21 April 2019
The day commenced with a visit to quirky Aladdin’s Cave Bottlehouse. What a magical fairyland Jan and Brian Gilmore have produced in a very dry part of Australia.
The bottles have fascinating messages and treasures as well as their children’s time capsules.
The cost to enter this fairyland is $6 for adults $3 for children under 16. Put this on your list for Dubbo.
20 April 2019
Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo Zoo) is a 5 hour drive from Sydney (during school holidays you can add 3 hours to that time). I have been to several zoos around the world including the famous San Diego Zoo, which is beautiful and my Taronga Zoo in Sydney, where the animals have the most expensive view in the world. Dubbo Zoo has 5km (3 miles) of tracks which you can drive through, ride your bicycle or you can hire a golf buggy or hire a bicycle.
I was last here 12 years ago when my boys were 13 and 18, we went to Dubbo by train and slept at the zoo in the “roar and snore” program. Now called the Billabong Camp experience. Waking up in the zoo and being a part of the morning feeding regime is a wonderful experience. The animals are so excited first thing in the morning, the noise feels like you are in the middle of the jungle.
This trip I drove my car in and left it at the first carpark inside the circuit and walked the zoo. It is beautiful to walk as there are lots of trees and shade, spots to have picnics to watch the animals at your leisure. There is a moat between us and them. Before you go, buy your ticket online so you can bypass some of the traffic entering the zoo. I found leaving my car at the start, then after walking the circuit, I got in my car at the end and stopped at the places I wanted another look on the way out. The ticket is valid for 2 days of multiple entries.
Tomorrow I leave Dubbo and enter a part of my state of New South Wales (NSW) I have never been to.
19 April 2019
Today I drove 290km (180miles) from Leura to the mid western NSW city of Dubbo. I tried to stop off at a few places along the way to capture the changing landscape.
Arrived in Dubbo and I was fortunate to find accommodation as I do not book anything until I arrive at my destination or when I stop because I am too tired. Luckily the Tourist Information Office was open on Good Friday and as Dubbo is a country town, they are updated by local hotels when there are last minute cancellations which I was fortunate to snap up. I am staying at the Orana Motel which is very comfortable and close to everything.
From Leura and more especially going on from Dubbo, I need to be aware of more animals running onto the road. This road kill was not by me luckily.
Tonight I went to the Dubbo Observatory. I had a very close call when driving 100kph (65mph) when 3 kangaroos jumped out onto the road in front of my car. I am so aware of the danger of driving from dusk that I normally stay within the city limits at night to avoid the possibility of having an accident with animals. As the observatory is an evening event and in the middle of a remote area, I should have expected kangaroos. I can tell you I slowed down to under 60kph when going back to the hotel.
When on my USA road trip I had skunks, snapping turtles, elk, mustangs, turkey, beaver, chickens, deer, pig come onto the road by surprise and saw many of all these animals and many unidentifiable road kill. So far on this road trip I have seen many kangaroos, foxes, wombat and birds. I expect to come across many more as I move into more remote areas of my beautiful country on this trip.
18 April 2019
My plans for this road trip came about when I was looking at flights to Bali, Thailand, Japan, Cook Island for 10 days, but because I left it so late and it is school and Easter holidays, the prices were so expensive I decided on this roadtrip to Broken Hill. Broken Hill is almost 13 hours from Sydney and close to the NSW and South Australian borders.
First stop, Leura, normally takes 1.5 hours from Sydney but with the holiday traffic it took 2.5 hours. Leura is in the Blue Mountains and I am fortunate I have a few friends in that area who share their beautiful paradise with me.
This is a very gorgeous sight to wake up to.
26 January 2019
Australia Day is the celebration of the founding of our nation in 1788. We have similar celebrations to the USA 4th of July. Last year I celebrated on a ferry competing in the Sydney Ferry Race on the blue Shark team ferry. At $250 for 4 hours a paper box lunch and 2 glasses of wine it was expensive but a fun experience.
