Until we meet again Australia!

A long journey ahead of us, Cora Lee and I on the plane somewhere over the Pacific ocean having one last toast to Australia!

It is so sad but true...all good things must come to an end at some point...farewell to Australia and all the friends we made along the way...of course until we meet again!

Road Trip!! Canberra here we come....

Here is the gang on the roof of the Australian Parliament House in Canberra...one last group photo opportunity!

On top of Mount Ainslie looking over the capital city of Canberra...it was a whirl wind trip down and back but very much worth it!

Our Farewell Dinner

A sad farewell presentation and last exchange of banners...a few tears were shed as many of our previous host clubs were in attendance as well. It was so super to see everyone once again and thank them for their extreme hospitality.

Many of the folks from the Upper Blue Mountains Rotary Club!

Cate (Outbound GSE memeber) and Stuart and some of the fine folks of St.Marys and Mt. Druitt Roatary Clubs!

Some of the friendly faces of the Blacktown Rotary Club... we will miss you all!

TAFE just like NSCC

I spent the day at a campus of TAFE college (Technical and Further Education) as it turns out they are structured almost exactly like NSCC and have both a Tourism and Culinary program. This the table where I was a guest at for their degustation menu (8 courses over 2 and half hours....I was in heaven)!!! Also in attendence was the regional tourism director, the campus director and food and beverage lecturer of a nearby International Hotel Management School plus faculty and management from TAFE.

Some of the culinary team at the TAFE busy preparing for the degustation lunch service!

The Hunter...One Last Time!

Here I am with some Shiraz vines at Peterson's Winery, it is a small and family owned vineyard and cellar door, this is called the "back block"of vines and were planted in 1971. The winery is in an area called Mount View....which is higher elavation and overlooks the valley...just beautiful!

I just love this shot taken out front of the coffee shop in Broke where we begun our last day in the Hunter Valley. A simple country coffee shop, gas station and wine bar all in one stop...oh ya and they have beer on tap!

Some of the many tanks at McGuigan, one of the oldest and largest of the Hunter!

All Along the Hawkesbury

Mixing and Mingling with the Hawkesbury Rotarians after a full day exploring the region.

Taking a tube ride down the Hawkesbury River, oh my....what fun!

One of our stops along the Hawkesbury Farm Gate Trail, was a small 300 case producing winery, growing and making wine only from the Chambourcin Grape! Very interesting...

Life at a Zoo

Well...you never know what kind of creatures you will find at the Toronga Zoo in the heart of Sydney:) Yet another adventure and beautiful day exploring this amazing hillside zoo!!

All I want to be is a professional whistler!!

Oh my!

How crazy cute are these two with the harbour bridge in the very back drop... those two flags flying on top of the arc of the bridge is where we reached at the apex of on our bridge climb!