Trekking on

Vulcan, Alberta has unique tourist information signs. 

Travelling from the Edmonton area to Southern Alberta I often make a stop in the prairie town of Vulcan, just an hour from my usual destination of Lethbridge. In Vulcan I visit the Tourism and Trek Station near the highway. 

Vulcan's Tourism and Trek Station.

Visitors from all across North America and numerous more distant countries have signed the guest book at the Station, developed on the Star Trek theme. Even years ago we would stop at the town’s model of the Starship Enterprise. 

Vulcan's Starship Enterprise model. 

I have enjoyed Star Trek since my children were young. In fact my younger son heard plenty of Star Trek episodes while in utero.

A drive through Vulcan shows a prosperous community, apparently a turn-around accomplished largely through a marketing campaign based on its name coinciding with that of a fictional planet from the Star Trek televison and movie series.

Roddenberry memorial at Tourism and Trek Station.

Vulcan was the Roman name of the god of fire, first described in Greek mythology. The Alberta town was named by a Canadian Pacific Railway surveyor. The most famous citizen of the planet Vulcan is, of course, Spock, played by actor Leonard Nimoy.

Poster from 2010 visit of actor Leonard Nimoy.

Last month on my latest stop I also saw, for the first time, the town’s bust of actor Leonard Nimoy in his role as Spock. Other visitors had left candles and small stones acknowledging the actor’s death on February 27, 2015.

Bust of late actor Leonard Nimoy as the Vulcan Spock. 

I will leave you with Nimoy’s widely reported, last tweet, from shortly before his passing: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. Live Long and Prosper.” 

Live long and prosper.

Sweating in Broome

I met this frog one evening in Broome. 

Frangipani trees are common.

One of my strongest memories of Broome will be the heat and humidity. Even the bus schedule varies with the wet (mid October to April) and dry (May to mid October) seasons, with greater service in the dry, the main tourist season. 

One of Broome's boab trees, this one planted in 1897.

During my visit in April it didn’t take long after a shower to be damp with sweat again. As darkness fell, the humidity tended to rise noticeably. Walking was guaranteed to soak a person's clothing.

Town Beach. 

Since the buses do not run until nearly 11 a.m. on Sunday I walked to Town Beach that day. At Fong’s General Store I got a frozen juice bar. My face must have been red as one of the staff asked if I needed a chair to sit down. Another day a woman said hello and asked where I was going and if I had a car. Maybe she too was wondering if I should be wandering around in the heat.

Broome Shire Offices.

Broome is an isolated town 2200 km north of the Western Australian capital of Perth. The resident population of the town is 15,857 according to the web site of the Broome Shire. During the peak season the population triples.

Broome's main attraction for me was its unique culture and history. From its founding in 1883 Broome has been multicultural, not always harmoniously.

Pinctada maxima on cushion & smaller shells on top.

Aboriginal woman diver.

Australia's largest mother of pearl shell, the Pinctada maxima,is found in the Broome area. Broome was built on shelling, the harvesting of pearl shells to make buttons. This industry, starting in the 1860s, was reliant on the forced labour of local Aboriginal people, mainly women and children, and indentured Asian workers. 

Acknowledgment of the exploitation and abuse of Aboriginal people by the pearling industry.

Dive boots & helmet.

By the late 1800s divers who held their breath were replaced by hard hat divers and the Japanese came to dominate that dangerous occupation. Broome's Japanese cemetery is the final resting place of over 900 divers.

One of two restored pearl luggers.

Japanese cemetery.

In the 20th century two world wars and the advent of plastics led to the collapse of the shelling industry which was eventually replaced with a cultured pearl industry. In WWII Broome suffered 4 Japanese air raids and during the war the resident Japanese were interned. At that time “Japtown” became “Chinatown”.

Asian look bus stop.

The history of Broome can be explored in the local Historical Society Museum, the Sisters of St. John of God Heritage Centre and Relationships Exhibition, a pearling lugger tour, the Japanese, Chinese and Pioneer cemeteries, and the streets of Chinatown. 

One of Chinatown's original buildings from the 1890s.

Ready for the show.

A traditional Broome experience I took in was attending an open air movie in the 1916 Sun Picture Gardens where old projection equipment is on display.

Old projection equipment.

Camel rides for tourists.

Broome has two beaches, Town and Cable, and the bus service runs between them. At Cable Beach several companies offer camel rides for tourists and one section of the beach is clothing optional. The town is also a centre for adventure tours of the region.

Walking to the airport.

On my last day in Broome a 10 minute walk from my accommodation brought me to Broome International Airport. After a quick change of clothes I was ready for departure. As the plane took off over Cable Beach I said farewell to Broome, a place I am glad I visited. 

Broome International open air departure lounge.

Travelling in the company of young adventurers

Climbing down to rock pool in Karijini National Park.

“All right travellers, how are you?” This was the standard greeting of the energetic tour guide, driver, cook and general trouble shooter, who brought to my mind Johnny Depp’s character Captain Jack Sparrow.

4x4 tour bus.

I wanted to visit Broome, a Western Australian town with a unique history. How would I cover the distance of more than 2200 kilometers from the state capital of Perth? Should I fly in and out? Take a bus? I wasn't about to drive on my own. The best option seemed to be a tour which would allow me to see some of the sights along the way and even some off the main road. 