This year 5 days after a 13 night cruise to the South Pacific, I as back on another cruise, this time the P & O Escape to enjoy 3 nights of celebrating Australia Day. It was an amazing experience, especially at $550 for the 3 nights. The ship sailed out to sea on the first night, then the next morning we were moored in the middle of Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day celebrations. The ship was decked out with Australiana, including the cruise director dressed as Dame Edna. They played the best Aussie music from every era while I sunbaked on the top deck, watching the boat and ferry races, the sailboat ballet, and the pie eating contest. The highlight for me is when the F18s did the flypast. A QANTAS jet flys low over Sydney Harbour, although they fly lower above my home close to the airport, but it is pretty spectacular with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as a backdrop.
I look forward to doing it again next year.
13 August 2018
I have come full circle. I started my trip in California on 1 March 2018. I have driven 29,850 kilometres/18548 miles, a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska and completed my goal of visiting all 50 USA states. With a slight detour of a Transatlantic cruise to Barcelona from Florida and a drive through two provinces of Canada to meet up with Canadian cousins.
I have very mixed feelings about my Odyssey ending. The beautiful places I have discovered, the interesting, kind and loving people I have met, the memories I have made, the adrenaline, anxiety, excitement, happiness, wonder, awe, sadness leaving people, I feel privileged to have experienced all this and so much more than words can describe.
To everyone who has been part of my journey with me or through my blog, the people who would talk to me on the phone while I was driving to keep me awake, the people who opened their homes family and hearts to me, the people who encouraged me and made me feel I was doing something special, the people who made me feel special, and the people who supported my sons while I was on my journey, I thank you.
Hope to see you all again soon somewhere in the world. My door in Sydney is always open. Just check I am home first 🙂
To the most important people in my life, my gorgeous sons, Dion, thank you for holding the fort at home and Carlos for encouraging me to write this blog. I love you both, as Carlos would say “a thousand times more than the biggest number”.
Let’s see what adventure home has in store for me.
“Happiness is a journey, not a destination. For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin—real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one”.
ALFRED D. SOUZA writer, philosopher
“Your vibe attracts your tribe”.
“Those who wander are not always lost”. JRR Tolkien
8 August 2018
Before venturing to Death Valley I did some extensive research as I had heard it gets very hot at this time of year. I am not used to the extreme temperatures this part of the world experiences.
Satisfied that I would be ok and that my Corolla should function fine, I left Las Vegas at 10:00am with extra water and my snacks of popcorn, cheese, pumpkin seeds and a banana.
I took the longer route from Las Vegas as I was advised it was more scenic and I was so excited when I came across the Area 51 Alien stop. I have seen documentaries and movies which depict the conspiracy theories including UFOs around this Top Secret highly classified Government site just off Route 95 Nevada
Next door is the biggest firecracker.
I drove through the Beatty entrance of Death Valley.
The Sahara Desert has temperatures which reach 47C/117F and today I drove through Death Valley my car temperature reached 49C/120F. This thermometer outside the Ranger’s Station at Stovepipe Wells at 2:00pm in the shade is proof of how hot it gets.
One thing I did not get to do in Death Valley was drive through naked. I thought this part of the world would get few people so I could check this item off my bucket list. I don’t think there is anywhere in the USA which has no-one driving through to enable me to fulfill this goal. This small section of the Mesquite Dunes are an example of how many people are around the Valley.
Stovepipe Wells is the first resort in Death Valley.
Mosaic Canyon
The changing landscape.
Leaving Death Valley through Lone Pine to Bakersfield, the landscape changes again.
Video of Cow Flat Creek in the Sequioa National Park outside Bakersfield.
This “village” outside Asheville warrants a separate posting for their culinary offers. All three (3) eateries I had the pleasure to eat at, had some of the best food I have eaten. Who would have thought walking into the Well Bred Bakery & Cafe to find delights reminiscent of what you would enjoy in a cafe in Leura or Surry Hills. It was mouth watering trying to choose between the cakes, breads and quiches.
The Glass Onion is an Italian restaurant and I had the Zuppa della Nonna. A minestrone type soup with italian meat balls and chicken. I loved it so much I bought an order to takeaway (to go) for dinner the next night. I also bought a side of mash with bacon and their home made garlic bread rolls drowned in olive oil and garlic. Delicious!!
