Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
This rather strange looking milk cow is an unlikely ad for a burger place.
I am safely tucked into the Brisbane airport waiting for boarding, some 40 minutes away.
My bag is full of wet clothes. A sealed in ziplock bags. Why? You might ask. Because, I don’t learn from past mistakes.
50 odd years ago, I put everything stitch of clothing I had into a strange washing machine. I was clad in a bikini and a raincoat. In good time the wash finished and I transferred everything to the dryer. I retired to a nearby saloon. When I returned, my clothes were dry and Barbie doll sized. This was in the polyester days. Some of the clothes were actually melted. Most were just hopelessly shrunken. To Barbie doll size. I had to go and buy all new clothes from panties out. I was 20 something.
Well. This afternoon, a couple of hours before it’s time to leave for the airport, I decided to wash ALL of my clothes. Except for my wool hoody and stripped wool socks. The wash cycle ends. And nothing happened. No drying started. The f-ing door would not open. And I am clad in a bath towel. Got the door open. Got the wet clothes out. Dried undies, a shirt and a skirt good enough using the microwave and a hair dryer. Rolled the rest of the clothes into ziplock bags. And I am now 70 something. And I seem to have learned nothing about using strange washing machines when far from home.
Next stop Honolulu and on to Kona. Hopefully before the clothes mold and a week from today back to the Asylum.
Today, I rode around on the CityCat Ferry. That took about 4 hours and cost$3.50. Australian cities have good public transit. And they have lots more bridges. Including some for pedestrians and bikers only.
Tomorrow I plan on going to another garden, spend up my Aussie dollars, pack, clean up my rooms, get to the airport and arrive back in Kona before I left.
The ferris wheel wasn’t open when I walked by this morning. But it still makes a fine image.
And this bus is just too cute.
Yves St Laurent year of the dog window display. After resting yesterday, I was back in the travel game.
Main objective of the day was finding a koala. Mission accomplished.
After the koala quest, I went window shopping. Found a shop that Sam, my granddaughter would love. A Japanese dollar store. Well, actually, a $2.80 store. I went crazy in the origami paper section. I did not buy one of everything, but close.
And this is home for the next 2 days. I have two of the arched windows on the 1st floor really the 2nd floor.
Went for a stroll this morning. Wondered why everyone one was ignoring this big ass lizard. Turns out the area was lousy with big ass lizards.
My trip to the Great Barrier Reef was plagued with rain and wind. Fortunately I was very well fed and I got 3 snorkels in. If I were younger I would give it another trip. Who knows, even I might have another go. The fish and coral are out of this world.
Feeling a little frayed around the edges. So, I am just going to do a little sightseeing and a lot of lounging around. Late on my Thursday I head back to Kona. Then on March 6 it’s back to the Asylum.
Aussie weirdness – you turn the electrical outlets on and off. So, plug phone in to recharge, fail to turn outlet on, come back in a couple of hours, and nothing has happened!
Australia really isn’t much different from the US or Canada. The coffee is better. Starbucks would not be a good idea. Aussies are crazier about sports. Public transport is better. Their political leaders are as crazy as US political leaders.
Left to right. The view from my balcony. Plus giant bats.
I just booked in here because they had guest laundry and were supposed to be on the water. I think this is the best place I have ever been. And I have been to lots of places.
Well, it is time to start charging up my devices and myself in prep for tomorrow’s flight to lizard island. There’s no WiFi and no cellular. Nonexistent. None.
I am staying until Sunday. So you will not hear from me untill my Sunday or Monday.
Sunset Darwin Harbor
Made it to my hotel at 6:40pm. I knew sunset was scheduled to happen at 7:10. So I just dumped my stuff and went looking for sunset. Sunset not so special. But, I found bats. I am batty over bats. These were huge black flying foxes. They weigh over 1.5 pounds and have a 3, foot wingspan. I could hear their huge wings making leathery flapping sounds. No pics of bats. Wrong gear.
Came back to the hotel and weighed my stuff. Got an email today from tomorrow morning’s airline saying we are surely going to measure and weigh your stuff.
Fortunately, they’re not going to weigh and measure me!
Arrived in Alice Springs just after one. It was 41 degrees. Went on a 5k hike. It was worth the trip. Arrived back at the train soaked. Then before I made it onto my train, it rained. Now 1/3 of my wardrobe is soaked. Maybe it’ll get dry or not…
Got a great sunrise photo.
