Sydney Australia - A bit more sun

Still some showers, which are so badly needed, but also a bit of sun.

Manly NSW Australia - Hanging out with friends

What a ugly windy day.
A plan to hang at the Skiff Sailing Club on the patio and enjoy the day became a nasty windy, rainy mess all day.  One of those umbrella destroyer windy days.
Still gathered and enjoyed the day inside, with everyone else - not much else to do.
Never a shortage of good wine and beer to warm things up.
Always an enjoyable ferry ride - rain or no rain.  Finished the trip with a great chat with a couple up for a short holiday from Melbourne - warmer at home so they were ready to head back.

Sydney Australia - Good to be back

Always feels like home when I hit the ground in Australia.
So far it has been grey, gloomy and rainy.  But still likable and a bit warmer than back at home.
It is amazing how much things have changed, and in other ways remained the same, over the past 25 years.  Easy to remember my first time wandering the city.
Interesting new art and architecture - always trying and exploring new things.
I have always appreciated the way Australians can mix old and new and have it all live and work together.

Sydney Australia - and the adventure getting here

An opportunity came up to head to Australia and I never want to say no to that.
Had a flight that went Minneapolis/LA/Sydney - the usual flight.
As I got to the MSP Airport the sky was looking grey and stormy.  It had been a strange day all around - hot, humid and the threat of pending storms.  The storm arrived about an hour before my flight.  Left the airport in chaos and a delayed flight getting off to LA.
I missed the flight to Sydney.
Not many options - wait 24 hours or wait 9 hours and go through Hawaii.  Finally, settled on the Hawaii option.  There is a hotel at the end of the airport - so wandered down and got a bit of sleep.
First time to Hawaii and now know that airport well - nothing else but covered the airport on my layover.
And then off to Sydney.  And rain here as well.  So we circled overhead for over an hour but finally made it.
And to top it all off my passport didn't want to work in the "e-passport" machines so I got the "full search" of my bags after the red lights went on.
Ended up with a nice view of the Queen Victoria Building - a true gem.
38 hours later I am ready to go and enjoy my time in a spot a truly love.

Nelson WI - a belated birthday celebration

Had planned celebrate 91 on the river with Sonia and Lorne - but life came up and we had to regroup.  Today was our day and it was cool, grey and the fall colors keep delaying and delaying.
We still gathered and got to sit along the Mississippi with a warm fire and Lorne offering up that we are celebrating number 19.
Lots of conversation and many laughs along the way.  Another great day.