After being steam-cleaned, the truck was finally cleared by Australian quarantine on 10th February and I went to collect it from Port Kembla. Before being allowed to enter the dock – just to pick up the truck – the security staff required me to study their lengthy health and safety manual and then score 95% on a 40-item multiple-choice questionnaire. Even having passed, I was almost denied entry because I was not wearing steel-capped boots. I was saved by a friendly guard who lent me a pair of his; which I handed back in a plastic bag as I drove out of the port gates.
From Sydney we drove west and spent our first few days settling back into life in the truck in Blackheath in heart of the Blue Mountains – so called because of the bluish haze caused by the eucalyptus oil evaporating from the trees that cover the hills.
A walking track follows the edge of the escarpment before descending into the one of the river canyons and then looping back and up to the dry and dusty eucalyptus woodland.
From the Blue Mountains we headed south to Canberra the capital of Australia; a new city built halfway between Melbourne and Sydney – on the grounds that neither city could stomach the thought of the other hosting the federal parliament. Our purpose was to visit the National Museum and the parliament building. The former houses the country’s best display on Australia’s indigenous people.
Parliament was in session and we were allowed into the visitors gallery to watch Prime Minister’s question time. The Australian Parliament is modelled on Westminster and so we were not surprised that the session consisted entirely of the opposition abusing Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister. The pretext was the accusation that she had disloyally plotted the downfall of Kevin Rudd, her predecessor – as if politicians could be shocked that their profession involves ambition and treachery!
From Canberra we moved south through Cooma and Jindabyne, in the snowy mountains
to Mebourne.
We visited an animal sanctuary, at Healesville north of Melbourne, to see some native a animals other than those dead on the side of the highway (although Australia does have a far better class of road kill than the UK!).
It’s a Platypus – can’t you see that!!
Then on a very hot 25th February, we took the overnight ferry from Melbourne to Devonport in Tasmania.
Responses
Simon McIlroy says: More fantastic pictures. Last one-beautiful dusk and the moon is the opposite way round to the way we see it! I suppose you will be leaving city areas soon for walkabout creeks. Thanks for the postcard. Bon voyage
Carole says: Looks gorgeous. Truck holding up OK too by the sound of it. Keep the photos coming, please. I really enjoy them. Love, Carole
Andrée Gagné says: Bonjour à vos deux. Pas beaucoup de gens vous écrivent en français??? Merci d’avoir pris mes animaux préférés en photos. Je vais passer une commande; 2 koalas, 1 kangourou, 1 autruche, 1 loup et plusieurs oieaux. Merci de nous partager ces belles photos et votre belle histoire de voyage. En passant, j’ai bel et bien reçu ma carte postale du koala. With love, take care.
Paul Faithfull says: Glad to read that it’s going so well. I remember the first time I arrived in Australia being sprayed on the plane by an agriculture officer before we were allowed to disembark. Paul and I had a coupla days on the South Downs recently, but still managed to spend a vast amount on booze… Right around OZ next is it? I’m jealous, especially of the warmth and Sunshine. Keep the pix and notes coming, it’s good to hear everything.