Julie and I love weddings. We love the celebration of a wedding but we also love the reunion of family and friends that every wedding represents. We have no problem travelling fair distances to attend a wedding – different state, different country, short haul, long haul, whatever it takes. And we usually try to tie in some sort of holiday or break with the wedding, whether it is in Bali, … Continue reading →
Well, yes, as it turns out I got it right first time. Bit of a fluke I think. For the annual school spelling bee it is the Canadian equivalent of Mississippi but without the repetition or the famous river. We entered Saskatchewan via its northern-most boundary road with Manitoba and then headed a bit further north, almost hitting the 55th parallel, before camping on the banks of one of the … Continue reading →
We found the herd of bison grazing in a large open meadow some distance from where we were standing. We watched them for a while and noticed they were slowly drifting towards a nearby dirt track. We positioned Tramp to intercept them and then quietly watched as they slowly moved across in front of us, one of them interested enough to come over and almost sniff Tramp. They were losing … Continue reading →
It is said Ontario contains all the fabulous features of Canada in one province. It has the national capital of Ottawa and Toronto – a cosmopolitan city to match any in the world, almost 40% of the country’s population, sharing borders with some of the Great Lakes, vast tracts of agriculture, boundless natural resources, a strong bi-lingual society and all of this in an endless space larger than Spain and … Continue reading →
Parlez-vous français? Well, if you’re asking us – je parle un peu. And we’re right in the middle of Quebec where a little French comes in very handy. The good people of Quebec (Quebecois pronounce it without mentioning the ‘u’) seem to be caught in two worlds. For the most part they are seriously passionate about their French heritage and their French language, which is fair enough. Most support the … Continue reading →
We were camping wild in the bush but we were not alone. Julie spotted him first, a large grey wolf appearing on the hillside near our camp, the bloody results of his hunting skills hanging from his mouth, staring at the strangers who had entered his domain. He disappeared for a moment but reappeared soon after, staring at us, sniffing the wind, trying to assess the situation and plot his … Continue reading →
The day was cold and drizzly, as we’ve come to expect, with low clouds blocking the mountain tops but the beautiful lakes and bubbling mountain streams still in full view. We were on a mission to visit Gros Morne National Park, internationally recognised for its unique geologic features and stunning scenery. The highlight of drive to the park was a young moose stepping out on the road just in front … Continue reading →
Our first view of The Rock, as Newfoundlanders affectionately call their island, was glorious. We were standing on the deck of our huge ferry as it pulled into the little harbour of Port aux Basques in the southwestern corner of this huge province. The early morning sun was shining brightly on the freshly painted little homes on the nearby hillside and the distant hills still featured larges patches of snow … Continue reading →
With Tramp’s new boots we headed north again, up the coast and across the causeway onto Cape Breton Island which covers the northern shores of the mainland and includes world renowned Cape Breton Highlands National Park. And an oddity for us, a city of the same name as our hometown -Sydney.
Continue reading →How many cities can claim to have a citadel? In particular one that protected its people for two centuries without ever firing a shot? Well, Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia can make that claim and we had a chance to explore this fortress on a hill overlooking the centre of town during our brief visit to the city. But Nova Scotia is really more about its famous coastline and … Continue reading →
I never dreamed of coming to Prince Edward Island. In my schoolboy lessons it was always the Canadian province that I forgot and on the spinning global map it was so small it hardly showed up. Prince Edward Island, or PEI, is modest by most standards but here we were, waking up to perfect clear blue skies, a calm sea and curious anticipation of what we might find on this … Continue reading →
How much different can Canada be to the US? Sure, there’s different currency, different national sports, two languages, an odd flag, a Queen, provinces instead of states, kilometres and litres instead of miles and quarts, and perhaps a defensive posture that they are not Americans. I get that, for sure, and national pride is uber important but will Canada stand out as being unique in our experiences while travelling through … Continue reading →
When does an observation become a generalisation? If you’ve been in one taxi in Paris can you say that all Parisian taxi drivers are rude? If you’ve spoken to one Texan about his big RV can you say that all Texans are proud of their big RV’s? If it rains every day you’re in New Hampshire can you say it always rains there? Of course you can! Travel is all … Continue reading →
Maine is officially The Pine Tree State and its motto is ‘Life the way it should be’. Maine doesn’t have a high profile outside of the New England area and hasn’t played a major role in US history or politics. As a distant outsider I would have said Maine is known for its rugged shoreline, quaint fishing villages and its lobsters. Within the first day we could attest to all … Continue reading →
Everything is green in Vermont. Impressively, 80% of the state is covered in lush forest. The licence plate is green, the signs are green, the frequent huge solar panel farms tell us the state is green, the national forest is called….wait for it…Green Mountain National Forest. Most people live in small rural towns which feature huge green lawns and expansive green trees above. It’s a definite theme.
