First Stop - Sydney, Australia

On December 6, we drove the 535 miles north to McKinney to visit with our Son, Brian, and his wife, Laura. On December 11 he drove us to DFW Airport for our 17 and a half hour direct flight to Sydney. We chose to fly on Qantas Airlines because they had premium economy seating on a really big double decker Airbus. It was nice to have room to stretch out a little and even get some sleep on our flight to the "Down Under".  

The lower deck boarded from one gate and we boarded the upper deck from a separate gate.

The Sydney Harbor Marriott was our home for the next three nights.

From our 23rd floor window we could see the Sydney Harbor Bridge along with the historic "Rocks" District.

View of the Marriott from the  "Rocks" District

Since we arrived early in the morning on December 13, we wanted to treat our jet lag by staying busy all day. We purchased a two day pass for the Big Bus-Hop-On/Hop-Off Double decker Bus. We got a tour of the city.

 

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS

We hopped off the "Big Bus" at the Royal Botanic Gardens. This is the Gate House.

View of the Sydney Tower from the Botanic Gardens 

There were many tropical plants in bloom because December is Springtime in Sydney. These Lilies of the Nile were everywhere and they even matched Kurt's shirt.

Mrs. Macquarie's Chair was carved by convicts in 1811 for the then-governor's wife. From this sandstone bench she would sit and view the harbor during her evening walks. Now being used by Mrs. Naville

The gardens were abundant with birds we never saw before. It was fun identifying them. Here are a mother and chick Noisy Miners. We watched for a while and thought the chick was larger than mom. 

Australian White Ibis

The Royal Botanic Gardens are adjacent to the Sydney Opera House.

After a good nights sleep, we found a little bakery in the Historic  "Rocks" District for breakfast.

We hopped off Big Bus at St. Mary's Cathedral

The Hyde Park Barracks Museum This former prison provides a glimpse into the lives of convicts and orphans who lived here in the 1800's.

This bronze wild boar statue sits near the Parliament building. Legend states if you rub his snout and make a wish, it will come true.

Parliament of New South Wales of which Sydney is the capital.

Parliamentary Library

 

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

We took an inside tour of the Sydney Opera House. Opening in 1973, it took 14 years to build.

Truly a timeless architectural wonder.

Within the Opera House there are seven separate theaters.

 

MARITIME MUSEUM

As a passing afternoon shower came through, we took Big Bus to the Australian Maritime Museum in the Darling Harbor area.

 Modern Art

Sydney Harbor from our room.

 



BLUE MOUNTAINS

We booked a Blue Diamond tour of the Blue Mountains for Saturday. They picked us up at our hotel at 7:15 am for a full day of touring. The Blue Mountains are located about 70 miles northwest of Sydney. Our tour guide, Ian, drove the 14 passenger Mercedes Benz van.

Echo Point overlooking the Jamison Valley

Early morning clouds lift from the rock formation Three Sisters

After waiting around a minute, we got the picture.

Taking the Skyway Cable Car above the Jamison Valley.

Wentworth Falls taken from the Cable Car.

The Vast Jamison Valley

 

The World's Steepest Railway to the valley floor a thousand feet below.

We had to sit at a 52 degree tilt as we descended.

After returning up the railway, we transferred to the Scenic Cableway.

While on the valley floor we went for a hike along a board walk through the forest.

We looked for the elusive liar bird who inhabits this forest, but no luck.

The rock formation Boars Head is immediately above the plaque to our right.

The Megalong Valley

 

FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK

After we departed the Blue Mountains we stopped at a wildlife park on the way back to Sydney.

The koala was napping on this very warm afternoon.

Frogmouth Trio

Kookaburra wouldn't laugh for us.

Three Little Blue Penguins crowding into the shade.

This wallaby liked his head scratched.

Our tour van avoided returning to the heavy afternoon Sydney traffic by dropping us off at a ferry terminal outside the city.This provided us with a scenic boat trip up the Parramatta River to the city center.

 

BONDI BEACH

Bondi Beach Pavilion

And the World Famous Bondi Beach

We will bid farewell to Sydney, But our adventure is just beginning.

A Few Sights On Our Return to Texas

We departed Idaho on Tuesday, September 18. After driving a couple of days, we stopped for four days in Hermosa, South Dakota, just outside of Rapid City.

 

BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Driving the Needles Parkway in

Custer State Park

The leaves were starting to change.

The infamous Needles Tunnel

This is the eye of the needle.

Driving by Mt. Rushmore, we caught a glimpse

of George's silhouette from the highway.

 

KANSAS AVIATION MUSEUM

Continuing our trek south, we stopped in Wichita, Kansas for 4 days. Wichita, known as the Air Capital of the World, is home to much of the U.S. aircraft industry. 

The first Wichita Airport Terminal,

completed in 1935

The Terminal opened as a museum

in 1991.

One of the highlights of the museum is

climbing to the top of the old control tower.

From there you can overlook McConnell AFB.

 

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOUSE

We stopped at Wright's "Allen House" named after its first owners, newspaper publisher Henry Allen. This prairie house was completed in 1918. We marveled at the architecture and condition of this house considering it is 100 years old. Tours are available, but not on the day we were there.

 

COLEMAN MUSEUM IN WICHITA, KANSAS

We had to visit the Coleman Factory

Outlet and Museum,

since Coleman originated in Wichita.

The Free Museum had many old lanterns and

nostalgia. it seemed like everything Coleman

currently makes is available for sale in the Outlet.

 

These are our fortunes from

dinner at a Chinese Restaurant.

These sayings seem very appropriate.

Reflections from the Summer of 2018

Another summer has quickly flown by and it is time to travel south. We had a good summer here at The Museum at the Brig. We met and talked to thousands of visitors about World War II history and Farragut Naval Training Center's role in that war. Two new programs were established this year, The Idaho Junior Ranger Program, as well as a rope challenge course called "Tree to Tree". A newly renovated room within the Brig compound provided space for the new Junior Ranger Station. The "Tree to Tree" course was built and is operated by an outside vendor. It is composed of four adult courses as well as two youth courses. The aerial adventure course features zip lines, nets, Tarzan swings and other fun obstacles for every age and ability.

Our campsite is located just a short walk to work.

We love the large, private site.

We are furnished with a fire ring,

picnic table and 50 amp/full hookup.

The museum houses two fully restored vehicles, a 1938 Ford flatbed and this 1942 Pirsch fire engine. Both were used at the training center and are now on display in the Brig courtyard.

After the Brig closes each evening the deer

and the turkeys move in.

Our 5th wheel makes a perfect "blind."

"Tree to Tree" opened the course one evening exclusively for the Farragut volunteers and staff. Virginia took advantage of this opportunity to "challenge" herself with the Green Course (the first of four courses, of increasing difficulty). 

This western skink was in the dump well next to our trailer.

We weren't sure what we were looking at,

this strange creature with a teal blue tail.

Mack, a bronze statue, was placed in front of the

Museum on the Memorial Plaza, at the last official

veterans reunion in September, 2006.

The Coeur d' Alene artist incorporated

numerous relief images of sailor's faces

covering the sculpture.

These represent the

293,381 recruits who competed boot camp

at the Farragut Naval Training Station.