An Alphabetical Stroll Through Bali and Australia-A is for: A BIG, FAT FINALE!! Link to new Africa TR (4/5)

[missjackiemcg]

Both available in every Belfast bakery/chippie too

Hello!! I know we both follow lots of the same TR writers, but haven't ever "met." Just wanted to say hi, and I have SO much family living in Belfast!!! Not Disney lovers like us, but still lovely people just the same! Ha!

 

[Steppesister]

C is for: Capes and Conservation Parks​

Settled in, with our bags dropped and a splash of water on our faces, it was time to discover the east side of Kangaroo Island or Dudley Peninsula. Interestingly, this area had been occupied by Aboriginal People until about 3,100 years ago but was uninhabited when White Settlers arrived in the early 19th century. While not quite as unspoiled as the western area of KI, there is plenty of beauty to be found!

Here is a map route so you can follow along…

​

The extra bit of driving, which included a bit of backtracking, was absolutely lovely. The best part about arriving on KI (as opposed to say Cairns) was that I could practice my driving in a place with very few cars; while still stressful, it wasn’t nearly as much as what would be coming up!

Anara sent these to me just to remind of how hysterical things were. I hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time as when watching these tonight!

Our first destination was Pelican Lagoon to see if we could find some waterfowl, specifically, duh, pelicans. Yeah, sigh. I’ve reached that magical age where birding has become… a thing. The stop was a short one. We didn’t see any pelicans, but Anara was completely enamored with the black swans. She couldn’t help herself and exclaimed, “Mom! I thought they were only fictional, like only in movies and books! They’re so beautiful!” I admit, I was rather smitten myself. We weren’t sad about the short visit as it was also on our route the next day, so we knew we’d see more then. (Brace yourselves for more birds than you ever probably wanted to see in a TR on a Disney forum.)

​

A few snaps of the birds later and we were off again- this time aaaalllll the way down to the southern end of Dudley Peninsula to Cape Willoughby Lighthouse.

​

From the interwebs (skip if you’re not interested in the history):

“Cape Willoughby Conservation Park is situated on Kangaroo Island’s far eastern coast at the entrance to the treacherous waters of Backstairs Passage.

The lighthouse was first lit in 1852 at a time when most transport was carried out by boat. All boats from the eastern states to Adelaide passed through Backstairs Passage and the Cape Willoughby lighthouse was their guiding light to the entrance.

There were three lighthouse keepers living with their families on the site in the early 1850s ensuring that the facility was manned 24 hours per day. The extreme isolation would have made life hard. These families needed to live off the land as a supply ships would only stop by every three months and in an emergency they needed to flag down passing ships to put out the call for help.

The high wind speeds on the Cape — of up to 140 kilometres per hour — would have also added to the challenges of everyday living—and possibly of hanging out the washing!

Visitors to the site can enjoy the same amazing views of those early inhabitants which stretch across to Cape Jervis and Victor Harbor on the mainland — and even spot passing whales or circling eagles.

The early light consisted of oil lanterns and parabolic reflectors. The latter were mirrors that would be positioned behind the lighthouse lanterns to reflect the light out to sea. From 1925 the glow of Cape Willoughby lighthouse shone through a three tonne crystal lens which rotated around kerosene-powered lanterns. The lighthouse was automated in 1974 and is now powered by an LED light but visitors can still see an identical version of the original lens at the site.

The lighthouse keepers have now been assigned to history and the last one moved out in 1992. Cape Willoughby was one of the last manned lighthouses in Australia.” - https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2020/10/kangaroo-island-lighthouses

When I read about how incredibly dangerous the particular passage was around the southern coast of the mainland to get to Adelaide, it made perfect sense about the wind and tough time our ferry had, and why there were zillions of shipwrecks in that spot!!!

​

This is also from Wiki which might help you understand the importance of the lighthouse and the waters as well.

