We left home at 6 am Nov. 1 and 48 hours later arrived in Port Macquarie, NSW, via Vancouver, Hong Kong and Sydney. The sun followed us all the way, finally overtaking on the Hong Kong to Sydney leg when we turned Southward. Even though we had`been awake for 24 hours at that point, there wasn't really any probability for more than a few minutes scattered sleep and so, by the time we were poured from the last plane (a Dash 8 by the way) we were in no shape to do more than stagger off to bed. It took the next three days to get the 12 hour change of daylight phase sorted out and we were zombified for most of that period........
We sorted out a few housekeeping matters - notably getting fixed up with an Internet Server, Telstar BigPond which has supplied us with a month's unlimited log-on time after which we shall nevertheless revert back to our maximum of 7 hours a month. Don't expect too much in the way of content but we shall do our best to keep you informed. Next, we arranged to get some re4ady cash from the Commonwealth Bank - this should take a week or so and for the intervening period we'll be freeloading on Pat and George. Thanks, guys ! We caught a sight of Gertie, our sturdy Nissan Urvan which we had`sold a couple of years ago and who has been replaced by the rather larger Toyota equivalent we shall be living in for the next six months. The next major hurdle is to steel ourselves to actually take Thomasina the Toyota out onto the roads, right-hand drive and all that that entails........ We've sorted out the gps map-installation for Australia and will be able to give out an accurate daily plot of our movements. And, finally, will likely be on 2m just as soon as the 1/4 wave vertical antenna gets trimmed properly. Until then, Echolink will be the only direct contact and we might try for ve3rix at 7:30 am Ottawa time, corresponding to 11:30 pm local time hereabouts. The local 2m repeater is vk2cjm, EchoLink node 258920, 146.700 (-) here and I should be able to use this quite easily. No IRLP as yet identified.....
We will take a few photos of Thomasina the Toyota tomorrow and show you how she looks. And then take her for a short shake-down drive to see how she behaves herself.
73 de vk8mp/va3tjp mike and shirley-anne
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We got onto the beach just as soon as possible. The sea feels just a bit cool - well, not quite so cool as the Ottawa River must be right now. Perhaps it's because the air temperature is in the thirties here.
Gotta make some comments about the flowers here. When we left Ottawa the trees were well into the leaf-shedding phase and temperatures were well below 10 C. The air here is filled with the scents of the flowering trees. It's early summer and not unduly hot as yet: upper twenties and not yet unduly dry. We will probably head N., touching upon Queensland and then retreat S. as the weather gets hotter and the dreaded Box Jellyfish makes its lethal presence known on the N. sea coast. This is the season for the Jacaranda trees to blossom and then lay down their purple carpets on the grass.
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Click on image for a more detailed view
Click on image for a more detailed view