CA to WA Road Trip - Part 2

On July 4, we left Eureka, CA for the 5 hour drive to Eugene, OR - 294 miles (474 km). We had the pleasure of driving in Redwoods National and State Parks. The first sights were the ocean with Black Sand beaches.

We liked the Smith State Park

The surprise of the day came when we took Hwy 199 from CA 101 toward Interstate Hwy 5. This road is a two lane hwy right through the heart of redwood forests. The trees are amazing....and the forests are magical and peaceful. With the fog hanging in the upper branches, and the sunlight streaming through, it was mystical.

The curves on Hwy 199 are sharp, and the speeds drop to 30mph in some places. There are lovely streams running through deep gorges. The natural beauty is amazing.

I was surprised to see the traffic from Oregon into California being diverted for inspections. There was a sign on our side of the road talking about fruit quarantine. Perhaps that is what they were looking for? But a state inspection?


Through the windscreen.

The vistas on Interstate Hwy 5 were of the majestic mountains. This road had some nice easy curves, and steep grades....both up and down.


Golden bears on either side and either end of this bridge.


Whale sighting! This one was in Crescent City, CA

Dave went to University of Oregon, Eugene years ago. He recommended we get New York style pizza from Sy's. We were a little concerned as we walked to the restaurant that it might be closed on July 4 - many were. We enjoyed our pizza supper then walked to the University to look around. Everyone enjoyed seeing a squirrel. We haven't seen one for months!


Neo and Zoe outside of Sy's Pizza - Neo pushed the stroller all the way


Zoe in front of the University of Oregon sign

The 4th of July fireworks were visible from just outside our hotel room. It was a nice treat for the entire family. It was fun to watch Neo so excited about them. He and Zoe were jumping up and down with delight.

We arrived in Belfair, WA a little before 4pm on Sunday. I was surprised how far off "the beaten path" the house is. As is the norm, we brought rain overnight to this area that hasn't seen it for months.

California to Washington Road Trip - Part 1

The kids on Pier 39 with San Francisco in the background

On July 2, we began our long drive from Grover Beach to Belfair, WA via California Hwy 101. We decided to break it up into 4 days of driving with 3 overnights at hotels. Our first destination was San Francisco. The drive is 258 miles (416 km) or 4 hours and 20 minutes according to Google maps.

We drove through downtown San Francisco. Walked around Pier 39 for a while, taking in the sights. Then drove across the Golden Gate bridge to our hotel in Sausalito, CA.

Clara, Zoe and Neo with Golden Gate Bridge

The destination of our 2nd day, Friday July 3, was Eureka, CA - 278 miles (448 km), approx. 5 hours. Our going was slow due to traffic bottlenecks near SF and in other places further up the road. I suspect traffic was heavy due to the July 4th holiday weekend. I've heard that Hwy 101 is full of curves and hilly. We found that the curves are gentle and the hills provide an awesome view.


Zoe, Tristan and Neo on the stump of a Redwood tree.


Chandler, CA - Drive thru Tree Park

We loved the majestic redwood trees. We stopped at "The Drive thru Tree" Park. The tree is over 2000 years old. It's still living - even though cars drive through it daily.

Tristan in front of a redwood that splits

Santa Barbara Zoo

Clara on a lion statue at the Santa Barbara zoo

We arrived in Los Angeles from Brisbane, Australia on Saturday, June 27....4 hours before we left! The flight was just under 14 hours. After making our way through customs, and discovering that Neo's car seat and stroller were on a later flight, we took a taxi to Union Station. We took the train to Santa Barbara....Clara was the only one awake. Grandma and Grandpa Smith greeted us at the Amtrak Station and took us to get our rental car, then our hotel. We met later for pizza then off to bed for us.


Neo in the egg.

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day....perfect for going to the Santa Barbara zoo. It's a wonderful zoo - great size for visiting in one day. Grandma and Grandpa, Elena and Carmelo joined us.

Neo sliding down "the ant hill"


Zoe designed her own button at the zoo

We ate lunch at a new tex-mex restaurant. Delicious chicken tacos!! I haven't had tacos in a long time.

