One last day of Australian waves

Tuesday, May 30

A walk around the Burleigh Heads park started our morning.  We then headed down to Coolingatta for the afternoon.  We ended up at Rainbow Bay and the boogie boarding was entertaining.  The boys had the pleasure of experiencing shore dump, where the wave they are riding in on suddenly dumps them head first onto sand.  They quickly learned to avoid this dangerous item and were catching lots of good waves.  At the end of it, the boogie boards were left in the garbage.  The purchase managed to hang on for the days we needed them, but they were fairly busted up.  We then walked over to Snapping Rocks before heading it back to the campsite.  It was a balmy 22 C today, and the night if feeling cool, but we are lucky in that the rain is avoiding our camping adventure on the Gold Coast.

The set is complete!

Monday, May 29

Another beautiful day in paradise.  26 C and not a cloud to be seen.  We are starting to meet up with couples we had met last week at the Woolgoolga campground.  They seem to get a kick out of the Canadian couple with their three kids camping out of the back of a small SUV.  After a short walk up town to replace Luke’s blown out flip flop, we were off to the beach.  The waves are certainly different here, as they either break really far out, or right close to shore.  The boys enjoyed boogie boarding for a while, but then packed it in.  Cindy and I went for a long walk on the beach.  On our walk we saw a rather large 30 year old male with speedo that he had hoisted up his butt, and therefore was fully tanning both butt cheeks.  I was so wishing I had the camera with me.  It reminded us of the Seinfeld episode of looking at cleavage… it is like looking at the sun, you shouldn’t, but you still do.  More of an argument for me buying speedo, but Cindy is not going for it. 

Surfers Paradise at dusk in the distance

After our beach walk, we grabbed the boys and headed to Woolies.  Woolies (Woolworths) are one of the major food stores in Australia (and South Africa).  While we have been in Australia, they have been giving out Marvel Super Hero disks.  There are 42 in total and Nate purchased a book holder for them.  After being sure to buy all groceries at Woolies so that we can get these disks, we are down to only needing one more, and the disk program is ending Tuesday.  The national news had a short clip about these disks and the craze going on for them.  Parents are yelling at cashiers for running out of the disks, and there are some that are rare and are being sold on ebay for up to $90.  Well, Nate got his final one today and his set is complete.  Unbelievable, as I thought there was little chance of getting the last one.  There are even Facebook exchange groups for these disks.  Now Luke wants to try for a full set, as the boys have plans on saving them for 50 years and then cashing in for their millions. 

Surfers Paradise is still Surfers Paradise

Sunday, May 28

After a slow morning of checking out the local Sunday market in the park and purchasing a couple of puzzles, it was off to Surfers Paradise to purchase our Japan Rail Passes.  After completing this task, we went for a little walk to the beach.  Commercial!!!  The sky scrappers are quite amazing, and of course McDonalds is right on the main corner to the beach.  Although beautiful outside, the boys were happy to have another day not in the water.  After returning to our beach at Burleigh heads, we spent time on the beach throwing the ball around.  Still loving the squeaky sand.  That night a group had gathered on the beach around a series of candles in a circle and were singing.  We had witnessed this musical style gathering at Byron Bay.  A little too hippy’ish for me, but the boys commented that they would like to see me out there dancing as well.  Maybe on the next trip.

Boosting the science mark

Saturday, May 27

Moved on to Burleigh Heads this morning.  After a short drive we arrived at our campsite that is just across the road from the ocean.  Set up camp, and had Nate pose in with the tents.  In Nate’s efforts to boost his science mark, he has elected to start helping endangered animals, and purchased a shirt to show his support.  Burleigh Heads looks across at the city of Surfers Paradise.  The view catches one off guard when seeing it for the first time.  I remember Surfers Paradise as a great place to be as a 19 year old, and a dreadful place 30 year old.  Surfers Paradise was still the same, but age does change one’s perception of fun.  Hence the reason to stay 20 minutes away at Burleigh Heads this time.  The rec room has air hockey, so it was a noisy and competitive night.

...and repeat, but this time with playoff hockey!

