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Post by Tonnet on May 30, 2015 23:08:20 GMT
As an interesting aside I would mention that we are having a Long Weekend in Western Australia to celebrate W.A. Day.
This evening could be of great interest to star gazers. The moon is due to rise at 4.30pm local time (not quite full) and at approximately 6.30 Saturn will appear just to its right. The Rings of Saturn will be visible to small and medium telescopes. This is the closest Saturn will be to Earth for the year.
I wonder if Oz has packed his telescope?
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Post by chech on May 30, 2015 23:13:45 GMT
Oh wow! Sounds like he'll come through it okay. Dogs are so resilient. Just a couple weeks ago, my sister and I took her dogs out for some ball retrieval inside a fenced off basketball court...and I guess after a winter of walking on the snow, the pavement was too much for the their pads. Both of them tore all four of their pads...but never stopped running for the balls long enough to let on that they were in pain. We thought they'd be laid up for a couple weeks but three days later, they were up for short walks. (No vet necessary, thankfully. I was able to clean and bandage the worst ones...and snip off pieces of the pads that were hanging...while my sister heaved on the other side of the room just from the thought of what I was doing...LOL). ((((hugs)))) to Leo. He's in good hands!
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Post by solaria on May 31, 2015 4:47:24 GMT
Sorry to hear of the ordeal your dog suffered, Tonnet. it certainly is worrying and scarey when something like that happens. my thoughts are for a good recovery for Leo. you should see a good improvement before you leave that will set your mind at rest.
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Post by Tonnet on May 31, 2015 21:14:31 GMT
Thanks for the good wishes.
We went to the hospital for a visit last evening. Leo had detected our voices in the waiting room and was calling us. He certainly was in a mess with all his hind quarters completely shaved with a huge number of stitches showing and three drains protruding. Of course he has an Elizabethan Collar to stop him interfering with the results of the operation. On the bright side, he is eating well and was extremely glad to see us. It was sad to leave him but he has to remain there while the drains are in place. The nurse told me that he exercised very well yesterday and was really pulling hard on the lead.
I feel quite confident now that my departure on Saturday will be all right as my daughter and son-in-law will take very good care of him.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 4, 2015 22:10:04 GMT
As an interesting aside I would mention that we are having a Long Weekend in Western Australia to celebrate W.A. Day.
This evening could be of great interest to star gazers. The moon is due to rise at 4.30pm local time (not quite full) and at approximately 6.30 Saturn will appear just to its right. The Rings of Saturn will be visible to small and medium telescopes. This is the closest Saturn will be to Earth for the year.
I wonder if Oz has packed his telescope? Yes indeed, Tony. Well, the small telescope at least ... The big one weighs 50kg so it stayed at home. I've been busy showing people planets and stars on the clear nights we've been having. Jupiter and Saturn are particularly bright in the Central Australian sky. I feel like I'm in Astronomer's Nirvana.
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Post by Tonnet on Jun 5, 2015 13:48:00 GMT
As an interesting aside I would mention that we are having a Long Weekend in Western Australia to celebrate W.A. Day.
This evening could be of great interest to star gazers. The moon is due to rise at 4.30pm local time (not quite full) and at approximately 6.30 Saturn will appear just to its right. The Rings of Saturn will be visible to small and medium telescopes. This is the closest Saturn will be to Earth for the year.
I wonder if Oz has packed his telescope? Yes indeed, Tony. Well, the small telescope at least ... The big one weighs 50kg so it stayed at home. I've been busy showing people planets and stars on the clear nights we've been having. Jupiter and Saturn are particularly bright in the Central Australian sky. I feel like I'm in Astronomer's Nirvana. I knew you would have a peeper of some sort on board - no light pollution out there. It was always great for taking star shots when surveying!
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 7, 2015 7:21:50 GMT
Yes, not only clear skies with little cloud, but also lacking water vapour that creates shimmer effects in the eyepiece.
The outback up here * is absolutely splendid.
* Katherine, NT ... And about to head to Kakadu.....
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Post by Tonnet on Jun 12, 2015 1:45:29 GMT
After a quick visit to Lombok, Indonesia, we are back in Australian waters and are now berthed at Broome, Western Australia. The wharf is a fair step from the township and shuttle buses are being used to transfer passengers to the town which is quite small as well as various tours to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Farm ad Cable Beach for camel rides.
Dawn Princess is a very comfortable ship although twenty years old. It is very friendly on board and I've been privileged to make many friends. We don't sail till 5.30pm this evening and tomorrow we will cruise the spectacular Kimberley Coast - I am looking forward to that very much.
I spoke to my daughter on the phone this morning and all is good at home. They have been monitoring my progress courtesy of the deck camera.
I'll drop in the occasional snippet as we sail along, dependent on mobile phone coverage.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 12, 2015 23:33:56 GMT
Well, so far so good .... Managed to get up real close to a few large crocodiles and not get eaten. The wildlife and rugged terrain of Australia's Northern Territory are absolutely spectacular. I'll share this with you in graphic photos and commentary after I return in 2-3 weeks.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 14, 2015 10:09:38 GMT
Well, I've held a live crocodile, patted a dingo, had a grasshopper half the size if my hand land on me, and almost stepped on a dead snake. All is fine. So far I haven't encountered any domestic cats...
