On May 4, 2010, forum member inky_skin, posting in the Raven (http://raven.theraider.net/), made the following posting:

"Ok, so I'm proposing a little bit of fun. Indiana Jones is well-known for his globe-trotting adventures. What I'm wondering is: can we make his Hasbro incarnation as well-travelled ? I'm looking for some forum members in diverse locations to sign-up and essentially mail a Hasbro Indy figure around the world, taking pictures of him in their locale and passing him on to the next person in the list. I'd post the pictures in this thread and plot his progress, Indy-style, on a map. All it'd cost you is the minimal price of postage (loose, he'd probably class as a letter). I'd be first on the list and would provide the figure - perhaps I'll even throw in a "passport" for each of us to sign and then raffle him off at the end. Like I said, just a bit of silly fun. But hey - it might make us a bit more "connected", eh ? Chip in on this thread if you are interested."

So started an incredible journey for a small plastic figure of the fictional professor of archaeology, Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. more popularly known as Indiana Jones!

Traveling Indy was a customized Hasbro figure, equipped for travel! I received the figure on Nov 29, 2011 and could not resist immediately snapping pics!

Wait long enough and even THIS monster lands up in a museum!

I didn't mean it for ME to also end up in a museum!! Let me outta here!

This is more like it - catching the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit):

So, the weather finally cooperates today and it was a GLORIOUS fall day in Oakland (where I'm working). Way better than summer which is usually foggy and chilly! So I set out with my 'real' camera (Canon Rebel XTi), tripod and traveling Indy in search of Fortune and Glory! First I have to get there, so I try and get Indy riding the BART. Very hard in a bouncy train so more fuzzy pics, but they are fun anyway, so here we go with the best shots!

So now Indy passes by the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.

It starts getting funny when you set up a tripod in the street. This woman comes up to me and very aggressively DEMANDS to know what I am doing... and why! Now, this is my first direct communication with someone on the street while I'm busy with the camera. I'm fiddling with the aperture, the focus, getting Indy positioned just right, adding a flash 'cos you can't see our hero etc. I'm taken aback! So I reply, slightly snarkily, "I'm taking pictures!". "Duh!" I should have added! So in the end it's cool and I explain how there's a web site - Raiders - with a forum - Raven ... well you know the rest! A second woman approaches me later and I have to explain again. I need cards to hand out! I need to make up some url cards so these curious folk can get in on the fun! Anyway the pics came out pretty good! Maybe a diffuser of some kind would make the flash less 'harsh' on Indy, but without the flash he was a silhouette only.

I'm printing out some simple cards to hand out to curious onlookers:

The following picture is NOT AUTHORIZED!!! A guard at the Catholic Cathedral of Christ the Light shooed me off! I will refrain from editorial comment as I don't want to annoy any Catholics... But I'm posting it anyway(y)

Indy pays a visit to the the Scottish Rite Temple - not because of his dubious Scottish heritage but looking for clues to other 'lost' temples! This is home to the Freemasons.

Passing by the Camron-Stanford House on Lakeside drive in Oakland. Victorian mansions like this used to ring the lake. Now there is only this one preserved as a museum.

Lovely view across Lake Merritt. Nice day for a stroll.

A view of the cathedral across the lake. Be careful zooming your camera! It makes the background look out of focus because it is magnified! In theory I can preview the depth of field in my camera but out in the field in bright sun squatting down to view through the camera on the tripod it's tough to actually see anything! Well now I know what to watch for.

Today traveling Indy visits the world famous Jack London Square! (Tourist trap most likely...) Nice yachts with the docks in the background.

Hmm looks like a waterside hotel. Nearly lost the suitcase here when Indy fell onto the jetty. Those planks have BIG gaps. Gulp! Must pay more attention to surrounding in the future!

A statue of the famous author himself.

Enough contemplation! Time to move on...

Beautiful day for a stroll!

Must stop a while and enjoy the view. Boy the smells from the restaurant kitchens are making me hungry!

Ah-ha! The (re-located) cabin Jack London lived in in the Klondike! I should visit.

Oh well it's all chained and locked up. What a shame. In my youth it seems like I was able to meet ALL the famous people! ;)

[Junior Jones said: Actually, Young Indy did meet Jack London in Fantome du Klondike (Phantom of the Klondike) published in French.]

Well no sense in hanging around here. Just a bunch of logs really...

Now this looks more promising!

Heinold?s First and Last Chance Saloon. This thing has been here a while for sure! Should I stop and quench my thirst? Jack London used to hang out here, and who knows, perhaps the ale inspired his "credo":

I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom
of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.

- Spoken like a true adventurer!

Finally time to head back out, riding the 'B' shuttle!

I was not not too happy with the riding-the-BART pics, so I decided to have another go....
Boarding.

Looking for a seat.

Found one!

OK, time to 'off-board'.

I waited until a station this time before taking a picture, though I found the trains still wobble about when people get on or off!
Folks who find continuity errors in movies might notice a flaw in the 'narrative flow' here.


Attila the Professor said: That's a lovely part of Oakland, Nick. I walked around the lake a few years back. Did Indy happen to visit the oldest bonsai tree in the Americas?


What a fantastic idea this turned out to be! The pics speak for themselves I think...and I was having so much fun I'll post a bunch of them!

Traveling Indy visits Oakland's Chinatown

OMG! (Bowl of rice porridge with preserved egg - $1.50!)

[Update from 2023:This was 11 years ago]

Ah street markets! Anything worth haggling over?

Hmm busy street. Have to wait.

OK now I can cross!

Dang I think I'm lost. Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?

Well, still in Chinatown for sure!

Hot dang now THAT's where I should be staying!

Well now, what have we here? In studying primitive tribes, I have come across all manner of methods used to deliver psychoactive compounds to the human brain. If I am not mistaken, these are delivery mechanisms for THC, the active ingredient in cannabis sativa. Aka, bongs!

Traveling Dr. Jones, Jr. visits Oaksterdam, California - The Cannabis Museum!

Aha! Here we have a living plant! Tribes may be trying to talk to God - though Dr. Rene Belloq has another theory in THAT regard! - Here in California, Cannabis is legal when used for medicinal purposes. This is an exhibition of a live medicinal marijuana plant.

Hmm. Sure beats Aunt Mildred's Ficus!

Whoa! Did you see that?

Examining all manner of products made from hemp. (BTW, that INCLUDES the kitchen sink! I will go back and take a picture if you doubt me. Basically it's a resin sink with embedded hemp fibers...)

Sailing vessels made extensive use of hemp, especially for rope and cloth.

Say lady, want to take me for a little ride?

Hey let's go already! Have you been sampling ... :D Look a like *spaced* there

Peace.........out!

**All images on this site are the property of Nick Turner.  If you like them then link to my site, don't steal them!**