“The coastal processes occurring in Gulf St Vincent and along the southern coastline of Fleurieu Peninsula are complex. Due to the relatively shallow Gulf St Vincent joining the Southern Ocean through the deeper Backstairs Passage, this narrow and dangerous channel is subjected to strong currents, heavy tidal swells and steep breaking seas.[5]

In the early years following European colonisation many of the nearly fifty vessels wrecked in the hazardous waters around Kangaroo Island were lost while crossing Backstairs Passage to and from the mainland. This led to South Australia's first lighthouse, the Sturt Light, being built in 1851 at Cape Willoughby on the eastern tip of Kangaroo Island.[6] In addition to vessels navigating the treacherous crossing to and from the mainland, sailing ships (commonly wooden barques) making use of the Roaring Forties trade winds on voyaging to South Australia could be propelled by the prevailing winds into Backstairs Passage, or as far Bass Strait.[7] “

​

I honestly think it was a toss up to whether the actual lighthouse or the DRIVE THERE wasn’t more thrilling. About halfway, on one of the thousands of kilometers of Australian “tracks” (the Australian word for annoying dirt road, usually filled with washboard bad enough to rattle one’s teeth out), we had our first close-ish encounter of a kangaroo kind. This beefy dude, well, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. This is what every kangaroo nightmare you’ve ever had is made of. Those arms!!! Holy crap!

(I'll talk more about this later, but color me impressed with the efforts to conserve and protect the wildlife.)


(A eucalyptus seed pod; I find little fairies wherever I go!!)
​

We saw another little group (mob) of roos using a water trough meant for cattle. We stopped and enjoyed watching them until they got frightened off.

​

I'd found a place that looked really interesting: a reserve dedicated to the indigenous species of the Kangaroo Island Grass Tree. Unfortunately, we couldn't find it. We did stop though to get a photo of one of the plants near the road, but a concerned neighbor pulled over and asked if she could help us. I tried to explain that we were looking for the Zelling Reserve, but she said she'd never heard of that, and that this was a private road (it wasn't) that only led to private homes. I could take a hint, finished up our little stop and kept going.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea_semiplana
​

I was also able to snap a photo of the first sighting we'd have of the largest bird of prey on KI, the Wedge-tailed Eagle. HUUUUUUGE! Wingspan is over 9 feet. That's more than big enough to carry me off for dinner. Luckily, I can be a little salty.

​

Continued in next post...

 

[Steppesister]

Continued from last post...


The lighthouse would be the first of three that we saw while on KI. Yes, while it took an enormous effort, we did do the Lighthouse Trifecta. That aside, we enjoyed learning about the hella rough life the keepers and their families endured to keep ships safe. The pioneering spirit of those folks is truly awe-inspiring! The little museum was very well done and informative, but I’m fairly certain that we both enjoyed the trio of little roos that hang out there just as much.

(Luckily, whales are only watched now and not hunted as they once were around there.)



​

The little yard surrounding the lighthouse was fun to stroll through as well, and I got a kick out of the sign warning visitors about the less friendly type of wildlife around there. I know this may sound super weird to probably all of you, but I was sad to only have gotten to see one snake the entire trip, but that’s much later. I think they are absolutely fascinating animals and I love to come across them when I’m out on the trails (from a healthy and respectful distance, of course!) Snakes aside, a plethora of butterflies were loving the perfectly sunny skies and warm Spring temperatures as well!

(Naked ladies were all over the island!)



​

After a very short walk down a little trail towards the sea, where we could look back and get a nice view the other way, we drove to our next destination.

(You'll see this orange lichen everywhere on KI and beyond)​

Lashmar Conservation Park and Antechamber Bay Campground was, once again, a short stop, but I think we each enjoyed our walks. At this point, we chose to go our own way for the 30 or so minutes we were there, and I found a Red-billed Gull to pose for me. The seaside was so refreshing, and I had fun with these colorful Sea Spurge that were growing everywhere there.