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Post by purvis on Jun 14, 2015 16:06:12 GMT
OZ: Now I know why my son left Mt. Isa (Northern Queensland) and returned to Northern Saskatchewan in Canada. In Saskatchewan he only had to deal with bears and wolves.
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 14, 2015 23:23:54 GMT
Bears & wolves would fit in fine here, Purvis. If it bites, stings, scratches or snarls, this is surely the scary critter capital of the world...
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Post by chech on Jun 15, 2015 0:53:42 GMT
Have you checked on who is in the tent next door?
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Post by Oz-T on Jun 23, 2015 23:06:39 GMT
Continuing our long drive home as our adventure draws to an end. I can't wait to convert my journal into a travel tale and share some fantastic photos with you all.
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Post by 1jhwks on Jun 23, 2015 23:22:45 GMT
Can't hardly wait for your tale and pics!
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Post by Tonnet on Jul 6, 2015 20:39:37 GMT
Sorry I have been out of touch recently. Disembarkation Day, 23rd June, was a disaster for me.
I woke that morning with a raging chest infection - no doubt picked up on the ship. The next week saw me flat on my back trying to get well.
Gradually I have been improving and managed to get down to Canberra and subsequently up to Sydney. I left Sydney yesterday and headed north up to Werris Creek, just south of Tamworth, then drove the Oxley Highway, by night, over to Wauchope, near the coast with much warmer weather.
The rest of this week will be a blurr as I try to squeeze in as many visits as possible as I must leave Sydney on 13th July.
I need another cup of coffee!!
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Post by Boop on Jul 6, 2015 21:06:27 GMT
Sorry I have been out of touch recently. Disembarkation Day, 23rd June, was a disaster for me.
I woke that morning with a raging chest infection - no doubt picked up on the ship. The next week saw me flat on my back trying to get well.
Gradually I have been improving and managed to get down to Canberra and subsequently up to Sydney. I left Sydney yesterday and headed north up to Werris Creek, just south of Tamworth, then drove the Oxley Highway, by night, over to Wauchope, near the coast with much warmer weather.
The rest of this week will be a blurr as I try to squeeze in as many visits as possible as I must leave Sydney on 13th July.
I need another cup of coffee!! Hope you're feeling better Tony. Take care and stay well! Have another cup!
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Post by Tonnet on Jul 22, 2015 21:06:56 GMT
It is lovely enjoying a coffee on the patio in warm Queensland weather. My time up here has been devoted to visiting many friends with whom I have not been able to see for some years. Whizzing around in my little hire car has been great and I haven't needed to use my GPS due to the familiar territory. With only a couple of visits to complete I will be able to relax a little at the weekend before flying to Cairns on Monday for the start of the next part of my journey.
Last Monday I drove to Bundaberg where I caught up with many friends. Wednesday I continued south to Maryborough and Gympie for more visits, gradually working my way back to Caboolture - base of operations. On the way I stopped at Maroochydore and visited very dear friends at Kawana Island. I squeezed a great deal into those three days!
Next week will see me commence the 'land cruise' across the continent back to Perth - due home on 11th August.
It will be good to put my feet up and have some cuddles with Leo who has expressed great interest in some parcels that I sent home earlier.
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Post by Tonnet on Jul 26, 2015 21:28:13 GMT
Well it is another beautiful sunny day here in Queensland!
With coffee under my belt, there is a little bit of packing to do plus some laundry and I will be set to depart from Brisbane for Cairns.
At 3.45pm I have to depart for the airport where I have to return the hire car. Although m flight does not depart till 7.15pm, I am allowing plenty of time to fuel the car, make the return and progress into the terminal to lodge my luggage and complete the departure procedures. There will be plenty of time to do a couple of crosswords prior to our call for boarding.
It is a basic 2 1/2 flight so there will be the possibility of catching a nap on the way. I don't have to worry about arrival as I will be collected from the airport.
This tour back to Perth will be one of nostalgia for me as I have done everything on the agenda before but this time I will be driving the camera!
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Post by Tonnet on Aug 3, 2015 11:31:20 GMT
Just settling down to a nice cup of coffee here at Desert Palms Resort in Alice Springs - almost the geographical centre of Australia.
It has been a very pleasant trip so far with only four nights camping on the way. More about all of this later in detail.
We now face another four nights on the road before we hit real civilisation at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and many adventures on the way.
The temperature will drop to 1 degree by morning but we will be comfortable in our airconditioned motel units.
Breakfast is not till 7am so it will be an easy start to the day.
It has been very pleasant to drive the camera and not the vehicle!
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Post by chech on Aug 3, 2015 17:18:25 GMT
Question about wifi in the hotels there, Tony. What is the cost like and do they limit bandwidth like New Zealand? In New Zealand, i could pay $20 for a day of wifi but be limited to like 20 mb....so uploading a few photos gobbled that up in minutes. Does Australian hotels do the same thing?
