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| Charlestown Beach |
Hi Goils!
Thank you both for your last messages/postings. (Not sure if I have read latest as Sarge mentioned some pics on Facebook that I've either not seen or have messages for.) Trust everyone is well. I do apologize for not replying sooner but it has been so busy that I never seem to have a moment to sit down and write, either postcards or email! Not complaining, mind you, just explaining! At any rate, we will be on the Gold Coast tomorrow, then Brisbane. (Hope to have access to a desktop/laptop there for a variety of computer related reasons as WiFi is still problematical in many of the places we have been. Here, per esempio, the download speed is about as fast as Branko getting ready to ride with us!) Left Hunter Valley this afternoon after spending two nights in Charlestown, just south of Newcastle. An unexpected "find" inasmuch I had always assumed Newcastle to be but an ugly, industrial, coal loading port. I'm sure part of it is just that but there is far more to this part of NSW. The picturesque coast between Newcastle itself and Charlestown is gorgeous, with beach after beach after beach, many with ocean pools like Kits, some larger. Our apartment was one of best we've stayed in, recently constructed and comfortably and tastefully appointed, from furniture to fixtures to layout of rooms. Best part was that city pool was less than a short block away. I swam every day, (three times in total, 1.5, 3, 2.25 miles), we were there. Fab Thai and Malaysian restaurants that we went to for dinner, both allowed BYOB so what more could we ask, particualry as we have two cases of wine to rid ourselves of befoer we fly to Cairns! More later, I hope!
At any rate, wanted to send along entry for day Sarge and I braved the Harbour Bridge. Fondestos from the Gang of Four! Love and Cheers, Nana/Dad!
Hi Sylvia and Raymond!
Thank you both for your last messages. I do apologize for not replying sooner but it has been so busy that I never seem to have a moment to sit down and write, either postcards or email! Not complaining, mind you, just explaining!
In case events conspire against me, trust your coming trip to England goes well, Sylvia and that Ray survives on his own, with Chris to help him open cans! At any rate, wanted to send along entry for day Sarge and I braved the Harbour Bridge. Fondestos from the Gang of Four! Cheers, Patrizzio!
P,
Hope the Gold coast was up to lustre. The bridge climber sounds way more
intoxicating than the porch climber.
Ray and I did the 100.33 kms today in just under three hours. You wont be
surprised to learn that Ray carried me most of the way against the wind in
all directions. For a warm up Ray planted his entire veggie garden. We did
ponder why this short distance seems to take you so long.
Your mention of that other Newcastle made Ray a little homesick and I needed
a Newcastle Brown Ale something fierce.
Other riders, as you might expect, had conveniently created other
obligations today -- one of the nicest riding days of the spring.
Ray and I intend to deliver the malt to Big Al later this week -- riding out
to Burnaby on the very steed that Al so adeptly brought back to life.
Fond regards to the Sisterhood and to the ever stalwart Sargent Southerbee, G
Hi Whirlissimo!
Thank you for your last message. Trust you and your own personal Sisterhood are well.
In case events conspire against me, however, glad to learn that Big Al was able to weld your frame. If you have not already picked up a bottle of malt, I agree that that is probably something he would like and appreciate. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Bratislava to Budapest to Salzburg: Hello again,
Happy Easter!!!
Or should I say Merry Christmas - it is Easter Sunday morning, and it
is snowing.
Looking out our hotel window, one sees a winter wonderland. And there
is a wind.
April 8, and a mini-blizzard - good grief!!!
We left Bratislava on Wednesday and had a nice train ride to Budapest.
Budapest is an interesting city. Much of it was destroyed by Soviet
bombing during the Second World War, but they have rebuilt the old
palaces and the bridges, etc. so that it looks like it did pre-1910.
Makes it interesting to see, but not worthwhile doing and extensive
tour.
The Opera House was not damaged, and is an ornate baroque stucture.
We went to a ballet performance there on Thursday. The Hungarian
ballet company had over 50 dancers, and the two main dancers were from
the Bolshoi. The prima ballerina was the best classical dancer we have
ever seen. Our seats were row 6, front and center. As well, there was a
live orchestra - taped music would be an abomination in Europe.
All in all, a great evening - even a full moon.
Saw most of Budapest's sights - even took a short cruise on the Danube.
Satuday was a long boring train ride to Salzburg, via Vienna. Arrived to
cold wind and rain, so just scurried to our hotel. Now snow!!!! Yipes!!!
I guess we will just have to slog through it if we want to see anything.
Hope the weather is better in Zurich. Bye for now
Hi Jo-Anne and Colin!
Happy Easter Sunday, or should that be Boxing Day? Sorry to hear about your snow. Always a bit of a drag when weather makes a holiday more difficult. Hope conditions improve in next little while. For our part is is air-conditioning in the car as it has been close to 30 C last few days!
