April 21 - Photos from our South Pacific Vacation

Here are some of the photographs from our vacation. No, it is not all 2,000 pictures!

Unfortunately, some of the pictures taken with my phone are not the clearest. It is not very good in low light. I've included them because the photos are of new friends and of course old friends we have met on this trip.

To see the captions/descriptions for the photographs click a picture in the album and then click on the "i" in the top right hand side of the picture. The description will be displayed on the side panel.

Fiji

Auckland New Zealand

Bay of Islands New Zealand

Thermal Pools and Whakarewarewa Village New Zealand

Christchurch New Zealand

Akaora and Banks Peninsula New Zealand

Port Chalmers & Dunedin New Zealand

Fjordland National Park New Zealand

Melbourne Australia

Philip Island Australia

Great Ocean Drive Australia

Kangaroo Island Australia

Tasmania Australia

Unzoo in Taranna Australia 

Port Arthur Australia

Australian Outback

Nitmiluk Gorge Australia

Uluru Australia

Darwin Australia

Kakadu National Park Australia

Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Australia

Kuranda Australia

Sydney Australia

Wollongong Australia

St George Basin Australia

Jervis Bay Austrlia

Beecroft Peninsula Australia

Cape St. George

Jerrawangala Australia

Norwa Australlia

April 18 - That's A Wrap

Highlights of the Vacation – Brian

Best Meal:
Golden Snapper at Dundees on The Pier, in Cairns Australia. A tasty and moist fish grilled to perfection.

Most Scenic:
Milford Sound New Zealand. These majestic mountains rising out of the fjord easily equal any mountain range we’ve seen before, this includes Inside Passage in British Columbia, the Glacier Passage in Chile or the Alps in Europe. A close second would be the Great Ocean drive along the southern coast of Australia.

Favourite Location:
Kangaroo Island, Australia. The wide variety of native animals that you can see there is wonderful. What impressed me was the way the islanders have recovered from the devastating wild bush fires earlier in their summer. Just as the plant life has begun to regenerate itself, so have the parks that are home to the wildlife.

Favourite Memory:
The penguin parade on Philip Island, Australia. It was amazing watching these little guys leave the water and return to their burrows. They do it with military precision and timing, including scouts and manageable sized groups to ensure the safety of colony. What stands out for me was watching two penguins embracing. You would swear that there was a true emotional attachment between these two birds. I’m not sure if it was an adult and child relationship or two adult mates.

Highlights of the Vacation – Marg

Best Meal:
Lobster during the farewell dinner on the Celebrity Solstice because lobster is my favourite meal. Also, the prawns prepared by Ellen during our stay at the Kelly’s home

Most Scenic:
Bay of Island on the North Island of New Zealand. I loved the aquamarine colour of the water and the palm trees. It easily matches up with the Caribbean Islands.

Favourite Location:
John and Ellen Kelly’s home. It was unsurpassed for hospitality and comfort. We were treated like royalty and they went out of their way to provide us with a memorable stay.

Favourite Memory:
This was the trip of a lifetime and there are too many memories to mention just one. Among the highlights were the Glow Worm caves, holding a Koala, dinner at the Sky Tower in Auckland for a belated Valentines meal, the March of the Penguins on Philip Island, and meeting many new friends on both the Celebrity Solstice and the Globus land tour.

Trip by the numbers

Distance travelled              54,000 Km
Number of days                 54
Countries                           5
Cities and towns                58
Beds Slept in                     17
Airports                             16
Pictures taken                    2,002

Final impressions:

First and foremost a tip of the hat to the best hosts anyone could ever want, Ellen & John Kelly. They went out of their way to provide us with an enjoyable and authentic Australian experience. While staying with them we got to see local attractions that the normal tourist would not even be aware of. The dinners and wine that they provided were five-star calibre. They also provided us with suggestions on what to see while in their country during our tour of Australia. Their hospitality will never be forgotten.

Aussie and Kiwis are among the friendliest, easiest going people you could ever meet. They always seemed to have a smile on their face and an easy patter. Even the Covid 19 pandemic didn’t seem to interfere with their love of life, at least until the strict regulations of the Covid 19 Measures Legislation came into effect. The natives of Fiji are always greeting everyone with a loud “Bula” and a wide smile. All this made for a very relaxed and enjoyable vacation.

New Zealand has the most scenic landscape because the islands consist of multiple small volcanic mountains. It is very much like Lord of the Rings movies with meadows, valleys and mountains. It is too bad that they are having one of their worst droughts in recent history. If all those brown meadows were green, it would have been even more spectacular.

