Days 103 - 105: Thursday 17th. August 2006: Sunny: Packed up and off to the airport - plane late leaving but the flight Homeward bound via Hong Kong was good and the food reasonable. We lost a full day in travelling and arrived in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday 19th. August 2006 about 10am and were met by Peter and Lisa. We had an Australian pizza for tea and it was y u m m y. Vera and I both had bruises all over legs from last few hostel bed rails. Days 106 - 109: We went sightseeing in Brisbane along the [View Full Entry]

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Day 101: We had booked a tour to Vancouver Island with a local company - as it was - it was just Vera and me on the tour with a very well educated Indian guide who had lived and worked for some years in Vancouver. We were picked up at the Hostel and arrived at the ferry about an hour laterfor the rather lovely crossing to the Island. On the Moose tour our guide had spoken of an Emily Carr, an eccentric lady who painted and wrote biographies (which I read when I came home), so we talked our driver into [View Full Entry]

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Day 100: Monday 14th. August 2006: Sunny: We were in Vancouver 6 years ago and missed out on one place due to bad weather so today we decided to go to Grouse Mountain - on the Seabus - a bus up the hill past the Capilano Suspension Bridge and then the Gondola up to Grouse Mountain resort - a wonderful spot for families and tourists with so much going on - hang gliding, ski lifts, live fun entertainment, movies, real live bears and more and absolutely stunning views. Back into North Vancouver and the markets for food - fabulous food. Day [View Full Entry]

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Day 98: Saturday 12th. August: Sunny: 2 hostels to go: Actually cool this morning. It was off to the markets and shops in a spot away from anywhere it seemed, then a walk around the historic site where the last iron spike was welded in to connect the east and west railway, on to the Go-Karts for those who dared at road rage, We called in at a flea market before a lunch stop on a lake. A visit to The Gray Monk winery for wine tasting, but I prefer ours in Western Australia although their views are spectacular. Arrived at [View Full Entry]

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Day 96: Thursday 10th. August: Sunny and warm: Up at 4.30 am to catch the Airporter bus for flight to Calgary in Alberta where upon arrival we heard repeated announcements, people flying out could not carry gels, liquids, pastes etc in hand luggage - all had to be packed. What had happened since we left Halifax? We saw on the news later of the arrests in London which reminded us of the men in suits and carrying Tommy guns at Heathrow. We are very pleased to be away from Heathrow and JFK and heading home and only 4 HOSTELS to go. [View Full Entry]

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Day 93: Monday 7th. August 2006: Up early for the early flight to Halifax - no brekky today - queue for the flight OK but beeped when I went through the scan, but this time both of us had to have the full body check and bag check. Before I go through a scan I remove all my jewellery, coat, shoes etc. as I always get body searched due to my knee replacement pieces setting off the alarms. Also my backpack and camera bag get scanned and wiped for explosives - fun isn’t it!!! Vera not used to this invasion. Never [View Full Entry]

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Day 89: Thursday 3rd August 2006: Sunny: An exciting day ahead - meeting friends and family. After brekky it was off to the train (which was late leaving) to Reading, change of train to Slough and then change to Windsor and this train was also running 1/2 hour late and all were very very slow, consequently we were very late arriving at Windsor where Jean and Keith had been waiting for ages. Keith had had a banner ready with "Welcome Jenny and Vera", but was gone to move the car. Never mind, it was wonderful to have them there to meet [View Full Entry]

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Day 85: Week 13: Sunday 30th. July 2006: Sunny: Leaving Dublin early in the morning we caught a bus to Rosslare for the ferry to Fishguard which would arrive sometime in the afternoon in Wales with no connecting train until 2am the next morning; so we would literally be stuck at Fishguard as there are no buses or other trains or transport to Bristol . The agent who sold us the tickets said there were trains to meet every ferry - not so. Vera said we should ask someone for a lift - easier said than done until we were on [View Full Entry]

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Day 76: Friday 21st. July 2006: Misty: We dropped the car off at the ferry and had smooth sailing to Belfast where it was a quick taxi ride to the train to Dublin. Said to the cabbie we would be back in a week and see him then!!!! Arrived in Dublin and walked to the hostel, lugged our cases up all the stairs, packed what we needed for the week into 1 case, then stored the other at the hostel. Took a walk around before settling for the night as we have a big week ahead with a Shamrockers "All [View Full Entry]

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Day 67: Wednesday 12th. July 2006: Clear, cold and windy: Up early and a walk into town to get the Orkney Bus to the ferry (another fishing boat) to John O'Groats and the Orkney Bus to Inverness. A very fast drive along winding roads. We walked to the 5 star hostel - well I don't know who rated it. The shower was out of order and had been for some time, there was no toilet paper in the loos, we were in a dorm room when we expecting a twin room, and I'm sure the carpet had never been vacuumed [View Full Entry]

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