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  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 16

    Day 16

    August 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Up 4am. Andy out 5am for San Diego 'Finest City' half marathon. V and friends also doing it.

    I met Paul 6.30 and we walked to finish - took about an hour.

    Cloudy but warm.

    V finished just over 2 hours and Andy PW.

    Walked back to hotel - seemed to take forever! Sunny and warm now.

    Hour to regroup then met 11.30. Had a beer & chicken sandwich/burger then out to Coronado island. Very gentile seaside town. Coronado hotel right beside the sea built 1878 - very grand and atmospheric.
    Had icecream/coffee and sat around for a while.

    Drove back across fabulous Coronado bridge - 2 miles long.

    Back for rest and pack 3.30.

    Met 5.30 - P & V took us to La Jolla. Very pleasant seaside town. Dinner at George's. Had calamares/octopus and tacos/grilled chicken. All quite nice but not spectacular. Service v quick. Waiter 'Hope you're having a good day. How can I make it better'. Yuk. V had glass wine and got chopsy - teasing waiters.

    Then walk down to ocean. Hundreds of sea lions playing in the sea and on the beach.

    Back to hotel and couple drinks in the bar. V had another glass of wine and gave us her political views!

    Bed 10.30.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 15

    Day 15

    August 19, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Up 8.30. Another pretty good sleep.

    Tea and fruit for breakfast. Sorted bags, played with dogs and watched garden life. Really beautiful but there is nothing to do here. Everything is so far away! Their house really is fabulous but there is awful lot of their money tied up in it. They both seem to be doing well with their businesses and market conditions and the economy pretty buoyant.

    Had turkey, cheese, avocado, tomato sandwich (V does make some very very nice sandwiches!) then hung around a bit more.

    Left Fallbrook 3ish then hour or so drive to Sam Diego. Parked easily at hotel. Unpacked whilst Andy & V checked in for race and went for coffee.

    Well earned couple of beers 5.30 - local 'craft' beer all $8.

    Had expensive 'pasta party' in hotel. $30 each. Lovely soup then salads, 4 different sorts of pasta (very little meat or fish in any of them) but tasted ok. One beer each.

    Fruit salad with chilli flakes for pudding. New one on me but V says not unusual in this part of the world near Mexico.

    Took some cakes for breakfast.

    Not impressed with hotel. It looks lovely but have to pay $12 per day for wifi, concierge didn't seem to know there is a shop on site when Andy asked about milk and cereal bar for pre race breakfast. Fortunately V been here before so she knew about little shop. Place seems disorganised. Aircon doesn't seem to work and there is a $25 cleaning charge if you store own stuff in fridge. Bought tiny bottle milk & 2 flapjacky things in hotel shop = $12. Ouch.

    Stroll after meal then back to room 9ish. Full of pasta!

    A bit disappointed that have hardly seen anything of town but P & V don't seem to rate it. On the positive side, our legs have had a good rest!    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 14

    Day 14

    August 18, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Up 8.30 after pretty good sleep once I'd settled. Had tea/fruit/weetabix - all left for us by V. P & V gone to do some work. Wandered around the estate and took pics. Paul then back so we returned car. All seems fine but girl mentioned mark on bumper. She said we're not liable because we had full cover but we certainly didn't do it.

    Paul told us about fires 10 years ago - area had to be evacuated. Has been drought in recent years but much rain last winter so has eased.

    Sat watching humming birds, beautifully coloured butterflies, turtles, coi, avocados, pomegranates, tomatoes - very fertile land.

    Had tuna sandwich Virginia style (delicious) then out 2ish.

    45 min drive to Dana harbour where boat is. Had tea/coffee in harbour cafe then to boat. 41ft cruiser 7.41 twin engine with bedroom/cooker/tv. Took over an hour to get it ready - clean off bird poo etc then 45 min spin in Pacific Ocean then over an hour to wash it down again afterwards Lovely place, lots of seals & seabirds. Huge harbour and beautiful seaside homes. Serious money here!

    Left about 7pm - tea in nearby seaside restaurant Had fish & chips & club sandwich & 2 beers. Quite nice P & V beat us to the bill.

    Home 10ish. Cake & 2 glasses wine. Told them our big news on strict instructions not to it it anywhere near FB!

    Bed 11.30    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 13

    Day 13

    August 17, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Woke up 7.30. Good sleep so feel fine.

    Tea & pack then out for early walk. Sunny morning and streets being jet washed.

    Busy but manageable. Saw stars foot & handprints outside Chinese theatre.

    Got blueberry muffin from 7/11 then back for final pack.

    Checked out 9.50 and waited for car hire man. Didn't come so concierge chased. Said he's been and gone. Eventually came and drove us to office.

    Set off in car 11ish and followed signs and sat nav. Traffic not too bad once outside city. Got to Fallbrook 1ish then but of a merry go round to find house. Arrived just as Paul pulling up.

