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Family Catch Up
  • Simon Hillman
  • Annette Eyre

Family Catch Up

LA to Banff to Toronto Read more
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  • Family Catch Up

    Day 24 strangers in the night

    June 22 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Put our bags into storage in the Royal York and checked out to head to Niagara Falls. Will be back at the hotel Monday night. Hopped onto our coach to Niagara from the Union Station which conveniently is just across the road.. Its 128klm and should only take 90min on the freeway there. Turned out it took over 3hrs. I swear the coach driver never got out of 1st gear for 100klm. The 6 lane freeway was bumper to bumper which they reckon it always is on the weekend.

    The coach company has to pay a $65 toll to drive and stop in Niagara each trip. So rather than do that he stops on the outskirts of town at a disused car park that a local bus company does free shuttles into town from. To catch up some time mariah got us an Uber which came in 3min and that took us to our Airbnb about 2klm from the falls. We had the basement in this nice old house, all fully refurbished with 2 bedrooms

    We had the ferry ride to the falls at 5pm so we walked down to a nice old restaurant overlooking the falls and had some lunch. Then off to the boarding area and picked up our plastic ponchos. Very busy and the ship takes 700 passengers every trip at $50 each its money making machine. The ladies loved the ferry ride and we all got pretty wet as it gets very close to the falls.

    Had a walk around town then headed to our lodgings. Dinner time beckoned and mariah ordered a lovely Indian meal for us delivered to the house. We tried to watch a movie but the landlord had activated parental control so stuff it we started watching Nemo... The 2nd odd event was at 10.30pm the landlord has set access to the internet to close down....

    Pissed off but tired we turned in. At about 11.30pm and in bed we heard someone coming down the stairs into our lounge. Long story cut short it was a family coming to stay as there was a date stuff up. The bloody landlord doesn't change the back doors key code between renters. Not sure who was the most surprised.

    Mariah sorts this out and we finally turn in again.    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Hotel pics

    June 23 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The Fairmont Royal Oak was a lovely old building with so much history. However the lighting in the main foyer, the restaurants and the 8 lifts was very poor, a deliberate approach to mimic the mood lighting of the 1920/30s period. There was lots of beautiful detail in the timbers and ceilings that made it very difficult to see. Or read the damn menus, sorry its a pet hate of mineRead more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 25 feeling thirsty

    June 23 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Did a nice winery tour today to celebrate Mariahs 28th birthday with a few other tourists The Niagara Lakes wine district has 53 operating winery's. I never even knew Canada had such a well developed wine industry.

    The small coach picked us all up at 10am and dropped us off at the location we had to catch our coach back to Toronto at 5.15pm. We got shown 4 wineries which we toured, had charcuterie brunch and a very nice Alcarte lunch. Each tasting included 4 wines.

    Annie mentioned to the restaurant that it was Mariah's birthday and they did a quick birthday dessert with a candle and the rest of our tour buses tourist all sang her happy birthday which was very nice of them

    Was impressed with the standard of their wines. Have never seen any Canadian wines for sale in Oz, must admit in future I will be looking out for them. The hwy was much quieter so the trip back to the hotel only took 2hrs approximately.    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 26 last night in Toronto

    June 24 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Had a swim in the hotel plus annie did some weight work in the gym. Spent the rest of the day with my sister showing us around. We walked down To the Distillery a very large old whisky distillery which has been turned into an up market shopping and eating precinct art galleries etc..Was a beautiful old brick building with timber floors

    Then went to the Eaton Centre as Annie wanted to buy a case with wheels and some clothes. Came back on the subway they have a very good system called Presto, super easy to download and top up. U have to use it exclusively for the train the tram, buses and subway. Then had a wonder around the stn to familiarise ourselves with how to catch the airport train.

    Saw my sister off and started packing our bags to head off Wed morning. Had our last dinner in the hotel and probably had a few too many cocktails    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 27 up up and away

    June 25 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Up early brekkie in the hotel and across the road to Union Station, been shorts and tee shirt the whole trip so far and Toronto was in the 30s the whole time so been really lucky with the weather.

