Great Western Coffee Shop

From The BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-67747272)


I make that 100 miles per day.

Passages may still be possible on freight boats rather than overland (?) and a round the world cruise of around 100 days will get you from Somerset to Sydney in about half that time.

Much as I am an admire of this trip,its not for me,and I have been to Australia many times by plane and will do again soon.

Did they actually think how much they have saved for our World?

Just think of all the toilet facilities they have had to use on the trek.

This carbon footprint is in your head

Indeed - but then they have to use the toilet in Somerset and they've save doing so there for 100 days by being 100 days on the road.

It is true that their individual journey will have saved little if anything because the plane will flying anyway with empty seats BUT the influence on others to also make the change will bring a step change (initially of one) to the number of aircraft flying ...

You'd have to be pretty bendy to do that.

Use of toilet facilities and the carbon footprint thereof is a red herring.
Rather than travelling to Australia, they could have stayed at home, toilets still used.

Passenger travel on cargo ships is still possible and has much to commend it. Such ships burn a lot of polluting heavy oil but the EXtra fuel consumed by caryying a passenger is negligable.
The accomadation is generally a lot more spacious than that on a cruise ship.
No more than 12 passengers may be carried on most freight ships.

A friend has made several return voyages to the USA thus, and one to Australia. One voyage was alarming due to extreme weather, the others more routine.
Food included, alcohol extra, but at duty free prices NOT at cruise ship bar prices.

EXtra fuel consumed by caryying a passenger is negligable

A very true statement,but the same could be said for traveling by plane.

I don't think there was a toilet on every street corner on this land trip,we struggle to find toilets in our own country, and we live here.

If fewer passengers fly then the airlines will operate fewer flights or use smaller aircraft, they wont carry on operating near empty aircraft for long.
No freight shipping firm is going to cancel sailings due to fewer passengers, the ships sail primarliy for freight and still run if no passengers are on board.
The extra fuel used is minute, and is due to the extra weight of the passenger, luggage, and any extra consumables carried.

How about this an alternative to flying? Using the 'Greyhound' bus network to travel from New York to Los Angeles?

https://youtu.be/z8QGTaGwxxc?si=RuVH0jITcJb8Ov77

I know Theo Simon, though not well. He has been campaigning on green issues for very many years, and his band, Seize The Day, have played at numerous fundraising events for green groups, and are very good. He also stood as a parliamentary candidate a few years ago in his home constituency, and got a good vote.

I have had the same dilemma, as my two brothers both live in Australia, and I have never visited as I don't wish to fly, largely for environmental reasons though for others as well. I did spend a lot of time looking at how to get there without flying and it wasn't easy, and I'm not keen on travelling on a freight carrying ship, so realistically almost impossible without finding someone who will carry you by boat. Trains and ferries in theory could get you as far as Indonesia, but there are no connections from there into Australia.

Having now reached my 70s, and finding long distance travel less inviting by the day, I may well take my one flight this century at some point soon to at least get to see them there. I live a low impact life as it is, so in terms of carbon output can probably "afford" it.

Don't give up considering a freight carrying ship'. It is usually far less austere than it sounds. It does help if you are good at entertaining yourself with books and music - you never know it may result in your first novel . . . For me, on the couple of occasions that I have travelled this way .I have been lucky in having Masters who welcomed my very extended visits to the bridge.

JayMac: I did that trip back in the late 1980's

Starting at New York down to Disneyland then to Los angels,although we did stay in Nashville for a couple of days.

Froome:Where about in Australia,I would like to pass on a few tips to you.

This sounds encouraging and fascinating. I would certainly be interested in hearing more details. How did you go about finding a suitable cargo ship? Did you have an opportunity to see the space on offer before booking? What space did you have (both yours and communally available). Did you eat with all the shipworkers?

I have one brother in Perth and the other in Canberra, and a nephew in Brisbane. However, I've now heard that one of my brothers may come to the UK for a visit next year, so that would rule out me travelling there in 2024.

When I did look into this in some detail, and had decided that it would be more practical for me to fly there and back, I did look into going first to Perth, and booking onto the train that travels across the country to Sydney or Melbourne, and then go up to Canberra and Brisbane. If I did the journey, I expect I would also be tempted by the train going north through Alice Springs to Darwin, for the experience. I know that for the Perth eastwards train, it is better to book more than 6 months ahead, as that is much cheaper.

I think you will find the trains that do the route Perth to Adelaide/melbourne AND

Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs

are tourist trains

Where as Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane are for those who don't want to fly.

