Final Fling

Julie had some issues, as did we all, with the Hotel in general. Parties were booked for four of our nights there with all sorts of riff raff running rampant.  Sleep was already a problem with the heat and the renovations were incessant and always started at 7:00am.  Maintenance on the horizon pool closed it for two days and the comedy festival day included that pool.  Julie went to work on the last day arranging free breakfasts and all day access until we were ready to leave until 10:00pm. Hooray!  We were all done in but Debbie had this last itch that needed scratching. With a 30 min spare window we went into the casino armed with cash, all $20 of it.  Thirty two yar ago we played a roulette table and scored 17:1 with a $10 chip. We then decided to blow it all. This time around we tried the armless bandits and got onto some sort of golden patchwork where if you get the squares full of gold then you hit the jackpot.  We got 12 squares filled with three empty however that still gave us $35. so we cashed in and sailed right out of there.

we had to ask how to get the winnings out

Darwin City Walk

 We may not be used to 34° but that did not stop us walking into the main town for a three km stroll.  We found a sitdown for a pub lunch before getting a taxi back. OK we said walk into town but not necessarily back again and as well there were the champagne supplies etc that we were now carrying. Also it was time to swap rooms, as the older style ones were deemed inappropriate compared to the nicely refurbished ones. We were allowed to tour a poolside apartment along the way where, at $1800 per night, two couples could have a room each. 

Grand Pacific

 This is a Breakfree resort which  manages a series of apartments owned by others. Ours is a good one overlooking the waterway behind Bribie Island. We also have a spa on the deck that looks out over the pool. To Cool. There is a full kitchen and laundry which we have not fully used but will do at some stage. 

spa view

Scheduled Flight

 This would have to be the most on time and faultless flight I have had in a long time. Even the bags were waiting when we got to the carousel.  You have to pick on something and I would have to say the security check area at Brisbane is hopeless compared to Melbourne. In Brisbane everything gets unpacked, like laptops, umbrellas, belts and areosols.  That part took 30mins. Otherwise I am sitting here at 2:00pm typing this before I take a snooze as it was yet another 5:30am start. Those Queensland grandies are early starters. There will be some short videos to come which are only phone versions.

This is a final photo from the hotel room we were in showing the crazy TV position with corners jutting into two walkways.

Citadines

 We used Citadines in Paris a few years back. I do recommend them and this one has us sitting on the top floor at the bar with a view over the runways.  We have a 4:00am wake up call for the flight tomorrow morning.

Water views

 First impression is good from our room with water views and plenty of space in the room. It has an upgraded air-conditioning unit but an old TV.  Laura has an older room with bad air-conditioning and she has Charlie in there.

Sunset Western view

Demolition

I have spent some time trying to get a trip to the world cycling champs in Woollongong happening. We are making it a road trip with a maximum of 4 hours driving on any given day.  I got a call this morning all bright and bubbly, 'I am 83 yar old and I built this hotel 45 yar ago and I sold it yesterday so you will have to cancel your booking.  It will be demolished before you get here.'  OK then. I have had a hotel destroyed  by an earthquake before we got there but this is a new one.  I have now squeezed into the nearby Motor Inn, nothing fancy but it is still just a 4 hour drive.  

Sovereign Park

 This is a motel not far from Sovereign Hill. I recommend it as it comes with the lot. The rooms are a good size with an indoor and out door table.  Inside there is a separate sink , fridge and microwave as well as a full couch. The bathroom comes with a spa bath. As for the recreation room, it has an indoor tennis court, a well equipped gym with a games room the same size. The pool area is large with two built in spas and a children's water spout pool.  There is an attached bar and restuarant with a huge indoor kids play room and a pokies room.  That should cater for evrybody.

Gym Room

Pool Room

Emporium Stay

 The weather has closed in even more here. Last night we used The Terrace restaurant. I can recommend it even if you are not staying here. I had a medium sirloin which was perfecto.  This morning we have been forced to stay indoors. The pool is an absolute wash of wind and rain so we ordered room service breakfast for one and had half each.  We are moving hotels today so will just hunker down until exit time.

Typical Brisbane Summer

Even the Lifts are a light show

∞ and beyond

We got to use the pool this morning before the rains came. This time of the year if it is not raining it is overcast so the 20 minute pool was good with only one other person. We walked down Grey St to the Mantra where we have had breakfast previously. It poured while we were inside but good timing for us. Debbie is now getting a scratchy throat but the RAT says she does not have anything like COVID.  This room is fully electronic. We found the TV somehow projecting from within the mirror.

Early Fireworks

We had been considering walking across to the river side for a riparian view but seeing we had a seventh floor window facing the city it would be more comfortable here than getting wet outside. The rain here has been constant. The 8:30 pm show went for 10 minutes.  We were delivered a NYE bottle of champagne earlier in the afternoon so we opened that in the room after we had some tapas type bar food down below.  We have worked out that the aircon temperature overnight is best set at 23°.