    Annie under the weather this morning, one cocktail too many. Nice train to the airport. Runs every 15min only has 2 stops, tap on and off with presto app on our phones and it takes u right into Terminal 1

    Very modern airport luckily we struck a quiet day. Walk to Terminal 6 not too far. We had been pre warned Air Canada has 3 gates for international travellers and a dedicated gate 3 for travellers to the US. For some reason all the security checks to get to our boarding gate gave annie a real hard time. At one stage they even took her boarding pass and walked away with it. Must have known she trying to smuggle kids toys out of canada. The customer guy asked so many questions, thought we might be having to stay for awhile.

    Turns out the staff on this gate are all American and paid by US customs. The really great news is u dont need to be checked by the LA customs just walk to pick up your bag...yippee.

    Air Canada have a great baggage system that i reckon all airlines should adopt. We got sent a msg to confirm they have received your baggage and then as its loaded u get another msg confirming its been loaded on the plane. By sheer luck we were sitting front row at the gate and saw our bags go up the baggage ramp into the planes hold and as soon as the bags past what must have been a scanner, the very next second we got the loaded msg.

    20min taxi ride to my sons house $28.. Limos taxis uber luft vehicles cant do pick ups at arrivals. The airport runs a free shuttle bus service to the perimeter of the airport to any area dedicated for them, takes about 10min.

    Took a pic of an airport tug for Harlan to see as the maker is Harlan    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 28 LA

    June 27 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Not much to report, lads being lads. Had a nice walk to Venice jetty and Leigh took us to lunch at a very tasty Chinese joint in Santa Monica. Then the ladies did some clothes shopping. Ubers back and forth, only $14.95 both were Teslas

    Weather ok but cooler than Canada, still in shorts and tee shirts. Annie tried for many hrs to buy tickets for ACDC but their system crashed and put us back to the end of the queue with 27000 on line. Gave up in the end, booking agencies still can't manage huge online numbers.

    Annie goes home in a few days, i have another 2 weeks here. Family taking me up to Lake Tahoe to stay with some friends up there for a week i think.    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 29

    June 27 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Fri mornings there is a farmer's market near the venice library just a short walk from the house the lads love having fun there. Annie went for a run and met us there.

    We then had a shopping walk down Albert Kenny a trendy local street a few ks away. The pics of red Coco boxes on wheels are a robot food delivery company here. They have cameras and are driven by humans some distance away. When they arrive u key in your orders access code and open the lid to get your order.

    Along the way we saw an immaculate old chev and a stunning early Corvette, unfortunately i wasn't quick enough to snap it. Loved the lonely barber and i must say lazy mobile barber, check out his roof spot

    Its the lads 3rd birthday tomorrow and Leigh and Annie have done up the lounge to surprise them in the morning    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 30 birthday boys

    June 27 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Leigh and Annie prepared the room the night before so when the lads woke up came into the lounge they had a huge surprise and didnt know which present to open first.

    Had a nice beach walk with the crew and had brekkie in The Great White a really nice cafe owned by an Australian who now has set up 4 other GW cafes.

    There are lots of squirrels in the area and when we home one couple was having wild sex half way up the tree near the front door.

    Went to the cinema in the arvo via another Waymo to see, F1 the film with Brad Pitt as a F1 driver, both thought it was a good film. The cinema had a huge screen really loud sound system big comfy seats, ticket prices similar to OZ.

    Quite evening with some frozen pizza's, looked after the lads so Rhys and Leigh could have a night out.    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 31 Annie flies home

    June 28 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Forgot to mention yesterday we had an Early morning visitor, 5.32 am. One of the many homeless people came thru the back gate off the side lane and robbed an Amazon parcel off the front step which had been delivered in the night. Amazon drivers work 24/7 to make ends meet. The parcel was full of AA & AAA batteries that Leigh had ordered for the birthday toys. About $30 worth

    Amazon Prime do a same day delivery here so heaps of people do alot of online shopping.. They have a camera and got film of him, The dog wills stirred but didnt bark and Rhys got up to check but not quick enough

    Leigh had her beach bike stolen off the front veranda a few weeks early. Homeless theft here is quite an issue, basically have to bolt everything down..Cant leave u washing out overnight even.

