DAY 1: Home to Tweed Heads

An early start

It was very early when we headed from home to the airport to meet our 6AM flight. Oliva and Jemima took us and stayed to indulge in breakfast at the Qantas Club. They were going to take advantage of the early start to head up the Mountian and little did we know that later Mount Wellington would be hit by a blizzard and many people would need saving. As I write this we haven’t heard from them – but I’m sure we would be told if they were lost.

Flight changes

We landed in Melbourne to a text advising that our onward flight – due to leave Melbourne at 4:20pm – had been canceled and we were now booked for 10:15am. Not Happy Jan! We headed straight to the Qantas Club. Debbie was banished while I explained that I had a lineup of surprises for her and in the City and we couldn’t leave before 3pm. While we enjoyed another coffee they moved us to a later connection via Sydney – and then wished Debbie a lovely day at The Zoo *wink *wink

Skybus to the City and then a brisk morning walk along South Bank and back to kill some time before our first appointment; coffee with cousin Matt and Belle. We haven’t seen them for several years and it was wonderful to catch up. I completely forgot to take a picture of us all but while talking we enjoyed a passing parade of young and old Melbournians heading to Comicon which was on show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre next to our destination – the Lume at 11am.

The Lume and digital Van Gogh

The Lume sells itself as “an epic adventure in art” that “transforms the world’s finest art into fully immersive sensory encounters”. They intend to hold many different exhibitions over the years – w We were there to see the inaugural exhibit, Van Gogh’s artworks. Tickets cost $49 each with timed entry and unlimited stay. It was an unusual presentation of his work, his life, and his descent into mental illness.

We spent about an hour in the exhibition hall and then engaged in an opportunity to play at being an artist!. We took our seats at the easel and followed the five-minute demonstration to create our own masterpiece. It was a fun an unexpected challenge.

Qantas Club – Flight – Qantas Club – Flight

Escaping Melbourne and making our way to Coolangatta should have been a fairly straightforward process. NO. At Tullermarine, there was no need to check in as our bags had gone straight through from Hobart and clutched in our fist were all the boarding passess we needed to arrive at our destination. We headed to the Club for some bubbles and a late lunch. The celebration continued on our MEL-SYD flight when the very enthusiastic air hostess provide us with multiple serves of wine, and then – without any encouragement from us smuggled a full bottle from first class into our laps. We were somewhat surprised that we were singled out for such treatment ! but not complaining.

Several flights later we arrived in Coolangatta at 9:30pm. My backpack greeted us on the courosel, while Debbies identical pack, with identical checkin and identical route – wasn’t there! She got a little overnight bag with PJ’s , shaving kit and body lotion. (More junk to add to our ever growing chache of stuff).

A walk in the dark

Despite all the travel complications – the walk from the airport to the motel was very peaceful. It was quiet, no people, few cars, warm enough after a few weeks of Hobart winter, and not too demanding. We had a bit of a climb over the ‘head’ to get to our accommodation, but whole trip made easier for Debbie as she had no backpack.

Tweed Heads Motor Inn

It is late but at last we have arrived at the Tweed Heads Motor Inn and are now checked into a generously sized family room with one double and one single bed. Jade and Shane, the hosts, weren’t there to meet us because we arrived after check-in hours, but I had been talking to Shane a few weeks earlier to plan our route and specifically how to cross the river in the morning to avoid a longer inland road approach. He was very friendly and helpful and I am looking forward to meeting him tomorrow.

The daily statistics

Looking forward to what tomorrow will bring – hopefully an ‘olive green duffle bag’ as Qantas described Deb’s backpack!