Neo, Tristan and Carmelo peering through the windows at the California Condors

Brisbane Encore

Zoe and Tristan in front of a fountain in the Southbank Parklands (Brisbane river in background)

On Friday, June 26, we drove from our home in Macmasters Beach to New Castle airport. We left at 5am to catch a 7:50am flight. I had driven the route provided by "Where Is" a week ago and almost gave up finding the airport on several occasions. I drove back from the airport following the signs set up for new arrivals and found that much easier. We made it to the airport without incident!



Brisbane CBD, as seen across the Brisbane river

We arrived in Brisbane at 9am, collected our luggage, dropped it off at the hotel, and took the train to Southbank Parklands. What a different place in winter! It's lovely! Not steaming like we had experienced when we visited in November. We walked along the Brisbane riverwalk then got some lunch. We had intended to find a ferry that would take us to the Lone Pines Koala sanctuary, but found that it can't be done. We caught a cab.


This koala is in Kindy

The Lone Pines Koala sanctuary is fairly small, but nice. There were many internationals visiting.

Clara holding a chick

There was a small farm with sheep, goats, guinea pigs, and small horses. It was really raining when we were in the barn. There were demonstrations by sheep dogs in the paddock. We each cuddled a koala. Each of the older children had the opportunity to hold the koala and have their picture taken with it.

Zoe and Tristan at the Lone Pines sign.

We bought food for the kangaroos and wallabies. One kangaroo was forward enough to rip Tristan's food bag open.

The red kangaroos had recently been included in the enclosure and were still wary.


The emu was happy to eat out of my hand.


Here's a joey in his mother's pouch. Funny, with his hind leg sticking out too!

We really enjoyed the rainbow lorikeet feeding. The Lorikeets began gathering at 2pm for the 3pm feeding time. These lorikeets are WILD! But they come right up and are happy to sit on your arms, shoulder, or head!

Neo with with Wild Rainbow Lorikeet perched on his head!

The food was in a milk - and the Lorikeets used their tongues to lap it up!

We took the bus back to the Queen Street mall, this was a new experience. We grabbed a couple of sushi rolls, then went out onto Queen Street to make our way to Central Train station. We arrived back at our hotel a little before 6pm. We had a full apartment - two bedrooms upstairs, a living room and kitchenette. For the price of a standard hotel room. It was really wonderful.


Jo Laws, Oliver, Zoe, Clara, Tristan, Zoe, Neo and Me.

Jo Laws (from British Expats - they were also April applicants) and her family (Jon, Zoe, and Oliver) arrived a little while later with pizza. We chatted while the kids played. Zoe and Clara became friends in that short time. Amazing the wonderful people we have met on this journey.

The last days of school

Zoe with her 60 Home Readers Certificate and Bookmark

Our children really love their school: Copacabana Public School. But the last week before our departure was rough.

On the last Friday, Tristan suffered a mild concussion.

On the last Tuesday, Zoe was sent to sick bay because she had a wave of nausea at the end of the day. She did vomit when she returned home and spent Wednesday at home with me. Wednesday afternoon she was doing OK, so we went to a birthday party she was invited to for her friends Izzy and Rylee. It was a lovely party and a beautiful day....at the Copacabana surf lifesaving club.




Thursday was the last day of school. Zoe woke up late and didn't want to go to school. Her teacher had organized a party on her behalf as a special lunchtime celebration.



Clara walked to school that morning. The lagoon had been let out again - this time a trench was dug by hand and it was smaller. There was standing water when Clara arrived in the morning and the tide was high. Instead of returning home for a ride to school, Clara decided to wade through the water. She was soaked to her buttocks! She didn't ask to call me, as I would have brought her a pair of pants to wear.

When I arrived at school, I heard that there was some confusion so I went to see her. We could not find any pants in lost and found and school did not have a change of clothes. So she had to wear the new skirt that I had bought her and we had planned to return to the store for a refund. She was not happy about having to wear her skirt.

Clara's teacher had arranged for the canteen to make cupcakes for the entire class to celebrate Clara's departure.



