Last Stop

Spent a nice day in Brisbane. Our last stop before arriving in Sydney on Sunday. Rode the Ferris wheel and got a nice view of the downtown, or as they like to say, the CBD. 

And a bonus—the Kusawa exhibition was on at the Gallery of Modern Art, and it was free!!  We got to go in the Infinity Room. Visits are limited to 45 seconds!  The queue was only about 20 minutes. 

Her other works are interesting too. 

So, on to packing. 

Solomon Islands

We arrived at Guadalcanal, site of fierce fighting from August 1942 to February 1943. They just held a 75th year commemoration. Lots of wreckage of both Japanese and American ships and aircraft—so much so that the bay is known as Iron Botttom Sound. 

The SI gained independence in 1978, but they’ve been through tough times. Things are calm now. 

We visited the compound of a traditional SI family. Really a subsistence life style. We learned of their foods (yams, taro, cabbage, and some pork) and cooking techniques, and how they construct their huts. The men wear loin cloths (made from fiber of trees) and the women grass skirts (topless). The children are adorable. 

The narrator was the patriarch whose English was perfect. His mouth and teeth were stained red from chewing betel nuts, as are those of most adults. And the streets and sidewalks have stains of red everywhere from where they’ve spat!!

More PNG

Still in PNG, visiting various islands. Rabaul was the sight of the largest Japanese base in the Southwest Pacific during WWII. Probably 100 ships and 200,000 men were stationed here. 

Relics of war. 

We visited the Bita Paka Cemetery, home to 1000 graves of Australian & Allied soldiers.  We were given flowers to lay on the headstones. 

On all the islands, the people are extremely cheerful and smiling. 

The symbol of Kitava reminded me of the NM column capital. 

The traditional mode of transport and the modern. 

PNG

Island hopping around Papua New Guinea (PNG). First stop Alotau on Milne Bay, site of the first land defeat of the Japanese in 1942 by the Australians, aided by the Americans. Then on to tiny Doini (pop. 100) for a day of sun and sand. 

Islanders in native dress came from nearby islands to perform and sell their wares and to solicit donations. 

PNG very tropical. Beautiful flora. 

Met this little guy— a possum. 

Sail Away

We left Sydney on Saturday, passing under the Sydney bridge and past the opera house. Now steaming north, and getting warmer every nautical mile. Expect to be near 90 and humid when we reach Papua New Guinea. Ugh!!

Happy Traveler

Beer, sunshine, Sydney Harbor Bridge. What could be better. 

Boarding Sun Princess today. 

Tassie

Back in Sydney now, but we had a great visit with cousin Suzanne in Tassie. 

Museums and Mammals

Visited a couple interesting museums along our journey. The National Surf Museum in Torquay gave a great history of the surf culture of the 60s and 70s as well as the development in the designs of surfboards. The museum is in a shopping center where all the stores are devoted to surfing—think Rip Curl and Quiksilver. 

In Geelong outside Melbourne we visited the National Wool Museum and learned everything about wool, from the sheep stations, shearing, wool grading, cleaning, spinning, and much more. Fascinating. 

When we were in the Barossa, we had a dozen kangaroos romping in the field behind our B&B. 

And we met this little guy (wallaby) at the Twelve Apostles 

The Great Ocean Road

Monday, November 6

Geelong, Victoria

We finished driving the Great Ocean Road yesterday. It runs from Warrnambool to Torquay in Victoria, 243 kilometers. It includes the 12 Apostles Rock formations.  There are no longer 12 as erosion has taken some down. Nonetheless, it is an impressive.

Now on to Melbourne. The running of the Melbourne Cup is tomorrow. It is an official holiday for the state of Victoria. Everyone goes bonkers about the race. Bigger than our Kentucky Derby. 

Wine Country

Thursday, Nov 2

Barossa Valley

Spent a couple days in wine country, north of Adelaide. Lots of great Shiraz, Grenache, and even some Rieslings. We did a wine tour, driven around in a 1962 Daimler Majestic Major limousine. Top shelf!

Stayed in a B&B across the road from the Seppeltsfield winery, founded in 1851. 

During the depression of the late 1920’s, when wine production was way down, Seppelt kept all his workers on and had them plant over 2000 palm trees in the vicinity of the winery. They all still stand along the roadways. 

At the Yalumba winery we were lucky enough to watch two coopers making oak barrels, all by hand. The oak either comes from America (Missouri) or France. 

The Outback

October 31 Adelaide

Arrived at Adelaide after two days aboard the Indian Pacific, so named because it runs from Perth on the Indian Ocean to Sydney on the Pacific Ocean. It had 31 carriages and 191 passengers. 

The Outback became more and more desolate and dry. as we moved away from the coast. Rather than lakes, there were salt pans. 

We stopped at the largest single open cut gold mine in the world, called the Super Pit. It operates 24/7. Gold has been mined at Kalgoorlie since 1893 when it was first discovered. 

Then passed by the Jumbuck Pastoral, a 2.5 million acre station on the Nullabor plain. It stocks 70,000 sheep!!

When we arrived at Adelaide we set our clocks ahead by 2-1/2 hours to South Australia time!!  Weird. 

Perth

Perth is the Capitol of Western Australia. 

They have a wonderful botanical garden in King’s Park where spring flowers were booming. Also the home of some pretty impressive fig trees. 

Perth is also home to the Bell Tower, constructed to welcome the new millenium. It contains bells from England that are over 224 years old. 

Fremantle

Friday, October 27

Spent the day in Fremantle (affectionately known as Freo) just down the Swan River from Perth.  

Like many other sites in Australia there is a monument to the Anzacs who fought in WWI. 

The Fremantle Prison operated from the 1850s until 1991. It was a horrible place. Toilets and running water to the cells were not installed until the 1980s!!  Yup, they used buckets. 

The Fremantle Markets Building dates back to 1897. Very European in feel. Lots of produce but also crafts and art. I now own a stunning Australian opal. 

As part of the Fremantle Featival which begins on Saturday, Swiss artist Felice Varini brought his internationally-renowned “optical illusion” art to High Street. Yellow designs on buildings and the street stretch for 800 meters.  (p.s. it does come off)

Down Under

Landed in Sydney after 17+ hours from Dallas. An easy, comfortable flight. Our first glimpse outside the Sydney airport was an Australian Christmas tree. Always hard to reconcile Christmas with their springtime here. 

Beautiful blooming trees. 

And a magnificent sunset viewed from our restaurant in Potts Point—our favorite locale to stay. 

Hiking, hiking, hiking

Three great days hiking the Rockies with “the kid” and Ashlee.  Beautiful. 

Rocky Mountain High

Yesterday—68 degrees and golf in shorts

Today—36 degrees and snowballs

Arrived Edinburgh

July 31
Edinburgh
We are docked immediately adjacent to the retired royal ship HMS Britannia (which we toured back in May).

Our last day of golf was at Gleneagles--the Kings course. On the way there, we drove past sights from our walk across Scotland--the three bridges at South Queensferry and the Kelpies sculptures. 

The symbol of Scotland. 

A great trip. We are planning on doing another Perry Golf adventure in the future.