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A given; travel and surprises go hand in hand. Those surprises become memorable adventures, many that go beyond any imagination. Today’s location in point; Australia’s vast and infectious Outback.

The forecast upon our arrival in Alice Springs was already counter to expectations, having long anticipated the famous or infamous conditions that usually prevail. That is very hot and dry weather. It was not to be. We arrived under cool temperatures 50’s and low 60’s F with 100% promise of rain. The locals confirmed that this was notable, newsworthy and very welcome. Rain it did as we donned our rain wear and umbrellas. After a day or two of seeing the prevalent Todd River basin dry and parched, sizable puddles, be it small ponds appeared.

The weather did not stop us from enjoying the amazing community that is the Outback with an exception in Uluru where a couple of programs had to be canceled due to the heavy rain and a great deal of flooding. A long history and devoted residents have created a community of caring, support and dedication to education and well being of its citizens. They residents also enjoy food, drink, music, art, and all aspects of life, the good as well as the difficult. Caring and unique agencies have sprouted in the area dedicated to good causes. But our visits to these places waited until after our bus ride to Uluru (Ayres Rock) a sacred and beautiful hunk of mountain in the middle of the vast flat and dry landscape. 

The drive took 4 1/2 hours to go the 450km/270mi from Alice Springs. The purpose of the drive was to give us the true distances in vast space that is the Outback. The rivers and the roads were flooded, rain was falling and the road was mostly empty. We did encounter the monstrous “truck trains” made up of 3-5 truck trailers pulled by various types of trailers. The flooded roads did make the trip slow going but we were able to visit the red sand beach, the camel farm other attractions along the way.

Saving time and having already survived the grueling drive in reverse, we flew back to Alice Springs a 30 minute flight where we enjoyed visits to the agencies I referred to,  The Royal Flying Doctors home base and School of the air. 

Since early days of flying, The Royal Flying Doctors have saved many lives reaching injured patients in far away locations.  The School of the Air is an incredible concept and is just that. School first via Morse code and updated to modern electronics to aid students in their school work on their remote homesteads and farms. Books and supplies are mailed to their homes along with assignments and frequent conversations between teachers and the student are scheduled. 

Desert park, a remarkable nature reserve is devoted to protecting and educating the public about the flora, fauna, forests and jungles of the area. Somehow, Australia harbors the most poisonous species of snakes, spiders and other creatures in the world. We of course, saw kangaroos, small and large birds, crocodiles, eels and a vast number of other species both familiar and unfamiliar to travelers. 

We learned first hand about the long history and trials of survival that hae faced the Aboriginal People.  We interacted with the modern and vibrant community of the Aboriginal people and observed and interacted with them to learn about their arts, crafts, history and cultural development and achievements. 

Didgeridoo                                                           Truck train monster

This blog entry is but a very brief summary of what we learned and observed. The outback must be experienced first hand to really have an inkling of what life involves in the vast area of Australia. We also must return for more adventure in the vibrant, rough, beautiful country of Australia. 

 Urulu

                                                                                                                                Critter

                                 Aboriginal Artwork

 Roos of course                                             Demo Fire making 

Red Rock Beach

          Royal Flying Doctors service locations

With a head filled with the riches of our latest RV travel adventure to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii, that answering so many requests to share stories and photos is a challenge. So many stories, where do I begin: especially after a long hiatus from blogging. I was just too busy “adventuring” to sit down and write.  It will take weeks to process and share the memories, so I will start at the beginning. 

First stop, South Island, New Zealand, the land of the Kiwis. Not the delicious fruit variety but the country’s national bird and the loving term New Zealanders have chosen to refer to their nationhood. Kiwis are a loving, friendly, and enthusiastic people with a remarkable sense of humor and an expressed sense of isolation from the world outside. The Kiwi (bird) is a comedian in looks and behavior, elusive being nocturnal, bold and territorial, small chicken sized, with a tremendously long beak complete with an unusual presence of nostrils at the tip, sporting “furry” feathers, and have wings but cannot fly. Their sense of smell and acute hearing excel, their eyesight however, leaves lots to be desired. They forage in the night for food and actively defend their territory. They sleep by day and are very hard to find in the wild. 

The Kiwi indeed made an impression on me but to see one in the wild, at night, defies the traveler on a schedule. A visit to the Rainbow Springs Conservation center casts attention on Kiwis and many other Zealand critters to protect, rescue and display the less nocturnal among us. Hence this troublesome attempt in trying to photograph the creature under special nocturnal lighting, keeping the birds awake. 

Failing that attempt, I include two Kiwi posters from rainbow springs, the brown feathered and the white feathered birds. 

