Hi Folk
ive stopped using this blog because it has been hit by spam and its not linked to my gmail address
new blog is http://recumbentpatience2.blogspot.com
cheers
fleur
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Energy Efficiency Audits - Wiluna
Sunday 21 July 2009 - Wiluna
The day started early meeting Delia at the Airport, followed by a very quick tour of Kalgoorlie. We then set off for the almost 600km drive to Wiluna. On the way we stopped in to take a look the Ora Banda Pub, but alas it was closed. This didn't matter as I was keen to detour from Menzies by 60km to revisit the sculptures at Lake Ballard. Its a special spot, where around 150 bronze sculptures have be placed, randomly over a salt lake covering a few square kms. It was rather muddy this day, hard to walk on account of being slippery. Lucky we both managed to stay ‘upright’ and mostly mud free.
We stopped at Leonora for a spot of lunch at the local pub, then it was time for the long haul of 306kms not stop. We arrived in Wiluna at around 4pm. I wasn’t actually sure of the directions of how to get to Gunbarrel Laggers (Grapes) where we were staying for the week. The local shop/petrol station gave us direction of about 20kms East out along the Gunbarrel road towards Carnegie Station. Wiluna is the Gateway to both the Gunbarrell Hwy road and the Canning Stock Route. It was exciting to be here again as I’ve toured out this way on a motorbike and sidecar. It was the perfect time of year to head North-East. Oh well, maybe next time soon.
Light was fading fast as we headed East… We were chatting about what we going to eat for dinner. I was a little perplexed as to what food would be available, as for some reason we had to confirm with the accommodation we required food, giving at least 24hours notice. It made me wonder what they would cook. We found our turn-off, light was now a red glow from the west of the grape vines. I was diving and had slowed on the dirt drive to about 60kms, lights on and keeping a eye out for roos. It was about 5.30pm... We needed to have kept more than an eye out, as with in 100 meters of the homestead gate, a young roo decided to place its hopping head in front of he roo-bar. Spat, hard breaking and crunch we had hit the roo. I stopped to check our ute. There was water dripping from a bottle near the radiator, but I couldn't see enough to know it was the coolant or windscreen washing bottle... The ute was not, otherwise damaged. The same couldn't be said for the roo.
I walked back to check the pouch for a 'Joey', none found. Nor was their a heart-beat. I dragged roo off the drive. We returned to ute and drove even slower to camp. Arriving at camp was like at home. Jill was just a loverly host. She is a gem. It was decided that with water dripping out the ute and the lack of light we shouldn't drive the ute over to dinner and her son, would check the ute out tomorrow... It didn't take me a while to grasp the idea that we would need to drive about 10-15kms back the way we came to the Mine Camp we passed for our dinner at the mess! So after showing us our donga's, Jill gave me the keys to her Subi (Forrester) and we were told to reverse park when we arrived. If you have never visited a mine camp, it can be an interesting experience, as was the case tonight. Our 4x4 didn't have mine lights, pole or high-vis striped... We were also the smallest vehicle in the parking bar and as we latter found out, had parked in the spot for the bus.
We went to the bar to purchase our meal tickets $15 each to give to the cook. However they only except cash. At this point I knew were going to face a cash-flow problem, as I was down to my last $30 bucks! We managed to get dinner of roast everything meat and vegies. It was rather nice. We returned to what would be our home for the next 6 nights and I know i slept soundly.
Our time in community working on the Energy Efficiency Audits was very rewarding. We kicked our visit off with a meeting of the community at the rolls of astro-turf. Most people came with their cuppa's and we provided fruit. We spoke of why were here and how we would like to visit everyone to talk to each resident on how they use energy in their home, provide advice on appliance selection, condition and if there was a 'manhole' undertake an inspection of the roof insulation. This community was about go 'live' in about 3 days with the Horizon Power Prepayment Meters. Currently individuals didn't pay for their personal power consumption based on what they used. Instead a fix deduction was paid, regardless of what was used. So if a home was a low energy use home, they would pay the same as a high energy home.
