Saturday, April 19, 2008
One last time.
Here we are in Melbourne getting ready to go see the sights. Tomorrow we get on the plane for home. Today will be trying to figure out the train and tram system to get around town. Plan to go to city center to look at the sights. The weather is still holding great for us--24C is the high for the day. Real smokey around here as they are doing prescribed burns in the countryside. Too bad as we were going to go up on the largest tower to view the city!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Outback Camel Trek--Mission accomplished!
April 18, 2008
It is now 2145, and we are back from the “GREAT CAMEL TREK”! The kids, Tim and Pam, are in bed already—the old folks wore out the kids. We had an absolute ball today!!! Left here about 0715 and got to the Camel Farm about 0830. Boarded the ships of the desert about 0900 and headed out-bush. Neil, our guide and camel wrangler, said his day is great when he heads out the gate! What can we say—we were not prepared for the fun and excitement that we had. Camels get a bad rap—there was not kicking, biting, spitting, or smell. It is just like our horses; if they are bad you correct it or get rid of them!! We saw roo, cockatoo, emu tracks, inch ants, ghost gum trees, and so much more. The landscape is so beautiful—if you have any love for the desert. The only draw back was flies. They fly up anything that might have moisture—no biting, just massively annoying! The weather on this trip has been unbelievable. We only encountered rain on a drive in southern Australia, and heat in Melbourne. It probably only reached 30 C or 86 F today. Nice breeze that kept the flies off most of the time. Tomorrow we head for Melbourne for two nights and then home to Idaho. It is sad to leave, but we are ready to get back to a normal life. Oh yes, we just paid $1.59 per liter for gas—that is about $5.60/gallon. If you want, check out Neil’s website:
http://www.camels-australia.com.au/ Good night to all as we hobble to our beds!
It is now 2145, and we are back from the “GREAT CAMEL TREK”! The kids, Tim and Pam, are in bed already—the old folks wore out the kids. We had an absolute ball today!!! Left here about 0715 and got to the Camel Farm about 0830. Boarded the ships of the desert about 0900 and headed out-bush. Neil, our guide and camel wrangler, said his day is great when he heads out the gate! What can we say—we were not prepared for the fun and excitement that we had. Camels get a bad rap—there was not kicking, biting, spitting, or smell. It is just like our horses; if they are bad you correct it or get rid of them!! We saw roo, cockatoo, emu tracks, inch ants, ghost gum trees, and so much more. The landscape is so beautiful—if you have any love for the desert. The only draw back was flies. They fly up anything that might have moisture—no biting, just massively annoying! The weather on this trip has been unbelievable. We only encountered rain on a drive in southern Australia, and heat in Melbourne. It probably only reached 30 C or 86 F today. Nice breeze that kept the flies off most of the time. Tomorrow we head for Melbourne for two nights and then home to Idaho. It is sad to leave, but we are ready to get back to a normal life. Oh yes, we just paid $1.59 per liter for gas—that is about $5.60/gallon. If you want, check out Neil’s website:
http://www.camels-australia.com.au/ Good night to all as we hobble to our beds!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
One more try!
April 17, 2008
Here we go again! It is now 2045 and we are getting ready to go to the camels tomorrow for a one day trek. Everyone is getting better, but we are hoping that by tomorrow we will be great! Tim is the worst now. One thing we haven’t talked about is the time change. We have done alright with most but from Cairns to Alice Springs we lost one half hour—yes, a ½ hour. Boy did that throw us off! We have just changed everything—we are going on a one day camel trek, and then we are going to Melbourne on Saturday instead of Sunday. Alice Springs has just been too much—the aborigines remind me of a cross between the Indians on the reservation and the blacks in the ghetto, and they are everywhere you go just standing and staring or asking for money. We will stay in Melbourne for two nights instead of one, and maybe we can see some of that city. Now we have to get ready for the ride!!
Here we go again! It is now 2045 and we are getting ready to go to the camels tomorrow for a one day trek. Everyone is getting better, but we are hoping that by tomorrow we will be great! Tim is the worst now. One thing we haven’t talked about is the time change. We have done alright with most but from Cairns to Alice Springs we lost one half hour—yes, a ½ hour. Boy did that throw us off! We have just changed everything—we are going on a one day camel trek, and then we are going to Melbourne on Saturday instead of Sunday. Alice Springs has just been too much—the aborigines remind me of a cross between the Indians on the reservation and the blacks in the ghetto, and they are everywhere you go just standing and staring or asking for money. We will stay in Melbourne for two nights instead of one, and maybe we can see some of that city. Now we have to get ready for the ride!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Curve in the road!
