Arrived in Houston and moved in
Tyler on the ball
- Hayden on the ball
We have arrived in Houston and have moved into Junior Brown’s residence in Cypress. Been here 4 days now, weather is on the cool side although today was a hotter and humid day than when we first got here. Trip over was long due to a 7 hour stopover in LA waiting for the flight down to Houston. Have recovered well though and are fighting fit. Spent a few hours yesterday at Hayden and Tyler’s saturday soccer sessions followed by lunch at Willy’s for their end of season breakup party. There are a vast number of these family style restaurants around the place all with their speciality food/points of attraction. We both had a shrimp salad with endless diet coke. Friday we were at the Galleria shopping mall for a look-see, seemed to be plenty of people around spending, particularly in the food shops. We lunched in the Cheesecake Factory, more salad and endless diet coke. Took some cheese cake slices home for after. Today we went to the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Thanksgiving/Christmas shopping spree, it is a fundraiser for the Ballet supporters group. They take over a big convention centre type place and fill it with vendors of all shapes and sizes selling their wares. We picked up a few Christmas nick nacks and sauces, dips etc to bring home with us.Pizza tonight.
Still at Exmouth
- All onboard
We sail tomorrow. Went aboard this morning at about 9.30am. Have spent today going through all the various duties on board; including handling ropes, climbing afloat,watches and manning the helm. Yes they entrust the helm to each of us for about an hour each day during our watch.I am in Solander’s cabin which he shared with another. Could not possibly have been at the same time. Solander was one of the artists who drew the botany and animals discovered on the voyage. He died on the way back to England from dysentery in Batavia (now Jakarta). I have decided not to go aloft at this stage as there is a fair bit of climbing where you take big steps sideways and the need at times to squat as you move which is not very comfortable for the knee! I will have a go towards the end of the trip. Have seen lots of whales during the day, some breaching and others just cruising past. apparently, we will see plenty of them on the way south.
We go out of internet range so this will be my last blog until Geraldton in about 10 days. You can follow along on the ship’s blog which works via satellite. See blog roll below for link.
Arrived Exmouth, Endeavour in port.
The Endeavour waiting for her crew
A Whale Shark by the road
Well I have arrived in Exmouth to join the Endeavour on the sail down to Geraldton.This is a bit under 1000 km and will take about 10 days. In Exmouth I am staying at the Ningaloo Lodge. Exmouth is the base for the Ningaloo Reef fanatics and the spot you can go diving and swimming along with the Whale Shark amongst others such as Manta Rays and Hump Back whales and the like. Crystal blue seas and clear skies. Spent the afternoon at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club overlooking the Exmouth Gulf with the Endeavour laying offshore. HMAS Wollongong is also here and a few of the crew are also at the Club, interesting characters about 10 blokes and one lady. Look a lot like the crew from that TV show Patrol Boat. Looking out across the Exmouth Gulf you are actually looking east with the sun setting behind you, seems odd over here in the west! Will try to post daily blogs but may not be able to because of internet availabilty, you can also follow the ships blog but using the link on the side here in the blog role.
Allthego at Uluru
The red earth and colour
Well we spent yesterday chasing the sun in the morning and again at night, it was a long day finished off at the Outback Pioneer BBQ Bar. You buy the steaks of varying types and prices ( or emu, kangaroo, prawn skewers) and then cook them yourself on the BBQ, throw a bit of weary salad on the plate with a baked potato. and away you go to find a seat among the masses eating and listening to a one man band. Must be the most profitable eatery at Yulara. Slept like a rock.
Rock slide at Uluru
One of the standouts of the trip has been the native plants and flowers. The recent heavy rains have thrown the cycles out a bit and the landscape is full of colours; green, red, yellow, purple, pink, white. This is all set against a red earth and a deep blue day after the morning haze burns off.
We finish up today and fly back to Brisbane.
Kata Tjuta in a day
From the Karingana Lookout on the Valley of Winds walkKata Tjuta
Set off today,actually it was yesterday I am a day behind, for Kata Tjuta or The Olgas in the European tradition. I prefer KT. This is about a 45 minute drive from Yulara and we left around 9am with the intention of doing the Valley of the Winds walk, the full circuit and staying on for the sunset. Well we did the VoW circuit but were so worn out that we headed back to Yulara early. It was a great walk, took us 5.5 hours up hill, down hill and across slopes. Was a real tester for my knee which came through reasonably well. I was pretty determined to do it after being passed in the early stage by a young guy with artificial legs below the knee, a bit of a reminder that there is always someone else doing it tougher. Leanne and I are both stiff in the legs after it all though and not eager for another long walk. Some great scenery amongst the domes. When you look at Uluru you wonder what is inside the Rock and when you are within the domes of Kata Tjutu you wonder what is on the outside!
