Tag: california

THE RETIREES GO AROUND THE WORLD – BRISBANE/SAN FRANCISCO USA

Ever wondered what it would be like to go around the world dropping in at various points of call, visiting relations and friends and visiting new points of interest? Well, we did wonder and now I am here to tell you what it was it was all about. Welcome to our holiday blog – The Retirees go around the World in 51 days.

It started with booking a cruise from Japan to Taiwan and return then taking fright at the cost to travel to Tokyo to catch the cruise ship. This caused us to investigate traveling around the world with connecting flights starting with a flight from Brisbane to Sydney, then Sydney to San Francisco departing on 24th January 2025 and arriving there the same day due to the time zones.

Our son Ben collected us from the airport and put up with us visiting them in their home for 5 nights enjoying spoiling grandson Angus and learning about Jee’s progress with Angus #2.

We played Garage – getting out boxes of cars and trucks and racing them down the track. We then had a mess, and we had to pack it away under grandson’s supervision. Then we visited his preschool at Saint Joseph’s Basilica, played in the park with a new friend and found a new park developed over a discontinued rail line.

Photo

It was just a few days with them but being so far away makes it difficult to connect. Gus is such a personable child I never feel as though we have been away. After those glorious few days, sadly, we waved goodbye. Angus is a joy for grandparents – not so sure it’s always that way for Ben and Jee.

Ben took us to the airport where we then flew from San Francisco to London Heathrow, where we collected a hire car from Green Motion Car Hire. The car collection point was outside of the airport, but the hotel shuttle bus got us to the collection point easily. From there Kerry drove to our accommodation in Hove. A tip for all travelers – ensure you understand the local rules regarding parking. Brighton / Hove Council has made parking on the street a costly dance to avoid the parking costs and fines. We found ourselves finding overnight parking up to 200m away from our B&B in weather down to freezing at times. The parking could easily cost £30 per day on the street. My cousin Therese (Terri) and her husband Mick (former residents of Hove but now gite owners in France) met us at the B & B and wisely had parked their car with friends outside the parking limited areas and caught a cab into Hove.

Read on with my next Blog – The Retirees go around the World –San Francisco/Brighton-Hove.

THE RETIREES AND FRIENDS VISIT PERTH AND MARGARET RIVER – SWAN VALLEY – days 2 & 3 wine tour 2024

Star Date 27th and 28th July 2024

We wake with the sunrise and outside the kangaroos are gathering across the road. They stay there until 8.00 am when they will rush across to the back of the Sebel Apartments. No one is there to feed them but that doesn’t deter them. Dale and Zdravka are going to Perth to Kings Park and we are taking a wine tour. We will meet the coach at Guildford opposite the visitors centre.

After breakfast we drove into Guildford and meandered through the streets until we stood in the bus stop awaiting our guide. We were getting concerned when the bus had not arrived at the appointed time. We were on the point of ringing the tour company when we noticed the bus approaching. The driver was some what surprised but called us on board. So the tour began. Our first stop would be Mandoon Estate. I was suspicious that something was wrong and so at Mandoon the driver started investigating our tickets. Lo and behold we were 1 day too early and travelling with a different tour company and our tour commenced tomorrow. My embarrassment would not permit me to continue although that was offered and I could not bring myself to even taste the wine.

So we walked through the winery and found the early homestead now turned into an arts and crafts gallery with views over the Swan River. From the river bank we watched a pair of cockatoos preparing their nest in a hole in the tree.

Still feeling embarrassed that not only had we joined the wrong tour but we even got the day for our tour wrong, I was inclined to avoid showing my face at Mandoon cellar door. However adjoining Mandoon is Sandalford Wines cellar door – nothing too hold me back we came into the cellar door via the tradesman’s entrance. Sandalford is one of the biggest wine producers in the Valley. As we walked through the vineyards we noticed these white flowers everywhere but no one seemed certain if they had a purpose other than looking pretty. We settled down to some serious wine tasting

After tasting the wines at Sandalford I still could not bring myself to do any wine tasting at Mandoon so we caught an Uber (remember our car is back in Guildford) back to Guildford and strolled the old town a little further. We had planned to visit a number of different places in the Valley with our traveling companions so we could not explore too far. After lunch we headed back to Sebel in the Vines and made plans for dinner.

The following morning we repeated our trip to Guildford and caught the correct tour bus. As we boarded Kerry recounted yesterday’s adventure. This introduction broke the ice with the other passengers – 3 gay guys who admitted they were a 3 some very quickly into the trip. First stop was Nikola Estate (formerly Houghtons Winery) and the largest vineyard in WA. Very elegant and extensive grounds – the driver gossiped that the owners had a big event here and the vineyard grounds were jammed packed so much so that people could not leave the vineyard until after midnight due to the traffic jam created as people tried to leave. Well there was no trouble like that today. The place was empty so the 5 of us were sat down at the big table and tried their wines.

Sitting at the table I noticed they have a chapel for weddings. Although the cellar door and grounds were impressive this was not what we had come looking for. Here is a glimpse of the chapel from our tasting window.

Next we moved onto Olive Farm Wines. Yes a combination small winery which was of more interest to us particularly its wine dispenser which you can see below. The drive into the vineyard can be observed from the wine tasting table with the vineyard either side of the driveway. Thus far each vineyard had some different style or grape variety in addition to traditional grape varieties but this dispenser was something to behold – there were 30+ bottles on tap for a tasting at a price. The cellar door was quite busy but I expect it was tours like us in a small winery that made it seem very full. I liked their Shiraz (I know I’m boring) and left with bottle in hand. Onto the next one – Lamont’s Winery.

Lamont’s did not impress as the other two cellar doors did, but inside was a different story. Lamont’s appeared lost in the bush whereas the other two were prominent on a major road. Of course I had to have an incident with my camera – the battery was flat and I did not bring my backup so the picture below is all I can offer for Lamont’s. Inside was a busy cafe, and the maturing vats and wine tasting area. Our host who’s name is lost to me now (I think he was married to one of the daughters of the Lamont family based on his apparent level of authority but not directly part of the family based on his “experience” in the industry related to us during the tasting). The gay guys turned out to be easy going but inexperienced travelers and wine connoisseurs and our host played up to them. He gathered their choice in wines told them it was cheap and nasty gave them the bottle and turned to Kerry and me asking what we would like to taste. Kerry suggested we get straight to the good stuff in their range of Shiraz and she was saving herself for the gin distillery. Our host lined up 3 bottles of Shiraz each of a different vintage and went through with each wine in an indepth tasting and of course I bought the one I liked – ouch was it that much? Read more about the winery at https://lamonts.com.au/swan-valley-winery/.

As we left he threw in a packet of olives to have with the wine which was generous of him and they were enjoyed by Dale and Zdravka but not with my wine.

Next stop was the gin distillery Sin Gin. Sin Gin Distillery is a Nano distillery creating Perth Pink, Original Sin & the Seven Deadly Sins range of gins in the Swan Valley. Sin Gin is named after Kate Sinfield who brought ideas of gin with her from England to Australia in the 1980’s. Mark and Kate work closely with products from the local Western Australian environment to handcraft unique, tasty and fun gins. Here is a link to their website – https://singindistillery.com.au/collections/the-sin-gin-collections. With my camera battery flat there are no photos. We made our way home to share stories and our olives with Dale and Zdravka. Tomorrow I will need to cut more wood for the fire – very chilly nights.