HI from OZ

Sarah and the gang

Hi Everyone

We are having a wonderful time here in OZ. This was the longest flight Diana has ever been on and despite some yoga in the San Diego Airport before the flight it ended up being one of the most uncomfortable due to something she ate likely. There was a boxing match going on in the tummy and major achiness. Having the window seat only helped for resting the head when not making trips to the toilet. Actually it wasn't too bad we landed safely got our bags and through customs relatively quickly. Sarah gave us very exact directions for the train so that went very well also and them Paul picked us up in Penrith and brought us to the lovely abode in Kurrajong. He left us to get settled and went off to the airport to pick up Sarah who was coming in that evening from her last sailing with Australia Customs which is her work. We timed it just right she could have been out for three weeks but she is in for three weeks.

Squirts has been taking us around showing us the lay of the land and helping us plan our cycling down to Tasmania. We went to the rodeo with Amelia and John on Saturday. They live in the lovely town of Bathhurst, we drove up and over the Blue Mountains to get there a lovely drive.

Sarah and Amelia getting ready for the rodeo.

 Sarah used to live up that way and seemed to know everyone. It was quite fun several of us had never been to a rodeo before so that made it all the more fun. The "clown" who gets the bull away from the bull riders was a friend of Sarah's that is him in the rink with the bucking bull and rider.

Brendan and the bull rider

 Typical Australian Rodeo goers.

Kangaroo's

Diana got to see her first real live Kangaroo's on the ride back home. They are in herds like deer in Ontario and Nova Scotian. Apparently Paul says they are just about as much of a nuisance too. The kangaroo bars are for a reason.

We are enjoying the different sounds and smells. The eucalyptus trees and parrots and Cockateels as well as beautiful Wrens and Bell Birds

We took a bike ride up to the cold climat Botanical Gardens at Mount Tomah. The ride was lovely but we got our first taste of how steep some of the riding could be in Australia.

view from the Botanical Park looking over the blue Mountains.

Diana has discovered Passion Fruit mmmmmm.!