Kata Tjuta
A day at Uluru
Uluru in the early morning
Off early this morning to catch sun up. Sun came up but it was not a great flaming red rock, lot more subdued. Maybe it is the time of year. Spent rest of the morning at the Cultural Centre having a look-see and then a wander around the Mala walk and the Kantju Gorge. This was a 2 hour stroll on pretty level ground, had lunch at the head of the gorge. Also had a look at the characters walking up Uluru, or more correctly dragging themselves up a chain to the top. All ages and nationalities! Leanne spotted and chased a sand goanna for a picture. After lunch we headed back to the unit for a breather before heading off for the Sounds of Silence dinner out on the sand dunes under the stars. We were seated at a table with Aussies from Sydney and Melbourne and also a Spanish couple out on the see Australia in 24 days itinerary. They have had a great time, including a few days on Kangaroo Isl, also going to Fraser Isl. The dinner was really good and we were entertained with the didgeridoo and a look through the night sky with a star-gazer. Earlier we had seen the sun set but again there was not the flame red rock, but subdued tones.Tomorrow Kata Tjuta
At Kantju Gorge
Arrival at Uluru-the adventure continues
Well here we are at Uluru. At last. A decision was made a few weeks ago to make a journey to Uluru, Ayres Rock for some. One of those Aussie icons to be seen by all. The flight out of Brisbane to Sydney was uneventful. Arrived in Sydney a little later than expected, usual Sydney delays. A quick cup of coffee with Stuart, Leanne’s brother, at the airport was enjoyed. He was enroute to Canberra. The flight from Sydney to Uluru was eventful as we detoured via Alice Springs to drop off an ill passenger. But undeterred we took off about an hour late and headed for the Rock. Staying at the Desert Garden Hotel at Yulara. Bit of a wander around the hotel and grounds before dinner. Dinner was one of those sophisticated sort of events with fancy food, but not much of it! We had a taster plate of native fare; smoked emu, rare kangaroo and buffalo with some bush tucker sauces to accompany each. Followed by salmon and a chicken dish. Then bed. Off to the sunrise viewing of Uluru tomorrow morning. Sun up is 7.04am. We have a half hour drive to be there. Attached is a photo of the view of the Rock from our hotel room. And so the adventure continues, at least until tomorrow…………..
View from the deck of room 379 at Desert Gardens
Home
Travelled home today from Moree. As promised we, no I mean me (Leanne declined) attended the Moree Hot Springs a bit after 7am this morning for an early dip. It was pretty cold in the morning but the water was 37d with a pleasant minerally nose. There were a few hardy characters there before me enjoying the ambience of the pool and the environs. The pool is a bit like a half-size olympic pool, the pool deck surrounded by change booths and partially covered by a roof. So the steam rises through the early morning mist towards the heavens and the blue sky slowly emerges dimming the effect of the spotlights.After about 45m I withdrew my body from the pool feeling a bit like a slow cooked prawn. It is a great opportunity for bathers to chat about life whilst ‘taking the waters’. The pool complex is undrgoing a revamp, last done in the mid 70s, and will be great place to revisit in the future. I returned to the Burke &Wills for breakfast. There are apparantly other things to do in Moree. Attached is a pic of the original bore still flowing a hundred years on.
This is the last post from the Darling River Run. see you later!
Moree Hot Springs original bore
Moree
Colours of Australia (b)
Here we are in the heart of cotton country and also the romantic coal seam gas drilling industry. Cobar was/is a vibrant community no doubt benefiting from the various mining projects under way in the region, likewise it seems Moree is allthego. Its been a big year for cotton and the paddocks are planted out for the next crop. Little bit of rain out here tonight but nothing like what the coastal regions have got it seems. An error in yesterday’s blog entry has been brought to my attention by the lady of the van. It seems the pink cockatoos I mentioned are actually galahs, the cockatoos are apparently rare and an endangered species. You can’t believe everything you read in a blog.
Today we completed a loop of the Darling River Run passing through Bourke on the way to Moree. Nothing much seemed to have changed in Bourke since our stop there two weeks ago. Bourke & Wills though have set up a new motel in Moree, these guys get around, where we are staying tonight.
Tomorrow morning at about 6.30 we are off to the thermal springs here in Moree for an early morning dip, water temperature will be about 37d unfortunately on the edge of the pool it will be about 3d. The things you have to do whilst on tour. We will report on the ambience of the pool and water quality in tomorrow’s entry.
Colours of Australia (a)
Now at Cobar on the Kidman Way
Along the Hay plain
Left Hay this morning for Cobar. It is a long drive across the Hay plain, dead flat and pretty straight. Country is looking in good shape, it is a very red soil all the way to Cobar. An overcast sky for much of the way today with occasional bursts of sun and pink cockatoos amongst the newly planted paddocks. Finally arrived in Cobar and a pepperoni pizza with a little glass of red.