Over the next 5 days, we managed to visit every home (18 homes), attend an all day council meeting and participate in a photo-shoot for 'go-live'. I loved being in community...very kind people. I also purchased my 1st painting :)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Energy Efficiency Audits - Kalgoorlie
KALGOORLIE
I arrived in Kalgoorlie (Kal) after a 7 hour train trip from Perth on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon 13th June 2009. Kal is around 600k from Perth CBD heading due East and very slightly North. It is the heart of the Western Australian (WA) goldfields. Its been and still is a very important mining area for WA, holds extreme mineral wealth, over 150 years of gold mining history and if you don't believe me about its cultural and historical importance to West Australian, the fact we have named the daily train that services the towns from Perth to Kalgoorlie the "Prospector" says it all about its laconic place in our recent history.
The town itself is a delightful place with old historical builds and pubs on nearly every corner. Alas, maintaining its bygone days, most of these pubs sport 'topless' bar staff of the female kind... Try as I did, I didn't find a pub with 'topless rippling muscles and rock hard abs' bar staff of the male kind... Though the place is riddled with males of wide girth from spending much time frequenting the bars with the 'topless' female bar staff... Not to mention the bordellos that are 'legal' in this town. And by golly 'topless' or bordello employment is a tough way to make a living in this outback town, mostly on account of how unbearably cold it gets. Not just at night, but all day. I swear that an Iceland summer is balmy, compared to a Kalgoorlie winter.
The roads, whilst not paved in gold are very wide. This was because in its early days all item arrived by 'camel trains' which needed to turn around. The town now has a decorated medium strip of plants, trees and astro turf. All cars must park on an angle, which makes for reversing a large 4x4 interesting.
My Saturday arvo was spent collecting a hire vehicle, shopping for food for a community meeting on Monday, finding the community, unpacking and working out how to use a folding ladder, charging a cordless drill, and attending the local basket ball game between the Kalgoorlie Giants and the Rockingham somethings. The Giants won.
Sunday was spent trying to stay warm, over coming hay fever and thinking I was going to die from the cold. I did manage to pack the 4x4 with all my equipment which had arrived at the hotel the day before. I spent my day walking around Kal to get a feel for the place, with its wide streets, tin and wood houses, snappy gums and lay back lifestyle. I'm forever grateful for the work beanie, for which I would have suffered from frostbite without...and for Dome cafe where I worked on my audit report design and updated emails.
I chose to take the train to Kalgoorlie because it gives one the best view of the Avon Valley as it winds itself through the base of the Avon Valley National Park. Only the train passengers, adventurist kayakers or mad mountain bike riders can really get to see this bit of the National Park. There is no public road. Besides the carbon saving by taking the train vs flying are huge. The train trip was not uneventful on account of 6 young men on a 'wild weekend boys only' trip. I suspect the all the beer drinking was to give them courage to venture into wildwest lifestyle. Ignoring them, I watched the last of the Avon Valley forrest fade away into the wheatbelt, salt lakes and latter the woodlands of the goldfields.
I shed a tear or too as I thought of the may times I have camped in these woodlands. My most memorable was on my 1st recumbent bike ride in about 2000, riding from Bonnie Vale (Coolgardie) to Lower Chittering over 8 days. Camping each night in the snappy gums, malley and other unknown gums...
So why was In Kalgoorlie in the middle of our winter? I was about to embark on a Home Energy Efficiency Audit and Behavioural Change Education Program for several Indigenous communities in the Goldfields area. Namely, Kalgoorlie, Wiluna, Laverton and Leonora. I was rather excited about this project, thought will admit a little bit unsure of how it would all unfold.
Before I could embark on this project I needed to sit my physics exam on Thursday 11 July. I was rather stressed about this exam! i liked the unit, topic and everything I had learnt, I just found it rather hard to remember it all. I spent the exam morning at the physio for my shoulder. I had sometime ago returned to swimming and cycling, though there till is some slight pain in the shoulder. So I'm trying to build up my strength in my left arm. I then went to the library at Murdoch to go over my notes before the exam. This paid off well, as a past exam questions I was still 'week' in understanding finally 'clicked' and you guest it, it was one of the questions on the paper. I managed to answer all the questions and within the 1st 10minutes of reading time I knew I had passed and was likely to get at least a Distinction.
