20100920 to Ballarat VIC


We were awakened by Paul at 0530, packed quickly, and had a coffee. Pamela and Daniel got up; we chatted briefly. Paul briefed us on getting to the airport. We said our thanks and goodbyes. I especially thanked Pamela for teaching Dolores things about her iPad.

We left the house about 0610. Paul led us to the Kwinana Freeway toward Perth on his way to work. From there, we used the Roe Highway, then the Tonkin Highway, by coincidence routes 2, 3, and 4. The GPS was slightly out of date - it knew nothing of the newer section of the Kwinana, and gave us wrong instructions to the domestic airport; it recovered after we had past the airport exit and had us do a U-turn at the next exit to get us to the Hertz check-in.

Once we turned over our keys to the Hertz attendant, he told us to hike 300 meters northeastward to reach the Qantas check-in area. I'm quite glad it was sunny and not raining – that's a moderately long haul dragging 30 kg of luggage, each.

Then we went through the confusing baggage check process and sent the big bags into a hole in the wall. Next we went through security – a lot easier here since the Aussie's don't check identification in the domestic terminal.

We found our gate – 15 – and sat down to wait at 0757, just as the plane we'll take arrived at the gate from Melbourne. Now to wait, then board. More later.

The flight to MEL was ok. It was a 737-800 and filled to the walls. Dolores and I had selected aisle seats across from each other but each of us had “large” people in the center seat adjacent, so our movements were restricted. The service was mostly good. A flight attendant bumped Dolores during the meal, causing her to spill her wine onto her food tray. The curry chicken dinner was a little odd to US tastes, but Dolores said it was all right when the chicken was mixed with the rice. I tasted mine, then bypassed it, except for the good cheese, but drank two complementary red wines while reading.

We reclaimed our luggage after a wait for which apologies were given by loudspeaker, but no reasons. Off to the Hertz Gold desk across the taxi lanes. We were told our car with GPS was waiting in space K29. There was a car in K29. There was no paperwork in it, and no GPS.

Dolores set out for the desk to find help, and ran into a Hertz toad wandering around looking at license plates. It came to pass the toad had our GPS and the paperwork for our car (maybe). As we drove out, the Hertz checking person looked at my license and the paperwork and said he thought we were in the wrong car. Then he typed a lot of characters into a computer and it became our car, even if it wasn't to start with. I should have requested whatever original car they'd assigned me – this one is a Holden (GM brand here) and a complete dog.

Finally, we set off for Ballarat, a town in the gold-mining district west and north of Melbourne. Gold was discovered here in 1851 and drew a lot of the US 1849'ers from California. As in the US, fortunes were made and lost, and lots of good stories created.

Fifty km from the airport toward Ballarat, the Hertz's bleeping GPS locked up tighter than Windows Vista running on a 386. Nothing. We drove into Ballarat and stumbled onto a Best Western – we asked them where our Best Western was and they gave directions. We found the “Reset” recessed button as we arrived; now the unit shows signs of life again. Still a lousy unit – don't waste your money on Hertz Never-Lost. Bring your own or buy a phone with GPS.

We checked in and were assigned room 13, which should have told us something. It was upstairs, no elevator. Raining now. Wrestled bags upstairs, turned the heat on, looked at tourist literature for a while, got onto the internet (which worked well). Then 1800 came along (the time zone here is two hours ahead of Perth), so we went to the dining room to eat.

Dolores was ticked at the wine episode on the plane, decidedly unhappy with the Hertz toad and the whole Hertz organization, and turned into a dragon when the GPS locked up and we had a hard time finding our hotel in the drizzle. So, at table, she decided she would have a bottle of wine and a steak. Smooth talking brought it down to a bottle of good shiraz for the two of us, and steaks for both. The wine was nice and the steaks good.

After dinner, we returned to the room to settle in early (both to conquer the time zone differential and to make up for our early wake-up).

No pictures today.



20100921 Bendigo VIC

(Photo Link – O) (Photo Link – D)


Up early-ish. Found hotel dining room closed for renovation. So we packed up, wrestled the bags downstairs into the dog, checked out, and left. We found a little cafe on Sturt Street open and had breakfast.

