Yup. Your refresh button is working better than mine. Hoping to snag a screen shot from here.

 

Dear Tiger,

The Panama Canal is the other way. See it there in your rear view mirror? Yes, that's it. Thanks.

Ehans

 

Maybe they're going to just stick it in Reverse and back up thru there, E.

 

And it looks like they dropped anchor about 8 miles off.

Its an 18 hour transit, so... they might get underway later and complete the first leg, and anchor for the night in Lake Gatun. Then, complete the rest of the transit through the canal tomorrow. Or... they may wait until tomorrow and start the transit early afternoon.

 

Well it looks like all of us on here that ordered 2013 made the right choice.. The F56 looks hideous

 

I hope its the photo... The ones I've seen look like bugs on steroids.

 

WolfsBane from the photos ive seen.. I agree...bugs on some serious steroids!!

 

So I can finally understand the frustration with MINI OL...jiminie crickets.

 

I'm not a huge fan of what I am seeing, but I'll almost guarantee it'll look better in person. The angles on those photos are doing it no favors. Not to mention, there appears to be some distortion (or an optical illusion) going on in a few of the photos.

That being said, as a former design student, I do not envy any MINI designer that has had to evolve what Frank Stephenson did with the R50/R53. In my mind, there are few things more difficult that evolving/redesigning a retro-inspired design like the MINI. Seriously, how many of the "retro cars" have had successful second generation designs? Most of them haven't stuck around past their first generation...PT Cruiser, HHR, Thunderbird, Prowler. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the next generation (if there is one) of the Fiat 500, Camaro, Challenger...

Of the retro designs that have gone at least 2 generations, the New Beetle was stagnant for 10-years before VW re-sculpted the fenders and seemed to call it the next New Beetle. Now they've tried to go all 356 with the latest New Beetle, and it just looks awkward. Seriously, it's not a Porsche...just stop it.

The Mustang is probably the best example so far. The first generation retro 2005-2009, and the redesign 2010-current did an even better job IMO. It'll be interesting to see the next generation Mustang...I'm curious if it will follow Ford's Aston Martin branding exercise, or if it will continue to be retro-inspired.

The MINI is now going on it's third redesign. While I still love the R50/R53 as the best of the MINI designs, the R56 was a pretty good re-interpretation of that original retro-inspired design. I'm holding off judgement until I see an F56 in person...though like I said...the angle, distortion, and Euro pedestrian impact regulations don't seem to be doing the front of this F56 any favors. So just a little perspective before we all jump off a bridge, and proclaim the the MINI brand is being destroyed.

 

What? Just because the MINI OL says my Clubman is at the VDC in Baltimore...yet it's ~750 miles away, sitting at my dealer right now, waiting for me to come pick her up tomorrow evening.

 

Thanks for your calming post.. I do agree with you.. I do bet it looks a lot better in person...Plus I want to see some more normal photos of this F56.. Or better yet I want to see the real thing... I cant wait to see it in person!

 

Well that and the two dozen or so attempts to actually log into the system give me a 'wrong login' or other error message.

 

Thanks! And oh, I did, trust me! Now the fireworks are in full force! The 4th is next!

 

Ok... anyone have the cell number of the captain of the Tiger? This ain't no summer cruise. Be docking in Manzanillo for some R&R, parking the boat in the Caribbean Sea catching some rays, watching the babes on the beaches. He's got some serious cargo on there and I'm gonna remind him of that!

He needs to get busy and get to SoCal.

 

Congrats to all those that got their babies!
My wife and I are up in Delaware this weekend where I'm giving a talk and she already is looking for roads to make a MINIcation out of. I found several excuses to leave work today to go motoring and offered to pick up extra groceries tonight to get more miles in :D

For the rest on the boats, ESP the Tiger, if I could give you some of my patience I would, but I used mine all up. :p

 

Hey, I'll be in your area for the day - Do you want me to stop by your dealer and test drive your MINI to make sure everything's OK?

 

Only if I can test drive yours!

 

The Tiger is finally under way again. Have to leave shortly so not sure I'll get that screen capture through the locks.

 

Looks like she has a ways to go before getting to the Gatun Lock.

 

Well, according to the map I am looking at, the Hanjin is about 3000ft from the lock and I saw it on the webcam a few minutes ago. I was thinking the webcam lock faced the ocean, but it seems to face Gatun Lake. I think it takes an hour to traverse the lock and the Tiger is 5,000-6,000ft from the lock max traveling at 3.7knots right now.

So, 2hrs I figure she'll be through phase 1. Just hoping I get a snapshot.

 

EHans

I think the camera faces Limon Bay. The Tiger is visible, just entering the lock, take a look.

 

The Tombarra has reached Halifax!

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...ntery=44.62074

My Bayswater made it to Canadian soil -- on Canada Day!!! How fitting!!!

LINER RELEASE / HALIFAX, NS / 01-07-2013 16:25:37

Is there a way to track the rest of my MINI's trip?

 

Boston Express is now going through the Gatun Lock. Next in line, The Tiger.

 

I don't think so. if you look out of the lock towards the atlantic, on an overhead google map, there is just a channel, then open water. If you look on the Gatun lake side, there is an island, and that is what the webcam shows.

Right now, the ship is anchored at the lock entrance.

No, wait, now at 0.9 knots, so it just entered the first lock. The Boston Express and Kyra Zafira are nearing the 3rd lock.

I could be 100% wrong, but it fits all of the images and maps I am looking at.

 

Oh - WAIT!!!

You are looking at a different camera! Yeay, the "high res" is looking at the bay like you said and there she is - the Tiger!

Cool. Can see it coming and going.