(The red-billed gull)
​

And a dead fish that I think MIGHT be a pufferfish! It definitely had spiky things on it.

​

The day was coming to a close and we were both getting a bit hungry. We’d had a wonderful introduction to the beautiful landscape and variety of animals that would fill our next 3 days and now it was time to find some dinner. Penneshaw only has 4 or 5 places to have a sit-down meal and 2 of them only serve breakfast and coffee, so we had a 50-50 chance. I’ve said it before, and now I need to say it again, you win some, you lose some. In the case of our dinner at the Fire and Smoke KI it was mostly a loss, but even as a “mostly loss”, it did have a couple points of “win”.

(The last ferry of the evening)​

It's a very unassuming kind of place, casual with high top tables, an order-your-own-at-the-counter type of eatery. In the moment the pork ribs sounded pretty good.


They were not.


At all.

(Not my photos)​

What should have been flavorful, tender ribs were tough as shoe leather and honestly difficult to eat at all. The sauce was okay, but we struggled. The salad was kinda boring, but the veggie intake needs to stay consistent if you don’t want vacation consequences. The only thing that was delicious was the mulberry gin and tonic that I ordered. It was really refreshing and flavorful and I’d definitely try one at home. In fact, I just looked up a recipe that I’m going to give a try soon!

https://www.atipsygiraffe.com/mulberry-bramble-cocktail/

After dinner, we needed to get our shopping done for all the meals we’d need for the next 2 ½ days. As you may remember, once you leave the eastern end of KI, there are no services except for one small grocery store that you can get a few things for exorbitant prices. Our plan was to get things that could be easily eaten cold for breakfast and lunches (picnic-style) and some things to microwave or heat up for the 2 dinners we’d eat in the national park area. This was contemplated, but we passed and ended up with some stuff to make sandwiches, yogurts, cereal, fruits, and some frozen dinners.

​

The 5:15 alarm had caught up with us and just like a couple of 80-year olds in an assisted living, we were in bed by 7:30 hoping for a good night's sleep...

 

[zanzibar138]

The best part about arriving on KI (as opposed to say Cairns) was that I could practice my driving in a place with very few cars; while still stressful, it wasn’t nearly as so as what would be coming up!

I was actually thinking that when you first mentioned driving. My first experience driving in the US was in Vegas. I am definitely scarred for life and have vowed to never ever attempt to drive the strip again lol!

We didn’t see any pelicans, but Anara was completely enamored with the black swans. She couldn’t help herself when she exclaimed, “Mom! I thought they were only fictional, like only in movies and books! They’re so beautiful!”

We have black swans everywhere in Perth. There was a time when I was a kid when I thought white swans were only in movies and books lol!

(Brace yourselves for more birds than you ever probably wanted to see in a TR on a Disney forum.)

That's ok, I love to see all types of wildlife... birds included.

When I read about how incredibly dangerous the particular passage it was around the southern coast of the mainland to get to Adelaide, it made perfect sense about the wind and tough time our ferry had, and why there were zillions of shipwrecks in that spot!!!

We have some incredibly treacherous waters around us - the Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania is no picnic either.

This beefy dude, well, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. This is what every kangaroo nightmare you’ve ever had is made of. Those arms!!! Holy crap!

He does look quite menacing from the front! Most of them remind me of Kanga from Winnie the Pooh and look kind and gentle. You got some great photos!

I was also able to snap a photo of the first sighting we'd have of the largest bird of prey on KI, the Wedge-tailed Eagle. HUUUUUUGE! Wingspan is over 9 feet. That's more than big enough to carry me off for dinner.

Wow, magnificent!

I know this may sound super weird to probably all of you, but I was sad to only have gotten to see one snake the entire trip, but that’s much later. I think they are absolutely fascinating animals and I love to come across them when I’m out on the trails (from a healthy and respectful distance, of course!)

