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.