Continue reading →There is something a bit odd about travelling through Pennsylvania, New York and the states of New England without stopping at the great cities of New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston. But this trip is not about the cities, it’s about the mountains, the coastlines, the natural wonders of the places we visit. We can hit the cities on another trip, in another time, with a bigger budget. For … Continue reading →
We were enjoying the fresh green canopy of trees above us and the slow winding road when we rounded a corner and suddenly a large black bear lumbered across the road in front of us, paused for a moment, then galloped up the slope and stopped to quizzically look back at us. Perhaps he was admiring Tramp or just wanted to say hello – we’ll never know as traffic coming … Continue reading →
America is a case study in ultimate superlatives. Everything is the biggest, oldest, tallest or best. So when we heard that the Blue Ridge Parkway was ‘America’s Best Drive’ we were hoping the claim was true. We climbed on the Parkway, known also as ‘The All American Road’ and began to follow it northward. The Parkway was dedicated in 1935 after largely being built through government programs employing unemployed men … Continue reading →
The Appalachian Mountains are the dominant range of eastern United States, running from Canada all the way to Alabama near the Gulf of Mexico. They are not high in mountain terms, nor do they have deep glacier-carved valleys or high jagged peaks. But the Appalachians have some of the most rugged land anywhere and the mountains dominate the history, culture and economy of the towns and states that host it. … Continue reading →
The sun was shining bright on North Carolina. We had risen above the swampy wetlands on the secondary roads, passing through more beautiful rural countryside, well-kept homes of all sizes, expansive mowed lawns with no fences between neighbours, churches of all (and no) denominations on virtually every corner and fields of healthy grain and corn all around us. We had enjoyed South Carolina but could their northern neighbour jump over … Continue reading →
In April 1861 one of the most significant moments in the history of the United States occurred when local Carolina troops based in Fort Jackson near the city of Charleston fired their first cannon shot on Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter was built on an island guarding the mouth of the port of Charleston and it was occupied by Federal troops. This was an act of Americans firing on Americans and … Continue reading →
How much did we really know about Georgia? Well…not very much. Sure, Atlanta is a very high profile and internationally recognised city, major businesses, sporting teams, an airline hub. And there’s Augusta Georgia, home to the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, the Masters. Savannah Georgia is one of those beautiful old preserved cities from the 18th centuries, I think. But after that it’s a bit thin. Julie and I were … Continue reading →
Florida has a lot to offer, that’s for sure, and now we were at one of their major draw cards, the last town at the end of the Florida Keys, Key West. We loved the atmosphere and explored the busy streets lined with cool bars, outdoor restaurants, cheap T-shirt shops and upscale stores. We hit the famous Sunset Pier for drinks as the sun set on the water, a rarity … Continue reading →
Most states in the US have given themselves some sort of descriptive marketing name to help individualise themselves. These names are frequently found in their marketing slogans and on their licence plates. For instance, Texas is The Lone Star State, Minnesota is The Land of 10,000 Lakes and Georgia is the Peach State. But no state has adopted a more appropriate and appealing name than Florida – The Sunshine State. … Continue reading →
Sometimes you come across a road that just seems to go exactly where you want to go. You’re interested in exploring a town up ahead, that road goes there. You want to camp in a state park over there, that road goes there. You want to hug the coastline, that road does the job. We religiously avoid the huge Interstate freeways whenever possible and that allows us to explore places … Continue reading →