While I'd rather not come across a snake while hiking, I actually don't mind seeing them from a distance either. Contrary to popular opinion about Australia, it is NOT very common to see snakes - they generally avoid people wherever possible. I can count on one hand the number of snakes I've seen in the wild. In 40 years of living in Australia (and not just in cities!).

Spiders on the other hand... Again though, you don't generally see the big ones a lot.

Beautiful

This is a beautiful photo too!

At this point, we chose to go our own way for the 30 or so minutes we were there, and I found a Red-billed Gull to pose for me.

Haha I don't think I've ever seen anyone deliberately take a photo of a seagull! Try to get within about 50 metres of any beach in Australia with fish and chips, and you'll get mobbed.

What should have been flavorful, tender ribs were tough as shoe leather and honestly difficult to eat at all. The sauce was okay, but we struggled.

Yeah... while we have amazing Asian food in Australia, we're not generally that great at ribs.

 

[Steppesister]

Okay, I'm a bit behind (as usual) on my replies from the LAST chapter, but I'll get there! It took me all day to get through my review material today so hopefully tomorrow I can catch up a little. Carry on, Friends!

 

[Steppesister]

@zanzibar138 I added a couple of photos since you replied, but probably nothing that will impact your sweet comments and reply. I found that I was missing a couple, and fixed it.

 

[zanzibar138]

Okay, I'm a bit behind (as usual) on my replies from the LAST chapter, but I'll get there! It took me all day to get through my review material today so hopefully tomorrow I can catch up a little. Carry on, Friends!

Hopefully the next lot goes a bit quicker for you!

 

[Steppesister]

Also!!!

BIG news!!

I will finally be writing a true DISNEY report in the mid-range future and I am ready to announce that I recently booked and paid for a 6-night stay at All Stars Music/ Ladies Trip with @disneyAndi14 followed by a cruise on the Dream with @Malia78 in early December.

More on this in another post another time.

 

[zanzibar138]

Also!!!

BIG news!!

I will finally be writing a true DISNEY report in the mid-range future and I am ready to announce that I recently booked and paid for a 6-night stay at All Stars Music/ Ladies Trip with @disneyAndi14 followed by a cruise on the Dream with @Malia78 in early December.

More on this in another post another time.

How exciting! I'll be keen to read about that in the lead-up to our January trip!

 

[pkondz]

C is for: Capes and Conservation Parks

And Crepes and Cakes...

Interestingly, this area had been occupied by Aboriginal People until about 3,100 years ago but was uninhabited when White Settlers arrived in the early 19th century.

I wonder what happened to make them leave?

The best part about arriving on KI (as opposed to say Cairns) was that I could practice my driving in a place with very few cars

I've never had the pleasure of driving on the "wrong side" of the road.
No idea how I'd do!

Anara sent these to me just to remind of how hysterical things were. I hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time as when watching these tonight!

Those were pretty good! Those tiny lanes, huh?

Our first destination was Pelican Lagoon to see if we could find some waterfowl, specifically, duh, pelicans.

I was fully expecting some beavers...

Yeah, sigh. I’ve reached that magical age where birding has become… a thing.

I had no idea there was a certain age restriction for that.

Anara was completely enamored with the black swans. She couldn’t help herself and exclaimed, “Mom! I thought they were only fictional, like only in movies and books! They’re so beautiful!” I admit, I was rather smitten myself.

Those are cool. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen one, and I don't think so.

Very nice and interestingly shaped.

the treacherous waters of Backstairs Passage.

Fun name... for a not-so-fun area.

These families needed to live off the land as a supply ships would only stop by every three months and in an emergency they needed to flag down passing ships to put out the call for help.

There's hardly a spot where a ship hasn't wrecked!

we had our first close-ish encounter of a kangaroo kind. This beefy dude, well, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. This is what every kangaroo nightmare you’ve ever had is made of. Those arms!!! Holy crap!

​

Geez! He looks about ready to take on the world!
(Or drown a dog... )

(A eucalyptus seed pod; I find little fairies wherever I go!!)