Monday 14-18th June 2009
My auditing day stated by getting to the airport to meet my co-auditor, Fred from Synergy on the 7.30am flight. We then had an introduction meeting with the folks from the Goldfields Indigenous Housing Office and arrived at our community meeting at 9.30am.... By 10.30am we now number 4. Fred and I had been joined by only two others for our meeting... Oh well you get that. so the biscuits found a new home at GIHO.
We simply decided to just know on every ones door and ask if they had read my flier delivered last week and were they happy with me undertaking an Energy Efficiency Audit of their home. This plan worked a treat and was the basic plan for the rest of the week. I had a ball! Alas, Fred could only help me for two days and had to fly home...Thanks for your help Fred it was a great couple of days...
Tracey then stepped in to give me a hand for two days and we managed to finish the whole community. Thanks Tracey it was great working with you, thanks matey :)
I spent the rest of the week meeting with a few key stakeholders, starting to build a database from the data I had collected and trying to stay warm! I did visit the Mining Hall of Fame on Saturday where I went underground into an old mine shaft. Very interesting.
I needed to wait for a colleague to fly in on Sunday morning for our long drive to Wiluna...
I arrived in Kalgoorlie (Kal) after a 7 hour train trip from Perth on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon 13th June 2009. Kal is around 600k from Perth CBD heading due East and very slightly North. It is the heart of the Western Australian (WA) goldfields. Its been and still is a very important mining area for WA, holds extreme mineral wealth, over 150 years of gold mining history and if you don't believe me about its cultural and historical importance to West Australian, the fact we have named the daily train that services the towns from Perth to Kalgoorlie the "Prospector" says it all about its laconic place in our recent history.
The town itself is a delightful place with old historical builds and pubs on nearly every corner. Alas, maintaining its bygone days, most of these pubs sport 'topless' bar staff of the female kind... Try as I did, I didn't find a pub with 'topless rippling muscles and rock hard abs' bar staff of the male kind... Though the place is riddled with males of wide girth from spending much time frequenting the bars with the 'topless' female bar staff... Not to mention the bordellos that are 'legal' in this town. And by golly 'topless' or bordello employment is a tough way to make a living in this outback town, mostly on account of how unbearably cold it gets. Not just at night, but all day. I swear that an Iceland summer is balmy, compared to a Kalgoorlie winter.
The roads, whilst not paved in gold are very wide. This was because in its early days all item arrived by 'camel trains' which needed to turn around. The town now has a decorated medium strip of plants, trees and astro turf. All cars must park on an angle, which makes for reversing a large 4x4 interesting.
My Saturday arvo was spent collecting a hire vehicle, shopping for food for a community meeting on Monday, finding the community, unpacking and working out how to use a folding ladder, charging a cordless drill, and attending the local basket ball game between the Kalgoorlie Giants and the Rockingham somethings. The Giants won.
Sunday was spent trying to stay warm, over coming hay fever and thinking I was going to die from the cold. I did manage to pack the 4x4 with all my equipment which had arrived at the hotel the day before. I spent my day walking around Kal to get a feel for the place, with its wide streets, tin and wood houses, snappy gums and lay back lifestyle. I'm forever grateful for the work beanie, for which I would have suffered from frostbite without...and for Dome cafe where I worked on my audit report design and updated emails.
I chose to take the train to Kalgoorlie because it gives one the best view of the Avon Valley as it winds itself through the base of the Avon Valley National Park. Only the train passengers, adventurist kayakers or mad mountain bike riders can really get to see this bit of the National Park. There is no public road. Besides the carbon saving by taking the train vs flying are huge. The train trip was not uneventful on account of 6 young men on a 'wild weekend boys only' trip. I suspect the all the beer drinking was to give them courage to venture into wildwest lifestyle. Ignoring them, I watched the last of the Avon Valley forrest fade away into the wheatbelt, salt lakes and latter the woodlands of the goldfields.