Visit my source for more Kiwi facts and stories; http://www.rainbowsprings.co.nz/kiwi-conservation/kiwi-facts/

Just for fun and to satisfy my desire to share soon, I offer a couple more critter images and some advice. If you are planning to visit New Zealand, do it via motor home, rent on your own (the campgrounds are wonderful) but better yet, sign up for an RV tour and see and learn more of this land than you can possibly find on your own. (you will also transfer your driving skills to the left side of the road.)  Both South and North Island are great destinations. South Island is among the top ten on my list of spectacular mountain scenery and North Island’s Blue Mountains are not far behind. 

Now, back to the sorting of my 2500 images (after deleting reams of them plus my cell photos). I did try on purpose to shoot fewer images and remembered to cherish the visual images that remain in my head. It is hard, the shutter finger twitches. You know where my focus should be for the next few weeks. 

Blogging time is limited, too busy viewing this lovely land. Some stories to share. Kiwis, (not just a wonderful state bird, but the way native New Zealanders refer to themselves) love chocolate. The market cookie shelves are heavily laden with an indigenous product called Tim Tams, chocolate covered wafers that come in at least 12 flavors based on chocolate. The tourists favor them too. So much SUGAR. But most Kiwis are slim, trim and come with broad, toothy Smiles and warm welcomes.

We visited the Cadbury factory and their many varieties of chocolate. Preferred are the many chocolate boutiques featuring home created treats. The dairy products are super rich and creamy, a feature of the nutrients eaten by the dairy cows.

The kiwi birds are fun to watch, chicken size, round and fully packed and creatures of the night. We viewed them at a reserve where their night is turned into day via red lighting so the birds can be seen. Their long beaks feature nostrils at the working end of the beak. The nose is deemed the shortest in the bird world therefore. enabling the bird to smell the prey at the tip of the beak.

Flag stories. The recent referendum to change the design of the flag failed as you have seen in the news. Most Kiwis want a change but not the offered design. It was pushed through by the government to distract the public from scandalous issues, a diversion.

A holocaust story of all things. Stopping in a rest area for lunch, a monument remembered an event in 1944. Polish children were being deported to Siberia. Interference by an agency sent them to Iran then to a small town in north island New Zealand where they flourished.

And lastly, a delightful encounter with a Kiwi grandpa on the ferry to Wellington to pick up his five year old grandson to take back to south island to recover from tonsilectomy, such loving folks. Enough for now. Typing on this tablet is a Chore and off to see the art deco featured in Napier as an answer to rebuilding post the .19I31 earthquake. I cant share photos due to limitted phone data and no photo card transfer from cameras. Be well!

What a journey. The RV’s are small, but fun and adventursome, most especially on the challenging mountain roads with narrow lanes and few straight aways. (driving on the left). The mountains rise high and beautiful. Every other word we utter is WOW.  And wow hardly says it all.

Time to blog is minimal. Our days are FILLED with adventure, surprise, and overdoses of eye candy sugar feeding our spirits into high gear. The forests are bright green with moss covered blankets coating everything that grows. It is indeed Tolkienien a classic. Our Wednesday was topped off with an exhilarating flight to the Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers. Walking on snow and ice; a wonderland and it was not freezing cold. The sun blazed, no wind blew. The clouds opened up long enough for our 40 minute flight.

Time to pack up for our day’s discoveries. Hugs to all of you.

• Yes, our RV tour promised New Zealand and Australia. The rigs become ours tomorrow. Today we found snow, survived blizzards, wind storms, joustled about on a Haggland rough terrain vehicle ride and viewed blue penguins. But no worry, We visited the International Antarctica center a door step away from actually going there. What a trip;
• http://www.christchurchnz.com/what-to-see-and-do/listings/international-antarctic-centre/
• Christchurch suffered an epic earthquake 5 years ago, centered in the heart of the city. Recovery is slow but lead by determined souls. Our tour bus passed by many damaged areas shored up by braces of all types, supported by walls of container cars and any means of tape, glue, and wishfull thinking. We passed town hall, the devastated late 1800’s cathedral, awaiting its fate to restore or replace, the old police station, casino, homes & more.
•  It was free time to tour and find lunch. We chose to see the “Restart” mall. Each shop occupies container cars cleverly turned into luxury and luxurious shops and restaurants, enjoyed lunch at a coffee roaster then walked to the bus terminal to continued back to the Commodore hotel. Just for fun, we each bought a pair of Merino wool and Possum fingerless gloves: so soft and welcoming that you just want to hug them close. They serve as perfect souveniursas warm as the people we meet here.of New Zealand as warm and welcoming as the people we meet in this lovely land. 
  

A message of hello on Monday from Christchurch, New Zealand. Two days of recovery as we await the start of our RV touring adenture. So far the locals we have met, have been warm and friendly as expected, sad for our sorry state in the political realm, but glad to have us tour their beautiful shores. We even viewed a bit of a rugby game–a tough game in my book.