Louisiana is not a first choice destination for many people. Probably most famous for the fabulous city of New Orleans and more recently infamous for the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has a fairly low profile in the minds of most Americans. We entered the state along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and our first target was to explore the Louisiana bayou which runs virtually the length … Continue reading →
It’s been about a month since we left my family home in Salinas California and embarked on our big journey which we’ve dubbed Follow the Sun. With our trusty stead Tramp we’ve already had a lifetime of fabulous memories and visited some amazing places but we’ve also had to adjust to a unique lifestyle of life on the road. We’ve learned a few things along the way but so far … Continue reading →
Texas is not like any other state, we get that, but even this old California boy has to admit it has some pretty special parts. One of them is their rich history, first as the free land of many Native American tribes, then as a Spanish colony, a Mexican state, an independent state and eventually part of the United States. And no place in Texas symbolises this colourful journey more … Continue reading →
The Rio Grande is one of the most famous and iconic rivers in all of America. Yes, there is the Mississippi and the Missouri and the Colorado, they are all household names. But anyone who has watched an old western or followed the fortunes of the state of Texas or the issues between the US and Mexico know the Rio Grande as much more than a blue line on a … Continue reading →
Texas is a big state. It is big geographically, second only to distant Alaska. It is big in population and the economy, big in political influence, played a big role in American history, it features big trucks, big speed limits, big cowboy hats and big sports teams, especially football. Texas is big and if you have any doubt, just ask a Texan. And we were going to explore the biggest … Continue reading →
Roswell is a remote town in the middle of the vast southern New Mexico desert. It would have been completely forgotten by mankind, and probably much smaller than it is today, if not for the fateful events of 5 July 1947. On this day a rancher found strange metallic objects in a paddock, made of a material he had never seen before. He brought it into town and eventually the … Continue reading →
The Land of Enchantment, as it’s called, does not have a high profile in American life. Home to little more than 2 million people, New Mexico is mostly known for having the tail end of the Rockies, some great skiing, Southwest art from the various Indian tribes and local artists, and perhaps more obliquely – Los Alamos where the first Atomic bomb was detonated and Roswell, the epicentre for UFO … Continue reading →
Colorado is a paradise for those who want to enjoy the great outdoors. We plan to revisit the northern reaches of this state later in the year as part of our loop through North America. But there was one more place we wanted to visit in this region before heading south, the Great Sandy Desert National Park.
Continue reading →The American Southwest has a rich and fascinating history based on the original inhabitants of this vast arid land. Today’s Native Americans are known by their tribal names of Apache, Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Ute, to mention a few, but some of their predecessors lived simple lives on the high plains, in the caves and in the canyons of this unforgiving land. There are many magnificent places to celebrate their … Continue reading →
Our family has a long association with Arizona. My father was based in the capital Phoenix when he was in the Navy and I was born there during that time. My grandparents and other family members lived there and my brother Bruce and his wife Trish still live in a mountain town in north-eastern Arizona after doing their university in the state’s southern city of Tucson. And through many family … Continue reading →
Most people don’t associate California with desert. Well, California is a huge place with many diverse features and in fact does deserts like few other places in the world, including one of the most famous, Death Valley. Our next destination, Joshua Tree National Park, sits conveniently near the famous desert oasis of Palm Springs and the start of our journey into the vast California desert.