New Zealand seems to be more in touch with the Maori culture than Australian are with the Aborigines. Today Māori make up 14% of the New Zealand population and their history, language and traditions are central to New Zealand's identity. On the other hand, we saw both the best and worst of the Aborigine way of life in Australia. In Sydney we had a lesson from an Aborigine professor, where we learned that her culture teaches both respect and responsibility for all living things. In the Northern Territories, we saw multiple incidences of drug abuse and alcoholism among the Aborigine. It was so bad we did not feel safe in downtown Darwin and at the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Kakadu National Park.

Both New Zealand and Australia are environmental conscious and seem to enjoy the outdoors more than North Americans. Hiking is a very popular pastime in both countries. Indeed, Ellen and John had us a new trail almost every day that we visited with them. Until the Covid 19 regulations came into effect, the beaches, such as Bondi Beach, were normally packed. Surfing is very popular and can be compared with skiing in Canada. We were told that a regular holiday in New Zealand consists of camping for most Kiwis. We also noticed that there are not as many obese people in these countries as you would see in North America.

Public transport here is cheaper than in Canada. The commuter trains in Sydney are about twenty five percent cheaper than you would find for a comparable distance with the GO Train system in Toronto. Indeed, in Melbourne public transportation is free in the inner core of the city, or what is usually called the CBD (central business district).

Australia is more advanced in moving to a cashless society. It seems anywhere that you could spend money, the preferred option is “Tap and Go”. Especially in the Covid 19 world, many vendors are now reluctant to accept cash. During the eight weeks we were on this trip, I took out about $500 in local currency and did not use it all, as my Mastercard took a beating. One of the downsides of this payment method is that the rarely does the terminal allow you to enter a tip. Even though in Australia tipping is not considered mandatory, it still would be nice to recognize exceptional service and not have to find cash.

Most of the pubs and casual restaurants that we went to do not have table service for ordering food and drink. You go to the bar, order your food and drink there and pay at counter. Then it is served to your table, when it is ready. I like this method because it eliminates the need to wait for a waiter to bring your bill and collect the payment, which always seems to take an eternity.

Marg is gluten intolerant, which can be a problem finding options for meals in restaurants. Celebrity Solstice was amazing. During dinner they would give Marg and Gail, one of our fellow companions on the cruise, the menus for the next day. They could then order any item on the menu and it was prepared using a gluten free recipe. In Australia, Marg very rarely had any problems finding gluten free options in restaurants, even in the remote areas, such as the Outback. This contrasts with the lack of these options in most restaurants in Canada.

One of the things we like about travelling to a foreign country is that we get to try new foods. In Fiji, other than the tropical fruit, the food was very familiar. The only distinctive item was the Cava drink, which I think is overrated by those looking for a cheap thrill.

While in New Zealand, most of our food was served on board the Celebrity Solstice. Cruise ships are notorious for not taking any big chances with their meals, so although the food was excellent there was nothing exciting.

In Australia we did have some quite different meals. For lunch one of the favourite meals of Australians is “Pie”. This is a stew that is loaded into a small individual pie shell and eaten with your hands. We also had BBQ Kangaroo. Kangaroo tastes a lot like venison, but I’m told it should be marinated to make it less chewy. I had a crocodile burger for lunch one day. Crocodile is very tasteless and rubbery. I would not have it again. One of the favourite fish dishes to serve in Australia is barramundi. It is very moist and delicious. I also enjoyed a local beer called XXXX Gold. Many days for lunch I would have it instead of a glass of wine. One of the highlights of the trip was an after dark BBQ in the shadow of Ayres Rock. They served grilled Kangaroo, shrimp and steak. It is no wonder that I packed on the pounds during this trip.

The Celebrity Solstice kept up the gold standard service, we have come to expect from the Celebrity cruise liners. The food was tasty with a wide variety and the portions were the right size. My only complaint was that their wine list was substandard. Hopefully this is not an indicator of future cruises.

Cell phones plans with mobile internet are much cheaper in Australia than what is offered in Canada. The plan I was using in Australia cost twenty-five dollars. It provided unlimited calling anywhere in the world and 10mg of data. A similar plan on Rogers would cost over a hundred dollars. Canadian providers always say it is the cost of providing service in a remote and disperse country such as Canada. Well, Australia is just as remote and disperse.

I find it interesting that many young Canadians seem to gravitate to Australia to work in the seaside resorts, while young Australian gravitate to British Columbia and Alberta to work in the sky resorts. I guess the cultures are similar but different enough to be exciting. I am kind of reminded of the quote by Winston Churchill, “Two nations divided by a common language.”