I have no idea how you know this!

Best shot of the roos.

I tried to explain that we were looking for the Zelling Reserve, but she said she'd never heard of that, and that this was a private road (it wasn't) that only led to private homes. I could take a hint, finished up our little stop and kept going.

Hmmm... Aussie for "Get off my lawn"!

the Wedge-tailed Eagle. HUUUUUUGE! Wingspan is over 9 feet.

That's more than big enough to carry me off for dinner.

Luckily, I can be a little salty.

Glad to see you got to see the light.

I got a kick out of the sign warning visitors about the less friendly type of wildlife around there.

Only you would get a kick out of it instead of running away screaming.

(Naked ladies were all over the island!)

All right! I'm going to book my flight right now!


Wait...


You're not talking about the plant are you?

Pretty

Nice to post a sign warning people that they live there. You wouldn't want to enter without knocking.
That'd just be rude.

Nice shot.

Changed my mine. I like this shot the best.

(You'll see this orange lichen everywhere on KI and beyond)

So bright!

(The red-billed gull)

If you were told to bring some fries near it, and you did, would that make you gullible?

And a dead fish that I think MIGHT be a pufferfish! It definitely had spiky things on it.

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the photo.

In the moment the pork ribs sounded pretty good.


They were not.


At all.

Well, that's too bad. Looks pretty good.

What should have been flavorful, tender ribs were tough as shoe leather and honestly difficult to eat at all.

Ew. Nope.

The salad was kinda boring, but the veggie intake needs to stay consistent if you don’t want vacation consequences.

The only thing that was delicious was the mulberry gin and tonic that I ordered. It was really refreshing and flavorful and I’d definitely try one at home. In fact, I just looked up a recipe that I’m going to give a try soon!

https://www.atipsygiraffe.com/mulberry-bramble-cocktail/

That sounds pretty good.
Not sure where I'd get my hands on Mulberry gin let alone Crème de Mûre.

This was contemplated, but we passed and ended up with some stuff to make sandwiches, yogurts, cereal, fruits, and some frozen dinners.

​

Not surprised you passed on that. You'd want to grill or pan fry that I'd think; not microwave it.

we were in bed by 7:30 hoping for a good night's sleep...

Hmmm... "hoping"...

Also!!!

BIG news!!

I will finally be writing a true DISNEY report in the mid-range future and I am ready to announce that I recently booked and paid for a 6-night stay at All Stars Music/ Ladies Trip with @disneyAndi14 followed by a cruise on the Dream with @Malia78 in early December.

More on this in another post another time.

Sounds great! Can't wait to read all about it.
And with Kari, too! Make sure you say hi to her for me.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Hello!! I know we both follow lots of the same TR writers, but haven't ever "met." Just wanted to say hi, and I have SO much family living in Belfast!!! Not Disney lovers like us, but still lovely people just the same! Ha!

Hiya Whereabouts in Belfast do your relatives live? I laughed at the “ Not Disney lovers but still nice”
Have you ever visited here?

 

[Wood Nymph]

There were three lighthouse keepers living with their families on the site in the early 1850s ensuring that the facility was manned 24 hours per day. The extreme isolation would have made life hard. These families needed to live off the land as a supply ships would only stop by every three months and in an emergency they needed to flag down passing ships to put out the call for help.

I'm fascinated by lighthouses and we have toured a few of them in different states. The isolation for the three families must have been very difficult. It is hard to live off the land.

we had our first close-ish encounter of a kangaroo kind. This beefy dude, well, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. This is what every kangaroo nightmare you’ve ever had is made of. Those arms!!! Holy crap!

The kangaroo looks a little scary.

A eucalyptus seed pod; I find little fairies wherever I go!!)

That is probably the scariest looking seed pod I have ever seen.

I will finally be writing a true DISNEY report in the mid-range future and I am ready to announce that I recently booked and paid for a 6-night stay at All Stars Music/ Ladies Trip with @disneyAndi14 followed by a cruise on the Dream with @Malia78 in early December.