Tristan with his buddies Roan and Cullen

Tristan's teacher had organized a special card for Tristan. The card is huge and attached to it are many greetings - mini cards - from each of his classmates. Tristan had also been tested in his reading earlier in the week and scored as an "independent" reader. He brought home his "Wall of Fame" and all the spots had been filled in...an accomplishment not achieved by anyone else in the class.

Thursday afternoon, I brought Zoe in to her class a little before the bell. She was greeted warmly by her classmates. We took pictures.

After the bell, we went to Clara's room where she was chatting with her teacher. We took more pictures and said good bye.

As we walked out of the school yard, the principal and vice principal came to say good bye and wish us well.


Clara and Zoe with Principal Sue Lewis


The school was wonderful. My children thrived at Copacabana Public School: academically, socially, and spiritually. The teachers, students, and parents are awesome. Copa school is where my children made many friends. I also made many friends with the parents. We were well blessed to be part of this community.


Jennefer, the first parent friend I made at Copa School

Tristan's Accident

Last Friday, Tristan was playing basketball on the playground with friends at the lunchtime recess. Someone hit him on the head with the basketball. The force of it pushed him into the support pole for the basketball hoop - where he slammed his head again. He managed to sit down on the ground, not fall down. They took him into sick bay and called me. Dave was working from home that day (we had planned to have lunch at a little beachside restaurant).

When we arrived, Tristan was back in the classroom. I checked him and brought him home. We gave him panadol and had him rest. He complained about nausea. I called the doctor's office and was referred to the Gosford hospital emergency room. Dave wasn't convinced we needed medical help at that time, so I asked him to monitor Tristan while I went to see the last school assembly (and record some of it).


Tristan in hospital

Before I could gather the other kids at the end of the school day, Dave called to say I needed to take Tristan to the hospital. I dropped Zoe and Neo off with Dave, and took Tristan to the emergency room. Clara was walking home that day.

Tristan cried in pain all the way to the hospital. Once at the ER, Tristan was examined by the triage nurse. After he had been seen, and was checked in, he vomited. The doctor tested his reflexes and memory - he passed with flying colors. It was about 5 hours after the injury. They gave him another dose of Panadol. They kept him for observation for 1 - 2 hours. He vomited again. At that, they ordered a CT scan.

After examining the scan results, they determined it was OK for Tristan to be released. We returned home after 5 hours at the emergency room with instructions to wake Tristan every 4 hours.

He has been his old self since then. We got the all clear to take him on the long flight back to the USA 1 week later.

Lagoon ready to be drained - again!

I really like the cloud/mist hanging in the hills over Cockrone lake.

It's only been 2 1/2 weeks since the lagoon and Lake Cockrone were drained but it is nearly ready to be drained again. The measure indicates 2.1 meters. Last time it was drained at 2.5 meters.



There has been an unusual amount of rain in recent days. And the tides have been higher then usual - not king tides, but very high tides.


The Lagoon is really filling in too.


The orange fence behind Dave is were a new pathway will be built. The problem is where they want to build is underwater again.

Copa School Canteen Treats

Tea cup - Clock cookie base (clock face out) with icing, marshmallow (they are different then US version), fizzy candy for handle, and chocolate topping.

On Friday 19, June, the Copacabana School was having a party! As part of this, the children were allowed to wear "party clothes" - which means a Mufti Day or no uniform! The canteen staff and volunteers made special treats for sale - 50 cents each. YUM!




Frog in Pond: This is a chocolate frog inserted into green jello (called Jelly here)


Smiley Biscuit: frosting with candy bits for face on biscuit


Hedgehog slice: broken biscuit (cookie) bits with chocolate poured over the top. No bake
Crackles (cupcake wrapper): These are like risecrispie treats with chocolate and sprinkles. Very nice!

Lake Cochrone Update - 8 days after drain

Lake Cockrone as it refills after being drained 8 days prior.


8 days after the drain, the lake bottom is still present - but more of it is covered each day. This is the section where Zoe was standing on the previous pictures.


If you compare this picture with the same one taken 4 days after the drain, you'll see how much water has been filled in.



