April 24^th, 2025

These rude people who stop responding or don’t show up are taking a toll on us.  So onThursday, we opted to head into the city for the afternoon to the sites of Sydney we were interested in. We took the train downtown again like last week and got off to walk over to Chinatown.

We passed and checked out Hay’s Marketplace first – it’s like Granville Island and many markets we’ve visited in large cities: shops, food and small restaurants but it was so crowded we left and ate Chinese in Chinatown instead. It was okay.

Gate into Chinatown: We then walked over to Hyde Park to the ANZAC memorial and checked that out. Tomorrow is actually ANZAC Day and a public holiday here.  Here is the front of the monument:

The 25th of April is the national day of commemoration of Australia and New Zealand for victims of war and for recognition of the role of their armed forces. It marks the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

You can go inside underneath and here you say a wall of plaques for the names of the towns in NSW where soldiers have come from with a little container holding soil from the town embedded in the plaque:

In the centre on the floor is a large display showing the names of the battles that Australian soldiers have fought it.

Back outside on the other side is a large reflecting pool:

We continued strolling through Hyde park where we came across the the Archibald Fountain:

on the other end of the park was a Statue of Colonial Governor Macquarrie:

Queen Victoria:

St. James Church which was designed by a convict:

We made our way over to walk along Martin Place for a stretch (a large pedestrian mall) over to Pitt Street which was full of bars, shops and restaurants.  The street was lined with flags for ANZAC Day. 

This took us to the harbour where we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art as we had read this was a good place to see Aboriginal Art. After paying $16 each to get in, we were very disappointed. First of all there is very little in this gallery (for general admission ticket holders) and secondly, even less Aboriginal Art.

We took a few pics and after spending maybe 20 minutes there we left:

It was now nearly 3 and the next thing we wanted to do was the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout tour. (as mentioned in another post, the cost to do the Harbour Bridge walk was $300 – so out of our price range.) It was located along the bridge and the entry fee was $30 each – by the time we got there were felt we had very good views from the bridge itself and opted not to do it.

We wanted to see the other side of the bridge and maybe have a drink with a view so we walked underneath to the west side but we had no luck finding such a place.  Here’s the bridge viewed from the “other” side and the amusement park called Luna across the water. 

We checked out a small touristy little mall (catering mostly to the cruise ship people) and in there saw lots of Aboriginal canvases for sale (did not take photos obeying the sign) and a wall full of didgeridoos of which Fran did discretely take a photo of those:

and a little while later the shop owner played one.

While traveling around the country, we have looked for opportunities to see one of these instruments being played (women are not allowed to play them) but there are very few (they seem to cater to tour groups) and when we did find one here in Sydney a couple of weeks ago, the tickets were for an Aboriginal show over Easter Weekend and they cost $500 each.

The didgeridoo is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgeridoo was developed by the Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia at least 1,000 years ago based on the dating of rock art paintings, and is now in use around the world, though still most strongly associated with Indigenous Australian music.

A didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical, and can measure anywhere from 1-3 m / 3-10’ long. Most are around 1.2 m / 4’ long. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower its pitch or key. Flared instruments play a higher pitch than unflared instruments of the same length. Traditional didgeridoos are usually made from hardwood, especially the various eucalyptus species that are endemic to the northern and central regions. Generally the main trunk of the tree is harvested, though a substantial branch may be used instead. Once a suitably hollow tree is found, it is cut down and cleaned out, the bark is taken off, the ends trimmed, and the exterior is shaped; this results in a finished instrument. A rim of beeswax may be applied to the mouthpiece end. 

We did pick up a few items to take home to the kids. 

So we wandered back to the main harbour and unfortunately, there was a huge cruise ship docked blocking a lot of the view.

So we walked off the main area and found a little restaurant and had a Corona each and shared a piece of yummy apple pie.

Then it was back to the harbour where we walked over to the other side to be closer to the opera house. With tomorrow’s public holiday honouring the fallen, there was something special going on at a temporary stage at the Opera House so part of it was blocked off. The plan was to stay until after sunset when they light up the landmark starting at 6.

Sidebar: We both have Android phones and a couple of months back, Fran found the AI edit feature which is quite cool. You can remove people from a crowded photo (or anything you want) and here’s an example from the Opera House area:

without the people:

Cool, eh? We don’t used it often but it does help when we are in crowded places to give a better idea of what it looks like.

Well, 6pm came and went with no coloured lights so we waited till 6:30 and then we left – we think the ceremony canceled the lighting tonight. Too bad.

We did get some nice shots of the cityscape while waiting and the Harbour Bridge at night.

Here’s a video, not the clearest, of the view from the city past the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House from our vantage point below the Opera House as we await the lights.

We had a pretty good day, the rain held off and it was mostly sunny and a comfortable temperature all day – low to mid 20’s C / low 70’s F.

