Route 2 ~ Manduca to Consular

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Second Life, The Atoll

It’s been exactly three months since I left off exploring Route 2 on Heterocera which I posted about here.  In some ways it seems like a very short time ago, in other ways it feels like my human has lived a lifetime since then.

We begin again at the rez zone in Manduca.

Some of these photos will look similar but the route is interesting with signs of life on the left, along the coast. This post is about the infrastructure; so the bench and trash bin by Garden Mole appear here, rather than the mansion on the left.

Still in Manduca, there’s a retaining wall on the right. I like seeing that the land is not jagged and irregularly chopped up like so many areas of the mainland.

The road and retaining wall continue into Modesta. Moving into Girdier, there’s much more vegetation on the right and a rez zone on the left near a Bikers Bar.

The road paving changes for a bridge. There are lamps by Garden Mole along the sides.

Still in Girdier, this space on the right is not a rez zone or pod stop; there’s no bench or trash bin. There are many occupied residences on the left, quite a few with banlines.

Moving into Echo, the paving changes briefly for a raised area in the road.

Still in Echo, there’s a bench where one can stop and enjoy the sea view.  The cave on the left of the photo holds a club; the place on the right is also open to the public.

A rez zone in Echo.

Next you pass through Dahana, then Scoopwing.

An old wood seat by Bloomin Mole just before entering Sedge.

There are several areas with trees and benches on the right where you can pause and view the sea.

Still in Sedge, we turned left to continue Route 2. There is a small park.

The road right is the Inland Cutoff where you would shortly see a pod station if you’re tired of walking or driving.

The rez zone in Oakworm.

The appearance of the road changes while still in Oakworm and on into Consular.

And here is where we end our journey for now, in Consular, where the wood plank road changes back to stone paving.

 

 

 

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Route 2 ~ Emmelia to Manduca

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Route 2

Continuing my Route 2 journey on Heterocera Atoll near where I left off here, I begin again where the road makes a sharp turn to the left in Emmelia.

Not to much further the Jota Rezzing Area is found on the left of the road.

There are many ferns and shrubs along the road as well as a few barrels and old telegraph poles by Garden Mole. Through Algira there seems to be a lot of ranching and farming going on.

There’s a rest stop on the right in Algira.

A little further on the road begins to hug the coastline more closely. The above photo was taken in Togata.

Bridge in Togata.

The road changes a little further on.

There’s a rez zone in Togata. Pods stop here.

In the photo above, you can see a bench to the right. Perhaps to ponder whether you want to enter the tunnel or not.

The road paving changes again. On the left of the road, more signs warn of deep water.

This is what it looked like above the tunnel.

Entering the tunnel, I found myself in Moma. There were huge spiders. I soon found my self in Tiger when I exited.

There were several lights and a bench along the road.

The wood plank road curves around the land, still in Tiger.

There’s a guardrail made by Bloomin Mole and set up by Garden Mole on the right. Very briefly, I took a few steps in Congrua.

A few steps further on, in Manduca, there’s a rez zone. This shot is looking back the way I just walked.

Until next time.

Route 2 ~ Epione to Emmelia, Heterocera

Tags

Heterocera, Linden Department of Public Works, Route 2, The Atoll

Having finished a series of posts focused on the virtual infrastructure of Route 10 in Jeogeot about a month ago, I am resuming on Route 2 in Epione on Heterocera.

I am beginning where Route 2 meets Mock Heather Road. These photos were taken about a month ago so I am checking the route again to make sure that no huge craters or other disasters have happened to make the area unrecognizable.

Moving from Epione to Siona, I discover that the wonderful land that was for sale last month has been sold but there is a security orb.

That is wonderful Drongolia shown in the background.

The bridge looks like this on the road.

Entering Gnoma, I couldn’t help but notice the terrible proliferation of sage grass and disrepair.

I walked through Ridens, Viciae, Albulata and Brithys. The road had fewer sage bushes in some stretches.

I called in map-reading backup here in Brithys where there is a road to the left. (Route 2 veers sharply to the left a little further on.)