    Annie did a 5klm early run early this morning its very quiet here in the mornings any day of the week. Walked with the crew to the local cafe then a play in a local park. Got to meet Ziggy the upstairs neighbours dog. Small dogs are very very popular here. Threw in some pics of inside the cinema from yesterday.

    Put annie in an Uber tonight 6 pm ish for the airport, her Air NZ flight leaves 10pm ish. Then i am joining the family to drive 748 klm to Lake Tahoe to spend the next week with some family friends of Rhys and Leigh. We have been sleeping on the floor at Rhys place on a foam mattress so i am looking forward as is my back and knees to having a proper bed to sleep on    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 32 Lake Tahoe

    June 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Long drive got here 1.50am, Good road not much traffic. Tahoe is in Nevada and once u cross the border there are Casino's in every town, not to mention signs with excerpts from the bible. Went out for coffee which is about 2klm away. Super busy here at this time of the year, summer is the busiest time here. Two local sheriffs turned up for coffee and give the lads police stickers to put on their tee shirts

    The town is at 1800m so with thinner air and warm weather u get very thirsty. The lake is crystal clear and blue, lots and lots of ski boats perfect here to water ski. Its supposed to be 500m deep in the middle

    Their friends here also have a German Shepherd called Ruby, she has a lovely temperament and Rhys brought his dog Wills with us and both dogs get on really well until tonight i had to separate them as they fought.

    Rhys saw a coyote not far from the house when he went to get our mexican take away    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 33

    July 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Did an early morning walk up Diamond Peak to Snowflake Lodge with Rhys and the hounds, certainly got me puffing. Was 6klm walk all uphill, to 2250m with Rhys saying it gets easier, what a liar, but the view was very much worth it.

    The highest peak walk is 2850m and I won't be hanging out to do that. Its a very popular skiing area in the winter months with many ski lift runs including 2 for children/beginners. The snowflake lodge is a great cafe & bar in the ski season, so u can have some bravery refreshments then tackle the last very steep ski run.

    Rhys has got altitude sickness went straight to bed when we returned. He rode yesterday and wasn't the best after. Apparently its a very common event here and not pleasant hard to breath, nausea tiredness    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 34

    July 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Boat trip planned today in a very nice large ski boat. After some wake boarding we are motoring to a restaurant on the other side of the lake for an early lunch. The restaurant has a Jetty where we will tie up. The boat is owned by a mate of rhys family friend Neal.

    Weather has been very nice here 25 to 28 clear skies hardly any wind. Met the boat owner (Bill) and his wife Dianne at the launching car park across the road from the ramp. The boat is kept at a storage yard and their staff tow the boat there and bring a ladder so the boat can be loaded and people get on. He then tows it across to the ramp and launches it and agrees what time hes to come back and pick it up. A great system but NOT CHEAP.

    The boat was drop dead a lovely 24ft beautifully built and has a computer system to manage the ballast loading and stabilisers that generate the wave type and height to surf the wake. We motored along the shore line for Bill to show us all the mega homes. One sold the other week for $63m . Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Ellison the 2nd and 4th richest men in the world both have homes here and many others no doubt.

    We motored to Gar Wood a nice restaurant right on the lake with its own private jetty for dinners. We had booked lunch so that got us spot to moor. Had Teriyaki Salmon Salad, plus 2 x Wet Woody's a strong rum concoction in a flavoured slushie. Bill then took us to a tiny private beach and we had a swim off the boat reckon it was 20c water temp.

    Rhys wanted to wake board so we spent the next hour or so doing that. Rhys has done a lot of wake boarding off Bills boat so hes pretty good at it. The boat has heaps of grunt so it pops Rhys up in seconds. Check out the pics with residents jetties having hydraulic cradles to lift their boats out of the lake for storage. Amazing what money can buy u.

    Headed back to the boat ramp to be met with the launching business to pull the boat out and take it to the storage yard. Spent the rest of the arvo on the beach next to the ramp. Hows this all the beaches on the lake are private for residents use only with a swipe card and security on the gates. We got in as Neal gets some additional passes for the family.

