SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
We’re going on holiday!!!
As a result of transferring our mortgage we have the lovely bonus of a free holiday. Rather than go overseas with the additional costs, we decided to relax in Canberra and Sydney. Our itinerary will look something like this. I will take the odd photo or two and post them when I return.
On Sunday after Church we Drive 3 ½ hours to the national capital Canberra & stay overnight in the Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort. On Monday 3/7 Peter checks out Cockington Green, a miniature village while Alex goes shopping. After lunch we visit the old parliament house, followed by The Captain Cook memorial, Blundell’s Cottage, St John’s Church and the National Museum for captain Cook’s pacific adventures exhibition.
This will be followed by a drive past all the foreign embassies, and quick tour of the Serbian Coptic Church. Monday night is spent at the Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort.
Tuesday morning starts with the National Zoo & Aquarium. After lunch we split again and Peter goes to the War Memorial and Alex yes, you guessed it, goes shopping again. Later in the afternoon we climb Black Mountain for the city wide views, followed by a shot of Government House from the Lady Denman drive lookout. That night we visit the new Planetarium. Tuesday night is spent at the Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort.
Wednesday morning sees us driving 4 hours to Sydney the capital of NSW. After lunching at Sizzlers restaurant, we check in at the airport Stamford Motel with stunning views of the airport and runway traffic. After a quick stop at Bare Island La Perouse, we head for circular quay to board the MV Sydney 2000 for a dinner cruise of Sydney’s world famous harbour. It should be noted that I am surrendering the final State of Origin game to do this – what a romantic I hear you say!!
Thursday morning sees us at the Sydney aquarium at Darling harbour. We have lunch at the Tower Restaurant in the highest revolving restaurant in Australia with awesome city views. This is followed by a skytour. The afternoon will be spent between a Captain Cook Explorer cruise of Sydney harbour taking in the rocks, the opera house, Watson’s bay and a stop off at Taronga zoo.
We spend Thursday night at the Holiday Inn at Darling Harbour with a brief excursion to see a film at the Imax theatre at darling harbour. On Friday we farewell Sydney with a Seafood Buffet Lunch Cruise of Sydney harbour.
Day One – Leaving Bathurst – First Impressions
We pulled into the Bathurst railway station at 6:45. We dropped tom down there with all the suit cases for check baggage earlier, a taxi came to our house at 6:30 and he’s had twelve fares to Sydney in the last 3 years each costing $450. One guy, a showie, wanted to go to the Cross and paid the driver for 12 hours $40 an hour, just to wait for him.
We boarded the train at about 8 pm, the train was a little late, because it had to wait for a freight train on the same line, first impressions on getting on the train, was the air conditioning, 2nd impression there was more room in the seats then I expected. 3rd impression, there was plenty of room in the luggage racks, 4th impression seats very comfortable but it’s only early days yet.
Plenty of spare seats in our carriage S, the next carriage which was carriage R was much fuller, the red kangaroo lounge was carriage Q, and the dining car was carriage P.
Dinner on the train was Subway rolls we bought in Bathurst.
We found a power point that we could use in the lounge car away form the yobbos, and I used 2 surge protectors, to protect my precious laptop from the evils of potential power spikes from the big diesel engines.
It is now 11pm and I’m pretty tired. I’m going to have my first attempt at sleeping on a rattler.
I’ve only travelled small distances on train before, never over night. My son Jack is typing this because he is much faster than me. Now he will use this lappy to play his new game Battle For Middle Earth.
A cursory glance at the menu has reassured my tummy that it won’t die and we have booked in for the six am tour of Broken Hill on the bus.
Day Two
The first night on the train lived up to the bad stories we’d heard about sleeping in coach class. Pretty rough! We had some ferals on the train who were rowdy and drinking and tramping past our seats on their way to the smoking carriage at the back of the train. We slept in fits and starts, finding it difficult to get comfortable, the seats are great for sitting, but sleeping was more challenging. They also turned the air conditioning down during the night so it was warmer in the carriage during the night.
Breakfast was left over Subway rolls, great idea and economy!
I got up at 5:30 to get some shots o the sunrise. The train pulled into Menindee in an awkward position for shots, so I went back as far as I could on the train to get a better angle. I braved the smoking car – nearly expiring from the smoke. The price we pay for better photos!
Then we pulled in to Broken Hill, where Alex and I went on the bus tour of the town and the Royal Flying Doctor Service base. The tour would conclude in one of the local art galleries.
Fotki Cool Stuff
Selected diary entries from time working on Rotherwood Station.
Selected Diary Entries from working a dairy at Ipswich
Selected diary entries from our time on a sheep property at "Hollywood" near Crookwell, NSW.
Selected diary entries from our adventures on Bimbadeen, a sheep and cattle property near Tarana, NSW
Various stages in our spiritual journey
Selected diary entry from working at CSR Wood Panels - Pyneboard in Oberon NSW
Selected diary entries form our time on Dungannin.
