From Broken hill to the Amazon jungle.

[drron]

Well the time is drawing close to my last trip using paper tickets.Starting in August will be our 19 segment Global explorer trip taking in Tahiti,Easter Island,the Amazon and Galapagos Islands before heading to LOTFAP and Canada then heading home via Spain,Japan and Singapore.After our Flounging experience in April the trip was altered to pick up TN in AKL so that we fly out of SYD on QF and Flounging rather than TN and the QP.
As is fast becoming a tradition I am preceeding the trip with a stint of work in the Outback.This time it is Broken Hill.Similiar to Mt. Isa in some ways but very different in others.Funny how in Qld we callit a mountain but NSW just calls it a hill.Started off from MCY on DJ0476 for the flight to SYD.DJ because of the interlining with Rex so my bag can be checked all the way to BHQ.Looked online to see I was being offered 24F-down the back again-I swear they have a special list.Decided to take my chances at the airport.
Just in front of me at checkin was a woman with 4 young children-you are all in Row 24 says the agent.Oh no here we go again1Explain how I want to check my bag through to BHQ interlining with Rex and the delightful agent says-you are a tall fellow would the aisle seat in the exit row be OK.Sure anything except 24F.Once again flying on the last Sunday of school holidays.Still settle in with my book and before i know it we are landing in SYD.Thought I might have been on QF-45 minutes late and no IFE.At least the funny announcement I had not heard before-"those of you leaving us in Sydney may find their luggage appear on a carousel next friday"-at least I think it was a joke.
Despite being late there are 3 hours to kill at T3Oil isnt the only price going up.The food concessions in T# have caught the condition.However i have to eat here as I feel the chance of finding something to eat in Broken Hill after 9pm on Sunday is pretty remote-and so it was.Resisted the temptation to sample the wares of the Harry's Cafe De Wheels outlet.Would destroy too many memories.Settle down with my book again-nice light reading A peace to end all peaces-the Middle East 1910-22.Interesting reading the views of the US Secretary of State in 1920 concerned by rising oil prices,depleted reserves and demand outstripping supply.
Next report-off to BHQ and some thoughts on the Hill.

[drron]

Finally the time came to board ZL878.The bus out to the plane certainly gives you a different view of the airport at night especially when you have to give way to an arrivibg DJ flight.Assigned 9A,why am I surprised that there is only one person behind me?atypical for the Rex flights I have been on as only half full.
The time goes quickly and I finish my exciting read!Arrive at the terminal on time but someone has forgotten the last flight of the day and the gate to the terminal is padlocked.So just picture 18 passengers and 3 crew standing on the tarmac on a winters night at BHQ waiting for someone to find a key for the padlock.Finally get into the terminal and thankfully reunited with my bag and off to my digs for the next 2 weeks-looking over the Line of lode.
Broken hill is an interesting place.For those who appreciate architecture there are some fine examples of 1890's and early 1900 buildings here.Quite a few in the CBD have markers.Although the hospital is new it still has the original foundation stone laid by Sir Henry Parkes in 1890.On the same day he laid the foundation stone of the old Town Hall.Lots of old pubs.Amazing the uses they are put to.However having the windows of the Family and Child Health Unit emblazoned with "Bar" seems a bit out of place.
Next report will be eating out in Broken Hill.I am going to try all the clubs.The first will be the Barrier Social Democratic Club or "Demo".Just love the name.

[Evan]

Sounds like you enjoy your outback trips
Forgot the last flight ! lucky they didn't turn the runway lights off i guess. (Yes i know some airports have a remote system which pilots can activate lights, but not sure if this is one)

E

[drron]

Well the time has come to leave Broken Hill.Yes i do enjoy the Outback and glad i can do my little bit to help out.Of course the money is also greatly appreciated.Working in a place certainly gives you a different perspective and a little more local knowledge.For example the old Broken hill hospital opened in 1941 was the first fully air conditioned building in australia outside the major cities.Not surprising of course that the Unions also banned private wards at the hospital.
Had lunches at 4 of the clubs-Demo,muso's,legion and Sturt.All much the same.The demo and Muso's are more modern,busier but all have basic food,reasonable quality and not too expensive.The Legion and Demo's charge more for non-members meals.The Sturt was the cheapest.My vote went to the Legion by a whisker for food quality and many photo's from movie sets around the area.
Also tried out the Tydvil pub-old but good cooking,large plates and reasonable cost.Cafe Alfresco in Argent street was very disappointing.Cheap lunches at Charlottes Cafe-really liked the lamb and rosemary pie.Thom,**** and Harry's has nice gourmet wraps and focaccias and the best coffee in town.
More upmarket is Broken Earth on top of the Line of Lode.Good food,reasonably expensive and slow service.Betina's advertise they are the best Italian restaurant in town-there is only one.Mt. Isa was streets ahead for Italian food.The Astra hotel I thought was the best of the better restaurants.
Spent a day on the trip to Silverton.Reccomended if you are in the area.Lunch at the Silverton cafe was good.The pub you should recognise from a few movies.The Mad Max fans would recognise the view from the Mundi Mundi lookout.Amazing the people who called Silverton home.Dame Mary Gilmore was a teacher there.Herbert Hoover visited.And a worker in the original brewery who bought out the original owner was Mr. Resch.Those born in Sydney of my age may well remember that name.
Today back to Sydney via dubbo.Hopefully as the last plane out yesterday was grounded here meaning the last plane in was cancelled.Then no choice but Deathstar back to MCY.Oh well at least an hour in the QP.