    Retired back to the house and after shopping as it was my turn to cook dinner for 6, made my favourite shepherds pie, they must have liked it as it all got eaten    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 35 Independence Day tomorrow

    July 3 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Went down to a community fair being held in town lots of give aways for kids and full equipment display by the Washoe Sheriff's Looked a bit out of place, bomb disposal truck a robotic dog, riot truck, horses, motor bikes with all the officers packing side arms, tasers, bullet proof jackets with even the horse sheriffs were dressed like that.

    The bomb disposal robotic dog was a real hit with the kids, they must cost a fortune. Pretty lazy day after that, reading on the back veranda soaking up the lovely weather. Rhys is still suffering from altitude sickness, been 4 days now. He had brought his Canyon and was looking forward to doing the lake circuit It's a 116klm loop with a few hilly sections. Anyway unless he gets a lot better he won't be doing it this trip.    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 36... Its July 4th...

    July 4 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Very very patriotic, US flags and banners streamers everywhere, fire works display on a pontoon in the bay at 10pm. I think we are going to a family friend that lives up the hill a bit and has a good view to the lake for a BBQ and watch the fireworks.

    Well that was the plan but during the night a storm came up the barge started to sink and with it all the 0,000s of dollars worth of fireworks. So no display and they closed the boat ramp and main beach area as there were explosives getting washed in. Normally 000s of people arrive early to stake their beach spot for the day and night.

    So there they were dragging all the day's gear food booze for the day to find the gates to the ramp and the beach closed with security guards turning people away. People's planned day ruined, Apparently the area will be closed for days.

    However i did get a nice bush walk in with Neal and his dog Ruby, lovely quiet walk only saw 4 other people. Then come 6pm we headed to Neals friend's place (Bill) for a July 4th bbq, had some delicious home made burgers and salads. Bill got hold of a blue laser torch to entertain us instead of the fireworks    Read more

  • Family Catch Up
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    Day 37

    July 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Took a nice walk into town on my own about 7klms and then met Rhys to do some shopping. Nana nap again, getting quiet regular then some reading.

    In the arvo we went to a dog refuge fund raiser in town. On of the fund raisers was $5 to kiss a nice old pit ball on a table, there were lots of gift baskets u had to bid for but each had a minimum first bid then all the next bids had to be in $5 or $10 steps.

    Lots of wealthy residents hence why it was being run here, bids quickly jumped into the $300 & $400 bids. Had a few beers in a local brewery with a great beer garden and the lads played some games.

    Finished the off with a BBQ night to Neals with his friends from the the other night    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 38

    July 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Lazy day today
    Had another walk with Ruby and Neil. We went along Lakeside Drive, home to many of the uber rich locals. Their acreage sites run from the road down to their very own private beaches. If u ain't got a spare $50m plus don't both looking for a new pad

    One of these had huge steel sculptures of a Bison, a Moose and a Bald Eagle in front of the properties gate house

    Unfortunately my few pics were taken in the morning shadows. Had a nice black currant cider in the brewery pub in the arvo. Then went back to Neal's where Leigh and Jarrad, Rhys mate cooked up a nice pasta dish with garlic bread and salad.

    Watched stage 2 of the TDF then off to bed    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 39 homeward bound

    July 7 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Head off tonght for the 7hr drive back to Venice. Rhys & Leigh have found the night time drive the best option with the lads matching their sleep clock.

    Had a nice lunch at the local golf club $220 per person for non residents includes a buggy to play 18 holes. Lovely views from the restaurant verandah. Rhys took me for a drive in Jarrod's rally car style restored 911 to Kings beach, very different there, not filled with the uber rich but that transformation is in the process of happening as the bay views are excellent.

