Wednesday 30 October 2024

The Holiday Continues.

 Monday 14 October

It was a very wet farewell to Prince Edward Island, as we took the bus back to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for our flight back to London the following day.

The 12 kilometre Confederation Bridge, linking the island to the rest of Canada.  [$50.25 Can to leave the island]


I was disappointed that the rain blurred the autumn colours the length of the journey. I couldn't complain too much though, as I had been totally immersed in the colours in the previous weeks. Thankfully the rain did abate when, at a midway point, we had to transfer to another bus.

Overnight there were huge noisy thunderstorms, dumping more rain, but we woke to sunshine for our flight.

Take off

Flight

Goodbye Canada


Fortunately, we had booked a room in an airport hotel. We arrived at 9.30pm in more rain and the flight's luggage took forever to find our carousel.

A shuttle bus, took us to the hire car allotment on the opposite side of the airport. The traffic was a nightmare after the isolation of the island.

We were upgraded to a Hyundai Tuscon with all the bells and whistles. It took Frank a long time to feel confident enough to leave the safety of the rental compound and even longer to not be stressed with all the beeping.

Thank goodness for google maps and a car with a touch screen. We found the M25 and began circumnavigating London in a clockwise direction, with Stowmarket in Suffolk our final destination. At Brentford we changed to the A12 to find an information centre at Sudbury.  This centre was never found because the streets were narrow and parking non existant. Google then took us on a 'random' drive through pretty countryside and narrow, hedgerow lined roads, with the 2 1/2 hour journey becoming 4 1/2 hours. This delightful cottage however, welcomed us.


The cottage belonged to a small farm holding and a walking trail, created by the owners, allowed me to explore happily.





Whilst on the trail, sunset colours began to fill the sky to both the east and west.

East


West

Back at the cottage.

And across the lane to the west.

Very few photos were taken on the journey as I was either navigating, or clinging to the carseat, as Frank whizzed along the narrow lanes. We were slower through the towns, so I managed a church spire or two.










Horses have right of way.


And what better way to end our first day in Suffolk, other than to enjoy dinner in a lovely English Pub, even though the chef was French.
The Highwayman is a grade2 listed 17th century timber framed building.

According to the locals, we were very fortunate that the sun had shone all day, after weeks of poor weather.
A wonderful start to our few days here in the lovely Suffolk countryside.

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Thursday 24 October 2024

The Colour of Late Spring

 Early Tuesday morning saw us touch down on Aussie soil once again. Our neighbours and wonderful friends, Laurel and Reg were there to meet us. 

They had left this welcome sight on our kitchen table.


I had planted miniature sweet pea seeds in May. They were beginning to flourish when we left 6 weeks ago, but I never imagined I would come home to them still flowering. What is more astounding is that  they are definitely not miniature. The regular rain and Laurel's care has produced this mass from 6 seeds!


The last of the poppies in my front garden also greeted me in full bloom.

And finally, my correopsis that I had been nurturing before our travels, was a blaze of yellow joy.

Wednesday, [yesterday] was of course, Hungry Hiker Day. We set off walking at 7.30 on a local walk. No longer autumn leaves on the ground, but the fallen blossoms and leaves of the eucalytus, jacarandah and acacias.





I was missing the autumn tones of the past weeks, but soon the purple of the flowering jacarandah won me over.





Unsuccessful koala spotting.

Oh, but these cuties had to be photographed in the parklands beside the Logan River.


More blossoms - Jasmine

Oleander

As we neared our cars, the reflections in the lagoon caught my eye, as did the duck and her ducklings and a Great White Heron feeding.



At the end of 10kms, in a temperature that had now reached a humid 31C, the Hungry Hikers did what we do best. Coffee and cake, with bubbles to welcome me back.

It was wonderful to be back with my friends, but I did not enjoy returning to this heat, so early in our summer. Yes, the spring temperatures are gone.

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