http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , New South Wales , Sydney , Castle Hill en-us Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:21:20 +0000 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:21:20 +0000 for English see belowLieve allemaalNa een zeer verdrietige periode in NL ben ik eind Juli weer richting Australie vertrokken. Gelukkig mocht ik weer bij Dan en zijn huisgenoot Ian slapen in ruil voor een beetje huur en het strijken van hun overhemden... Dus 'woon' ik nu al een maand in Castle Hill een van de buitenwijken van Sydney. Het verbaast me hoe uitgestrekt Sydney is heel Sydney be http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-430988.html Well I am taking a few deep breaths as I prepare to write this last entry before I embark on what I think will be the most amazing experience of my life. Already I feel the incredible effect of all my friends' and family's well wishes. Thank you everyone. It is so wonderful to know that I will have you there at least in spirit with me.My pack is packed... I have managed to get it down to 8 kgs http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-429688.html Hi Guys If you receive this email could you please let me now. It's a test to see if I am doing the right thing.Many thanks Karen http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-426607.html I really can't believe where the weeks are going. I am now into my last two weeks before I fly out. I have decided to walk the climb over the Pyrenees in two days and stay the first night in an albergue at Orisson. This first day's climb will be a climb of 800m over 8 kms... pretty steep I reckon but achievable I'm sure.This is a 'test' blog ... anyone reading might like to comment or email me jus http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-426382.html It seems like ages ago that I first dreamt about doing the Camino....well it is ages Now it's really happening and I have just over four weeks to go before I fly out to London on my way to the south of France where I will start my walk.Training is happening although I will be trying to increase the walks both number and distance.My checklist of what to buy and do seems to be still very long. Ho http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-420490.html I know I have been quiet the last 2 days I managed to pull off the Ann getting vacation sore throat DAMN every single time I slept for 14 hours in a row...never done that before I am better today but I am taking it easy... not in the 20s anymore lol My Australian family is taking good care of me. I have been watching movies. It's kind of a good timing as the weather changed the last f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-372769.html Yesterday was pretty mellow as my friend Jet Lag caught up with me Today I feel good We are heading out to the beach today because it's like 35 degrees and Dan wants to Kite board. No surfing for Annette yet Soon though D http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-370501.html So I am finally here The 15 h flight was not as bad as I thought it would be... except for the sore ass Dan was at the airport to pick me up and my aussie lifestyle training started right there... as we were walking toward the car I was following Dan and thought to myself what a gentleman he is opening the car door for me... then he opens he door and sit down look at me and starts laughing http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-370190.html The United States may be a melting pot but with this new job of mine Irsquove found out that Sydney is an incredibly multicultural city. And it doesnrsquot seem to matter where someone is from respiratory disease is an equal opportunity aggravation. In the last five days Irsquove logged 300 kilometers visited 60 homes and heard a dozen different languages. Changing air filters isnrsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-209676.html HiWell a while since we last wrote but have had wonderful weather in Airlie Beach and all down the coast .As we left Airlie Beach we visited Horizons Resort and then called into Lagoona Keys Golf Resort after which time we ventured to Mackay Sarina and Yeppoon. We had a few days at Yeppoon and caught up on some R R for 3 days before heading off again to Gradstone had a tiki tour around Gladst http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-190889.html HiJust another quick update. Went to the pub where the backpackers have Jelly wrestling last night and today we visited Long Island Daydream Hamilton a great day but leave tomorrow the last 11 days has been great and so has the weather finally.Anne Dennis still getting over the Jelly Wrestling.Adios Again speak to you soon.Matesontour. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-186065.html Hi AllWell having spent 3 great days in Townsville we headed south to Bowen and are now in Airlie Beach having a great time the weather is beaut and trying to fit everything in to a couple of days before heading to Mackay on Saturday.Not much to update but this is the best place we have been for scenery and activities all expensive of course.Speak to you all soon.AdiosFrom Matesontour Dianne Br http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-185615.html HiWe are sorry that some of these messages are out of order but we publish the diary note and the next time it states we have not published same so ignore any that have come through before and read new ones.Well we left Cooktown back whenever Anne Dennis headed to Wonga Beach north of Port Douglas and then down to Cairns and have had a great time with family living it up drinking drinking G http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-182887.html HiWe are in Cooktown and a bit of civilisedation weather is excellent had a few more nimor problems our TV has blown a back bulb so can not see it they can't fix LCD TV's up here.The hose to the Gas bottle broke our windscreen is cracked the water hoses on the vans don't work properly Anne Dennis having some minor problems also but the men are talking to other men and the things that people c http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-177080.html HiYou need to read all of this one it is great.Well have finally reach Atherton west of Cairns and a decent Internet.1. We arrived at Mt Surprise on Tuesday in the wet cold which has been the norm most of the trip.The last 2 and half days has been cool but cloudless thank goodness it let us do some adventuring and adventuring it has been.2. Wedneday we went to Undara Lava Tubes but had to me http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-174904.html HiYou need to read all of this one it is great.Well have finally reach Atherton west of Cairns and a decent Internet.1. We arrived at Mt Surprise on Tuesday in the wet cold which has been the norm most of the trip.The last 2 and half days has been cool but cloudless thank goodness it let us do some adventuring and adventuring it has been.2. Wedneday we went to Undara Lava Tubes but had to me http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-174903.html Hi AllWell a little bit of News this time.We left Winton and headed to Boulia to see the Min Min lights and check out a Camel Ride. and stayed 1 night due to the wet weather setting in.After fishing crayfishing we came back with a slightly larger cray than the last time we checked out the town and decided due to the weather we needed to be on the road as it was really coming down so we headed t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-172457.html Hi to all the Brisbane people we put on our list thought we may have heard from you by now.Especially to let Dennis know the results of the football.Bye.... http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-169469.html Hi AllWe are now in a place called Winton in outback QLD and having a great time. The weather is clear as a bell but still getting a very cool wind.I have just sent an email that was written when we left but it had been saved and not published so try and put it in prospective.We are in a free Caravan Park right behind the North Gregory Hotel. We get to use the amenities in the Hotel Showers toi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-169467.html Hi AgainOur first night at a free camp we woke up to be floating in water. That's how it felt.Moved on to Warrabillia Showground for 2 nights and this was very good also free met many other Carvaners and we had a roaring fire and plenty to talk about swapping stories.Visited Roma during the day and did some country shopping and bought a two way radio No Telstra Reception for phones in most plac http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Castle-Hill/blog-167865.html