Waiting for a Pod

Tags

mainland, virtual travel, Yavascript Pod

Waiting for a Pod in Serpentata

Real life and virtual life calls for resilience and hopefully graceful adaptation to change.

My learning of the suspended operations of the YavaScript Mainland Pod Tours was received from Inara Pey’s blog, and Second Life Newser, after I’d noticed chatter in the Pod Riders group. In the photo above I’m sitting by the road on a Linden bench in front of a newly constructed parcel in Serpentata that a friend and I are renting from Xiraz.

Waiting for a Pod in Rosieri

This weekend I’ve done a casual photo shoot of mainland parcels where I create spaces, almost always in collaboration with others, focusing on parcels on Pod routes. There is often seating near the road/tracks/water from which to leap up and jump into a passing Pod.

The Rosieri parcel belongs to a land group owned by Kate Silver.

Waiting for a Pod in Shipton

All these parcels were selected with travel in mind. The Mainland is where I first began to find value in, and also to feel more safe in the virtual world. Traveling on a route, I’d pick up landmarks to places that looked worth exploring, or I’d stand up and poke around immediately.  The Shipton Rest Area by the SLRR is owned by Vera Ruchames, and created by Klaus and me.

Waiting for a Pod in Jiminy

This route is in the snowlands on Amundsen Road. When we were alert enough, we could hop in a passing Pod from this distance. Sometimes we’d have to fly to catch up or teleport the other avatar. Fortunately, there’s a rez zone in front of this parcel.

It’s easier to type conversation when riding.

Waiting for a Pod in Aglia

Most of these favorite parcel locations were found while traveling via YavaScript Pod. Here, the trains were often noisy enough to hear them arriving in the area. Aglia Station is nearby, so we can still rez a trolley. Sometimes other avatars will catch a ride in trains we’re driving.

Waiting for a Pod in Hookton

For years the 2Girly Shop in Quentin was located close to the road where the background buildings in the above photo are now. There were two old rocking chairs out front. I’ve rented a tiny Markland parcel nearby, and rezzed two chairs. A notecard can be found in the telephone with landmarks to mainland destinations.

When collecting the pics for this “album” I was amused to see that a lovely fresco I’d  made several years ago has now been tagged.

Waiting for a Pod in Erzulie

Sure, we can still ride horses, or wearable or rezzed vehicles. I enjoy that, and sometimes it takes too much energy and attention.

Waiting for a Pod in Baddest

I love the mainland. As a friend has reminded me, not everyone wants to live on Bellisseria, and spend all their time in clubs or shopping. In my more cornered moments I would add or “dating”, or supporting the art careers of others non-reciprocally, or being distracted with Straw Men after expressing an opinion.

Waiting for a Pod in Sedge

When a topic of conversation would come to a natural end, it was fun to leap off this rooftop onto a passing Pod. There is a nearby YavaScript station that was operational on Friday, and I believe they will continue to be functioning.

Checking the land description on this parcel, there is evidence that the graffiti on the front of the villa, in a place we were unlikely to see it, has been there since July.  Exploring the Mainland this weekend, we noticed a quite a bit more tagging, and I hope this does not end badly.

Waiting for a Pod in Crameri

The Crameri parcel is a Markland rental where I set up a park on the ground and an exhibit of Hilma af Klint art in the sky. There were Pod routes going in both directions.

Walking through the Wandaland Port across the road in Alcis, I could sip champagne outdoors and wait for a boat going by in either direction.

Waiting for a Pod in Montara

The 512 plot under the Hooper Bridge had just been listed for sale as Kate Silver and I rode by in a boat. In addition to boats going by in both directions, there were routes on the bridge road just a few steps away.

Waiting for a Pod in Spini

There isn’t roadside seating on my small rental (Xiraz) in Spini, but vehicles can be rezzed on the parcels on both sides. I haven’t noticed the improvements in sim crossings yet; I’ve experienced substantial crashes and lag the last few days which might be my internet connection.

Waiting for a Pod In Wetas

I respect Yavanna Lianfair’s decision to choose her health first. As someone who lives with neurological and fatigue issues, I tend to believe in simply taking someone’s word for it when they say they need and want to take better care of their health.

The rental (Xiraz) in Wetas has a seat cushion near the road, as well as tai chi balls (transparent) in the yard.

Waiting for a Pod in Taeniatum

Elle Thorkveld’s Cultured Goats Gallery is close to the High Mountain Road in Taeniatum, one of my favorite roads for horse riding. And sometimes Pod riding. I exhibit some art there and Klaus and I have also set up a Last Drop Cafe.