Continue reading →I did my university in Los Angeles (fight on Trojans!), a great city to be in when you are young and without worry or responsibility. But that was a long time ago and this time around Julie and I were more interested in a completely different side of southern California. No long beaches, hot summer days and tall palms for us, we wanted to explore the preserved forests, national parks, … Continue reading →
After 25 years of dreaming, a full year of hard core planning and 35 days of final preparation while staying at my parents’ house in Salinas, the morning had finally arrived when we pulled out of the driveway and began our big journey. It seemed almost too good to be true after all the recent frustrations and minor setbacks but our mighty Tramp pointed his way down the road and … Continue reading →
Americans and Australians speak the same language, right? I mean, it’s usually easy to communicate as long as accents are understood and the occasional strange word is allowed. But when a few people started telling Julie and I that what we really needed with Tramp, our truck and camper combination that we had been building and fixing up, was a shake down it confused us. A shake down is someone … Continue reading →
A few years ago when Julie and I started planning this trip around the world one issue that focused our minds like no other is what vehicle we would travel in and where would we sleep. We knew from experience that our selected vehicle/hotel would be the third member of our team and we would be totally dependent on it for transport, accommodation, security, storage, comfort and…well, friendship. After a … Continue reading →
One of my favourite places in the world is Tahoe. Tahoe is part of my childhood, a place of family gatherings, year round activities, sport, games, fun and total relaxation. Tahoe is in my photos, on my T shirts, in my fond memories. Tahoe, or Lake Tahoe to be exact, straddles the California-Nevada border and is the largest alpine lake in North America. At 6,200 feet (1,900 metres) it is … Continue reading →
In 1932 a young American author by the name of John Steinbeck wrote a book featuring a series of inter-related short stories about a valley near his home town of Salinas in central California. In these stories he described the beautiful green fields, stately old oaks, towering hills on all sides and a creek that ran down the middle of this hidden valley. Steinbeck called the book The Pastures of Heaven and … Continue reading →
Almost 25 years ago Julie and I came up with a crazy idea of climbing into some sort of four wheel drive camper and driving around the world, spending a summer in each of the six reachable continents in the world. The idea didn’t have much form or focus at the time but it was nice to have such a grand – and somewhat whacky – idea to have as … Continue reading →
Favourite moment for 2016? Really, is it possible to pick just one amongst so many? Where do I start? Well, the highlights reel for our family in 2016 is long and spectacular but there’s been a few standouts. We had multiple family weddings, a couple of graduations, milestone birthdays, fantastic holidays, stunning weekends under the stars and much more. But its pretty hard to beat watching one of your children marry his long … Continue reading →
Our small brightly coloured twin prop airplane banked low over the gently rolling green pastures below us and slowly descended to the single runway with a small terminal at its side. Big healthy cattle didn’t bother to look up from their tall grass as we passed low over their heads, still within sight of the surf crashing on nearby beaches. It was the idyllic scene of some old school TV … Continue reading →
Weddings are a time of family and friends, reunion, ceremony, teary eyes, funny speeches, beautiful gowns, duplicate gifts and most importantly – joyful celebration. And recently it was all this and much more for Julie and I as we saw our oldest son Will marry his beautiful sweetheart Gemma on a bright sunny day in the gorgeous gardens of a historic homestead in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney. What … Continue reading →
In 1978 I was a green-as-grass California kid straight out of Uni with an idea of travelling in Europe for a couple of months before going home and getting some sort of graduate degree. It seemed like a fine idea until a company that ran camping tours around Europe for the 18-35 year olds asked if I would like to become a tour leader. Without any consideration of what it might … Continue reading →
Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and has played a key part in Australia’s convict and maritime history since it was first put to use way back in the 1830’s. Today it holds a proud place amongst UNESCO World Heritage locations for is convict heritage and later became Australia’s first shipbuilding centre. In fact, the last ship built on Cockatoo Island was finished as recently as 1983. Julie … Continue reading →
The Cool Convoy’s epic journey across the Simpson Desert was finished with all six vehicles and 17 people successfully making the 3,600 km round trip journey from Adelaide. But for two vehicles and the four of us we still needed to drive back to Sydney, accompanied by our trusty trailer carrying all the group’s camping gear. But this second shoulder trip, as it was called, would not be a quick … Continue reading →
The Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park is a rugged and remote national park in the northern section of the magnificent Flinders Ranges, one of the true highlights of any visit to South Australia. We were camped at the southern end of the park in the Italowie Gorge and woke to a very cold and grey day, the sky threatening rain but the high red rock cliffs surrounding us seemed to act … Continue reading →
