Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

Easter Road Trip Day 3

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.

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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.

Easter Road Trip Day 2

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.

20190419_110652 — Hartley Historic Village NSW

20190419_131253 — Robertson Park Mudgee NSW

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.

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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.

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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.

Easter Road Trip Day 1

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.

Dorian Gray Naked

21 February 2019

Another day of pride as a parent. The opening night of Dorian Gray Naked. A musical written by Melvyn Morrow and music by my son Dion Condack.

With Dorian Blake Appelqvist librettist Melvyn Morrowand the composer Dion.

It is on at the Limelight on Oxford Theatre. Not only is Dion the composer but he plays the piano and sings.

One review by performing.artshub

Australia Day

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.

Dion birthday

21 January 2019

My son, Dion, turned a quarter of a century. He has been so busy rehearsing a musical for which he wrote the music, will be playing piano and singing that a short celebration dinner was held at Thai Pothong in Newtown with family. Thai Pothong is an experience with great quality food, great decor and wonderful service.

With singing waiters and a birthday desert.

We finished off the night at a favourite local pub the Courthouse Hotel

And played some pool.

Dion’s Musical is “Dorian Gray Naked” and will be on at the Limelight on Oxford Theatre, Oxford Street Darlinghurst. Perhaps you will join me during 30 January 2019 to 16 February 2019.

Phil Collins “not dead yet” concert

23 January 2019

When my dear friend, Lindy, gave me a ticket to Phil Collins’ concert I did not expect him to hobble out with a walking stick. I did not expect to not see him behind the drums. I did not expect to be blown away by the sensational band and backing singers. But what I did not expect and could not stop being amazed at was Phil’s 17 year old son, Nic, on the drums. Nic also played piano for a duet.

This concert was an emotional sensory experience on a level I haven’t encountered at a concert. The whole 2 hours went so fast, too fast. Nic had some big shoes to fill and he did a brilliant job. Congratulations Phil. You have still got that unique voice. You got the Qudos Arena on its feet, dancing and many people around me yelling out “thank you” to you. I thank my friend Lindy for giving me the gift of this fabulous celebration of music.

Norwegian Jewel New Caledonia/Australia

18 January 2019

My third cruise with the Norwegian Jewel took me to a totally different clime to the previous two. From Alaska in July/August 2018.

To Sydney Harbour

With stops in Noumea. Beautiful Isle of Pines New Caledonia.

Lifou New Caledonia

Yorkeys Knob outside of Cairns Australia

Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays.

We stopped in Brisbane but I didn’t leave the ship but enjoyed basking in the sun by the pool without fighting for a deck chair while the majority of passengers were sightseeing.

The shows on the Jewel were spectacular. “Velvet” starring West End and England X Factor semi finalist Brenda Edwards.

With dancer Nicole from Sydney on “Glow” Party night.

Met Emmy Gelardi-Bunyi from Sydney who is Royal International Miss Sweetheart 2019.

Some of the lovely solo travellers

Arrived home on 18 January ready for dancing.

Sydney Stunt Fest 2019

19 January 2019

My older son Carlos has been a gymnast since 4 years old and I never thought when he started that 25 years later he would still be in an acrobatic sport.

As an International competitor,coach and co owner of the 2 year old, successful, Sydney All Star Sports (SAS) he has organised the Sydney Stunt Fest bringing together cheerleaders from all clubs to socialise and enjoy this spectacular international sport with Coogee Beach as a backdrop.

As this video shows, he has encouraged his mother to fly.

Cheer Flyer

Perhaps you can join the Cheer Stunt Fest in 2020.

Murray River Wodonga

31December 2018 and 1 January 2019

Over the past 2 weeks I have pushed myself too much. In the last 4 days alone I have driven 2000 km and need a rest.

I stopped at Wodonga as it is a town on the Murray River which borders my state of New South Wales and Victoria. I watched my beautiful Sydney NYE fireworks on TV and for the first time ever spent NYE alone but not lonely.

In the morning I got these lovely photos of the Murray River.