Strahan

Wed, Nov 7

It's evening here and most folks are just going in to dinner. I came down to use the rest of my hour so will type fast.

We took a cruise down Gordon River. Got off at two different spots in the rain forest. The leaves on the trees are small because there is plenty of water so these trees look for the light. Most rain forests have large leaves to collect the water. 

One person got a picture of a Paddymellon animal. Very cute, some kind of marsupial I think. I didn't see it. 

Most of the trees here are Myrtle and very old. The oldest trees are Huon Pine. Saw one that was hundreds of years old and a young one at eighty.  Some are over a million years old. 

Walked the town which took a minute or two. No bank here. Stores won't take American dollars. 

Want to get this posted so I don't lose it. Tomorrow we move on by bus to another location. 

Lots of moss on trees and I want to know does it grow on the south side or north like it does in our hemisphere. No one has an answer yet.  

Wed Nov 7 Shahan Tasmania

Well I managed to get on my blog. Kept getting an error message.  Hope you got the email I sent though it looks like it just went to one person.

Will try to write more tonight. Love, J

Down Under

November 4, 2012

Hello from Hobart.

Well I finally have 30 minutes of wifi so will try to get some news to you.

We had a busy and harrowing time at multiple airports.  Flight from SFO to LAX left late. The four of us got shuttled to the Quantas terminal and were given a cart to take us to the gate. The walk would have been long, uphill, and we might have missed our flight. We arrived in style.

One of our group somehow fell of the passenger list and got on last minute but her luggage was left in LAX. Thankfully is was not me.

Then we are off to MEL. Premium economy was really nice. I didn't realize we would get blanket and pillow, foot rest, menu, free everything. I sat with a younger woman from Melbourne and we became fast friends.  We talked and I even got a lot of sleep - ambien works wonders. Didn't watch any movies, had good food etc.

We sat on the tarmac for an hour in LAX as traffic in Oz was busy but we still arrived on time. Then a lot of time driving around to find a gate. Immigrate and customs was fast for me (after a bit of wait for my luggage) but that was OK. I just wanted to get to the Quantas Club as I bought a monthly pass so I could have a shower.

Then things got ugly. I thought that after customs your luggage goes back on the plane as we had a other flight to Tasmania. Well Jet Star, owned by Quantas, is a cheap airline and I had to go out of security and up to checking. No problem there were not many people there. They would not take my luggage for two hours which is two hours enforce flight time. So what to do!,

I didn't see anyone else from my group, could not go back to customs to see if I missed the Domestic Checkin, and I suddenly lost it feeling alone. I figured the rest of the group of 24 were through security and sitting I. The Club or gate and no one was looking for me. Old childhood issues creeping back in I guess.

I sat and emailed out tou leader, Daniel Thorpe, but he didn't respond. After some time of sheer panic and anger - I really wanted a shower!!! - I walked back to the gate and ran into Julie and Daniel and my roommate Frances. What a relief. They all had the same problem that I experienced and I felt much better( that didn't come out right did it).

So we parked at an eatery for over an hour and Frances was hungry and came within e thru security to the Quantas Club where I had my shower and she had some lunch. Life was good again.

We return to the group and head off to check in our bags and get seats. They are very strict on weight limit. My carry on was 1kg over and the I had to add my purse (which was another smaller carry on with my meds). They made me take stuff out and put in the big checked bag. Then they made me check another of the carry ons.

Now mind you, they didn't even weigh the bags of some of the other people. I think I had been
flagged from earlier when I tried ti check my bag and had no control over their negative response.

We are all now at gate 11 which being a cheap airline is at the very end of the building. When boarding time has come and gone a brunch of people start running. No announcement or anything. Gate had been changed to cattle car area downstairs in what seemed like another city and it was "hurry up and wait."

Down Under continued

Finally we are on our 2hr flight to Hobart in Tasmania. We are met at the small airport, it is evening now, cool weather, and we are transferred to a lovely hotel just fifteen minutes away.

We get our rooms and luggage and walk a block to a lovely fish place to eat. Dinner was grand. We are all tired and then walk back and settle in.

Friend here said I should mention that my luggage tag was broken probably by the nasty lady who made me take carry on item and check them.

Sunday Nov 4

Today we are up early - you know how I like that - and have a lovely buffet breakfast. We got a bus tour of the city and then a boat ride with more touring. I don't have my itinerary ready to tell you what and where (most of us were napping anyway) but it was nice. We had a wonder and leisurely lunch at the Peppermint Gardens on the water.

Just back an hour ago and wanted to get something out to you. We are on our own for dinner with another busy day tomorrow.

It's is a beautiful place and people are very nice. And we speak the same language, sort of.

Hi Family and Friends.

Tomorrow night I start my journey for Tasmania and Australia and a total solar eclipse.  Wish you were all with me.  You folks who like the hot weather - well this will be the place to go.

This is a test to see if I can add to my blog and then email the group when I have something here - or you can just check back every once in a while should you be so inclined.  I'm packed and ready to go - and Mabel with be with friend Carlene on her farm.  What fun they will have!!  And thanks to Roberta for staying in my home - which is great security - and for delivering Mabel to her nanny.

OK - will be in touch.  Love,  J

Saturday Dec 18th

Greetings to my blog readers.  It is snowing heavily here today and Roberta was to go to a party being held by friends from when she lived here - cancelled for the moment  now.  We will be going out with friends of our hostess, Charlotte - lots of talk about whether to drive, take a taxi - or just sit and worry about the downward snow drift.

Italy is snowed in where we are going but our hostess arrived there - and is having trouble getting food etc.

Tomorrow things should ease up and by Monday we hope all will be set right and we should not have too many travel problems.

My injured writ is not any worse - puffy at best and \I can type on the laptop I hve borrowed but not well on my phone.

Hope to hear from you from time to time - time permitting.  Love, J

2010 End of Year Travels

Hi Family and Friends - I'm off to visit the Gibbons and extended family for the end of year holidays.  London and Italy.  Will be home Jan 4th and then leave Jan 13th for Antarctica.  Hope to be able to put a few pictures on this blog but not taking my laptop - will see what happens.  Merry and Happy to all.  Love, J