A few steps further straight ahead we entered Emmelia with the Emelia Rez Zone on the left.

And to confirm we were going in the right direction.

You can buy the Linden Department of Public Works Manhole Cover for L$0.

A little further on, still in Emmelia, is a bridge.

The bridge from the side.

Many times there are interesting things to see under the LDPW bridges.

Including under water.

It’s just after this bridge that Route 2 turns sharply to the left.

 

Halloween at Tickety-Boo

Tags

Antique Grid Show Hunt, Cristat, Halloween, Heterocera, Park Way, Tickety-Boo

Autumn is my favorite season. I’m not really into Halloween but I don’t mind people enjoying it. Recently I made time to check out Tickety-Boo when I saw they made a destination at their place in Cristat off Park Way.

There are lots of rats, mostly in the creepy motel, with some gory scenes there and in the old mansion.

The demo area for the brand’s builds is on a sky platform. I have several of the builds, including The Wizard House, and have decorated spaces in some that my friends own.

They’ve been in this location for years but things change and move around on the ground; I like visiting.

There’s also a gift, a pumpkin house!

The new outfit I’m wearing is a Hunt Prize from Cog and Fleur in the Antique Grid Show Autumn Hunt going on through October 21.

Autumn in Olde Lapara Towne

Tags

art, baker Bloch, Heterocera, Levi Clownski, mainland, Olde Lapara Towne, The Atoll, Veyot, Wanderlust Art Truck Tour

Autumn season is well underway in Olde Lapara Towne. Halloween decorations are scattered about to just the right degree. I first discovered the town several years ago while riding the train on The Atoll during the winter. It travels right past.

In one of the parks, the Wanderlust Art Truck has camped for the month of October. This is the 11th stop on the tour which began in March of this year.  The landing is in a small gallery with directions to the nearby park.

The current land description for this area: “Olde Lapara Towne hosts the Wanderlust Art Truck this October. Paintings and sculptures in an outdoor setting. Trains connect to the rest of the town. Halloween decor is in the Grand Lapara Hotel. The Coolest Town on the mainland!”

Here is a view looking in the direction of the train tracks.

“Old Lapara Towne is the best city on Second Life.  We are located at the top of the atoll, near the mainlands highest peaks.

The town is seven years old, consists of four layers, including subway and elevated rail lines, plenty of roads, parks, buildings, and walking trails.

In addition, maintenance work, and upgrades are continuously being applied to the city and its infrastructure.​

The town does not follow a strict theme.  It is my homage to days gone by.  Originally founded to be a steampunk, and then a 1920’s sim, it morphed and probably follows more of a 1950’s to 1970’s atmosphere, where you will see an old car, and a more modern vintage car in the same area.  Once in a while, a steam engine will make an appearance.”  ~ Levi Clownski

There is much more detailed information on the Olde Lapara Towne website.

 

The photo above was taken on the upper level of Clownski’s Window Art. You can do a Viennese Waltz and then get something to eat.

“Monument to the original department stores. Come and maybe catch a show at Clownski’s! Gawk at the authentic window displays! Easy Tram access to downtown Lapara.”

Halloween Haunted Hotel

“Take a stroll through scenic Old Lapara Towne; envelope yourself and your speciel someone in the romance of early 20th century America. The ORIGINAL mainland tram train streetcar city; accept no imitations. Ghostly Hotel!!!”

Lapara continues to be an inspiration for creativity for other avatars, including as a subject for several blog posts by Veyot.

Grand Lapara Ballroom

Olde Lapara Towne has also been a main setting for a graphic novel just completed in September by baker Bloch. A page with six links to each of the six parts can be found here.

The Bodega Market on the southwest corner of the town currently holds a collection of collages by baker, on exhibit now.

“Red door bar in back.
Art Gallery Upstairs
Teleporter inside door”

The infrastructure in Lapara is amazing. There are numerous vehicles and ambient sounds, including Halloween for the season.

If you get lost, just hop into one of the many moving vehicles.

