Tuesday 29 May 2007 - George Town, Grand Cayman.

Grand Cayman

Woken at 6am with breakfast being delivered and watched our arrival at Cayman. Very flat, not a hill in sight. Another Carnival cruise ship was in port and another cruise ship arrived just after us. Cruise ships anchor off and tenders run back and forth all day. The water is crystal clear. We went ashore to explore. The town is all about tourism and there are lots of jewellery shops, bars, duty free shops and souvenir shops. They drive on the left and have both left and right hand drive cars. Chickens rule the streets and drivers have to give way to them. We decided against a trip to Seven Mile Beach and didn't want to do any snorkelling, so just walked around town and bought a couple of souvenirs and a bottle of duty free Mount Gay Rum. There was an informative square with the history of the islands. We also saw caged iguanas and macaws - poor things.

We had had enough by about 1pm and the last tender was at 3pm, so we came back to the ship. Vegged out for the afternoon. Tonight we are going to a show.

Monday 28 May 2007 - At Sea

A knock on the door at 7am woke us and breakfast was delivered. At 9.30 Heather attended a talk on shopping in the various ports of call. Part of the talk promoted various stores and there were various give-aways. A very nice pearl necklace was scored! Pretty good free sample, eh?

Lunch followed and then a visit to the casino. An afternoon snooze before getting dressed for the Captain's cocktail party and dinner of lobster for Ian and duck for Heather. We then visited Sachmo's Bar and had a dance - I know, I know!

We finally staggered up to Deck 9 for coffees before coming back to our cabin to find that Carmelo had excelled himself. Not only was the bed turned down and the chocolates left, but he had folded a towel into an animal, a pig I think, and placed Ian's sunglasses on it!

Sunday 27 May 2007 - New Port Richey to Tampa

We were introduced to John and Anna's neighbours, Karen and Nigel over morning coffee before we said our goodbyes and drove to Tampa to join our cruise ship, Carnival Legend. Huge excitement! After checking in and going through the security requirements we boarded, found our cabin and met Carmelo, our steward. The cabin is fabulous - see photos.

13Legend27

We have our own private balcony. The ship is fitted out magnificently, has about 17 different restaurants and an equal number of bars, several swimming pools, a waterslide, gymnasium, library, casino, etc, etc...a bit different from cruising on Scorpio!

We sailed from Tampa at 4pm and at 6pm passed under the Skyway Bridge, the largest bridge in Florida.

This ship is a floating city and it took us the rest of the evening to explore it.

Carmelo had turned down our bed and left chocolates!

Saturday 26 May 2007 - New Port Richey

Heather went for a walk, then breakfast before Anna took us shopping. This event took the rest of the day! Back at the house Anna cooked us a delicious schnitzel dinner.

Friday 25 May 2007 - Orlando to New Port Richey

Programmed Tom to take us to John and Anna's house in New Port Richey. Great welcome! Went out to The German Restaurant where we had an authentic German dinner. Back to the house for coffees and more talk before bed.

Photos to come when we get back off the cruise. The ship's internet access does not allow me to upload!!

Thursday 24 May 2007 - Titusville FL to Orlando FL

A leisurely start to the day with breakfast at an IHOP Restaurant. The healthy start suggestion featured filled french toast topped with strawberries and whipped cream! Good grief!! If I lived here I would be the size of a barn!!!

Drove to Orlando, about 50 miles, via a toll road...three stops with $1.25, .75c and .75c payable. Found Universal Studios and spent the rest of the day checking out the "City Walk". Within the complex are two theme parks which we didn't get around to. It is huge. Had Margaritas at the Volcano Bar and listened to some great Jimmy Buffet music.

Click on the image below to see todays photos.

Orlando FL - Universal Studios

Wednesday 23 May 2007 - Hardeeville SC to Titusville, Florida

We had a late start out of Hardeeville, due to me having to complete the Computer Club's month end duties. Nothing much of note in Hardeeville. We decided to travel through Georgia on I95 with only a couple of stops at visitors centres as I95 only crosses about 100 miles of Georgia's coastal region which is low lying swampy land. Brunswick looked quite a large industrial city as we passed it.

Crossed the border into Florida and were amazed at the sudden change at Jacksonville. The traffic was suddenly very heavy, with lots of huge semi-trailers on a spaghetti road system which included overpasses, underpasses and bridge - a real concrete jungle!

We arrived at the Kennedy Space Centre and spent the rest of the day there checking out the excellent Astronauts Hall of Fame museum and surrounding areas. Click on the image below for a slide show.

Hardeeville SC to Titusville FL

Finally found a motel for the night at about 8pm. Big day!

Tuesday 22 May 2007 - Charlestown and Hardeeville, South Carolina

Left the Red Roof Motel and drove to town to organise the Jeep parts to be sent home. Many thanks to Rhonda for making the arrangements.

