Does anyone remember Deek?

[Noel Mugavin]

This is going to be a marathon.

Cast your mind back to the year 2000. The Y2K bug was going to wreak havoc on society, Britney Spears was on top of the world, Carlton could play good footy - Richmond couldn't, Shane Warne was destroying a generation of English batsmen, Wayne Carey was invited to Barbecues, and Noel Mugavin was a much younger man.

I had spent the previously 4 years working in a difficult to staff school in a mining town in the Pilbara. Without doubt the best 4 years of my life, but was a small mining town in the Pilbara. Due to Colin Barnett's wisdom the secondary section of the school would be closing at the end of the 2000 school year, so time to be be proactive.
Threw in the the position, applied and granted a years leave without pay, and packed up and moved my gear back to Perth.

Prior to leaving had planned and booked a 5 and a half month trip to the US and Europe. Now, remember, we are in 1999, internet is in i;s infancy, I'm in a small Pilbara mining town, (we have just recently had a access to a third television channel), so all my research and planning has been done through travel brochures, Lets Go books, hearsay and all booked through a the town's travel agent.

Youngish man, not much scope for research, how am I going to get around? Contiki.

I did three of them. This was going to be a test. I don't mind a drink, but certainly not every night. Fortunately the three I did were longish in duration and therefore ages were towards the later end of the 18 - 35 age group for the most part, and respect was shown when people didn't want to hit the drink in a big way. It was a good balance of partying, seeing the sights and getting from one point to another in the less amount of fuss possible.

To the report. Remember back to 2000. Had to put film in a camera, had to get the photos processed. Due to the duration of the trip I was on a bit of a budget, and also didin't want to be hauling rolls and rolls of film around, so therefore was very conservative with the amount of photos I was taking. There would be very annoying camera issues later in the trip as well. In a good move, I did however buy lots of postcards in lieu of taking heaps of photos, and I must say with how careful I was in selecting what photos to take, they are absolutely terrible. So to ease the discomfort of the viewer I will probably throw in some images of postcards along the way.

Get comfortable, this is going to take a while

 

[JohnM]

Hmmm, looks like this could be interesting. Settling in to 1A.

 

[VPS]

Liked your previous TR so looking forward to this

 

[love_the_life]

This is going to be a marathon.

Cast your mind back to the year 2000. The Y2K bug was going to wreak havoc on society, Britney Spears was on top of the world, Carlton could play good footy - Richmond couldn't, Shane Warne was destroying a generation of English batsmen, Wayne Carey was invited to Barbecues, and Noel Mugavin was a much younger man.

I had spent the previously 4 years working in a difficult to staff school in a mining town in the Pilbara. Without doubt the best 4 years of my life, but was a small mining town in the Pilbara. Due to Colin Barnett's wisdom the secondary section of the school would be closing at the end of the 2000 school year, so time to be be proactive.
Threw in the the position, applied and granted a years leave without pay, and packed up and moved my gear back to Perth.

Prior to leaving had planned and booked a 5 and a half month trip to the US and Europe. Now, remember, we are in 1999, internet is in i;s infancy, I'm in a small Pilbara mining town, (we have just recently had a access to a third television channel), so all my research and planning has been done through travel brochures, Lets Go books, hearsay and all booked through a the town's travel agent.

Youngish man, not much scope for research, how am I going to get around? Contiki.

I did three of them. This was going to be a test. I don't mind a drink, but certainly not every night. Fortunately the three I did were longish in duration and therefore ages were towards the later end of the 18 - 35 age group for the most part, and respect was shown when people didn't want to hit the drink in a big way. It was a good balance of partying, seeing the sights and getting from one point to another in the less amount of fuss possible.

To the report. Remember back to 2000. Had to put film in a camera, had to get the photos processed. Due to the duration of the trip I was on a bit of a budget, and also didin't want to be hauling rolls and rolls of film around, so therefore was very conservative with the amount of photos I was taking. There would be very annoying camera issues later in the trip as well. In a good move, I did however buy lots of postcards in lieu of taking heaps of photos, and I must say with how careful I was in selecting what photos to take, they are absolutely terrible. So to ease the discomfort of the viewer I will probably throw in some images of postcards along the way.

Get comfortable, this is going to take a while

Are you referring to Rob de Castella?

 

[JohnM]

I think he is.