We’ve never camped with 7,000 people before but that’s what we faced when we woke up in the middle of a cow paddock on a cold winter’s morning outside of Birdsville. There was a huge range of campers, trucks, tents, shelters, trailers and every other type of camping paraphernalia spread out all around us as music lovers had come from everywhere to enjoy the festival. Someone said it looked like … Continue reading →
The fourth of July was a special day for many reasons. Yes, it is significant for Kathy, John and all the half Aussie/half Americans in the group. But it was also our sixth day since we left the relative comfort of Oodnadatta – which seemed like a year ago – and the day we finish our trip across the Simpson Desert. Tonight we will end up in the iconic Queensland town of Birdsville. … Continue reading →
These dry salt lake beds are beautiful to look at but can sometimes be very tricky to cross. They tended to be very rutted from previous vehicles and in many cases their lowest spot still contained water and a lot of very deep sticky mud. We approached each one carefully, often scouting ahead and choosing our path before crossing. When we came up to the edge of a particularly large … Continue reading →
Mornings in the desert were my favourite time of day. It would always be cold, below 5 degrees, usually a thick dew across the sand, flora and tents. You could almost sense the desert waking up around you as the sun poked its head above the closest dune. The light would play off the morning clouds, creating a beautiful sunrise, and slowly our camp of 17 intrepid travellers would wake … Continue reading →
We left the relative comfort of the Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta and headed off on a muddy track with the plan to take five or six days to across the Simpson Desert. After almost two years of planning for this moment it had finally arrived and our team of 17 adventurers were keen to get started. But we also knew the circumstances of our crossing were not ideal – all … Continue reading →
The big morning had finally arrived. We woke to grey skies and wet tents but everyone was pumped with excitement and anticipation. After a little extra time to allow the new teams to pack their vehicles for the first time we were off on the 2016 Simpson Desert Expedition. Each car had chosen their handle for our radio communications – there was Cruiser, Disco, the Angels, Corral, JALT and the Crambos – … Continue reading →
It is a major technical and logistical challenge to drive a vehicle across the Simpson Desert given its remote location and 1,100 parallel sand dunes. But first you have to get there and for four of us that means driving from Sydney to Adelaide where we will meet the other 13 members of our group who will fly in and pick up their hired vehicles. But of course we weren’t … Continue reading →
A mad idea started to form about two years ago when Julie and I were looking for our next big adventure, something which definitely had to involve exploring more of Australia. We had fond memories of when we led a group of family members driving to the tip of Cape York and we wanted to combine an outback adventure with a big family event. After a nano-second of consideration we knew what … Continue reading →
We’ve covered a lot of ground over the last few months without actually going too far (if you don’t count our quick trip to California for beautiful Bryn’s wedding!). There’s been baseball (of course), and bushwalking (of course) and camping (yes, of course). But the family also has a bigger drone that takes absolutely fabulous photos and videos, there was a romantic weekend thrown in there and we all had … Continue reading →
Julie and I love weddings. They combine three fantastic elements which make them unmissable for us – celebration, reunion and travel. So when we heard one of our beautiful nieces in the US had chosen the date and place for her nuptials we locked it in before the invitation arrived. And the double added bonus to the whole event was that the lucky couple had chosen the family ranch in California as their … Continue reading →
Easter bunny season is one of the best times of the year if you are around little kids. Not only is it fun to watch young children celebrate Easter with the mythology of the Easter bunny and the whole chocolate eggs thing, but even big kids and adults can get momentarily wrapped up in the fun. And that’s what we all did at our annual family gathering, camping at the … Continue reading →
The shiny green moss was wet and slippery from the overnight rain. I couldn’t find a suitable place to put my left foot that would hold my weight and every time I tried to reposition myself I hit my head on the rock I was trying to crawl under and around. It was dark and cramped and somewhat concerning. I eventually pulled myself up on two little handholds until I … Continue reading →
The sun was beating down on us, my legs were starting to cramp and I knew my water supply was getting low. We were crossing a very steep slope with huge fallen trees, thick scrub and loose rocks. The light was fading, we were off track, completely dependent on our GPS and fairly exhausted as we tried to find a way off this steep escarpment. It might have been a precarious … Continue reading →
The Christmas and New Year holiday period is very important for most families as a time of reunion and celebration. It’s also a good time to slow down a bit, reflect on the year past, raise a glass or two and spend some quality time with loved ones. But it can also be a bit chaotic with gifts, parties, special meals, visitors and just coordinating all the different activities that … Continue reading →
