An Amazing Adventure

 It seems appropriate that my last blog falls on what would have been my 55th Wedding Anniversary, so huge thanks go out to David for pushing me to have all those holidays and giving me the courage to attempt this fabulous trip on my own (and giving me the means to travel in style👍) Thank you.

Six weeks ago I left England with one thought in my mind, to give a huge hug to my Daughter and, of course, my son in law.  After two years of Covid, when Melbourne got the record for the most number of lockdown days in the world, and one year since Pam’s Cancer diagnosis, a hug was all I could think of. Fortunately for me, Pam and Paul had thought beyond the hug and I was greeted with a programme of events which would have given the most intrepid of travellers cause for thought!!!  As you can see from my previous blogs there was not much time to spare.  Not a moment was wasted.

To share their life over here was a privilege, to see where they walked to during the long lockdowns, to share the morning coffee trip for the take away coffee treat each morning.  (Everyone seems to have coffee or breakfast outside.)   To watch the swimmers, walkers, runners, cyclists all enjoying the lovely weather was wonderful. 

Sharing their life together also meant I shared what living with cancer every day is really like.  Every day is carefully planned around healthy eating and exercise.  The medical team do their work and Pam and Paul do what they can do to rid themselves of this dreadful Thing.   All meals are healthy and well planned out,  Pam, as most of you know, is doing a virtual cycle ride from Melbourne to Darwin, raising money for Cancer Research.  She has completed one third of the 3725 km, doing approximately 32km per day.  I am exhausted looking at the data, so I go out for a walk and complete 3km, not quite the same, I know.💕

I thought I would be leaving with a heavy heart, as I don’t know when our next meeting will be, but I know that not only am I leaving her in the hands of a wonderful Medical team, but also  I am leaving her in the hands of her wonderful Husband.  The guy is amazing and thinks of her every minute of the day.  Nothing is too much trouble for him.  He just gets on with things, (and he put up with me for six weeks).

So in the words of a famous actor, sorry Paul, I WILL BE BACK and in the words of a famous animation group,

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!

23 nights away. 8 different accommodations (9 if you include “home”) 2647 miles in the car not including our trip to Cairns.

The Great Ocean Road

 Last Friday of this wonderful trip and all packed again for the journey down the Great Ocean Road,  unfortunately today was the day for rain. Rain and yes more rain coupled with thick mist.  However, the lovely accommodation made up for the poor weather.  Down below we could see the waves breaking on the rocks. It was still stupendous even in the rain (although this picture was taken this evening and seems a little calmer.  View from our lounge)

This morning, Saturday, after horrendous storms in the night and with a bit of rain lingering, we had this lovely rainbow. 

 So we set off to Lorne.  Coffee break at Koala cafe and guess what, the name gives the treat away………

This little wild Koala crossed our path a few metres away.  Lovely experience.

Whilst watching him I turned and saw this Crimson Rosella on the fence. Beautiful

On a funnier note, where we see the sign for old people crossing in UK,  in Victoria they have…….

This sign for having a break in the middle of the road. 😀

The drive home was past lovely coves and large bays which we could have photographed forever.  Just a couple to try to send you the feel of the Coast.  It was another lovely day.  Back home for red meat day, steaks on the barbie!!

Woke up on Sunday morning to another rainbow.  An early start to Port Campbell following the Great Ocean Road.  Through rain and thick mist, we felt we may not be lucky with the weather, however, as we dropped to sea level it all changed,  the sun came out and the scenery began!!! I did not think I could find enough adjectives to describe some of this fabulous coastline.  It goes on and on.  There was a bit of a wind so the waves were crashing on the rocks.  This limestone coast is being eroded away but it leaves some amazing rock formations. 

And so back to our cosy cottage and supper out next door at a Greek restaurant.  I say next door, however, 

there are no street lights and it is half a mile through the forest, never knowing what is lurking in the bushes 😀  Thank you Paul for driving👍👍💕

Back to Melbourne

 Tuesday is our last day of our long break, stopped in Hastings, had a small walk, they had a longer one, so I had time to view the Harbour.  Beautiful.

So an added treat on the journey home was to visit their second home.  I have to say Australian caravans are a little different from when we caravanned.  A fixed double bed so no joins in the cushions.  Would have been lovely.  Air conditioning and fridge freezer. No room for Mother, well there was, but it would have been a little cozy 🤔🤔

A lazy day today, unpacking etc.  Did the local shops this morning and then during Pam's cycle, one and half hours today, I went for my walk along the Prom.   Beautiful,  balmy afternoon,  so managed to make it to my 10,000 steps.  Sat on the pier and watched a Pied Cormorant, then saw him take off and swim for his supper.

 

A Mob of Kangaroos!