Our land tour with Globus had an interesting and extensive itinerary, but it was just too hectic. Many days we started getting ready before sunrise, which meant that there were too many early evenings. The hotels we stayed were usually four-star caliber with the one exception being the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Kakadu National Park. It was showing its age. One of the nice things about this trip, is that at the end of a day's tour you were not dropped off in a shopping area for an hour or more. Our guide, Sophie, was excellent. She told us that she had worked with the diplomatic corps and had served as a personal guide for many visiting senior foreign dignitaries. She had an extensive knowledgeable of Australian history, botany, and zoology.

Men Sheds are a great idea. I was surprised to find out that the organization is active in Canada. The goal of the men sheds is to be accessible to all men and whose primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects using a wide variety of proper tools. There is also a social component, where men are encouraged to talk about personal issues, and this helps in their mental well being. It is a shame that the Australian Association ordered the Men Sheds closed because of Covid 19. It seems to me that this will have a serious detrimental effect on the mental well being of those men who live by themselves.

If we went again:

• We’d go to more wineries
• We’d go back to ChristChurch
• We’d spend more time on the Gold Coast
• We'd stay longer at a destination and take day trips, so that we don't pack and unpack as often
• We’d wouldn't go back to the Outback because of the thousands of flies that will swarm you. Any place where you need netting for protection should be avoided.
• We’d avoid Fiji during their rainy season, it is just too hot and too humid.

It always surprises me that number of people who read our blog. I can understand relatives and close friends wanting to see how we are and what we have been doing, but if Google stats are to be believed there are many more readers. Over the life of this blog, the entries have been read close to 4,000 times. It is no big surprise that the audience has mainly come from Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. But there have been people from Indonesia, Vietnam, UAE, Iraq, Italy, German, and Russia who have also read the blog. I have no idea who they are, but they must have been directed to the blog through a Google search for some keyword that occurs in the blog.

One of the first entries in this blog contained a press release from Celebrity Cruise Lines about the isolated Corona virus in China. Somehow it seems fitting that we conclude with comments about the Covid 19 pandemic and how we viewed it during our vacation. Covid 19 rules in Australia and New Zealand are much stricter than any province in Canada. In New South Wales, for example, gatherings of more than two people were forbidden. The list of essential services that were allowed to remain open was much smaller than what you would have found in Ontario. Interstate travel was being shut down in Australia when we were leaving. New Zealand’s ban on international travel caused about half of the people on our Globus tour to cancel their New Zealand vacations. We were lucky that only problem that we had was in finding a return flight home after our initial flights home were cancelled.

We would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers, while we in Australia waiting for our flight home to be arranged. It meant a lot to us. I must admit, and maybe I am being naive, but I never felt we were in imminent danger. Everyone that we could see was practicing social distancing and the number of cases of Covid 19 in St. Georges Basin, even now is less than ten. So even though it changed life as we know it, it didn’t stop us from enjoying a fantastic vacation.

March 31 - The Corvid 19 Apocalypse

Today after a week’s delay, we headed for home in Canada.  We flew from Sydney to Vancouver, then flew to Toronto and drove home to Port Stanley from there.  I wish I had taken pictures to support the eerie feeling I had during this journey.  This virus has made travel unrecognizable.

It started at the Sydney airport.  As we headed for the entrance of the International Departure terminal, we were stopped and asked to show our passports and our travel itinerary. Marg, properly concluded that was to turn away people who did not have tickets in order to reduce the number of people in the terminal.

You would expect that at the Sydney airport, it would be as the Aussie call it “Choc A Bloc” full of people waiting for their flight.  It was basically deserted. There were only two flights leaving, ours to Vancouver and a flight to Japan.  There were more security personnel than there were passengers.  At the Air Canada check-in counter, the self server kiosks were shut down and we were forced to join the line-up to get our boarding passes. While in line, we were constantly reminded to respect the distancing rules and stand on the designated “X”.  Luckily our security personnel was super polite but I can see some control freak ordering passengers around like they own the place.

At the check-in counter, we were asked a series of questions that what would become a common theme during the day. 

• ·        Do you have a fever
• ·         Do you have a cough
• ·         Do you have problems breathing
• ·         Where have you been
• ·         Have you been in contact with someone who has or had the Covid 19 virus

After passing through security, we sat with a group of young Canadians, who were returning home on the last flight out.  The common story for these people was that they had come to Australia and worked in the hospitality industry but had lost their jobs because of the virus lockdown. Now with no job prospects and with their health insurance cancelled because of the Canadian government’s recall notice, they were headed home.  Some of them were saying goodbye to partners, not knowing how long it would be before they could see them again.  They were all in agreement that once the situation returned to normal, they would return and start over again.  One gentleman was a missionary for this church and had been stationed in Sydney.  He seemed to be at a total lost as to what his future plans would be. Another lady told me that she had a job lined up in her home town, in BC, but had just been informed the stored had closed.