We then strolled through the markets and found a place for breakfast. More markets before driving to Patriot's Point for a look at the Aircraft Carrier, USS Yorktown.

Patriots Point, South Carolina

Spent a bit of time in the gift shop and made a few purchases, including a Confederate Officer's sword which Ian wanted. Then we boarded the General Beauregard for a cruise of the harbour which included a stop at Fort Sumter which is the site where the first shot of the Civil War was fired.

Fort Sumter

It was about 4pm when we left Charleston and drove down I95 to Hardeeville for the night. On the way we stopped for a stretch at a little store called Carolina Cider where we met a traveling magician (and all round good guy) who was feeding his birds and little dog. He is Houdini and you can read all about him at his website at http://www.welcome2thegame.com. Here is his photo...


Booked in to a Days Inn motel and had dinner at the Waffle House.

Monday 21 May 2007 - Fayetteville to Charleston

Said our goodbyes to JB and Betty and off again on another part of Ian's wargasm tour of the south.

He had heard about a war memorial at Kingstree, South Carolina which has a northern soldier instead of a southern soldier on the plinth and he just had to see that. I dutifully took photos and tried to look interested.

Then on to Charleston where after visiting the visitors centre, found the Market Place and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Browsed around there and watched the horses and carriages and met up with a nice couple James and Debbie from near the North and South Carolina border.

Four and a half hours later we found accomodation for the night.

Sunday 20 May 2007 - Fayetteville

JB and Betty are the proud owners of a 28 foot RV which needs to be run at least once a week. So we all piled on board and drove 60 miles to Smithtown strip mall, which is a fantastic 1km of factory outlets including Harley Davidson, Levi, Brooks Bros, Rockport, etc. Betty and I left the guys to sit in the RV watching movies and went shopping! We met for lunch at the Crackerbarrel, which specialises in really good southern food. We have added it to our list of must visit restaurants. Then we shopped again. Ian bought a really nice pair of boots after I persuaded him that the ones with the crossed rebel flags on the front were not acceptable.

Home again for more dinner and beers on the deck.

Saturday 19 May 2007 - Fayetteville

After breakfast, Betty had to go to work, so JB escorted us to downtown Fayetteville, first to the Airbourne and Special Forces museum and then into the centre of old Fayetteville where we inspected the old market place for the "freedom deprived" ... in other words the slave market. We lunched at the Hardware House Micro Brewery where I had salmon and Ian and JB had a pulled pork sandwich. Great meal. We are really enjoying the Southern food. The only embarrassing moment was when the barmaid told us she was half Chipawah (sp?) Indian and Ian wanted to know which half.

Back home for dinner and drinks on JB and Betty's deck.

Friday 18 May 2007 - Lumberton to Fayetteville

Drove to Fayetteville. Ian and JB went out on a pub crawl to the Green Beret Club, Charlie Mike's Bar and Jumper's Bar and, of course, in two f the three bars Ian met someone who knew some he knew!!

They both arrived home worse for wear and when Betty challenged JB about not ringing her for a lift home instead of driving, got the standard answer, "We had to drive...we were too drunk to walk"!

Thursday 17 May 2007 - Wilmington to Lumberton

Left Wilmington bound for Fort Fisher. Stopped at Carolina Beach for a look at the Atlantic Ocean and had breakfast before driving on to Kure Beach. Went out on the pier and watched some fishermen. One group had a good catch which they had got from a boat earlier in the day. The pelicans, which you will see from the photos, are brown here and the seaguls, which have black heads, were very interested in the fishermen's activity.

Wilmington to Lumberton

Then on to Fort Fisher where Akko's wargasm tour continued. You may have seen the movie "Glory" which was filmed there. Fort Fisher was the last coastal fort to fall to the Northern forces just three months before the end of the Civil War.

We had a good look at the museum before taking the car ferry from Fort Fisher to Southport. Southport and nearby Oak Island are touristy, crafty little towns, too expensive to stay at. Much loke a Noosa or Port Douglas, but neith of those two have a nuclear power station nearby! Had a bit of a look around before heading to Lumberton. It was pouring with rain, so we booked in to an Econolodge Motel for the night. Walked down the road to a nice little restaurant - Ian had reeeubs (ribs) and I had a sirloin steak. Both very good.

Tomorrow back to Fayetteville for the weekend before starting the jouney south.

Wednesday 16 May 2007 - Wilminton NC

We checked out of the KOA and drove to the waterfront with the plan of walking the waterfront boardwalk and then getting a water taxi to the Battleship North Carolina.

After parking the van, We discovered that the water taxi only operates on weekends until after Memorial Day so we explored downtown Wilmington with its lovely old buildings and shops which took us to lunchtime.

