Wait... 2.1k of the *tonnage* in passengers??

Nah, 2.1k passenger population. I updated the text to remove the incorrect "of which"s to clarify for future readers, thanks.

Sad to see no larger sizes on the clickthrough (and quite a few look distorted too!) but at least you pieced together quite a solid taste of it after all.

Yeah, sorry about one size and distortion. First photo article with a lot to get through from a variety of sources. Next one will be better.

Looks & sounds indeed like what Panama could have been, as I recall you saying.

I think it was Chad that said the could've been. In fairness to Panama, they have the canal and had banking, both of which Hawaii never had. Panama also probably has had more "Unco" business flow than Hawai'i could dream of. Since Panama has lost the banking for all intents and purposes, they're attempting to make a shift to tourism. If Panama could get to Hawai'i's level of service it'd be a whole new ball game here, but I'm not holding my breath.

Good on Grandma for the ability and will to make it happen!

Yes, cheers to Grandma.

Sad to see no larger sizes on the clickthrough (and quite a few look distorted too!) but at least you pieced together quite a solid taste of it after all. Looks & sounds indeed like what Panama could have been, as I recall you saying.

Good on Grandma for the ability and will to make it happen!

It isn't impossible to have fun in Franklin County.

I can for sure see it and the brief visit I made in Sept 2016 was enjoyable indeed. It was the first time I'd visited since probably 2003-2004. We made a lot more visits in the 90s, but I'll never forget stepping into the St. Louis airport and smelling the sweet smell of the crops in the air. Of course it's more pungent in the farm lands, but I was like, "Yep, this is the spot I remember." Wasn't expecting to remember the smell, but the memory couldn't be ignored.

Rend Lake has plenty of panfish to pull out of there, and it is one of the cleaner southern Illinois lakes. Very nice contrast to Carlyle lake where the fish in the lake itself are boring and the fun is to be had in the spillway. Benton's a town. The way I-57 isolates Rend Lake College from Ina is an instructive illustration of how US planners will anti-optimize location because there's simply so much land.

I've definitely been on Rend Lake and my grandmother was an administrator at Rend Lake College for a couple decades.

Benton's still had a downtown last time I was there.

My great uncle was co-owner of Western Auto, a parts dealer on the southside of the square, which he ran for a couple decades until he got older and Walmart started taking over in the 90s.

Kick over to the west a bit through Sesser and you can get to US 51 and one of the better drives in and out of Carbondale.

During my '16 visit we drove 51S to Coben Orchard for some cider and pie and then further down to Anna for ice cream. Was a beautiful day and a beautiful drive.

I've more miles leaving Carbondale where Grandma lives on 13 to 57. Great Grandparents both grew up and lived in Akin and Mother grew up in W. Frankfurt on a farm on the #9 blacktop. I love those roads.

Franklin county is definitely a place, moreso than Jackson, Saint Clair, or Marion Counties. Definitely much sadder places exist in rural Illinois.

Even so with the decline of coal production ?

P.S. Love the little detour this thread has taken :)

Aha yup the conditions look pretty similar to my beginner wave spot - small waves in a place where you can stand. The place where I take noobs has an island a little further out that serves as swell protection - preventing waves from passing the 6 feet mark. The spot in this clip possibly can have big waves depending on the conditions.

Cool, sounds perfect for me. I've never stood up on a board and will look forward to it when I make a visit.

It's a bummer losing your camera / not backing up the photos. But anyways you collaged quite a good set from your friends/family's photos. The trip looks like it was pretty damn fun. I like the attire you picked for the beach in the last few picks, lol.

Yeah, overall I'm happy with how it came out. While the scar will remain, putting this together did a lot to heal the wound.

Re: the attire, heh, I was on my way to the airport and had no intention of dipping in the ocean. The couple degree cooler Hawai'i is compared to Panama City combined with polite mists that make the rainbows, but don't get you wet make a huge difference in terms of comfort level.

If I find the time I'll have to get some champagne flutes and try to make the French75 for myself.

Champagne flutes is optional, it'll taste the ~same in a solo cup. Be careful though, it's a sneaky drink that's named after a cannon for a reason. Sip on it and let it endure. Cheers !

Franklin county is definitely a place, moreso than Jackson, Saint Clair, or Marion Counties. Definitely much sadder places exist in rural Illinois.

It's a bummer losing your camera / not backing up the photos. But anyways you collaged quite a good set from your friends/family's photos. The trip looks like it was pretty damn fun. I like the attire you picked for the beach in the last few picks, lol.

If I find the time I'll have to get some champagne flutes and try to make the French75 for myself.