Category Archives: Uncategorized

It was an Edward Hopper moment on the day we hit the streets of San Francisco. There they were – two Santas sipping Starbuck lattes on a chilly morning near Chinatown. But they were not alone. We had come to … Continue reading →

  Halloween 2019 brought 80-95 trick or treaters (depending on who is counting in our neighborhood). Reaching this number took years of planning and preparation…and building a reputation as the house that gives away full size candy bars.  With three … Continue reading →

This would be my second farewell to Sydney since my days as a supernumerary steward on the Manutea in 1973.   At that time,  the Manutea crew spent a month in Sydney as the ship was fitted out for a … Continue reading →

Intent on Stalking the Wild Platypus, we landed in Hobart and mapped out our expedition.  We only had a few days to explore the wilds of Tasmania…and the towns too. Michele took a flight to spot the Wiley Platypus.  The … Continue reading →

Melbourne does not suffer from crane envy.  It has almost as many as Seattle.  The City appears to be booming and those from Melbourne are very proud of their city.  At the Ningaloo Park site where we spent two nights, … Continue reading →

  You land at an Aussie Air Force base when heading to Ningaloo National Park.  No photos permitted. Originally it was an American base when the US found it had a gap in its submarine communication system.  So they built … Continue reading →

  Our base camp in Adelaide was an historic site, Largs Hotel, about 20 minutes by light rail from downtown. Right on the water and near the Largs Pier, this spot was valiantly holding on as an icon of a … Continue reading →

Back in 1973 I was a crew boss for Petty Ray Geophysical Company,  working in the Great Sandy Desert.  Normally on our breaks, the company sent us to Perth, but we had passed an escarpment with caves during our cross … Continue reading →

Crossing from Uluru to Alice Springs, we chose a rental car, though others in the past have used trustworthy camels.  Some camels still wild across the desert ever since the British brought in Afghans and camels to make supply runs … Continue reading →

Respecting the wishes of the local aboriginal population, the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people, we chose not to try and climb Uluru aka Ayers Rock.  As of October 26th no one will be allowed to climb the sacred rock, but for … Continue reading →