In most international departure terminals, you would find many stores, restaurants and duty free shops.  Today in the Sydney airport all the stores and duty free shops were shuttered. There were only two small coffee shops open.  This was a disaster because at the Air Canada counter we were told that in order to protect the cabin crew, the only food served, during our 14 hour flight, would be prepackaged sandwiches and water. There was no variety, no coffee, no juice, no soft drinks and certainly no bar.  For someone like Marg, with her Gluten intolerance condition, it makes flying a royal pain.

Once we arrived in Vancouver, were directed to a large assembly area, where we asked the usual questions and asked to sign to a document. The form, issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, told us we had to stay in self isolation for 14 days and asked us for contact information so that we could be monitored. At customs were again asked the standard questions and told that we had to go into self isolation.  They didn’t even ask how much we spent on goods or duty free booze.  The customs agent told us that the maximum penalty for disobeying the quarantine order was $1,000,000.  That caught our attention.

In the domestic departure terminal of Vancouver airport, the situation was not much different than what we had found in Sydney.  There were very few passengers and only a couple of coffee shops were open.  Passengers on our flight to Toronto were mostly people returning from Australia with us.  I noticed on the departure board that all the Westjet flights had been cancelled.  We were told that because we had a paper based boarding pass, we would again be asked the standard questions of the day.  If it weren’t so serious, it would be funny.  

There was no food or beverage service on this five hour flight.  They were only going to give us a small bottle of water, when we entered the plane.

We arrived at Pearson airport at would be normally their busiest time of the day.  You could fire a cannon down any hallway and not hit a single person.  I think we were the only flight arriving at Terminal 1.  There were a few restaurants open for take away, but no customers.  We waited for over twenty minutes for our shuttle bus to take us to the car park.  Usually they run every five to ten minutes.  When you used to 25+ temperatures, waiting in 4+ temperatures is friggin' cold.

Once we were on the 401 heading home, we found the highway was basically deserted.  At this time of day, from the airport in Toronto to Guelph during rush hour would normally take up to 90 minutes of frustratingly stop and go traffic. It only took us about 30 minutes.  Not that I’m complaining but this was just weird.

So we made it home, but the world is a much different place than when we left, eight short weeks ago.

March 30 – Random notes on Australia

Here are some totally random and unrelated thoughts, that I have not recorded in any other posting in this blog.

On the way to the take out restaurant, we passed two young girls who were creating some art work on the sidewalk.  It was a message to people saying that "we are all in it together" and "we all wash our hands".  The first is a government slogan regarding the rules put into place for the Corona virus and the second is a public health reminder.  This gave us hope for the future.

Ever day I read the Canadian news on the CBC website, so we are up to date on the Corona virus news from home.  It seems to me that Australian approach to “flatting the curve” is much more draconian than what is being enacted in Canada.  For example, in Ontario gatherings are limited to 5 people.  In Australian the limit is 2 people.  Repeat offenders will be jailed. Funerals are limited to 10 people and weddings are limited to just 5 people. In Canada travellers, such as ourselves arriving from overseas, can self isolate. But in Australia you must go into forced quarantine.  After Friday if you arrive in Australia, you will have to pay for the hotel where you will reside during quarantine. These are just a couple of examples, but there are plenty more.

There is a world of difference between Australian Aborigines and New Zealand Māori.  The Aborigines seem like that they haven’t integrated into modern society and are quite happy to live off the state in poverty.  The Māori in New Zealand seem to be more entrepreneurial and better equipped to function in todays society, without sacrificing their culture.

Generally speaking, I think the younger generation here are more fit than Canadians.  It might be something in the Australian milk, but they seem taller and more muscular.  Surfing seems to be one of the most popular sports among the young.

In public parks, there are usually gas BBQs where the fuel is supplied by the local council.  I don’t know if you must reserve the BBQ or if it is first come first serve.  This is a nice touch to get people into their beautiful parks.

I think Australians are much more knowledgeable about the nature sciences.  It is not uncommon for them to identify multiple plants, trees or animals during a walk.

Even after eight weeks, driving on the left is still hard to get use to.  We still just look down the street both ways before we cross the street.

