Our bags are packed and we
are spending the last few hours prior to our departure in that slightly nervous
state of anticipation. We have lost our ‘travelling calluses’ and there is a
faint frission of unknowing about our future life in Turkey.
 |
| Macadamia plantation |
We’ve spent the last few
weeks saying goodbye to all our wonderful friends in Ballina. We reacquainted
ourselves with Australian rainforest at the idyllic macadamia plantation of our
friends Dave and Helen. After the barren landscapes of Turkey and Greece, the
lush abundance of the local rainforests is overwhelming.
 |
| Rainforest tree |
We’ve also spent a lot of
time on the river at Ballina. The Richmond river is a beautiful environment
that we have sailed and raced on in the past. It was great to renew our
connection to that river.
 |
| Lunch! |
The birdlife was fantastic,
we shot this photo of our favourite pelican. This one has just caught a snake
or eel.
The sailing was also idyllic
on the river, and we whiled away hours just watching the parade of sailing
dinghy’s as they raced up and down in front of us.
 |
| Idling by the river |
 |
| Local sailing action |
It was reassuring to find a
temporary home for us at my mother’s house. It provided a psychological sanctuary
as much as physical domicile to our vagabond existence.
 |
| Moonrise at Ballina |
 |
| Moody night shot |
But our time of exile from
Pavlov had to come to an end, and finally it did. We packed up and moved down
to Sydney for a few final days, to repeat the rounds of goodbye’s and
farewells.
I have not called Sydney home
for over 30 years now, but it was interesting to look at some of the history
hidden within a thoroughly modern city. The old Australian Workers Union
building sandwiched between modernity recalled Megan’s strong union and
socialist background.
 |
| Australian workers union building |
That old fire truck is not a
museum piece, it is still on active duty.
 |
| Old ladder engine |
The rococo indulgence of the
State Theatre still tantalizes the senses.
 |
| State Theatre, Sydney |
Sydney is also family,
Megan’s children in particular. We spent some wonderful time with Michael and
his friend Raphael, who was visiting from Germany. Michael has grown into a
strong and beautiful young man and we both cherish our relationship with him.
 |
| Pensive with phone |
 |
| Caught in the act... Smiling |
 |
| Michael, Megan and Raphael |
The Queen Mary was docked at
Circular Quay when we went down to the harbour to take a ferry to Manly.
 |
| Queen Mary in residence |
The ferry also took us past
those Sydney icons, the Opera House, Luna Park and Fort Dennison.
 |
| Sydney Opera House |
 |
| Iconic Luna Park |
 |
| Fort Dension |
We spent a very pleasant
night with Pam and Michael, Megan’s old friends, who spend their lives building
and living in various mansions. The latest domicile is on the water at
Fairlight near Manly, and it was truly stunning.
 |
| Nightfall at Fairlight |
 |
| View through the heads |
 |
| Megan and Pam |
Wandering around the
foreshore, we saw more Aussie icons, a cockatoo and a bottle brush.
 |
| Cockatoo in residence |
 |
| Bottlebrush flower |
But the Heads and their
passage to open sea beckoned, as did some magnificent sailing vessels on Sydney
Harbour.
 |
| View out through the Heads |
 |
| Tall ship on Sydney Harbour |
So it was back to the city,
to get ready for our final leap.
 |
| Circular Quay from the ferry |
Our final family visits were
firstly to see Leah, Megan’s niece and her husband Mark. They have two gorgeous
children, Olivia and Claudia.
 |
| Olivia and Claudia |
 |
| Mark, Leah and family |
Last stop was a dinner with
David, Megan’s older brother, his wife Carolene and some old family friends,
Val Kirychenko and friend Pat.
 |
| Pat, David and Val |
 |
| Carolene |
Finally, even the Admiral had had enough of goodbyes, so off we went!
.jpg) |
| Herself |
