Very scenic, but very long coach ride to Cape Jarvis to catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island. The ferry was a large catamaran, and we sat at the very front (inside) for the whole trip. It was a kind of rough crossing - when looking at the horizon one minute the bow of the boat was way below the island, and in the next instant it was way high in the sky above the island - more than once we hit a wave that s0plashed all over the window. It was a 45 minute crossing, and I wasn't sorry when it was over.
Our tour guide was a hoot - teased, joked and realy kept us entertained. We stopped at Seal Bay and walked right down onto the beach to see the seals - a lot were sleeping, but many were moving about - almost close enough to touch. They go to sea for 3 days and 3 nights to fish, and then come ashore for three days and 3 nights to sleep. The young are left on shore while the adults are at sea, so the pretty much cukle for the three days that Mom is ashore, whether she's sleeping or not.
Stopped at Flinders Chasse National Park and saw koalas in their natureal setting - not caged in any way. They are hard to spot sleeping in the trees because their fur colour is so close to the colour of the bark of the eucalypts they are in. Did see quite a few that were awake and eating.
Next stop was Remarkable Rocks - they didn't look like much from a distance - just three large rocks on top of a rocky plateau - boy were we surprised. They are the only granite rocks in the area - everything else is sandstone. The wind has sculptured these rocks into fantastic shapes, created caves, etc., and we really enjoyed wandering around looking at them. There is also a lighthouse there, built of sandstone that must have been built fromt he inside out - via the circular stairs, as it's too high to have been done by scaffolds.
Had a short flight back via REX air (Regional Express) - sure was glad that I didn't have to go back by ferry - glad I didn't have to make that rough crossing again - and the flight got us back to the hotel about 3 hours ahead of those going by ferry and coach. It was a long tiring day as it was.
OUR ITINERARY **NEW, REVISED AND UP TO DATE**
- If we're going to be in your city and you want to get together for a cup of coffee, leave a message at our hotel, or send me an email ahead of time at shakos@sympatico.ca - we'll try to rendezvous with you. That would be great fun!
- Sat. Oct. 20 - Arrive in Christchurch, New Zealand and stay at the Copthorne Central Hotel, phone 03 379 5880.
- Mon. Oct. 22 - TranzAlpine Train ride to Franz Josef, staying at the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel, phone 03 752 0729.
- Tues. Oct. 23 - Queenstown, staying at the Novotel Gardens, phone 03 442 7750.
- Thurs. Oct. 25 - Te Anau, staying at the Village Inn, phone 03-249 7911.
- Fri. Oct. 26 - Dunedin, staying at the Dunedin City Hotel, phone 03 470 1470. Hope to meet Chris Davies for coffee while we're there.
- Sat. Oct. 27 - Mount Cook National Park, staying at The Hermitage Hotel, phone 03 435 1809.
- Sun. Oct. 28 - Back at the Copthorne Central Hotel in Christchurch, phone 03 379 5580 till Oct. 30th. We'll then take the ferry to the North Island and stay with Beulah from Oct. 30th, till November 5th.
- Mon. Nov. 5 - Pick up a car for a self-drive tour to Auckland. (Biting my nails as you guys drive on the wrong side of the road - giggle). Stay at the Lakeland Resort, Taupo, phone 07 378 3893 on the 5th, and at the Heritage Rotorua on the 6th and 7th, phone 07 348 1189.
- Thurs. Nov. 8 - Arrive in Auckland and stay with Lizzie and her husband John. I've promised to teach an ink and oil rouging design for Lizzie while I'm there.
- Mon. Nov. 12 - It's all over but the curtain calls. Fly from Auckland back to Los Angeles, where we will stay a week with my aunt. A good chance to shake off some of the jet lag.
- Sun. Nov. 18 - Back in Canada. All good things have to come to an end. The memories, however, will last a lifetime.
Friday, October 12, 2007
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