We went to the Visitor's Center in the old Historic District and got a few ideas. We decided to start with the Botanical Garden. There, we walked briefly outside. The weather was cold and rainy and windy, not nice for strolling through a huge “garden” with many different trees, including California Redwoods and Sequoias. We went inside and looked at flowers and gift items. We started the walk again but Dolores had wet socks inside her sneakers, so we abandoned walks.

We hopped into the car. A small park across the street juts out into Lake Wendouree. Some ducks and many black swans were in it, so we took pictures of them.

Then we decided to chuck Ballarat and change the plan to a driving tour to Bendigo. Off we went, north through Creswick, Clunes, Maryborough, Dunolly, and east to Bendigo. There’s a map link below showing this wandering.

We found our motel after some self-created confusion and checked in. Then off to the Information Center in the heart of downtown, where we picked up some information and a pin for Dolores. Then we dashed off to the Talking Tram.

The Talking Tram is an old Melbourne street-car (in our parlance) that, when retired there, was moved to Bendigo. When they were replaced by buses, one tram line was kept as a tourist operation. At least two cars do a one-hour run on half-hour departures; they meet half-way around the circuit. A tape is played with information about the city and the buildings the tram passes. It's actually a decent way to see the town and some of the town you would never notice if not for the talk.

After that, we returned to the motel and passed time. Nearing 1800, we hiked across the High Street to the Foundry Hotel Complex’s Bistro for dinner. We're happy we got there when we did, because the line to order food (more later) got really long after we'd ordered. Our food (and wine) was quite good. Turns out the mob was a group of teachers there for some conference and this night was their “Western” night - many had 9-gallon hats and so forth.

Then we went next door to the Woolworth's food store to buy breakfast goodies for the room, and a bottle of wine just in case we need a glass after killing a snake or something. Then back across the busy street to the motel.

Now we're doing a little laundry and taking it easy. Much to do tomorrow.

… On the subject of food for US readers. Generally, here in OZ, one goes to a restaurant, examines the menu, selects what one wants and then proceeds to the counter to order it. The order is placed, noting the table at which you are seated, and paid for. A server brings your food to that table when it has been prepared. Same with beer or wine; order and pay, then it is brought to you. There is no tipping; wait staff salaries are made to be high enough that tipping isn’t needed.

… On the subject of clothing for US readers. The standard wear here is either jeans or black chinos, and dark shirts and jackets, with sneakers or black shoes. This goes anywhere but the fanciest places. It’s a very informal country.



20100922 Bendigo VIC

(Photo Link – O) (Photo Link – D)


Up a little later. Did breakfast in the room using things purchased last night. We hung out the Do Not Disturb sign so the cleaners wouldn't have to work this room since we really don’t need anything.

The room itself is very nice – actually two bedrooms, one with a queen bed, one with three twins – set up for a family of five. We'd requested two beds, but they gave us this instead. It’s nice having all the room this gives us.

We headed out to places where Dolores might be able to shoot some poor little flowers. We started with doing an auto tour adjacent to the six km hike to One Tree Hill. There's a lookout tower on the hill, so I took a panorama picture of Bendigo. The range is a little too long, so it may never be published. Dolores found flowers. She also startled three eastern gray kangaroos, which hopped away from her before she could get the camera going.

We then returned downtown to a second-hand bookstore. D said she didn't need any. I found two Henning Mankell mysteries. I asked the owner if there was an Australian thriller writer so I could take home something with an Australian setting. He showed me some and I picked two, both by Peter Temple. Ask me later about them.

Then we wandered all over helengone trying to find the Old Tom Mine road for more flowers. When we did find it, it didn't have much but there were a few for Dolores. The road was a two-tracks-through-the-desert thing. The Old Tom Mine, I find later, was one of the lesser yielding mines in a poor area.

We came back to Bendigo. Dolores said she wasn't sick, but neither did she have 100% of her usual energy. We decided to do a fast food lunch (first of the trip) and return to the motel. We stopped at Hungry Jack's, which is Burger King with a different name. Food was BK standard.

At the motel, Dolores rested. I decided to do something so I hiked to the Talking Tram place. Then I rode the tram to the downtown shopping section (seven minutes). I got off and wandered around the shopping area. Since I don't really need anything, I didn't buy anything.

