March 21 - Australia: Cessnock, New South Wales

Morning Run in Grafton

We both woke up to go for runs before hitting the road.  My run took me across the bridge over the Clarence River, just as the sun was turning the clouds pink and orange.  The bridge was an iron one, with a train trellis paralleling the walkway.  So my steps made a "clang clang" noise along the bridge's iron planking.  It's nice to run in a small town again, because people actually say "Hello" and "Good Morning".  That never happened in Brisbane.

Random Ruminations

We were on the road by 8:30.  I drove for the first few hours until we got to Port McQuarrie, where we stopped for lunch.  Jon has decided - as part of his random ruminations (or, in this case, "driving deliberations") that we should become licensed truck drivers.  This way, we can sing "On The Road Again", sleep in a rig, and get paid to drive cross-country.  Personally, I think he just wants to pick up women at rest stops.

To continue with our series of "All-Important Australia Landmarks", here's another one:

Coffs Harbour's Big Banana

And here's another interesting crossing sign:

Duck Family Crossing 

Now, ducks aren't that unique, but I don't think I've ever actually seen a Duck Family Crossing Sign

Hunter Valley

Our stop for the next few days is Hunter Valley - Australia's wine country.  We drove to Cessnock and found a little motel to stay at for the next two days.  It's a cute place called the Vintage Motor Inn, and while it boasts a "Guest Kitchen" near the pool, the kitchen is really an electric skillet and a microwave.  But the people are nice and rooms are clean.  And that's all that matters.  

Since we couldn't make our planned meal of pasta, we ordered out for pizza instead from "Eagle Boy's Pizza: Home of the Fresha Pizza".  Tomorrow will be a wonderful day of wine tasting!