Day 27 Brogala and the Chookshed

After a good sleep in the total quiet of Brogala, we all drug out for breakfast.

Chooky made me eggs. They were very tasty. There was just one tiny little problem--I don't like my  eggs on top of my toast.  I asked to have my toast on the side (picky me) and Chooky handed me a plate with two eggs on top of two slices of toast!  (I may never let her live that down.)  I just slid them off the toast and onto the plate and ate them that way.

Later in the day Sylvia, Chooky and I headed out to the Chookshed!

It feels like an honor to have been inside what most of the Chookshed Stitchers (the BEST    thing to come out of Covid!) only see bits of on Zoom.

Sylvia worked on her latest appliqué piece-the woman is seriously talented!

I was working on a hexie flower while Chooky packed up for Scrub Stitching.  Sylvia wasn't feeling great so she went to take a nap while I helped look for missing blocks, fabric etc.  Most of which was eventually found!  

So happy to be here!

a

 

Off to Bathurst-Day 26

 

After a very late night I had an early train to catch!  I set my alarm--for 5:30 PM!  fortunately I woke on my  own at 6 AM!  Raced around like a chicken with my head cut off gathering my stuff and checking out.  Fortunately, the wait for an Uber was short and I arrived at Sydney Central Train Station and walked on to the train.  No waiting!  What a novel idea.

I was tired and fell asleep.  Sometime later I woke to the sound of someone speaking in another language.  I was groggy so I didn't recognize the German.  Got up, used the toilet and sat back down.  Then. . .I heard "Gail, Gail" from behind me.  Stood up and turned around to find. . .Sylvia and her husband Arckie!  I knew they were on the train somewhere but had no idea they were sitting behind me!  (Chooky had arranged both of our tickets as the web site didn't want to take our international phone numbers and accidentally choose seats close to one another!)

Sylvia and I had a lovely chat the rest of the way to Bathurst.  Arckie dug out my suitcase from under all the camping gear and when we got off the train we were met by Chookyblue herself!  Hugs and squeals--"I can't believe you're really here!"  (If you know Chooky you know the reception we received.)  

After a stop at Chooky's sisters, we were off to Janice and Mick's house for lunch!  Lou and Tony were there as well!  So many people I only knew from blogging in person!  We had a lovely lunch and a look around Janice's collections, her sewing room and even the "room of shame!"  

When it came time to leave we saw our first mob of Kangaroos!  Jumping away on the paddock across from Janice's!  Welcome to Australia.

On our way out of town we stopped off at Ami Downs shop!  So many lovely things-I restrained myself from buying anything.  Okay, they were getting ready to go away for a show not open for business!

Then we began the long trek to Coonamble and Chooky's home Brogala.  It was long after dark when we arrived.

All in all, meeting so many people in the flesh was lovely!

Return to Sydney--Day 25

I left Cairns on Friday to return to Sydney.

I went back to stay at the Marriot near Circular Quay--a triangular building by the way, which makes finding your room quite interesting!  It's close to the Opera house.  Plus the staff is always willing to explain how to do something-this time it was the trains.

First though, I had lupper (lunch/supper) down on the Quay and watched people  after checking in on Friday.  Then Saturday morning, I went down and had strawberry pancakes with ice cream again-I mean I never have that at home so why not?  Then, I was off on the train to meet my blogging friend Ann Campbell (@ cottenreelcapers.blogspot.com).  I took the tram and changed over to another train to go further out.  I tried very hard to take the correct train but somehow I got on the wrong one!  Once I finally realized it-emails with Ann put me right and we finally met!  (4 trains that day!)  Ann very kindly took me up into the Blue Mountains for High Tea.

It was quite wonderful!  I had such a good time with Ann!  She very kindly drove me back to my hotel for my evening plans.  I don't think I'd like driving in Sydney!  Even the Uber drivers  say most people don't know how to drive there.

My evening plans involved this place--

The Opera house.

