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Ahmet Erkun
Ahmet Erkun

Ahmet Erkun

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  • Adventuring Down Under
    Our site at the campground tonight — Penong Caravan Park, SA.

    Campground Camping in Penong

    February 15, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    Penong is known for its windmills.

    We’ll see those tomorrow. Today, after topping off our diesel, we headed straight to the Penong Caravan Park.

    We’re in site 14 … a water/electric site. No sullage point for the grey water … “give the bushes a drink,” were the instructions from the owner of the campground when she checked us in.

    Once settled, we threw in a load of laundry and while that was going, sat down to re-jigger our remaining two weeks on the road. The extra day has been accounted for … we’re going to use it to relax a bit once we cross the Nullarbor.

    Speaking of relaxing … time to do that now.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Typical rural scenery in this part of Australia — Flinders Hwy, SA.
    Perlubie Beach ... with the tide out.On-the-beach camping sites ... no can do for us in a rental caravan — Perlubie Beach, SA.Growing on the beach — Perlubie Beach, SA.Perlubie Beach, SA.Experiencing the lifestyle — Smoky Bay, SA.Smoky Bay jetty and fenced in safe swimming zone — Smoky Bay, SA.Foreshore walk — Ceduna, SA.Murat Bay — Ceduna, SA.3D mural on the facade of Arts Ceduna — Ceduna, SA.3D mural on the facade of Arts Ceduna — Ceduna, SA.Arts Ceduna (from a promotional sign in town) — Ceduna, SA.Unnamed piece by S. Jones ... scanned from postcard — Ceduna, SA."Waterhole" by E. Ryan ... scanned from postcard — Ceduna, SA."My Munda (Country) by L. May ... scanned from postcard — Ceduna, SA.Our lunch spot on the way out of town — Ceduna, SA.Mui and his Smoky Bay oysters @ the Oyster Barn — Ceduna, SA.Smoky Bay oyster ... down the hatch @ the Oyster Barn — Ceduna, SA.Pinky Point — Thevenard, SA.Gypsum, salt, and sand processing plant at Pinky Point — Thevenard, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 6 👉🏻 Ceduna

    February 15, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Streaky Bay to Penong via Ceduna
    Distance Traveled: 132 Miles

    Today was planned as a short day of driving since we intended to do some sightseeing as we made our way north from our RVFT site and then turned west onto Eyre Highway … the main thoroughfare crossing all the way west.

    We did some sightseeing, but it didn’t turn out quite as we expected. Our timing was wrong. With the tide out, the beautiful beaches we expected to see weren’t as scenic as we expected them to be. Nonetheless, we stopped and enjoyed stretching our legs a bit.

    When we reached Ceduna, we parked the caravan along the foreshore and then went to find the Visitor Center to gather some information about the road for our Nullarbor adventure. As has been the case in every VC we’ve stopped at, the volunteer was friendly, helpful, and chatty. Actually, that can be said for every Australian we’ve met during this trip. Anyway, we came away with a good map and recommendations for places to stop as we cross the Nullarbor. And we have a list of food items that we cannot take from South Australia into Western Australia. So, all said … mission accomplished.

    One of the highly recommended places to visit in Ceduna is Arts Ceduna, billed as the “premier Aboriginal Arts Centre of the Eyre Peninsula.” Their mission is to support Aboriginal artists with skills development, marketing, and sales of their work. There was indeed some amazing pieces being exhibited and I wish I could share them with you. But photos were not allowed. I did purchase a couple of postcards to scan and share here, but they don’t do justice to what we actually saw.

    On the recommendation of the VC volunteer, on our way out of Ceduna, we stopped at the Oyster Barn for a seafood lunch — Smoky Bay oysters “au naturale” with lemon; gummy shark fish tacos; whiting fish & chips. All yummy, though I have to take Mui’s word for the oysters 😊

    Somewhere along our caravaning trip thus far, we seem to have gained a whole day. Where and how? Doesn’t matter. But we decided this afternoon would be a good time to sit down and re-jigger the days ahead. Hence our short day ending in Penong! We’ll do our sightseeing here tomorrow.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Overnight parking in the RV Friendly Town of Streaky Bay, SA.

    RVFT Camping in Streaky Bay

    February 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    We were hoping to stay at the Foreshore Tourist Park overlooking the bay tonight, but it was nearing 5:00p by the time we arrived and the office was locked up tight. We’d tried to book online, but that didn’t work because we are over 20 feet long and the instructions said that we had to call the park. Easier said than done. First, we were in a dead zone, so no calling out. And when we did get a signal, we were on hold with no one answering.

    That park being a bust, we went to the Islands Caravan Park … only to be told, quite apologetically, that they were full up. But they had an alternative suggestion. One that was on my radar as a third option.

    Streaky Bay is part of the “RV Friendly” towns network — that’s the RVFT in the title of this footprint. This is an initiative of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia. To receive the designation, the town must meet certain guidelines — appropriate parking walking distance to the town center, with easy access to groceries and fresh produce; short-term, low-cost overnight parking (24-to-48 hours) for self contained RVs … as close to the CBD as possible; access to potable water; access to a free dump point.

    We found the area set aside for RVs easily enough … a huge dirt lot just one road up from the foreshore park. There were already a number of caravans and trailers set up for the night. We found a spot next to a couple of trees and settled in for the night.

    Despite what looks like a large group of caravans traveling together — all parked in a semi-circle — it’s been very quiet. And very windy. The wind is actually downright cold, so we’ve buttoned down the hatches, so to speak. Perhaps it’s just as well that neither waterfront campground worked out today!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Another silo on the Silo Art Trail — Cowell, SA.
    We did indeed see a kangaroo on the side of the road ... and I don't mean this sign ... Birdseye HwyMural in Cleve, SA.Mural in Cleve, SA.Mural in Cleve, SA.Our only wombat sighting today was the sign itself — Birdseye Hwy ... Eyre Peninsula, SA.???? ... no idea what this represents — Birdseye Hwy on the Eyre Peninsula, SA.Mural in Elliston, SA.Mural in Elliston, SA.Mural in Elliston, SA.Superb Fairy Wren mural in Elliston, SA.Mural in Elliston, SA.Roos and echidna ... mural in Elliston, SA.Sheep shearing ... mural in Elliston, SA.Even the "gents" and "ladies" have been decorated with a mural — Elliston, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 5 👉🏻 Streaky Bay

    February 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Once off the ferry, we got ourselves on the Birdseye Highway … destination Elliston on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula.