We took the train back to Miranda, Fran went to the Woollie’s to get a couple of things for meals for tomorrow and Doug went back to the campsite. We have been trying to sell a few individual items from the camper and we had a buyer coming who actually showed up when he got back. We’ve made a few hundred bucks selling things.

If you click here you’ll get to all the photos we took on our day trip into the city.

Friday, we awoke to wet ground and a mixed bag of a sky. We had a prospective buyer set up for 11 and check out here is 12 so Doug arranged with the campground for a 12 checkout (in case the guy buys it and drives away) or we pay in the morning for tonight. Due to the holiday today, the office here closes at 11 – hardly any shops are open today and NO big stores like groceries, etc.

Sadly, although the fellow showed up to look at Matilda, said he “had to think about” but we have another one coming tomorrow morning (update, naturally we never heard back from the first guy). While sitting reading under our awning, a fellow cycled by and ended up stopping. He’s living in one of the little tourist cabins here and is looking for a campervan. After looking at Matilda, he said it would be perfect but he only had half the asking price but seemed eager to try and round up the rest; we’re not very hopeful, but Paulie is a really nice guy and we’d love to sell to him, but we don’t want to “wait” for the balance nor drop the price THAT much. He dropped by later and we invited him for happy hour where we chatted and he had brought us guitar and played a bit for us.

A couple of years back, we included the lyrics of “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man” which is attributed to Johnny Cash. Well, this past week we learned from Paulie that the song is actually from Australia (and Master Google confirmed that) and was brought to North America by Canadian, Hank Snow, before Cash sang it.

We found the lyrics to the original version and were challenged to sing it. With these place names, almost impossible! You can try yourself:

“Well, I was humpin’ my bluey on the dusty Oodnadatta road

When along came a semi with a high and canvas-covered load,

‘If you’re goin’ to Oodnadatta, mate, um, with me you can ride,’

so I climbed in the cabin, and I settled down inside,

He asked me if I’d seen a road with so much dust and sand,

I said, ‘Listen, mate, I’ve traveled every road in this here land.’ Cause… I’ve been to

Tullamore, Seymour, Lismore, Mooloolaba, Nambour, Maroochydore, Kilmore, Murwillumbah, Birdsville, Emmaville, Wallaville, Cunnamulla, Condamine, Strathpine, Proserpine, Ulladulla, Darwin, Gin Gin, Deniliquin, Muckadilla, Wallumbilla, Boggabilla, Kumbarilla.

I’ve been everywhere, Man, I’ve been to

Moree, Taree, Jerilderie, Bambaroo, Toowoomba, Gunnedah, Caringbah, Woolloomooloo, Dalveen, Tamborine, Engadine, Jindabyne, Lithgow, Casino, Brigalow, Narromine, Megalong, Wyong, Tuggerawong, Wanganella, Morella, Augathella, Brindabella

I’ve been everywhere, Man, I’ve been to

Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi, Yarra Yarra, Boroondara, Wallangarra, Turramurra, Boggabri, Gundagai, Narrabri, Tibooburra, Gulgong, Adelong, Billabong, Cabramatta, Parramatta, Wangaratta, Coolangatta

I’ve been everywhere, Man, I’ve been to

Ettalong, Dandenong, Woodenbong, Ballarat, Canberra, Milperra, Unanderra, Captains Flat, Cloncurry, River Murray, Kurri Kurri, Girraween, Terrigal, Fingal, Stockinbingal, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly, Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly

I’ve been EVERYWHERE!”

On Saturday, the second fellow showed up with a buddy and had a good look, said it was more or less what he was looking for, did not make an offer or take it for a test drive but said he had one more to look at before making a decision. Of course, we never heard back from him either. 

Paulie came by saying he could have the money by Wednesday or Thursday but we’re not holding our breath on that either. We have two others saying Monday and Wednesday, but we’re again, not holding our breath they’ll even show up. Then late in the day the Monday prospect said he and his wife might come Sunday instead.

We ordered dinner in and it began to rain before bedtime, sometimes pretty hard too. It feels quite muggy out now again too with all this wetness. We ordered burgers for dinner via Uber and watched The Accountant movie so we’re ready to see The Accountant 2.

Sunday was a very wet and dull day with rain most of the day. We had received a message on the rig a few days ago from a guy in Broken Hill over 1100 km / 700 mi from here. He’d just been in Sydney over Easter but did not see this ad until he got home. Today he reached out again and asked if we’d be willing to deliver it to him and he’d pay fuel, meals and airfare back to Sydney. Naturally, we were suspicious (as was his wife) about such an arrangement but after messaging back and forth, we made up an agreement that we were all happy with, exchanged ID and contact details and agreed on a price and a deposit amount. He sent us the deposit via Wise and it was instantaneous so we felt better about it. He also booked Doug a flight for Tuesday morning to return on his dime. He will pay in cash upon delivery and reimburse Doug for his fuel and meals.

