Anduin Valley Revisited

[Nik-nik 3]

Hi John,

I am back again and at work for 4 days now. After the initial rush now I have some more time between jobs again.
The kids loved the holiday but were delighted to be back home again. In fact they were humming and singing while playing with their long-missed toys.
I came back at Update 16 posted on 7/7/2006. Wow I have some catching up to do.

Update 16:
- Great pedestrian bridge.
Great use of different toolsBuddybud's underbridge scenery and thye NAM bridge.
- Promenade. Nice, but I notice a tree between the parking and the promenade. Is that silly civil servant (the one that places trees (rubber or not) at the end of bycicle paths) at it again?
- At the overview of the com sector before building I noticed that you use a pice of road between the two Jeronij connector lost. Great. It looks much realistic now. Very nice detail!
- Piece of concrete. What is that piece of concrete that you use at this com sector behind the 3x3 building and between the Jeronij's parking lots?

Update 17
- Finally we see the underbridge lot in action. very nice!
- The condo area is very nice, I see in picture 13 that traffic is becoming a problem though.
- ahhh that  church area. Very nice.
- The weather is bad, but that picture is great. Ouch that lightning bolt nearly hit me.

Update 18
 What a nice little residential area
- Where did you get those parking spaces as used in picture 10 (they're not PEG's!)

Update 19.
Great industrial area. Very nice railyard. I am still wondering why you do  not use CTRL-key while laying down Industry areas.
Funny to see dirty industry almost next to High tech.

Furthermore I hope that you will have had a great vacation. Our vacation overlapped by one week. Almost perfect. Next year we should agree to communicate better and have our holidays completely overlap (ha,ha,ha ).

Nik-Nik

[rewright 804]

Very clean job of terraforming and lay out. I like the uncluttered way you build.

[____----____ 37]

are u getting freight traffic over jeronij's lots i never can get that to work

looks sweet though.

AK

[your_adress_here 11]

Hey Darmok! It's nice to be back in here!

I've recently come back to playing SimCity4 and thus have gotten a new intrest in city journals. The first place I came to see was Anduin Valley, of course! And since it had been such a long time since I visited you, I decided that maybe I should check out mare than just your most recent update.

But then I realised: "Holy smoke! There are so many pages now! I can't read through all that!" So I decided to go back to page 100, and to my surprise, I had posted over 100 times. And to think, I wasn't there for alot of those pages! It really was an honor to have my name up there!

I think that over time your style hasn't changed that much, which is a good thing. But you are very good at placing buildings at the right spot, and your tarraforming skills are to be admired! All in all, you are the creator os simtropolis' most amazing CJ, and your art is the best in Quebec!

Could you grant a favor to an old friend though? I would much like to see a regional view, and, if it is not to much trouble, a picture of my house.

And a queston now: Do you use any of the mods that come with the NAM? (commute time, capacity, ect.)

Thanks alot! And, keep up the most amazing work ever!

[gurrgkud 2]

all i can say is that this cj is a masterpiece.

i loooove it.

[choco1 4]

Ah mate! Its great to see you! Sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been sick you see!

Ah, but you have been busy since I've been gone, I just love your industries! You handle them amazingly well. I love those little train rails leading up.

Great station, it looks quite realistic and is very detailed. I love your new design, and I really like how you're using mosaics inside them, they blend perfectly.

Wow, thats one really nice river shot. The slope going down to that red bridge is bended perfectly! It has such a smooth curve, and that its elevated is even more outstanding.

Those green bridges would have to be my favourite of all the simcity bridges, your road one looks great because its sits so gently and looks quite natural.

As always, I just love watching your cities grow! Brilliant work mate, I hope you really enjoy your holiday!

I look forward to your return, cheers mate.

[Nik-nik 3]

What! Still not back?

WAKE UP JOHN!!!

Seriously, I hope you enjoyed your holiday. 

My son Pim (see Avatar), just had his throat surgery last week (2nd August) and is doing fine in fact he had his first bites in 5 days today!

