Waikiki

Staying in Waikiki, at the Marriott, right across the street from the beach.

I like Maui better. Though if you're into shopping at all the standard stores, Ugg, Coach, etc,  then you'll love this place. 

United

Flying to Hawaii, it appears United has changed... Nothing is included, the tv wouldn't even show me our progress across the USA without me swiping my credit card. Ridiculous. 

Feather dale

Stopped at a little zoo as part of today's excursion... Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, all running around loose... I didn't pet one, though I could have... Some of the critters seemed interested in checking me out, all were very used to humans. The little Tasmanian devil was running around his area, not interested in standing still for me to photograph!

There was one little Joey, orphaned, not yet fully weaned. The staff 'fosters' little ones like that and gives them clothe bags to curl up in... Surrogate pouches! This little one was so unsteady on his feet! He kept stretching tall, trying to stand as tall as he could. Maybe 4 feet. 

Memories

Funny how one thing will remind one of something else, unrelated. 

An old memory just came to mind. It was 1982 or 83 and Bob and I were going backpacking, Libby was coming along, her first time ever.

I had most of her stuff, but she did have a small book bag backpack. 

I'd asked Bob to pick an easy route, as she'd never done this before, she complained, reminding me that she ran 2 miles a day. 

So Bob told us he'd surprise us. When we got there it was a climb we called 'idiot alley', almost 4 miles, but about 4000 feet of ascent. Very steep. 

Well, Libby made it about half of the way up, but I noticed her legs were in TMF (that quivering/shaking that signifies total muscular failure). And then it started to rain. You know how fast the weather changes in the mountains. 

So I lied to Bob and told him I'd brought no wet weather gear. We'd have to cancel and do it another time.

He was a might angry... I volunteered to pay for the whole deal and take him to dinner. 

As we were going down, Libby collapsed, so I took her pack and  we made tea, ate some chocolates, then continued with her leaning heavily on me. 

It was rough for her. I felt bad. 

Sydney

This is a lovely city... Went for a walk last night, funnily enough, drunk young men just stop, whip it out, and piss wherever they are. 

Not used to seeing that. 

Getting ready to go on a tour to the Blue Mountains. 

Sydney

This is a lovely city... Went for a walk last night, funnily enough, drunk young men just stop, whip it out, and piss wherever they are. 

Not used to seeing that. 

Getting ready to go on a tour to the Blue Mountains.