Some things are just hard to give up. Once you get the taste for them, once you find out how good they are or how fun they are you just have to do it again. This is how we feel about Thailand, our home for over four years, now an irresistible magnet which was drawing us back. So since we were in the neighbourhood after visiting Sri Lanka we had to … Continue reading →
On 26 December 2004 a 9.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. The tsunami that was created by this massive shift of tectonic plates on the ocean floor struck the coastlines of 14 different countries with devastating force, most fiercely felt in the Indonesia provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. But as the 25 metre waves rolled westward the first obstacle they met was Sri Lanka and the impact on the … Continue reading →
The Sri Lankan leopard is one of eight sub-species of leopards in the world and with less than 500 still in existence it is also one of the rarest. Yes, we had seen leopards in East Africa but that was there and then, this is now. So one of our missions in coming to Sri Lanka was to see a leopard. And the best place to do that is in … Continue reading →
There is as much to see in Sri Lanka that is off the main roads as on them. We learned this in the central highlands of the island when we temporarily abandoned Mr. T and our comfy air-conditioned car for other forms of transport. It all started at 5am with a call to prayer from the local mosque – we were soon up and ready to begin our walk to the World’s End.
Continue reading →The mountains of Sri Lanka are world famous for one thing – tea. During the British colonial days the Brits often headed up into the mountains to escape the heat and they found the fertile soil perfect for growing tea. Tea was initially planted to satisfy their personal needs but a bigger opportunity was recognised and soon British industrial knowledge was applied to the task. This started an industry that … Continue reading →
Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka around the 11th and 13th centuries and today is set amongst rich farm land used primarily to produce the country’s staple crop, rice. The remains of the ancient city tell a fascinating story of its glorious past and we loved exploring the many impressive remains from the original buildings of that era. Who would have ever guessed this sleeping giant of culture and history … Continue reading →
When it comes to the names of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities they’ve come up with some serious tongue twisters. Much like our driver’s name was shortened to Mr. T, the city names of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa – as spectacular as they were – inevitably became known as the A town and the P town. We kept trying but we never got there and eventually gave up. Never mind, call them … Continue reading →
Ayubowan, this beautiful sounding word was the first we heard when arriving in Sri Lanka on a late night flight from Bangkok. Ayubowan, so say the Sinhalese as a general greeting of good health, a warm hello, peace be with you. With this magic word we could start and finish almost every conversation during 15 fabulous days exploring Sri Lanka. And Sri Lanka deserves exploration for it holds many magical experiences, … Continue reading →
We stood on the edge of the escarpment, staring in wonder at the beautiful Grose Valley that stretched out far below us. The high vertical cliff walls that dramatically marked the valley’s northern and southern boundaries acted as barriers to even this intrepid group of bushwalkers. But our mission for the day was to explore the area around Mt. Hay, a modest rounded mountain of 944 metres that marked the high … Continue reading →
The three of us stood on a high narrow ridge that spectacularly divided two deep valleys. On our left we looked down into the vast Capertee Valley, stretching as far as the eye could see, bounded by dramatic cliff walls with majestic Pantoneys Crown acting as an island in a sea of green gum forest. On our right lay the Wolgan Valley, our second home, with the Wolgan River flowing peacefully … Continue reading →
The colourful early stages of Australian history are filled with the folklore of bushrangers – men who lived beyond the law, surviving on their wits and excellent bush skills while robbing people, stealing cattle and occasionally killing those who would try to stop them. These were desperate times for many people who were trying to survive in a harsh land. But today’s Australians have taken very kindly to these unique characters … Continue reading →
There is something special, really magic, about going to new places, enjoying new experiences, learning new things. Mix these emotions with a dose of adventure when the GPS is your only guide, add in a group of new friends who are kindred spirits and top if off with a light rain that ensures you are slightly soggy. The final product is a great day of fun, exploration and camaraderie. Such were the ingredients … Continue reading →
“Whoever sitteth on this carpet and willeth in thought to be taken up and set down upon other site will, in the twinkling of an eye, be borne thither, be that place nearhand or distant many a day’s journey and difficult to reach.” So says the story in the Arabian Nights about the mythical Flying Carpet, a great solution to all travel and transport challenges. Recently I was given the opportunity … Continue reading →
Winters in Sydney are fairly mild by world standards and generally speaking we’re spoiled by the weather. Having said that, this time of year there is less sun, sometimes a chilling breeze and no use for the world famous beaches. But winter is our favourite time to leave the big smoke and head to the smoky fire around our campsite where we can enjoy the magnificent scenery and breathe some fresh air.