Looking forward to continue with AVR.

Nik-Nik

[kant01 5]

Hey Darmok my friend, hope you are well. I see you haven't updated either, like me. Been way to busy. Not sure why the summers get so hectic. Time to find that shady spot and read that book I would say.

In any case, looking forward to your next update!

[jacqulina 162]

my friend i hope you are ok

[RushHourFreak 1]

Wow excellent use of industry to keep your city ok

[SpecialEddie 3]

He's on vacation--just let him be.

[Darmok 34]

Industrial Filler Lots by Swamper77

GE Freight Station by Gemika

Hi everyone,

This answer is for all of you.

Thanks for all your comments while I was on vacation, to answer all your comments about my  vacations, I'll say that we all had a lot of good times, lots of rest, long drives, (no not golfing...)  had a fishing trip, caught some trouts. Sunburns, heartburns (eating too much), enjoyed good  meals and wine.... ahhhh! Would do it again anytime! But, It'll have to wait till next year!

SO! Glad to be back.

Now let's do some answers!

Oh, at some point in this update you'll notice that there's some farms and that I didn't used my  new lots with them, just keep in mind that they were not created at that particular time!

NOTE : I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING WRONG WITH THE LINKS TO THE VARIOUS CJ'S BELOW.... I'M LOOKING INTO IT.... WILL CORRECT IT ASAP... SORRY!

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VesterDK - VDK Production (Trams and Waterbus project)

Hey Vester

I agree about the crossings, It's just that each time I was doing a stretch of road/street near an  overpass, the game created additionals crossings without me asking for them! And when I tried  to blast them, most of the time it destryed the NAM pieces, so I had to redo it again... I admit  that in the end I let it go (shame on me!)

See you!

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Jacky (jacqulina) - Paradise Falls

Hi Jacky as always, glad to read you my friend. I sure have confidence in your skills, just take it  to your own pace and enjoy yourself.

See you in your cj as soon as I can! Boy I have a LOT of catching up to do!

Take care

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Szarkoz - The Free Democratic Nation of Caledonia

Hey Szarkoz,

Can't wait to see those industrial sectors in Caledonia. And yes I don't do a lot of mosaics, but  I'll try to integrate more of them in the future.

As for my vacations, I went to the Toronto area, and then had a fishing trip (was planning to do it  for three years!). All was great! Hope you also had a great time in Croatia!

Take care

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Rhéal – rw0381c

Salut Rhéal

Well I must say that my CJ style has been greatly influenced by the early works of Jeroni in  SCR. And I've sticked with it. I also agree about the hot weather, I thougth I could be able to play  some SC4 while on vacation, but it was so hot that I spent most of this last week reading and  napping!

Thanks for your kind wishes and see you soon!

Take care

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Rooker1 - Xania a tour of my world

Hey Rooker!

How do I find the time you asked.... well I don't know, and it's possible that my posting will slow  down for some time, I've decided to dust off my old guitar, and practice. So I'll have less time for  SC4 in the following weeks or months. I agree ablout the lounging with friends having a cold  one... hahhhh summer is a great season! And if your wife's like mine you must have been  promoted chief BBQ operator! LOL I agree about the short radius of the tracks, I guess that it's  just to save some space, but I'll keep your suggestion in mind. Hope you had a great vacation  too, and see you soon!

Take care

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Justan othersim86 - Justanothersims Civic BAT Projects

Hi JAS, Thanks for the visit and nice comments!

See you!

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Bat

Thanks Bat!

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<A  HREF="https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=36&threadid=77244">Kant01  - The Mystic County Project

Hi Kant, no it's not a custom station it's available on the STEX, see the links section

The avenue slope is due to the a sloping mod, if not it would be a nightmare to try to do it by  hand! As for the industry, I must say that Alek (Aleking) is a good source of inspiration.

Always good to see you kant.

Take care!

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Fallon144

Hey Fallon, you also go to Croatia! perhaps you'll see Szarkoz! LOL

Thanks for your good wishes, and yes we had a great time, hoping you had the same!

