Dubbo to Dresden.

[drron]

I couldnt hold back any longer.Reading all these trip reports has me chomping at the bit.Still 6 weeks until my DONE4 but as usual I can fill in time with reports of Country Australia.So far this year I have worked in Dubbo and Mackay.2 weeks from now I am back to Broken Hill with a week in Sydney before that to welcome our new grandchild due next week.
Very little air travel as I worked out that by driving I would be able to reduce my FBT by about $3000-half of a circle asia in D at the end of the year if lucky.
April will see the DONE4.
SYD-LAX-DFW-TPA/MCO-DFW-FRA-HKG-BKK-SIN-BNE.
Then a tack on BNE-PER-BME to position for a Kimberley cruise on the Orion in mid June.
This will be followed by a Circle Pacific in August so that we can attend the wedding of my godson in New Jersey.
BNE-LAX-JFK/LGA-ORD-MSP/ORD-NRT-SYD.My dear TA suggested I should tack on a SYD-BNE-yeh so that would put me over 22000 miles-expensive sector.
So starting off my AAdvantage account stands at
PTD-808,451.LTG is the aim this year.
Miles available-488451.
Unfortunately I revert to ordinary plat tomorrow.
Both my SPG and HH accounts have no stays so far.This year it will be SPG that I concentrate on to retain platinum.I will fall back to HH gold in 2010.The upgrades are driving me into SPG's arms.Already our stay at the Westin San Antonio is showing an upgrade to a junior suite.
So be prepared for the drip feed of a 3 month trip report with the first instalment my impressions of Dubbo.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Looking forward to it Dr.
Having spent a fair bit of time in Dubbo over the last few years I cant wait to read about your impressions.

 

[drron]

Well time to start off.Ever conscious of the rapidly declining superfund balance preservation of cash is important.So figuring out that driving to my next 3 jobs is going to significantly lower my FBT liability I decide on NM2812 for the MCY-DBO sector.No our erstwhile moderator has not gone into the airline business,I am referring to the trusty Nissan Maxima.
5am start and we are through Brisbane before the traffic gets bad and by 7am it is the Maccas brekkie stop at Warwick.Fuel stop at Goondiwindi for the QLD prices.
Keeping up the gourmet flavour of the trip it is Chucky Duck for lunch at Narrabri.If you are doing the tourist thing there is a cotton display here and the CSIRO telescope out of town.On the way to Coonabarabran you can do a short detour to Pilliga pottery.Today though it is straight through.Mrsdrrons knee is in a brace so I am doing all the driving.Have to have a short stop in Gilgandra to get some fuel the arrive at Dubbo~5pm.
Unfortunately our accommodation has no functioning air conditioning or TV.Outside it is 39C.Takes us 2 days to be moved.
Dubbo is where I did my first country term way back in 1971.My brother in law had just finished his stint as the Sherriff.So then i knew all the local coppers-made it a much easier time but that is another story.In a lot of ways it has not changed much since then.This is the holiday season so virtually all tourist places are closed.Typical Australia.The local tourist outfit announce that they are going to try and entice Sydneysiders to come west rather than spend their holidays on the coast!Yeh great idea.Even the Farmers market which is advertised as being on the first and third saturdays of every month,with an ad in the fridays paper was non existant.Several interstate cars waiting vainly~8am waiting,waiting.
We had been to the Western Plains zoo before so not on our itinerary this time,besides I am on 12 days straight.
So next post will be on the gourmet delights of Dubbo!!!!!

 

[coolumbla]

12 days in a row?

They still let you do those?

even as a boss?

Shane

 

[drron]

Yes shane 12 days in a row is typical for me now.Happened in Dubbo,Mackay and Broken Hill so far this year.As the blowin you expect it.
So now for the gourmet delights of Dubbo.Unfortunately this is one area where there hasnt been much change in 38 years-the motels and hotels are the majority of restaurants.Add to that the fact that a few were also closed for the New Year period and the choice was not great.
Our favourite which we have been going to for a number of years as we travel through is the Thai Rose.A good standard of food with authentic tastes.Tends to be very busy and service slow-go early or late-8pm in Dubbo is late.Unfortunately as the years have gone by the servings have become smaller and the prices higher.with so little competition they can obviously get away with it.
We enjoyed Two Doors-a tapas style restaurant,great food and reasonable prices.The Paella was better than any we had in Spain though not a classic paella.Mussels were fantastic and the lamb and calamari also good.
Upstairs from Two Doors is Sticks and stones.Really good gourmet pizzas but very ordinary pasta.The rest werent worth talking about.So soon we were off on NM0901 with a stop in Moree.Also a reasonable Thai here-Tim thum.On the drive home from Moree we once again saw a large number of emus at Yelarbon-virtually always see them here.
Home again but in less than 15 hours will be winging it to Mackay.At last a real flight on DJ.