Then the Creperie Cafe I had the Carolina crepe with cream cheese, strawberries and blueberries. Just the perfect balance of sweet.
It is so difficult to find decent food which isn’t fried and slathered with cheddar cheese, that these three (3) eateries in one village, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.
I understand that there are other great restaurants in Weaverville but I did not have the time to enjoy them.
Weaverville has given me hope that I will find more decent food during my travels. Perhaps the secret is going to the smaller towns as I have been doing this trip.
6 April 2018
With sadness I left Santa Rosa Beach. I enjoyed my decadent week of relaxation in a very pretty upper middle class “predominantly white” holiday area similar (but not really) to the Australian Gold Coast. Here there are mile after mile of mansions mainly used as weekenders, and as I was here during Spring break it felt like all of America’s school age people were here spread across Panama City to Gulf Shores riding their bicycles or driving around in their golf buggies. Most of the people who come to this part of the world are from Tennessee and Georgia. Although the area I stayed in has a private beach so I did not venture outside the gated community often.
Orlando was meant to take me six (6) hours to drive but I allowed two (2) hours for stops to explore. It actually took me 12 hours because I was having so much fun exploring and then was stuck in traffic when a truck burst into flames in the forest on the roadside of the South 10. I was impressed with how quickly all the emergency services responded and put out the fire before all the forest caught alight. NSW could look into their methods particularly when there is an accident on the M1.
I have decided that when I move on to my next stop I have to remind myself to enjoy the journey, explore and not rush straight to the final destination.
Today I had a day of football, witches and fairies.
First stop was exploring Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. From what I saw it is predominantly a university town and has the beautiful and huge Florida State university(FSU).
I was curious to visit the Sod Cemetery at FSU. University football teams have a quirky tradition when they win a big match at the opposing team’s home ground. If the visitors win they take a piece of the playing field (sod) and bury it in their “Sod Cemetery” complete with headstones.
I also took a photo of their walk of fame and entrance of the university football exhibition
A magical stop was at Lichgate on High Road. The house was built by a FSU Professor Laura Jepson. The magical part of the property is the labyrinth she built near the majestic tree which reminded me of the tree in Avatar.
I met 3 beautiful women including identical twins Len and Leslie The twins were born with osteogenesis imperfecta and are 2 of the most inspiring and fun people I have met. I could have stayed in this magical fairyland with these women for hours but I needed to move on. Thank you ladies for reminding me there is no such thing as coincidence.
Next I went to the Tallahassee Old Cemetery to visit the gravesite of a white witch Elizabeth Budd-Graham.
The 9/11 Whale sculptures are a memorial built by Bruce Brinson and his friends. The whales are named Glory, Hope, Faith and Grace.
29 March 2018
Having driven across seven (7) southern USA states and 6000 kms (3900 miles) with rain, wind, cold and snow I am rewarding myself with a few days rest in this affluent beach holiday area. Currently it is spring break so there are lots of young people and families. This is a popular holiday area for Tennessee people.
The landscape and culture has changed so much from California with a large Hispanic Mexican influence, Arizona and Texas with cowboys, Mississippi predominantly negro and across to this part of Florida which is beautiful but feels noticeably “white”.
Majestic beachside mansions and the beaches have the whitest sand, which I concede this Florida beach is comparable to ours in Australia.
I am staying in the house of my friend, Paul from Nashville. He is off working around the USA and I have the pleasure of the company of his friends Walt and Lisa together with their teenage daughters.
Anna Caroline showed me this quirky spot Big Jack’s Gator Park
The bridges in Florida are quite different. They have very low walls I expect so you can see the view. I get the feeling that if a wave comes up you will get washed over into the Gulf or marsh.
Bridge from Alabama to Florida
This area is one of the first where many people use bicycles instead off motor vehicles. There are bicycle lanes and the beach has a boardwalk to conveniently leave your pedal transportation.
The beaches and lagoons in this area are very beautiful with their white sand.
I visited Grayton Beach which has a turtle colony but I was not fortunate to witness any turtles.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 