Take care

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Micah  - Kingwood

Hi Micah,

Hehehe, I've stopped counting the hours, it would be discouraging to see how much time I've put  into this!!! Thanks for your good wishes, and I agree about the quote, they're very inspirational.

Take care

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Battlecat - Terra - An evolving region 

Hi Battlecat, No problem man, we all do that (missing some updates) from time to time, the  important thing is that you still enjoy AVR!

Take care!

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Sorchi n – Developping Macedon

Hi Steve, how's it going mate!

Well I do like to put more TE lot these days, I think it gives a more "realistic" look to the cities.

Thanks for your visit my friend!

Take care   

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Tracker - Graph X Services

Hi Tracker, thanks for your kind words, but nothing to worry about, I did not go to Bruinen Fjord  for my vacations! hehehe

Take care

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Pinchman

Salut Pinch, he oui les vacances ont étées INONDÉES de soleil!

yes the vacations were flooded with sunshine and HOT weather!

Thanks for the visit, and just wondering, did you see the movie "Over the hedge"? If not, try to go  see it, you and your kids will love it!!!

Take care!

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  Cityhawk - Montrose

Hi Cityhawk, Thanks for your comments, glad you appreciated the raliroad setup! I'm trying to  use more and more of the rail lots.

Take care

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  Mightygoose - Vil-valad, a city and its roots

Hi John, Thanks man, oh BTW just saw your email, I'll try to visit your new website as soon as  possible!

Take care

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Threestooges – Matt

Hi Matt,

All the buildings on the left (on the other side of the tracks are regular industrial lots, those that  have dirt textures underneath are part of the railyard (see links section), as for the good sloping  road bridge, it's simply due the a sloping mod, if not it'll just look like.... well you know!

Hey glad to know you'll finally go in the CJ business! Can't wait to see that! I really appreciate  the fact that AVR might be one of the reasons you'll finaly try it, I remember quite clearly when I  took the decision to do the same after some discussions with Jeroni, and I'm glad I did it! It is  probably the best way to learn new skills. Always good to read you, and looking forward to  seeing you again!

Take care

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CDI_Spy – Cezarest

Salut CDI,

Hé oui je parle français! C'est même ma langue maternelle! Je suis de la régin de Québec.

And yes sometimes pics are not as spectacular as we would like them to be, but, it's like RL,  some sectors are more "bland" than others! The vacations were great! Thanks for your kind  wishes, and as for more pics here they are!

Take care!

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S_A_ (Shadow_Assassin) - The Savannah Way

Hi SA,

How's it going mate?

Yep the tunnel gave me some (small) headaches! and yes I do use the Ctrl technique when  zoning.

See you and take care!

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Van1357

Hi Van, thanks for those good wishes, the vacations were great.

Glad you liked the industrial sector, I'm having more and more fun doing those!

And I hope you'll like what's coming next.

Take care

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Luker0 1 - San Lucas: My first CJ

Hi luke, thanks, glad to read you man, and here's more pics!

Take care

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Phil  (PhilsCafe) - Acorn Creek

Bonjour Phil, comment vas-tu?

Hey No problem my friend, I understand that we can't be as present as much as we want on  every CJ!  I know I had a particularly busy summer myself, and as I'm planning to return to an  old love of mine, (my old guitar), I'll also have less time to give to SC4.

I really appreciated your in-depth analysis of the last updates. Always good to see our work from  another perspective. Glad you liked the lots I've made recently, I was just having fun with the LE.  Hehehe, yeah the old Frau's name.... I was just looking out for some cute german names, when  I thought about looking at food names, and I just couldn't resist.... LOL

The collage took a bit of work, but was so much much fun to do that I didn't mind doing it, and it  seemed a good way of saying thanks to all of those who visited AVR.

It's always a genuine pleasure to read you Phil, thanks for your good wishes for my vacations,  (they were great) and I hope your's were as good as mine.