 

[RB]

Drron I was born in Coonabarabran. From reading your posts I believe you may get value out of a visit to Cuttabri wine shanty next time you venture to Dubbo.
Dubbo used to be our main "big shopping" town along with Tamworth in the 60's.

 

[drron]

Sunday morning and the drive to Brissy.Left early as the day before the traffic on the Bruce highway had been horrendous.So there was literally no traffic and arrived 2 hours before departure.Had done OLCI the night before as they let me select an exit row-maybe just a glitch?
Anyway get to the bag drop and there are 30 people lined up taking an age just to drop their bags.Meanwhile at the normal checkin lines there are 4 agents for 3 pax.Dont think i will bother with OLCI again(apart from an upcoming Air asia flight in May).
Quickly through security and heade slowly to the pod housing gates 43-48 and settled down with my book-another volume of Churchill's memoirs.Good view of the comings and goings of DJ and JQ.Watched a CX sevice take off.Thankfully I didnt have the same problems as my son the day before whose QF SYD-SFO service was delayed 7 hours due to "technical" problems.
No hassles boarding and push back a couple of minutes early.Getting fairly used to DJ and having scored exit rows on 5 of last 6 sectors pretty pleased by their performance.Unlikely to ever get any status but will have up to a dozen flights with them this year.Visa points will probably go to velocity so every couple of years a trip to the South pacific or NZ.
Before long we are descending into MKY.Unfortunately a long wait for bag so a huge line at taxi rank as a JQ and Qantas link flight have all arrived within a few minutes.Fortunately have been talking to a couple of young medicos about to start at Mackay.They agree to let me share their booked taxi as I pay the fare.Of course I get it reimbursed whereas they would not have.Everyone wins!
Next-5 weeks of rain,I kid you not,every day.

 

[drron]

Well what can i say.Obviously not the time of year(jan/feb)that you should pick to go to Mackay.I enjoyed the work but I have to be honest and say although I would work there again it is not the place I would go for a holiday.We did the tourist things-we went up to Eungella-had a lovely view of the clouds.Would be good if you are into bushwalking but then on this occasion the mud would have made that a nightmare.Left earlier than planned-an hour later a downpour and the road was closed.Couldnt get to Finchhatton Gorge as a creek was up.
We decided to spend a weekend at Airlie beach.I thought it may have been better than i remembered it 30 years ago.No it was better then.Tacky tourist hole now.As well it rained for the few hours we were there so after lunch on saturday we returned to Mackay.Again my radar was working well as the Airlie beach road and the Bruce hway south of Proserpine were closed a few hours later.
The northern beaches of Mackay are worth a visit.They have also redeveloped Mackay Harbour and there is upmarket units and restaurants there with great views of a rock wall,oil tanks and industrial sheds.more of the restaurants later.
One small note of interest.I pulled of the highway just south of Mackay at Baker's Creek and came across this memorial financed by AA and QF.

Well next the culinary delights of Mackay.Tongue firmly implanted in cheek.

 

[drron]

Well now to the culinary delights of Mackay.I will start off with the Asian restaurants.On the first Monday I went to the CBD at lunch to get supplies.Mrsdrron wasnt with me for the first 10 days so i cooked up a selection of curries-she hates curries and wont let me prepare them when she is around.
Decided to have lunch at the Tokyo Inn Sushi-lets just say forget it exists.
For the first triple point Wednesday I went to the Toong Tong Thai and had a Tom Yum and a Pork panang curry with a bottle of chang.Quite reasonable.However went back with mrsdrron and had what was definitely the worst thai meal I have ever had.
Next was the Baan Na Thai.OK food but one of the cheapest restaurants in town so reasonable value for Mackay.
Kevin's Place.Kevin is singaporean and this is a Chinese restaurant.The food is very good but the prices are inflated as is typical for mining towns.Most main courses mid twenties,some over $30.Peking duck listed as $80-twice what we pay in the Valley in Brisbane.Also most locals I asked nominated this as the best restaurant in town.You definitely have to book.If a couple you will be seated on the verandah of the old bank building it is in.So good food but poor value.
This reminds me of one of the features of the Mackay restaurant scene.They are into Alfresco dining.Unfortunately that means at lunch dining with flies and at night with mosquitoes and midges.A can of DEET spray is an essential part of the dining experience-especially with the dengue outbreak and there were 2 confirmed cases in Mackay.
Next-casual dining.