    Had a nana nap, packed the car and headed off 6pm ish. Stays light till 9.30pm so got to see 3 and half hours of the road that was dark coming up. The road is 7000ft up snow capped mountain ranges before its drops down nearing LA. There are 3 huge lakes along the way and saw a few guys fly fishing in the rivers that feed them

    Lads slept all the way until we had to get them out of the car in Venice about 1.40am. Have a few more day's in Venice before heading back to Murbah, miss my bed and Annie thats for sure    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 40 back in Venice

    July 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Lads woke at 7.30am so i had to get up. Helped rhys wash his car, covered in bugs. Took the ebikes and went over to a good burger bar on Main St. Yanks are very good at making burgers

    Then rode over to Esplanade near Santa Monica and had a chili margarita which had a 4mm slice of jalapeno in it it. Then back home for a nana nap.

    Back and knees have called time on sleeping on a futon on the floor. So i went to REI a large camping chain like BCF but more upmarket and bought a nice camp bed to leave at the house. Looking forward to tonights test sleep.

    Indian takeaway and some TDF replays then bed    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 41

    July 9 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Today's trip is to the Peterson Museum a famous car buff that created the Hot Rod magazine. This is my 2nd trip here my first being 3yrs ago. He has a huge collection and regularly changes the cars being displayed. Its a purpose built building of 4 levels and an underground floor and a pricey multi storey carpark $26 usd.

    Spent close to 3hrs there
    Could have taken 100 pics
    What a collection

    Waymo had a big display there, Apparently they started developing their system in 2009, a fascinating display explaining how the system works. They had their next car also on display, moving on from the Jaguars to a Chinese car made by Geely. Seen a couple around venice being tested. Its very utilitarian like big box 5 seats no steering wheel sliding door flat floor high roof. Going to have less sensors so will be cheaper.

    LAPD also have police horses they were patrolling the Venice Esplanade when we were out walking. The last pic is of the local store a few 100m from my sons place have a good local beer and wine collection and a half decent coffee    Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 42

    July 10 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Did a longer ebike trip today 30ks approx, had lunch at a little mexican place fried shrimp in a butter oil chilli garlic lemon sauce, very yummy.

    Nana nap arvo then had an upmarket italian dinner at a walking distance restaurant on Abbott Kinney Rd. Ordered far too many courses all delicious washed down with some gin cocktails. Walked back home and an early night.Read more

  • Family Catch Up

    Day 43 last full day

    July 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Headed off early this morning for a 95 klm drive in Rhys 911 to a regular Cars and Coffee meet at a disused Roadhouse called Newcombs Ranch. Its 5400 ft up in the Angeles National Forest via a long winding road with huge drop offs, not accessible in the winter months due to the snow up there.

    Quite a white knuckle ride i must say, lots of very expensive fast cars to feast your eyes on. Apparently Sat each summer week is the bike day.

    Another ebike ride for lunch to Gjusts a great old Italian bakery with wood ovens set in an industrial area with a big garden alongside to sit in the shade of the trees. Make great baguette sandwiches.

    Ride back home then some book reading before a Mexican food truck din dins so popular here and inexpensive. Never done so much ebiking and LA drivers seem to be better behaved than OZ drivers    Read more

  • Family Catch Up
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    Day 44 heading home

    July 11 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Well trip comes to an end today, fly home tonight 10.10pm flight to NZ then to Brisbane. Annie my taxi, cant wait to meet up with her.

    Had my last walk around the area another nice day weather wise, quite a few people on the beach. Saw a local catch a 1m striped sea bass off the end of the jetty, which the other fishos making him cut it free as they are protected with heavy fine. Had a late lunch at an interesting pizza place that also raises chickens and ducks with some funny chicken signs on their cage. Might amuse Jenny & Brett. So the lads were kept interested whilst we ate 2 very nice pizzas.

    Walked back thru the older part of Venice which had the original 1900s housing which is gorgeous. Venice has undergone many changes over the years from being covered in oil rig pumps for as far as the eye could see to then being turned into a copy of Venice by the Sea with the canals being put in.

    After giving the lads my last hugs, Rhys dropped me off at the airport which was unusually quiet he reckoned, he lives only 20min from the airport.

    Might be my last penguin post, its a good system but it gets to be a bit of a pain having to update it daily... ...    Read more

    Trip end
    July 15, 2025
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