Back in Sydney

Arrived back in Sydney last Monday.

Getting ready for our big trip to Alaska & Canada.  6 more sleeps.  Fly out on Tuesday 8th April

Taking the scenic route via Beijing (4 days) tours of Great Wall, Summer Palace & Tiananmen square.  Then fly to Tokyo 2 days & then board the Volendam cruise ship. 3 ports in Japan (Aomori, Hakodate, Kushiro)  & across the north Pacific to Kodiak island (Alaska) + Ketchikan (inside passage) & onto Vancouver.  Our tour also takes us on a 2 day trip to Whistler.

Then we are on our own. Hired a car for 2 weeks & exploring the wonders of British Columbia ie our route will take us to the beautiful towns & tourist spots,

Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields parkway,  Jasper, Kamloops, Clinton, Sun Peaks, Whistler & back to Vancouver.

From there we fly to Anchorage & pick up an RV for 2 weeks & will endeavour to see as much as we can ie Seward, Denali National park, Fairbanks & maybe be even Dawson city & Klondike in Yukon territory (gold rush day towns)

Cruise ship " Crown Princess" leaves from Whittier down through the inside passage, calling in at Glacier & Hubbard bays, Skagway, Junea & Ketchikan & back to Vancouver.

We have 7 days accommodation booked & 5 days at the end with nothing planned.  Hoping to get a deal locally either to Niagara Falls or Seattle

Fly home to Sydney again by the scenic route (part of the deal ie China & cruise on Volendam)
Vancouver to LA, LA to Nadi, Nadi to Sydney.  Depart Vancouver 18th June arrive home 20th June
Don't you just hate when you loose a day!!!!

This trip is what they call

SPENDING THE KIDS INHERITANCE !!!!  You bet ya!!!!

I have started a new blog on my tablet, but not having much fun getting photos to download into it,
so sure hope it works when we leave town.  Need to find some Backpackers to help me with a travel blog.  just hate that Facebook stuff !!

Anyway this is the blog.  Keep your fingers X'd that it works

http://witchwaegoestoGreatWall&WallofIce.blogspot.com

Time to hit the beach at Manly

After a slight hiccup, left Ben's backpack on the ferry & had to wait for it to come back to the Quay. Finally on our way across the harbour to Manly

 

Wild Thing  another Rhino at the beach

Racing Nanna back up the beach

 

I won !!!!

Big brown bear outside the Bavarian restaurant on the wharf

 



Uncle Bob's turn to get the ice creams from Macas !!!

Almost melted by the time he got to the beach

 



 

"Dipping our toes "

Manly harbour beach

 



Lets go for a walk Nanna

 



 

Smart restaurants at the wharf

 

Selfie!!!!

 

Our little man Benjamin

That's how you get the sand out of your toes Nanna!!

Great day had by all, got home to Rydalmere about 5pm

Ben's dad Daniel was wondering where we were!!!!



Ferry ride to Circular Quay

What a glorious day to do catch the River cat ferry from Rydalmere into Circular quay

Time to have some family time with my sister Robyn & my great nephew Benjamin

Ben & Nanna on River cat ferry

 



Uncle Bob enjoying the view along Parramatta river

 

 

Ryde bridge

 

Thomas Walker house at Concord

View of the city heading towards Darling harbour

 



The most famous bridge in the world

Sydney harbour bridge

Never fails to impress especially on a beautiful sunny day like today

 



 

One happy family !!!

Uncle Bob, Susie (Jan) Benjamin & Robyn

Loads of brightly coloured Rhino's all around town

This one outside wharf 3

Promo/auction for Taronga zoo

 



 

What a fab photo

Celebrity Solstice cruise ship in port  & Harbour bridge

 

Happy snap with the family

 

 

More rhino's this one in camouflage colours

Bulahdelah free campsite

Bob having his afternoon Poppy nap
Big long drive today from Mungo Brush campsite over the punt to Bulahdelah
Maybe 20kms !!!!

Looking across river to the pub
Might walk over there for a beer/wine & dinner later today

Friendly geese come over to say hello

This is the lovely free camp down by the Myall river, just across the bridge in Bulahdelah

Vintage & Modern fashion parade

 

The ladies all looked glamorous in their lovely dresses, they all went "all out"

to take out the prizes 

The lady on stage 2nd from the right is

"Cherry Doll face"

 they had brought her out from states, apparently she is an internet sensation

covered in "tatts" & gives women/girls tips on how to create the look of the 40's & 50's, rockabilly etc

 



 

FABULOUS