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 4, 2015 0:16:03 GMT
The hotels I stay at, which are lower end hotels, is pretty much that, pay a lot and get little in wifi. Could be different in better hotels though, but I wouldn't know.
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Post by Oz-T on Aug 4, 2015 0:52:42 GMT
Question about wifi in the hotels there, Tony. What is the cost like and do they limit bandwidth like New Zealand? Depends on the hotel, although I'm unaware of specific limits on bandwidth. I wouldn't have expertise in this because we would never pay for hotel WiFi within Australia - having data on our mobile phones we would usually use that for small internet usage. For heavier usage use such as photo downloading etc we would pop into a nearby McDonalds or a cafe etc, buy a coffee and plunder their free WiFi for as long as we needed.
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Post by chech on Aug 4, 2015 11:12:29 GMT
The websites say paid for a lot of them. I don't mind paying as long as get bandwidth. In one hotel in New Zealand, we got like 1 mb free in the lobby. It wasn't even enough to open a website.
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Post by Tonnet on Aug 14, 2015 14:17:48 GMT
Well, finally back home!
I actually arrived on Tuesday evening and have had a very busy time catching up with my mail and contending with a few hundred emails.
6th June to 11th August is a decent timespan in which I covered thousands of kilometres by sea, air and land. Wheww!! I really need a rest!
Now I have nothing on the agenda till February next year with a 16 day New Zealand coach tour. Canada should be on the list for August when it will be nice and warm!
I think it is time to have another cuppa!!
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Post by Tonnet on Nov 12, 2015 21:22:14 GMT
After 33º yesterday we are looking at 36º today - presently 25º in the house. Summer is definitely close at hand and it will be warm enough to have a swim.
There was a slight tinge of pink with the sunrise, a possible storm warning but I don't feel that we will see anything as the humidity is less then 50% with no real cloud or fronts showing on the radar.
With Christmas and the Festive Season fast approaching it is nearly time to dust off my suitcase and prepare for the New Zealand excursion in February.
However before that it is time for another cup of coffee and prepare some Christmas cards, especially the overseas ones.
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jenno
New Member
Jenno going have a cup of tea.
Posts: 8
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Post by jenno on Nov 14, 2015 5:15:31 GMT
As an interesting aside I would mention that we are having a Long Weekend in Western Australia to celebrate W.A. Day.
This evening could be of great interest to star gazers. The moon is due to rise at 4.30pm local time (not quite full) and at approximately 6.30 Saturn will appear just to its right. The Rings of Saturn will be visible to small and medium telescopes. This is the closest Saturn will be to Earth for the year.
I wonder if Oz has packed his telescope?
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Post by Tonnet on Jan 22, 2016 23:11:33 GMT
It's been a little while since I last posted as a lot has been happening around here.
There has been a significant improvement in my health situation and I have almost completed my third round of chemotherapy, with no side effects.
At present I am busy packing for my New Zealand trip with luggage coming in at 14.8 kilos and not quite complete. I'll have no trouble coming in under 20 kilos - the limit for air and coach on this trip. E Ticket, luggage tags and all documentation has been already received so it is all good. The tour has been organised by Grand Pacific Tours - I booked through Casey Australia Tours. A nice extra included with my documentation was a 383 page book about New Zealand including 900 photos, 65 detailed maps and 40 illustrations with a great deal of information too. I depart Monday 8th February and return Wednesday 24th - 9 days in the South Island and 8 days in the North - very comprehensive. I have never really toured inland NZ except for Sulphur City (Rotorua on the North Island and a very short stay in Auckland) so I am looking forward to this trip.
In the meantime I have a Mystery Coach Day Trip on 1st February with Caseys - all ticket moneys will be donated to the Lord Mayor's Bushfire Appeal. It will be a long day as I have to ride over to their Coach Depot near Fremantle, leaving home at 6.45am and will not be arriving back home till about 6.45pm. Where are we going? I have no idea but I am sure we will have a lot of fun!
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Post by purvis on Jan 23, 2016 4:10:42 GMT
Tonnet: As the saying goes " May the Force Be With You". Happy Travels and many more in the years to come. Your friend Purvis (Canada).
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Post by plane2catch on Jan 23, 2016 12:36:15 GMT
Tonnet, glad to see you back on the BB. Had no idea that you had health issues. You are very brave for going through the chemotherapy. My 35 year old niece has Lupus and had to undergo chemo also after steroid treatments didn't help her condition. When she was on steroids it was so difficult to see her swollen face. It really seemed to distort the shape of her face. The chemo must have been very strong because her doctors advised her not to have anymore children before he placed her on the treatment schedule. At any rate enjoy your time in New Zealand and if you get a chance take that Shotover racing boat trip on the Southern Island. That was a blast. I am so looking forward to hear where your mystery bus tour takes you for the day. I assume it will be somewhere in Tasmania??
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