    We didn’t get far. A glimpse of painted silos gave us a short detour into Cowell, the town at the Lucky Bay end of the Searoad. I guess you could say that these murals were a sign of what was to come!

    We used the stop to pick up some AdBlue as well … have already gone through the 10-liter drum we purchased at the start of our trip! Then a quick lunch break in a rest area.

    Once we got on the highway, it was smooth sailing on a straight — with a few wiggles — road … lined with trees on both sides … and “watch out for kangaroo” signs every 12-15 miles or so. We did, in fact see a kangaroo standing by the road, but it quickly hopped off into the fields. Recorded the encounter in our brains and kept going!

    No wombat sighting … though there was a road sign alerting us to their presence on a 2-km stretch of the highway.

    With hardly any traffic sharing the highway, we definitely found our solitude today. Until we reached the Flinders Highway in Elliston, we probably encountered 10 vehicles … if that … most going in the opposite direction.

    It was only 3:30p when we arrived in Elliston … a tiny town of some 380 souls. We pulled into the visitor center. It was closed. But the beautiful murals decorating all sides of the building made it a worthwhile stop.

    Then, onward we continued north, selecting Streaky Bay as an alternative location for our overnight stop.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Shortcut across the Spencer Gulf — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.
    Waiting for boarding to begin — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Looks like they can load a good number of vehicles — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Our transport to Eyre Peninsula — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.I wonder if this gull is waiting to board the ferry, too? — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Nice, wide beach at the Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Boarding our ride across the Spencer Gulf between Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula — Wallaroo, SA.Snugged down on the ferry — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Aboard the ferry — Wallaroo Ferry Landing, SA.Passenger deck ... with café — Spencer Gulf Searoad ferry.Too windy; too sunny to sit up top — Spencer Gulf Searoad ferry.Unloading from the ferry in Lucky Bay — Eyre Peninsula, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 5 👉🏻 Searoad

    February 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Wallaroo (Yorke Peninsula) to Streaky Bay (Eyre Peninsula)
    Distance Traveled: 32 NM (= 37 Miles) + 373 Miles = 410 Miles

    This morning, we took the caravan on a cruise. Or, more accurately, we took a ferry ride.

    There are two ways to get around Spencer Gulf, the body of water that separates the Yorke Peninsula from the Eyre Peninsula. You can continue north from Wallaroo and drive around the top of the gulf, and then across on the Eyre Highway. Or you can cut across on the Spencer Gulf Searoad, a seasonal ferry service.

    We opted for the searoad. Thus saving some 236 miles … which we were told are not all that interesting. Timewise, the sea road saves about 90 minutes, since the crossing takes about 2.5 hours … weather and sea conditions permitting. Both of those savings mean that we can hopefully make good headway to the west coast of the peninsula once we disembark the ferry.

    Can’t say that it’s been a smooth crossing so far. The ferry must not have stabilizers, so the vessel is rockin’ and rollin’ its way across the gulf. The motion of the ocean is something we are used to, so we are taking it in stride.

    There’s a forward-facing open deck and an enclosed passenger deck on this vessel. Too windy to sit up top, so we got ourselves settled at a table near the café. A good time for me to catch up on footprints.

    This ferry ride is a nice break from driving all day. I’m sure Mui would agree with that since he does the driving!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Our campsite in Wallaroo, SA.

    Campground Camping in Wallaroo

    February 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    It was almost 4:00p when we pulled up to the office at the Wallaroo Holiday Park … another G’day Park with sites for caravans and cabins for those who don’t have their own “houses on wheels.”

    We are in site #115 … water/electric … shared sullage point with neighboring sites … and central dump access. Pretty typical.

    The site is wide, with a dirt area in the middle of the grass. Caravans are supposed to park on the dirt. And we did so. At first. Except that backing in as we did, our short sullage hose was unable to reach the connection point. So, we ended up maneuvering and parking on the grass. Perhaps I’ll start mentioning when I call for a reservation that our sullage point on the vehicle is on the passenger side and they can consider that when assigning us to a site.

    Anyway, we’re settled-in. And we’re fed. Time to relax.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    The Farm Shed Museum — Kadina, SA.
    Matta House at the Farm Shed Museum — Kadina, SA.Set up as the main bedroom, back in the day this was likely the dining room — Farm Shed Museum.The parlour was a status symbol in Victorian times — The Farm Shed Museum — Kadina, SA.Girls' room ... it wasn't unusual for children to share one big bed ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Dining Room ... second most important room in Victorian times ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Courtyard between the house and kitchen ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Shoe cleaning/shining station ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.The kitchen was also where baths might have been taken ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Detached kitchen at Matta House ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Fresh squeezed orange juice anyone? ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Tramping press ... where fleece was pressed into bales after shearing ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Surface works and mock-up of a copper mine ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Pell's Studio ... still operating in the same premises since 1905 ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Millinery ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina, SA.Simpson washing machine ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.Mobile butcher ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.School room ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina.A Ford vehicle ... still used in parades around town ... Farm Shed Museum — Kadina."Bee BNB" ... to help the native bee population — Kadina, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 4 👉🏻 Kadina

    February 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    From Moonta, we drove the short distance to another Copper Triangle town … Kadina.

    With the afternoon hours passing quickly, we skipped a wander around town and went to the Farm Shed Museum. Operated under the auspices of the National Trust, this heritage museum has a wide variety of exhibits. The grounds are fairly widespread. So much so that they asked that we provide them with a phone number in case they needed to contact us while we were out exploring the exhibits.

    The museum bills itself as having “something for everyone.” True … though we only ever ran into two other people today, and they seemed to be most interested in the farm equipment. Matta House and exhibits about daily life were what garnered our attention.

    Matta House, which dates back to 1863, was the residence of the manager of the Matta Matta Mine … rather short-lived as it operated for only 10 years between 1860-1870. A number of families lived in the house until 1996. It was then purchased by the Trust with the intention of establishing it as a folk museum.

    We wandered through the small house — just five rooms … one of which was a later add-on. They were refurbished to represent the Late Victorian Period when copper mining in the area was at its peak. The kitchen was on the far side of a little courtyard.

