The Family Gathering March 10

The Family Gathering

The drive from Mt. Dandenong to Nathalia took us a little over three hours. We went from the highlands and hills around Melbourne to the flatlands of farming and dairy around Nathalia. Halfway from Melbourne, we took the traditional lunch stop at Nagambie which Daniel family members have been stopping at for 60 years. Of course when they started stopping there it was halfway into an eight-hour ride. On this day we’d only been on the road for a little over an hour when the car was magnetically attracted to the off ramp. We found a beautiful place for a pot of “frothy” and a meal. “Frothy” is a local brew that is quite refreshing. Then it was on to Nathalia.

By now we had been driving on the left side of the road for a couple of days. The turn signal and the wipers were on different sides of the steering column. Yours truly had mastered the switcheroo but our intrepid Aussie, Mary kept turning on the wipers every time she wanted to turn left or right. I thought a little incentive might help so I began to charge her AUD$1.00 every time the wipers went on and there was no precipitation. By the time we reached Nathalia, I was up AUD$7.00.

Mary’s brother and sister-in-law (Gerard and Susie) offered us one of their farmhouses while we stayed locally. We checked into the place and felt like real farmers except that we didn’t do any work – we just looked like farmers – except that we didn’t have any gumboots or hats.

THE SQUABBLE

We drove to the IGA in Nathalia to pick up some food and drink for the evening and also for the next family party the next day. I suggested that we should bring a little extra to share. At this point, Mary began a lecture right in the produce department of the IGA assuring me that there would be no sharing at this upcoming party and that we only needed to feed ourselves. I said, “But darling, remember our visit to Uncle Hec and Aunt Elaine the day before. We were told to bring what we wanted to eat because Hec and Elaine don’t eat much. And when we arrived with our food, the table was laden with food and Hec and Elaine were tucking in like a couple of racehorses. I’ve never been to a Daniel Family event where there wasn’t enough food to feed half the town.”

I’ve spoken to my sister, Elizabeth,” Mary said her index finger jammed into my chest, “and she has assured me that there will be NO SHARING of food at this party.”

“I am so sure that there will be sharing of food,” I said, slowly backing out of the finger buried in my chest, “that I am will to go double or nothing with the $7.00 I’ve won so far.”

Nothing more was said until we arrived at Elizabeth’s house the next day. We’d been walking along the creek and stopped in for a toilet break. I could hear Mary and her sister cackling in the next room assuring each other that I was about to lose $7.00 on this foolhardy bet.

We rested that afternoon, knowing that the event that was to begin at 5:30 might last well into the wee hours of the morning. The Nathalia Lawn Tennis Club was the perfect place for the gathering as it gave plenty of space for the old folks to talk and the young kids to run around.

We found a place to sit and opening our little lunch bag to eat the sandwiches we’d made for ourselves. No sooner had we taken a bite of our chicken sandwich than a table few of nieces at the next table began to share their chips (French fries) with us. Without thinking Mary plunged a hand into the chips and I had my phone at the ready – incontrovertible photo evidence. Then her brother Chris brought around a tray full of antipasto items to share. Pizza, cakes, and more were passed around and shared. It was a rare moment for me that I milked to the hilt – like a man who’d traveled through the desert of “wrong” for so long – it was an oasis, a temporary respite knowing full well that the payback would be swift and unrelenting.

Jackie and Pauline confirming the "win" in the background. 

The event broke up around midnight and only because the sprinkler system of the lawn tennis club showered all of the partiers and we had to leave.

Three Dudes

The next morning Paddy and Veronica invited everyone for breakfast and a sendoff to family heading back to Melbourne.

We rested back at our house and I enjoyed my first taste of Vegemite in four years.

We love catching up with everyone. 

The Dandenong Ranges - Mount Dandenong - March 7 to March 9

WiFi is very sketchy out here on the farms of Nathalia, so I haven't been able to post anything in a while. Here's what's been happening.

March 7 - Our visit with Aunt Elaine, Uncle Hec and other members of the Opray family was enlightening as we looked at over 500 scanned pictures from Auntie Carmel’s estate covering the last century. Aunt Elaine, almost 93, was able to name the people and places of 90% of the pictures. It was almost like watching an old newsreel with color commentary from someone who had lived through it all. It was absolutely fascinating. I was so glad we’d made the effort to visit these two lovely people. Aunt Elaine assured us she would still be here the next time we came. I hope so as she made sure I had plenty of the scones with jam and cream.

We left at 3:30 with me taking the wheel for the first time on the left side. It was a tiny bit nerve-racking as everyone, including Elaine and Hec who were leaning on their canes, came out to see us off. We made our way from the hill country of Gippsland to the Dandenong Ranges. I drove through roundabouts and around tight curving roads up Mount Dandenong until we finally reached the mountain retreat called the Arnica Manor. We arrived while it was still light and felt like we were walking into a wealthy family’s holiday cottage, which it was in the 1930s.