April 17, 2008
Well, it finally happened! The only thing we had planned for the last year and the only thing that this whole trip was planned around was the camel trip. Yesterday morning Tim, Pam, & Kathy felt off. By mid day Kathy was sick with a fever and gut pain. I had her in the ER by 1900 as she started the dry heaves. They did an IV drip and some IV meds and we came back to the motel by 2130. We called the camel people to say that Kathy & I wouldn’t be there, and then they called back to cancel on Tim and Pam as we were the only 4 to be going and 2 people were not economically feasible--what a drag. This morning Kathy is better but not up to par, and Pam is still off. The two of them are sleeping while Tim and I are trying to figure how to go on a camel ride yet! We will let go and let God figure it out!
Well, it finally happened! The only thing we had planned for the last year and the only thing that this whole trip was planned around was the camel trip. Yesterday morning Tim, Pam, & Kathy felt off. By mid day Kathy was sick with a fever and gut pain. I had her in the ER by 1900 as she started the dry heaves. They did an IV drip and some IV meds and we came back to the motel by 2130. We called the camel people to say that Kathy & I wouldn’t be there, and then they called back to cancel on Tim and Pam as we were the only 4 to be going and 2 people were not economically feasible--what a drag. This morning Kathy is better but not up to par, and Pam is still off. The two of them are sleeping while Tim and I are trying to figure how to go on a camel ride yet! We will let go and let God figure it out!
Telegraph Station and Standley Chasm Alice Springs, AU
April 16, 2008
Well, yesterday was a day of shopping. Planned to go to Todd Mall to get a few things, and spent most of the day. Didn’t get started until 10 or after, but that’s okay. Finally got out of town and went to another ANZAC War Memorial on the hill above town. Pretty nice view of town and the country side--met nice people from all over the world. Then we went to Telegraph Hill—that is the reason that Alice Springs is here—it grew up around the telegraph station. There is a park and preserved buildings and it was nice. We were there at sunset and it was beautiful. Dried up spring area, trees, old building, and kangaroos! Things look so much like home sometimes, and then a roo runs across the road, or a magpie sings—yes the magpies here have a beautiful song! We watched the roos with their “joeys” in their pouches. Pretty neat to see these things! Found these 3 young girls (early 20’s) that were going to hike back to town in the dark, but we convinced them that a ride with us was safer—wild dingos and the drunken aborigines. Kathy and I went to a casino after dinner—she won and I lost.
Today we got up and out pretty quick and headed to Standley Chasm west of Alice Springs about 40 miles. Nice hike and beautiful views of the chasm and country. The women got sleepy so they took and nap while Tim and I fixed lunch—we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken. We’ll see what the rest of the day brings.
Well, yesterday was a day of shopping. Planned to go to Todd Mall to get a few things, and spent most of the day. Didn’t get started until 10 or after, but that’s okay. Finally got out of town and went to another ANZAC War Memorial on the hill above town. Pretty nice view of town and the country side--met nice people from all over the world. Then we went to Telegraph Hill—that is the reason that Alice Springs is here—it grew up around the telegraph station. There is a park and preserved buildings and it was nice. We were there at sunset and it was beautiful. Dried up spring area, trees, old building, and kangaroos! Things look so much like home sometimes, and then a roo runs across the road, or a magpie sings—yes the magpies here have a beautiful song! We watched the roos with their “joeys” in their pouches. Pretty neat to see these things! Found these 3 young girls (early 20’s) that were going to hike back to town in the dark, but we convinced them that a ride with us was safer—wild dingos and the drunken aborigines. Kathy and I went to a casino after dinner—she won and I lost.