After a great lunch of crabcakes in the Waterfront Restaurant we decided that it would be too late to go on anywhere else for the night after we looked at the Battleship, so checked in at the Super6 Motel. This is a basic, no frills motel, but clean and adequate and the cost was $13 cheaper than the Kabin!!!

Here are some photos of the morning activities...

Wilmington Riverwalk

After throwing our bags into the room we drove over to the Battleship where we spent all afternoon. The self guided tour takes you all over the ship inside and out - engineroom, gun turrents, magazine, bridge, accommodation, etc. Perspex viewing panels have been inserted to allow you full view of inaccessible places.

Back to the Motel before walking up the road to the Indochine Restaurant for the evening. Great place with great food, a fascinating garden complete with a trishaw and pond with huge carp, and an entertaining cocktail waitress!

Here is a slideshow of the Battleship tour...

Battleship North Carolina

Tomorrow we are off to Kure Beach and Fort Fisher which you may remember from the film "Glory"...another destination in Akko's wargasm tour of the South!

Tuesday 15 May 2007 - Fayetteville to Wilmington NC

Said our goodbyes to JB and Betty and headed off. Short detour to General Jackson's store which specialises in military paraphernalia to drop off a couple of koalas to two salesgirls who were nice to JB and Ian the previous day.

We set Tom to direct us to the township of Atkinson NC avoiding motorways. A couple of hours later down country roads saw us arrive in Atkinson. Lucky we didn't blink! We mailed greeting cards in lieu of postcards, which were not available, to a couple of the Atkinson clan so that they would receive them postmarked Atkinson.

The main activity in the town was three good ol' boys beside their pickup trucks, sitting under a tent selling boiled peanuts, or as they call them here - goober peas. The southern accents have us in stitches!

We carried on to the Moore Creek Battle field which dates back to the Revolutionary war 1776 and had a look through their museum.

Finally on to Wilmington where I am writing this in a little log Kabin at a KOA (Kampgrounds of America). We have just returned from dinner at Wahoo Willies where we dined on crawfish gumbo followed by steamed crawfish and salad after a pre dinner snack of deep fried cinnamin coated sweet potato washed down with a few pints of local beer and a pint of local coffee so should sleep well!!!

Monday 14 May 2007 - Fayetteville

Betty and JB went off to work and we ventured out for the first time alone in the GMC Van. Pretty nerve wracking driving on the wrong side of the road! Thank goodness for the Tom Tom navigator. Tom directed us to the huge Cross Creek shopping mall, which spreads for at least a mile, where we spent the morning and had lunch. Back to JB and Betty's in the afternoon for a bit of a rest before they arrived home. Dinner and rums and red wine on their deck finished the day.

Took a photo of the boat for any of you who are fishermen. It is aluminium, 50hp Merc on the back and a small electric Merc on the front for manouvering while casting, 17.5 feet long, hooked up, registered and on your car for $13000.

The fat little robin was too cute not to photograph and the rums and wine on the deck is self explanatory.

Sunday 13 May 2007 - Newport News to Fayetteville

Checked out of the hotel and drove first to Circuit City, an electonics store to collect my new Panasonic FZ8 camera, bag and 2gig sd card, all for considerably less than the cost of the camera alone in Australia. Coming soon....lots of photos!

Then on to Norfolk to the Hampton Roads Nautical Museum where the USS Wisconson is moored. Ian has always been interested in battle ships, but has never had the opportunity to see one, let alone go on board and look around, so this has been the most exciting thing for him so far. Ken would have loved the museum.

Left there at 1.30pm so that we could get to Betty's sister's house where their mother and father were present for a mothers day dinner. Betty is the eldest of six and her family all live in the same area and are very close, so it was quite special to be allowed to join this large, loving, noisy family for the occasion.

After dinner drove to JB and Betty's house, dumped the bags and went to bed.

Saturday 12 May 2007 - Jamestown

Drove to one of about five parking areas to connect with shuttle bus (a Bart Simpson School bus) to Jamestown Settlement which is about 50km north of Newport News where we were staying.

There are two Jamestowns - the original which is a very precious archaeology site and which is probably now 50% of the original size due to 4 centuries of erosion of the James River and the new Jamestown, which is an educational reconstruction surrounded by a large museum complex. This is where the celebrations are being held with three full sized replicas of the ships that brought the first 104 settlers to Virginia on this day 400 years ago. There is also a replica Indian village of the era. Volunteers all dressed in period costume or Indian deerskin demonstrate everyday skills of the era and can answer any questions. We watched the firing of cannons and muskets of the time, Indians making flint and bone arrowheads and other implements. Their dwellings had above floor timber frame beds and scatter amongst them were the furs of wolves, bears, rabbit and deer. The houses, armoury and church have been resconstructed as accurately as possible. We spent quite a while in the excellent museum and had lunch on a large grass area where a huge stage complete with several screens televising the constant variety of performances. Acrobats, jugglers and wandering performers completed the entertainment.