After we unpacked we headed back down the mountain to the village of Mount Dandenong where we found an IGA. We picked up a few supplies and then across the street to a pub called Kelly’s where we enjoyed two “pots” of beer and a beautiful steak.

We’d left Melbourne at 8:30, drove about two and a half hours out to Dumbalk, spent four hours with the family, and then another two and a half hours to Mount Dandenong. It was a long day and we turned in early.

March 8 - The next morning we set out to explore the mountain. It was a short walk from our “retreat” to the top of the mountain where we could just see the outlines of the city of Melbourne. The day was so beautiful we thought a nice walk in the woods around the mountain would be just the thing. The tall gum trees were thick in the forest and the trail was hilly but wide and even. We'd planned this to be a "rest day" to recover from all of the sightseeing we did in Sydney and Cairns. But the trail and the forest seduced us further and further into its depths.

We passed by Burke’s Lookout and the site of a terrible plane crash on the mountain in the 1940s. We kept walking on trail after trail thinking surely one would lead us to a road. We plunged down the mountain unwittingly on trails that felt like we were just winding around. After two hours of walking, we stopped to consult a map.

Where are we?

We couldn’t tell where we were or which way was out. So our intrepid guide, the only Aussie on our team of two, made the only reasonable decision available, “Let’s walk back the way we’ve come.” When we turned around and I realized that for the past forty-five minutes we’d been walking down the mountain and not around it, my heart sank. But I quietly said to myself, “buck up bucko,” and began the reverse march up the mountain. Our little walk in the woods turned into a three-hour odyssey.

When we arrived back at our retreat, we were both We ready to eat. We drove down to the little town of Olinda where we shared a salad and a wood-fired pizza at Dudley’s. After a stroll around the shops, we finished off the day with a cup of coffee and a pastry. I liked the looks of the passion fruit sponge and ordered one along with a flat white (coffee with cream). 

Olinda Cafe

Mary asked me if I was going to share it. I told her as gently as I could muster, “Get. Your. Own. Sweetie!” And she did.

March 9 and beyond. We are in the homeland of Nathalia now. And this evening is the huge gathering of three families all converging on the Nathalia Lawn Tennis Club in downtown Nathalia. There could be hundreds there. Stay tuned.

Cairns, Queensland March 3 - 6 Then Aunt Elaine and Uncle Hec at Dumbalk March 7

We arrived in Cairns on a Jetstar flight from Sydney at 2:00 in the afternoon. Cairns (pronounced Cans with a nasally "n") is at the very top of Australia and is tropical, however, the temps while we were there were in the low 80's with little humidity.

Mary's sister Kali, who lives in the area, picked us up and surprised us with a hamper of goodies and supplies. Here's the short list:  Rusty's markets for pastries, fruit, salads; rye sourdough bread from Le Crouet at Freshwater; pastries from Frenchies Patisserie  and date scones from Kewarra Cafe - basket of goodies - eggs, bacon, mushroom, pate' bread, butter, cheese and biscuits, fruit, bread knife - umbrella - water bottles x 2  insect repellant, citronella candles. We were so well supplied that we could have just stayed on our balcony overlooking the bay. There was a bottle shop just below us. it was heaven!

Balcony view at night

View the next morning

This Airbnb - a one bedroom apartment with the balcony cost $83 a night. I want to move here!

The first evening we went out to explore Cairns. I was a tiny bit tired after the "forced march" through Sydney we'd experienced. So I was happy that there were all kinds of restaurants close by. We chose a place favored by Mary's sister Elizabeth when she was here - Tha Fish.

Mary and Kali about to tuck into a big plate of battered "whitebait." Basically, they were about to eat tiny fish the fishermen rejected!

The walk around Cairns after supper was beautiful. The next day Mary and I were up early for a walk along the Esplanade. The views were stunning.

 I was just a tiny bit freaked out by the signs posted all along the walk. Man-eating crocodiles inhabit this area - injury or death? I decided to stay off the beach.

Crocodiles that aren't nice!

Kali was a great tour guide and took us all over the area. We had a lovely picnic up in the rain forest. The views were just fabulous.

Kali put together a terrific picnic lunch: Caprese salad, green salad, kale salad,
and homemade spinach ricotta capsicum fritattas and houmous with veggies

The view!

Goomboora Park Brinsmead - then to Barren Gorge, then picnic lunch - at Lake Placid - up to Kuranda - secret lookout then Barren Falls

In the evening, Mary and I ate fish and chips on our balcony.

