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Published: June 10th 2007
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Amber gives it a go!
Little Amber all strong pulling my small suitcase to the car. Sydney to Mackay Off to
Mackay. Brooke arrived promptly at 10 as I checked out to spend some time together before dropping me off at the airport. The weather had cleared some and the sun came out. There were still ominous clouds off in the distance threatening more rain/storms, but not for me, I was off to sunny Queensland - and hoping I could finally ditch this weather that had followed me from home.
We spent some time driving around as she pointed out various landmarks and decided that when I returned in a couple weeks we'd explore Sydney better, hoping as well that the weather would be better than to be able to go to The Rocks and all around Syd, the beaches etc. so we could actually get out of the car.
After she brought me to the airport and we had our hugs goodbye, I got my boarding pass, checked my luggage (paying an extra $20 on the large bag as it was over limit a little) and then set out to find a bite to eat. I settled on a Tuna Subway and Diet Coke. Here just like in the states, Subway puts WAY too much mayo in their tuna, making it mushy for my tastes really. I did like that you could have shredded carrot on your sandwich, but that was about the only difference they had I could tell.
The flight too Brissy left on time and was quite short, just an hour. This one I had a window seat on Virgin Blue Airlines - easily the roomiest seat I had so far. All the VB employees I had the pleasure of dealing with were very friendly, polite and helpful, both in the terminal and on the flight itself, some even asking me where I was from and having a chat. As soon as we got about 10-15 min in the air, the clouds broke up and the sun was glorious shining down on the terrain and water below. You could see everything so clear and I took several photos out the plane window that you can see in the gallery of what I saw as we flew to Brissy and then eventually landed.
Changing planes in Brissy was easy as, off at Gate 46, on at Gate 41 after only about a 15-20 minute wait. The terminal and crew employees of Virgin Blue were as wonderful as before. I could get used to hopping around Oz easily if it all goes this slick each time. I day dreamed on this flight as I was in the aisle seat this time and really couldn't see anything out the window. There was a couple in the A & B seats and there was a flat bit of plane instead of window and a bit of window even with the seat in front of us, so if you really craned your neck, you could kinda see a lil bit, but, not much. I was glad I had the spectacular views I did on the first flight. I just rested some and laughed occasionally at the gentleman in the seat kitty-corner behind me as he SNORED like a train as soon as we took off, all the way nearly to Mackay. His wife never even bumping him to make him stop - he actually cracked a few of us up in neighbouring rows. There were also many people sneezing and hacking, like it was the Typhoid Mary flight. A few times I grabbed the corner of my jumper (sweater) collar - pretending that if I breathed through that like a mask, I'd not catch their smacky bugs. Seriously - a bit later I started to feel like was starting to come down with a stuffed nose etc. but Kirrilee was right on that - giving me Echinacea once we got home ;-) She's awesome!
The airport in Mackay was so cool, like a tropical oasis. You fly in, disembark, and it's all palm trees and big glass windows. It's a small airport - but really nice. There in the first window from the walkway was my best girlfriend Kirrilee, and her daughters Brooke aged 7, Amber aged 2 and Mia, nearly 1. I was smiling ear to ear to finally be meeting my good friend after many years of being chat mates. Brooke was the most excited of all. She and Amber were totally on top of finding and collecting my two bags - which was comical in itself. Brooke pulled the bags off and then she and Amber each claimed one. Amber pulled and grunted and got that bag to roll with her, as it was bigger than her, and heavier. I had to take a photo of her it was soooo funny. We got off to the car park (Parking Lot) and paid for our parking. MUCH cheaper than in Syd at $4.00, but then again, I had had to wait ages for my second bag to come, as well as go thought Customs in Syd, exchange some money, etc. so it was longer and that cost $20.
Kirrilee gave me a quick run down of the landmarks we passed in Mackay, the children's school, day care, swimming lessons, the place Justin (her husband) based his work from, and her favourite coffee shop, tattoo place and whatnot. We arrived at her house - which is set in a beautiful new neighbourhood (2 yrs old) and dropped off bags and grabbed dessert and a few items and made our way out to her parents home for tea (dinner). On the way, just before turning into their driveway, we spotted a Wallaby!
Inside their beautiful home I met her dad, mum, sister and her hubby. I had brought her father some coins as he collects them and recently had his 50th birthday, which I had just missed, consisting of several state quarters from some of the better known states, as well as Minnesota, of course and various other coins.
Then we had marinated steak, chicken wings, salads, pasta, and impossible and lemon meringue pies for dessert as well as Bundaberg Rum (Bundy) - both Dry and Lime and Rum and Cola - (they are trying to convert me from being a Bourbon Girl lol). After dinner we went outside for a bit and I marvelled at the spectacular starry sky! I was so clear and bright. Later we returned home and got the girls off to bed, watched a little TV, checked email and then crashed as well. I slept in Brooke’s bed as she spent the night with her nanna and pop. Little does she know, I am taking over her bed for good! he he he
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Bob Sundstrom
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Wallaby!?
You spotted a Wallaby? I spotted a dead skunk on 2nd street in Duluth yesterday. You win!! Your travels sound great. Are you getting digital pics to show later? If you see Crocodile Dundee tell him that Bob hasn't forgotten about that five dollars I borrowed him. Enjoy, Bob.