Olde Lapara Towne is a fine example of the imagination and dedication of Second Life avatars that I so admire. There’s much to see here; make some time to let things rez.

I will be filming for the documentary series I’m doing for all the stops on the Wanderlust Art Truck tour at various times throughout the month. Volunteer actors welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

Naturum ~ Oculea Nature Refuge

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Oculea, Oculea Nature Refuge, Second Life, secondlife, The Atoll

In Oculea on The Atoll, just off Route 1, is a 1024 sq m parcel called Naturum, Oculea Nature Refuge.

From the land description: “Hobos, discarded robots, establishment throwaways, counter-culture insurgents, guerrillas and subversives are all welcome.”

There’s more foliage here than many of the drier, decayed places in the neighborhood so the textures might take a little longer to load.

There are some very basic hobo amenities in the shack. Also available, information on Timothy Leary and Paganism.

If you don’t feel like learning anything, you can go outside and check the garden and listen to the birds.

There’s a radio tower.

A low treehouse holds some bright and cheery decor for the wandering avatar who wants to rest.

The grass is getting high. There are no goats that I could see but a chicken that’s managed to avoid ending up on the grill and also a shy peacock.

An inviting parcel by Evola Courtois which has been here a while.

 

 

Chandra House, Samia

Tags

Chandra House, Heterocera, Samia, Sandgrass Road, Second Life, The Atoll

Very recently I found a new-to-me parcel called Chandra House, just off Sandgrass Road on the Atoll. I would have passed it by as a private place but for the large welcome sign near the road. There were vehicle rezzers near the entrance; I saw a bike rezzer and near the large home is a dandelion to fly with.

There are numerous areas to hang out all over the parcel which turned out to be much larger than it first appeared. The SLurl reads: “Welcome to Chandra House & Beach 18+ – Naturists welcome, Samia. Moderate”.

The doors of the large house opened as I walked by but I chose to explore the outdoors instead.

I really liked the nature sounds which were different in each area. You can hear the wind in the field where the horses are. The standing ones can be ridden.  I have my own horse I enjoy riding and these were new to me, “R^ Vehicle Wandering Riding Hourse- Bronze”, so I set out to explore further on horseback.

I hadn’t planned on exploring. While sitting at Neumoegen looking at land sales on the map I accidentally teleported into an abandoned field, walked to the road which I idly strolled down while in IMs.

Some of the descriptions change for the different areas, such as:”Welcome – Mature Area 18+ – Nudity Welcome
Respect a Must
Marina Club, Horse Riding, Beaches, & More”.

There are rezzers for sailboats, jet skis and bumper boats.

Taking snapshots from horseback wasn’t easy enough so I dismounted in a grove of falling coconuts. It was still in this area when I was ready to log so I rode it back to the stables.

There are some underwater places.

There’s a large party place.  “Welcome to Club Samia Marina- Adult 18 + Nudity Optional”.

There’s some Private Land, a Wiccan area, which is well marked near this part of the beach.

The Meditation Station is on a separate 480 sq m above the beach. When you press the piece above the portraits, near the top, chants of “Om Namah Siviaya” begin.  Or there’s a radio for Trance/Chill/Ambient music.

The land description here reads: “Through the portals of silence the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.”

The Enginehouse, Pavonia

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Pavonia, Sabre, Second Life, The Atoll, virtual trains, virtual worlds

High on a hillside on the Atoll stands an old enginehouse close to the sim border between Sabre and Pavonia.  The Route 6 Rez Zone in Sabre is here for vehicle rezzing.

I don’t recall seeing vehicles on the High Mountain Road; I like it for riding on horseback or walking. It is reasonably easy-going until a covered wall which has some holes I’ve needed to teleport out of.

Near the Enginehouse is a rusted, old vehicle which with the magic of pixels continues to produce steam.

A peek inside the Enginehouse.

There are a couple of privately owned cabins in the immediate area which appear welcoming to travelers.

On the other side of the Enginehouse is Pavonia station where you won’t have to wait too long for a train.

Or you can sit for a while if that is enjoyable in your Second Life.

