IN THE LAND DOWN UNDER: As you may have surmised, I made it out of SFO (how convenient to travel out to the Airport on BART) in time to catch my QANTAS flight to Australia. I had the good fortune to be sitting next to an Aussie radio astronomer who is working in West Virginia and had occasional stimulating conversation about the nature and origin of the universe and such like.
I must say that I was impressed by the flagship airline of my home country (first time I have used this service) and this high standard was carried on when I flew from Sydney to Adelaide.
Mostly, I have been busy 'grandfathering' including getting to know the latest grandson, Stirling. who was born last August. The other three Aussie 'grand nippers' have all grown and developed amazingly in the 15 months since I saw them last.ce). On my last day in Sydney, I borrowed my son's scooter to visit with my friend (of grad. school days) Lorraine. As I was last on motor powered two wheels back in 1988, this was quite an adventure. The new scooters do not require the rider to change gears so the controls are rearranged somewhat. Initially Ikept feeling for the rear brake with my right foot. Fortunately, Sydney drivers are most courteous toward riders so I felt reasonable secure as I puttered along. What fun as I rode up and over the Anzac Bridge; almost like flying an ultralight!
Just to let you know that I was really there, how about the photo of the Opera House?
And here I am with the Opera House in the background. That is my grandson Jude at table 'a la terrace' with me.

Presently, I am in Adelaide where the weather is continuously fine autumn days and very pleasant temperatures. Yesterday I was taken out up into the Adelaide Hills by my friend of many a yesteryear, Peter Daniels. He and Robina, his wife, have a beautiful home with views all the way to the southern coast. Due to recent rains, the hills are covered with green grass, very different from the unending brown of 15 months back. The eucalypts, typically gnarled and twisted all jostled each other as they surveyed our passage. On his extensive property, several kangaroos eyed us from their resting place the shade of a stately gum.

Until the next posting....
Roberto

ON THE WAY TO OZ

I am back in San Francisco having traveled down by train from Portland on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The trip in reverse...Portland to Eugene by train, Eugene to Klamath Falls by bus, finally KF to Emeryville. To save from dragging my impedimenta (Latin for baggage) too far I caught the Emery Shopper bus around to the MacArthur BART station for Powell BART downtown. This is only a few blocks from the Downtown SF International Youth Hostel, where I presently sit working on this posting.
On the bus section they handed out great sandwiches, cookies, and bottled water. This stood me over until boarding the train. The Dining Car being still open (at 10:30 PM), I made a bee line for it. I found myself seated with three other diners, two from Cleveland (they had traveled all the way around on the Empire Builder train) and one from Chicago; all three were on the sleeper ticket. Once more, AMTRAK cuisine excelled. I had roast breast of game bird, an excellent Shiraz, and delicious cheesecake. I recommend the coffee at Emeryville, where I had a light breakfast at the coffee kiosk before setting out for the Emery Shopper.
The weather in SFO has been fantastic; sunny, blue sky, light breezes, and mild temperatures. I bought a three day pass for the cable car and rode around the Fisherman's Wharf circuit; somewhat of a slow roller coaster ride given SFO's hills.
As ever, my companions in the four bed dorm were interesting; two were from Toronto and one from Japan.
Today, more tooling around the town, this time with my camera. Expect some shots and maybe some others taken with my cell phone camera. I used the latter yesterday but, in the bright sunlight, hopeless when composing a shot.
Tonight I leave for Sydney via Qantas. I have traveled some 30 or so times between Australia and the US over the past 24 years, once with Continental and the rest with United Airlines (seduced by their (up 'til now) Mileage Plus plan (I think I have had about seven free trips out of that Plan). Now, for the first time, with Australia's own airline; flying the Aussie flag at last!
Until the next post...Roberto