Where I went inside to see-- the Australian National Ballet perform

Don Quixote! 

On opening night, no less.

It was beautifully danced and I was enthralled.

The live orchestra added to the evening.

I was so excited I had to text my Scott-the former pre-professional ballet student--who was jealous!

This was something I really wanted to do and I will always remember it.

Days 15 through 24--Cairns

     I am horribly behind on the blog, for lots of good reasons and for the Not-so-Good reason that the I-Don't Wanna bit me.  I'm going to catch up by putting all of Cairns in one post.  There will be pictures.

First, I flew from Newcastle to Cairns with one VERY tight connection in Brisbane (didn't even get to look out the window!) I arrived in Cairns and waited for my suitcase, and waited for my suitcase.  It did NOT appear!  I don't think the poor thing left Brisbane but who knows it could have gone to Perth!  It was supposed to be delivered after the 10pm flight but it didn't arrive until the next day after noon.  I was really glad to see it as it had all my clothes in it!

The Holiday Inn here was really nice and upgraded me to a sea-side 5th floor room with a king sized bed!  I love the view from my balcony!

Unfortunately, while I waited for the suitcase I began to sniffle and cough.  Since Lea had exposed me I walked to a near by pharmacy and bought some Covid test kits.  Brought it back and tested negative.  So a cold (or I'm inclined to believe allergies!)  I felt pretty punny for a day or two but gradually I started going out and doing stuff!

Just let me say---IT IS HOT in Cairns!  My just off winter self felt like it had been dumped right into the Dog Days of Icky-Sticky August in Missouri!

Things I did:  Uber became my friend!  I went to Spotlight to replace the scissors that were removed from my carry on--I'm an idiot.  I went to the grocery store, two malls, and the night market.  Then, I went on the Magic Reef tour out to the Great Barrier Reef!

They have a glass bottom boat and a glass walled semi-submersible-I rode on both!  We saw three sea turtles on the sub, which is apparently a very big deal, the guide said they didn't usually even see one.  The one the glass bottom boat there was a lot of talk about the tribes who lived in the area and how they fished etc the reef.  We saw lots of fish (no sharks) and the gorgeous coral formations of the reef. (Coral shapes always remind my of succulents!)  I didn't take a single picture--I was too awestruck buy the view!  Most folk got in the water to snorkel or scuba.  I stayed on the boats--My swimming skills have nearly disappeared, I need to take lessons again.  It was a full day on the ocean and very enjoyable.

There was a day of rest then I took the Sky Rail up to Kuranda and one of the oldest rain forests on earth.  The Sky Rail ride was nice, there are two stops along the way with exhibits and a guided walk at the first one.  Once in Kuranda I went to  the Koala garden hoping to hold one but they were booked up.  It was crazy crowded!

This little guy checked me out carefully and even stood on my hand with a tiny paw!

I wandered through the shops-very much a place for tourists-and caught the heritage train down.  I much prefer the Skyrail!

Day 14--Newcastle, a suitcase story

I actually left home 4 days before I fly over the Pacific.  I had been packing for three days trying to fit everything into one not gigantic suitcase.  In the end right before I left the house I added my carry on size suitcase to be packed at the hotel.

I had a very early flight out the next morning  and the airport is at least an hour drive one-way from Greenwood so I was staying at the Airport Hilton.  Beth let me out and the suitcases decided to go rogue on me and kept falling over!  What a mess! Anyway, somewhere in that mess one of the pull out handles on the largest suitcase bent and became unusable.  I struggled with it through all the flights (6), the hotels(7), the trains(2) but in the end I needed to replace it or lose my mind!  Since Lea and I were unable to continue our bonding over fabric my second day in Newcastle I googled the closest Mall, grabbed an Uber and when shopping!

The above suitcase was purchased and the other discarded!

It's a bit bigger than the fist but everything works. 

There's another story about this suitcase coming up!

 

Day 13--Newcastle with Lea

Lea picked me up at the hotel and we traveled about town seeking quilt shops!