Waiting for a Pod in Spike

Pod watching seating in Spike took a bit more work to construct. The vehicles would pause for the sim crossing in front, giving an avatar a few seconds more time to scramble.

Waiting for a Pod in Ambulyx

The boats would go by in one direction here, the direction where it was easier to notice them arriving.

I don’t multi-task well, and when I’m sitting and working on something I sometimes get incoming IMs in which the conversation takes some time to conclude. A pleasant solution is often to hop into a Pod to entertain the other part of my brain not involved in the chat.

Waiting for a Pod in Patagonia

Here we could drink and socialize, then go for a ride if we got restless.

Waiting for a Pod in Rosewood

In Rosewood the Pods would go by very fast and more often than other places, sometimes aiding an altered sense of time. There’s a coffee shop on the ground, and an art gallery in the sky exhibiting the works of Hedda Sterne and William H. Johnson. This land is rented from Markland.

Waiting for a Pod in Eschen

My friend and colleague Klaus and I created a small roadside park in Eschen for salsa dancing and hanging out. An avatar can currently walk down the hill over abandoned land to SH Tutti Creations gallery. It is a short ride to and from Rosewood.

This “album” of very current photos showing the importance of mainland traveling to my virtual life has 19 pictures! This is in addition to all the spaces made by friends, acquaintances, and strangers that I can arrive at by means other than via teleportation.

I’m unable to foresee when this will be resolved. I’ll continue to enjoy my favorite projects, engage with my good, kind friends, and explore the interesting, heart-warming and sometimes ridiculous parcels on the mainland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Drop Cafe ~ Chain of Coffee Shops

Tags

Last Drop Cafe, mainland, MBeatrix, Veyot, virtual coffee shop

Last Drop Cafe in Montiaur

For those of you who travel the mainland, have you come across a Last Drop Cafe? It began with one, and now there are nine. They are operated and decorated by different avatars, and are on at least four continents. The parcel sizes range from 192 – 1024 square meters.

The Cafe in Montiaur is operated by MBeatrix and Veyot. “Oh no, that lady at the Cafe is moving furniture again! But, come in and have some coffee and a sandwich.”

Last Drop Cafe in Craggen Maw

This shows the inside of the Cafe in Craggen Maw. The low Li, small footprint buildings were given to us by the builder, MBeatrix. Veyot and she operate this shop. There’s a gorgeous garden on the grounds with spring flowers and trees.

“Take the Last Drop Challenge! Can you visit all nine cafes? You can drive to the one at Chapala if you study the map a little. Take the free car or the bike outside and travel!”

Last Drop Cafe in Chapala

The shop in Chapala is on the smallest parcel – 192 sq m. It is operated by Klaus Bereznyak and me. One weekend, a large group of avatars did indeed travel from Craggen Maw to this location. Some of us continued on, while the rest of us sat and chatted.

Soon, there will be a notecard with a route mapped out to travel from this location to a different type of Cafe in Stanlee, at the end of West Coast Road, owned by Ann Forbes. The notecard will include rez zone landmarks along the way, and will be located inside a jar in the front yard.

“Cafe near rez zone. Art. Posters. Welcome. Get landmarks for the other Last Drop Cafes from the news vendor machine.”

Last Drop Cafe in Leafminer

The Coffee Shop in this location is part of Xiraz in Leafminer. It’s located near Leafminer Park and Mole Mart. There is a taxi rezzer out front. Avatars can travel be road to and from the Coffee Shop in Rustic.

Last Drop Cafe in Rustic

The Coffee Shop in Rustic is owned by Dawnie Macarthur. There’s seating out front overlooking the water, and pod boats go by at 8 minutes after the hour.  “Have your coffee on the deck by the water.”

Last Drop Cafe in Wyrd

The Last Drop Cafe at Wyrd is located on the continent of Satori, and gorgeously decorated by Seraphim Placebo. “Always open. Watch for our cafes wherever you travel.”

Zoe’s Last Drop Cafe at Shoshin Lodge

This is the only snowlands coffee shop so far. It’s located at Shoshin Lodge in Kendall. The Lodge, owned by Zoe Foodiboo, is open to the  public too.

“Welcome weary travelers! Come in, relax, warm up, make yourself something to eat. Rest up before you continue on your journey through the snowlands of Sansara.”