I shed a tear or too as I thought of the may times I have camped in these woodlands. My most memorable was on my 1st recumbent bike ride in about 2000, riding from Bonnie Vale (Coolgardie) to Lower Chittering over 8 days. Camping each night in the snappy gums, malley and other unknown gums...
So why was In Kalgoorlie in the middle of our winter? I was about to embark on a Home Energy Efficiency Audit and Behavioural Change Education Program for several Indigenous communities in the Goldfields area. Namely, Kalgoorlie, Wiluna, Laverton and Leonora. I was rather excited about this project, thought will admit a little bit unsure of how it would all unfold.
Before I could embark on this project I needed to sit my physics exam on Thursday 11 July. I was rather stressed about this exam! i liked the unit, topic and everything I had learnt, I just found it rather hard to remember it all. I spent the exam morning at the physio for my shoulder. I had sometime ago returned to swimming and cycling, though there till is some slight pain in the shoulder. So I'm trying to build up my strength in my left arm. I then went to the library at Murdoch to go over my notes before the exam. This paid off well, as a past exam questions I was still 'week' in understanding finally 'clicked' and you guest it, it was one of the questions on the paper. I managed to answer all the questions and within the 1st 10minutes of reading time I knew I had passed and was likely to get at least a Distinction.
Monday 14-18th June 2009
My auditing day stated by getting to the airport to meet my co-auditor, Fred from Synergy on the 7.30am flight. We then had an introduction meeting with the folks from the Goldfields Indigenous Housing Office and arrived at our community meeting at 9.30am.... By 10.30am we now number 4. Fred and I had been joined by only two others for our meeting... Oh well you get that. so the biscuits found a new home at GIHO.
We simply decided to just know on every ones door and ask if they had read my flier delivered last week and were they happy with me undertaking an Energy Efficiency Audit of their home. This plan worked a treat and was the basic plan for the rest of the week. I had a ball! Alas, Fred could only help me for two days and had to fly home...Thanks for your help Fred it was a great couple of days...
Tracey then stepped in to give me a hand for two days and we managed to finish the whole community. Thanks Tracey it was great working with you, thanks matey :)
I spent the rest of the week meeting with a few key stakeholders, starting to build a database from the data I had collected and trying to stay warm! I did visit the Mining Hall of Fame on Saturday where I went underground into an old mine shaft. Very interesting.
I needed to wait for a colleague to fly in on Sunday morning for our long drive to Wiluna...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Uni, Bike accidents, Esperance and WOMADelaide
One of the 'bright' ideas i had for this year was to return to Uni to study physics. I never did it at school and felt it would help me working in the energy industry. I'm not sure I was all together ready for returning to Uni, but I jumped in to this idea as i usually do... with great gusto.
Early February ish (16th Feb) had me stating lectures, tutorials and labs. The following week had me panicking as to what I had dived into! What the hell is a Vector Diagram, who cares what the 3 Newtons laws are, and my god, I can't even work out how to turn on the new graphic calculator...
Fate decided it needed to make me slow down in a thump, quickly and with huge amount of pain. I had been burning the midnight oil a bit trying to undertake work, start uni, maintain my Climate Change work, cycling, swimming and kayaking...Then I decided to apply for a Churchill Fellowship...Then on the day I lodged my application and as I cycling home down a down hill ramp under Canning Hwy, the front experimental suspension forks on my long wheel base recumbent decided at this precise moment to snap.
My left shoulder was the first part of me to hit the concrete ground first. I was later to discover what my speed of deceleration was on account i was now studying physics. This knowledge didn't help with the pain. I was helped out of the bike path by passing cyclist and called my friends Am & John. At the time I thought I just had bad bruising... within 1/2hour I thought I had broken my collarbone. Upon arriving at Swan Districts Hospitable and a few painful hours later I found I had a Lab-lactation of the AC joint. All i knew was it hurt like hell and I'm so glad I have an automatic car.