That sounds like fun. It has been a while since you have been to WDW. It will be interesting to read about this trip.

 

[missjackiemcg]

That is a very husky kangaroo!! Holy smokes, I didn't know they grew to be THAT big!!!!

BIG YAY for your Disney trip plans!!!! My Mom and I just booked a Disney cruise on the Wish (with a bonus MK day the day before we sail) for May. I'm so excited to have a countdown!

Hiya Whereabouts in Belfast do your relatives live? I laughed at the “ Not Disney lovers but still nice”
Have you ever visited here?

I've only been once, for two weeks in 2000. We stayed with my Dad's cousins near Cave Hill. Then, we traveled to visit family in Donegal and Malin Head, too. SO beautiful there. I really need to go back!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I've only been once, for two weeks in 2000. We stayed with my Dad's cousins near Cave Hill. Then, we traveled to visit family in Donegal and Malin Head, too. SO beautiful there. I really need to go back!

Cave hill isn’t too far from me ( to be fair nowhere in Belfast is far ). I’m in south Belfast near fourwinds area.
I love Donegal and Malin Head. We are just back from a couple days there last week. Small world after all

 

[Steppesister]

It all looks so familiar to me, starting with the style of the coach lol! But I'm absolutely loving hearing it all from your perspective. And you did an amazing job getting photos through the bus window

I hope I never offend by anything I say... So far, it's all just so lovely and so novel to us!!

There is basically nowhere you can go in Australia that doesn't serve 'proper' barista-made coffee

OHhhh yes, this we came to know!

Haha I didn't realise there were Australian-specific pastries lol!

I'm going to do a LOT MORE writing about Australian meat pies in future chapters, because, let's face it... THEY ARE A THING!!!!

The Great Australian Bight is pretty much the first geographical feature we learn about it in school. I finally got to see it a couple of years ago on a road trip from Melbourne to Perth (I am in fact not wearing a puffer jacket - it was just particularly windy lol!).

That looks so familiar! I LOVE the coastline scenery sooooo much! And yes, the wind can be really something!

Otherwise known as a sausage roll and a pastie (pronounced pah-stee, not to be confused with pay-stee lol!)?

Those are exactly it!!! Okay, confession time, the root veggie PAH-stee wasn't my favorite. I think, maybe, ? it was the rutabega? turnip? Dunno, something in it was "off". But I ate it anyway just to say I'd tried it.

Ugh. Sounds like I would have struggled. I basically never go near a boat without my kwells!

I really do feel badly for the folks who struggle. Thank goodness for meds that work!

Haha sounds like me when I pick up a hire car in the US!

I added two videos that Anara had on her phone she took to mock me. They are hysterical... go back and get some kicks and giggles of my inept driving ability.

Once again, a very familiar looking landscape to me. I always love to see the natural beauty around me, but your description makes me realise I probably have been taking it for granted!

I think we can all be like that to some degree. When I lived in the PNW I definitely took it for granted... trees, woods, green... meh. But now I look at pix and do kinda miss it a bit. I think that's part of the appeal of travel- seeing new landscapes and just experiencing something different.

 

[Steppesister]

Both available in every Belfast bakery/chippie too but @Steppesister you described them much more eloquently than us. Nothing quite like a sausage roll to start the day (especially if you’ve had a “big” night out the night before ).

Oh dear.... I'm almost afraid to ask what those might be called! I can see how they'd be a "breakfast of choice"!

 

[Steppesister]

Even through a bus window, SO stunning!!

Why thanks! The countryside sure lent itself to pretty pictures!

OH MY indeed!!!!!!

I remember our first family trip to Ireland and my Dad driving on the wrong side of the car AND wrong side of the road...and a stick shift! It was terrifying!!! LOL I'm hoping you faired better!

It's definitely a terrifying process to make the switch. I've never been the passenger and I'm sure that's equally disconcerting.