Take care!

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David (dedgren) - Three Rivers Region

Hi David,

I'm glad that all nine of us were not in the same car, cause it would have been a bit crowded!  WINK....

Take care!

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Owenluby

Wow, I guess you've opened a good thesaurus for those compliments! WINK

Thanks, and yes the vacations were really great!

See you soon!

Take care

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Charles Rodulfo

Hi Charles, Thanks for your comments.

And as for summer, well, it's now august so I guess it's already on the decline here too!

Take care

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Rhino120

Hi Dana, well I guess we all have our way of doing things, and I can't say that much of a planner,  I do have a general idea, but very often i change my mind while doing a sector. And I realise that  it takes more and more time these days to achieve what I want.... Thanks to David (dedgren)  whit it's super detailling technique.

Take care!

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Yoman 3 - United Republic of Ankara

Hey Yoman, I sure did enjoy the vacations, thanks for your good wishes!

Take care   

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Fabiocb - RASEC

Hola Fabio, merci bien pour les bons souhaits de vacances!

Glad you liked the last update, and I hope you'll like this one too!

See you soon amigo, in the meantime take care!

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ThomasAH - Zorturia

Hey Thomas, don't mention it for the link, I'm glad to help!

Vacations were great!

Tot ziens!    

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The Boy Formerly known as Evil Muzz

Hey look who's back!  Yeah it's been a few odd pages since your last visit, we can safely say  that in your particular case, the last part of the CJ title (Revisited) applies perfectly! WINK

I hope you'll have fune going through the whole thing, but feel free to skip forward and just follow  when you feel like it, this is supposed to be fun, not an obligation. So enjoy yourself, come back  anytime you want, and thank you very much for those very kind words!

Take care

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NicolaiS - Riseley

Hi Nic, glad to know that AVR can inspire you in any way. As for the flow of the road and  highways, they are the result of using a sloping mod, if not they would be quite ordinary looking!

Always good to see you, and hoping all is going well on your side healthwise.

Take care!

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Nik-nik

Hey!

Hi Nik, how's it going my friend!

I hope you had a great time while on vacations!

Update 16

What can I say about the trees.... those civil servant have a very powerful union, so! Yes he's at  it again with the rubber trees! The piece of concrete is part of an industrial fences and parking  lots pack that I found on the STEX (see links section)

Update 18

Good eye on the parking space, that was an experiment with the LE, using ardecilla's parking  lots, I'm not sur I've kept it.... I'll have to look it up!

Update 19

I use the Ctrl-key very often while zoning industries, except when.... I'm not using it! LOL

No seriously, sometimes I want my zones to be small and separated, it all depends of what I  want to achieve.

As for matching our vacations schedule, you'll have to clear that with my boss and my wife!

Always good to read you!

Take care my friend!

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Rewright – Casa Grande

Hi rewright, Thanks for those kind words!

Take care

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Alekin g - AK's Eye Candy Album

Hi Alek, are you talking about the railway underpasses? If yes those are the old Marrast eye  candy lots!

See you my friend!

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Your_adress_herel

Hi YAH! hey long time no read buddy!

Yeah well, AVR has sure grown since your last visit! I agree that my style has not changed that  much, I would rather say that I just put more details now, and it's taking more and more time to  do what I want.

As for the regional view, I'll post one after update 21, wich will be the last one for Bruinen Fjord,  you'll have a regional view, AND a huge mosaic of Bruinen Fjord itself at zoom 4, (still working  on it)... as for your house, do you mean the one in Belfalas?

And yes I use the NAM mods, as for the commute time I use this one  NetworkAddonMod_Traffic_Plugin_PerfectPathfinding_10xSpeeds_10xCommute.dat

See you next time!

Take care

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  Gurrgkud - Cordova//Revisited

Thanks Gurrgkud! I appreciate it!

Take care

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Choco (Chocolatemax285) - Green Depra

Hi Max, hey sorry about your health problems, I hope all is well by now!