After another morning of surfing on the beach, Levi and Nate take a break from the heat and sand at they are still feeling a little raw and I head in for a haircut.  A sad day in my life as I actually paid for this haircut.  No clippers burnt out in the process.  Last time I paid for a haircut is when I asked Luke to trim the back of my neck and he started at the crown.  That is when I determined a 13 year old is not mature enough to be a good barber.  I have no doubt that I would never give Levi a pair of clippers and then turn my back.  On my return, Levi reports that he has found the game 7 Pens vs Senators game in the TV room.  The boys and I watch the last half of the third period, and then another one and a half periods of overtime.  Great game, although would have like to have seen Ottawa advance.  Explain to Levi he is lucky to be in Australia watching this, because if he was back home he would have been sent to bed at the end of the third period.  He is not sure he fully agrees with me.  The afternoon is again spent on the beach, and the boys are in the water for hours.

A surfer's life

Friday, May 26, 2017

Head to the beach first thing in the morning.  One of our camping neighbours is lending Luke a surf board to use.  We have many sets of hockey equipment in our houses, the Aussi’s on the ocean have many surf boards.  When asked if he needs it back for his boys, he responds with a no worries, I have three others in the van.  Luke heads out to some medium sized waves and quickly determines that this is way over his head.  Smart boy.  He catches lots of good waves on waves that look really small, but are great for his third ever day on the waves. 

The boys are back out into the waves for the afternoon, but are getting rubber raw from being on the boards and from the sand.  The day is great though as the waves are good, the sun is out, and the temperature is hot.  The boys are happy to be staying here now, even after wanting to leave after our first day.

Byron Bay

Dolphins and surfers

Wednesday, May 24
Another great night of camping, nice and warm.  Our debate last night and this morning is do we stay in this beautiful resort another day, or do we head to Byron Bay.  The next three days are to be great weather days, so we are leaning toward getting to the ocean.  Cindy ran by the beach here this morning and said it was not wonderful. 
Decision made, and we are off to Byron Bay.  The drive off the Pacific Highway into Byron Bay is long, narrow, and windy.  A great entrance into the little town.  We set up camp at Clark’s which is right on the ocean.  The boys head straight out to do some boogie boarding but are disappointed with the waves.  They are small and not conducive to good wave riding.  The boys want to pack up in the morning and head out.

Thursday, May 25, 2017
Take a walk along the coast to the eastern point of mainland Australia.  On the way, we spot a dolphin wave hopping next to a surfer.  Soon we are seeing dolphins all over among the surfers.  One surfer petted a dolphin.  We end up at the lighthouse and see more dolphins.  Once back at the camp, Luke rents a surfboard and we are down at the beach again.  The waves are much better today and the boys have a great time surfing in.  The side current is amazingly strong and gives a new appreciation to how commanding the ocean current can be.  As we eat supper above the beach, there must be at least a hundred surfers out there.  But, as every other day, when 5 pm hits, the sun goes down in minutes and it is quickly black.  No moon these last few days, so the stars are brilliant.  The boys should be good for another day.

Now this is camping!

Tuesday, May 23

Our first night of camping is Australia was very good.  Levi complained a bit about me going in and out of the car early in the morning.  Too bad.  Our worries about a cold night were not a problem.  Packed up and off to Yamba.  With Yamba being right on the highway, we decided that Anna (the GPS system on Cindy’s phone) could have the day off.  After driving through lots of construction and going further than seemed necessary, we decided to check with Anna.  The return 23 km on the highway did not seem that long and the boys were understanding.  After checking out two caravan parks to camp in, the boys voted on the resort park with multiple pools, games rooms and everything else under the sun.  Nate had actually picked it prior to even entering it when we drove by it the first time, as the large pool with dolphins and slides is visible from the road.  The boys had a great afternoon in the pools, and we then had a supper of hamburgers with meatballs as the appetisers.  A group of seniors on their last night at the resort loaded the boys up with chocolates and some ice cream, so all was good. 