Didn’t see any animals today except some black cows and a flock of parakeets. Oh, there was kangaroo but that was on the lunch menu. I had the chicken.
Arriving in Darwin sixish tomorrow.
Forget Mind the Gap – here in Australia you must Beware of Gap. That Gap is out to kill your sorry ass. Just like every spider, lizard, jelly fish, reptile and cab driver on the continent.
Updating the blog early today while I still have LTE signal.
Found this sign on my early am wanderings. Seems a little like the Jefferson Dinning Room at the Asylum.
And another from last night’s light show.
This train 300 passengers, 43 cars, 52 staff.
Forgive me Carlton for I have shopped. For a fine blue Crumpler bag. They are made in Australia, they are extremely nerdy, they’re guaranteed for life. I told the kids at the store that at my age it’s not a biggie.
Adelaide had lots of interesting shops. Including one devoted to puzzles. Anyone up for a 40,320 piece puzzle? Maybe I can leave one to the GHBC puzzle closet when I transition to the next level.
Main shopping area in Adelaide.
My hotel is what I call early concentration camp. But, it is just for the night. Saw a bunch of folks dressed in matching faux safari wear while I was out shopping. I suspect that they’re going to be on my train. Hopefully they will be in deluxe class and not in my part of the train. Had some interesting folk on the last trip. About evenly divided between Aussies and Europeans. I was the only north American.
And the second installment of my travel log.
Australian Adventure Before Alzheimer’s week 2
Feb 9
Off to Geraldton to see Leilani and Joe. Looking forward to seeing them and not making any decisions!
9:15pm. Had a lovely day. I was treated like visiting royalty. Sights were seen, meals eaten,
Feb 10
8:20am. Good sleep. Leilani fed me fried eggs, bacon and toast plus cappuccino for btekkie.
Now on the bus waiting for lift off.
Critters
Sheep
White cockatiel
Horse
Cows lots of cows
Emus maybe a dozen
More emu
Cows and emu together
Finally a kangaroo
At Dongara now 0920ish
Showing a movie about talking cars. Passing wonderful white dunes.
Exciting down town Eneabba. No one got on or off.
11:30. Stopped at Mill Hill Halfway Roadhouse. Got a flat white and a bottle of water and some photos. I am loving this adventure so far. Of course there’s three more weeks for the wheels to come off.
Way back when I was 50something, I took yoga with a man in his seventies. From time to time he would pack off for distant shores. He said that his aches and pains lessened on the road. I didn’t understand it then. But now I do
1:20. Getting closer to Perth. Land is less lumpy. Lots more cows. Speed just reduced from 100 to 80. KPH not MPH. Up to 110. The expressway maybe?
Swan Valley now. Grapes, olives, wine. When you make wine from grapes grown by a busy highway does the wine have undertones of gasoline with a hint of diesel?
Bedtime. Found the hotel. And later found a better way. The bus terminal is also the train station so, a better way is good.
Chicken and leek quiche take out for dinner.
Silly thing I did was to wash my long pants. I think they just might get dry.
Feb 11
11:35am. On the train heading east
Critters
Sheep
Horses
And, Before the train cockatoos woke me up.
Brown cows
13:20. Just finished a great lunch. Fish. Chocolate ice cream. Espresso oh and beer. Good dining companions.
Next event is dinner at 6pm.
Closing the door and I am going to chill out..
1530. Napped. The seats are not as comfortable as Amtrak ‘s. But every thing else is better.
I discovered pillows-like the seat better now.
4:45 went on quest for coffee. Found some. Ok not great. We have a field trip to a goldmine after dinner tonight.
2330 hours. Dinner was great. Tuna a wee bit over cooked, wonderfully steamed broccoli finished with a good salad and Mac nut ice cream. Then off the train to see an open pit goldmine. It is the reason the town of 30,000 exists and is expected to play out in 10 years. Don’t think I am going to invest in residential properties there!
Monday February 12
0545. Been awake since 5. About 15 minutes ago they started waking us up for our breakfast picnic. Time to get dressed.
0820. Under way again. It is very flat now. And trees are getting smaller at an alarming rate. Breakfast was good. Quiche, mushrooms and most excellent sausages. Nice to be outdoors in the sun.
Big decisions today. Shower before or after lunch? What beer to have with lunch? What beer to have with dinner?