Thanks for your comments about the new presentation, I just wanted something more clean and  flexible. I think I'm getting "zennier" as time go by!

As i said earlier those nice slopes are simply the result of using BRF Tunnel and slope mod,  modified by Jeroni.

Thanks for your comments my friend, and I sincerely hopes that your health is OK, nothing is  more important than that!

Take care!

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Nik-nik

What! What? huuuuhhhh!

***yawning and strectching****

crtch crtch crtch....

**sounds of scratching**

Wassup.... ho it's you again Nik!

Sorry I was asleep on my keyboard, (looking in the mirror at an inversed QWERTY pattern on  his cheek)....

Hey, glad to know that Pim is doing well, and I'm sure that he'll be getting at the food with a  vengeance in the following days! (What did I already tell you about this.... INVEST!!!) LOL

And here's more pics

Take care my friend, and regards to your familly!

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Kant01  - The Mystic County Project

Hi Kant, yes all is fine, just took some SC4 rest while in vacation, still one week left of it! And  I'm playing with my guitar instead of computing, though I'll try to update more regularly in the  following weeks! New ideas and all while resting. And boy do I agree about reading in a shady  spot, isn't it just great to read while enjoying a small breeze.... ahhh isn't summer a great period!

Speaking of books, have you read "The Traveller" by John Twelve Hawks, very good book,  entertaining and also making you see the world we live in today with a more, how shall I put it...  "Orwellian" light!

Anyhow good to read you again, and here's the next update!

Take care

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Jacky (jacqulina) - Paradise Falls

Hi Jacky, no worry my friend I'm really OK, just took a rest that's all...

Thanks for caring!

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RushHourFreak

Welcome to Anduin Valley RHF

And thanks for your comments!

Take care!

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Specia l Eddie - Oasis--The Wild West

Hi Eddie, well I'm back!

Perhaps not as often for the following days or weeks, but we'll see!

Take care!

---

And now dear readers, without further ado, here's....

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Glad to be back!

People, you're the best bunch there is, I was out for three weeks, and you're still there supporting AVR!

I have to tell you though that there's a possibility that the updates may come come at a slower pace for a time, I'm taking some of my free time to go back to an old love of mine, my guitar, so it'll have an impact on the CJ for sure. But even at a slower pace, AVR will still continue until completion.

Now.... the quote section... humm....

Let's try to find some a light one....

Ah! Here's one by Mark Twain...

"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more."

Hey I like this one!

Folks, I hope you've enjoyed this update, stay tuned more will come.

---

In the meantime

Take care and enjoy life

Darmok

[sorchin 18]

Alright John's back. Amazing update my good friend. You certainly haven't lost your touch. The industrial area looks too nice to be industrial my friend.. Seriously, it looks great, your updates are always huge, I don't know how you do it. You create something so beautiful so fast...

See ya soon mate...

[szarkoz 8]

Nice to see you back my friend!

Good to hear you enjoyed your vacation. Mine was great too - I went to Makarska Riviera and I'm sure that was the most beautiful place in the world that I've ever seen. 1500m-1800m high mountains just near the sea, really an amazing view.

Let's move to today's update!

It seems like Bruinen Fjord is becoming an industry district of AVR. It looks very good! The only one thing I would change are the buildings on 10th picture, 4 of them are identical (I mean those on bottom of the picture). Apart from that, it's everything looking really great! I like the night overview.

It feels... quite odd to comment AVR again, I think I need to get used to it again Man, I missed that CJ a lot.

Have a good time with your guitar! And I'll say that again, nice to see you again!

[jacqulina 162]

hi my friend glad you had a wonderfull vacation,awesome updates the industry is looking and working great i just love those train shots beautifull pics,as allways everything is great

take care my friend have a great week

jacky

[cityhawk 12]

Nice to see you back man! The industrial areas look really good with the railroads and freight stations, and that overview night pic looks awesome! Ever since people in my CJ have said that the hospital in my second city is too big for the area, I've been noticing quite a few others who have done the same thing with the same hospital, like you! Anyway, I look forward to more!