The Chair Conservatory ~ Sedge

Tags

Heterocera, machinima, Second Life, Sedge, The Chair Conservatory, virtual exhbition

The Chair Conservatory, an exhibition on a sky platform in Sedge on the Atoll continent, has been used as a set for a music video.  The chair project grew out of a casual conversation about inventory, collections and creative expression being the right of everyone who so wished.

Simply, chairs from a couple of inventories were rezzed and settings were made to show them. It was amusing and fun to work on.

A Sitting Party had been planned for what turned out to be a difficult week in the U.S. after a harsh and draining season. Some of us carried on.

Avatars were encouraged to wear costumes and snap photos.

A project like this is something almost anyone can do, not requiring a lot of time and hours and hours of learning software.

Some people have lots of lamps. Some collect animals.

Auto return was turned off for a while and avatars rezzed favorite and/or silly chairs.

I made a 4:07 slideshow of the Sitting Party.

The Chair Conservatory is still open with sets changing from time to time. The public are welcome; photography and filming encouraged.

Blessed Thanksgiving

Tags

Heterocera, life, Second Life, Thanksgiving, The Atoll, Trainwatchers Station

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving if you celebrate it and a blessed day if you do not. Today’s photos were taken at Trainwatcher’s Station, a 512 plot on the Atoll, which exhibits a wonderful spirit that can still be found on the mainland.

From the land description: “For stranded train travelers. To rest, eat, read, wash up and hang your clothes to dry.”

Trainwatchers Station is in Taeniatum at the location of the previous Trainwatchers Cafe.

In the real world, we’re supposed to have freedom of speech here in the US. That’s one of the reasons people publicly air their lists of grievances. Most of us are becoming aware that things need to change; many of us have known for decades. 

Having endured long term injustices and intense, relentless suffering or simply being ignored too often and too long, it’s challenging for many to temper their speech.

Every which way I turn, there’s someone on social media or in the news who doesn’t know me as an individual, who would likely never have a care or thought about me, who is including me in some blanket statement about people of my gender, race, nationality, generation, sexual orientation, spiritual outlook, “social class”, education level, general political outlook and ability, etc.

After a while it becomes an annoying, saddening, slimy, droning background static.I have been treated badly and unfairly by all sorts of people. For me personally, most of it has been about my mystery illness which is mostly due to pesticides, heavy metals, viruses and trauma. We live in a world where if someone hasn’t experienced something, it doesn’t exist. It’s so easy to make judgments about someone’s character when there are unknown reasons for apparent behaviors.My approach is to not deny what is happening, to take responsibility as best I can, to live my life as though it matters, to work for societal and cultural change and to regard and treat others with respect and kindness. I tend to walk away when someone right in front of me doesn’t see or hear me as an individual, won’t get their face out of their electronics or their head out of their ass or obliviously stumbles through their life in a bubble. I don’t know what brought them to that point and I don’t have the energy to work at it.

Second Life ~ where you can bathe while washing your clothes and wave at passing train riders or empty trains.

In our virtual world, when I’m feeling well enough, I like to keep an open mind about people. I have met some lovely avatars here as well as some boors, perverts, emotional vampires, spiritual zombies and those who have no concept of equal footing and sharing. I strive to avoid being unkind and to walk away quickly; I don’t know why and how the human behind the avatar has arrived at that point.

I continue to mostly enjoy SL as a creative outlet no matter how many arrogant, stuck-up, snobby, disparaging, condescending avatars sling around words like “less than stellar, mediocre, monstrosity and the like. I have no intention of slinking away and hiding my learning and experimentation.

Creativity isn’t only for real life professional artists, people with art degrees, people with high end computers, those who work in the tech industry and those who are (at the moment) physically, mentally, emotionally and financially somewhat whole and stable.

Circumstances can change rapidly. A person or one of their loved ones can reach the threshold of their personal rain-barrel effect on this poisoned planet.  Again, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, have a blessed day. Keep smiling when you can, keep making stuff and sharing it and please be kind and patient.