And do I read or listen to an audiobook. Nothing in see out the window, maybe the kindle.
Critter count
Very sturdy looking brown cows
Shower before lunch. Nice big shower. Hot water. Big fluffy towels.
5:00pm. Had 2.5 hours removed from my day. Just finishing up a late lunch when they said advance your watches two and a half hours.
About lunch. camel curry was on the menu. Lots of one hump or two jokes. I passed on the camel.
I scheduled myself for the 8:30 sitting for dinner. So, I can read, do my blog, take a nap or just sit.
10pm.
A nice leisurely late supper. Good food. Better company. The very best travel experience.
Tuesday February 13. 10:30am
Adelaide.
We got put off the train at about 7:30 for crew change over. Went on a very little walking tour of the city. It ended with second breakfast. There are more outings scheduled for early this evening. But I am rather tired of all these outings so I just said no more.
Looking forward to another day of looking out the window. Oh and eating and making my way through the beer list.
Critters
Magpies
Sheep
Lamas
Cows
Finally a hopping kangaroo and another
A lone emu
One big and four small emu
1330 hours. Finished another meal. Good company again and nice food. Now I am going to hole up in my little room.
Just got an invite to dinner at the Asylum on my first night home. It is great to have something to look forward to other than journey’s end.
2315. Am I a party animal or what? Late dinner then hangout in the bar. I must be having fun.
Spent 90minutes walking around Broken Hill. Great old mining town.
The roadbed leaves much to be desired.
Wednesday February 14.
Rose pink sunrise and brekkie at 7am. Totally ordinary breakfast – except for the kangaroos that bounced by.
0925. All packed up. Will chill and charge batteries until Sydney.
Critters
Cows
Sheep
Kangaroo
And a bat in Sydney
10:00. Today’s goal. Get to hotel without drama. The goal was not met. Missed my train station.
Sydney. Very festive this evening with lovers going out. But I am tired.
Thursday February 15
Went to the zoo today. On the ferry. The zoo is big and hilly. But you can take a bus to the top of the zoo and sort of tack back and forth ending up at the ferry.
Found out that my hotel neighborhood is getting ready for lunar new year. And they’re expecting one million visitors from Asia. I can see some of it tomorrow evening.
Took this picture early in my trek across the harbor bridge. It was early morning and it wasn’t too hot. Not as far as this picture makes it look either. Maybe 3.5 miles round-trip.
It was wonderful and I would do it again. Lots of runners and folk walking to work. I wondered where the bikers were. When I got to the other end I discovered that the bikers were on opposite side of the bridge. Very civilized.
Next and ferry for the 30 minute trip to Manly Beach. Where I sat on a bench in the shade and watched the surfers.
Back at my hotel, I discovered that the train to the airport is not running tomorrow. Track maintenance. Sounds familiar! So, I am left with $15 on my transit card. And no way to the airport except by 3 busses, Uber or taxi. Well and I suppose a car service. I should be over joyed that I found out today and not tomorrow when I showed up at the train station and the train didn’t. But, I am pissed about the $15 on the transit card. Chill Peg, if this is the biggest problem of the trip, I will have been damn lucky. It is a sunk cost problem, get over it.
I am washing all of my clothes at this instant. I am wearing the hotel bathrobe. Hope the machine doesn’t eat my clothes.
Sydney is getting more Chinese by the hour as it approaches the Lunar New year.
Somehow I will make it to the airport tomorrow and then on to Adelaide.
Went to the zoo today, by boat. By ferry.
I started my visit with a very average fried egg sandwich. But I had to defend it from this young magpie. It was not the greatest breakfast sandwich ever, but I wasn’t going to share.
The Sydney Zoo wasn’t as exquisite as Melbourne’s. But in a surprising number of the exhibits the visitors went into the”cages” with the animals.
They have a great new tiger enclosure. And, you sort of go in with the tigers. The tigers can not actually eat the visitors. But by careful use of glass, fencing and plantings make it seem like you are in a village in Indonesia. With tigers. Melbourne did the same thing with elephants.
In the lunar calendar part of the world we are entering the year of the dog. Every one is into The Year of the Dog. Even Yves St. Laurent.
I wondered about this. Then on the TV this evening they said one million visitors were coming to Sydney for the lunar New year.
Unfortunately, I will miss most of the festivities.