 

[Pushka]

2000 Olympics in Sydney. I remember it well.

 

[JohnM]

2000 Olympics in Sydney. I remember it well.

I think you might mean the 1982 BNE Commonwealth Games: Robert de Castella - Wikipedia

Time flies...

 

[Pushka]

I think you might mean the 1982 BNE Commonwealth Games: Robert de Castella - Wikipedia

Time flies...

Nah. Not for Deek. But for the thread subject - year 2000.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

De Castella. Tie in with the length the reports going to be, however given I travelled in 2000 probably should've titled it 'Who remembers Mona?'
Will get started soon, took the dog for a walk and bee stung me on the hand, so waiting for the antihistamines to kick in and take some swelling down.

 

[love_the_life]

Actually I do remember Deek. Ran into him not so long ago at his coffee shop and complimented him on the olive oil they sell (local grower but product branded as his. It’s very good). Had a nice chat. His house in Chapman was one that was lost in the 2003 bush fires. Also Deek’s Drive was burnt out and now has been swallowed up by the new Molonglo area in Canberra. Used to go there a lot when we had the dog.

 

[Deleted member]

The romance of photography has passed (for me) with the introduction of digital imagery. It is interesting to note that while I have many more photos now than back then, the film product is IMHO a better medium.
Yea I remember Deek, I remember watching him on TV winning his commonwealth gold. A great day for Aussie athletics.

 

[Major]

I had never considered watching a marathon on TV until Deek came along

 

[love_the_life]

I had never considered watching a marathon on TV until Deek came along

And now we’re going to read a marathon
Pretty sure it will be an interesting ‘race’.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I'll get started, but please bear with me as although I took brief notes throughout my travels, I am for the most part counting on photos and memorabilia to trigger the memory.
Red eye flight on a Qantas 767 to Sydney then a little bit of a wait until jumping on a 747 200 series to Honolulu. Found my ticket stub and was sitting in row 45 and do recall the lady I was sitting next to was non English speaking, so acted as an interpreter between her and the air hostess.
Screen at the front of the cabin, movie was probably The Hurricane, I think every plane I got on played they that movie. Didn't take much notice of any movies to be honest, am a bit of a reader so would have had my nose buried on a book.
Late night arrival into Honolulu, managed to find the shuttle desk and then off to the Ocean Resort hotel, which is now a Hilton.
Able to get a cheap rate through Contiki, downside was it would be a shared room. About 10 minutes after I arrived, door opened and another young bloke walks in. Bit of a yarn, had the same name as myself, was from Melbourne and at the start of a 2 month trip of his own.
Off to sleep and ready for an early start the next morning.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Honolulu
My plan for today was to jump on a bus to Pearl Harbor, follow that with back on the bus to the North Shore, then back to the starting point having done a circuit of the island. All doable in a day, and information gleaned from a Lets Go book.
So up early and on the bus, through the city part of Honolulu, which reminded me a lot of Perth - clean and modern. At Pearl Harbor nice and early, ready for one of the first boats out to the Arizona. Something that stills sticks with me now is the smell of oil coming up from the ship.
Didn't head over to the Missouri or Ford Field due to time constraints, but did spend plenty of time wandering and reading all the information points throughout the site.

Back to the bus stop and on the bus, past the fields of pineapple until we got to Waimea Bay when the announcement came from the bus driver that this was as far as the bus would go as there had been a mud slide and the road was blocked up ahead. So much for my plans. Off the bus and a bit of a look around Waimea.

Finally got to the North Shore on my next visit in 2015 when I hired a car for the day.

Anyway, back on a bus heading back to Waikiki, not a great use of time back tracking where I came from, but not a lot I could do. Bus terminated at Ala Mona Center, and I then walked back to the hotel, rubbernecking as I went, had a shower and a rest, then headed out for a feed and a couple of drinks at a bar with my new mate.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Next morning went for a hike up to the top of Diamond Head.

