Bryans Big Trip

The alarm went off at 06:00 this morning, and I made a point of ensuring that I stay awake so I didn't miss my call with Mum again. I was browsing Facebook 15 minutes later when the phone rang; Mum had spotted that I was online, so thought that an opportune time to ring me ..... I was still in bed which I think is a first for me and video calls. All caught up with Mum (who had been asleep on her sofa when I tried yesterday), I started trying to make plans for the day, but one thing loomed large in my thinking; my 10:10 appointment with a dentist. I decided to leave planning until after the visit as I'd managed to convince myself that an extraction was the only possible outcome!  Away from the hotel at 09:50, and into the dentists chair spot on time; she could replace the filling which was great news. Here is where Australian dental care differs from what I've seen in the UK. First, my gum was numbed so that I didn't feel the needle (never had that before), then I receiv...

Today has been a good day, but let me start with the weekly video which is now live (and has been since this morning and already spotted and commented on!). It can be found here .  I woke up a tad late this morning (well after 07:00) and my main thoughts were dental. I checked Google Maps, and there were a few dentists supposedly open this morning, so I made my way out into the city to find one. Google Maps lied to me and all were shut, so I returned to the hotel and tried to give Mum a call; no answer so I guess I was too late for her. I felt that I was on a bit of a fools errand trying to find a dentist, but I did spot one more that was supposedly open, so I phoned and have an appointment at 10:10 tomorrow; Easter Sunday. I did check with them, and yes, they are open on Easter Sunday, so I have a 10 minute walk tomorrow to see a dentist. I then considered this afternoon, and decided that I was going to go to the AFL game at Marvel Stadium after all, so after a bit of a pfaff (Tic...

Probably a really short update today. Awake at 05:30 with cramp in my calf (not the first time this trip, but it'll still wake me up in a hurry!), I repacked my stuff as I have a load of clean laundry now, and got ready for departure. Breakfast taken at just after 07:30, and checked out and on the road at 10:00. I backtracked a bit along the road to Myrtleford, then turned left and started exploring new ground. I knew that I needed to get fuel today, but misjudged it a bit as I passed some small town filling stations and then hit the motorway. So, I ended up paying a bit more than if I'd have pulled over 20 minutes previously, but still far cheaper than New Zealand. Along the M31 all the way to Melbourne; I set the cruise control to 110, and if a car was in front of me it automatically slowed down until I pulled out to pass; it's a step up from the cruise control I have at home and I kind of like it. A couple of stops en-route for a leg stretch before joining the city traff...

Last night I had a fairly early night, but just as I was dropping off a car alarm started sounding right outside my room. I did wonder whether it was mine, but it turned out the be next door's Land Rover; once they'd managed to silence it, I was straight off to the land of nod! Awake this morning with the alarm at 06:00, and again no rush for anything today; into breakfast just after 07:30, and away from the hotel at 09:00 and yesterday's list of things to do that I'd ignored. Everything that I had was on or near to the road up to Mount Buffalo, so it made sense to start at the far end (it was the same road in and out) and work my way back. After an hour the sealed road ended, and the final 2km was on a pretty rough gravel. The car that I have really isn't suited to gravel roads, but I made it up to the car park for The Horn. The path up to the summit was 1km of steps, but at least it was well formed and maintained. As I climbed the views were fantastic, although th...

Today didn't exactly go to plan. When I was planning this trip back in October or November, I noted down a lot of places to go and visit as I made my way from place to place. I took a look at the list for today, and decided that I wanted a more flexible journey with more freedom to explore, so I threw the original plan out of the window. Well, not entirely thrown ..... everything in the list is around Bright where I'm staying tonight, so I can do that tomorrow. Instead I had a bit of an explore of things en route. After the late night yesterday, I had a leisurely start to the day; breakfast at the golf club to start, and checked out at 10:00. I took a look at the map, and decided my first target of the day was going to be Indigo Falls. Off the main road and onto a potholed and gravel track, I watched a kangaroo bound off the road and up the hill before making my way to a parking area in a butterfly covered meadow. Up the path a short way and a small cascade greeted me. This fel...

A bit of a belated update today following some IT issues that needed time to work out for themselves, but here now! Awake early as usual, and into the common area for another excellent breakfast, and I also finally met my fellow guests. All packed up, and ready to leave at 09:30, after checking the room several times I still managed to leave my toothbrush charger ..... fortunately I was returning to ask about local fuel stations when the host was wondering how to contact me to let me know .... lucky escape there! So, finally away at 09:40 and I continued my journey along the Alpine Way. The scenery along the road was increasingly stunning, although for much of the time obscured behind the woodlands lining the road; I also had to be swift on the brakes to avoid a Kangaroo in the middle of the road as I rounded a corner. The first stop of the day was for a scenic spot just past an area known as John Groggin in the Murray Gorge. I continued along the road, starting to get the feeling that...

Wide awake at 05:30 this morning, but no real rush to do anything today. Where I'm staying at Pure Chalet above the village of Thredbo they do a cooked breakfast included in the package from 07:30, so I was in the dining area updating my diary from yesterday (yes, I keep a written diary as well as the blog and vlog) from 07:00 with a much needed cup of tea. Diary finished for the day, and a breakfast which included scrambled eggs with bacon, fresh fruit, bread and jam along with an Orange Carrot and Apple freshly squeezed juice. Absolutely fantastic; I'll look forward to a repeat tomorrow.  I had a plan for today; up on the chairlift and a wander out to Mount Kosciuszko Lookout about 2 km  from the top of the lift. Then take the paths to traverse across the mountain to the gondola, and then take the gondola down. So, down the steps to the village centre, and then I found the way to the lift stations. Into the ticket office to get my Scenic ticket (as opposed to a cycle one tha...

Awake with the alarm, and straight up to get my kit all repacked and ready for the off. I nipped into the cafe next door for breakfast, and checked out of the hotel and was on my way by 08:00.  I made my way leisurely to Central Station; on checking with hotel staff they recommended this way as it was mainly downhill. Onto the platform, and a 5 minute wait for a train before arriving at the International Terminal of Sydney Airport at around 08:30. A phone call to the car hire company, and they sent a van that delivered me to the hire office at 09:15ish. All the paperwork done, and I loaded up the car (a Mazda CX-3)  and got ready to depart after setting up the music and sat nav. Just out of the gate, and I noticed a stone chip and crack right in front as the sun caught it, so straight back into the car park .... one of their staff was still outside, so I pointed out the chip to him, and he reported the chip back to the office. I obviously couldn't take that car, so they had a ...

First up, the video of Week 11 (eleven weeks gone; it barely seems possible!) is now available on YouTube here , covering the end of New Zealand and the start of Australia. It feels very strange to think that it starts in Wanaka and ends in Sydney ..... Wanaka somehow seems such a long time ago! The day started with my weekly 07:00 video call with Mum; same time for me, but a couple of hours later for her .... as I travel across Australia I may have to rethink my timings due to the changing timezones. The plan for today is the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb; I've opted for the Ultimate package which includes three hours on the bridge and the photos included as I'm not allowed to take any photographic equipment with me, but more of that later. I needed to be checked in at 09:45 for my 10:00 event, so I left myself plenty of time and left the hotel at 08:30. A stop off at the cafe next door for coffee and breakfast (a delicious bacon and egg roll) before heading up the hill to Museu...