    Had beer & chat & chicken & Vietnamese salad sandwich. V nice.

    Out to look at their latest project house. Huge long house they are totally renovating.

    Back to house and sat outside with beer watching sun go down. Whole place is beautifully finished.

    Had cold meat & cheese followed by huge steak & baked potato. Far too much. Then sort of bread & butter pudding. Lovely.

    Couple of glasses of wine sitting outside by fabulous gas fire pit/table then bed 11.00.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 12

    Day 12

    August 16, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Up 5am for final packing. Sydney has been great and we were so lucky with the weather.

    Bus to airport 6ish. No problem with check in and security so now very early. Had fruit & buns & pancakes for breakfast.

    Took off 10.30amish. Had g & t & few glasses of wine. Andy had dahl & brisket sandwich and I had slivers of trout & pork fillet & rice. Lovely. Tried to sleep but no chance because it's still daytime for us. Flight was about 12 hours and we landed 6.30am which was 1.30am tomorrow for us. Weird to go back in time like that. We landed 4 hours before we took off!

    Bungled our way through immigration and customs. Took about an hour which was pretty good. Limo waiting and that took another hour to reach hotel in rush hour. Couldn't believe how incredibly grotty the drive was. Very grubby and run down. Loews Hotel lovely though and we could check in which was great. Room with a view of the Hollywood sign without paying extra!

    Had strong coffee then out for walk along the Walk of Fame. Again, grubby and sleazy. Streets were dirty. Went to look for car hire office via back street. Felt dangerous - settees out on street, dodgy looking people around. Gave up and came back to hotel.

    Went in restaurant and had omelette and bacon & egg. $50 inc tip.

    Asked hotel to ring car hire place to ask them to pick us up tomorrow. All fine.

    Sat by pool for a rest. Still only 12.15! Not comfortable enough to sleep so went across road to 'Tinhorn Flats' pub. Proper diner inside. Had local lager $9 for 2 so had another.

    Back to hotel for 1 hour sleep - necessary!!

    Out again 4ish for walk the other way. Very busy with fascinated people taking photos of the names in stars on the floor.

    Had beers in Jameson Irish bar $9 for 2 so we had another! Watched life on the street. All of life is here - hippies, dropouts, vagrants, misfits but feels Ok tonight. Not aggressive or confrontational at all. Quite high security presence moving the vagrants on but they didn't go far.

    Went to Italian cafe for tea. Lasagna & carbonara & bottle Bud $30. Barman very much into English football so we had to sound knowledgeable and join in.

    Back to 'Flats' for last beer, quick look at street lighting up then home 8.30. Looks a bit more glitzy with the neon lights.

    Lots of beautiful houses up on the hills but the town of Hollywood is really grotty. Glad we've seen it but would't come back.

    Glass wine then bed.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 11

    Day 11

    August 15, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Up 7.30 to do washing and start packing.

    Can't believe it's raining today! Not what we planned.

    Booked airport bus for tomorrow and confirmed pick up in LA.

    All sorted by 11ish.

    Out to museum Hyde Park Barracks. Very interesting 3 floors of life since 1800 ish. Convicts slept here and worked during the day and later the building became immigration centre and home for desperate women. Clever people made a lot of money. Rocks became home for immigrants escaping desperate conditions in UK. Great opportunities but lots of vagabonds to deal with! Conditions dire but often better than at home.
    Out to courtyard and inviting cafe. Rain stopped so sat outside and had brisket & chicken pie and tea/coffee €32. Really enjoyed all of it.

    Left 1.30ish. Bus to Bondi Beach came quickly. Walked to Coogee beach via Bronte beach. All lovely but no nicer than other walks along cliffs. Saw lots of colourful birds and a kookaburra. Quite challenging with lots of steps up and down. Probably good day to do this walk because weather not great. Can imagine very busy on sunny day.

    Bus back from Coogee. Very easy. Finished packing then quick jug in Porterhouse 6.15. Meal at Pasta Emilia - very close and we needed something other than chips! Had Peroni then pâté & antipasto then mixed rolled meat (pork, lamb beef with roasted veg) and sausagemeat & pasta. Bottle wine should have been $45 but they didn't charge us for it. Bill was $141 (£85ish). inc tip but no wine! Lovely music - lady playing Spanish guitar and double bass.

    Bought $10 bottle with wine so home 9pm.

    Love this city. Nice people and fortunately fantastic winter weather. Would definitely come back to Sydney and the Cambridge Hotel.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 10

    Day 10

    August 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Up 8ish.

    Tea and decide what to do today. Another beautiful day. Smokey outside - were told it's 'backburning' because it has been such a dry winter.

    Headed to Rocks. Had sausage roll & ham quiche for breakfast - $16.5. Very expensive but nice.

