Like everyone, all major trips have been put on hold due to Covid. But we decided to take a car camping/road trip to explore some of the areas nearby. And we confirmed what we had heard. Campgrounds were crowded! On one hand, it was great to see so many families enjoying the parks, but it did make just showing up at a campground fairly difficult, even in the 1st week of Oct! Most everyone were wea Read on...
The last few days of our Borneo holiday we wanted to spend on Pulau Mantanani, an island 45 minutes off the west coast of Borneo. Our guides dropped us off at Rampayam Jetty north of the town of Kota Belud, and from there we caught a boat to the island. It was only a trip, but it was a hell of a ride. There were a lot of waves, and our captain was keen on racing the boat through them, so more oft Read on...
I worked 39 years as a English teacher and never sought to increase my by giving private lessons. I was more than happy with my salary, and I treasured my free time. Only once – when I was teaching in England circa 1981 – did I tutor someone privately. He was a weak English student, so weak he was studying CSE English (now obsolete), not English ‘O level. As I recall, I took him on out of s Read on...
We werent going to hang around too long before getting on the road as we had read conflicting reports of the time it would likely take to get to the Molesworth Cob Hut and back to Hanmer Springs, a distance of about 170km for the round trip.
The road out through the Awatere River Valley to SH1 is still closed from the Cob Hut due to very heavy rainfall events last year that washed out the origina Read on...
This is the beginning our 2ndEuropean road trip. From an initial concept of driving to Norway North Cape, we soon realise that we cant easily reach Norway and as we have only 3 weeks for our trip we quickly adjust our goal and decide that Stockholm will be our goal. Ive been to Sweden before (but a long time ago), but not to Stockholm. J hasnt been to Sweden at all.
These days the only way to dri Read on...
Alsof we nog niet trots genoeg waren op ons Nore, begon ze vanochtend, toen Karen haar tanden was gaan poetsen, opeens te kruipen.
Ik ging nog afscheid nemen van de vriendelijke eigenaar en sloeg nog een klein praatje over het weer.
Hij zei me dat de zomer er echt laat is dit jaar en dat er normaal veel minder tot geen sneeuw meer ligt op de bergtoppen.
offroad wou gaan om op een grave rots te Read on...
Kunnunara to Bungle Bungles was a short day, only 250kms on seal. We stopped at Warnum Roadhouse for gas as no fuel now until reached Halls Creek & we were going to do 250kms in the park. The correct name for the park is Purnululu but through a lost in translation moment became the Bungle Bungles when a white explorer asked an Indigenous guide what the area was called & the guide thought he was as Read on...
Today it was sadly time to move on from San Antonio, which has to be our favourite place so far this holiday - sorry Houston and New Orleans. We were heading to Dallas today, but as Austin is on the route so we through we would stop there on the way.
Austin is the capital of Texas and is the site of the Texas State Capitol. We found it very easily and were also easily (and surprisingly) able to p Read on...
Since we cannot go to Stewart Island today, our time has been freed up to do other things so we set off to explore around the area and leave the town and gardens for tomorrow.
Tomorrow there is a running race from the Sandy Point Domain into town so we figure it best to go there today while peace reigns. Our B&B is just off the Sandy Point Road so it was an easy drive straight down the peninsula. Read on...
It has been a strange old week. We start off with a moment, that should have been a cause for national celebration. TFB was finally shown the door. Larry the Cat waved goodbye to another temporary resident in Downing Street and the Dilyn looked forwarded to a life closer to the suburbs. TFB has hinted of a possible return, but let us hope someone changes the locks in the meantime. After what she d Read on...