[drron]

Monday starts with a bit of trepidation.ZL863 for Sunday is still on the tarmac at BHQ.It seems VH-CAN couldnt.This means last flight in on Sunday was cancelled as was the first flight for Monday.No worries VH-OLM turns up.Just means a full flight which goes via Dubbo.Check in no worries and the lovely agent gives me the exit row-6.Had enough time to admire the artwork in the BHQ terminal.3 large murals by Pro Hart and smaller cameos by several other artists.
Only regret is I now have to give back my 4-WD complete with bullbar.I felt an absolutely genuine poseur.
Good view of Menindee Lakes and darling soon after take-off.Settle down to finish off my latest book-Lee's Law-justice in singapore.I just love light reading.Arrive in SYD about 20 min late and grey,wet,cold and miserable.Dont have to wait long to pick up my bag and upstairs to checkin for JQ790.Absolutely no one in line for JQ so straight through for and hour or so in QP.Have a snack and 2 glasses of red whilst catching up with what thinks itself the real world.
Boarding is on time and again I have been allocated the exit row-13A with 13B empty.Bliss.As the pilot starts the Airbus down the runway I drift off and the next thing i hear is the announcement for our descent into MCY.I guess this must have been the perfect deathstar flight!
Now just a week before setting off on the Global Explorer.Starting off on 7th with QF 509 BNE-SYD then QF49 SYD-AKL so that we can again enjoy the Flounge.

[drron]

Well the day has come.Wake at 4am for our car to BNE at 5.30am-problem with being an A type person.Still we see the wonderful colours over Mango Hill as we approach Brisbane and the suns first rays as we reach BNE.A great start to the day.Line up at J checkin as line shortest.Now what is it with people who take so long at check in.3 suits at counter,1 couple and another suit in front of us but it takes 30 minutes for us to reach the counter.Maybe the new system is to blame.We dont take long and our bags are checked through to AKL.QF509 to SYD,QF49 SYD-BNE.1D,F to SYD and 2A,B to AKL.Now I think this is a good way to have a whole day in the Flounge but no I am reminded this has been done so we can see our new granddaughter.
Sample the J lounge.Certainly much less crowded than the QP.I enjoy this.Arrive at gate to see board saying flight closed but no one having boarded yet-apparently a glitch in the BP reader.As soon as we move everyone on quickly.A routine,unevenful flight with efficient FA's.Smooth landing into SYD after an approach flying parralel to the Lane Cove river and the harbour-not an approach I have experienced before but a magnificent view of SYD.Off first and straioght to taxi rank.
Hop in and driver says where to?Woollahra please.Wheres that?Next to Paddington,Centennial Park.Sorry.Gets out his UBD and we show him where to go.Completes the trip with the UBD on his lap and also referring to GPS.$40 later we are there.Priceless.Later I wander down to Simply Seafoods-simply darn good fish and chips.Run into Geoff Huegill walking a chihuahua.
Leave to walk to Oxford Street and a cab back to the airport.Just as a storm hits.Fortunately rains just as we reach some awnings and only get wet crossing Oxford street to the waiting cab.No one in line at Immigration or security so straight through to the Flounge.Ubfortunately no spa time for Mrsdrron.Settle down with our Marlborough Sav blanc in the window seats in time to see SQs A380 take off.
Well now time to think of dinner.

[docjames]

TR off to a great start drron - please continue!

[serfty]

Nice report ... hmmm QF49 SYD-BNE ... I think I know what you meant ...

QF49 boards around 6pm; SQ222 departs around 3:30pm good to see you are optimizing your Flounging ...

It's a shame about the Spa's - with closing at 5pm it gives little time for those on evening flights ...

[drron]

Sorry serfty,English was never my strong point and typing is even worse.Was meant to be a full stop after QF49.Will promise to try harder.
The meal at the Floung was really good.I had the Szchuan calamari-great.Followed it up with the lamb redang-not bad.Washed down with a Yarra valley Pinot Noir.From my personal point of view the restaurant service here puts the SYD Flounge in front of CX's offerings in HKG and the new JAL Flounge in NRT.
Well lubricated we are off to board QF49 to AKL.Only 1 other pax boards after us and only 7 in J.All male crew who are fantastic.I now know i am doing to much flying as one of the crew recognises me.We opt to forgo the meal but of course not the champagne on take off-I couldnt let QF009 down.I also tell them in no circumstances serve me 20 glasses of the stuff.Anyway I switch to a Withers Hills Pinot from Marlborough-a very nice drop.
The crew still get us to have the chocolate macadamias and the coconut icecream before landing-possibly a sneaky way to get me to stop drinking the pinot!Just before the seatbelt signs go off we are presented with a bottle of the pinot and a bottle of the chardy mrsdrron has been drinking-did I say this was a fantastic crew?
Straight through Immigration and as we reach the carousel our bags appear.Straight outside and spot the shuttle to the Ventura inn where we are dossing down for the night.So again no wait and 335 minutes after reaching the gate our heads hit the pillow-top marks AKL.
The Ventura Inn is a good place to stay if just overnighting.In an industrial area and great views of an airport car park but a very comfortable room with breakfast thrown in for $NZ115.No complaints.
Have just rfealised we will wake up on the 8th of the 8th 08 twice as tomorrow we will cross the date line to PPT.
Next instalment our first experience of TN.

[QF009]

Great TR so far, drron.

Thanks for having some champagne for me.

Withers Hill pinot is indeed a wonderful number.