    Walked over bridge and admired the views. On other side, walked through funfair Luna Park then round beautiful houses and back down to ferry back to Circular Quay. Lovely harbour cruise in the sunshine.

    Back to Rocks for beer in oldest pubs in town. Fortune of War, Australian Hotel, Hero of Waterloo, Lord Nelson.

    Went in Rocks museum. Really interesting short videos on history.

    Back to town 6ish to try to see light show again!!!!

    Finally saw 7pm show. Was good but not sure worth all the time we have spent waiting over 3 evenings!

    Back to Porterhouse for beer, steak and sandwich with chips. Had planned more varied dinner but couldn't be bothered by this stage!

    Home for glass of wine. Bed 10.30.

    Another beautiful day.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 9

    Day 9

    August 13, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    City to Surf Day.

    Up 6am and out 7ish. Thousands of people milling about in Hyde Park. Cambridge Hotel hotel is perfect location for the start.

    Andy went at 8.05 and I went at 8.30. Not a cloud in the sky but chilly in the early morning winter sun.

    First half not scenic but second half had lovely views of the harbour and Bondi Beach. Andy did 1.35 and I did 2.05 for 14k. A lot of walking!

    Got bus back to Bondi junction then 333 bus home. All very easy. Back home midday ish.

    Showered and out for breakfast at 1ish. Had jug of beer (tap) and chatted with crowd from Melbourne. Seemed really nice. Both had burger then off to town. Went round beautiful botanical gardens - enormous green space. Sat outside Opera House watching boats then went looking for beer. Not so easy. Cafes along Circular Quay were very busy on sunny Sunday afternoon so we didn't like them at all. Had a look in a couple of tourist shops - fridge magnets $10 which says it all. Couldn't find any pubs so went to Paragon Hotel for beer then went searching again. No pubs so went to George where we went the other day. Nice quiet beer then went to look for light show from park. People walking away so maybe we missed it again...... Didn't go any further. We've walked/run 26km today so legs have had enough and I need to pee every 5 minutes!!!

    Back to Porterhouse. Had 'jug' and shared sandwich & chips. Really nice pub.

    Back to Cambridge 8ish with bottle of wine. Very tired.

    Bed 10ish    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 8

    Day 8

    August 12, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Good sleep again. Up 9ish. Out for walking tour 10am. Eastern European girl took the tour. She was very good. Took us all over the city and told us lots of interesting snippets. Rocks area very busy with chocolate festival. Not sunny this morning so much cooler. Our hoodies would have been ideal.

    Finished tour just before 1pm and went back to ICC to drop bags for tomorrow. Easy enough. Then lunch in Darling Harbour. Fish & chips & bacon & cheeseburger & chip pizza. That's a new one on us but it was very nice! One beer each $58 (£35ish). Watched people milling about. Darling Harbour is very nice but there isn't much to look at. No boats!

    Walked back home via Romeo's 'everything' shop. Bought milk & flapjacks for tomorrow. Asked on reception for needle & thread to sew up rucksack. Also extra pin for run number.

    Did first batch of washing & drying $8.50.

    Supposedly easy day today but didn't work out that way of course!

    Out 6.30. Tried another bar close by but didn't like it. Went back to Porterhouse. Had 2 jugs $20 each for 1.7l. Cheap! Had BLT & club sandwich - $29. Too many chips!! Home 9ish. Glass wine and watched AFL.

    Bed 10ish.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 7

    Day 7

    August 11, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Good long sleep very much needed! Didn't surface till after 9.30am.
    Message from G about meeting for lunch at 11am so we asked if we could join them. Arranged to meet at George Hotel but nobody there when we arrived. Eventually got message to say they were on the next street but coming back to George. Met another new Oz couple, Karen & Mark. They work in event organisation so she is on duty at midnight Saturday night for 12 hours. Also Susie & Anthony from last night. Had veg burger & meat pie with mash & mushy peas. All amused at the small spoonful of peas. They call them mashed peas and fascinated by what goes into pies! Fun conversation about tattoos, travel, ear piercing, boxing, football etc. Anthony insisted on paying and wouldn't accept 2nd drink with us. Not our way but he would have been insulted otherwise.

    Left them 1ish and headed for Manly ferry. Very easy €35 ish return on fast ferry. Great views of bridge & opera house. Had lovely couple hours up and down prom in Manly. Lots of surfing. Reminded us of Abersoch but even more money! No chalets or caravans!

    Ferry back 5ish and hoped to see Water Light at dusk but we missed it or were in wrong place! Saw wonderful sunset over bridge. Gave up on light show 6ish and headed off for beer. Didn't find any till back at our local Porterhouse. Had couple Superdry beers $7 pint then tower = personal tap for $20. Had sausage & mash and steak & chips. $9ish each. Both ok.
    Home and watched tv with glass of birthday wine.

    Bed 11.15ish. Lovely day. Happy vibe in city.    Read more

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