Home Downunder

Qantas Pre-Flight Champagne

Sunrise in Australia

Reunited with sister & aunt

Brisbane Airport with sister

Murray doing the champagne honours

Family at Dinner

Family at breakfast

Sunset Champagne

We couldn't have asked for a smoother trip home. From the time we left our hotel in Kansas City until we landed in Brisbane airport, we sailed effortlessly through check-ins, airport security etc, and had great seats at every turn. No delays, great weather. We sure were blessed. We knew we were close to home when we boarded our Qantas jumbo in LAX and the cabin guy said 'G'day mate, welcome aboard'. Thirteen hours later my sister met us at Brisbane airport and drove us about an hour's drive to my brother's home on the Gold Coast where we had coffee with him & his wife. They then gave us the keys to their car and we drove the 1.5 hrs to Ballina. It was a glorious day, and we stopped halfway to have a bite to eat at Brunswick Heads. A skinny flat white coffee has never tasted so good after a 6 month absence!

In no time at all we were pulling into our driveway, and gratefully noticed that our neighbour must have mowed the lawn just the day before. The garden showed the neglect of our six months disappearing act, but a few hours of weeding and trimming will have it looking wonderful. Considering we just walked away and left it without wanting anyone to need to come and water it etc, all the plants got enough water from natural rain falls. It is the perfect garden to have for people who go on extended travels like we do.

Last night a few of the family dropped in for a champagne before we walked up to a nearby Chinese Restaurant for dinner - as well as Murray & I, there were two of my sisters & one of my brothers' and their spouses, and my aunt. We had a most enjoyable evening with lots of laughter. This morning we all met again for breakfast, this time at a cafe right on the river. We enjoyed some other activities together during the day, then met again to enjoy a champagne while watching the sun set on a simply beautiful evening. Life is good. Life is family. It's great to be home.

Omaha, Nebraska 2011

Tranquil Campground

Great Rest Areas on I-80

Canola field

Dining out with Wal & Desleigh - check out the margaritas

Texas Roadhouse staff doing a line dance for our entertainment

Parked in friends' driveway in Omaha

After a wonderful few days in a shady spot in Altoona, Iowa, we made our way further west on the I-80, destination Omaha. This highway goes all the way from San Francisco on the West coast to New York on the East coast through Salt Lake City, Chicago & Cleveland. On the section we drove through Iowa, it had regular rest stops about every 30 miles, offering picnic sites, machines with sodas and snack foods, coffee, rest rooms, & free wifi. Great for the truckers, RVers and other travellers. We were amazed at just how much corn there will be ready for harvesting in a few weeks. The roads will be dotted with farm machinery as the harvesters move from one farm to the next. We also saw lots of soy bean fields and canola.

We reached our friends' Wal & Desleigh's driveway in Papillion, Omaha, who kindly offered us their driveway to park for the night. After sharing stories over chilled beers, we headed to a nearby Texas Roadhouse restaurant for dinner. You know the saying 'everything is bigger in Texas', well, the margaritas sure lived up to that saying. Not only were they big, but they were good! It reminded me of a margarita that Marie & I had in Klondike Kate's in Dawson City, Yukon - only it wasn't so good! After being entertained by the staff doing a line dance, we headed back home for a nice merlot and more chatting until midnight when we called it a day. Desleigh had to get to the gym and Wal had to go to work the next morning.

Bright and early (well at 8am) we waved farewell and drove out. After replacing the airconditioner in our RV, we will make tracks for Kansas City where once again, we will store the RV and fly out to LA then home. Always a sad, but an exciting time for us, as we know we will be back again in 6 months.