Drugged for the next few days, I think I managed to attend a uni lab with the help of my friend Am, who not only drove me, but sat through the two hour lab with me. By Saturday of that week I had worked out how to redress myself with only a few tears. Though combing the hair was a challenge, one I sometimes can't even manage with two good arms.
A few months before this prang, I had been asked to present on Climate Change Solutions to householders in Esperance. I decided that 6 days after the accident I could still fly to Esperance and deliver a Climate Change presentation. So on The Tuesday I managed to get my travel bag, laptop and self, with left arm in sling to the domestic airport. I need to say here that Skywest were very helpful and understanding and helped me with my bags. I even had help on the plane with the passengers lifting my laptop in to the overhead locker.
Photos are on the way folks - Esperence is a must see location. My presentation went very well. It was a great night. The next day I drove along the coast, pining for my bike, the sun was out, the day was cool and no wind. The wild Southern Ocean bluer that ever before against the white sands.... What a way to visit the Horizon Power depot before my flight back to Perth.
I arrived in Perth with 3 hours before y flight to Adelaide. Yep this is where my brain says I can still do everything I want to do, even with an arm out of action. I had booked and paid for a trip to WOMADelaide. I was sure it would be fine... So again with arm in sling I headed off with bag and laptop to the QANTAS checking. They too were rather helpful with checking me in...
Once through the security checkin, i sat the airport pub, drinking water! And doing an online physics test of about 30 questions based on motion. Ugh!!! I don't get on well with multi-choice... and it also would have been better if I had actually remembered my calculator...somethings you just can't do on the Blackberry... Oh well there will be other tests, time to catch my flight.
There are times when I'm just 'blown away' as my Mum would say, but peoples kindness. At the airport several people helped me with my luggage and the airport shuttle bus got me to ring my friends to collect me and let them get on the bus to help take my stuff off. As it was rather dark when I arrived, Chris, John and Sandra had set up a overnight bed for me. We set up my tent the next day. And yep its rather painful sleeping in a tent with a lactated shoulder. At this stage in my healing process i couldn't lift any item, nothing! Let alone support my own weight.
WOMADElaide
Its such a great event folks you should try to attend at least once. Too much to expain, so I suggest you just go to the Womadelaide website and attend for 2010.
Early February ish (16th Feb) had me stating lectures, tutorials and labs. The following week had me panicking as to what I had dived into! What the hell is a Vector Diagram, who cares what the 3 Newtons laws are, and my god, I can't even work out how to turn on the new graphic calculator...
Fate decided it needed to make me slow down in a thump, quickly and with huge amount of pain. I had been burning the midnight oil a bit trying to undertake work, start uni, maintain my Climate Change work, cycling, swimming and kayaking...Then I decided to apply for a Churchill Fellowship...Then on the day I lodged my application and as I cycling home down a down hill ramp under Canning Hwy, the front experimental suspension forks on my long wheel base recumbent decided at this precise moment to snap.
My left shoulder was the first part of me to hit the concrete ground first. I was later to discover what my speed of deceleration was on account i was now studying physics. This knowledge didn't help with the pain. I was helped out of the bike path by passing cyclist and called my friends Am & John. At the time I thought I just had bad bruising... within 1/2hour I thought I had broken my collarbone. Upon arriving at Swan Districts Hospitable and a few painful hours later I found I had a Lab-lactation of the AC joint. All i knew was it hurt like hell and I'm so glad I have an automatic car.
Drugged for the next few days, I think I managed to attend a uni lab with the help of my friend Am, who not only drove me, but sat through the two hour lab with me. By Saturday of that week I had worked out how to redress myself with only a few tears. Though combing the hair was a challenge, one I sometimes can't even manage with two good arms.
A few months before this prang, I had been asked to present on Climate Change Solutions to householders in Esperance. I decided that 6 days after the accident I could still fly to Esperance and deliver a Climate Change presentation. So on The Tuesday I managed to get my travel bag, laptop and self, with left arm in sling to the domestic airport. I need to say here that Skywest were very helpful and understanding and helped me with my bags. I even had help on the plane with the passengers lifting my laptop in to the overhead locker.