Then I stopped at the Hotel Shamrock bar for a beer. I noticed a guy wearing a Hotel Shamrock polo shirt. After I finished the beer, I found the reception desk and bought the shirt, in medium blue. Then I hiked back to the motel since I was feeling energetic.

Back at the hotel, we downloaded pictures to the camera and worked the computer for a while. Dolores is coughing so we'll go out for some sort of cough medicine soon, and to eat. More later.

We went to the “chemist” just up the road. She advised Dolores on an anti-cough with expectorant, so we bought that and some lozenges to sooth the throat.

We stopped in a little mart to replace D's toothbrush, which broke last night. It had a rubber coating, so the parts didn't separate, but it floobled around and looked silly in addition to being unusable.

Then we went back to the scene last night of the teacher's party, somewhat more calm tonight. The food was nice and the wine good. Afterward, we walked back home in the full moon with clouds scudding across the sky.

Tomorrow's our last full day in Australia this trip.

(Map Link of the MEL-to-MEL tour of the gold fields of Victoria)



20100923 Melbourne VIC

(Photo Link – O) (Photo Link – D)

This is our last full day in Australia. We arose and ate breakfast supplied by the motel in the room. We packed leisurely and checked out.

We went for a ride northeast of Bendigo. Dolores took a few flower pictures but overall the territory was dry and without new flowers.

We came back into Bendigo, parked, and walked around the shopping district. The Myer department store was interesting to compare with ours. Prices in general were quite a bit higher than ours, which I don't understand given that our dollar is falling relatively.

Australians, in fact, are getting more tourists from the UK and Europe, and fewer tourists from the US given the currency ratios these days. They were thrilled with the idea that Oprah is bringing her show to Australia – it might boost tourism from the US. The same analysis showed that Australians are visiting the US in increasing numbers.

After shopping (looking) and buying nothing, we departed Bendigo for Melbourne. We had to stop to buy gas just after entering the Motorway – M97. Here, there are various class roads denoted by their designation. M97 is a motorway – the equivalent of our Interstate. A97 is a class A road that could be four or two lanes, but is in good condition and has speed limits in the open of 110 km/h. B97 (if it existed) would be two lanes and in acceptable condition for 100 km/h. C97 would be the lowest class of numbered road and could be rough and probably you wouldn't want to do 100 km/h on it. Undesignated roads could be anything including half-width-paved to gravel to two tire ruts through the woods.

We arrived at the airport and checked in our rental car. We wheeled our luggage to the Hilton elevator and rose to reception. There, we found we were scheduled to be here tomorrow, but that was switched to today without problem.

We went up to the eighth floor to our room. It has luxury appointments and is more than adequate. The large windows look over the entire airport. There's a good-sized desk to type on. Right now I'm watching planes take off or land while typing these notes.

Internet service here is pricey - 55 cents per minute with a cap of 29AUD for 24 hours. I’ll blow money on good food and wine, but not that much for plain old internet. We can catch up later.

I tried the on-line check-in feature of Qantas from the bar. For some reason, Qantas wouldn't complete the process and print boarding passes. We walked across to the Qantas service desk; they couldn't explain it, but just said to check in tomorrow morning – that we are listed on the flight. What little I could accomplish on line showed the Premium Economy section full tomorrow.

We hiked back from the International terminal to the bar. Two cocktails (a Martini and a Stinger) cost 39AUD, somewhat higher than the country as a whole, but not much – I've seen a couple of high-end places charging 15AUD each. Martinis are served with a ring of sugar around the rim – blech. We read the paper as we drank. There was much to-do about the state of the venue in Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. Another article showed the AUD-USD currency going to 95.6. Last time we were here in 2006, it was 78.0.

Then we went up to the room again. There, we sipped the rest of the Sauvignon Blanc we brought from Bendigo as we watched planes. More later.... Later:

We went to dinner in the hotel dining room. We’d decided to have a blow-out last dinner here, and succeede. D had lamb shank, I had a small steak. Both were well prepared and presented. Dessert (French Apple Tart) and port with coffee capped the meal.

Now we're relaxing in the room. Would have been better with a decent internet pricing scheme.


...