We have swum in the pool, soaked in  the hot tub, I exercised in the gym and found veggie choices in the restaurants. Onward to our rvs, left side driving and looking foreward to our long  awaited adventures. More soon if we stay connected. Ann Carol

My Dear Readers;
I have missed two blog postings and have been inundated with inquiries. Thank you for your queries and your concern. I thought a “Heads up” would be in order to the effect that my Monday’s Blog will be quite irregular for many weeks. We are disembarking from our rig and embarking on a long flight overseas to New Zealand and Australia, then R and R in Hawaii. It is that Bucket list thing and a long awaited journey.

How lucky we are. I will try to post some messages during our travels, but we will be busy learning–hopefully successfully to drive our rented RV’s on the left side of the road when appropriate and to fully enjoy all of the aspects and nuances the places we visit. Of course, the return home is always done with the desire to return again. I also appreciate the many suggestions you have sent saying “not to miss…” while on the journey.

Be well all of you, enjoy spring and summer and we will somehow keep in touch.
Hugs all around,
Ann Carol

Klu Klux Klan. Silly me, I truly thought that this terror group was defunct, only to be replaced by other equally terrifying groups. Recent events in Anaheim, CA instantly caught my attention. Are we back in the 30’s 40’s 50’s? Such shameful killing, suffering and to what purpose?  This is the latest in the long list of dysfunction in our society and disruption in moving to a more settled country let along the world.

Trump. I am so reluctant to even acknowledging his acceptance in our country. A folk hero perhaps, an unlikely presidential personality  in my mind, to try to run our great country. We should be engaging in what it takes to reach new heights of greatness, getting us back on track as leaders in this world. Trump Tromps on everyone and people smile and embrace him? They even believe he misheard the question about David Duke.  I don’t buy it. The media facilitates the enlargement of his image. The European media calls him a joker, a Donald Duck (Spain), a smiling demagogue, (France) The stuff of Fantasy (Germany), the USA, a country in a Momentary lapse of reason, (Helsinki).

Yes, the Republicans, the Democrats have their troubles too. I have a minute long deadline and everyone knows the stories, so why rant on about the familiar?
Perhaps a moment for a COCKEYED smile and a bit of lightness.

The Oscars; I frankly have not watched for years. I can pick up the list of winners on the news. I am so dubious about the word winning. what does it mean in so many contexts–winning a debate, winning a lottery, winning at the game table, winning–an often misapplied bit of terminology. Firstly, in the face of so many wonderful, over the top films, how can just one shine in all of the categories covered?

Mostly I have been long distraught over the sparse or complete lack this year of diversity in the Oscar hullabaloo. An then a black master of ceremonies, a slap in the face?? He was brave and entertaining I imagine.

The debates, not one mention during last weeks Republican events of those slaughtered in Kalamazoo, Mich. a few days before the debate or the 3 shot in Hesston, Ka during the debate, nor broaching policy statements about gun control. My ire is on fire.

The migrants and their suffering around the world. Climate control denial and lack of quick environmental action, I am done listing. We all have our worries, concerns, hopes and prayers and insights into the world as it changes course. I just had to express my mind and try to calm down and enjoy people around me, the day and my fortunate and adventuresome life style.  I just hope there is a Deus Ex Machina coming our way to get this society back on track.

There was no Monday’s Blog posting last week. After the loss of my dear brother Arthur, I was not yet able to share but am so grateful for all or your wonderful messages of support. I thank you all for those messages of support and solace not to forget the hugs. There is such comfort in knowing that people care and can express that care freely and with such love and that we can reciprocate in kind and make a difference in people’s lives. 

Our friends and family members are a great source of love and support when facing difficult times. It isn’t news that an endless number of established support systems and help groups exist, covering every phase of life. Many people choose to become part of a group, meetings that provide a steady and comfortable atmosphere to share and mend our inner souls.  I do not wish to “preach to the choir,”  Everyone of us has been buoyed up by friends and family member’s kind and loving words. Everyone of us has returned in kind, solace and support to our friends and family. 

Here are two responses from people extolling the love and caring received from their experience;

I have benefited greatly from the impromptu care and support among friends and family such as in my recent experiences as well as group support as the years have passed. What wonder to be able to receive such messages of love and support and to return them in kind as others need our help. It is a central core of Humanity.

Next week, hopefully onto other topics and hopefully some humor.
Thanks everyone

I am sad today. My beloved brother Arthur passed away after a prolonged illness wrapped in the arms of his family, his beautiful wife Natalie, son Moshe and his loving wife Joyce and daughter Erica and the beloved grandchildren. If only every one on earth could be so lucky and so well loved as my brother Arthur.