 

[drron]

I know I dont have much flying yet in this trip report-that will come.Hopefully it can give someone some ideas on the cities I visit.So now for casual dining in Mackay.
First is Oscars on Sydney.A pity that this cafe is only open during the day.I liked their setup,service was good and prices reasonable.My meal was Red throat Emperor with a salad washed down with a bottle of boags.The fish was perfectly prepared and very enjoyable.I would certainly reccomend this place for lunch.
Next for a lunch was Cafe La de Da.Despite the name this was again a good experience.I had poached barramundi with a lime,ginger and sweet chilli sauce.There was only a small serving of the sauce which perfectly complimented the fish.I found it easy to keep up my New Years resolution of complimenting at least 1 person per week.Went into the condition and complimented the chef.She appeared quite surprised!Came back again with mrsdrron-not quite as good but on this occasion a different chef.I would still consider this one of the better value places in Mackay.
Another casual place is Toscanos in the Sydney marketplace.Italian and really only so so food and quite slow service.
The Mackay Metro Market had just opened and didnt have its wine licence.It is next to the new Mackay lagoon.Had 2 lunches here.Fish a little overcooked.Mrsdrron had a crab sandwhich which she described as delightful and it was less than $10.
not quite Mackay but on our attempted escape to Airlie beach we had lunch there at the Shipwreck bar.We both had the seafood sampler and it was very good-scallops,prawns,calamari and fish all done just right.
The best value casual dining I have left til last.The Eimeio pub on the northern beaches.It is on a headland and is a little worse for wear.The food is simple but good,view is delightful and the perfect place for a weekend lunch.definitely reccomended and cheap as well.
Next-fine dining in Mackay.

 

[drron]

Now for the top end of the culinary scene in Mackay.By the prices charged you would think there was some real class.unfortunately it only reflects the cost of living in a mining community.
At the Mackay Harbour Marina there are several restaurants.The first we tried was the Lighthouse Restaurant-seafood.In reality a pub bistro where you go to the desk and order your food then to the bar to get your drinks.for this privilege you are charged top prices.$35 for fish dishes and the seafood platters close to $200.A mudcrab meal-$90-and no size given in the menu.In the words of of Daryl Kerrigan-"Tell em they're dreaming".My red throat was dried out,mrsdrron's garlic prawns drowned in an insipid sea of cream.
Augello's at the Marina-Italian.Extensively advertised as having been taught by the top Italian cooks.Must have been sleeping in the lessons.My pasta marinara was very forgettable with a lot of sauce and little seafood.Mrsdron's seafood risooto came with minimal seafood including 3 mussels none of which had opened up.pointed out to the waitress and got a"yeh,that shouldn't have happened" and the case was closed.next was payment-wanted 5% surcharge for DC,4% for Amex and 2% for visa & MC.That when our mains had set us back $36 each.
Satchmo's at the Reef.The exception to prove the rule.said to be a Tapas restaurant.well it is tapas style but the food was really great-calamari,scallops,lamb chops,spring rolls-all fantasic.And with 2 creme brulees still cheaper than its 2 neighbours.A pity we only went there on our last night in Mackay.
In town we went to Sorbellos.another Italian.OK food but expensive-pastas all ~$20.Again 3% markup for CCs.
Pacinos on the Waterfront.Yet another Italian.Extremely expensive.Unfortunately pizzas only Monday to Thursday and we went on Friday.To compare with others i had the Pasta Marinara-$38.Not as good as i get here on the coast for ~$25.Again a relative lack of seafood.Mrsdrrons fish was dry as well.
So a real culinary disappointment.For good food-Satchmos.
For value-the Eimeo pub.
Best Asian-Kevins,but be prepared to pay top dollar.
Next rounding off Mackay and back home.