Cell phone plans are cheaper in Australia. I bought a thirty-day plan for $30.  It included unlimited local and international calling and a huge amount of data. The only thing it did not cover was international texting.  The coverage area was extensive, and very rarely was I in a dead zone.

Telephone numbers are confusing. It seems that sometimes you enter 6 numbers, sometimes 10 numbers and if the number is prefixed with 61, then you need to remove it. A number is made up of country code, area code and a unique telephone number.  But sometimes depending on which part of the city you want to call, determines the if the area code must be entered.

All credit card transactions are tap and go.  This is the preferred method of payment over cash for most retailers.  Tipping is rare in Australia and a good tip is usually 5%.  The tap and go screens usually do not allow for tips.

Shopping districts are more popular than big malls. It seemed that in most towns and cities we visited, that the main street was very vibrant.  We are staying in the Sydney suburb of Mascot.  Their shopping district is a modern mix of tall apartments towers with ground level stores with access via of pedestrian walkways.

Coles & Woolworth are the two major food store chains in Australia.  Other than the brand names, you would be hard pressed to differentiate between stores here in Australia and Canada.  In the last couple weeks both chains have implemented special hours for the elderly and health care workers, so that they too have equal access to essential goods.

Usually for dinner I will order wine to drink, but I’ve grown to like a beer called “XXXX Gold”.  It is considered a mid strength beer and it has little after taste.  It is made by Castlemaine Perkins brewers, so I don’t expect I will be able purchase it in Canada.

The biggest burger chain is Hungry Jack’s which is actually the American chain Burger King.  Using another name doesn’t make their burger any better.  It is still crap.

The local trains are dirt cheap.  To go from Sydney to Nowra, the nearest train station to John & Ellen’s home, it only cost $11. A similar trip In Canada, London to Toronto, would be $37.

Finding a cab is hard, at least in the suburbs of Sydney.  When we got off the train in Wolli Creek, it took five attempts to find a taxi company that would respond.  It may be a result of the restrictions due to corona virus.

Gas prices are over the map.  The average price is $1.12 for a litre of fuel.

An auto body shop is called a "smash repairs".

TV is mix of Australian, British and American shows.  Two of the most popular shows are Australian versions Survivor and Dancing with the Stars.  My favorite is the Chase in which three contestants match wits against the show’s resident expert.  The expert is this middle-aged lady, who has an acid tongue and a superior knowledge of trivia.

A food you want to eat when in Australia is the Tim Tam Biscuit.  It is a chocolate covered biscuit.  The food you want to avoid is Vegemite, which is a spread which is really an acquired taste.

So tomorrow we leave for Canada  It has been a great seven weeks, despite the corona virus measures in the last two weeks.  So this will be the second last entry.in this blog.  We will have two weeks to compose our final entry as we enter into self isolation.

March 29 - Returning to Sydney Again

Today we left Ellen & John's home and returned to Sydney.  We will be leaving on our plane for Vancouver on Tuesday morning.  It still freaks me out that we will land in Vancouver before we leave Sydney. So if both flights remain on schedule we will be home on Tuesday evening.

The television news is filled with disturbing images of the effect the Corona virus and the quarantine efforts on Australians.

In one story a policeman was spat upon by a lady who was being arrested.  I don't know why she was being stopped but she claimed she was on her way to the hospital to be tested for the virus.  I hope they charge her with the maximum penalty for assault.

In a second story, they caught a lady who deliberately coughed on the fresh produce in a grocery store.  The authorities are going to charge her with domestic terrorism.

Finally the Australian government is now quarantining,  in local hotels, anyone who enters the country from abroad.  Because some people were disregarding the conditions of the quarantine, the government order the armed forces to patrol the hotels and do what ever is necessary to enforce the order.

I'm torn between being scared on seeing how easily our civil liberties are being erased and being scared thinking of the consequences if this virus is not controlled. I don't think am alone.

March 28 - Many Thanks to the Kellys

This morning I decided to go on a short walk to Pelican Point.  Along the way the birds were making an unbelievable racket. Birds are very plentiful in Australia and generally very loud, but today it was extreme.  I took this short video, while walking and you can hear the noise very clearly.  In real life it was twice as loud.

Noisy Birds On Pelican Point

During the Second World War, Pelican Point became an Australian Air Force base.  Here on this tiny peninsula, 107 Squadron was stationed.  They provided protection for convoys going north along the east coast. They were also responsible for search and rescue missions and in addition there was a 300 bed hospital included at this base.  Shortly after the conclusion of the war, the base disappeared and Pelican Point went back to its original state.