    An exhibit that we found particularly interesting was Kadina’s Story … covering the social history of the town from when it was founded in 1861 … including a life-sized model of an underground mine. Sensor-triggered audio filtered from speakers, relating stories from the early days of the town.

    Noting that it was almost 4:00p, we sped up our exploration of the rest of the museum and quickly wandered through the remaining exhibits ranging from the shearing yard to the country newspaper, from agriculture to rural transportation, and more.

    Why speed up? Well, for one thing, the museum was due to close soon. But also we needed to get to the campground. You see, campground offices tend to close early in Australia. If you are late and don’t have the “boom code” you are out of luck . We had a tentative reservation — pay-on-arrival and no code. Thus we didn’t want to miss the people at the office.

    I’ll put your mind at rest before I end this footprint. We made it to the campground in good time!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Now that we've been to Moonta, we are considered travelers 😉 — SA.
    Good thing we aren't waiting for the train. Otherwise, we'd be wondering where it was, too.Interesting cloud formations — Moonta, SA.Moonta Mines Museum ... in the old Moonta Mines Model School — Moonta, SA.The original miner — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Mock up of a copper mine — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Mock up of a mine shaft with main shaft winding engine — Moonta Mines Museum, SA.Scale model of the mine — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Commemorative ANZAC biscuit tins — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.19th century women's clothing — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Richmans Enginehouse — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Richmans Enginehouse ... today — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Climbing the old steps to the top of the tailings mound — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Mine tailings ... being eroded by Mother Nature's forces — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Hughes Enginehouse with its round tower — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Moonta Mines Wesleyan Methodist Church — Moonta, SA.Miner's House — Moonta Mine Museum, SA. Miner's House — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Miner's House — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.Privy at the Miner's House — Moonta Mine Museum, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 4 👉🏻 Moonta

    February 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    Mitcham to Wallaroo
    Distance Traveled: 131 miles

    Our day started out with big-city-driving through Adelaide … the last big city until we hit Perth at the end of our caravan trip … and thank goodness for that. Not that the traffic was any worse than what we experienced in Melbourne. It’s just that we’re ready for some of that solitude everyone says we’ll find once we are on the Eyre Peninsula and beyond.

    Our destination today was Wallaroo … on the Copper Coast of the Yorke Peninsula … named for that period in Australia when copper mining was king hereabouts. Ore was discovered near what was to become Wallaroo Mines in Kadina in 1859; and a little further south in Moonta Mines in 1961.

    Lonely planet describes Moonta, our first stop, as one of the trio of towns that make up the Copper Triangle … “Moonta (the mine); Wallaroo (the smelter); and Kadina (the service town).” During mining times, it attracted men seeking their fortune … many of them from Cornwall … hence the town’s billing as “Australia’s Little Cornwall.”

    The story goes that the first Moonta miner was an “enterprising” wombat. Of course, the wombat wasn’t really a miner, but it’s nice that it was given credit for the first ore find. Turns out that an illiterate alcoholic shepherd named Patrick Ryan noticed copper ore in the earth thrown up from a wombat burrow. And the rest, as they say, is history.

    We began our sightseeing at the Moonta Mines Museum, housed in a beautiful stone building that dates to 1878. Back in the day, it was the Moonta Mines Model School with some 1,100 students. Exhibits cover a variety of topics from the Cornish connection to mining displays, from war memorabilia to a school room, and from sports & pastimes to lodges & friendly societies that provided financial assistance to families during periods of need. One final exhibit covered the “Cornish Way of Death,” describing the traditional aspects of Cornish funerals.

    Next, we headed off in the caravan to check out the ruins of the mine buildings, including the Hughes Enginehouse with its Cornish-built round tower. The woman at the visitor center explained that the Cornish preferred round towers because devils could not hide in the corners. She also mentioned that the tower in Wallaroo was square … because it was built by the Welsh.

    It would have been nice had we been able to enter the miner’s house — a mud-and-grass cottage — typical of the mining age. It was described as having compact living arrangements … also typical of that period. Unfortunately, all we could do was wander through the garden because the cottage was locked up today.

    We didn’t spend much time outside as it was a-blowin’ a gale. Dust and tiny rock particles were swirling in the air and getting into every nook and cranny. The wind was so strong at times that unless Mui was parked just right, the caravan’s door was pulled out of my grasp when I went to open it. I couldn’t help but think that this must have been one of the things back in the days of mining that added to life’s hardships here.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Our spacious site at the Brownhill Creek Caravan Park — Mitcham, SA.

    Campground Camping @ Brownhill Creek

    February 12, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Dry camping was fine at Twelve Apostles. The temperature was very comfortable.

    But yesterday, as we moved inland, the temperature started heating up. Opening all the windows — thanks to each of them having a fly screen — sufficed to cool things down once we settled into the rest area. But it did take a while for the temp to feel comfortable.

    Knowing that the temp was forecasted to go up and up and up as we drove up and up and up, last night I went online and booked us into a G’day Park … the Brownhill Creek Caravan Park … about 4 miles from the Adelaide CBD.

    It was getting on towards 3:00p when we pulled into the Brownhill Creek Caravan Park in Mitcham at the end of our driving day.

    We have been assigned to A3 … a wide pull through site with 20A electricity (standard from what I can tell). We also have a sullage point at our site … meaning a place to connect our hose to dump the grey water. While Australia allows dumping grey water anywhere when dry camping … it is sink/shower water and the plants/soil like getting a free drink, you have to use the sullage point when in a campground. Black water from the toilet goes to a cassette, which you carry to a dump point to empty.

    While the temp had been comfortable when we set out on our drive this morning, it had steadily increased. By the time we got to Mitcham, the thermometer was reading mid-90F. Before doing anything else, we got the electricity connected so we could get the A/C going. We also closed the curtain between the cockpit and living room, and pulled down all the shades. Good practice for when we are driving the Nullarbor later on in our caravan trip.