 

[drron]

During my time in Mackay i stayed at the coral cay motel in a small 1 bedroom unit.it was comfortable enough but with the continuing rain mrsdrron found it rather claustrophobic when she arrived 10 days after me.We had dinner twice at the motel-when you just couldn't see to drive.Not too bad food quality with their calamari cooked perfectly and the kangaroo just right at medium rare.Again reasonably expensive.A 2% surcharge for DC here but at least there is a large sign up telling you so-at the other restaurants with a surcharge you find out when you go to pay-nothing even at the bottom of the menu.After 34 nights here i did not get the surcharge applied.
On another weekend when the sun came out for about 2 hours we went for a Sunday drive to Nebo-in the tourist brochures well worth a visit.Well not even the churches or pub was open at 11.30am on a sunday.Bowling club was deserted.Obviously all the miners go to the coast on the weekend unless they are working.
Not to be missed are the Farmers Markets at the Showground on saturday mornings.Lychees at $5 a kilo which are still unblemished a week after purchase.large Bowen mangoes at 50c each or $6 for ~15.Good meat from the Kuttabul butchery.
Finally it was NM1302 back to the Sunshine coast.The first part of the trip to Rocky is even more boring now with the icecream place south of Sarina closed.The only stop we look forward to now is just north of Maryborough at sexie coffee-good coffee and tasty snacks.
Great to be back on the coast and some good food.Cala Luna-a very good Italian at Alex Headlands/cotton tree.Cheaper than Mackay as well.But every wednesday night when i am at home you will find me at Stillwater-a very good,reasonably priced Japanese restaurant in Maroochydore.
Next-Sydney and our new grandson,then 2 weeks in Broken Hill.

 

[drron]

Once again it was driving to sydney then on to broken Hill and return.now although this is not frequent flying the principle is the same.By reaching an elite status after driving 25000km I pay the tax office less.This was my goal for this trip and i will report now it was successfully acheived.Really a true mileage run.
In Sydney we stayed at The Hughenden in woolahra,a boutique hotel.We both decided that we are not the boutique hotel sort of people.Galling to think we could have been staying at the Hilton for $20 less per night on the premium club rates.Then again the Hughenden was just 100 metres from our grandchildren and it was to see our new grandson that the visit was all about.
First a few pictures of the hughenden-

The bath!

And shower.

The bedroom.Note the space!

The bedroom from the sitting room-had to knock out the wall.

Outside our room-"The Terrace Suite"

The stairway to our room looking down into the breakfast room.
Breakfast was included and was reasonable.The breakfast room was a little reminiscent though of fawlty towers,but in a nice way.
If youre ever tempted to stay here dont book a cosy room-about the size of our bedroom alone.
Next eating in Sydney and off to Broken Hill.

 

[drron]

We went to a few favourites around woolahra for meals-quite a trendy scene.Tried 2 new places.For a sinful indulgence we went to Max Brenner's Cafe in Oxford street for a chocolate fix-

Banana crepes.

A cappucino and a hot white chocolate.
The other we tried was Bills at Woolahra which is open for breakfast and lunch.Nice food but naturally trendy Sydney prices.I had the Waygu burger which was really good though $20-

Other dishes-

Sqid ink fettucine with prawns and scallops

Chicken schnitzel.
All too soon our time in Sydney was gone and off we set.Overnighted in Dubbo on our way to the hill.Stayed at Country apartments in brisbane street.Good value.We had a 2 bed room apartment for $130.Best of all just a short walk to the thai restaurant for dinner.
Early start the next day.The country was amazing with a fair bit of rain recently.Green with a lot of water until about 100 km west of Wilcannia.Feral goats west of Cobar.Emus west of wilcannia.
Arrived at the Hill about 4pm and soon given our accomodation-a renovated miners cottage-

Next-our Broken hill experiences.

 

[drron]

Well mrsdrron was a bit peturbed about the kitchen-

I told her to stop complaining and start chopping the wood!Not surprisingly we ate out the first night.As it was a Sunday we went to the Muso's.good club atmosphere,reasonable food though prices a little higher than last year.Woman on the bar when i ordered the Montana Sav blanc responded with-"yeh my boss likes that,I think it tastes like sh**."
Went back to the Astra for our first triple point wednesday.Again good food.Nothing too flash.reasonably expensive and this time service was slow.
On the weekend we had lunch at the Broken earth on top of the Line of Lode.Really good food and my gourmet burger truly was delicious and i felt better than Bills in sydney.So we went back for the next triple point Wednesday.Started with the Bush tasting plate as a shared entree.It is a large dish and would make a good main meal.It consists of Lemon myrtle infused barramundi cooked in paperbark-truly delicious,Duck and wild Mushroom tartlet-I got a small bite and mrsdrron reserved the rest,Smoked emu prosciutto-a bit dry but tasty,and kangaroo fillet-done just right.For mains I had the fillet steak-a large steak done perfectly.Mrsdrron had the rack of lamb which she felt was done very nicely.
We also ate at the Southern Cross hotel and they also have a bush menu-I wouldnt really bother with it.I did have the camel for the first time.wont be a second time.
Also went out to Silverton and once again ate at the Silverton Cafe-really is good old fashioned home cooking.I once again had the slow cooked saltbush mutton-delicious.Mrsdrron had the Drover's stew-this really took me back to my mother's cooking in the 50s.I reccomend this place.
I leave you with a few views of the Hill.