Photos are on the way folks - Esperence is a must see location. My presentation went very well. It was a great night. The next day I drove along the coast, pining for my bike, the sun was out, the day was cool and no wind. The wild Southern Ocean bluer that ever before against the white sands.... What a way to visit the Horizon Power depot before my flight back to Perth.
I arrived in Perth with 3 hours before y flight to Adelaide. Yep this is where my brain says I can still do everything I want to do, even with an arm out of action. I had booked and paid for a trip to WOMADelaide. I was sure it would be fine... So again with arm in sling I headed off with bag and laptop to the QANTAS checking. They too were rather helpful with checking me in...
Once through the security checkin, i sat the airport pub, drinking water! And doing an online physics test of about 30 questions based on motion. Ugh!!! I don't get on well with multi-choice... and it also would have been better if I had actually remembered my calculator...somethings you just can't do on the Blackberry... Oh well there will be other tests, time to catch my flight.
There are times when I'm just 'blown away' as my Mum would say, but peoples kindness. At the airport several people helped me with my luggage and the airport shuttle bus got me to ring my friends to collect me and let them get on the bus to help take my stuff off. As it was rather dark when I arrived, Chris, John and Sandra had set up a overnight bed for me. We set up my tent the next day. And yep its rather painful sleeping in a tent with a lactated shoulder. At this stage in my healing process i couldn't lift any item, nothing! Let alone support my own weight.
WOMADElaide
Its such a great event folks you should try to attend at least once. Too much to expain, so I suggest you just go to the Womadelaide website and attend for 2010.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Back to Barrow
I am writing this several months after my trip... It has been a busy 1/2 year... It started with me returning to Barrow Island for the Turtle Tagging season as a volly. I had a wonderful time. Though it was hot at times... even too hot to swim laps in the 15 metre pool... Then there was the humidity. One day it was 42 degrees and that night we had to work. Whilst the temperature had fallen to about 38 degrees the humidity was about 99%...It was like I was going to melt... carrying my 2litres of water, Turtle Tagging Tool Book, clipboard, and trackline draging stick... Whislt stomping up 2kms of sandy turtle body hole pitted beach at 2am! But i wouldnt want it any other way.
This year I managed to not only see hatchlings, but i got to hold them for a moment. The most exciting experience was when driving back from Mushroom beach at 5am on morning we scared a bird in the road and it dropped its morning meal, of baby turtle. It was covered in red dust, but alive.... so we drove to Yatch Club South Beach to set it free... We can only hope that little hatching is still swimming out there and will one day return to Barrow Island (assuming its a girl) to lay her eggs in about 30-40 years.
The all time highlight was going snorkling for the 1st time with prescription goggles! I was so excitted as i could actually see everythink clearly underwater. I managed to swim around a bit on my own and I swam right up to a male Green Turtle. It is a memory that will stay with me for such a long time. I was so close I could have touch him... Though knowing how strong they are I just stayed still until he noticed me. I also managed to see a 2metre shovehead shark, just laying on the seabed... Magic.
This tour we got to go snorkling twice, then did tours of John Wayne country, Obe's, and Bandicote bay....
It was time to leave Barrow and I flew home on Tuesday 13th January 2009.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Gold Coast - November 2008
In November 2008 I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Gold Coast, Queensland for the Clean Energy Congress. I then travelled to Brisbane to stay a few days with a friend. I managed to either hire a bike, or borrow my friend Di's and ride around both locations. I've attached a few images from my days on a bike....
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Kununurra, Flights and Darwin
We had a couple of days in Kununurra to enjoy ourselves. Saturday 12th July, was a cycling day with out luggage visiting the Diversion Dam, Zebra Rock shop, visit Shoal Air to measure the bikes and get weighed, then coffee - real coffee at Boab Cafe... We then decided we liked the Kununurra show so much, we would go again :) Lots of fun just being still watch others use energy...