 

[Steppesister]

Your trip to Kangaroo Island was such a different experience from your tropical island adventures. The landscape is very arid. But it is beautiful. You have a very nice room at Baudin Beach. It is funny though that the main areas of interest are east while the town is west.

It couldn't have been more vastly different! Honestly, this whole trip was like 6 vacations in 1. Each place in AUS was as different as could be as well!

Yes, the land use was really separated between "settled" and "wild". Very interesting how it's divided like that.

 

[Steppesister]

Day 12 already! Doesn't seem possible. And yet... considering how much you've seen/done... it also feels like it should be day 30!

Sigh.... I'm never going to finish this TR.

The Fungus Fairy will be a new thing, I think.

... who's in direct competition with the Eucalyptus Fair.

So cool! I don't know anyone (well..... except for you, now) who's been there.

I heard about it from an ex-coworker who'd gone a few years ago.

I did a quick and dirty measurement. It's about 85x35 miles. Pretty small. Not surprised it's that small of a population.

And like 90% of it is National Park and protected. So the only folks that live there are related to tourism, park business, or the service industry.

How badly did you want to get off?

There was coffee involved.

Kinda wanted some.

Ah well... you can't win 'em all.

That's how gaming works.

I couldn't tell a eucalyptus tree from just about any other kind of tree.
In my dictionary, there are two kinds of trees. "Pine" and "The other kind that isn't pine".

Hmm, I think they're pretty easy to ID.

Here's one to get you started:

Um... what? Are they trying to make it difficult?
"Oh, yeah? Well here in Oz, we back onto ferries! That's right! We're rough and tumble!"

LOL!!! Grit and determination... to what end...?

Meh.
I wouldn't worry. Since Australia is over the dateline and in the southern hemisphere, if you drove on the right and straight, you'd wind up on the left and backwards.

Kinda like when the toilet and sink drain the other way?

Uh, huh... you were dreaming of those for how long now??

A fair bit I guess I'd have to say.

However a couple of teens had bruises and one adult was sent to the hospital...

It's almost like you know me!

Did she say how it was?

Actually, no, she didn't.

I didn't know they wrote novels about Australian pastries...

"The Star-Crossed Croissant"
"The Roll that Rocked"
"The Self-Inflated Ego of the Puff Pastry"

I'll stop now.

You're on a (bakery) roll.

It's well known. I've heard it's Bark is worse than it's Bight, though.

<slow clap>

I saw the photos from @zanzibar138
Interesting! A bit different from the pasty that I had (in Michigan), but otherwise both recognizable.

I'll get to more (far more) writing about Australian PAH-stees...

Hey, it's almost like you were there!

I've never seen a Ford Ranger submarine before. Huh.

That would be quite a sight.

That second video... oy!
"There's the horizon.... andddddd... there it goes... Oh, it's back again. Nope... gone."

How to Turn a Ship Into a Vomitorium

I just caught it at the beginning of the video.
I absolutely love the "Well spotted" at the end of it!

Yes, I posted it mostly for the fun dialogue between Anara and the (presumed) Slavik-speaking lady.

Okay, I'm laughing at you.

It wouldn't be the first time.

Reminds me of the scene in A Fish Called Wanda

Haven't seen that.

National Lampoon's European Vacation

Nor that.

Bit of a typo there. It was supposed to be "Hey, man... I need a really nice crown for the top of the fruit salad."

Sounds like you're ready to buy a dragon fruit and make that salad.

I did a tiny bit of research. At least according to the FAA, (Rules may differ in different countries):

Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots.

And I'm willing to bet that one that went astray temporarily didn't fit that category.

 

[Steppesister]

Hello!! I know we both follow lots of the same TR writers, but haven't ever "met." Just wanted to say hi, and I have SO much family living in Belfast!!! Not Disney lovers like us, but still lovely people just the same! Ha!

I LOVE when folks can connect and get to know each other better.