Niece to meet you
This trip kicked off the Year Of Travel for us in 2007 and was basically just a two week sojourn to meet my new niece Isabella. We travelled through Los Angeles this time round and had organised a huge layover in LA which meant that we got to hang out with Danny and Ann and meet Robert for the first time. It was to be the last time we'd see them in LA as they are on their way to Chicago at the end of the year so there'll be no reason for us to fly through the horror that is the LA airport in the future. Luckily this time round they were there to ease the transition for us! We had a great interlude with them, getting some A-grade espresso, buying toys for the trip at a funky toystore, wandering the beaches, exploring the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach and having yummy eats at a local Thai restaurant. Robert is adorable and we had great fun walking with him and exploring the playgrounds along the oceanside.
At the end of the lovely summery day we went back to the airport, jumped on the plane and headed to the other side of the equator. Once we got to Sydney we didn't stop there for a change but headed straight for the domestic terminal and got on yet another plane to Canberra as we were planning on spending most of the time helping KJ and Doug out with things around the house and then having a bit of time in Wollongong and Sydney before heading back home. Dougie came and met us at the airport and we soon met Izzie for the first time. I don't know what it is about nieces and nephews but they are just the cutest and most perfect babies in the world.
Mum & Dad came down to visit for a few days while we were in Canberra (obviously!) and we got to celebrate Mother's Day with them out at a cute cafe in Gundaroo.
Col and I also got a super cool present from the family for our combined birthdays, and that was a dawn raid on the Canberra skyline by balloon. It was the first time I'd ever been up in a hot air balloon and it was an amazing experience that made getting up that early in the morning so worthwhile. We helped get the balloon inflated to start with and had a pretty good spot in the basket near the pilot.
Don't stand so close!
Being tall has its disadvantages in a hot air balloon, as your head is that much closer to the burner! Lucky I was wearing a good Canadian toque... The cool thing about the flight was that just by changing the altitude the pilot could steer us around above the Parliametary Circle as the winds were in different directions at different heights. Not only that but every other aircraft in the airspace has to give way to you! We even got air traffic control permission to take off from the local tower. All very exciting.
The two of us aloft
Just above the Australian Museum
There are more photos in a set from the trip on Flickr
Apologies for the truly horrendous pun but it had to be done.
At the end of the lovely summery day we went back to the airport, jumped on the plane and headed to the other side of the equator. Once we got to Sydney we didn't stop there for a change but headed straight for the domestic terminal and got on yet another plane to Canberra as we were planning on spending most of the time helping KJ and Doug out with things around the house and then having a bit of time in Wollongong and Sydney before heading back home. Dougie came and met us at the airport and we soon met Izzie for the first time. I don't know what it is about nieces and nephews but they are just the cutest and most perfect babies in the world.
Mum & Dad came down to visit for a few days while we were in Canberra (obviously!) and we got to celebrate Mother's Day with them out at a cute cafe in Gundaroo.
Col and I also got a super cool present from the family for our combined birthdays, and that was a dawn raid on the Canberra skyline by balloon. It was the first time I'd ever been up in a hot air balloon and it was an amazing experience that made getting up that early in the morning so worthwhile. We helped get the balloon inflated to start with and had a pretty good spot in the basket near the pilot.
Don't stand so close!
Being tall has its disadvantages in a hot air balloon, as your head is that much closer to the burner! Lucky I was wearing a good Canadian toque... The cool thing about the flight was that just by changing the altitude the pilot could steer us around above the Parliametary Circle as the winds were in different directions at different heights. Not only that but every other aircraft in the airspace has to give way to you! We even got air traffic control permission to take off from the local tower. All very exciting.
The two of us aloft
Just above the Australian Museum
There are more photos in a set from the trip on Flickr