Thanks Trudy and Steve

Monday, May 22

After a lovely breakfast, Trudy shared her experiences of being in Hanoi and Vietnam with us, giving us some great travel advice.  We went for a walk through some spectacular scenery, all it their backyard.  We then started our drive to Woolgoolga.  Arriving in the early afternoon, the caravan park was right on the ocean, so the boys were off to try out the new boogie boards leaving me to set up camp.  The one tent that had a broken pole in South Africa seems to mysteriously have fixed itself.  A self healing tent, what a great item.  If I can figure out how, I am going to patent it.

I had been looking for replacement poles in Melbourne, but unsuccessfully.  The tent must have felt bad for me.  The boys were in the water for over two hours and loved the waves, as one wave would crash onto the other and give the boys more speed.  They would wash right up onto the beach, and started to do board spins as they came in.  Camping was good.  Levi has elected to sleep in the back seat of the car for the rest of our camping days.  Luke and Nate seem happy with that, and Cindy and I have decided why not.  Everyone is happy.

The market and the visit

Sunday, May 21

Pack up early from our apartment and headed for the Laurieton farm market.  On our way we stopped in a little town and found some disposable boogie boards that the boys were happy to have on their laps.  As we approach Laurieton, we notice the traffic volume increasing substantially, and then see parking backed up.  After finding a parking spot, we realize that this is not a small farmers market.  There are thousands of people here, and hundreds of stalls.  Buskers abound, live performances are setting up on the stage, and every item imaginable are being sold.  The boys purchase a fighting kangaroo flag for their man cave at home.  But soon the boys are eager to head back to the beach to try out their new boogie boards.  On the way back to Port Macquarie, we stop at one beach and watch a junior surf competition.  Back at our beach the boys have a great time on the boards. 

We then head into town to meet up with Trudy, our new found friend Cindy met yesterday.  We follow her for about 40 minutes into what appears to be nowhere.  There home in nestled just north west of Port Macquarie in a very scenic mountainous area.  We meet her husband Steve and have a great visit with them that evening.  They have travelled around Canada and SE Asia.  Very interesting couple and lots of fun talking with.

Port MacQuarie

Saturday, May 20
After a morning of writing and math, we headed uptown to get our Vietnam visas printed and have a look around, and then off to the beach.  Information took an interesting turn as the boys were talking to one lady about their travels, Cindy was talking to another visitor agent about different things, and soon they were talking about Vietnam.  This then led to our family being invited to stay with Trudy and her husband Steve at their house for Sunday night.  Strange how things materialize at times.  We then went swimming at Flynn’s Beach, right in front of our apartment. For a day that was forecast to be all rain, it was a beautiful 23 C day.  The beach had small waves (comparatively speaking) and squeaky sand.  After a play in the surf, we headed to the Koala hospital for a tour.  This is the original Koala hospital, and the crew there rescues Koalas from a variety of issues, including vehicle hits, dog attacks, and chlamydia.  Not sure how that got introduced into the Koala species, and do not think I want to know.  The tour was excellent.

Heading north up the coast

Wednesday, May 17

Farewell to Sydney.  A great city to visit.  Drove out of Sydney and headed 150 km down the road to Newcastle.  Booked a place for two nights, and first impressions of the city are not great.  Visitor information was partially closed for a function, and the guy there told us lots, but could not get us a map.  Parking was non existant, and then when we got to our apartment, it was far from what was advertised, including no internet.  Oh well, part of the experience of travelling, not holidaying, is that some days are not great.  Tomorrow we will check out the sites and then continue North.

Thursday, May 18

Walked over to McDonalds for free wifi so that we could call Georgina at her surprise 60^th birthday / retirement dinner.  The boys were happy for the Facetime with family, and probably more happy for some Egg and Sausage McMuffins.  We then headed off to the beach.  Newcastle has a great ANZAC walk in memory of the Gallipoli battle in 1915.  The Australians do a truly wonderful job of recognizing the sacrifices of their veterans.