Sunday 13th July, friends working for Pacific Hydro meet us at our camping ground for a tour of Lake Argyle. Whilst we could have ridden the 75kms to the lake, we only had one day and would needed to have ridden back!!! The plan was shout my friends lunch, but they bet us to that idea with a great lunch at the Lake Argyle Tourist Park... Back in town we visited the Hootchery for coffee and Rum. We had just enough daylight to walk through 'Hidden Valley" and then climb Kellie's Knob for a wonderful sunset over the town.
Monday 14th July Birgit and Owe were collected by their tour operator for their fly, 4x4 and walk tour of Purnululu National Park. I spent the best part of the morning packing the trailer to post back to Germany, with a bottle of rum!!!... I then spent time a Boab Cafe catching up on my blog, emails and reading a book. I dropped into my work Depot and then road out to Shoal Air to pay for my ticket.... Our last night in town was a BBQ of fish
Tuesday 15th July was an early start 4.30am we were packed and at airport at 5.30am. Paul the pilot was there and the owner Steve turned up to wish a great trip and help load the bikes... We only needed to remove the front wheels... I was given the front seat :) Very kind of Birgit & Owe...
We were airborne by 6.30am and all nicely drugged with Kwells. Paying $1,100 each (including cousin Steve, who wasn't on plane) their is no room for getting or risking getting sick when we were going to be flying at around 1500 feet for 6 hours!!!
We flew over the Ivanhoe Crossing, Parry Creek Road - such a treat to see our cycle path from the air. Then we meet the Cockburn range, Emma Gorge and more. Our path was taking us to the Mitchell Falls which we circled several times, before heading north towards Truscott - where we managed to see the crashed DC3 that my work mate had told me about.. That was a lot of fun, as Paul didn't know it was there and when I said I could see it, he banked the plane on to its wing tip and circled around...Owe was the only one with enough composure to get a photo! We then headed east to Kalumburu Mission, where we landed to refuel and walk into town for a byo lunch in the Mission grounds. Sadly the museum was closed...
The rest of the flight to Darwin was a little less interesting and I think the Kwell's had started to kick in. I did like King George Falls and the flight only makes me want to sail from Broome, Whyndam & Darwin all the more... I'll have to start saving my $2 its not a cheap holiday by boat... but I think the best boat trip one could do...
Landing at Darwin was a hoot. We are in a light aircraft having to land on the same runway as a 747 or bigger... I just loved this image. We managed to unpack the bikes, attache the wheels and air, find a map to my cousin's Iris & Simone's house by about 6pm. Uncal David cooked us a great dinner and our new home for a few days was tents with out flies in the shed... It was great uncal David had set up a light and fan for us... It was like home.
Wednesday 16th July was a wonderful day cycling into Darwin from Alawa along the coast. We road about 42kms and I just fell in love with Darwin. We had coffee at the art gallery/museum. Lunch at Magic Wok so Owe could taste more of our native animals... We road back again, with more coffee and uncal David cooked us a wonderful meal again... So nice.
Thursday 17th July was work day. We bused into town again for coffee with my cycling friend, Sharon. Then we picked up the hire car, bike boxes and packed the bikes down. We then went to the Mendal Street Markets for dinner and walk around.
Friday 18th July was a moving day... I had to say goodbye to Birgit and Owe... They were heading to Kakado and other places and I had to fly home Sunday... I spent the day by going swimming, having lunch with Sharon and visiting the art gallery she once worked at. Very nice. Dinner was again cooked by uncal David :)
19st Saturday uncal David drove me to the air museum to show me the B42 bommer - its huge and well worth seeing. I caught up with Climate Change folk at the Markets, went to town to read, have coffee and wait to have dinner with Sis, Greg and the kids who were flying in tonight. this was great to catch up...
Sunday 20th July Uncal David drove me to the airport with my bike and stuff... I gave him a big hug and hoped I would make it back to Darwin soon. I managed to check all my items in without being charged excess :) Flight home was via Alice and was nice. I arived at Perth to a phone call for Peter, Craig and Cees who meet me at the airport to say hi.... Michelle and Greg had left their combi at airport for me to take home.... That night I put the Ran's back together and went for a ride around the house.... Wonderful trip...
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