It's really happening!

We have our tickets, Bill, Mike and I leave on Valentine's Day. Will seem a bit strange not to be spending Valentine's day in Ohio . . . well, anyway, we land in Auckland on Feb. 16 (crossing the International Dateline), and Mary has reservations on the same flight out of Auckland for Melbourne that we do.

Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, and Sydney. Then Bill and Mary head back to Auckland, Bill for two days before heading home and back to work. Mike and I board the Diamond Princess for a 12 day cruise to Auckland, stopping in Melbourne, Tazmania, Fjordland Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tauranga, and finally, Auckland.

There, we'll meet up with Mary again and head out for an adventure weekend in Rotorua. They've planned rafting in a cave - they'll be in inner tubes and I'll be in a nice comfy big raft - then sledging (rafting on a grade 4 river on something that looks like a snow sled) while I soak in the thermal baths. They're also planning to go Zorbing. Basically, you climb into the inner ball of a big double ball, and roll down a very big hill. I intend to be at the bottom, making sure this is recorded for posterity. I have got to see them do this!

Then, Mike and I head home. I'll try to post as we go, but don't know how the internet connections will be. Wish us luck!

I've got a lot to do to get ready, we leave two weeks from today. I still am pinching myself to be sure it's real . . .

Feb. 17

Pancakes sounded great, so we packed up the car and headed back to the Jam Factory at 8:30AM. Who would have thought it - a breakfast place that advertised breakfast all day didn't open until almost lunch time! So we headed out, looking for shopping and food. We found both in a local shopping center a little ways out of Melbourne, complete with a Kmart and a great little coffee place for breakfast.

The Great Ocean Road was built by WWI vets as a Memorial, and Australia's version of a WPA project. It is the world's largest war memorial. It has reminded us of the Pacific Coast highway, a fairly narrow two lane road hugging the cliffs in places, and going inland through farming country in others. Every now and then is a little town with lots of B&Bs, etc. We stopped at the Geelong waterfront, Bells Beach where we watched the surfers, and Uruquart Bluff beach where Mary stuck her toes in the water while we watched a surfing class. Lunch was a little seafood place right at the pier just outside Lorne. We thought about stopping at a fish and chips place in town, but Lorne is currently the location for Rescue 2006, a lifeguard's competition, and the town was full. No parking, no space at the restaurants, etc.

More scenic overlooks, and quite a few slow drivers. Just like PCH. We stopped at our B&B in Apollo Bay, checked in, unloaded the car, and decided to get out to the Twelve Apostles for sunset. That's the name they give to an area of sandstone cliffs where erosion has formed stacks just offshore. Maybe there were originally twelve, but there are only nine now. One of them collapsed not too long ago. They are a spectacular sight at sunset, but it was windy and cold. Must remember that it gets cold along the ocean at night, need to take the sweaters when we go out!

We got back to Apollo Bay only to find out that they roll up the sidewalks at 9 PM. We did find a snack shop/pizza parlor/internet cafe that was still open and had reasonable food. BY the time we got back, I downloaded all of our pictures, and we planned the next day and talked a bit, I was ready for bed.

Feb. 19

We met two of the other couples staying at the B&B, and got advice on the return route from them, both fairly local out for a weekend. Both reassured us that the area we wanted to see was relatively unaffected by the recent fires in the area. So we headed up to the Grampions, to see some mountain scenery and hopefully some kangaroos. The first leg was a quiet Sunday morning drive through farming country. We stopped at the information center at Dunkeld to get some local info, where we found that our information about the recent fire wasn't exactly correct. All but a couple of roads were still closed, and the route we took for the first part went through what looked like the center of the fire area. We saw our first kangaroo just outside town, dead at the side of the road. Mike saw another one but it hopped away before the rest of us saw it Luckily, we quickly came across another one and stopped. We've decided that this one was really a wallaby, but definitely quite a sight for us. It was an interesting if somewhat sad drive, seeing all the destruction. Too similar to what we've seen in the US, both in California and in the Yellowstone area. There were plenty of signs of hope, green shoots poking their way through, but no sign of animal life.

We continued north beyond the fire area on a gravel road, driving for about another hour, but by then it was mid-afternoon. Probably all the animals were sleeping during the heat of the day, but we didn't see anything else except a few birds. So we headed back for Melbourne, arriving early in the evening. Bill and the kids walked to the nearby pizza place and picked up dinner, and we settled down to watch a little bit of the Olympics and catch up on email. Tomorrow's an early morning, with a flight to Ayers Rock. That means an early bedtime for me, I'm doing well but tired at night. Don't want to start tomorrow tired!

Feb. 21

Morning finds us back at the sunrise viewing area, but this time it is a big disappointment. Not only is there no break in the clouds, but there is actually a drizzle. At least it is about 20 degrees cooler than usual, a trade-off I'll happily take. We head to the Cultural Center for breakfast, and then off to our morning walk. This time, our guide is Mark, an older man. Through his interpreter, we learn about the men's ways. Hunting, fire making, spear making and throwing, and of course, more dreamtime stories. He finds the track of a snake, and several insects to show us.

Back to the hotel, and off to the airport to catch the flight to Cairns.

Feb. 23

Up early, before dawn, and off to the airport. We come down and find that it's raining, a real downpour. But, by the time we get to the airport, it's stopped. An easy flight, and transfer to our hotel. Mary walks into the room and gasps at the view. We have what must be one of the best views in town, of both the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. We then head down for the Center Quay for a look around and some lunch.

Bill and I continue to walk around, all the way around the Opera House, but Mike and Mary have to leave to go climb the Harbor Bridge. They have to take a breathalyzer test, get suited up in special suits, and spend some time learning how to clip on and climb the ladders before they start. The first stage is to climb up four ladders to get to the arch. Here, they learn that the bridge has two rail lines on side, then six lanes of traffic, and then two more lanes of traffic that used to be used for trams. The ladders that they will climb up come up between the lanes that used to be tram lines. Going down, they'll be climbing between the rail lines. Once on the arch, they clip on and climb the stairs to the top of the bridge, stopping often to look at the view. At the top, there's more viewing and photos (by the guide, climbers aren't allowed to take anything up with them but their glasses, which they have to attach to their suits). Then across the top of the bridge to the inland side, and back down. The whole tour took about three and a half hours.

After they get back, we go out looking for dinner and end up at a pub down the street which is definitely old enough to be historical. I have kangaroo pie for dinner - very tasty. Much like beef, except leaner.

Feb. 25

We wake up to find our ship docked at the Center Quay just below our window. Mary is amazed at the size of it, there will be almost 3000 passengers on this cruise. I'm glad Mike and I have a cabin with a balcony, can't imagine there will be much deck space that isn't crowded. Bill and Mary head out to the airport for their flight to Auckland.

Never enough time to write these blog entries, and internet time is really expensive here – 55 cents a minute. My pbase gallery will just have to wait.

Time to pack up and get ready for embarkation!