The next day, Kali was at our apartment at 7:00 AM and we were off for the day. Our first stop was - Crystal Cascades - where we took a walk along a rushing stream. There were pools along the way that were so inviting that Kali and I jumped in. The water was warm and soft.

Kali assured me there were no crocodiles here!

Afterward, we stopped at Limberlost  Cafe for breakfast. The cafe is in a nursery so we were surrounded by greenery. Then off to Trinity Beach for a beautiful walk.

Trinity Beach

We finished the day at the Raw Prawn and celebrated Kali's birthday there. More stunning views of the bay from our table.

DUMBALK

One thing we definitely wanted to do was visit Mary's Aunt and Uncle - Elaine and Hec near her childhood home. Elaine and Hec will be celebrating their 93rd birthday soon and they are both so fun and sharp the time just flew. It was like a little reunion, preparing me for the big gathering of hundreds of family members coming up this Sunday in Nathalia.

I thought the three in front were "stunners"

We are in the Dandenong Ranges, right on Mount Dandenong. Stay tuned.

Who's that beauty with the big sunnies?

The Botanical Gardens and Mardi Gras

This was the day we did 22,000 steps. I can tell you that my ankles, knees, and hips know it for sure. The day started out quietly and reflectively and ended with Mary and me in the middle of 300,000. This is how it all went down.

We took the train to Circular Quay (pronounced "key") on the Harbor and then walked to the Opera House. We were able to get into the lobby to have a look around. With Stephanie being an Opera Singer we felt we needed to make this pilgrimage.

Then into the Botanical Gardens which are like the Central Park of Sydney.

There is a beautiful view of the Opera House and the Bridge.

We rested for an hour or so and then went off to see the Fish Market, shopped in a huge downtown flea market called Paddy's market, drank a beer in the Palace Hotel and then went off to see what this Mardi Gras thing was all about. It all began in 1978 with a few people making a statement about recognition for LGBTQ people. Since then it has grown into an international celebration. We had no idea it was happening when we scheduled our visit but realized that we had to go and take a look. As we finished our beers Mary said, "let's just go and see what is happening." We'd heard to get a good view of the parade you had to get a place by 11:00AM and certainly no later than 4:00 PM along the parade route. As we got closer and closer to the parade venue the crowds got more intense.

Here are some people making their way to the parade with us.

We thought this might get a bit wild. We were shocked that when we arrived at Oxford Street, we were in the third row back. We had a perfect view.

Slowly the excitement grew as more of the parade walkers showed up.

And then the fireworks began and the paraded was underway. The theme was fearless.

Here's how it looks live:

I kept feeling the crowd pressing in on us from behind but had no idea about how many people had arrived and lined up behind us until we decided it was time to leave. People were pressed shoulder to shoulder and back to front all trying to see for at least 25 rows. Mary and I took at least five minutes just getting through the press of people who were all in a very celebratory mood.

Tomorrow we leave Sydney for Cairns.

Sydney Harbor, Manly Beach, the Bridge and the Rocks

Mary has me so busy touring that I haven't been able to get to the blog. Thursday 17,000 steps. Friday 21,000 steps. and Saturday 22,000 steps. Our goal today is to hang out around Sydney Harbor which is one of the most beautiful in the world. The Harbor is where the Sydney Opera House is located and of course, the Harbor Bridge. I took so many pictures of the Bridge and the Opera House that they kept showing up all the time.

We took the ferry out to Manly Beach and hung out there for most of the morning. Here is the view from the back of the ferry.

Manly Beach is right out at the entrance to Sydney Harbor. It reminded us of the vibe of Key West. We loved walking along the beach and found a terrific restaurant with beautiful fish and a view to match.

Fish and chips. We both had an order like this!

The view!

The beach!

We rode the ferry back to Circular Quay in Sydney and then decided to start riding public transport. It was so easy and the tram let us out a block from our hotel. After a short rest, we decided to walk the Sydney Harbor Bridge. We rode the train to the other side of the bridge and then walked back.

Just getting started

The views of the harbor and the Opera House from the bridge were amazing. Here are a few of the 100's of pics I took. I went a little wild.

As we approached the other side we noticed some commotion happening down below. 

Commotion

What a lucky bride and groom!

We walked around an area called The Rocks.

Another "bridge pic"

And ate at an Irish Pub. The whole area was rocking on this Friday night, the day before the celebration of Mardi Gras on Saturday.

Nothing like a refreshing Guinness.

Reveler

And then we took the train back to our hotel. But not before another pic of the bridge from the platform.

Only 21,000 steps today. Tomorrow we plan to hit the botanical gardens and take a look at Mardi Gras in the evening. Spoiler alert - it was wild! Stay tuned.