Quest Launceston

... br>2005 Ninth Island Tamar – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, unoaked, good acidity, ripe fruit (c.f. Chromy), good length

2004 Tamar – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc – cassis nose, cedar notes, rich , vibrant cassis on palette, smooth tannins – drinking well now

Janz

NV C******nay, Pinot Noir – 56%/55% - buttery C******nay nose, sweet, simple but acidity good – ...

... the ocean meets the Tamar River..nothing much there except beach, coast on both sides, lighthouse, a small town (small is big in tassie) and nobody around. Lucy and I went to Josef Chromy vineyard for lunch which was just lovely. Its set on a lake with hills all around and a nice terrace to sit outside...and a vintage bottle of sparkling wine always helps as well. And of course i have been chilling with my ...

... Well - for the walk itself yes - but for Bondi Beach? No. It has to be the most ov**rated tourist spot on earth. Its only attraction is its convenience to the city centre - an ocean beach only 6 miles from the hub. Its not busy and th**e are a few surf**s but aft** some of the beaches I've seen on this trip, I cannot explain why this one is so well known - again p**haps because of its proximity to Sydney itself. Its also the place wh**e the famous ...

... Washington

26-27 May Mt Rainier NP

28-29 May Mt St Helens NP

Oregon

Crater Lake NP, Lava Beds NM, Columbia River Gorge?

California

30-31 May Redwood NP

1-2 June Lassen NP

3-5 June San Francisco

6 -7 June Monterey

8-12 June Yosemite NP

13-15 June Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP

16th June LA

17th June Depart LA

Sydney 19th June

... this week that luck is on our side.  First the great news with the computer, then, as we were shopping at a big Home Depot like store for camping equipment, we asked a staff member for help deciding between a camp stove and we got talking.  Turns out he loves Canadians, has visited Canada a few times and would love to lend us his camping gear!  The next day, we drove to his house to pick up camp chairs, a stove, lantern and gas tank.  Then, just when we ...

My brother Andy arrived on Monday the 16th in the morning and was ready to go explore Sydney. He didn't think he'd be able to sleep because he had a middle seat, but with a 15 hour flight and a pocket full of unisom (which I highly recommend to anyone on a long flight), he said he slept a solid 6 hours and felt good to go. I wasn't really prepared for this and hadn't planned anything, but I figured we'd do something that we probably wouldn ...

... proud owner of a classic automobile, an 1989 Holden (GM) Commodore wagon..haha. It cracks me up. It is soo hilly here so that is my excuse..i considered a scooter but it was the same price and you need a special license so a car seemed most logically, not necessarily a wagon but it was the cheapest. This way i can get around Tassie at my own leisure....it's lovely how things fall into place.

... t get into the hops supply. In the brewery's books, Oscar's vet's bills were called "repairs to the vermin eradication machine." Hilarious. All-in-all, Paul and I really enjoyed our trip to Tasmania, and Launceston ("Lonnie" to the locals), and would both like to come back in the Tasmanian summertime. We are now headed back to the "Mainland" where we will spend a night in Melbourne and then begin the trek up the coast towards Sydney.

... flash to see the wildlife. We ended up seeing kangaroos, quolls (kind of a cross between a cat and a squirrel) and wombats. It rained the whole time and it was chilly but none of us minded because we were having so much fun. I also surprised myself by swinging between the trees with Hollybank Treetops Adventures. Yes, I and most of the other team members were crazy enough to strap on harness equipment ...

... worth the trip.

The next day weather not all that nice but didnt want to just sit around - went to Tarongo Zoo and saw all the animals - then in the afternoon went on the whole 2 hour Sydney Explorer Bus and had a tour of Sydney - very informative.

Time to go home - of course weather was nice the day you are due to fly out!! We flew with Emirates and I have to say that this is ...