We only managed two before it was closing time, but you can see I brought home some goodies.  (Sorry the color is off-lighting in hotel rooms is not that great!)

After closing time she took me to her home where I met the lovely, lively Ruby!  Missing my Quinn like I do it was wonderful to love on Ruby!

Then we walked over to a local cafe for dinner-fish and chips OF COURSE!

When I was returned to the hotel we made plans to go shopping some more the following day-BUT Lea tested positive for Covid the next morning!  So that was cancelled, darn it.

Such fun while it lasted!

 

Day 12--Sydney to Newcastle

Leaving this for a while!

Most interesting buildings!

After breakfast, I Ubered up to Central Sydney Train Station to catch the Inter-city train to Newcastle.  I really thought I would need to by a ticket SOMEWHERE but it turns out you just tap your Credit Card as you go in and tap it when you go out.  I am not used to traveling by train!  Although it seems like Washington DC has a similar system on their subways. I'm not sure.  I only ride a train when I go to much bigger cities and then only if I don't have a car.

At any rate, I arrived at the end of the route in Newcastle in pouring rain!  Drug my luggage over to the pick up place and got to the hotel.  Just about the time I got into the actual room Chooky was on line wanting to ZOOM with me!  She keeps asking "Where's Wally?"  The laptop wasn't even out yet but it got out and ZOOM  happened.  Then she got Lea on-as Lea lives in Newcastle.  We set up a time to got about town to quilt shops.  I hadn't been to any yet.

I have to say the learning curve is steep in a foreign country!

So day 12 ended with plans for the next day, YAY!

 

Day 11--Sydney still

Ice Cream on Pancakes!

I'd never had ice cream on pancakes but it was pretty tasty!

On the advice of the Concierge at the hotel I next went to the Captain Cook Cruises to book a harbour cruise.  They have a cruise at 2:00pm called High Tea At Sea!  That's the one for me!

This is the ship I went out on--more on that later.

Since I had about 4 hours before the cruise I walked past the Opera House and into the Royal Botanical Garden.

There's a lot of paved walking paths within the park.  One follows alongside the water for quite a ways-I only walked a part of it.

This tree intrigued me as it has lichen growing on the trunk.  Reminds me somewhat of a carrot all the leaves on top and the root exposed.

Lots of lovely lawn and no nasty little signs telling you not to walk on the grass-instead signs encouraging such behavior!  There's some of those crazy building blocks turned into ACTUAL  buildings!

 

I find these trees so interesting!  A Ficus Macrophylla f. Columnaris (or Morton Bay fig)  Google it there's more photos.

This is a close up of the same tree.  This tree has no central truck but many trunks that form from an arial root.  Each of the trucks you see once was a dangling bunch of roots that grew until they reached the ground and became a trunk.  Very interesting.  I saw a lot of them.

White Ibis were very common on the ground This pair in the front is adult and chick-the chick is feeding.

Some plant art!

Do you see the Whale?  Hint--his tail is on the left.

I visited the gift shop and left a few dollars there: another mug, a children's book on Australia for my collection of books to read the Grands, and a tote back which asserts that I don't need therapy but just need to go to Australia!  Not so sure about that!

One could wander in the gardens for an entire day but I do have other plans, so, I head back the way I came.

In front of the Opera House there were some young people doing a very nicely executed Kpop dance.  I stood and enjoyed it all the way through!  Such energy!

The Opera House and the bridge in the background.  I think this would have been on the way back.

This is the best photo I took of the Opera House~I think It will make the photos wall!

The setting for tea.  It was lovely but I wished for someone to share it with.

The crazy people doing the "Bridge walk!"  I did not attempt it.  My Knee has complained quite a lot lately and I didn't want to hear worse complaining--So--I didn't go.  Plus, I don't do well with high places, most especially those with edges!  I don't regret not doing it!

Once back at the Quay I watched this depart!

Then I headed back to the hotel to pack for the next part of the journey.