Continue reading →Fiji is famous for its lay-back life style, friendly people and a very casual approach to the concept of time. Things happen at their own pace and there is no need to rush. Its a state of mind that all visitors have to get into but once you are there, Fiji time is fabulous. We had experienced this relaxed life style out on Plantation Island, now we were headed to Fiji’s … Continue reading →
Within minutes of landing at Nadi International Airport we were already fluent in Fijian. That is to say, we had already repetitively heard, repeated and smiled at what seems to be the only two words in that language – Bula and Vinaka. Bula is usually said with a huge genuine smile and multiple explanation marks. Vinaka is said at the end of every conversation, like the full stop of a sentence, with the … Continue reading →
The Gardens of Stone National Park is a seldom-visited track of preserved land covering part of the Great Dividing Range northwest of Sydney which now forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. The park gets its name from the beautiful pagoda rock formations, limestone outcrops and other exposed rock sculptures that are unique to this area. And from our property it is smack-dab in our back … Continue reading →
If I had been standing on this point on a fine April morning in 1770 I might have seen Captain James Cook on the bridge of HMS Endeavour as it dropped anchor in preparation of him ‘discovering’ Australia for King George III. With much less historical significance but possibly with more appreciation for the spectacular scene before us, Julie and I stood on the high cliff marking the end of … Continue reading →
A wedgetail eagle soared gracefully above us, effortlessly catching the light breeze as he looked down upon us. “I wonder if he appreciates the magnificent views he has from up there” I asked no one in particular as I stared upward. “Probably not,” a fellow bush walker answered, “he’s just looking for his next feed”. But from this lofty perch on the top of Pantoneys Crown I couldn’t imagine anything … Continue reading →
Summer is a time for stepping outside, stretching the legs, putting on the sunnies, cranking up the barbie and perhaps working up a bit of a sweat. We’ve been following these rules with an action-packed couple of months, including being part of a memorable baseball game, camping at our property and enjoying a huge family celebration at Easter.
Continue reading →More than 100 years ago some hearty men and women lived in a remote and isolated valley near what is now called the Blue Mountains and eked out an existence mining for shale oil. It was a hard life in the small mining community of Newnes, now just a ghost town deep in the Wolgan Valley, with long days marked by hard work under difficult circumstances and very little reward. … Continue reading →
There we were deep in a building below the level of the sea looking at priceless 4,000 year old Egyptian artifacts, strange modern art pieces and some confronting displays that challenge all your senses. It may sound like an odd combination but it’s easily explained – a long weekend in Hobart with some great friends, the highlight of which was a provoking visit to the Museum of Old and New … Continue reading →
There we were, sitting around a hot crackling fire, surrounded by beautiful rainforest, cold drinks in our hands, tents nearby. As often happens in Barrington Tops National Park, a light drizzle was falling but it made no difference to us as we enjoyed this special family time together doing our favourite thing. As a break over the Christmas holiday season it doesn’t get any better than this.