Bondi Rescue

Our view from the bridge

Tuesday, May 16

Headed into Sydney for another view of the Opera House.  We walked half way over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and back, then got close up with the Opera House.  The whole thing is covered in tiles, no wonder it took them so long to build the place.  As usual, a good game of tag broke out on the opera house stairs.  For the afternoon we headed for Bondi Beach.  Got a picture of Nate with a lifeguard.  When asked if he was on the Bondi Rescue show, he stated no, they liked the better looking and more emotional guards.  Not real busy today, but in the summer Bondi can have 40 000 people.  Although it was only 20 and windy, the South Pacific waters are warm.  Our return to Sydney central had the boys watching a homeless man spend about 20 minutes trying to coax money out of an ATM by pushing the buttons continuously.

Cindy arranging her rescue

Downtown Sidney

After moving over from our first Sydney apartment to our second, we head in on the train.  The Sydney Tower, then the Harbour Bridge, and then the Opera House become real for the boys.  As an award, we hit McDonalds for lunch for the first time on our trip.  We are so aweful to our boys, but this seems to make up for it.  At 2:30 pm we join a walking tour and get to hear about the history of Sydney.  Our guide explains that the Opera House went 14 x over budget, and their cost reductions to complete it compromised the sound quality.  She then asked if there were any audio engineers in the crowd, to which one guy did put up his hand - she told him not to go.  Speaking to the guy later, he said that he had been told that the audio quality in the building was very poor. 

Sydney at last.

Sunday, May 14
Happy mother's day, now lets drive!  This should be our last big day of driving for this trip.  We have found a place to stay in a suburb of Sydney after deciding to just get there already.  The scenery becomes for hilly as we skirt along the Blue Mountains. 

Lets stay here because the name is cool to say

Saturday, May 13
Another long day of driving... this is a recording.  Long straight tracks of road as we head across for Sydney.  However, we do get to see fields and field of cotton in full bloom.  Stop and pick some up off the side of the road.  Just like the stuff you buy in a store, who knew!
We end up in Wagga Wagga.  Wagga means crow, and in the Aboriginal language, when you repeat the word, in means many of.  Therefore Wagga Wagga is the land of many crows.  It is a large city with a beautiful botanical garden that we spend the late afternoon at kicking the footy ball around.  Cindy finds us a nice hotel to stay in, and we spend the evening watching the Voice, that is until a fight breaks out and we turn the TV off.  It is an emotional show.

We have to be in the Polar Bear club now

Friday, May 12, 2017

Go for a walk in town and visit with some of the locals along the river.  We then head out and have another rather uneventful drive to Mildura.  Although our seasons are opposite, our farming time matches up as the Aussi’s seed in their fall (April / May).  Too hot to grow crop in the summer.  For the third time on our trip, we end up in an outdoor pool in winter.  Our caravan park that we are staying in has a pool and Nate convinced Luke and I to join him for a dip.  A cool night for a swim, but warmer temperature than Iceland, but not water temperature.

Disclaimer, two mice were killed in the making of this blog

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Cindy loves the old buildings, this one a school house outside of Hawker

Another mouse meets his doom on the pad of stickiness.  Poor little guy is confused and reminds me of Scat off of Ice Age.  Freedom is right there... but is that peanut butter. 

We head out early and make our way to Renmark which is on the River Murray.  This is miles of straight road and not much of anything but flatness.  We see gates that head into nothingness.  I am guessing that the youth must get bored out here, but the testicles painted onto the kangaroo sign are good for keeping the driver more alert.  On the road are many old stone structures.  We wonder if they are victims of fire or just time. 

Houseboats along the Murray in Renmark

4x2'ing in the Outback

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The trap line did not produce any items for the breakfast menu, but the peanut butter was gone.  After resetting the traps, we headed out for a loop around Flinders Ranges.  The drive down Bunyeroo Gorge was beautiful, and with any rain at all, only 4WD accessible.  With some initial fears expressed from the back seat, we managed to 4 X 2 through some small water flows in the river bed, and lots of rough roading.  The 30 km trek took about two hours, but was splendid.  We saw several groups of emus, and of course lots of kangaroos, including some big reds.  We had a lunch at Blinman and then back to the ranch.  Trap line again absent of peanut butter without any results.  Now we get serious and put out the sticky traps with a dab of peanut butter in the middle.  Within an hour we are rewarded and our mouse issue is hopefully solved.  At least the little guy got a couple of good last meals.