Rest of the day was spent on Waikiki beach before a shower back at the hotel and then to the airport for my flight to Los Angeles and on to Las Vegas.
Waiting to board the flight, announcement comes over the PA looking for people to fly the next day. Started at $100 compensation, when it got to $300, as well as a hotel and transfers, I started to have a think. I has nothing planned in Vegas, the dollar was at 56c, and I quite liked Honolulu. Offer then went up to $400 at which time I got off my backside and up to the counter to let them know that I was in for the deal.
'Thank you Mr Mugavin, we will call you up when we make a decision'
10 minutes later, I was unsuccessful, but did get upgraded to business, which was a nice little bonus on an overnight flight on a 757. All i really recall was a large black leather seat.
Couple of hours at LAX, then on an MD 82 to Las Vegas. Was a little concerned as the plane seemed like piece of junk. Very light load, but had my first taste of the absurdity of the size of carry on that Americans try to stuff in the overhead bins. Old mate took about 5 minutes to stuff this huge bag in, eventually gave up and let the steward take it to the back of the plane.
Anyway, plane landed successfully so nothing for me to complain about.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Las Vegas

3 fairly uneventful days in Las Vegas staying at Circus Circus


Not the greatest hotel now, but back in 2000 suited my needs well, huge room and there was a bit of action down that end of the strip with the Sahara, Riviera, Westward Ho, Stardust and the New Frontier still up and running. Fairly deserted and seedy part of the strip now.
At one stage started to walk to Downtown, about 10 steps past the Stratosphere got worded by some bloke hanging out at a bus stop, quick turn around and opted for a safer way to get there.
Other than that, just a lot of wandering and people watching.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

San Francisco
Flew into San Francisco via Los Angeles, headed to the Hotel Union Square. Checked in then onto a cable car and down to Fisherman's Wharf.
Had the wow factor when standing on the outside of the cable car and came up over the rise and got the view of the bay with Alcatraz in the middle of the frame.
Bit of wandering around the waterfront until it had become too cold to continue walking around, grabbed a huge slice of pizza from a place across from the hotel and then in for an early night.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Next day was on a Greyline tour of San Francisco. First up was Mission Dolores which was so-so, then up to Twin Peaks. I'm presuming the following photo was taken from there.

Then off to Cliff House at Ocean Beach before an hour or so at Golden Gate Park.
Drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, photos from Vista Point


Bus then drove back over the bridge the along the Embarcadero, until the final drop off at the Alcatraz Boat pier which was included in the tour price.
Headed over to Alcatraz, then back and on the cable car back to the hotel. Another early night as I had an early start and a long travel day tomorrow.


Next morning up and out early to find the bus to take me to Emeryville Station which would get me on the Coastal Starlight and to Los Angeles. Wanted to take the train as I was under the assumption the train would hug the coast and I would be able to see the coast line. You live and learn.
Train was delayed 2 and a half hours, so a bit of a wait. Train itself was comfortable, plenty of leg room, and also a viewing carriage that had a glass roof and lounge chairs.
Another delay as the train hit a pick up truck just out of Salinas. So another hour and a half behind schedule, would mean wouldn't get into Union Station until about 11pm, and then Anaheim until after midnight.
Navigated Union Station, found the right connecting bus, and was dropped off in the car park of Edison Field at about 12.30pm. Was myself and an older couple standing looking a bit lost, and I asked the bus driver any idea where I go now? Bus driver to his credit called a cab for the 3 of us, and after about a 2 minute ride for me ended up at my hotel, a Ramada Inn on East Katella. The hotel is no longer there.
No one else in the room, was a Contiki hotel and the start point of their tours, late wake up the next morning. Managed to get some washing done, then down to Edison Field to see a Sunday afternoon game where the Angels were playing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Was pretty boring.
Panda Express on the way back to the hotel for dinner, returned to find some other bags in the room, met him later that night, English fella from Blackburn.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

One thing I miss about travelling now is due to smart phones and printing off bar codes you don;t get the tickets and stubs etc for places you visit.


Another Grayline, this time to Knotts Berry Farm. Very enjoyable, hardly had to wait in any lines.



Montazuma's Revenge, not great for the stomach.
Pretty cough about getting pick up times sorted, and triple checked with the driver re time ot be picked up. ?lo and behold, bus wasn't there at the time. Wouldn't worry me these days, but at the time was a bit stressed. Found a phone and got a cab back to the hotel for $22. Rang Grayline, explained everything, said sure we;ll refund the cost of the cab. 17 years later there's $22US floating around somewhere with my name on it.
Bonus, my room mate had departed, no one to take his place.

Next day, another Grayline



Half day Sea World
Half day Tijuana



Mexican Kangaroo I was told
Lot of tequila samples, but all in all a fairly uneventful and long day