Sydney Harbour

Wow - what a busy place, but done right. Multiple ferry services connecting neighbourhoods all over the place. Imagine Vancouver with ferries running not just between downtown and north van but to west van, Squamish, Richmond, delta, white rock. Port Moody, Langley, Port Coquitlam, etc. We travelled both to the zoo and Manly beach by ferry from downtown south Sydney. Passenger only ferries from sea bus to gulf islands sized. Very well used. And of course the sun, warmth and city scene helps leave an impression too. There were hundreds of boats out for Friday night racing. 15 knots or so. Glorious!





















An Ian post

Australia!

We arrived yesterday about 40 hours after leaving Ottawa. For those of you who didn't hear the storey the short version is: aeroplan + BIG savings. Ann, Arthur, Peter and Liz of the Bouris clan welcomed us to a warm and sunny Sydney.

We squeezed in a our first Aussie swim and meals * 3 outside.

Plus a fun tour of south Sydney Beaches.






















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Location:Byna Street,Malabar,Australia

Skiing with the Olympians

Spent a great day in Ottawa with Ian's sister Jolanta and family, who managed to track down enough cross-country ski gear and warm clothes
to outfit the Victorians for a day in the woods.






Headed up to the Gatineau Hills to their cross-country ski club for a ski and lunch in the hut by the wood stove. There is an international competition in Ottawa this week, and we shared the nearly empty trails with the Gods of the Norwegian, Russian, Italian and German national (men's) cross-country teams. The kids had fun yelling hello in their languages as they flew by. Nice scenery.
Ian and Amos stayed to cheer on the cousins in their annual cookie race (brilliant: they race for medals made out of cookies) while Naeva and I visited with some Victoria friends, then joined more Scott cousins for 12 of us around the table for Sunday dinner.









Finishing up a late night of packing. So far, so good. Had to give last rites to my duffel bag after it exploded in Vancouver; thanks Dono for the loan, and to Jolanta for living a few blocks from MEC for a replacement. All set for the 26 hour trip tomorrow! Will write from Sydney.

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Location:Broadhead Ave,Ottawa,Canada

Kira cooking in the kitchen. Our first night away, the international destination of east van ... Much more international than Victoria anyway. Fantastic meal with friends. Perfect send off.







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We're off,

After a very busy, actually insane few weeks we are off. But only because of an incredible amount of support from our families and friends, or we couldn't have managed. We were still stuffing Mike an Peggy's garage until the moment we left. But we did all sit around the table, after much cajoling, before we raced out the door. A lesson I learned at sixteen in Russia. Sit, pause, relax, think before you leave on a big trip - safe travels and good fortune will follow.

Naeva is still a little peeved about missing AAAs I think.





























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Location:E 7th Ave,Vancouver,Canada

11 pm...still packing...

I think Ian made it to bed around 3.

Amos, what do you think about this crazy trip?

Amos shares his thoughts with Auntie Jenny...