Gidday all,

Still hanging around southeast of Melbourne, were taken for a Sunday drive around the coast   by our friends and had a good look around. Only a couple of days left before we sail off, will tidy and clean the camper and eat through the remaining fruit and veg in preparation.

The weather has been kind, hope it stays calm for the crossing.

                                                  couple of cockies cleaning out the nest

                                          looking back towards Melbourne from Woolamai

                                                 looking at French Island from Corinella

                                                                  view from Settlement Point

 

 

 

 

Gidday all,

Lingered on the banks of the Murray River watching the water skiers going up and down and relaxing. Also fixed the parking brake on the truck. Headed off to Bendigo and then south towards Melbourne. Contacted some friends southeast of Melbourne and they invited us to a Christmas eve BBQ, so set the GPS for Cape Paterson. Thought we were going on the freeways around Melbourne but it changed it’s mind at the last minute and sent us straight through the city. A lot of traffic and a couple of hours later we found our way to the destination. 

So staying for a couple of days and then have a look around the coast till it’s time to board the ship for Tassie. Been a bit slack with photos so will put some on next time. Merry and safe Christmas to all.

Gidday all,

Sitting on the banks of the mighty Murray River at Echuca, on the Victoria side. Spent the last couple of days on a creek bank south of Hay. May stay a couple of days, or may not, don’t know yet.

Temps in the 20s, good to feel cool again.

                                             on the Cobb highway to the Vic boarder

                                                        driving on the Hay plains

                                                              the headless horseman

                                                   strange creatures of the black swamp

                                                                 natural sculptures at billabong creek

Gidday all,

Finally getting cooler, turned westward at Parks and spent the night at a lake near Condoblin on Friday. Saturday morning the powerboats started to arrive and it got crowded so we left and found a nice spot at Booberoi Weir 60k down the road, on the Lachlan river, spent the weekend there not a soul in sight.

Will head south from here to Hay and Denilliquin.

                                              relaxing at the weir for a couple of days

                                 just off the road a marker for the grave of the king of Clare tribe

                                                        old pump shed at the weir

                                                     the boiler used to power machines

                                                                       the weir itself

 

Gidday all,

On the road again, decided to leave the heat of North Queensland behind and we are heading back to Tasmania.

Left on the 4^th of December and headed south. Called into some friends in Carmilla and Hervey Bay then met up with my sister Janice and Mark at Wongi state forest for a day. We parted ways, they headed northish and we went west. Went to Biggenden, then Mundubbera, south to Dalby and over to St. George, then south to Hebel and crossed over into NSW. Mind you that took us 3 days.

Now sitting just north of Coonamble. The weather is still hot, went through a couple of massive dust storms, big winds out on the plains.

Have got a few weeks before we sail off so will meander through NSW and Victoria, hope it gets cooler soon.

                                                        At Wongi water holes

                                                                         More of Wongi

                                                     Lunch at the start of the dingo fence

                                                  Stanley the emu outside Lightning Ridge

                                                        Stanley made from VWs

                                                          Hay  man near Walget

 

In transit at the moment, on our way home after our epic European and North African adventure. Drove over 12000 Ks in Europe alone, trained to France Flew to Morocco and trained all around flew back to Switzerland and now on route home. Only a couple of things we would do different, and only small things. All in all a very successful and memorable trip. May have to go home for a rest.

Gidday all,

Took the train from Fez to Rabat, booked into the Ibis next to the station and relaxed for a while. Had to find a bigger suitcase, so found a cab driver who spoke some English and asked him to take us to the shops. He said the ones around here were too expensive, so for 50 dirum he would take us to better ones. So off we went, he even got out and guided us to the right ones. So got a new suitcase for $40 au and taken back to hotel, gave him 200 dirum for his trouble, about $20.

The people in Morocco are so friendly and willing to help, well most are, and after you get the idea of how things are done, it’s a great place to travel around in. Din and I agree Fez was the highlight for us. The Madinas are unforgettable, the sights, the smells, the sounds.

Spent the last night back in Casablanca, by the beach, in a 4 star hotel, flew out on Wednesday with Royal Air Moroc. Now back in Switzerland, will say bye to Sandy in the next couple of days and fly out for Abu Dhabi on the 6^th.

                                                   on the balcony of our Casablanca hotel by the beach

                                                                            Casablanca beach

                                                                                  Casablanca suburb

                                                                                lighthouse on the point

                                                                                    some of the locals
             

Lights at twilight

Gidday all,

From Marrakech through Casablanca and on to Fez. As we approached Fez station a man came and sat next to Din, he spoke English and they started talking, he invited us to visit the tannery in the madina. He was the head of the set up so he said, cut a long story short, he said to write our names on a piece of paper and he would send someone to pick us up in the morning to take us there, no cost and no obligation to pay anything. With our suspicions we obliged.

Next day we were picked up and taken to the marina as promised, another trip of sensory overload. What an amazing day, another if not better classic Moroccan experience. Spices, brass, clay, wood carvings, leatherwork, rugs. We wandered about with our guide and after a bit of haggling ended up buying some leatherwork, must give it to him for his business head and salesmanship cause he got some dollars out of us, which was his plan all along, but not complaining, well worth it.

Oh and also bought a rug, silk and wool weave. Now we just have to find a bigger suitcase to fit it all in.  

                                                  some of the wares of the Fez madina

                                                     more goodies everywhere you look

                                                     one of the entrances to the marina

                                                         view from the roof of the tannery

                                             century old vats where they process the hides

                                                             donkey load of hides

                                                                        more vats

                                                       ornately decorated buildings

                                                          rugs in the carpet house

                                                                          century old building

Gidday all,

Anyone who visits Marrakech must go to the Medina, if you think you’re up to it. An almost overwhelming kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells. Truly glad we did.

Marrakech is the end of the train line, so have had to backtrack to Casablanca to go forward, will head up to Fez and make our way back to Casablanca as I booked a flight out of here on the 3^rd back to Zürich.

                                                     artworks on the hotel room walls

                                                  some of the landscape of Morocco

                                                                     in the Riad

                                                        one of the less busy marina lanes

                                                                   and another

domed houses in the distance

Gidday all,

Casablanca, not quite as exotic as expected, though very Moroccan. Had a look around the city, mainly by cab, then headed for the railway station and got a ticket for Marrakech. Couldn’t find the Marrakech express so opted for the milk run, first class, we were advised.

Stayed at the closest hotel around the station, found another in the madina using hotel wifi, booked a room for the following night, hoping it would work. Next morning got a cab to the address, wow, had to be dropped off some distance short of the Riad (Moroccan house hotel) with a man and trolley for our bags we made our way through the winding narrow lanes. Made it eventually, and they seemed to know of our reservation, faith was restored in the internet.

This I can say so far has been a true Moroccan experience. Explored the madina (old town) today. Took special care to be able to find our way back, could get lost very easily, amazing atmosphere, spices, fruit stalls, nick nacks of all sorts, clothes, food stalls, people, motorbikes, donkeys and carts, all on eight foot wide lanes. Back in room now Contemplating our next move.

                                                                        the hotel room in Casablanca
 
 

                                                                   breakfast room in Casablanca
 
 

                                                                             Casablanca hotel entrance
 
 

                                                                  date palms in Marrakech first hotel
 
 

                                                                           courtyard of marina hotel
 
 

                                                                           view from the roof
 
 

                                                                          on the way to the entrance
 
 

                                                                                 hotel entrance
 
 

Restaurant in madina