The hanging tree-spot the rope.I really love the trees of the outback.

Especially flowering ones.

The Hill from the Sculpture park.

The sculptures.

But sometimes nature is better.
Next the trip home via White Cliffs and Lightning ridge.

 

[drron]

Left Broken hill on saturday morning-the day of the St.patricks day race meeting-a little over 2 weeks after the actual day-where else but Australia.lots of traffic into the Hill but nothing else going our way.lots of emus on the run to Wilcannia.From there to White Cliffs saw 9 eagles-never seen as many in a day before.White cliffs is a very different place.Obviously not the most thriving community.We stayed at the underground motel-booked a $99 room but on arrival found there is only 1 room with an ensuite-we forked out the extra $25 for that.
Lunch was a steak sandwhich at the general store-virtually everything else is reheated frozen food.Dinner we had at the motel-$35 each with everyone at the same large table-was enjoyable.Breakfast extra and again all in together.
A more upmarket place to stay would be PJs underground B&B though again only 1 room with an ensuite and it is up for sale.Mrsdrron was disappointed with the available opal for sale-quite limited and no really good stones.Great for the stars at night and the sunrise-

Next lightning ridge

 

[drron]

Left early on Sunday from White cliffs.Once again on the road back to Wilcannia saw several eagles.One was the largest I have seen and it was not scared just siiting beside the road as we passed.Was also privileged to witness an eagle flying down a young kangaroo-nature in the raw.From Wilcannia to Cobar there were lots of feral goats(destroying food sources for native animals) and again many emus.
Went via Bourke to Lightening Ridge.The amount of water around Bourke was incredible with lots of bird life-

I'm not sure if you will see the pictures-they are there when I first post but only seen intermittently when I return to the TR.The wonders of modern technology!
Stayed at the new units at the Wallangulla motel(owned by the bowling club).Very reasonable.Ate at Wong's chinese restaurant-cash only but large serves of reasonable food.If you are serious about opal this and Coober Pedy are the places to go.Mrsdrron adds to her collection.
Monday and a days run back home-once again see emus around Yelarbon-these are seen most times we drive through this area.
Next we start the flying part-first to sydney for some grandkids time,a christening and a return to the Royal Easter Show-having been a Show Society president in another life i am looking forward to this.

 

[docjames]

Pics working drron. :mrgreen:

I love that part of the world, spent 6 weeks there (Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Tilpa, Broken Hill, Tiboburra to name a few) back in 2000. Never had an opportunity to go back but would sure love to find the time.

 

[drron]

Easter Saturday and the time has come for our next adventure.First it is Little Mountain Limousines to MCY-I can reccomend these fellows,really good service.We are booked on DJ478 to SYD due to depart at 1110.We could have booked JQ 20 minutes earlier for $10 less but just as well we didnt.As we arrived the PA was announcing that the JQ flight would be delayed an hour-though they were still closing checkin at the normal time.
Had done OLCI-seats 9A,B.Just had to drop our bags-both under the 23kg.Largest(with smaller case inside) came in at 20.5kg and was labelled heavy!Sat down and waited near checkin as more comfortable seats there.Had to say I was impressed by agent at bag drop who was friendly and really helpful to other pax.A couple with only 1 v large bag obviously well overweight-agent produces a large zip up plastic bag for them to use as a 2nd bag saving them $30 in excess baggage.Another pax arrives with 4 large boxes-she suggests tying 2 together to save on baggage costs-fantastic service.
Take off on time,uneventful flight except for 9C coughing and sneezing the whole time.lands 10 minutes early.Off to Europcars to pick up reserved rental-a shambles.No cars for walkins and we wait 45 minutes for ours.Into the city and Sheraton on the Park.Checkin a breeze.Upgraded to club floor(we are on a 50% off special offer).Lounge access and free internet.Really nice room.

Next our Sydney experiences.

 

[serfty]

I'm not sure if you will see the pictures-they are there when I first post but only seen intermittently when I return to the TR.The wonders of modern technology!

Hi drron, for your information FT had a reasonably catastrophic failure around Easter and many posts were lost. It also appears a few images, as there nothing showing from the FT Gallery for your posts on the 10th and 11th of April. A few are not appearing from one or two subsequent posts either while others are.