Hey Hey its Sunday and we are at Hay, Ha Ha
Left Wentworth this morning and have driven through to Hay on the way home. Still cold down this way but we turn north tomorrow heading for our next stop at Cobar.
About to leave Wentworth on the way home
Confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers, Darling enters from the left
Last night for us here in Wentworth and starting to get known at the Wentworth Services Club, off there tonight for the Sunday roast dinner special. The last couple of days we have spent charging around town seeing all things that you have to see. Leanne likes ticking places off the ‘Historical tour mud maps’ as we see them, it’s a bit like a shopping list I suppose. Some of the places are very interesting others leave you wondering why it’s on the list eg the old rubbish tip at Wentworth is a highlight on a run around a lagoon/wet land drive, successful rehab I suppose.
The Darling River Run ends here in Wentworth at the junction of the Darling and Murray rivers. The Darling is a muddy river, not brown like the Brisbane River but a milky clay like colour. The Murray is less muddy and has a clearer bluer like colour. Where they meet there is a clear line between the river flows before they commingle at the weir and lock below the junction.Flood waters are still gushing over the rim of the weir on their way to the sea.
We have spent 13 nights on the Run, starting in Bourke and ending at Wentworth, 8 of which were enjoyed in the van at chilly camping grounds, Station stays and also at Mungo NP; the other 5 in motels. The trip home will be a motel run up the Kidman
At the end of the Darling River Run in Wentworth
Way to Burke and then through to Brisbane.
Have left Mungo National Park and arrived Wentworth
Full moon rising over the Lunette at Mungo after sunset
Well it was chilly at Mungo. No internet there so we were off air for a couple of days. Lucky I found some port on the way at Pooncarie to help fill in the evening under the stars awaiting the eclipse at 5am. Bit of a fizzer for an eclipse but there has been a reasonable sunrise and moonrise/ sunset to compensate. Mungo is an amazing place. We set the van up in the camping ground in a great little location a respectful distance from the hot showers, these being about 2k up the road. It’s not a bad walk except when you get back to the camp you need a hot shower, the trouble is they are 2k up the road. So I gave the showers a miss for a couple of days preferring to soldier on like the old explorers in bygone days. Leanne wasn’t too impressed with this, giving the showers a miss, not the 2 k walk. We have changed arrangements in the van; she has moved to the top bunk because there is a better view from there and I have gone to the bottom bunk because you can get out quicker.
Mungo is a place one could come for a longer stay there is a lot to see, we stopped in at the Mungo Lodge and this is the place to stay if you like creature comforts. May come back here one day. It is hard to imagine that the lake was covered to a depth of about 8 metres 20,000 years ago and is now dry and been so for 10,000 years or so, who’s counting. Global warming is an interesting concept indeed!
Left Mungo this morning and arrived at Wentworth, treated ourselves to a warm bed at a motel right on the banks of the Darling not far from where it joins the Murray River, we will have a look tomorrow.
Now at Bindara Station
Arrived here at Bindara Station yesterday.It is on the western side of the Darling down the river from Menindee about half the way to Wentworth. A great spot and we are now looking at our second night camping out here right beside the river on a nice grassy patch with the sun slowing submerging into the landscape. The fire is going nicely and keeps the toes warm before we crawl into the van for another blissful night. We are out of port! Went for a stroll along the river today, various wildflowers in bloom along the river bank, never seems the same it twists and turns; the banks are quite steep here 7 or 8 metres or so down to the water. A lot of red river gum seedlings have emerged from the levee banks around the camp site, in forty or fifty years they will rival the grand old trees along the banks.
Bindara Homestead on the Darling River
We head off tomorrow for Mungo National Park, via Pooncarie. It is about 250k and we will be up early.
Menindee still
Kinchega National Park
- Sleeping room to spare!
Today we rambled over the tracks in Kinchega National Park which sits just outside Menindee along the Darling River and beside the Menindee Lakes system. The lakes are very high after the flood and many of the tracks are closed as they are still covered with water. Birds everywhere and the bush is very green, with some flowers making early appearances. Inspected the old woolshed here for a while before having some bbq snags for lunch beside the lakes. Pretty chilly day and another cold night coming up, skies are a clear deep blue which really contrasts with the red soils and green plants. We head off tomorrow for a couple of nights on a farm stay a little further downstream. Have attached a photo showing our sleeping accommodation which is very cosy, Russell has the top bunk and Leanne the more enticing lower level accommodation. There is supposedly room for a third person in here, but I’m not quite sure where she would fit in, at a squeeze she would probably fit into the top bunk ok.
