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.