he will. So likely just you and I until then.

We'll be sure to knock a couple back in your absence and honor.

So, WH? When you figure out where you are of course.

OK, yes I'm in the WH.

Virginia City, Nevada?

Not in Nevada...not in U.S.

NH?

no, not in the NH

So I'm in SH & WH

South America?

yes I'm in SA.

I'm at another one of those "superlatives" but this time it is a natural thing, not man made. So this place is the "...est" in the world of its category.

Buenaventura, Colombia?

Nope. I'm not in Colombia.

Hey Tul, aren't you supposed to be snorkling or having a drink with unc & auntie? Do you get internet service at Forty Cannons and vicinity?

I'm meeting UP Friday, he's at sea right now. I spent all day running around trying to get a part for my Zeagle regulator and BC. I'm now set to leave here at O'dark 30 and head south. I should be at 40 Cannons by 2pm. So I'm missing the morning dive. But once I get there I'll be able to breath underwater which is always plus when diving.

La Paz, Bolivia?

Getting closer. I'm just about due south from there.

Atacama desert?

I'm out of here but should be back on later toight

Not the Atacama desert, but the place I am is bordering on the eastern side of the desert near the border between Chile and Argentina.

See you toight.

I don't know where you are but I'm here-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/...74dda1.jpg?v=0

That's the ass end of my blue Ford. Speaking of ass ends, I came for the diving but might stay for the view-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/...6dbeee.jpg?v=0

Going to nap for a few and then I'll get to work finding you.

Well now I wish I was someplace else...the terrain around there looks so smooth, so soft, so sensuous. The front of that hotel looks sort of like a silly Spanish conquistador.

argentine?

Where I am is like right near the border between Argentina and Chile...though I am actually in Chile.


How are you and auntie and Tul doing? Find any gold or silver bars down there? Any more cannons?

desert?

we're recovering from some unbelievably nasty-tasting drinks. we had wanted b&cs, were told what they had was whiskey-coke, ended up 12-year-old scotch and coke, tasted like turpentine...

a good time was had by all...

cool, glad you folks had a good time. Any pics? I can relate to drinking turpentine...my dad was as artist and all sorts of nasty fluids in his studio, once I drank half a bottle of something in a Pepsi bottle, but it was actually turpentine...hey, better than acetone!

The place I'm at is not actually "the desert" but it's in/adjacent to the Atacama which makes it all the more surprising to find this in a desert...and keep in mind it has some "superlative" quality about it.

El Tatio Geysers?

No cannons, nor gold or silver. Never did make it out to Chinchorro. It's weather permitting. The weather did not permit. We got about half way out and a couple divers got sick. Really rough seas. No, I was not one of those divers.

I found a nice road cutting across the Yucatan making it a 2 1/2 hr drive instead of 6 hour one.. So I'll be going back soon. Weather permitting.

Mahahual really is a beautiful place, for now. Once they open up the "Hard Rock" et el it will likely go the way of Playa and Cancun.

not a geyser of any sort...think more stationary and placid...."the highest...." something in the world.

Nevados Ojos del Salado?

I know you like volcanos, Tul...but I'm not a volcano, even though that is a glorious one and it's also the second highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere.

However...you are so close that I can see you! So if you think "body of water" and include the words "Ojos del Salado" you will most likely find me. As an aside, Ojos del Salado sounds like it could orange juice salad.

Laguna Verde?

And Ojos are "eyes" and del is "of the" Salado I'm not so sure, sound like salty something to me. But my Spanish sucks, I could be way off with all of that.