So we packed up Matilda (most of it was done anyway, as we’d been living in limbo for about a week), Fran booked a nearby hotel for three nights and Doug dropped off Fran and all our bags except what he needed for two nights. She said a quick goodbye to our trusty Matilda and he began the two day drive to Broken Hill (we were there ourselves last September in Tassie).

Doug made it as far as the town of Dubbo that day, just over a third of the way before stopping for the night just after dark at a free camp and drove the rest the next day. It was a hilly, windy, foggy drive about halfway but he made it and the deal was done. Doug met Michael at his office (he works for the RSPCA – funny cause Serena works for the SPCA in Reno! Michael also gave Doug a ball camp to give her) and gave him the “rego” papers (this is what they call the vehicle title here)  and the keys in exchange for the balance of the purchase price in cash. Doug went over to the bank and deposited it all into our Aussie account, signed the papers and the deal was done.

Michael and his wife made dinner for Doug and insisted he sleep in their house instead of Matilda. He ran through the vehicle with them and the next morning Michael dropped him at the airport for his 10:25 am flight back to Sydney.

Fran had listed Matilda in Sydney on the 13^th of April (after Doug’s ad didn’t get much traction in Brisbane while we were enroute there) and despite 50 inquiries, lots of no shows, at least a dozen low balls, it took almost two weeks to actually sell – the longest it’s ever taken for us to sell a vehicle. Maybe it was the wrong season, maybe it was her age (20 years) or maybe the RV market has slowed like in North America (although we see SO many people exploring this country in RV’s – that seems unlikely). We are satisfied with the price we got and hope her new owners enjoy her as much as we did.

Doug arrived in Sydney and took the train to get to the hotel. We had one night there together and next morning we took the train to the International Airport for the first of many flights before we reach Canada!

Today we fly to Fiji for a week and so far all we’ve booked is the first few nights, a car and a flight out on the 7^th to Samoa.

We managed to get all our things into two carry on size roller board suitcases and a backpack each. Fiji Airways does not allow carry on luggage to weigh over 7 kg / 15.25 lbs so all we could take on board was our backpacks full of electronics and batteries.

We were at the airport in plenty of time and Joshua had given us access to his free airport lounge app so we went to the lounge for a couple of hours and spent time booking more flights, hotels and cars.

Our flight left more or less on time, and we said farewell to Australia after driving nearly 30,000 km / 18,600 mi!

 

Lots of Fun Facts About Australia:

1. The Australian Alps get more snow than the Swiss Alps.
2. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world.
3. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest ecosystem in the world. It is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and can be seen from space.
4. Australia has over 60 separate wine regions.
5. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world.
6. The Great Ocean Road is the world’s largest war memorial.
7. 80% of Australian animals are unique to Australia.
8. Five km of Ayers Rock (Uluru) is underground.
9. Australia is home to 21 of the world’s 25 most venomous snakes.
10. The largest cattle station in the world is located in Australia, Anna Creek Ranch in South Australia and it’s bigger than Israel.
11. The first Police Force in Australia was made up of the most well-behaved convicts.
12. It would take around 29 years to visit one new Aussie beach every day – there are 10,685 of them!
13. The world’s largest rock is not actually Uluru, but Mount Augustus in Western Australia and actually twice the size of Ayers Rock.
14. There are 1 million camels that roam wild in Australia’s deserts, the largest number of purebred camels in the world, they are exported to the Middle East.
15. You can fly from Perth to Melbourne faster than you can fly from one end of Western Australia to the other.
16. Aboriginal culture is the oldest on Earth – it is estimated that the continent’s original inhabitants, the aboriginal people, have been in Australia for between 40,000-60,000 years.
17. 91% of the country is covered by native vegetation.
18. Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano.
19. In Australia, sheep out number people 2.5 to 1 (as of 2020).
20. Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1902.
21. Per capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation, with over 80 percent of Australian adults engaging in gambling of some kind.
22. Australia is the only continent covered by a single country.
23. The world’s oldest fossil was discovered in Australia – 3.4 billion years old.
24. Australia has around 600 varieties of eucalyptus trees.
25. Australia’s most deadly marine animal is the Box Jellyfish and is responsible for more deaths per year than snakes, sharks and saltwater crocodiles.
26. Before the arrival of humans, Australia was home to mega fauna, three metre tall kangaroos, seven metre long goanna’s, horse-sized ducks and a marsupial lion the size of a leopard.
27. Both kangaroos and emus lack the ability to walk backwards. This was the reason they were chosen for Australia’s coat of arms – to symbolize a country always moving forward.
28. Australia is home to more than 1,500 species of spiders.
29. WA is home to what is believed to be the oldest evidence of life on Earth – the Stromatolites.