Well, the e-mail thing wasn't intentional. Even Verizon can't figure out WHY its "temporarily suspended" and I'm on my second trouble ticket now trying to get it fixed. In the meantime, you can use
cagaylord@verizon.net if you need to get ahold of me.
Oh yeah, I'm back.
I actually got back last Wed., but I've been busy trying to catch up, so haven't had time to come on here 'til now.
Trip was great! I still can't believe how much we did, and I still feel like there was tons of stuff we didn't do. Here's a brief synopsis:
Day 1 - Flew...and flew...and flew. Then slept.
Day 2 - Went down to Circular Quay (the main ferry terminal by the Opera House) and had a typical Australian BBQ breakfast, then took a harbor cruise.
Day 3 - Took the ferry to the Taronga Zoo and spent most of the morning there. Then took the ferry over to Darling Harbor (where the Aquarium is) and walked to the Powerhouse Museum (old, converted power plant...kinda a science/technology museum).
Day 4 - Took the bus to Bondi Beach and walked from there to Coogee Beach (a couple miles). Stopped along the way to let Amory play at Clovely Beach, then again at Coogee. Walked back to my bro & sis-in-laws apartment.
Day 5 - Took the ferry back to Darling Harbor and went to the National Maritime Museum (including the replica of Capt. Cook's
Endeavour which was open to the public for the first time...just got back from 10 years sailing around the world). Then went to the Aquarium.
Day 6 - Went to the airport and flew to Launceston, Tasmania. Got rental car and hit the visitor's center, then went to Cataract Gorge (nature park-type area). Drove onto Devonport and spent the night.
Day 7 - Got up and drove to Cradle Mountain. Spent about 3 hours hiking around Dove Lake at the base of the mountain (with the stroller). Drove on to Queenstown and spent the night.
Day 8 - Drove through the rest of the Cradle Mountain National Park and made it all the way down to Hobart. Visited the Salamanca Market (weekly street market). Got to see the Hobart Fire Brigade in action at a kitchen fire at an Indian restaurant. Drove onto Port Arthur and spent the night.
Day 9 - Went to the Port Arthur Historical Site (old penal colony) and took the tour and harbor cruise. Saw the last land before Antarctica. Drove back to Hobart and went to the top of Mt. Wellington (4,000+ feet). Spent the night in Hobart.
Day 10 - Flew back to Sydney. Hooked up with my friend Alan and did the "Fireman's Tour of Sydney". Went to the Museum of Fire in Penrith, then visited the Penrith Volunteer Rescue Squad (Alan's a member) and the Marsden Park Fire Brigade (Alan's a former operational member...now social). Stopped by his house and visited with his wife, then went to the HQ of the Rural Fire Service (right next to Olympic Stadium) and then HQ Station for the NSW Fire Brigades in Sydney. Had dinner with the both of them and the family.
Day 11 - Took the tour of the Opera House, went opal shopping, visited the Univ. of New South Wales, then back to Coogee Beach.
Day 12 - Back to the airport. Spent an hour and a half on the plane waiting for the passenger who checked their bags and then never got on the plane. Spent another 13 hours on the plane. Landed 4 hours before we took off. :blink: Had to wait for paramedics to come on for a passenger who started having some medical problem 2 hours into the flight (didn't hear a thing about it until we were in LA). Limo driver was waiting for MIA passenger until flight crew told him passenger was still Down Under. Went home, forced self to stay up 'til decent hour (8 PM) and went to bed after being awake for 37 hours straight.
So, that's the trip in a nutshell. I'm working on a website with pics (I took close to 900), but here's a couple of interest.
The Gaylord clan at the Sydney Opera House
Restaurant fire in Hobart, Tasmania
Hobart Fire Brigade Scania pumper
NSW Ambulance Service Mercedes Sprinter ambulances
Penrith V.R.A. Rescue Squad Rescue 2
NSW Rural Fire Service Category 1 tanker
NSW Fire Brigades Scania/Bronto 37m (121 ft) aerial ladder platform
NSW Fire Brigades Varley Commander "Super Pumper 1"
Super Pumper 1 leaving on a call
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