During the afternoon we went for another stroll through the woods to the north of the Kelly's home.  We saw some interesting flowers along the way.  There were multiple gazania or African violets.









As you know, if you were following this blog, we have been staying at Ellen & John Kelly's until our flight home.  They have been the best hosts one could ever hope for.  Each day is filled with laughter and new experiences.  We've been introduced to their friends and seen how the community pulls together during these troubled times.  John is merciless in "taking the mickey" out of both Marg and myself.

Ellen is a superb chief.  Her meals are the equal of anything we had on the cruise.  Marg has picked up several ideas and technics.










Australia is noted for its wines.  John & Ellen have been very generous in offering their best wines for dinner and pre dinner drinks.  Most of the good wines have come from the Barossa Valley, near Adelaide,  and the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney.  There hasn't been a bad wine among them.

This has been our last night with the Kellys and we will miss them dearly, but it is time to go home.

March 27 - Another Gorgeous Day In St.Georges Basin

The weather continues to be unreal.  It is sunny and warm with a light breeze coming in off the water.

With most of New South Wales closed down because of the government ordered lock down, our options for things to do are somewhat limited.  Fortunately Aussies have plenty of walking paths to explore, with  most of the scenic walkways being along the shorelines. Both John and Ellen are very fit and enjoy going on hikes along these paths. 

Today we went on a three kilometer walk along the north shore of St. Georges Basin, on what is known as the Basin Walk.  It goes from Macleans Point to Palm Beach.  Along the way we say a couple of graceful Black Swans and four kangaroos.





Marg was amazed to find this area could grow wild Violets.

The houses that back on the water have a large expanse of land between their property and the water  that is for public access.

John and Ellen went to the community garden this afternoon.  The rules being enforced by the Corona police meant that they couldn't we attend with them because there would be too many people in one place at the same time.

March 26 - Another Corona Virus Roadblock Removed

Last night the CBC reported that the Health Minister was invoking the National Quarantine Act. In the report the minister was quoted as saying "travellers who are arriving at one of the four international airports and connecting will be asked to quarantine in place in those cities for 14 days and we will provide the accommodation and meals for those situations."  That meant that when we return to Canada next week, we would be quarantined in Vancouver for fourteen days.

Later today the CBC reported that a health official later clarified that only people with symptoms will be quarantined in the city of arrival and that travellers without symptoms can continue on and isolate at their homes.

So if all goes well we'll be safely home next Tuesday night to begin our fourteen days of self isolation.

We are amazed at the number of people who have sent their best wishes and prayers for our safe return to Canada. It has deeply touched us and has reduced the stress I have encountered as we navigate this maze and roadblocks caused by the Corona Virus and the governments and airliners reaction to it.

Today though we went for another nature walk.  This time we went to the town of Nowra, which is north of St. Georges Basin. Here we took the walk called Ben's Walk along the banks of the Nowra Creek and the Shoalhaven River.

The walk loops around the Shoalhaven River, through gorges, rocky paths forests and grassy meadows. The complete track provides a leisurely return walk of about 5.5 kilometres taking around two hours.  A suspension bridge provides a fun crossing of the river and provides some great views.

The Shoalhaven is wide river that runs from the mountains to the sea over a three hundred and twenty seven kilometer route.

Marg and Ellen provided everyone with a wonderful prawn dinner tonight. We got the fresh prawns from a seafood store in Nowra that was well stocked.  I guess not all the stores are running out of supplies in this panic stricken times.

Inside Family Joke for Ken:  Australian Hay Bails

March 25 - Returning like a bad rash

While we are waiting for our flight home next week, we took John & Ellen up on their kind offer to come and stay at their residence again, much to John's chagrin.

We took the train from Wolli Creek to Bomaderry.  The track went through some very scenic areas along the east coast of New South Wales.  We got to see the many surf  beaches that dot this coastal area and surprisingly some very thick rain forests. The Bomaderry train station is only about a thirty drive from John & Ellen's home in St.George's Basin.

I had to laugh this morning.  I received an email from Air Canada that told me that a flight I had original booked had been cancelled.  This was the flight from LA to Toronto.  That made three out of four flights that we originally had booked to return home that have been cancelled.  This should be a barrel of monkeys worth of fun trying to figure out what refunds we get and what the travel insurance will pay for.  But that is a topic for a much later date.

Like most parts of the world, this area is in total shut down mode.  We won't be eating out and even that National Parks have been closed, so if we decide to obey the law, there won't be any more nature walks.

