Friday 4 April 2014

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

Thursday 3 April 2014

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