Today we got up and out pretty quick and headed to Standley Chasm west of Alice Springs about 40 miles. Nice hike and beautiful views of the chasm and country. The women got sleepy so they took and nap while Tim and I fixed lunch—we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken. We’ll see what the rest of the day brings.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Alice Springs, and Uluru
April 15, 2008
Wow, when we get going we don’t stop. Arrived in Alice Springs Sunday April 13 about 1300, took a shuttle to Alice Motor Inn and settled in. We are staying in one big room with a double bed and two twin beds; not exactly as posh as Trinity Links but clean and workable. Pam says we should have done this in reverse, camped with the camels first, then here, then Trinity Links. After a group discussion we decided to take a tour yesterday to Uluru (Ayers Rock to the uninitiated). It was a full day tour; the bus picked us up at 0600 and deposited back here at midnight. It was an 1150 km round trip journey; we stopped and hiked at various sites along the way, seeing flora and fauna of the area and learning Aboriginal Tjukurpa or “dreamtime” stories about Uluru and the surrounding area. The weather is unexpectedly cool and breezy here in the heart of Australia contrary to our expectations. Today we rented a car for today and tomorrow so we can see a bit of the country before we head to the camels on Thursday.
Wow, when we get going we don’t stop. Arrived in Alice Springs Sunday April 13 about 1300, took a shuttle to Alice Motor Inn and settled in. We are staying in one big room with a double bed and two twin beds; not exactly as posh as Trinity Links but clean and workable. Pam says we should have done this in reverse, camped with the camels first, then here, then Trinity Links. After a group discussion we decided to take a tour yesterday to Uluru (Ayers Rock to the uninitiated). It was a full day tour; the bus picked us up at 0600 and deposited back here at midnight. It was an 1150 km round trip journey; we stopped and hiked at various sites along the way, seeing flora and fauna of the area and learning Aboriginal Tjukurpa or “dreamtime” stories about Uluru and the surrounding area. The weather is unexpectedly cool and breezy here in the heart of Australia contrary to our expectations. Today we rented a car for today and tomorrow so we can see a bit of the country before we head to the camels on Thursday.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Last day in Cairns
April 12, 2008
What a fun, full day! We decided to drive inland as we had heard talk of The Tablelands. We drove a circle from Cairns, to Gordonvale, to Yungaburra, to Atherton, to Mareeba, to Kuranda and back to Cairns. We stopped at breathtaking Heales Lookout, lunched at Atherton; chicken kebobs for most of us, stopped at the Crystal Cave where Pam found a geode to her liking, walked a bit in the Curtain Fig Tree National park and saw a beautiful specimen of a Curtain Fig Tree. All in all a day to remember! After a swim in our condo pool we headed to town and our favorite Thai restaurant and then to the night markets where Bosco purchased T-Shirts and some stones for me: a Kumbaba and a Dendritic Opal from Western Australia. Now the necessary evil PACKING to head to Alice Springs. It’s sad to think of leaving here but on to new adventures.
What a fun, full day! We decided to drive inland as we had heard talk of The Tablelands. We drove a circle from Cairns, to Gordonvale, to Yungaburra, to Atherton, to Mareeba, to Kuranda and back to Cairns. We stopped at breathtaking Heales Lookout, lunched at Atherton; chicken kebobs for most of us, stopped at the Crystal Cave where Pam found a geode to her liking, walked a bit in the Curtain Fig Tree National park and saw a beautiful specimen of a Curtain Fig Tree. All in all a day to remember! After a swim in our condo pool we headed to town and our favorite Thai restaurant and then to the night markets where Bosco purchased T-Shirts and some stones for me: a Kumbaba and a Dendritic Opal from Western Australia. Now the necessary evil PACKING to head to Alice Springs. It’s sad to think of leaving here but on to new adventures.
Friday, April 11, 2008
One last dive!
April 12, 2008
Well here I sit with coffee in had looking back at yesterday. I went to dive one more time on the Reef, and it is so awesome! Mike, my dive instructor, if you are reading any of this, thank you for helping me accomplish one of my lifetime dreams. If you don’t scuba dive, there is no way to explain the feeling that you get while down there. To think that my first six dives as a certified diver were on the Great Barrier Reef is amazing. Yesterday I managed to calm down so that when we surfaced I had more air and more bottom time than the first day. Saw more of a variety of fish yesterday—lion fish, huge grouper named Daisy (easy 3’ long and 1½ ‘deep) barracuda, sharks, angel fish, and so many more I can’t name! It is not enough to say that this is a hobby that I will continue!!! Kathy stayed behind to rest—she cleaned, worked on the blog, slept, washed clothes, and went with Tim to pick me up. Tim and Pam took me to Port Douglas to dive and then stopped at the Tropical Zoo and the Aboriginal Center on the way back. Fun, or rest, was had by all. Tomorrow we fly to Alice Springs!