Saturday morning was a farewell to Sydney and our lovely apartment.  It has been a wonderful time, however, 1,161km stretched ahead of us.  512km today, HOWEVER we did a small diversion to Potato Point and saw a Mob of Kangaroos, yes, apparently that is what a group of Roos are called.  They were on a camp site by the beach completely oblivious to us.  So finally I have seen them in the wild.👍👍👍👍

Potato Point beach where the Roos congregate.

 

Another long day on Sunday, but stopping points on the way. One of the places was Sale.  I grew up from 7 yrs old to 14 yrs old in Sale, Cheshire!!, A very different place.  The only photo I could get was of the Port of Sale.

 We arrived at our apartment with an hour to spare before the treat of the day, a trip to Penguin Parade.  This is a wonderful sight where the Little Blue Penguins come ashore every evening around 6pm.  Approximately 1000 per night come ashore, waddling up the beach.  We walked on a boardwalk, very controlled so as not to disturb them on their nightly trek to, at this time of the year, their loved ones.  Unfortunately no cameras are allowed, but the whole evening is wonderful.  Apparently they leave at dawn, feed all day, come ashore and spend maybe a day recovering, before they start again.  The young ones are now getting their adult feathers, so have 21 days to live off their body fat before they leave for the water and the cycle begins again.  A Raft of Penguins when in the water and a Colony when on land

It was a lovely experience.

So today, Monday 25th April is ANZAC day, which obviously over here is a big event.  By a complete fluke we stopped for our usual coffee break in Cowes where we are staying, and realised we were about to see the local parade, passing right by the cafe we were sat outside.  It is to remember Australia and New Zealands contribution in WW1 to the battle in Gallipolli.  A little like our Remembrance Sunday and held in each town.  Lovely to see one locally.

Then we had a tour of several beautiful beaches, and I mean beautiful.  However, on the way we saw a few Wallabies and an Echidna, it was lovely and is a monotrene.  

On another beach Pam nearly trod on a copperhead snake, which is poisonous!!! J

And lots of birds.  This part of the coast is wonderful, rugged and wild, I could spend a day watching the waves break on the volcanic rocks.  

I close my eyes and I am surfing!!!!

               

Signing off from Sydney

 Another beautiful morning, Thursday, and Paul is working again, so Pam and I went down to Darling Harbour and caught the ferry to Circular quay and then the ferry to Manly Beach.  Lovely beach with loads of surfers and a good walk along the Prom.  Back to the centre and lunch at a Scandinavian restaurant.  Gorgeous, and then the heavens opened, so lingered longer with lunch!!

Back on the ferry, this time we caught a different one which did a couple of stops so saw more of the scenery but most of all good shots of the Bridge and Opera House.  

Wandered back on a different route through the Strand Arcade.  Very old fashioned and beautiful.

Back home after 9.8km 

So I would like to say our last day in Sydney dawned bright and sunny, but I can’t ‘cos it didn’t!! 

Lazy morning, early lunch and off Pam and Paul went for their climb over Sydney Bridge, nope I didn’t join them.  I wandered off and found a lovely Arcade, in the dry as the heavens opened just as they would have arrived at the Bridge.  I bought a couple of things and waited for the drenched couple to return.  I had not needed to worry, yes, they were wet but had really had a wonderful time. As no cameras or phones are allowed I had to make do with the official photos, which were lovely but not available on this device.

A quick change around and off to a Malay restaurant.  I have to say I have enjoyed some lovely food cooked by my son-in-law and been to a several restaurants, but this topped the lot.  All the dishes were wonderful. A perfect end to a great week in Sydney.  I am one lucky lady (and one much plumper one as well). Oh and only 6.4km today!!! 

Two long travel days now so will catch up later.  In the meantime final views of Sydney. 

Sydney Highlights

 Another bright and sunny morning, Tuesday, so a walk down to Darling Harbour.   Beautiful area with cafes galore, except this is Tuesday and they are nearly all closed!!! Managed to find one for the daily coffee/hot chocolate.  Didn’t think we had walked very far but managed 4.5 km. Back for lunch and a lazy couple of hours.  Pam and Paul popped off for a walk and I nipped down to the pool for a quick dip.  Not as warm as the one in Port Douglas, but it was empty so I could do my aqua exercises!!  Very refreshing.

Very early supper and then taxi to Sydney Harbour.  We were not being lazy taking a taxi, we were dressed in our finery and posh shoes as Pam had got tickets for the ballet in the Opera House.  This trip just gets better and better.  Anna Karenina was the ballet and it was beautiful.  To be sat inside the wonderful building was amazing  Don’t think we were in the largest auditorium but it held a couple of thousand people so not bad. Masks not obligatory, however, we kept ours on as did most of the folk near us.  Unfortunately we came out to find the most horrendous thunder storm going on.  Pam managed to get us a Uber taxi and we got home quite dry. Latest night I have had in Oz, but well worth it. 