    The laundry is done. Dinner is over — we had one of Mui’s frozen home-cooked meals tonight. The journal is caught up. Time to relax.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    The neighbor's not interested in tea and stroopwaffel this morning — Dog Valley, SA.
    Desk-on-the-go!A pleasant drive through a tree-tunnel — somewhere on A66 in SA.Antique cars towing modern trailers — Willalooka, SA.Homage to a sheep-shearing champion — Willalooka, SA.At the entrance to the town of Keith — SA.Silo Art — Coonalpyn, SA.Silo Art — Coonalpyn, SA.Mosaic mural by Mike Tye ... assisted by 27 volunteers — Coonalpyn, SA.Mosaic Art — Coonalpyn, SA.Mosaic Art — Coonalpyn, SA.Finally got a photo of an echidna where we could actually stop the car 🤪 — Coonalpyn, SA.Tunnel vision murals ... decorating a tunnel under a railway crossing — Coonalpyn, SA.Little Corella — Coonalpyn, SA.Ferry @ Tailem Bend — SA."The Big Rhino" — Tailem Bend, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 3

    February 12, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F

    Dog Valley to Mitcham
    Distance Traveled: 199 miles

    When you have no hook-ups or anything outdoors to put away, departure from a campsite is quick and easy. We were on the road by 8:30a this morning. As was the case yesterday, we drove through wine country for a while and then left the vineyards behind for rural scenery.

    After two days of driving-with-sightseeing, today was mostly about driving to get from point A to point B. Thus not much of a story to tell.

    We heeded the signs recommending drivers to “Stop / Revive / Survive” and pulled into several of the numerous (and frequent) rest areas as we made our way north. Most of the pull outs were without amenities; a few had rest rooms, caravan dump points, and spigots. One rest room even had classical music playing through speakers.

    All of the fun stops were for photo ops right off the road. I was especially happy to see murals along the way … one of them part of the Australia-wide Silo Art Trail.

    Knowing that our stops today would be limited, I figured out a way to set up a desk of sorts so I can write — and maybe even process photos — while we’re on the move. The cutting board that also serves as a sink cover now has a third job as a lap desk 😉. Since power usage is something we have to keep an eye on when dry-camping, and the solar panel on the roof of this caravan is barely sufficient to float the batteries, I have been wary of using my electronic devices these past few nights. Now I have a solution that should keep me closer to real-time-posting than not.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Camping in a rest area just past Naracoorte, SA.
    Quiet neighbors ... near Naracoorte, SA.

    Rest Stop Camping in the Dog Valley

    February 11, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    Our plan was to overnight in Port Gambier. But it was too early to stop when we got there. Especially since we had entered the state of South Australia … leaving Victoria behind. And gained a ½-hour in the time zone change.

    So, we decided to push on to Penola. And then to Naracoorte. Topping off the fuel there, we started looking for places to dry camp.

    Which is how we came to be at a rest area in the Dog Valley. There’s a bit of traffic going by, but we expect that to drop as the evening gives way to nightfall. We maneuvered in front of a picnic shelter where there is light and have the slide facing the cattle/sheep station that we are parked next to. Good neighbors … very quiet 🤪    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    With no crowds in front of the sign, we get our photo op today — Twelve Apostles ... GOR — VIC.
    Twelve Apostles at sunrise ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles at sunrise ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles at sunrise ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Anyone lost a shoe? ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles in the mist ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Loch Ard Gorge ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Loch Ard Gorge ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Surf's Up ... Loch Ard Gorge on the Great Ocean Road — VIC.Loch Ard Gorge ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.The cave where the survivors sought shelter ... Loch Ard Gorge ... Great Ocean Road, VIC.Port Campbell ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Scenes from the beach at Port Campbell ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Coffe break in Port Campbell ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.London Bridge has indeed fallen down ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.London Bridge ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Closer look at the break at London Bridge ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.With that kind of wave action no wonder London Bridge has fallen — Great Ocean Road — VIC.Bay of Martyrs ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Bay of Islands ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Bay of Islands ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Lunch in Port Fairy ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 2

    February 11, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Twelve Apostles to the Dog Valley via the Great Ocean Road
    Left the State of Victoria and entered South Australia
    Distance Traveled: 240 Miles

    Our second day on the Great Ocean Road (GOR)!

    After a good night’s rest in a pitch dark parking lot — which made stargazing quite amazing — we were up in time to walk over to the Twelve Apostles platform for sunrise. We watched the sea stacks slowly light up as the sun rose. Maybe 3-4 other early birds sharing the experience. Just lovely.

    We returned to the caravan for breakfast; got ready for the day ahead. Then, back to the lookout for one last look at the Twelve Apostles. WOW! During our short absence, a thick marine layer/fog had moved in to veil the scenery. Having now experienced the Twelve Apostles under varying conditions, we were ready to leave them behind.

    By 9:00a, we were on the road. Our first stop, just 3 miles or so down the GOR, was at Loch Ard Gorge. What an amazing spot this u-shaped gorge, which lets the sea in to crash ashore, turned out to be.

    The gorge was named for the iron-hulled clipper Loch Ard, which, in 1878, sunk off Mutton Island in the wee hours of the final day of its voyage from England. Of the 37 crew and 19 passengers onboard, only two people survived. They sheltered in a cave on the beach until they were rescued. Normally, one can walk down for a closer look at the cave, but due to recent cliff movement resulting from an earthquake, the trail has been deemed unsafe and closed off.

    The light on the cliff faces was perfect … especially when we walked over to the lookout for a closer look at the tip of the headland where we could see that one of the rock formations had an arch developing at its base. The sea was coming into the gorge in big waves, crashing into the rocks where it had to squeeze through the cliffs. A spectacular sight.

    Our next stop was in the small seaside resort town of Port Campbell. This is where we had initially planned to overnight last night. Since we didn’t, we could have bypassed it. But we drove in anyway, parked the caravan, and went for a short walk. While Mui stopped into a café to get us some refreshments, I strolled down to the beach for photo ops. We enjoyed our break at one of the picnic tables overlooking the beach … nothing like having a view to entertain us.

    Next up, was a rock formation called London Bridge. Just like the nursery song says, it has fallen down. The breaking of the soft limestone bridge happened in 1990. Signage at the site states that it was a matter of time before the 10-25 million year old rock would give way to the erosive power of Mother Nature. At the time of the event, two tourists were marooned on what Lonely Planet refers to as “the world’s newest island.” No worries … a helicopter rescue brought them back to the mainland.