Mantra Breakfast

 We noticed the Mantra restaurant has reopened. We stayed there last time during a much lesser covid time yet we could not eat in hotels. Even with premier Anna in panic mode this time around, the restaurants are opened again. There is no figuring her thinking. My solution to stop the craziness at testing stations is to close them all. Rick cooked tea last night, breakfast was had at the Mantra and todays New Year's Eve lunch was booked two weeks ago, on Natalie Taylor's recommendation.  So that means there is no more cooking for us for at least a week.  It's much hotter in Melbourne at the moment only 26° here today.  We have been able to get the QLD checkin App going and get the vaccination certificate attached but no-one is asking to check it. 

Mantra omelette

The exhibition centre is across the road here

Hotel's roof top play exercise area

Hyatt Style

 This hotel is fully open for business, including the restaurant.  They have this electronic method of checking in via your phone and then a door key is sent to the phone as well.  I think there is a curfew on planes at Essendon as we did not hear any. It does not have a pool so I would not use it again as we could not get in over at the Mantra.  

An Australia Day photo

Asher's Ticket to Ride

 We thought about something to do so came up with a stroll in Queenstown, six hours later we arrived back after a major outing.  The stroll started out in the main street checking out a number of shops. Clothes were bought, as well as books, kitchen goods and coffees. A few galleries were thrown in like the Leunig gallery, which was expensive for essentially stick figures. We got back top the Brewery Hotel for lunch which was very busy.  After lunch the carnival had started up across the way, so Asher tried a roller coaster and the those funny mouth clowns that swallow the balls.  Then it was Nelly by the Sea for more coffee. This looks to have potential as it is licensed but we did not see the menu. 

Funny Hat Club

Reading with actions

Nelly's

Not convinced

What cricket?

The Mantra at Tullamarine is still half a hotel.  We got here about 7:00pm and the restaurant is still closed as well as the gym as well as the pool.  Complain complain.   OK at least we can watch some cricket.  I could not find it and I was thinking there is some kind of COVID cancellation going on like most other things.  It wasn't til I logged in this morning to see the scores and that it was all over.  We did get some spaghetti from DiCaprio's so it wasn't all bad. It was a good thing our plane was a direct flight from Brisbane as many of the flights were going via Sydney. I don't recommend flying interstate a week before Christmas and with the constant natter about border crossings closing up again.

A quick pop in for the RRR ((Rick's Rocky Road)

All COVID signage was ignored in QLD. It was mostly impractical anyway.

Full Moon Hotel

Another wet day in Brisbane but not a cold day.  We  have been taking our time in the mornings and snoozing in the afternoon in time to go out for tea.  We drove to the Full Moon Hotel but the rain and clouds meant we did not see any Moon but there was a good view of the tidal flats below.  We walked in there and Tim & Julie were inside sitting down.  How did that happen?  Some sneaky goings on has arranged this gathering.  The food was good. I had the beef and pea pie. Very tasty. Earlier it was our turn for the dog walk during a break in the rain. So even Luna was happy.

Sunshine

Full Moon Hotel - Sandgate

Private Hotel

One thing about having a hotel all to yourself is that it is so quiet. It was weird walking in, totally dark, no restaurant, no people. Last time we were here 6 months back it was jumping.   We slept in until 8:00 am as there was not a sound but the room is also stripped of non essentials like tea and coffee.  It seems the gym and pool have opened this morning for the first time in months. We always gave that a try but not today as Asher waits for no one.  We have just had a delivery of coffee. Hooray.

Confluence

Seeing we have mud guards now we went looking for some dirt. This was found at Inverleigh when riding to the junction of the the Leigh River and the Barwon River and a good looking swimming hole it is, complete with rope swings into the water.  The ropes are plentiful mainly because of the ancient river gums that are all through here. We also rode a section of the Leigh River where the trees have also survived on a very picturesque stretch.  We had lunch at Fyansford and across the road, TruffleDuck is an 1870s national trust house that is now a reception place. Due to the No Wedding problem they have temporarily opened as a cafe, so that could be the next coffee stop.

WatersMeet

William Lawson set up a house in 1840

Good reception

Aloha Maui

I have a half hour before we check out here. I recommend the Westin if staying at Kaanapali. At the other end of the beach is the Sheraton which also looks extensive.  The upgrades will be finished here in another year's time.  The Whaler's village is handy for the not so expensive food options.  When in Hawaii look for the ABC Stores.  They cover everything you need from grog and sandwiches to sunblock and thongs. I spent 30 minutes on the bike machine this morning.  Our exercise has been walking and snorkelling but nothing else.  Last night we dined at the Hula Grill and for the first time we ordered separate meals.  So we have not had the over eating problem. Maybe an over drinking one.

This sand sticks like shite to a blankette

She's Pineapples

Westin Maui

We have made a significant jump in standards here. The Westin Maui is very upmarket and newly renovated to boot compared to the rather tired Big Island Naniloa we just left.  We have been treated to a whale show off our balcony deck where numerous whales have congregated just off shore.  It is a sprawling hotel with 6 or 7 pools, complete with waterfalls and flamingoes. We ate at the food trucks just now which seem to be a permanent feature. Next door is the traders village where we will visit the Pandora store tomorrow.  I have been trying to come to terms with phone photos which is such a come down from using a real camera.  So the attached will have to do.

Food Vannin

In the pink