Well here I sit with coffee in had looking back at yesterday. I went to dive one more time on the Reef, and it is so awesome! Mike, my dive instructor, if you are reading any of this, thank you for helping me accomplish one of my lifetime dreams. If you don’t scuba dive, there is no way to explain the feeling that you get while down there. To think that my first six dives as a certified diver were on the Great Barrier Reef is amazing. Yesterday I managed to calm down so that when we surfaced I had more air and more bottom time than the first day. Saw more of a variety of fish yesterday—lion fish, huge grouper named Daisy (easy 3’ long and 1½ ‘deep) barracuda, sharks, angel fish, and so many more I can’t name! It is not enough to say that this is a hobby that I will continue!!! Kathy stayed behind to rest—she cleaned, worked on the blog, slept, washed clothes, and went with Tim to pick me up. Tim and Pam took me to Port Douglas to dive and then stopped at the Tropical Zoo and the Aboriginal Center on the way back. Fun, or rest, was had by all. Tomorrow we fly to Alice Springs!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Kuranda excusion; Kuranda railroad & Sky rail
April 10, 2008
Our plan today was to take the Kuranda Railway up the mountain to Kuranda, explore the town and surrounding rainforest and come back by Sky Rail. Tim drove to Freshwater station where we left for the top of the mountain; learning the history, and railing through 15 tunnels, and across a narrow switchback bridge, around a waterfall or two to reach the top. Tim and Pam elected to hike the River and Jungle hikes and Bosco and I strolled about the village talking to shopkeepers, Didgeridoo makers and assorted tourists we met along the way. After lunch we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary for a half hour tour; time well spent. We returned to earth by Sky Rail, really an experience to savor. Even those of us “Heights” challenged enjoyed the ride and the view. Prayer helps!
Our plan today was to take the Kuranda Railway up the mountain to Kuranda, explore the town and surrounding rainforest and come back by Sky Rail. Tim drove to Freshwater station where we left for the top of the mountain; learning the history, and railing through 15 tunnels, and across a narrow switchback bridge, around a waterfall or two to reach the top. Tim and Pam elected to hike the River and Jungle hikes and Bosco and I strolled about the village talking to shopkeepers, Didgeridoo makers and assorted tourists we met along the way. After lunch we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary for a half hour tour; time well spent. We returned to earth by Sky Rail, really an experience to savor. Even those of us “Heights” challenged enjoyed the ride and the view. Prayer helps!
Great Barrier Reef Watch out here we come!
April 9, 2008
We had a Great Barrier Reef Day today. We were up at the crack of dawn---Again! What’s with a vacation that runs one ragged? All in the car by 0650 for a drive to Port Douglas and the Poseidon adventure Bosler and Eld style. Bosco and Tim to scuba dive and Pam and I to snorkel. We started for the reef by 0830, arriving there by 1000. The plan was to dive/ snorkel on 3 different sites, sandwiching in snacks and lunch. The wind was up a bit making the water just a bit more turbid, and waves a mite bigger although it was quite warm. The Poseidon headed back to the wharf by 1530 with four very tired, salty old dogs. Worn out but happy after a day at sea. Bosco had so much fun today he had to sign up to go again Friday. He got to do two drift dives seeing 4 sharks on the first one. The Reef is awesome we all agreed on that.
April 8th, dancing!
We danced with the Ulysses Squares tonight. This was their 17th birthday celebration and we had a lot of fun dancing and talking and eating, of course. Both Bosco and Tim called and the rest of the night we danced to records which is a little difficult if you’ve never done it. We gave everyone a potato and an Idaho pin. Square dancers are alike the world over, fun loving, friendly and great cooks!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Cairns
April 8, 2008
Got a late start yesterday, but ended up doing a lot! Went to Port Douglas to book a diving and snorkeling trip for the four of us. Went on to Mossman Gorge on north of Port Douglas on Captain Cook Highway. Took a 3 km hike in the rain forest—what a trip!! Got back to Cairns at 1900 and went to the night markets to have dinner--Ended up shopping!! The hike was hot, humid, and wonderful!! Strange trees, birds, and sounds!! Now to get started today.
Brisbane to Cairns, Pam and Tim arrive!