To our river cruise buddies, you need to come to Australia when this Corona virus crap is over.  Ellen and John are the definition of the perfect party hosts.  We had so many laughs over dinner my side hurts.

March 24 - Light At End Of The Tunnel

Late last night we got our new and hopefully final flights home.  Our travel agent, Coleen Foster, woke up three hours early in Vancouver to get the flights booked for us.  I couldn't sleep, so it was I was able to monitor the progress in real time.  The stress is beginning to take its tole on me, so I can't imagine what it like for travel agents.

We will be flying home next Tuesday morning and arrive in Toronto late Tuesday afternoon.  Of course we'll be crossing over the International Date Line, so we gain a day in the trip.  The entire trip will take about thirty hours.

We'll be heading back to John & Ellen's for the duration of our time in Australia.  I guess you could call it the Home for Canadian Refugees. They are both gracious hosts, to arrange their lives around our misfortune.

Sydney and the New South Wales state is a complete mess because of the COVID-19 virus. Someone allowed passengers from the Ruby Princess to leave the ship and return to the general public. Their were about 100 of them who had the virus.  Today there are 800 confirmed cases in NSW. 

Restaurants and bars are closed. Tourism is non-existent.  Because people are not following social distancing they have closed the world famous Bondi Beach.  Also closed are churches, libraries, gyms and movie theaters. Weddings and funerals are not allowed indoors, except in small groups observing the 1 person per 4 sqm rule.

Professional sports have also been cancelled or suspended.

Schools are still open, but parents can opt to have their children to stay home.

Stores are empty of meat, canned goods and of course toilette paper.

All the affected workers are now applying for unemployment benefits, depleting the budget.

March 23 - Screwed Up Again

We were on our way to Sydney to start our trip home, when I read a message from Ken & Mel that told us that our trip home was cancelled.  We were booked through Fiji Air to fly to Auckland via of Qantas, then continuing to Fiji, then to Los Angeles and finally through to Toronto via of Air Canada.  It seems that Fiji Air has suspend all flights until the Corona virus crisis is over. So, we’re stuck in Sydney for the foreseeable future.  Our travel agent Coleen is looking into what options we have available.  It means an extra expense that we really can’t afford.  Hopefully our travel insurance through Mastercard will cover some of this added expense.  We’ve got our fingers crossed that we can get home sometime this week.

On our way to Sydney, we stopped at the town of Kiama.  This was a very picturesque harbour, with a very active blowhole in the rocks.

We stopped in a shoreline seafood café for lunch.  The owner told us that due to regulations imposed by the Australian government limiting restaurants to take out only, she was thinking that she would close down and take advantage of the disaster recovery loans.  The regulations have destroyed the tourist industry in Australia. Only essential industries are being allowed to operate.  On the first day of these new regulations, the lineups at the Employment Insurance offices were around the block.  People here are no longer talking about a recession but rather comparing the crisis to the great depression of the 1930s.

March 22 – Caves and waves

Today our impression of Australians as being very fit and loving the outdoors was reinforced. Ellen and John took us to the town of Carrarong.  It is located at the northern tip of the Beecroft Peninsula and adjacent to Jervis Bay, which is about a thirty minute ride from their place. 

We arrived at Abrahams Bosom Beach, which was the starting point for a scenic walk. The two and half kilometer walk, known as The Wreck Walk, took us to the remains of SS Merimbula, which was shipwrecked in 1928. 

The stroll was on an easy level gravel path, cut out of tall grasses and reeds.  Of course, John teased Marg telling her that the dangerous Brown Snake could usually be found sunning itself on the path.  We did find a Golden Orb Weaver spider, which is a big but harmless arachnid.

We then continued the walk until we came upon rocky narrow path along a deep gorge.  Each step had broken ankle written all over it.  Finally, we reached the outlook and it was worth it.  What a marvelous view of the Pacific Ocean.  The sandstone platform and the cavern that had been chiseled in the cliff by wind and water was a true wonder.  Here we had a cuppa and some cake, which seems to be a relaxing Aussie tradition.

On the way back, we went into the Gosangs Tunnel. Hidden among the shrubbery we found a small hole in the rocks just big enough to crawl through and is about 20 metres long. After we crawled through the cave we popped out on to breathtakingly sea cliffs on the other side. Gosang's Tunnel is a great place to watch whales on the southern migration each spring. The walk and picnic took us about three hours.

When we got back to John & Ellen’s , Ellen cooked a delicious lamb roast.  John took the mickey out of me for not liking roasted pumpkin, which we call squash in Canada.  We had many good laughs during the dinner, which unfortunately is our last dinner with them until we see them again sometime in the future.

