November 2019 - Australia and USA

kangaroo at Jervis Bay

cockatoo on my walk Wollongong

Plan to hire car and drive south of Sydney for two weeks exploring the coast and mountains then fly from Sydney via Vancouver to Phoenix Arizona. Australian dollar is about 68 cents to one US dollar. The population of Australia is 24.6 million. Petrol is about $1.50 AU per litre (or $5.68 US to one US gallon).
Original plan upon returning to USA was to visit friends in UT and CA but mum has not been doing well in FL so changed my flight to Florida from January to Thanksgiving Day (not easy to do with the holidays). Before I depart Phoenix I will visit my aunt and uncle whose daughters are also visiting.

30 November 2019 Saturday - Largo Florida
Morning time at the pool then visit mum in rehab.

29 November 2019 Friday - Largo Florida
Spent the day sussing out the assisted living options for mum, visiting mum at rehab then lunch at Crabby Bill's near the beach.

28 November 2019 Thursday - Phoenix Arizona to Tampa Florida
Happy Thanksgiving! Flying today. My sister and her husband fetched me at the Tampa airport

27 November 2019 Wednesday - Phoenix Arizona
Stowed the van in storage and taxied to hotel near airport, great caesar salad with chicken at the Sheraton next door.

26 November 2019 Tuesday - Phoenix Arizona
Great lunch and visit with my aunt and uncle and their two daughters and one son-in-law.

25 November 2019 Monday - Phoenix Arizona
Morning walk to Trader Joe's then spent afternoon planning travel for next few months.

24 November 2019 Sunday - Phoenix Arizona
Walk about one mile to Trader Joe's then a bit of time at the pool

23 November 2019 Saturday - Phoenix Arizona
Visiting with my aunt and uncle who live in Sun City and their daughter (my cousin) and her husband who flew in for the holidays from Illinois.

22 November 2019 Friday - Phoenix Arizona (Goodyear to Surprise)
The sun is scheduled to return so maybe a bit of pool time!

21 November 2019 Thursday - Phoenix Arizona
Early appointment with auto repair and they had same diagnosis as Autozone but could not get the part until noon but happy to have my van running again! The rains here for the past three days have been more than I have ever seen on previous visits to this area.

20 November 2019 Wednesday - Phoenix Arizona
Reconnected the battery on my van and it started just fine and drove to truck wash for a cleaning only to find the check engine light come on as soon as I left the storage place! Stopped at Autozone to find code P0720, need output speed sensor. I was lucky to have the woman at my storage place recommend an auto repair place only half mile away so booked with them for tomorrow. Stocked up at Sprouts for fresh organic veggies.

19 November 2019 Tuesday - Sydney Australia to Phoenix Arizona USA
Our original flight from yesterday was supposed to depart today to ensure my connection to Phoenix but they could not find a gate at the Sydney Airport for departure and now depart later than the original flight so Air Canada rebooked me on the original flight scheduled for today but in economy so had travel agent work with them to find me a seat in business, for which I had paid dearly. The customs process in Vancouver was not very efficient but made connection to Phoenix with on time arrival only to sit on the tarmac for over one hour because of lightening, a red alert that shuts down all activity....which then caused me to have to travel in afternoon rush hour in the rain storm!

18 November 2019 Monday - Sydney Australia to Phoenix Arizona USA via Vancouver Canada
NOT! flight initially delayed then cancelled due to maintenance issue! They found the problem but cannot find the part, whatever that may be. They put us up at Rydges hotel here at the airport with $60 meal voucher and hopefully we fly tomorrow and that they rebook me on flight to Phoenix. Lousy internet at this fancy hotel though!

17 November 2019 Sunday - Wollongong to Sydney Australia
Early start to avoid the truck convoy!

16 November 2019 Saturday - Wollongong Australia
Very overcast day with prediction of much needed rain so did early walkabout on the beach and visited arts and crafts fair at the Old Courthouse Building.

15 November 2019 Friday - Bateman's Bay to Wollongong Australia (200 kms)
Drove north on the A1/M1 highway, I had taken the slower coastal roads going south. Visited the Nan Tien Temple south of Wollongong (surrounded by beautiful jacaranda trees in purple blossom) and then walked the outdoor Friday Forage Market at the Crown Street Mall. Another big event is happening on Sunday (I encountered bicycles two weeks ago). It is the 15th annual i98FM Illawarra Truck/Motorbike Convoy (more than 800 trucks and 900 motorcycles) from Mount Ousley to Albion Park/Shellharbour airport.

14 November 2019 Thursday - Bateman's Bay Australia
Morning walk then spent time with owner trying to fix their wifi extender box! It is so much better to walk early in the morning because by midday the wind really howls.

13 November 2019 Wednesday - Bateman's Bay Australia
Enjoyed full moon set in morning and full moon rise at night (too overcast yesterday to see it)! About two mile walk return to library then on the boardwalk at the Water Garden Park with all of the birds. Delicious fresh oysters from the Clyde River at the Marina.

