roadquill1

February 7, 2017

Greetings to our families and friends!
We have now spent our first two days with “The Wizard” (our travel guide in New South Wales), Nicki Vance, in the Land of Oz. Nicki has, most thoroughly, investigated our travelling hopes, and has anticipated our needs with a variety of exploration options for Sydney, Tuross and Canberra. We feel very secure after being overwhelmed by travel guides from the library.

Our flights were comfortable, and neither of us experienced much in the way of jet-lag, so after missing January 31 as we crossed the International Dateline, we began our stay with Nicki: a driving tour around Sydney, a lengthy walk around a historical mental institution (now closed, so the question of my possible admittance had to be abandoned) to the waterfront nearby, lunch at the UTS Rowing Club, a brief shopping trip where I purchased a Telstra SIM card and cell plan and then home to catch up on some snooze time. A BBQ evening dinner closed off the day.

Day 2 Thursday, February 2

Today was a “tour Sydney Harbour” day so via buses, harbour ferries, 12 km of walking and an LRT ride in rather comfortable overcast mid-20’s temperatures, we wandered around Sydney harbour. This included a walk around the Sydney Opera House, Botanical Gardens, a ferry ride out to Watson Bay for a climb to the Gap (South Head) cliffs overlooking the ocean to the south, and luncheon of fish and chips at a beach-front restaurant. Back at the Rocks (downtown), we strolled under the Harbour Bridge, (the climb to the top was out of the question since it costs are as high as the bridge itself!) around Dawes Point and to the top of Barangaroo Reserve (a garden on top of a concrete dome built on the old wharves). We finally gave our feet a break at a waterfront cafe that served cold drinks. A light-rail took us back to Lilyfield for a BBQ supper and welcome retirement.

Day 3: Friday, February 3

The air-conditioning in the car cooled us a bit as Nicki took us on another tour of Sydney out to Bondi, Tamarama and Bronté Beaches. We parked and walked the beautiful trail from the cemetery at the western end (cemeteries seem to get beautiful view real estate here) to Bondi for luncheon, and then back. Humidity and heat were both high, and getting back into AC in the car was welcome after our 9km stroll. (Temps were up to high 20’s today…and I’m NOT complaining given the weather reports coming out of the lower BC mainland and Island!) This day had the most blue sky we have seen, but it is hazy.

Day 4: Saturday, February 4

The day began with a visit to the local Saturday market in the Elementary school grounds. After coffee we packed up and then headed south towards Tuross Head – a 6 hour coastal drive. This beautiful beach town has been a long-time vacation spot for the Vance family. We stopped several times, and ventured into the heat outside the vehicle (up to 32C occasionally).

We arrived at the cabin at about Happy Hour, got settled, and then headed over to a Coila Lake fishing marina and café for fish and chips. By dark we were ready to call it quits for the day. The air was still, and quite warm, and a very small surf rolled onto the beach beside us. 

Day 5: Sunday February 5

On the deck in the lovely morning, we enjoy the visits of brightly coloured parrots…rainbow lorikeets, and crimson rosellas. We walked around the Head for morning coffees at the marina, and spotted our first “Roos” – 2 kangaroos in a vacant lot on our way back. Next, it was swim time in what Nicki refers to as “very flat” water (however the waves were big enough to knock us over!) Her comment when we saw other swimmers in ahead of us…”Good! There’s other shark bait!” Then, home to lunch, lounge and dolphin display offshore. Relaxed reading afternoon while seeing another kangaroo cross the pathway below us. After a game of bananagram in the evening we shut down until wild electrical storm woke us in the middle of the night. 

Day 6: Monday, February 6

There are still some showers around after last night’s incredible display, but it is mild, if not a bit muggy. Internet weather for Canberra indicates very high temps in the 30’s so we’ll hold off heading there until later in the day.   

We walked to the cafe, and then back, to put about 10km under our sandals. We saw 2 more kangaroos, kangaroo tracks on the beach, and lots of “roo poo” on our cabin lawn. They’re everywhere! 

It was time to pack, clean and leave. Nicki chose the coastal roads and we saw some beautiful beaches until we took King’s Highway to Canberra. We climbed and climbed (and temperatures fell) until we were into rain and heavy, pea-soup fog near the summit. Then, we found clearer air and higher temperatures to 31C as we reached Canberra. 

Day 7: Tuesday, February 7

Today was Canberra tour day. We began with a drive to the top of Mt. Ainslie for a high view of the whole city, and its pre-planned design layout. Then we drove around the main highlight areas, including the Parliament buildings, embassy row, and the design heart of the city – its lakes and parks. We toured the Arboretum (and hiked the cork oak plantation), had Turkish kebabs (donairs) in a park by a lake, hiked past several mobs of kangaroos, borrowed a couple of bikes from Nicki’s friends for a ride tomorrow, and had a very full day!

It is time to publish this, and get it off my chest…er…iPad!

For those who have persevered through to the end…thank-you! For those who didn’t…well, you didn’t finish and neither will I!

Love and best wishes to all, and may warm rains soon wash the white from the roads and driveways on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

The Quilter and the Quill (Sandy and Tony)

P.S. It takes too much time and effort to add pictures on this blog, so I am posting them on Facebook and Instagram.