April 6, 2008
Up bright and early for our flight to Cairns and the tropics. We flew out of the International Airport in Brisbane because our plane was to go on to Singapore. This did involve some extra steps for us and some worry for our fellow passengers. The confusion was about do we go through customs, what can we carry on with us??? It was all easily sorted out and we arrived here in Cairns about an hour before Tim and Pam Eld. After we got all the luggage rounded up and loaded into a taxi we found our condo. It’s quite spacious and lovely, in a sort of gated community. Very much upscale from our backpacker hostel in Brisbane. Our room there was so tiny we could only have one of us out of bed at a time. Well, that’s almost the truth any way. We settled into the condo and then took a cab back to the city to rent a car, by this time Tim and Pam were fading fast after 36 hours with little or no sleep. We stopped at a Thai restaurant that served wonderful food and ate and then took "the kids" back to the condo to go to bed. Bosco and I left again to look for a market to buy some staples for breakfast. While in Cairns we kept seeing this horde of "birds" circling and diving first over here then over there. When we left the restaurant we decided to drive up and get a better look. Not birds at all but big fruit bats, screeching, diving and flying. No Toto we’re not in Kansas any more
Friday, April 4, 2008
Morton Island off Brisbane, AU
April 5, 2008
It’s been a while since we’ve had time to write a note. I’ll try to catch it up a bit.
Kirra Beach was very nice right in the heart of the busy-everything. We went to a show; Zingara at the Conrad-Juniper Casino- dinner and a show. So we got really dressed up. Otherwise we just poked around.
Thursday we packed up for a short drive to Brisbane. The plan was that we drive to Annie’s Shandon Inn and drop off the luggage, go to the airport and drop off the rental car. This is a simple plan but it took us all day. We got lost numerous times, met some wonderful people, ate well and
exhausted ourselves in the process.Friday we decided to take a day trip to Morton Island. We left Annie’s at 0745 and got back here at 2030. We did some snorkeling; Bosco gave me a much needed lesson, we walked on the beach, in the evening we listened to the Kookaburras laugh. The highlight of our day was hand-feeding the dolphins. We waded into the water waist deep and bent over and they took it out of our hands. These are wild dolphins that come in evenings just at sundown to feed. You are not allowed to touch them but they run into you if you’re not presenting the fish when they want them. Last night all 9 dolphins that they are tracking came in, we all had a ball.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Coffs Harbor to Kirra Beach, AU
April 2, 2008
Where do the days go? Yesterday we turned a 4 hour drive into an all day excursion. We had a ball. We left Coff’s Harbor by 1000 and started up the coast. Our first stop was quite soon as we looked for a "chemist" shop (read Pharmacy) to buy Bosco a cough syrup/expectorant/ cough suppressant. In Australia the Chemist shops have registered pharmacist that prescribe various medicines; the cough and cold meds for some. After a consultation she sold us a remedy for a Chesty cold, we bought lozenges at the counter and we were off. Our next stop was Woodburn. A little burg along the South Richmond River where we ate Mexican food; nachos with the Australian sweet chili sauce and quesadias. For dessert we had fresh pastries from a bakery shop near by which we took to a river bench across the road. There we were inundated by the Australian White Ibis and a Muscovy duck. They pestered us until we fed them something. Nearby was an internet café so we popped there to read our email. While I was working on the computer Bosco was watching the river where he saw a Water Dragon coming out of the water so of course I had to stop and take a look. Whoops, we have places to go! so we set off again only to stop at Byron Bay Lighthouse to see the most Eastern point in Australia. This is a most gorgeous spot if you like unending ocean, waves, lighthouses, sunshine, and panoramic views. We didn’t arrive at the WorldMark Kirra Beach until 1800 which we found was 1700 as we had crossed into Queensland and had gained an hour. Our one bed room suite has a balcony with an ocean view. Is this heaven, on earth? Weather is much warmer here.
Coffs Harbor
March 31, 2008
We started our day today with a walk on the beach around Coff’s Harbor—well it was before noon. Kathy went to a meeting at 12:30 while I went to an internet café to check email and put stuff on the blog. I picked her up at 2 pm and we went to eat down on the jetty. I wasn’t hungry so Kathy had a prawn salad, which I helped with, and then we went next door to get homemade ice cream!! Went back to an internet place to check her email and work on blog some more. Took a drive to see some more country and then to dinner. Drove up the coast and found a place to eat. I left Kathy at the condo and I went to a meeting myself. Kathy did some laundry while I was gone. Tomorrow we head for Kirra Beach, about four hours up the coast. Maybe I will be able to dive up there!!
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