Continue reading →They call them the Shaky Isles and with good reason. New Zealand endures thousands of earthquakes every year and while most of them are fairly minor they still represent a defining element of life there. These days any visitor to the beautiful city of Christchurch on the South Island can see first hand the destructive capabilities of a major earthquake after they were hit with large back-to-back quakes in September 2010 and February … Continue reading →
The Royal is one of the true treasures of New South Wales. Its close proximity to Sydney, only a 15 minute drive from its southern suburbs, makes it accessible to everyone with a yearning for the great outdoors. And what a special place it is! The Royal National Park, to use its formal name, was established way back in 1879 and is the second oldest national park in the world, … Continue reading →
The Salinas Valley in central California is said to have some of the most fertile and productive land in all of the US. More than a dozen different crops are grown in its rich brown soil but its signature product, and the very backbone of its economy and culture, is lettuce. In fact, so much lettuce is grown here, almost on a year round basis, that the area has been … Continue reading →
There is a saying somewhere about growing boys getting bigger toys but we can submit recent evidence that it applies to girls also. Our beautiful remote property on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains near Sydney is surrounded by rarely visited national parks and a huge world heritage location. For the last 13 years it has been our escape plan from the bustling cities of Sydney or Bangkok. But … Continue reading →
The American northwest state of Washington is known for its beautiful scenery, its pristine waterways, its rainy weather and its coffee. Most of that sounds perfect to us. But Washington is also home to one of our American nephews so when Ross announced his wedding date Julie and I packed our bags. Because we know from experience there’s nothing better than combining a holiday to new places with a … Continue reading →
When wedding bells ring Julie and I are ready to go, or so it seems lately as we’ve attended numerous family and friends’ weddings over the last year. Weddings are a great opportunity for celebration, reunion and flat-out party, that’s for sure. And the bonus is that if the venue is somewhere unique you can turn it into a holiday. So when we received an invitation from some dear friends for … Continue reading →
The Blue Mountains National Park features some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Australia. Given its close proximity to Sydney you would think this magnificent park would be swarming with dedicated tree huggers, weekend romantics, family adventurers and suburban escapists. But on a recent weekend we were determined to get away from the crowds, dive deep into the secrets of the national park and visit one of the … Continue reading →
Australians have a very loose definition for mountains. This is mainly because as the oldest planet on earth Australia’s mountains have all worn down to the point that most countries would just call them large hills. But where Australia’s mountains may lack height they more than make up for in deep gorges, long waterfalls, sweeping views and even glacial lakes. And in two recent successive weekends we explored and conquered … Continue reading →
The Christmas holiday period is a busy time of year for most families in Australia, especially with the warming summer weather, school holidays, traditional family reunions and exchanging of gifts. This year we had all of that plus a milestone birthday celebration, a family wedding and a big week of work at our country property. Those couple of weeks were a fun and rewarding period which we thoroughly enjoyed, barely … Continue reading →
Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, an opportunity comes up to do something you couldn’t otherwise justify. You need a good excuse, a valid reasonable explanation, for doing something that might otherwise be out of reach. And I was exactly this lucky when a former colleague of mine was having a surprise going away party and I was invited to attend. Yes, I had a great excuse to go back to … Continue reading →
Australia has some of the most diverse and unique animals in the world. The continent is probably most well known for its wide range of marsupials but there is also a spectacular choice for reptiles – read snakes and crocodiles – fish and birds. And then there are the introduced species, some of which wore out their welcome long ago. Whatever the case may be, as we travelled around Australia for … Continue reading →
Nobody likes going home after a great holiday. It means the end of a fun carefree lifestyle, seeing new places, trying new food, spending time out of the tiresome routine of life and out of our normal comfort zone. It means back to work, back to school, back to paying bills, back to the boring old same-o same-o. But in our case the whole situation is magnified a hundred fold … Continue reading →
Of all the great Aboriginal words that mark the site of towns, places or things in Australia one of my favourite words was Nullarbor. It just has a fantastic ring to it and is great fun to say. And now we have the exciting opportunity to cross that vast desert plain across the south-central part of Australia referred to simply as The Nullarbor. Unfortunately we also learned that the word Nullarbor … Continue reading →