On entry to all this we were captured by a BBC Radio announcer who recognised Ian's Australian accent and wanting the views of someone from the Colonies y'know, asked us to do a live radio interview.

The organisation for the thousands of people attending was exceptional.

Drove back to Newport News to an Irish Bar for dinner which was bar snacks including some really good buffalo wings. Ian and JB then attempted to drink the place dry and had to be helped back to the hotel! Kev Lynch to pass on to Bob Taylor a message from Ian...Cigarettes$12.99 a carton, schooners of Guiness $2.50. Sorry, no Kilkenny. Levi 501s $45 a pair.

Finished the day by making Skype calls to both Mums for mother's day.

Day 3 - 11 May Yorktown and Williamsburg

Day started with breakfast for 3 and a run for Heather.

We then did a bit of shopping and both purchased new runners.

We revisited Yorktown Pub and had lunch. We had been there onn our last visit 11 years ago. Had a quick look at the township before going on to Williamsburg, home of the College of William and Mary (310 years old) and part of the area surrounding Jamestown, where the original British settlers landed 400 years ago.

We had a great afternoon exploring colonial Williamsburg and observing the drum and pipe band and the local militia circa early 17th century. We also had a look at the Govenors Palace and the Burton Parish church and surrounding boneyard.

Enjoyed seeing the different birdlife, wonderful gardens and the little squirrels.

Dinner followed at the Silver Diner, a 50's style diner with jukeboxes, bucket sized drinks and huuuuge meals.

We couldn't resist taking the final photo of the car with the unusual personalised licence plate. We are told that shagging is a dance style like the jive of the 50's.

Click on the image below for a slideshow of photos.

Yorktown and Williamsburg 11 May 2007

Day 2 - 10 May

Breakfast at the Hyatt in Incheon is something to behold! Every type of bread, pastry, cereal, fruit, hot food, etc, etc. Ian, the adventurer had bacon and eggs. I tried some great dumplings and kimchi...delicious.

Then shuttle to the airport to check in and check out the duty free shops - just browsed and discovered that it would be best to wait to arrive in US to purchase the new camera.

Another excellent flight with Korean Air - 13 hours leaving at 1030 and arriving at 1130. Makes for a long day. Spectacular sunset as we flew over Alaska and an hour later an equally spectacular bright red sunrise.

Horrendously incompetent and disorganised deplane and immigration procedure in Washington DC, but finally got out the other side to be met by JB and Betty. We all drove to the Comfort Suites Hotel at Newport News, VA. Very comfortable huge room with free broadband service.

Hot showers and fresh clothes revitalised our weary jet lagged bodies and out we went to the Olive Grove for drinks and dinner. Crashed at about midnight...it was a loooong day.

Day One

9 May 2007

Take off! Woke up at 4.30am. Steven drove us to Brisbane Airport where we boarded KE814 to Incheon. We were allocated window seats and had a great view of Brisbane and all the way up the coast...saw Point Cartwright and Mooloolaba really well.

Can't speak highly enough of Korean Air...great service including socks, masks, toothpaste and brushes, hot towels, cold towels, orange juice and water whenever you wanted it, great food, movies, etc.

Crossed the equator - Ian checked the loo to see which way the water went down the washbasin - straight down!

On arrival at Incheon big queues for immigration but straight through Customs. Plush bus trip to Hyatt hotel (compliments of Korean Air) for the night.

Booked into great room with king sized bed. Dumped bags and went straight out to explore. Huge storm with winds that nealy blew us off the footpath. 14 degrees celsius felt like 5. Nothing much to see in immediate vicinity and wind and rain a bit much so retreated to the nearest bar. Missed dinner as too much food consumed during the flight. Met Roger from Dallas. Chatted up the barman who supplied maps and info on good Korean food to try when we come back in July. He also supplied me with a free cocktail!

Countdown...only 5 sleeps to go!

It is nearly time for us to fly away! Steven Akko arrives tomorrow to move in to the homestead and keep the home fires burning and Sylvester the Cat fed.

I will do my best to keep this page updated with photos and stories of our travels. Come back often for the latest updates.

It is with some trepidation that we leave Mum who is in hospital recovering from a broken elbow and hip. Her programme at this stage is to be transferred to Eden at Cooroy for rehabilitation on Tuesday 8 May. She would love to hear from you and you can send her an email by CLICKING HERE. She will be at Eden until she is able to go home - probably 6 weeks. Then Ken will move in to her place to look after her. So she will be in good hands.