There are several firms offering bookings for passenger travel on cargo ships.
No you can not normally view the accommodation before use, pictures are available. Cabins are generally very spacious if  compared to a cruise ship. Cabins would be called "super DOUBLE emperor class" or some similar ridiculous superlative on a cruise ship. A few cargo ships even have a small swimming pool containing heated seawater, not treated or purified but continually replaced.
Eating is generally with the ships officers, sometimes at a separate table, sometimes not. Food generally very good but limited in choice.
Access to the bridge and engine room is by permission only, which is usually granted.
Entertainment is limited to reading, video tapes/DVDs, radio, and sometimes satellite TV. An Inmarsat telephone is normally available for emergencies but is too expensive for routine calls. You can of course take your own Inmarsat phone if you have one.
Power supply is normally single phase AC, 230 volts, 50 cycles, possibly 120 volts , 60 cycles on American built ships (USA REGISTERED ships are not allowed to carry passengers)
A standard cellphone should work in port or within sight of land.

ITV West had a report on their trip on the Wednesday 27th December

BBC west then had an item about a "new fuel" for use in airplanes again 27th December

A friend has just completed a voyage from UK to upstate New York, via cargo ship.
 They were the only paying passenger.
Dining was with the ships officers as is the norm. Roast meat for evening meal, good selection for breakfast.
Drink was serve yourself and declare what you have used, very cheap, spirits £5 a bottle, wine £2 a bottle, beer 50 pence for a large can. Smoking prohibited in all rooms and cabins, but permitted on deck.
The cabin was well appointed, with a day room and a sleeping area. Double bed, the sides of which could be raised to prevent rolling out in bad weather. Bedding basic but adequate, cotton sheets perfectly clean but not ironed, large thick wool blankets, pillows filled with kapok which is unusual.

Unlimited access to the bridge with a stern warning not to spill tea/coffee/ coke into the expensive radar display screen ! this has happened more than once.

They had their own Inmarsat telephone which was very useful. Expensive though at about £1 a minute.

Does upstate New York imply staying on board to go via the St. Lawrence Seaway?

No not via saint Lawrence seaway, though a pleasure trip thereon may be taken.
They are staying with relatives in the USA for while before returning via cargo ship.

What sort of price did they pay and how long did it take?

Time taken varies, but was 14 days for this trip, Southampton to New York state.
Fares also variable, but about $1,000 is common, less for repeat customers who book direct with the shipping line.
Departure was delayed awaiting one piece of urgent cargo. Normally the ship carries only containers, but on this voyage, a very large steel tank or vessel was conveyed in addition. Loading this and securing it took some time.

The voyage was routine, as most are.

One previous voyage was in extreme weather, and verging upon dangerous, with the very experienced captain "looking worried" and the multi racial crew praying to various gods for deliverance. That sort of thing is very rare.
 
Another voyage was very cold, and the heating broke just after leaving port. Mended with telephone advice from myself :)

To be fair there's quite a lot of looking worried and praying involved if you're planning to travel with GWR these days, irrespective of weather conditions!!!  :)

Sounds like the sort of thing everybody should have on their bucket list to do once.  But probably only once!

Though surely the heating issue should have been sorted by the technicians aboard the ship?  Even if passengers are largely on their own, they still have a duty of care for them surely?

I was very surprised that the heating breakdown could not be rectified by those on board. Despite almost no marine experience, I diagnosed the problem and suggested how to cure it by phone.

Details, all accommodation spaces were intended to be heated by hot air. Outside air was drawn in, filtered and warmed by a hot water coil before being supplied via ducts to all areas.  The air temperature was adjusted by controlling the hot water flow automatically with manual backup adjustment.
The range of adjustment was from 24 degrees up to 45 degrees. In each compartment the volume of heated air but not the temperature thereof was manually adjustable.
The hot water was from the engine cooling system, with a small oil fired boiler for use in port.

No heating observed.
Fan observed to be running.
Air filters clean and not blocked.
Automatic hot water valve observed to be shut. Opened manually, still no heating.

After I suggested some simple tests, it was found that a fire damper in the air duct was shut and blocking almost all air flow.
This possibility had been considered but ruled out as the duplicated warning lamps  on the bridge were not lit.
No spare fusible links carried on board. I suggested as a TEMPORARY  measure that the broken link be replaced by a loop of nylon fishing line as this would promptly melt in case of fire and release the damper.
The closed valve in the hot water circuit was a red herring and not the cause of the problem. The lack of air flow resulted in the hot water in the heating coil "confusing" the sensor which "thought" that the air was too hot  and therefore closed  the valve.
The non functioning warning lamps on the bridge were found to be due to incorrect voltage lamps fitted. 6 volt lamps fitted on a 24 volt system they would have failed instantly when called upon.

During investigations, the captain was heard to exclaim "Oh no, they are taking my ship apart, and are certain to loose some of the bits"

There was considerable concern on board regarding the lack of heating, and in particular for the welfare of crew, many of whom were from warmer countries than the UK.
Concern however did not translate into any effective action, in defence of the officers and crew it must be said that training was limited to strictly MARINE matters and not including heating systems.
Heating on more modern ships tends to be electric, in the interests of simplicity and reliability. Ducted hot air is now VERY last century.