From Cape to cape. Expeditions by land and sea.

[drron]

Rocky is home to many old Queenslanders in varying condition.a small sample-

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On my wanderings I came across the military museum.in good condition out front but not so much at the rear-

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They had a special federal government Gallipoli exhibit.This was it-

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Not really worth it but I like supporting the efforts of locals.The wandering continued-

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[drron]

People do seem to get along here.On one corner the Greek Orthodox church-

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and across the road a Muslim community hall-

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Lots of small parks-

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Then the railway museum-

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100 years ago Rockhampton had steam trams from Paris-

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It was decided to restore one for the Bicentennial.This is how it was found-

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[drron]

It was restored and was ready for the Bicentennial-

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Though it only did a few trips before being retired to the bus depot before coming to the museum.It does do short runs but was out of action the day I was there-

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There are 2 restored carriages-

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[drron]

They also have the old QR General Managers carriage-

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With a reasonable kitchen-

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A couple of engines-

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[drron]

The diesel electric locos didn't have the allure of steam-

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Doesn't look like it was so good for the driver as well.
Then rooms of old equipment and photos.this was the control panel for Rockhampton pre computers-

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The photos are interesting-

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The 1918 flood was the last photo.
So I found it an interesting place.If the steam tram were running the kids would probably enjoy it too.

 

[drron]

So on my one other day off I went to the coast.had forgotten how dreary it can be.It was though the coolest day with a strong sea breeze which made walking pleasant.Occasional showers but not more than a couple of drops.Beaches are certainly not the greatest.it was a nippers carnival.Different as most were in stinger suits.

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Then walked down to the creek at the southern end of the beach-

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Later drove to the breakwater on the other side of the creek-

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[drron]

Some Yeppoon rocks for our resident geologist-

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On my other weekend off I went down to Hervey Bay to spend a weekend with mrsdrron.Stayed at Mantra-

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On my way home I stopped in Miriam Vale for this-

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Yes the Big crab and a crab sanga.

 

[drron]

Saturday lunch in Hervey Bay was at our go to restaurant-Coast on the Esplanade.You are encouraged to share plates.Just the way we like it.It is open plan and there was again a sea breeze-

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We started with scallopswith smoked avocado,chick peas and shredded cucumber plus roasted bone marrow-

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Then the torched whiting and Hervey Bay king prawns with paprika and lemon-

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Washed down with Tassie Sav Blanc-

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Recommended.
When in rocky I only dined out twice.Once at Seagulls fish and chips Yeppoon-reasonable and at least they told you what the fish was-red emperor.
And Samos fish and chips Rocky.cheaper and really good scallops.

So tomorrow the adventure begins.Flying to SYD.Overnighting Rydges and dinner with the grandkids.

 

[drron]

So now the trip begins.0745 and we are picked up and it is the stretch limo-doing it in style.Sadly no champagne.A good run and we arrive at BNE ~ 0915.A very quick checkin,no one else at security but fortunately because of my pat down another fellow goes past us just as I finish so he gets the secondary screening.So straight on to the J lounge.
Read the papers,a cup of coffee and when it starts flashing go to gate for our flight we stroll to the gate.The incoming flight arrives a couple of minutes after us.Definitely a few first timers on boarding.Soon seated in our usual seats-2A,C on the 738.

QF 525. BNE-SYD. ETD-1105. Push back-1126. Take off-1136.
ETA-1340. Landed-1336. At gate-1351.

A refreshment flight but the J choice was substantial enough.Mrsdrron had the Caesar salad with chicken and green sauce and I the spicy sweet and sour soup-quite nice

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Dessert was a pecan pie.now I love a good pecan pie.This was not one of those.

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Bags out in first 20 and on our way to the T bus for the short trip to Rydges.An English backpaper in a wheelchair after jumping into water and hitting a rock-compound fracture patella and tibia.Fortunately a young Aussie couple who obviously didn't know her where helping her get around.

Checkin and an airport view room on the 6th floor.The grandkids came and really loved watching the planes.A few pics on the Office thread and a few more-

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[drron]

Planes are not the only thing you can see from Rydges-

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And we had a VIP moment-

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Then it was down to dinner in Rydges Grill.We think the food is quite nice.First course with our daughter in law and 3 grandkids,main course with mrsdrron's sister and neice.I really liked my appetiser-salt and pepper seafood with lemon aoili-

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Back to our room and QR's A380 had arrived-

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So now to bed ready for tomorrow's run to SCL.

 

[drron]

So I am officially making it 3 of 3 South American TRs that are days behind.Though for me more because of long days.
So Wednesday and we wake early.The parade of A380s continues-

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Don't have to leave Rydges to ~ 0900.A queue at thw QF F checkin.An extended family wife lots of luggage blocking everything.An agent finally gets them to organise their baggage to one side so the second agent can check everyone else in.Things go quickly then.Now I had checked our seats when we arrived at Rydges the day before and some kind person had changed both our 747 flights to upstairs.These days we don't do stairs well so much prefer the front cabin-especially so coming home from JNB where an unrefurbed bird is now showing.I selected 2J,K so if we were far enough south we might see some ice.However on several attempts that selection would not stick.Fortunately at checkin those were our seats.Just more QF IT gremlins.

Then through Fast Track but once again Smart Gate didn't recognise me so off to an agent.Now if I were a certain Mr.Hancock I would have been oh so terribly miffed.I had to queue behind some Y pax.Oh the indignity.Though I realise there is no point firing off a letter to any Federal Government Minister.