Tomorrow John & Ellen will be driving us to Sydney, where we will start our long trip home.

March 21 - Sheds and Gardens

We had good news from our travel agent today. Our airplane tickets have been finalized and we will be going home this week.  It’s going to be a long slog, but we should be home by the end of the week. Of course, we’ll be in fourteen-day quarantine once we get home.

Our trip is coming to a quick conclusion. Today we are going to visit John & Ellen’s main community service organizations. John is one of the main executives of the Sanctuary Point Men’s Shed.  Australia’s Men’s Sheds is recognized as one of Australia’s largest male based community development organisations.This Men's Shed is funded mostly through donations of used equipment and fixtures and the sale of projects that the members have created. There are a wood and  a metal working shops and a huge miniature railroad on the second floor. Shed is a misnomer because it is really a large two store garage. The intended benefits of this organizations is to provide a space for men to working on projects, learn new skills and socialize with the expected result that mental illnesses such as depression will be decreased.

Ellen was attending the Clifton Community Food Garden’s monthly sale of their produce. The aim of the garden is to provide a common space for the community to grow vegetables and fruits and also provide educational opportunities that promote good health and well being using organic principals. There are about 60 members who work the gardens, weeding, feeding and pruning the plants. Ellen makes pickles, jams and chutneys from the vegetables and fruits mostly grown in this garden in order to fund the garden. She is also on the executive. John is also heavily involved with building enclosures for the garden beds.

During our visit we had the pleasure of talking to several volunteers who working either in the Men Shed or the garden.  We were told by several people that John & Ellen are the driving force behind these projects.  These conversations reinforced our believe that Canadians and Australians have very much in common and that Aussie are among the most friendly people in the world,

In the afternoon we went to Jerrawangala National Park. Here were able to view close up the damage caused by the bus fires and see how quickly the forest is recovering.  It was mind boggling how much of the forest was touched by the fire.

We stopped at Tianjara Falls to view the waterfall.  It was in a deep gorge which was very picturesque, but it showed the damage caused by the fires.

On our way back to John & Ellen's we stopped to see a mob of kangaroos on John’s regular golf course.  There must have been close to 50 kangaroos on the edge of the 14^th hole.  This included a mother and her joey, who had not left the pouch.

March 20 – Light Houses and Beaches

We’ve arrived in St. Georges Basin at the home of John & Ellen Kelly.  We’ll be staying with them until Monday, when we will return to Sydney to start our long trip home.

This area of Australia, on the east coast, has many beaches and parks.  It is a modern community made up of several small villages.  John & Ellen’s home is a beautiful bungalow with lush gardens and a spacious interior.  They are on a small hill, so that they have a partial view of the water.  The wildfires that run amuck in Australia this past December and January, came within 5 Km of their home.  This is way too close for comfort.

We started the morning by going to Huskisson, a village known for its boat building industry. Here we saw John’s old fishing boat.  It is located in a museum area that contains many boats that have been built here in the past.  John’s boat is in the queue to be refurbished.  We took a walk along the promenade through a mangrove orchard.  The tide was out so we got entertained by multiple small crabs that scurried about the marsh looking for hiding places.

We then stopped for a cuppa’ at a park which had a great view of the north and south heads to Jervis Bay. Jervis Bay is a deep water bay that is bigger than Sydney Harbour and home to the Australian naval base of HMAS Creswell.  John served there during his military career.

Next, we went to Cape St. George.  Here we saw the ruins of an old lighthouse.  Its history is very interesting.  It seemed that this location was a poor decision on behalf of the authorities.  In the late 19^th century, ships using this lighthouse as guide to the coast would run aground against the south head of Jervis Bay, because the cape did not extend far enough out into the Pacific Ocean.  So, they built a new lighthouse on the south head of the bay.  Unfortunately, during a full moon, the sandstone of the old lighthouse would be illuminated enough to fool ships into thinking that lighthouse was active with predicable results.  Finally, the authorities demolished the old lighthouse.

We then went to Green Patch Beach for a picnic lunch.  The birds at this park were amazing.  There were colourful Rainbow Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella and Kookaburra.  When Ellen attempted to feed these birds, she was swarmed by dozens of these birds.  

We went for a walk on the beach and the sand has so much silica that it actually squeaks when you walk across it.  Out on the bay there was a submarine doing a navel training exercise.

Later in afternoon we went to Greenfield Beach for a swim.  The water was cool as the warm northerly currents seem to have disappeared.  This is the furthest south I have ever been in water.  All in all another wonderful day with great hosts.