12 November 2019 Tuesday - Bateman's Bay Australia
I am now enjoying a wonderful apartment with a large verandah overlooking the water (Clyde River empties into the sea) with an Aldi Nespresso (Kfee) machine (and milk frother) and washer/dryer and full kitchen to finally have cooked fresh beets in my salad and enjoyed fresh salmon and broccoli! A walkabout along the waterfront and a visit to museum and adjacent park with gardens and heaps of birds. A very warm sunny start to the day but with high winds then cloudy cooler afternoon.

11 November 2019 Monday - Bermagui to Bateman's Bay Australia (106 kms)
Short drive north back to Bateman's Bay via Narooma, Bodalla (for more cheese tasting), Moruya, Waldrons Swamp, Mogo on the A1. Arrived in time to attend Remembrance Day event at the War Memorial on the beach with a moment of silence at 11am. The fires in the north are devastating and because of the drought, they have issued warnings nationwide.

10 November 2019 Sunday - Bermagui Australia (131 kms)
Explored coast south of Bermagui via Tourist Drive 9 to Tathra then return on A1 with cheese tasting in Bega.

9 November 2019 Saturday - Bateman's Bay to Bermagui Australia (126 kms)
Drove south along the coast from Eurobodalla Shire to Bega Valley Shire (Sapphire Coast) on tourist routes 7 and 5 via Malua Bay, Broulee, Moruya Heads, Bodalla and Tilba (known for their cheese), Dalmeny and Kianga (beautiful overlooks) to Bermagui. I visited the historic quarry park near Moruya which is the site of the quarry of the rocks that built the Sydney bridge in 1932. Found a wonderful self contained cottage for next two nights near the Blue Pools to which I had nice walkabout and around the village.

8 November 2019 Friday - Bateman's Bay Australia
Enjoying another day on the bay......morning laundry then afternoon walk of the waterfront to the marina. A storm is brewing and the temps have dropped quite a bit. Found that this is a cruise destination for the Caledonian Sky (it was last here at end of October).

7 November 2019 Thursday - Huskisson to Batemans Bay Australia (122 kms)
Another gorgeous sunny day for early drive south on the A1 via Bewong, Jerragulla, Milton, Ulladulla (for croissant at Bakers Delight), then Bateman's Bay for room with balcony right on the water. I joined the Bateman's Bay Soldiers Club for $5 to receive about 20% discount on my room. Walked the esplanade for cappuccino and then lunch of fish and chips at the local fish shop, watching the pelicans waiting for the leftovers and a stingray swimming in the water. Decided to get a much needed haircut at the local shopping mall.

6 November 2019 Wednesday - Wollongong to Jervis Bay Australia (165 kms which includes a bit more driving exploring Jervis Bay)
Early morning start for sunny drive south via Port Kembla (big steelworks), Lake Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama (lighthouse and blowhole), Shoalhaven Coast, historical village of Berry, very busy Nowra (heaps of traffic), and Jervis Bay (Huskisson, Hyams Beach and Murray Beach in the Booderee National Park). Jervis Bay is known for its white sands, crystal clear water, and beautiful scenery, absolutely gorgeous and surrounded by protected national parks. Back in 1969, this area was supposed to be the home of a nuclear power plant and big steelworks and deep sea port, thank goodness that this did not happen! I found a cute orange cottage close to the beach.

5 November 2019 Tuesday - Wollongong Australia
Melbourne Cup, Australian racing's biggest day (24 horses have been chosen), the race that stops the nation as millions of Australians watch! won by Vow and Declare...
A much cooler overcast windy day with predictions for rain so rode the free bus shuttle around town then time at the library.

4 November 2019 Monday - Wollongong Australia
Early morning walk along the beach on the Blue Mile trail and then to the lighthouse on Flagstaff Point, heaps of historical signage on the history of this town. The name Wollongong is believed to mean "seas of the south" in the local Aboriginal language. The main industry has been the steelworks at Port Kembla a few kilometres south.

3 November 2019 Sunday - Sydney to Wollongong Australia (84 kms)
Driving south of Sydney but rain is predicted for next few days. Departed 8am and began my challenge of driving on the other side of the road! Not much auto traffic for a Sunday, just 10,000 bicycles on the Sydney to Wollongong (82 km) 38th annual bike ride! Stopped at overlooks at Sublime and Bulli then down the steep hill of the Illawarra escarpment to the beaches below. Afternoon walkabout before thunderstorms and heavy rain.

2 November 2019 Saturday- Sydney Australia
Shirley and I walked to fetch my hire car (Toyota Corolla Sport Hatchback) and drive back to her home then she and her sister went to a friend's birthday party while I shopped for food to stock up for my journey.

1 November 2019 Friday- Sydney Australia
Visited the Royal Botanic Gardens for koala sculpture trail exhibit with Shirley and her friend Robyn then Vietnamese food.