Last Drop Cafe in Taeniatum

The SLurl for this Cafe at Cultured Goats will take you directly inside the building. It is located on a very steep hill. You can climb down a ladder to a small park in front, or use the teleporter to access the treehouse art gallery above. The High Mountain Road is very close by, above the gallery. The parcel is owned by Elle Thorkveld, and the cafe is decorated by Klaus and me. “Art + Goats + Cafe”

Last Drop Cafe in Rosewood

This location is on the rocky land in Rosewood, just off Circuit La Corse.  It’s operated by Klaus and myself, and there are other things to look at and places to hang out on the small parcel called Last Drop Cafe and Dimensional Way Station. The black news vendor shown out front in the photo above contains a notecard with all the landmarks to the other locations.

“Welcome kindly avatars. Last Drop Cafe. Art. Hedda Sterne & William H. Johnson exhibit in sky gallery. Teleporter on outside wall in back of the parcel.”

My previous post is regarding the exhibit in the sky in Rosewood.

Veyot and MBeatrix have been inspiring with this project I’ve enjoyed the last month or so.

 

 

 

 

 

Wanderlust Art Park ~ July – August 2018

Tags

mainland, Quentin, Sansara, Wanderlust Bench Art Park

Even with the summer slow down and a rapidly changing world, almost all the art at Wanderlust Bench Art Park is new for July and August. There’s about two weeks left to visit before the refresh happens the beginning of September.

From left to right above, pieces by myself, serra Qendra and Wheedle.

There’s never a theme and I always look forward to seeing what avatars choose to exhibit and how it always seems to come together in my view.

Horses by Klaus Bereznyak and landscape by Veyot.

The 512 parcel in Quentin has been exhibiting works by various artists for almost two and a half years! From avatars who make one 2D picture every two months, to more prolific creators, exhibiting at the park and Wanderlust Cafe is an alternative or addition to other types of galleries.

From left to right, screen by Lynette Trinity, digital art by Lil Mint and Elle Thorkveld.

We have a video, a short story slideshow set at Tralala’s Diner by Tralala Loordes. Photographs and story by Klaus Bereznyak.

A first time exhibitor at this outdoor gallery, Amy Inawe has a gorgeous painting called Splash, in the left of the photo. The image next to it by Klaus Bereznyak, contains his written essay, Out Loud.

The photo taken in The Birdhouse shows two levels; upstairs contains a hideout with a digital piece I’d made for another project; downstairs a 5 panel story, photos I took with text by Klaus.

A colorful floor vase by Lynette Trinity.

Photographs by Seraphim Placebo.

The ground floor of the Wanderlust Cafe Gallery shows paintings by Giselle Seeker.

Upstairs, graphic art by Lil Mint.

The installation I put together on the roof of Wanderlust Cafe was inspired by the banlines from the correctional facility next door.

 

Touring Part of Route 8

Tags

mainland, Route 8, Satori

Like many other parts of the mainland, Route 8 has had many changes along the road during the last few months. I happened upon this stretch of highway after visiting a dystopian sim with a friend. We’d seen photos on Flickr, teleported in to explore, and then noticed on the world map that it was on the continent of Satori. We decided to see if we could walk across abandoned land to the road; yes, we could.

There is always a gentle rain on the 512 parcel shown in the photo above, just off Route 8 in Granville.

It soon became apparent that this part of Route 8 has many places welcoming to the public although there are private homes too. I saw a gacha resale and several service stations.

Shown above is Mustang Trading Post, Maplegrove.

Shown above, the Garden Cafe “Familia Loca”, in Milaniovic. There’s a bicycle rezzer near the road.

There’s also a bike rezzer at Yankee Truck Stop in Zvjaginsev.

A 256 sq m parcel in Ibranic, #BardDesire#, is open to the public.

There are facilities on a tiny parcel in Nagarjuna; it’s actually a prim farm. I first wanted to do this post because of an interesting place across the road that had film and photography sets. It’s now under construction by the same owner.

We’re ending today at Red’s Mystery Shack.  It’s an interesting place with a group joiner for The Drivers of SL. I have a few photos taken here for another post.

 

 

 

Flash Creativity at “Another Coffee Shop”

Tags

Another Coffee Shop, mainland, Veyot

Here’s a cool collaborative project on the mainland that I like: Another Coffee Shop in Pahto.