    As we neared the end of the GOR, the pullouts leading to overlooks became more numerous. A number of them had signs indicating that they were not suitable for caravans and buses. But we did manage to go in at Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands for our last glimpses of the beautiful scenery that had brought us here for a two-day drive.

    Warrnambool, was our diesel top-off point. Our first time having to use AdBlue — similar to DEF in the USA … a diesel exhaust fluid used in vehicles with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. The purpose is to reduce harmful gases being released into the atmosphere. At truck stops, the AdBlue nozzle is on the pump, so it’s easy enough to add it when topping off. Smaller stations don’t always have that option. Since we don’t know what lies ahead in respect to topping off our diesel — and thus our AdBlue — we purchased a 10-gallon drum to carry with us. Better safe than sorry!

    By the time we had the caravan fueled up it was time to fuel up ourselves. Port Fairy, a town described as having a “relaxed, salty feel” was next up. It also had a public campground in the Gardens Oval next to the Botanical Gardens where we could dump our cassette waste, thus killing two birds with one stone.

    After taking care of the dumping, we headed over to Port Fairy’s East Beach. A nice breeze off the water made the decision for us to eat at the picnic bench overlooking the beach …. A strip of white sand which fronts the sea … every shade of blue imaginable … tipped with white surf. Al fresco dining with a view … what’s not to like?

    Our route from Port Fairy would have taken us through Portland, where Regatta stopped in January. But we were done with our sightseeing, so we opted to go inland instead … a faster route.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Parking lot camping at Twelve Apostles — Great Ocean Road, VIC.

    Parking Lot Camping @ 12 Apostles

    February 10, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 68 °F

    Yup, that was our solution to the sun-glare washed-out first glimpse of the iconic Twelve Apostles.

    Instead of continuing on to Port Campbell where we might or might not have found a spot for dry camping, we stayed in the parking lot at the visitor center. Since the VC was closed and there was no one to ask if it was OK to camp out overnight, we relied on the fact that there were no signs prohibiting what we planned to do.

    We picked the furthest caravan parking slot, parking with our slide out towards the trees and bushes so that we could discretely open it.

    Then a quick bite of dinner. Followed by another trip to the lookout platform to view the Twelve Apostles at sunset.

    Now, with the parking lot empty — and the lights off in the caravan to conserve our battery overnight, I am doing some star gazing through the oversized window by the dinette.

    Indeed … a good end to our first day on the road.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Addis Point ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.
    Addis Point ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Addis Point ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Red Rock Beach @ Addis Point ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch @ Eastern View — VIC.Memorial to the servicemen who built the Great Ocean Road ... Eastern View — VIC.Tide coming into an estuary ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Our lunch spot with a view ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Our lunch spot with a view ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Surf's Up ... from our lunch spot on the Great Ocean Road — VIC.Cape Otway Lightstation ... Great Ocean Road detour — VIC.Cape Otway Lightstation ... the Telegraph Station is now a museum ... Great Ocean Road detour — VIC.Cape Otway Lighthouse ... Great Ocean Road detour — VIC.View from the Cape Otway Lightstation ... Great Ocean Road detour — VIC.Surf's up! ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles at sunset ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Twelve Apostles at sunset ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.Sunset at the Twelve Apostles ... Great Ocean Road — VIC.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 1

    February 10, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Coburg to the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
    Distance Traveled: 210 Miles

    Our first day of driving the caravan … starting out through rush hour traffic leaving Melbourne. A bit harrowing. But having an RV of our own that is about the same size, Mui felt fairly comfortable. And it helped that he’d been driving on the left side for the past few weeks. Smooth sailing once we eased out of city traffic … except for one wrong turn, which the GPS helped us to right quickly.

    The Great Ocean Road (GOR) — so named in 1936 when it was proclaimed a “tourist road” — is the result of a citizen initiative established in 1917 to not just build the road, but to provide employment to servicemen returning from WWI. The construction of the road was done in stages from 1919 on, the progress dependent on the availability of men and money. In the end “… 3,000 ex-servicemen worked with pick and shovel, using stone and natural materials of the area.”

    The road follows the contours of the coast. It linked up the seaside settlements and opened up the coast for development. As well, it provided “… the motoring public with ‘one of the most beautiful ocean drives in the world.’ …” Those motorists had to pay a toll at Eastern View, the site of the Memorial Arch. When the government took over the road and its maintenance in 1936, the toll was abolished. Today, the nearly 150-mile road is a tourist attraction due to its reputation for being one of the great coastal roads in the world. A well-deserved reputation I might add.

    All along the road is amazing scenery … seascapes to our left traveling west as we are, and bushland to our right.

    We started our sightseeing at Point Addis, a slight detour recommended by the Lonely Planet guide. The lookouts here afforded us our first real glimpse of the beautiful beaches, amazing cliffs, and rough surf that seems to be part and parcel of the coast.

    We made frequent stops along the way, pulling into lookouts … which, in most cases, were large enough to accommodate caravans and trailers as well as cars. We used one such overlook for our lunch break. Nothing like a spot with a view for a quick bite on the road.

    When we came to the Cape Otway turn-off, the lure of seeing koalas in the wild led us down a 15-mile in/out detour. Saw none on the way in, but did spot a few high in the trees on the way out … too high in the trees to photograph with anything but a long less.

    Since we had detoured down the road anyway, we paid up and visited the Cape Otway Lightstation … constructed on the second southern-most point of mainland Australia — after Wilsons Promontory … located further east along the coast of Victoria. For those who had spent months at sea traveling from Europe and North America to Australia, the cape was the first sighting of land … the lightstation their “Beacon of Hope.”

    Completing the detour, we got back on the GOR, arriving at the Twelve Apostles Visitor Center around 6:30p. As we were driving west, I was concerned that the sun’s glare would wash out the scenery. I was right. But we found a solution.

    The Lonely Planet guidebook describes this iconic off-shore landmark as “… the most enduring image for most visitors to the Great Ocean Road …”. Shaped by the power of nature — wind, rain, and particularly the amazing waves that crash on to them 24/7 … 365 days … year after year — the sea stacks stand in the water … alongside a headland that is retreating due to the erosive power of the sea.

    Turns out that there were never 12 of these sandstone sea stacks. Originally known as the Sow & Piglets, someone had the bright idea of renaming them to something a bit more venerable. The thinking was that it would attract more tourists. Would tourists still have flocked here without the name change? Who knows! But they do come in droves to see the seven towers that still stand.