Thank you for your last few messages. I have really enjoyed hearing about your "guided " tours with Eric. Must be great to have a built-in GPS, as you mention! All of the places you've visited are spots we'd love to see as well so we'll have to arrange an extensive de-briefing once home. I do apologize for not replying sooner but it has been so busy that I never seem to have a moment to sit down and write, either postcards or email! Not complaining, mind you, just explaining!
Fondestos from the Gang of Four! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Happy Easter Sunday Greetings from Port Macquarie!
Hi Marilyn and Big Al!
Glad to hear that you have so much work, Big Al, but I can see it
interfering with the important things of life! I do apologize for not
replying sooner but it has been so busy that I never seem to have a moment
to sit down and write, either postcards or email! Not complaining, mind you,
just explaining! At any rate, we will be on the Gold Coast today, then
Brisbane. (Hope to have access to a desktop/laptop there for a variety of
computer related reasons as WiFi is still problematic in many of the places
we have been. Here, per esempio, the download speed is about as fast as Cora
Lee trying to decide which pair of shoes to buy next or Ragin' Bull getting
ready to ride with us!) Left Hunter Valley yesterday afternoon after
spending two nights in Charlestown, just south of Newcastle. An unexpected
"find" inasmuch I had always assumed that Newcastle was nothing but an ugly,
industrial, coal loading port. I'm sure part of it is just that but there is
far more to this region of NSW. The picturesque coast between Newcastle
itself and Charlestown is quite gorgeous, with beach after beach after surf
beach, many with ocean pools like Kits, some larger. Our apartment was one
of best we've stayed in, recently constructed and comfortably and tastefully
appointed, from furniture to fixtures to layout of rooms. Best part was that
city pool was less than a short block away. I swam every day, (three times
in total, 1.5, 3, 2.25 miles), we were there. Fab Thai and Malaysian
restaurants that we went to for dinner, both allowed BYOB so what more could
we ask, particularly as we have two cases of wine to rid ourselves of before
we fly to Cairns! Speaking of this, I guess we will probably not overlap as
we do fly from Brisbane on April 15th. Let me know, however, if you will be
there earlier than 14th, as I think you had mentioned at one time. Perhaps
we could meet at a bar at the airport!!!! (As well, just noted that you are
using a new email address, unless I never picked up on it beforehand. I
gather it is company related, although I thought the domain address would be
something like "stanchion@peleton.com"!
Fondestos from the Gang of Four! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Greetings from Port Macquarie!
We arrived about 4:45pm, this afternoon, after driving up from south end of Lake Macquarie where we had a most congenoial lunch with Kathleen and Steve, and their friend Frederique, a GP doing a locum in Taree, about 100K north of Newcastle. Restaurant, Awakaba, was right next to Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery and had a remarkable exhibition, Life in Your Hands, art from solastalgia. I had never heard the team before and one learns that it was coined by Professor Glenn Albrecht, of the University of Newcastle, I believe, to describe the phenomenon of "homesickness you have when you haven't left home."
According to the media release:
Unlike major catastrphe s where a cause is obvious and can be collectively addressed, with solastalgia the change is chronic and incremental. Groups of individuals become "disturbed" by solastalgia but, as it is not sudden and traumatic, a response is not always recognised as being necessary.
The various issues tackled by the exhibition included the health of the Great Barrier Reef, drifting ghost nets in the waters off northern Australia and mining in the Hunter Valley. The latter involved a video taken from a helicopter which flew over the Hunter in order to capture images of the lush farmland, vineyards and heavily forested surrounding hills, juxtaposed with stark images of the raw, monstrous wounds caused by the huge, nay gargantuan, open-pit coal mines. Although I've never seen the Tar Sands in Alberta, our ecological devastation/depradation there mirrors, I'm sure, what has happened in northeastern NSW. It is, without question, extremely painful to see these true "wastelands" cheek by jowl with the idyllic, pastoral beauty of the rolling rural landscape.
As well, there was another set of historical photographs which showed the Stolen Generations, picutres of aboriginal children in residential school settings, frighteningly similar to our own system of residential schools. Diffiuclt to imagine the pain and suffering inflicted upon both indigenous cultures. All in all, a tiny gallery but the exhibits, the topics, were profoundly stimulating and necessarily disturbing.
Said our goodbyes to our luncheon companions, (We have decided to spend our last week or so in Australia, after Darwin and before Japan, back in Harcourt North with K/S. They are delighted to have us return so were are grateful for their extended hospitality.), and made our way, via the Pacific Highway towards Brisbane, around 1:00pm. Sarge estimated arriving at our destination around 5:00pm so he was right on the money. Checked into one of the worst motels of the trip and went to explore downtown.
After a drink at a bar not far from the water, The Sisterhood went to see Best Exotic Marigold Hotel while Sarge and I returned to our room to read and digitate, arranging to meet The Goils at a local Irish pub after movie was over. Unfortunately, kitchen closed before they arrived so we returned to the Worst Exotic Motel to have a picnic of overlefts.
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