More 'Mad Hats!'

Mad Hats & Masks!

Lesley is 'The Birthday Girl' wearing her cake!  We were invited to celebrate a special milestone birthday in Chinchilla last night.  Had an absolute blast - lots of innovative 'Mad Hats' and 'Masks'!  Some of the party-goers took more than one hat and changed them during the evening...  especially the Birthday Girl who had several!

New Year's Eve

We are in Sydney for New Year! Flew down on Tuesday and staying with friends, Ronnie and Paul at North Sydney. Had a magnificent view of the 9pm fireworks over Lavender Bay. Luna Park is just in front of us. If we could scan around to the left, we would see the Harbour Bridge.

Went down out of the unit for the midnight countdown - it was just a bedazzling display of light, colour and sound! We stood between Milson's Point train station area and Luna Park with a fantastic view of the Harbour Bridge. The mood was exhilarating and people were really well behaved. The fireworks were so loud! They left me with goose bumps!

After midnight - it was time for more celebrations - Ronnie's Birthday!

Biketober!

It is the Biketober Fest in Daytona Beach!

Biketoberfest® in Daytona Beach, FL is an international award-winning motorcycle festival that offers participants an extended weekend get-away brimming with plenty of sun, beaches, bikes and fun! Thousands of bikes will roar into and all around town - no two alike! Popular annual activities include motorcycle shows and rallies that showcase new, vintage and custom bikes; demonstration rides on the newest machines from top manufacturers; and on-track motorcycle action at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway. You'll also enjoy endless-delicious food choices, live music and plenty of people-watching. With a variety of events and activities planned at venues all across the county, you're sure to find the best places to play and stay during your visit.

Some pics of the different bikes we have seen. There are people riding bikes everywhere - the sound is constant of the roar of bikes. Dave checked out the trike conversion kits and had a test ride of one. Can't get one over in Australia easily. Lots of weird and wonderful things to see. Lots of partying if you were inclined to do so.

Gators!

Monday we went north to St Augustine. It was Columbus Day here in the USA, a public holiday for some people.

We found the Alligator Farm! I wanted to see some local reptiles - 'American Alligators' although there are another type as well, Chinese Alligators.

The St Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park was founded in 1893 and is one of the oldest zoos in the country. This is the only place in the world that displays all 23 living species (of crocodilians) from the Americas, Australia, Africa and Asia. Discover a diverse collection of birds, mammals and reptiles while you explore the park.

We watched the reptile keepers feed the alligators and learnt interesting facts about them. We saw an albino alligator from the bayous of Louisiana, only discovered in 1992. We saw a Komodo dragon (bigger than I thought they'd be!) and a cassowary, also Galapagos (Giant) Tortoises.

There was a display called 'Gomek Forever' = one of the largest crocdilians ever caught in Papua New Guinea, 18 ft long (6 m) and 2000 pounds. He has been preserved. The Australian salt water croc now on display, and the largest in the park, is named 'Maximo' - he's 15 ft (5m) and 1250 pounds, but he hasn't finished growing yet and may well grow to Gomek's size in the future....

As we were leaving, I was saying to Dave how I'd enjoyed the day and had done everything I wanted to see and do (fed alligators) but we hadn't seen the baby 'gators that I'd read about being able to touch in the brochure....

We rounded the corner, and a zoo keeper was standing there holding one! I got all excited and asked if I could touch it and take a photo and she said, 'Sure! I'll even take your photo!' We decided to walk to her little studio and she took the pic - she even offered for us to nurse a snake (python) as well ("No, thanks, we don't 'do' snakes," I said - especially after Bill tells us he & Asha saw a brown snake when walking at home this past week....).

I've included the pic below - the alligator's scales were silky smooth and she was just a little cool to touch, and very well behaved, what with her mouth taped over & all...!

I can see why they make good handbags and shoes..... not that I'd want any! They're beautiful creatures!!!

Natchez Trace

The reason we stayed at Tupelo, Mississippi was to drive down the Natchez Trace. We found the Visitor Center and found out some information about the parkway and some maps. There were some school buses and fire engines parked and some school kids around as we were leaving. As Dave drove out of the car park - look who we saw!!! Dave braked as I wound down the window. Lesley and I were hanging out of the window, 'Smokey!!!! Can we have a photo?' The poor fella was carrying some cartons, which he put down as we ran over to him, all excited!

The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee. Today, visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

The heaviest use of the Old Trace was from 1800 to about 1825 by men, known as "Kaintucks," who floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and returned north on foot. But the stories of the Old Trace reach far beyond the early 1800s. They include Mound Builders, Natchez, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Indians, preachers, bandits, slaves, soldiers, settlers, and even Meriwether Lewis.

This is Dave standing on the actual 'trace' which comes from a French origin meaning 'footprint'. The road today shadows the trace. This is standing on history! We drove along approximately 60 miles (took almost 3 hrs!) and stopped to look at exhibits which showed remains of Indian settlements, mainly Chickasaw tribe. The drive was beautiful - cars only on the road, no advertising or traffic lights, just National Park. And animals - we saw wild turkey buzzards, deer, squirrels, a (flat) fox and birds.

We had a late lunch in Kosciusko (yep - same name) and drove on to Meridian, Mississippi. Made one of our (almost) usual afternoon stops at Walmart - to buy some beer and other miscellaneous items. Had to take a pic of that!

We found a great Jameson Inn which was right across the road from Bonita Lakes Mall where there were a few choices for dinner - we settled on 'Charley O' diner.

Saturday (today): we left Meridian early in the morning and drove south to Mobile, Alabama. Found a Flea Market for a look - lots of puppies (boxers!) and rabbits, chooks, kittens etc etc.

Crossed the border into Florida at lunchtime. Staying at Marianna, Florida tonight. Should return to Daytona Beach tomorrow. Great weather - blue skies and 80 + degrees farenheit.

Mud Island

Thursday morning we went to have a look at the River Museum - which was part of the Mud Island River Park - on the shores of the Mississippi - Memphis!

It was the most interesting museum - we could have spent hours there. We all thought the most impressive exhibit was the life size reconstruction of the front half of a river boat and we got to walk through it!

Outside on the ground there was a scale sized model of the Mississippi River from source to sea including both the land and river reliefs. The kids were more interested in paddling in the water. Certainly a wow factor if you actually know the river. The marina was nearby and the poles holding the pontoons were 15 meters high to cater for the fluctuating heights of the river.

Drove on to Tupelo, MS in the afternoon and stayed the night. Jimmy dropped in and we caught up with Jim's son. Lesley introduced me to 'Pier 1 Imports' shop.......

Might I add that the car is NOT full yet!