    Tourist guides specify that the best time to visit the Twelve Apostles is at sunset … the tour buses are long gone by then … and it is possible to see little penguins coming ashore as night falls. As little as those penguins are … a highly doubt the second reason is valid, unless you are down on the beach … which means hiking back up in the dark. Hmmm! I think not.

    Thanks to a decision we made while at Twelve Apostles, we were able to see the amazing scenery a second time as the sun set over the sea. Very impressive. And a great end to our first day of caravaning in Australia!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Mui finally reunites with Costco 😄 — Epping, VIC.
    In site 69 at Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park — Coburg, VIC.Looking towards the cockpit of our Jayco 6-berth caravan; over-the-cab bed will be storage for us.2Looking back from the cockpit to the livingroom and kitchen ... bedroom & bathroom beyond.Bedroom with the slides deployed ... there is lots of storage.2Bathroom ... the mirror makes the shower look twice as big as it really is.

    Settled into the Caravan

    February 9, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Our 20-day caravan trip will take us from Melbourne in Victoria to Perth in Western Australia. That’s some 2,173 miles … as the crow flies, so to speak. But we will be dilly-dallying along the way, so I expect our miles will vary quite a bit from that number.

    After picking up our Jayco caravan from Let’s Go Motorhomes in Tullamarine (near the airport), we set off to provision it for the road.

    But before doing that, we stopped by Let’s Go’s mechanic and had a tire replaced. The tire would have been fine more than likely. But knowing that we’d be driving far — and with part of it through the Nullarbor where there’s essentially little in the way of civilization — we are glad Let’s Go agreed to replace it at no charge to us when Mui expressed concern over it.

    That done, we drove to Costco in Epping. Yes, the mega box-store is in Australia as well. Not that we could buy much there since we don’t need 48 rolls of toilet paper … 🤪. But it was a good place to pick up a couple of cases of bottled water, a couple of bottles of wine, some snacks to alternate with our home-cooked meals. You know … the good stuff!

    Onto Aldi next for small-quantity groceries. Then to KMart for inexpensive trash bins … why there aren’t any in the caravan already is beyond us!

    Provisioning completed, we drove to the Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park in Coburg for our overnight. Holiday parks in Australia are basically a mix of caravan, tent, and cabin sites. This one, being near Melbourne, is quite popular … packed, you might say! We plan to dry camp where possible on this road trip, but we booked a campground for tonight so that we could have water and electric hook-ups while we unpacked and got settled in.

    When we decided to do a caravan trip in Australia, we booked a 4-berth Class C … primarily for the over-the-cab bed so that we would have somewhere to store our luggage. Turns out that we were upgraded to a 6-berth. Not that the size is all that different from a 4-berth … maybe a foot longer. Anyway, finding a place for everything was no problem. And I can easily say that we are settled.

    Hope to have some fun stuff to share as we head west across Australia. Looking forward to the adventure. Can’t say the same about the weather. It was 107F in Perth today. Luckily, we don’t have to deal with that kind of temperatures quite yet!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Home on the road — Tullamarine, VIC.

    Picked Up Our Apartment On Wheels

    February 9, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Got our orientation done and have our Let’s Go caravan … home through the end of the month.

    Ready to take care of pre-trip grocery shopping and chores … then off we will go🤞🏻

    Will be staying in a caravan park in the vicinity overnight to get settled in.Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Graffiti Alley — Melbourne, VIC.
    Mural on the side of a building on Graffiti Alley — Melbourne, VIC.Graffiti Alley — Melbourne, VIC.Graffiti Alley ... side alleys not so tourist-friendly — Melbourne, VIC.Lunch @ Il Solito Posto — Melbourne, VIC.Lunch @ Il Solito Posto — Melbourne, VIC.Lunch @ Il Solito Posto — Melbourne, VIC.Docklands — Melbourne, VIC.Docklands — Melbourne, VIC.Yarra River from Queen's Bridge — Melbourne, VIC.Yarra River and skyline from Queen's Bridge — Melbourne, VIC.Yarra River from Sandridge ... the old rail bridge — Melbourne, VIC.Skyline from the Southbank Promenade — Melbourne, VIC.

    Melbourne: This & That II

    February 8, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    As we did yesterday, after spending time at NGV — this time Australia — we headed off on a meandering stroll … on our way to lunch.

    Across the street from the Ian Potter Center is Graffiti Alley, so we detoured to walk through there. An edgy sort of place. The Main Street was filled with tourists, but the side alleys were … well, let’s just say that we didn’t wander too far down them once we glimpsed the goings on there.

    On our flight from Burnie to Melbourne on the 6th, we got to talking with the purser on our flight. She’s based out of Melbourne and was kind enough to write up a number of restaurant recommendations. Initially, we were going to go to the Spanish tapas place she recommended, but the South Melbourne Markets were closed today. So, we went to Il Solito Posto, an Italian restaurant on the list instead. She did not steer us wrong! The food was delicious; the service good and friendly.

    Then, off to explore a bit more … and walk-off the delicious tiramisu that we had as dessert.

    Melbourne has a great tram system. A large section of the CBD is designated as the free zone. Hop on, hop off at will … no tapping necessary. So, the MyKi cards we picked up when we were here in January stayed in the wallet and we didn’t have to add money to them during this short stay.

    While a number of tram lines run within the free zone, #35 is designated the City Circle Tram and makes the entire circuit clockwise in about an hour. We didn’t stay on for the entire ride, opting to get off at the Docklands for a stroll on the promenade. Then, we hopped on #70, got off at Market Street, and crossed the Yarra River via Queen’s Bridge. Strolling along the Southbank Promenade for a while, we recrossed the river at Prince’s Bridge for the walk back to the apartment. A delightful afternoon walk … on a day with delightful weather … comfy temps and plenty of sunshine.