[rooker1 4]

Good to see that you are back.  Hope you had a great vacation, I know that me and my family are.  Great update as always.  Sorry I gotta go watch the BarBQ.  See you latter.

[PhilsCafe 8]

Welcome back John.

I'm fine and I had a great vacation too (J'étais à la Côte d'Azur pour m'enfuir du front froid quel a terminé la vague de chaleur en Europe centrale). The Mediterranean was gorgeous.

I'm glad to be able to follow another one of your updates. I'll focus on some details today: I love the setup in picture 5. I can't tell why, the underpass with the factory next to it and the trees sourrounding ot all just caught my eye. I also like the backstreets in pictures 9 & 10. I think I never saw them in combination with HT-I, but they look great. I also like that you've included pictures with road and rail traffic in them. That brings them to life and it's always a nice detail (those beautiful train models deserve to be shown anyways... just to demonstrate Maxis that they should have payed more attantion to these details ). And finally the overview: Amazing.

Great job once again my friend. And don't hurry with the updates, I guess music is a good alternative to SC4. Sometimes it bugs me that I have stopped playing the clarinet which I was doing for nine years or so (Usually that's always when I hear a wind orchestra or a good jazz solo...). However, have a great week John.

Take care,

- Phil

[anubis89 108]

finally a new update, looks very nice, especially the shot of the whole city

[dedgren 830]

Hey, John, great to see you (all) back.  Hope you had a great time away.

Judging by the quality of your latest, you're rested and ready for another 100 pages.

I'm thinking about alternative pursuits as well.  Neil Young plays the guitar for him and me both, so it'll probably involve writing- I've always wanted to do some nature/travel writing ala John McPhee, Ed Abbey.and Edward Hoagland.  The trip to Texas earlier this summer really rekindled my interest in such.

See you around, my friend.

David

[threestooges 0]

Well, it is good to see you back and to hear that all went well. This update shows what a little break can do... it had a little bit of everything. I am intrigued, however, by pic 05. It is interesting to see civic planners that would go through the work of making an underpass to avoid one grade crossing and yet have the same road cross the tracks just a few feet up. It looks great there though. Do you happen to use any mods for industry desirability or does it just grow that way as a matter of time? Pic 11 is my personal favorite but I am wondering how you get the freight trains to be that long. Also, Blackbeard's seems to be doing a decent business burning the midnight oil. Perhaps a factory tour for some of the workers of the graveyard shift? Anyway good updates are easy to come by around here, so I wouldn't worry too much about rl... good things are worth the wait.

[van1357 15]

Great to have you back Darmok. I'm glad to hear that you had a wonderful holiday and that all went well. Also, hope you have fun playing the guitar. Being able to play a musical instrument is a great skill to have. So don't worry if it bites into your simcity time a bit (just not too much!).
On to the update, which was as good as ever. You definitely have an eye for detail. I especially like those car park lots you use. Also, I still love that avenue bridge, its excellent. Great work/play.

Edit: I'm glad to make my 400th post in Anduin Valley Revisited.

[luker91 0]

excellent update....im very glad to see you back! Are those concrete walls by jeronij? because they dont really look like the ones i have..... anyways nice work!

Luke

[collgab 10]

wow, great update!!! can't wait for more!!!

[your_adress_here 11]

Very nice update! I really like the avenue that goes over the streets; it looks so darn awesome! Your industrial areas look gaood, as usual. =p

Also lovin' the rail setup, especially in pic 14 & 15. It complements the industrial sector very well!

And yes, I mean the one in Belfalas. I love that city and I really love the seaport there!

Keep up the awesome work!

[Sunil 3]

am i blind or is that a spascehip in the last pic?

[Sunil 3]

am i blind or is that a spascehip in the last pic?

[Sunil 3]

am i blind or is that a spascehip in the last pic?

[bat 6]

Fantastic update!

bat

[bat 6]

Fantastic update!

bat