This is a new family of black swans. We saw them swimming the day before. Here they are sleeping on the edge of the water with their parents. It's surprising since they are sitting in a highly visible, popular area. Many people with dogs come along here. These are the youngest cygnets I've had the privilege of taking a picture of.


This Cormorant or "shag" is called a "white" cormorant - but I cannot find a reference for it. It's truly amazing. This bird swims with water covering his body up to his neck. Then he dives under the water coming up after 15 seconds or longer quiet a way from where it submerged. Later, it stands on the edge and raises it's wings and tail feathers like this - possibly to dry? We haven't seen this cormorant prior to the draining of the lake and lagoon.


This is the black cormorant. We've seen it plenty of times around the lagoon.

Brrrrrr! Whale Sighting!!

It's been cold here the last few days. Winter started June 1. We had temps in the high 30s at night. Our space heaters are on full blast! Fortunately we have a wall of north facing patio doors that let the full sun in during the day - and really warms the house! The temps in the day are nice - 60s - if it's sunny, things are really great.

Dave and I saw a couple of whales on Saturday morning! It was really exciting. We saw them from Captain Cook's Look Out. One even breached. The whales are on their way to the northern (warmer) waters to winter and calf. Between the hours of 7-9am, they are closer to the shore and can be seen from land.

Lands End Delivers

OK, I admit I'm having a difficult time with buying clothing here in Australia. It's expensive and the sizing is not easily converted. This is especially true for Dave. I was given a tape measure that has inches and centimeters on the same side. It's very helpful. Yet we couldn't find jeans that fit properly for Dave. And he's very choosy.

We found out that Lands End delivered to Australia! We ordered 2 pairs of jeans and a jacket from Lands End. Being long time Lands End customers, we know the quality is good. The jeans fit, they're what we expected, and the cost of the clothing with the shipping thrown in comes out to about the same as clothing purchased here - or even a little less. Great alternative!

4 days After Draining Cochrone Lagoon

Zoe and Neo walking in the lagoon bed

Four days after they moved the sand between the ocean and the lagoon/lake, we walked down to see how things are recovering. It was a lovely winter day. Sunny and bright.


Bed of the lagoon

The bed of the lake and lagoon are exposed. There are dead fish everywhere, which has brought in the pelicans. Pelicans don't mind eating dead fish. It's amazing to watch them gorge on the bounty that is now available to them. This area has attracted more sea type birds then have lived here before.

Pelicans on the lagoon

Even though there are many dead fish, there thousands of new fish hatch lings everywhere. It appears that even though the draining was initiated by humans, that it might be a natural process.


Sand that divides ocean from lagoon

The ocean has already naturally moved the piles of sand back into place. There's a strip of sand that connects Macmasters beach to Copacabana again.


This pier was submerged just 1 week ago

The waters rose and rose, then one day...

Rain clouds gathering over swollen lagoon and Lake Cochrane

It rained and rained. The waters rose and rose. The lagoon was almost touching the ocean. The measure read a hair over 2.5 meters. The high water mark was 2.6 meters. Water was standing in the trees across from our home. Water prevented us from walking around the lagoon to the beach. There was more rain then usual.


Small strip of sand left between ocean and lagoon

Then one day, Clara asked to walk home from school on Wednesday. I agreed. When I returned home with the other kids, I smelled a sewer type smell and wondered about it. About 15 minutes later, Clara called to say she couldn't get home, the lagoon had been let out.

The day before, I spoke with some very knowledgeable long time residents that had assured me that the school would be notified when the lagoon was going to be let out, so no one would be trapped trying to walk home from school. No notification was made.


Swollen lagoon in foreground with Lake Cochrane behind

The lifeguards were present. Apparently the waters going out and the waves created are a huge draw to surfers and swimmers. Someone drowned, or maybe not, I couldn't find anyone to confirm the story.

When I went to collect Clara from her friend's house, we went down to see how it's done. Here's the video that I took of the event. It was really amazing to me to see the change in Lake Cochrane and the lagoon. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25447601@N02/3602310870/