Looks pretty easy...

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Headed to Willow Springs Sheep Station this morning, as we were told they were shearing sheep until noon.  Our drive saw a few kangaroos, lots of dead kangaroos, and a few emus.  Our arrival at the sheep station saw four shearers going full out.  The top shearer does 200 sheep per day, the others do 150 per day.  One of the shearers, Norman, had been in Canada last year and was wearing the toque as proof.  He got us into the pen and gave us a quick lesson on how to drag a sheep onto the floor.  His experience made it look very easy, my technique was not quite so smooth, relying on more brute force.  Sheep do not like brute force and Nate got kicked... a sacrifice I was willing to make for the experience. Those nice woolly sheep are not that fluffy, and my hands and legs were scratched up from all the debris caught up in their wool.  There are other workers who are responsible for sorting the wool and packing it, and for keeping the floor tidy.  A bundle of wool weights 200 kg and sells for between 2 and 3 thousand.  Some bundles of specialized wool sold for 2.5 million, but not here.  Willow Springs shears their sheep every 8 months, and they specialize in high grade short wool.  A true farm operation.  Once the sheep were out from being shorn, they were sprayed with a delicing agent and sent back to the paddock.  The Kelpie dogs were in full form herding the sheep.  They are an Australian breed that need to be trained to not overherd. 

After a quick lunch of tasty treats that the shearers had not consumed in their last meal at the station, we went on a scenic walk.  After taking a wrong turn and climbing the wrong hill, we got straightened out and found our scenic outlook.  Our walk went past many kangaroos and wallabies who kept their distance.  Soon the boys were not fearful of personal injury due to a kangaroo attack they had witnessed on some documentary last year.  As King Julian would say, bunch of giant pansies!

After our walk we went for a short drive.  In the morning we saw many dead kangaroos, but not many live ones.  In the evening the reason for the large number of dead kangaroos became apparent as there were hundreds of kangaroos and wallabies everywhere along the road.  There really is a plague of the vermin.  We decided the kangaroos we were so desperate to see a couple of weeks ago are going the way of the African elephant… Oh look, another one!  The final wildlife of the night was the mouse that ran under the fridge after dinner.  The trap line has been set.

Vermin, but they are cute.

Flinders Ranges

Heading to the Outback

Classic Australia Pub in Georgetown

Monday, May 8, 2017

Departed our house in Adalaide for Quorn in the Flinder’s Ranges.  We took the scenic route that had us pass  through classic heritage towns in the wine regions, followed by large expanses of farm land comparable to driving across western Saskatchewan, except for a road that has more than one bend.  One kangaroo came bounding out onto the road in front of a semi, managed to do a 180 and avoid the semi, and then leaped straight into another kangaroo that was jumping onto the roadway, in effect saving him from getting hit by the semi.  Fortunately we were still in an 80 zone, so managed to stop without any incident to us or the Kangaroos.  No more close calls for us or the kangaroos, but based on the number of carcasses on the road, this in not always the case.  Spent the night at Hawker.

Welcome to the Outback.

We could have driven?

Great roots by the Adelaide Zoo.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Drove to Port Adelaide for a look and some lunch.  Then went and had a view of the new Australian war ships that are being assembled.  The Sidney, Melbourne, and Holbart are all from a few months to a couple of years from being lunched.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Climbed Mount Lofty today with Chris, Karen, Ashlee and Christy.  A great climb, and at the top is a parking lot.  The boys were  

On top of Mount Lofty.

suddenly not pleased that we had not drived.  Too bad.  The climb up was hard on the lungs, but the climb down was hard on the knees.  The top of Mount Lofty gives a beautiful view of Adelaide.  After we gave our farewell to Karen and Chris who headed back to Naracoorte.

Off to Adelaide

We leave Naracoorte and head for Adelaide.  A pleasant drive, but just before Adelaide is some Silo Art.  We were told there are many of these great art pieces across New South Wales. 

While in Adelaide, we take a walk through one of the parks close to where we are staying.  The bird life in Australia is amazing, with lots of colour.