Goodbye to Windang...

     Today is Thursday, December 13 and we are at the end of our 4-week stay in Windang in New South Wales. Steve and I had a lot of fun here and have loved being so close to both the Pacific Ocean and Lake Illawarra. During the past month, we've taken just about every bus and train route running north, south, and west of here. We've walked through a treetop canopy, gone golfing, swimming, bicycling, participated in a local French conversation group, and Steve has even gone skydiving! We've experienced beautiful sunny days, windstorms, torrential rains, and crazy days that had all extremes in one. In two days we'll be heading back up to Sydney for a week or so before we fly on to Tasmania with Andrea, Adam, Owen, and Olivia. But first a few highlights of this last week in Windang...
     On Saturday Steve and I explored the town of Port Kembla about 7 kilometers away. We had heard the town has a lovely beach and also a large saltwater public pool. It took two buses to get there, but no problem. As it was a hot, sunny day, swimming was our goal. Swimming laps in saltwater feels odd to me and very different than in chlorinated pool water. I haven't gotten used to it yet. But the view from the pool was perfect.


The beach at Port Kembla right next to the public pool.
 

And the view at the pool!

 

     After swimming, Steve and I walked into the town of Port Kembla hoping to get a little snack. It was not to be. That town was deader than a ghost town by Saturday mid-afternoon. Once important for coal, copper, and steel, Port Kembla is now in apparent economic decline. But it's still beautifully situated along the coast.  
     Speaking of swimming, on Sunday Steve and I headed up to Sydney for the day to give Owen and Olivia a second swimming lesson at their local pool -- along with Andrea and Adam. I'm happy to report the twins are both now super comfortable in the water, including holding their breaths underwater and jumping in and completely submerging themselves. We've been practicing floating and kicking, and we hope that before we leave Australia next month Olivia and Owen will be bona fide swimmers!
     On Monday, Steve and I decided to check out a nearby airplane museum our Airbnb host Alan had told us about. The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Museum at nearby Illawarra Regional Airport in Albion Park is completely run and operated by volunteers - about 600 of them! The museum's collection of military and commercial aircraft of all sizes and vintages is remarkable. We were able to go inside and take a look around many of the planes on display. Many of them have been beautifully restored and are still flyable. Here's a bit of what we saw...

Qantas Boeing 747 flown down from Sydney when it was retired in 2015.

Steve in ejectable cockpit of an F1-11 fighter jet.

DC-3 Royal Australian - still in working order.

Rolls Royce jet engine.

The actual steps the Beatles walked down upon landing in Sydney in 1965 for their first Australian concert.

 

Close-up showing Beatles walking down the steps and the autographed cover of their Beatles '65 album.

First-class lavatory in a 1950s-era Convair plane.

 
     On Monday evening our Airbnb host Kerri invited me to join her and the women in her yoga class for a little backyard session followed by wine and cheese. Fun for sure, but stiff the next day!



That's yours truly on the left.
 

      Tuesday was a low-energy, catch-up day, but still Steve and I managed to get our second wind for a bike ride and a spot of mini-golf!

 

 

     No surprise = Steve won!

 

 

     It's hard to remember that it's almost Christmas time here in the Southern Hemisphere. Take a little look at Aussie-style Christmas decorations.

 

     On Tuesday evening we watched a Christmas fireworks display over Lake Illawarra. Check out the nighttime pelicans.

 

     Yesterday, Steve went up to Sydney to spend a special father/daughter day with Andrea. They went to a place called "The Cipher Room" where they had to collaboratively solve a 1945 Russian spy mystery in rooms filled with clues. These types of "escape rooms" have apparently become quite popular as a way to develop team-building and problem-solving skills. Participants must productively pool their wits and imaginations to figure out the series of clues that will allow them "escape." Steve loved the experience, and especially sharing it with his daughter.

     While Steve was in Sydney, I went to my French conversation group in North Wollongong for the final time. Merci to Céline, our lovely French instructor! This is the view as I walk from the bus to the café where the French group meets. Pas mal!

 

 

North Wollongong Harbor

 

     After French, I took the train south to Kiama and from there caught a bus to the town of Berry, which people had told us wasn't to be missed. Unfortunately, the train and bus connections were not ideal, so by the time I arrived in Berry at 3:30 PM there wasn't much time before the shops started closing up. But it was still fun to walk around, and the countryside between Kiama and Berry was stunning -- green rolling hills on one side and light blue ocean on the other. Here are a couple of shots from right near the train station.

 

     Today is another low-key day was we prepare for a major thunderstorm. We've been hearing distant thunder for the last hour or so. It's the perfect day to catch up on emails and news from home. Speaking of which, here's a shout-out to our little grandson, Solomon, who just turned 6-months-old on December 10th. Happy 1/2 Birthday Little Solly!!! We love and miss you!!!