    Thus we brought our time in Melbourne to a close. Tomorrow we pick up our caravan and begin our second road trip … this one on the mainland.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    "Death & Transfiguration" by L. French ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.
    "Yalla-y-Poora" by E. von Guérard ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Central Australian Landscape" by W. Ebatarinja ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Sailing Boats, Brittany" by A. Rehfisch ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."The Bridge In-Curve" by G.C. Smith ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Feather Flower" by V. Ingram ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Cabinet ... W.H. Rocke & Co ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Cliveden welcome window ... Designed by J.W. Brown ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Shearing the Rams" by T. Roberts ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.NGV Australia — Melbourne, VIC.From the Maningrida Sculpture Project ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Dirdbim (Moon Dreaming)" by K.N. Djungkidj ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Giant hand mirror library designed by T. Fleming ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.NGV Australia — Melbourne, VIC.NGV Australia — Melbourne, VIC."Kanaputa" by Pintupi Collaboration ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Mijal" by G. Blither ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Chandelier ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Barratjala" by N. Marawili ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.NGV Australia — Melbourne, VIC.Costumes from Liam Young's Planetary Redesign ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.

    Melbourne: NGV Australia

    February 8, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Another great day in Melbourne.

    After breakfast, we headed off to the National Gallery of Victoria … again. But this time, we went to the Ian Potter Centre … home of NGV Australia.

    As the name implies, on exhibit here is the museum’s collection of Australian art … both indigenous and non-indigenous … historical as well as present day works. Very different from the art exhibited at NGV International.

    As much as we enjoyed yesterday’s experience with international art, Mui and I agreed that we enjoyed today’s experience of the works that represent this country more.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Arts Center Melbourne — Melbourne, VIC.
    Tile mural in the Arts Center area — Melbourne, VIC.Yarra River skyline — Melbourne, VIC.On the bridge crossing the Yarra River — Melbourne, VIC.Flinders Street Station — Melbourne, VIC.St Paul's Cathedral - Melbourne, VIC.St Paul's Cathedral — Melbourne, VIC.3Mui cooking up a storm — in this case, peas! Melbourne, VIC.

    Melbourne: This & That

    February 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    On our way to and from the National Gallery of Victoria … a few things that caught our eye … and also our late lunch at Brunetti Oro, recommended by our friends Kadi & Brad, who are also in Australia and were in Melbourne just a few days ago.

    Brunetti is a renowned Italian Pasticceria … with a history that goes back to 1943 when Giorgio Angele began training as a pastry chef in Rome. He came to Melbourne in 1956 as the pastry chef for the Italian Olympic team. After the games, he stayed on in Melbourne and opened his first cake shop. He purchased Brunneti’s in 1991.

    Oro — on Flinders Lane — is the flagship location that was opened in 2017. Walking inside, one is in “dessert heaven” … that’s the only way to describe the colorful variety of sweets on display!

    To say that the place was hopping would be an understatement. Our only disappointment was that we had left coming here a bit late and the kitchen was closed. So, no “real” food. But the arancinis we got were delicious … fried to a golden, crunchy crisp on the outside … served with a side salad. And the desserts we wrapped up with were all delicious. Yes … all. Mui not only got me the gelato I asked for, but picked up a cannolo for himself and a sfogliatella to share. Hey, we’ve been good these past few days! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

    Returning to the apartment around 5:00p, Mui donned his “virtual apron” and got down to cooking up a storm in the kitchen. At last count there were three different pots on the stove … and a pan of something in the oven! Next step … portioning them into freezer bags. Having home-cooked meals on the road will be a nice change of pace.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Welcome to the National Gallery of Victoria: International — Melbourne, VIC.
    Lying down on the job? Capturing the ceiling of the grand hall ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Mahdavi uses pink symbolically ... pink translates in Persian to "soorati," which means face."Comedian" by M. Cattelan ... consists of a banana (replaced weekly) duct taped to the wall 🤯"Ngangkari Ngura (Healing Country)" by B. Muffler ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Heterobota" by A. Pilat ... asks the question as you leave, "Can you live with a robot pet?""Mother Eagles Going Hunting" by I. Ken ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Schiaparelli collection evoking a magical cosmos ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."The Examiner" by M. Elgreen & I. Dragset ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."No. 1 ... from the Armour for the Bride series" by S. Kulkarni ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Indian Vishnu avatars Varaha, Narasimha, and Kalki ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Promotional Look for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" by R. Gemini ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Hamburger with Auspicious Treasures" by S. Wei ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.11th Century BCE Chinese cooking vessel ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Mun-dirra (Maningrida fish fence)" ... symbolizing extraordinary possibilities of the human mind.From the "Adam & Eve" Series by R. Lewer ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Two-handled cup & saucer (c. 1735-40) from the Vienna Porcelain Factory ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Waistcoast (1780) from England ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.Head of a Girl (L) and Head of a Boy ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Louis XIII of France" by P.P. Rubens ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."Two Old Men Disputing" by Rembrandt ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC."The Messenger" by G. Bartlett ... NGV — Melbourne, VIC.

    Melbourne: NGV International

    February 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Today we balanced road trip prep work with sightseeing.

    After breakfast, Mui headed out to do some shopping … groceries for home-cooked meals to take on the road. After he got back, we went off to have fun … leaving the actual cooking for this afternoon.

    When Regatta called on Melbourne in January, we visited the Melbourne Museum. We spent so much time there that we didn’t get to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) then. So, that was our priority today.

    Founded in 1861, NGV is Australia’s oldest art museum. It also has the distinction of being the most visited one. The museum consists of two sites. The one we went to today is NGV: International … on St Kilda Road. We would have gone to the Ian Potter Center: NGV Australia, too. But we ran out of steam … and time.

    In this building are the museum’s European, Asian, Oceanic, and American art collections.

    We found a lot that pleased our eye. And a lot that left us scratching our heads.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    View from our AirBNB rental in the CBD — Melbourne, VIC.

    Made it to Melbourne, VIC!

    February 6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 64 °F

    An uneventful flight brought us from Burnie in Tasmania to Melbourne in Victoria. In fact, we were on the ground 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Early is always good.

    Since there are no security checks at the Burnie Airport — they didn’t even check IDs — we were bussed from where we deplaned on to the tarmac at MLB to baggage claim at Terminal 1. Luggage was already on the carousel. Easy peasy.

    We found out today that Uber works a little differently here … at least at the Melbourne airport. You order a car through the app; get a PIN; go to the designated area where a bunch of Ubers are queued up and waiting; share the PIN with the driver; and you are on your way.

