Water and broom travel

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 44656

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Bill Hack" <viper3082002 at y...> wrote:
Viper3082002:
> Does wide open water act as an insulator, and ban the use of brooms? 
> Example, first transatlantic flight by broom in 1933. Since even 
> muggles did it in hops in 1919, and non-stop in 1927, is there a 
> reason? Do the Weasleys go to Egypt or Romania via Floo-powder or 
> train? 
>  
>  It just strikes me that the reason there aren't any Yanks at 
> Hogwarts is simply the difficulty of trans-oceanic wizard travel.
> 
> Viper3082002

bboy_mn replies:

Flying the Atlantic by the best New York to London route is freezing
cold even in the best weather. Plus, I seriously doubt that the
standard broom is capable of flying at 400 to 500 miles per hour, and
at that speed the windchill is bitter cold. And, not too many places
to stop and take a pee, and get a hamburger along the way. 

Flying the Atlantic in a modern jet airplane is a miserable tedious
boring uncomfortable experience, it has to be a living hell on a
broom, even if the broom does have an enchanted cushion on it. 

So, I agree trans-oceanic wizard travel is difficult.

That brings up some other questions. Does the Floo network reach all
the way to the US, China, and Australia? Do protkey have a limited
range? Are there travel networks that use portkey that you can use to
travel just like the muggles use trains? Portkey networks that have
stations with cafes, and bathroom, and other aids to weary travelers?
If there isn't, would you like to start one with me; we could get very
rich? (this is actually my best guess for long distance wizard travel,
a portkey network that functions just like the train system)

We know that there is a limit to how far the average wizard can
apparate, but I wonder what that distance is? I got the impression,
although it isn't clearly stated, in the Philosopher's Stone when
Dumbledore was called away by an owl from the Ministry, that he flew a
broom to London. 

I would think a great wizard like Dumbledore could apparate a long
way. But apparently the 600 to 700 kilometers from North Scotland to
London was beyond his capacity. So why didn't he just apparate in 2 or
3 short hops, that still has to be better and fasted than a broom?
Next question; could you cross the Atantic like this? Apparation
hopping from small island to small island to Iceland to Greenland to
Canada. 

Ron said his parents could apparate from London to home (we assume
home is in Devon) which is a about 200 to 250 kilometers (100K = about
60 miles). So that is obviously within normal range. 

What does this all add up too? Don't know, just some thoughts I had.

bboy_mn