Lovely evening.

So Wednesday morning, no sign of the storm, bright and sunny. Paul went into the office, first time for two and a half years.  In the 6 years prior to moving out here he visited Australia 17 times, some in Melbourne and some here in Sydney, hence us having a wonderful tour guide.

Pam and I popped into the shopping area and I did my final souvenir buying, well maybe not 🤔🤔

After lunch Pam did the gym, I was going for a swim, but the silly system of plastic keys means they don't always work, and this time they didn’t so back to the room, waited for Pam to return from her 23km bike ride, static, then off to Hyde Park!!  Seems weird all the English place names.  Popped into the Catholic Cathedral, absolutely lovely, Pam then left me and she did another 8km and I wondered back through the Park and watched the Ibis, known apparently as bin chickens!!!

Around 5pm we walked back to Darling Harbour and waited for Paul to arrive at a lovely Turkish mrestaurant.  Lovely meze supper and then walked home to complete 9.7km for the day!!

I have discovered Australia!

Easter Sunday and on our way to Sydney, however, before leaving the Blue Mountains, we stopped at Scenic World.  We booked an early slot and did the SkyWay!!!  This is the huge carriage swinging in mid air over a huge drop to the floor of the forest.  Not for the faint hearted, but I have decided to not be a wimp and go for it!! Pleased I did, provided I didn't think of the drop, it was great.  Then the Scenic Cablecar to the walkway which took us through the forest on a very easy boardwalk. Then back to the top in the world’s steepest railway, the Scenic Railway.  Most of it through a dark tunnel.!!  So I decided my feet in future were staying firmly on the ground.

Or so I thought, we arrived in Sydney to find we are on the 23rd floor.  We have a lovely apartment, I have a bedroom, en suite, small kitchen and balcony, the adjoining room has the lounge, bigger kitchen, utility room and another double en suite.

As Paul does the cooking I have grabbed the small suite!

However, I thought a night view from my balcony was better than my bedroom!!!😀😀

Unpacked and then walked to the Harbour.  The place was heaving, but the views were wonderful, I must admit my first sight of the Opera House was quite emotional, as David had this on his hit list.  Walked round the Harbour to view the Bridge and all the folk who were doing the bridge climb.  Watch this space on Friday.  No don’t be silly, Pam and Paul are doing it, my birthday and Christmas treat for the past two years, and a thank you for organising this tour.  It certainly beats Titan holidays!!

So today, Easter Monday, dawns bright and sunny, so off on a tour of the famous Bays around here.  The most iconic being Bondi Beach. Well it looked good for surfers, which obviously I am not, and the beach was good, I think, but there were several bodies on it soaking up the sun.  A quick photo and onto Botany Bay, where Capt Cook discovered Australia, and Sandra decided she could paddle.  It was lovely, but the swim suit was tucked up in the apartment, so that was as far as I got.  A lovely art sculpture on the beach.

Then home, via the supermarket and Bottle Mart.  Alcohol not sold in supermarkets, so Paul pops in there and I pop into next door for my medicine 🤔🤔🤔. Need it after my long paddle.  After yesterday’s 9.2kms today was a bit more gentle only 4.8kms.  Still better than nothing.

Ozzie road trip and still no kangaroos!!!

 So after a couple of days catch up, Pam and I went into the centre of Melbourne.  We picked the best day, sun shining, no wind and a very blue sky.  Paul dropped us off right in the centre. We popped into the beautiful Cathedral, had a few moments to think of those who had once been with us, family and recently, good friends.  Brought it home to me how lucky I was to get this wonderful opportunity.

Then onto our first real retail therapy.  Walked along several alleyways and then into Myer which is a large department store, a little like Debenhams, but better! Bought some shoes and a couple of gifts to take home.. lovely lunch in an arcade cafe and then the circular City tram, hop on hop off, however, it is free in Melbourne. Walked along the Yarra River and sat in the sunshine watching the boats with evening drinks cruises and the University rowers having a practice session.  

Thursday was packing day and after lunch we set off for the Blue Mountains.

Stopped one night in Beechworth at a lovely motel.  As usual a quaint town which seemed to be set in another century.  Next day on the road, 600km to Wallerawang. A long day but through gorgeous countryside.  All those kilometres and I managed to close my eyes as we passed a field of kangaroos!!! Or so I was told!!! One day I will have a photo to prove they really do exist.

However, Saturday we woke again to a gorgeous day, and set off for a day of visiting view points to see the Blue Mountains.  So called because they are covered with eucalyptus trees from which the oil gives off a blue haze.  The sites and views are amazing.  I managed to do 10,199 steps, which I felt was incredible after the blip with the hip last week.  My words cannot describe the views and the photos probably dont’t do the sights true justice.  It was a wonderful day.