    We’ve checked into our AirBNB in the CBD. Nothing special … but nice view of the skyline. We’ve done a bit of grocery shopping for breakfast fixings at the Metro around the corner from the building. A load of laundry is going already … maybe we’ll get it all done tonight after all.

    Although we plan to do some sightseeing while in the city — there’s a lot to see and do — Melbourne is also where we will be prepping for our road trip by RV — oh, OK … make that caravan, since we are in Australia. Somehow we’ll make it work … a little pleasure … a little work.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Burnie Airport — Wynyard, TAS.
    Burnie Airport — Wynyard, TAS.Royal Flying Doctor Service ... Burnie Airport — Wynyard, TAS.

    839.59 Miles Later …

    February 6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Our Tasmania road trip has concluded at the Avis office where we just dropped off our rental car.

    Then a 2-minute walk across the road to the Burnie Airport … located in Wynyard … 11 miles from Burnie.

    This is a small airport … no jetways, no nothing. Didn’t see a security checkpoint either. A door marked “Departures” leads to the tarmac … from where we will board our flight to Melbourne. We have a while until that happens, however. If the “will open at 4:00p” sign on the door of the café/gift shop is anything to go by, our flight might be the only one going out today … once the aircraft arrives, that is.

    At the moment, I am the only soul at the airport. Mui walked over to the hardware store at the other end of the parking lot to entertain himself. There’s no sign of any airport or airline staff either. All alone I am.

    This is a good time for me to catch up on some logistics work. The more I get done here … the more time we will have for sightseeing in Melbourne!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Somewhere in the distance is Cradle Mountain!
    Cattle and sheep stations abound in Tasmania.We're overnighting at the Ikon Hotel — Burnie, TAS.

    OTR: CMNP to Burnie

    February 5, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    We left CMNP around 8:30a this morning.

    Destination: Burnie … the “City by the Sea” … 64 miles away on the northwestern coast of Tasmania … where we stopped earlier in our trip when we were still onboard Regatta.

    We had plans for sightseeing along the way … specifically at the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden. Alas, it is off season for rhodies and there is nothing else to really see there. So, we pushed on.

    A phone call to the Ikon Hotel in Burnie resulted in an early check-in agreement … but we had to kill some time until 12:30p first. So, we headed to the Secret Buddha, where we had a very nice coffee break when we were in Burnie off the ship. Lunch this time … delicious al fresco meal.

    We are now not only checked in to our room — in an iconic landmark building — but all of our errands are completed. I even managed to finish up my back-logged Cradle Mountain footprints and caught up on some bookkeeping.

    Tomorrow morning, we fly to Melbourne.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Reward for a good hike — Cabin 24 @ Cradle Mountain Lodge — CMNP, TAS.
    Itchy wombat on the move — from Cabin 24 @ Cradle Mountain Lodge — CMNP, TAS.Bennett's Wallabies — Cabin 24 @ Cradle Mountain Lodge — CMNP, TAS.

    CMNP: Wrapping Up Our Visit

    February 4, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    We rewarded ourselves for today’s hike … wine and snacks on the deck of our cabin … protected from the occasional sprinkle of rain … and entertained by our wildlife friends.

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Heading off on our hike ... we start at the Overland Trailhead — CMNP, TAS.
    The pink line shows the trail we cobbled together for ourselves — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Crater Falls ... hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Upper Crater Falls ... hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Crater Lake ... at the edge of the water — CMNP, TAS.Hiking up to the trail junction from Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Aerial view of Crater Lake — CMNP, TAS.Lilla Lake (L) and Dove Lake ... from the Overland Trail — CMNP, TAS.Can you see the Marion's Lookout Trail? Nope not going to do that one!One of the steep, rocky patches on the Wombat Pool Trail down to Dove Lake.Wombat Pool from an overlook — CMNP, TAS.Wombat Pool — CMNP, TAS.Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake ... we made it! — CMNP, TAS.

    CMNP: Hiking in the Park

    February 4, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Disappointment. That was my first reaction to the overcast and drizzle we woke up to this morning. Where had yesterday’s sunshine and blue skies gone?

    Now that we’ve completed our hike, however, I can categorically say that we’re grateful that there was cloud cover today. It would have been downright uncomfortable hiking had the sun been out.

    Taking the shuttle into CNMP around 8:30a, we hopped off at the Ronny Creek shuttle stop to begin our hike. There was a fancy sign for the Overland Track, our starting point. But no. We did not do that hike. Not only does it take 5-6 days to complete it end to end, one has to pack a tent and other accoutrements for wilderness hiking, and ascend both Marion’s Lookout and Cradle Mountain … and who knows what else.

    Rather, the plan was to hike up to Crater Lake, which is on the Overland … and then return to the Dove Lake parking lot to pick up an outbound shuttle. Since we were cobbling together our own route, we weren’t exactly sure of the distance we’d be hiking. However we figured we’d be out and about for at least three hours. Had we not dallied as much as we did along the way, I imagine that estimate would have been accurate.. As it is, we hiked for over four hours.

    The trail started out flat on a boardwalk. Then wooden steps … some wide; some high. Then rock steps … quite unevenly spaced. Then fairly flat gravel. Then dirt strewn with roots ready to trip up the unwary. The trail was rated easy … Australian easy, that is. Technically, it wasn’t a difficult hike, you just had to pay attention to where you were stepping.

    At the top, the trail junctions with others, including Marion’s Lookout. One look at that straight-up trail confirmed our decision to nix it. Instead, we walked just a bit further on from the junction to a couple of hidden overlooks mentioned to us by the ranger at the Visitor Center … one for Crater Lake and the other for Dove and Lilla Lakes.

    Photo ops completed, we began the return trek via the Wombat Pool and Lilla Lake trails. Yesterday, we had debated doing the hike we did today … but in reverse … starting from Dove Lake to Crater Lake via the Wombat Pool … ending up at the Ronny Creek shuttle stop. Once we began the descent from the Crater Lake trail today, we were especially grateful that we had not done so! There were far more steep sections here … especially on the way to Wombat Pool … and a number of them were a bit more like rock scrambles over what I like to refer to as “sliced bread rocks.”

    We had a great hike … glad for the natural shade provided by the clouds and the occasional gusts of breeze. There were enough glimpses of the view in the heavily-forested parts to keep us entertained. And that’s an especially good thing.    Read more

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