Then through security when another way to subvert the process became apparent.Not going to say what just in case this has not been noted.It could be quite specific to this one time.So off to the body scanner-it makes the life of those with metal inside much pleasanter.
Then to the TRS.Because of our experience last time mrsdrron had done everything online so as not to be in a long queue.Another failure.We were behind quite a few Chinese tourists-yes they were mainland Chinese as they had their passports out.The reason was the setup to the entrance at SYD.2 doors to come in which feed to the 2 lines.A lot of people didn't look at the signs and just went to the line their door lead them to.It wasn't until only 1 agent didn't have a Chinese tourist with 10-30 receipts was an effort made to clear the pre assessed line of those that shouldn't have been in it.

Next the Flounge.Probably last time we will be there with mrsdrron as a WP.So it was definitely time for the odd champagne and the more odd glasses of St.Huberts.First was brekky.As usual mrsdrron ordered the corn fritters.She actually remembers a time when they contained corn.I also am a creature of habit and ordered eggs benedict with smoked salmon.This came-

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Yes it came with ham.I remember a time when they got your order right.
More of the activity.No not our 747,will they get along and a little mishap-

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After that I just read the papers and did some sodoku.At 1205 we went back to the restaurant.Reckoned it might be better than NP's on board selection.I had the Thai fish curry which was very good and mrsdrron the mushroom risotto-

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More of the A380s whilst eating-

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As we finished our meals they announced boarding had begun.alas no dessert.However when we got to the gate boarding had not begun.What was worse the priority line was longer than the economy only line.With priority now extended to PE and QP it doesn't really mean much.At least they processed it first.

At least as soon as we were seated we felt welcome-

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[drron]

So choosing the right hand side of the aircraft was good.Not for any views of ice as from the time we crossed the East coast of NZ until we were in sight of the Chilean coast there was dense cloud cover.However taking off to the west,turning north then south gave us great views of Sydney again.On a good day those views are hard to beat.First the City and harbour-

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Anyone on the cruise ship?next Narrabeen Lakes and Long Reef-

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[Pushka]

Phew. I'm running late and missed the first flight. Not to worry, I'm onboard now. But didn't you just get back?

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Phew. I'm running late and missed the first flight. Not to worry, I'm onboard now. But didn't you just get back?

This is another trip we are currently in Peru !

 

[drron]

I did work for 4 weeks and had 6 nights at home between trips.

 

[JohnM]

Late aboard but I have a good excuse...

 

[drron]

So a few more of mrsdrron's pictures on takeoff.We were able to view the harbour bridge from the other side.Virtually our last view was of SYD.

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So now to the Flight-
QF27 SYD-SCL. ETD-1250. Push back-1309. Take off-1321. B747-refurb.
ETA-1110. Landed-1134. At gate-1142. Seats-2J,K.
Champagne as seated and told to fill out brekkie menu.When the safety demo started everyone else was talking loudly and paying no attention.You could not hear the audio.So to the menu.

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We weren't too hungry.Mrsdrron had the prawn starter and felt it had no taste.I had the stir fried beef.It was OK.

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To finish off the limited eats I had the full cooked brekkie.The tomatoes were nice-

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Mrsdrron had the pancakes which were a soggy mess.One bite was enough.

 

[drron]

After lunch I settled down and watched Snowden.Normally I think Oliver Stone is normally a bit off with his conspiracy theories but this time the film matched my notions of the Snowden saga so I succumbed to confirmation bias.Neither George W or Obama come out as good guys.
After that I watched the newest version of Rocky Horror.Wasn't to my liking.Then it was announced we were passing over Queenstown so some more of mrsdrron's pictures-

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Now some of mine-

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We crossed the NZ coast at Christchurch-

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Basically as we crossed the NZ coast the cloud cover became complete and stayed that way until we were near the Chilean cost.So seat selection for the majority of the flight wasn't impoetant.

 

[drron]

I did try to sleep but I find the QF J bed uncomfortable plus the noise in the cabin was excessive.Across the aisle an elderly German man insisted on speaking loudly to his sleeping wife.As well the Clive Palmer body double loved the sound of his own voice.So after 90 minutes trying to sleep I gave up and watched the Ron Howard doco on the Beatles.I really enjoyed it but then I grew up with the Beatles.
About an hour out we first saw the Chilean coast with the Andes rising above the clouds-

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So another reason the right side of the plane was indeed the right side.
A rather heavy landing.We were virtually the last J pax off the plane but moved well up the line as we knew where to go to pay the reciprocity fee.I have nothing against this as the Australian Government collects that fee from Chileans and gets Aussie travellers to pay the price.We were quickly through Immigration,bags were slow coming out and non priority tags were the only ones seen for a while.Finally got our bags and trundled of to the HI SCL.Straight across the road.
I was impressed with the HI.As we approached the door with our trolley a staff member opened the door beside the revolving door to let us in.At checkin there were 2 in front of us.then a second agent come out and beckons me to the priority lane.Not only that she upgrades us to a corner room on the Ambassador floor.And this only my second stay as an IHG member.Obviously TKWIW.

So the room-

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The view across from the room is ordinary-

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But from the side window you get a view over one runway-

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One bonus was that tourists now have the hotel tax removed so we got part of our fee back.But now time to sleep.

 

[JohnM]

Sounds like a great trip... looking forward to photos of the Falklands, brother was there in 82.....

Presumably not as a tourist. I trust that he returned unharmed. Nasty conflict.