The 4224 sq m parcel is rated Moderate. From the land description: “coffee shop, rooms with views, art, grunge, privacy
Now located in the sky!”

by Beatrix

 

The owner, Veyot, rezzed a compact, grungy city with a coffee shop and gallery rooms. One day she looked at her contact list of the avatars who were online at the time, offered one of five rooms to decorate, and the first five to respond got a space to work with.

by NodesOfYesod

The results are splendid; a fun project indeed.

by ChrysTeRox

By the way, I’m aware that some things simply do not rez for me on my viewer, so apologies for anything missing in the photos.

by Dawnie Macarthur

There are poses for photography in the compact city in the sky; a teleporter leads to a park area on the  ground.

by Laserskater

The above photo does not show the whole room; watch out.

Once again, I’m appreciative of those who create these sorts of sims for people to participate in and visit in our world.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Route 10 ~ Lill Burn Valley to Haetae

Tags

Hetae, Jeogeot, Lill Burn Valley, mainland, Route 10, Second Life, secondlife

Continuing over the bridge, where I stopped in Lill Burn Valley on Route 10 in Jeogeot, which I posted about here, I noticed the striping on the paving changed to indicate where it is, and is not, safe to pass as the road goes through rolling hills.

The photo above was taken in Katipo.

The next sims are, very briefly, Wetas, then Craggen Maw for a longer stretch of road, Busby and then Brouwer where photos number 2, 3 and 4 were taken.

This bridge is by Mighty Mole of Linden Department of Public Works. The steps lead to a border of banlined land and land that was abandoned a month ago. These photos were taken September 19, 2017.

Above, also in Brouwer, shows guard rails by the side of the road going briefly into Moa. Then the terrain is flatter through Mouse Point, which is very sparsely built on at this time.

Otaki Gorge and then Bandicoot are populated with many shops on the ground, close to the road. There are what appear to be parks and private parcels as well, some things towering into the sky, lots of foliage and ambient nature sounds. From what I recall of travels during past years, there’s been a lot going on here for some time.

In Numbat there appears to be much more open land.  Further on, still in Numbat and then Drews, there’s a guard rail on the left side of the road. In Drews, residents have constructed retaining walls in the valley.

Next in Oolamoo, guard rails are on both sides of the road and then there’s another bridge.

Still not any water except far in the distance.

The bridge is the same style as one I’ve recently shown on Route 10.

The road is fairly straight through flat land in Arang.

We rest again at this bus shelter by Michael Linden in Hetae. (“bus fares are very low”)

There have been at least two bus shelters rezzed by residents that I’ve noticed on this Route 10 journey so far.

Hopefully we’ll pick up the journey looking at virtual mainland infrastructure next week again.

Route 10 ~ Silvercreek to Lill Burn Valley

Tags

Jeogeot, mainland, Route 10, Second Life, secondlife, Yavascript Pod

Beginning where I last stopped on Route 10, Jeogeot which I blogged here, I crossed this bridge which was not nearly as long as I expected. I approached the bridge in Silvercreek and walked off it in Aberhart.

There are some very noisy gulls around the bridge which weren’t nearly as challenging as the security orbs while I was snapping photos.

Not much further on is this small bridge over a dry gully in Cambrian.

Trees and shrubs are very sparse along this stretch of road. There is Linden foliage mixed with resident purchased trees and shrubs a little ways off the road shoulder.  I didn’t investigate as the first bridge took much longer to photograph than I anticipated.

In Sien Lok I saw a bench by Garden Mole. The description promises (naughty poses!).

On the other side of the road, close by is a guard rail.

In Dalhousie the road paving changes.

I continued on through Crowfoot and arrived at the Route 9/10 Intersection Rez Zone in Quenloo.  There was an avatar standing by the side of the road, perhaps waiting for a passing POD.

There are trees, bushes and flowers near the intersection. The crossing beacons are by Garden Mole. The large tree is an 11 Li sculpt also by Garden Mole. These trees are constantly moving which is very noticeable  from quite a distance away.

Across the intersection, continuing Route 10 in Deltide, the paving changes again.

There’s another rez zone in Hangflame Ridge. Next, in Quiet Mile, the name of the road changes to Protected Land, Quiet Mile, then back to Route 10 in Blue Hound.

Route 10 continues through Badly Moor, Trumbull, Auriga, Wollendilly and Lill Burn Valley. (I especially like the names Badly Moor and Wollendilly.)

What stood out for me on this stretch or road was the very sharp edged terrain on the shoulder. This photo was snapped at the rez zone in Trumbull.

I ended this part of my journey in Lill Burn Valley at a bridge by Mighty Mole.  It’s possible that by riding a POD through the area you might learn info and history in local text that is offered on many POD tours.

These photos were taken on September 12, 2017.