Made it! New South Wales Road Trip 2017 is completed....all the way from here to there and then all the way back again as well.... meaning all the way to Sydney and beyond (somewhere near Tuggerah) and all the way back to Enfield. About 24 hours of driving in total, which included loads of bad coffee, numerous truck stop dunnies and way too many gross food encounters at fast food outlets along the way for my liking, but mostly it was just a whole lot of good fun, especially travelling with my two weirdo kids, they are such amazingly good company and being with them for the duration was just fantastic.
We stayed with some of Craig's family up on the Central Coast which allowed for some chill out time on the beach. We managed to collect shells, take in some salty air and have a stroll along the sand together, which is always a lovely thing to do, even in the Autumn time when swim suits are clearly not required.
On a day trip to the city, Zoe and Seth got their first up close glimpse of Circular Quay, The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Zoe was fascinated that The Opera House was covered in white tiles, which is something that you never realise until you see it up close, but Seth was more interested in the historical Man o' War Steps that float and continuously shift about in the harbour. We all enjoyed some fish n' chips on the grass at the First Fleet Park where the bin chickens (ibis) flock around in droves hoping for the smallest hint of a bit of tossed batter. Zoe found them incredibly intimidating and Seth kept encouraging their antics by continuing to feed them discarded chips, needless to say it wasn't the most relaxing lunch that we've ever had. We ended the day with a wander around The Rocks and a giggle when we spotted the restaurant where The Real Housewives of Sydney's infamous Athena X had her fishnet cape tossed into the harbour.
You never really know what you will encounter when you go on a road trip. We listened to podcasts, playlists and each other for hours on end and we also managed to see a giant merino ram in Goulbin, a huge land-bound submarine in Holbrook, a number of 'off track' unsealed roads thanks to my crapola GPS and a tonne of shithouse drivers. Some drivers that we encountered were either really tired, really drunk or really stupid, or maybe even a combination of those three things; and even though we had a great time, it was so nice to get home and finally get out of the car on the last day of our trip, the day that we drove for over 12 hours with very few breaks. I was so tired on that final stretch home that I had to consume a lot of coffee and chocolate to get me through, but I tell ya, it works - caffeine and sugar - it's the stuff of champions and long haul drives.
So that's it for long drives for me for a while. I did a short stint to Bacchus Marsh to celebrate Ukrainian Easter with my family today, and the 45 minute trip each way barely seemed like any effort for an old pro like me now, as easy as a walk in the park, and just as enjoyable. Ate and drank like a king, and came home with the spoils of everyone's efforts as well, which means tonight, I don't have to cook tea, and with one day of holiday to go, I also don't need to go to bed early either....I think that I can feel a movie marathon coming my way.
We stayed with some of Craig's family up on the Central Coast which allowed for some chill out time on the beach. We managed to collect shells, take in some salty air and have a stroll along the sand together, which is always a lovely thing to do, even in the Autumn time when swim suits are clearly not required.
On a day trip to the city, Zoe and Seth got their first up close glimpse of Circular Quay, The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Zoe was fascinated that The Opera House was covered in white tiles, which is something that you never realise until you see it up close, but Seth was more interested in the historical Man o' War Steps that float and continuously shift about in the harbour. We all enjoyed some fish n' chips on the grass at the First Fleet Park where the bin chickens (ibis) flock around in droves hoping for the smallest hint of a bit of tossed batter. Zoe found them incredibly intimidating and Seth kept encouraging their antics by continuing to feed them discarded chips, needless to say it wasn't the most relaxing lunch that we've ever had. We ended the day with a wander around The Rocks and a giggle when we spotted the restaurant where The Real Housewives of Sydney's infamous Athena X had her fishnet cape tossed into the harbour.
You never really know what you will encounter when you go on a road trip. We listened to podcasts, playlists and each other for hours on end and we also managed to see a giant merino ram in Goulbin, a huge land-bound submarine in Holbrook, a number of 'off track' unsealed roads thanks to my crapola GPS and a tonne of shithouse drivers. Some drivers that we encountered were either really tired, really drunk or really stupid, or maybe even a combination of those three things; and even though we had a great time, it was so nice to get home and finally get out of the car on the last day of our trip, the day that we drove for over 12 hours with very few breaks. I was so tired on that final stretch home that I had to consume a lot of coffee and chocolate to get me through, but I tell ya, it works - caffeine and sugar - it's the stuff of champions and long haul drives.
So that's it for long drives for me for a while. I did a short stint to Bacchus Marsh to celebrate Ukrainian Easter with my family today, and the 45 minute trip each way barely seemed like any effort for an old pro like me now, as easy as a walk in the park, and just as enjoyable. Ate and drank like a king, and came home with the spoils of everyone's efforts as well, which means tonight, I don't have to cook tea, and with one day of holiday to go, I also don't need to go to bed early either....I think that I can feel a movie marathon coming my way.
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Release Date: 2005
Rating: M
Running Time: 109 mins
This movie is not going to appeal to everyone tastes, just as the book by Douglas Adams wasn't universally adored, this is a quirky and rather odd romp in to space that will either enchant or confuse its viewers.
Arthur Dent has just learned that his best friend is an alien and the Earth is about to end in a matter of seconds to make way for a hyperspace highway. As if that's not bad enough, he is whisked away into spaced and finds himself wanted by the intergalactic police, travelling with a two headed alien called Zaphod Beeblebrox, a spunky female and a depressed robot and in search of the meaning of life. Throw in some crazy time/space jumps, no tea to speak of, super smart mice and Earth 2 and you've got one of the strangest films of all time.
The cast is absolutely massive including Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman to name but a few; and Stephen Fry is the perfect narrator.
It's odd and amusing and I really thought it was a lot of fun.
FINAL SAY: 42.
3 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 2005
Rating: M
Running Time: 109 mins
This movie is not going to appeal to everyone tastes, just as the book by Douglas Adams wasn't universally adored, this is a quirky and rather odd romp in to space that will either enchant or confuse its viewers.
Arthur Dent has just learned that his best friend is an alien and the Earth is about to end in a matter of seconds to make way for a hyperspace highway. As if that's not bad enough, he is whisked away into spaced and finds himself wanted by the intergalactic police, travelling with a two headed alien called Zaphod Beeblebrox, a spunky female and a depressed robot and in search of the meaning of life. Throw in some crazy time/space jumps, no tea to speak of, super smart mice and Earth 2 and you've got one of the strangest films of all time.
The cast is absolutely massive including Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman to name but a few; and Stephen Fry is the perfect narrator.
It's odd and amusing and I really thought it was a lot of fun.
FINAL SAY: 42.
3 Chili Peppers
RSS Feed