=Another long flight from Fiji to Sydney, Australia, and although it was only 4 hours, we then had to catch another flight to Albury. I imagined we would fly in a smaller plane, but I didn’t expect a 2 prop. The last time I flew in a prop plane was in 1969 when we flew to Greece from Germany. It was quite a bumpy ride, but we got to see a lot of the Australian geography and got safely to Albury where we were picked up by our friends Denis and Margot Hudson and taken to their home in Wodonga about 10 miles away. The Hudsons and Brian and Elaine Gilby, whom we met in Turkey, will be taking us to Bermagui which is down on the coast between Sydney and Melbourne.
The day after we landed, we got started seeing the countryside. The Hudsons were taskmasters and immediately planned outings for us that would show us a wide range of the land. We visited an old goldrush town, Beechworth, which looked very much like eastern California, where we stopped for a latte and a tart. Then on to Yackandandah, another goldrush town. The names of the towns are so interesting and fun to say, I just can’t resist writing them for you. (We are going through Tumbarumba tomorrow). We saw an Aussie movie called “Bran Nue Dae” which was interesting and at the same time quite funny. It was about a young Aborigine who was being forced by his mother to study for the priesthood. It was really good; besides, it was 100+ degrees and the theater was air conditioned.
The next day we drove in the opposite direction (west) to a town called Echuca where we went to a factory which manufactured truck trailers for hauling milk (this being a dairy farm area). Gary Byford, the owner of the factory, then took us to the Murray River to see the steam paddlewheeler (the “Hero”) that he rescued from the bottom of the river and completely renovated. It was a gem and resembled the steam paddlewheelers on the Mississippi. While we were there, we spotted hundreds of cockatoos, white with red feathers, that swooped down over the river and landed in the trees. We don’t have that sight in the US!!
On the way west, we passed stubbles of wheat fields with windmills that could be set down in Kansas and feel very much at home, fruit growing farms, wineries, cattle ranches and “old west” towns, all the while learning a whole new Australian vocabulary (tucker, cockeys, dead horse on a dog’s eye, fair dinkum and even more---will explain all when we see you).
Tomorrow we’re off for a week on the south coast where we will fish, walk on the beach, and enjoy the Tasman Sea. I can’t wait to see Tumbarumba!
The day after we landed, we got started seeing the countryside. The Hudsons were taskmasters and immediately planned outings for us that would show us a wide range of the land. We visited an old goldrush town, Beechworth, which looked very much like eastern California, where we stopped for a latte and a tart. Then on to Yackandandah, another goldrush town. The names of the towns are so interesting and fun to say, I just can’t resist writing them for you. (We are going through Tumbarumba tomorrow). We saw an Aussie movie called “Bran Nue Dae” which was interesting and at the same time quite funny. It was about a young Aborigine who was being forced by his mother to study for the priesthood. It was really good; besides, it was 100+ degrees and the theater was air conditioned.
The next day we drove in the opposite direction (west) to a town called Echuca where we went to a factory which manufactured truck trailers for hauling milk (this being a dairy farm area). Gary Byford, the owner of the factory, then took us to the Murray River to see the steam paddlewheeler (the “Hero”) that he rescued from the bottom of the river and completely renovated. It was a gem and resembled the steam paddlewheelers on the Mississippi. While we were there, we spotted hundreds of cockatoos, white with red feathers, that swooped down over the river and landed in the trees. We don’t have that sight in the US!!
On the way west, we passed stubbles of wheat fields with windmills that could be set down in Kansas and feel very much at home, fruit growing farms, wineries, cattle ranches and “old west” towns, all the while learning a whole new Australian vocabulary (tucker, cockeys, dead horse on a dog’s eye, fair dinkum and even more---will explain all when we see you).
Tomorrow we’re off for a week on the south coast where we will fish, walk on the beach, and enjoy the Tasman Sea. I can’t wait to see Tumbarumba!
Hi Gloria and Terry,
ReplyDeletelooks like a lovely trip so far. And Gloria, your wetsuit is perfect for the colors of the south pacific! I long for sunshine and warmth (if not HEAT)- soak a little in for me.
How fun for you to have local friends to show you around.
It's great to read of your adventures!
thinking of you,
Tamara