Watching all the 20 somethings board the bus the last Monday of March I wondered what I had gotten myself into. There were a few people apparently in their 30s and early 40s but I was by far the oldest group member. We were 6 men and 15 women of varied occupations from England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and Canada. 

Up close with the dolphins at Monkey Mia. 

Over the next 10 days we chatted about our homes, families, travels and career paths. We commiserated about the heat, flies, long periods of sitting on the bus and some of the toilets we encountered. On the bus we listened to music or watched videos about Australian culture and history and some of the areas we were visiting. Some of us read and most of us dozed off occasionally.

A fly veil was a necessity  for much of the trip - here in  Kalbarri National Park.

Ashburton River in flood due to recent heavy rains.

This was a shed before a recent cyclone. 

We visited several distinctive ecosystems that are World Heritage sites. Activities included hiking (usually down into gorges and back up) and swimming in the sea and in fresh water rock pools. Some people went snorkelling which I have done before and did not try this time. There was an extra day trip to swim with whale sharks that several of us, me included, decided it did not fit the budget.

The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park.

Termite mound.

We camped 4 nights and stayed in hostels and 

cabins. We worked in teams to prepare meals and clean up. After sunset, Orion, the Southern Cross and other constellations filled the sky. Over Easter weekend the moon was full.

We saw this cute lizard on a gorge walk.  

Keeping our water bottles full was vital.

Our second campsite was in Karijini National Park, home to several species of poisonous snakes, where our guide patrolled the camp ground before he let us off the bus. Despite the shrieking from the toilet one night, the small snake curled up there was a non-poisonous variety and the only one we spotted.  

Preparing lunch.

Campers sleeping outdoors in swags on camp cots. 

My green tent is to right. 

I suppose if I had looked harder I might have found a seniors’ tour – with more comfort at greater expense but not likely so enjoyable.

We reached Broome & Cable Beach by sunset April 8th. 

Sharing hospitality with other women travellers



Sharing a meal with an Australian Broads member.

 

Travelling alone, as many women do from time to time, it is wonderful to arrive to a friendly welcome. Broads Abroad, established about 18 months ago by Australian Mandy Rowe is a network of women who like to travel. Most members are over 50.

 

Broads meet other Broads visiting their city or region, show them the sights or get together for a meal, and when possible offer a short homestay. The Broads network is growing in far flung countries.



Accommodation provided by a Broads Abroad member.

On my current travels in Australia and New Zealand I have had homestays with Broads members in Wellington, Canberra and the East Gippsland area. I have also met Broads for meals or drinks in several other locations. In one city where I was doing a house and dog sit I met another member to walk her dogs and the one I was looking after. The orange scarf has been chosen as the symbol to recognize other Broads Abroad.

 

By their orange scarves you shall know them. Canine friend models one of my scarves.

 

Being quite nomadic at present I am not able to offer a bed to other travellers. However, it is my intention to do so once I am settled again. I was able to help one Australian woman with some travel arrangements in my home city of Edmonton.

 

Orange maple leaf scarf I bought in Ottawa.

 

As I travel, the Broads Abroad network is one of the first sites I check to see if there is a member where I plan to visit. I also recommend membership to other women travellers I meet. To learn more about Broads Abroad see Mandy’s public Broads Abroad page on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/BroadsAbroad

To request membership go to the Broads Abroad site. www.broadsabroad.net

Once a member you will be able to join the private Facebook forum where members share travel tales, photos and tips.

 

 

 

Enjoying the night life

Not being a pubs and clubs person, I am usually ready for a quiet evening in, especially after a busy day. Occasionally something will get me out at night.

The lake in the Zealandia sanctuary valley. 

Most recently it was Zealandia in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington. Zealandia is an environmental project with a mission to restore part of the central city as closely as possible to conditions before human arrival some 700 years ago. 

Shags or cormorants at Zealandia.

In a 225 hectare sanctuary valley cleared of introduced predators, native birds have been released. At Zealandia one of the main attractions is the Little spotted kiwi, one of 5 species of New Zealand’s iconic, flightless bird. As kiwis are nocturnal, a night tour is the way to see them – if you are lucky.

Little spotted kiwi by Jim the Photographer, Delaware Museum of Natural History

Wilmington DE July 6, 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/9249951024/ Licensed under Creative Commons.

On a 2 ½ hour guided walk carrying torches (flashlights) with red filters, our small group watched a kiwi at very close range (it almost ran into us) and saw many other New Zealand birds and insects including the weta. 

Weta, a unique New Zealand insect; this one a female & likely a tree weta. I photographed it next day in the  Museum of Wellington City & Sea.  http://www.museumswellington.org.nz/museum-of-wellington-city-and-sea/ 

We also encountered tuataras, only remaining representatives of an order of reptiles that was plentiful in the age of dinosaurs, plus glow worms, eels and other fish. Under a full moon we listened to the bird calls and appreciated the fresh and otherwise quiet air.

Learn more on the Zealandia site:
http://www.visitzealandia.com/

Other night walks I recall with pleasure years later include a fairy penguin tour in Tasmania and an overnight hike in Lamington National Park, Queensland. On the historic side were ghost tours in St. John’s, Newfoundland and at Port Arthur, site of a penal colony in Tasmania. The top photo is my son on our 2005 ghost tour of Port Arthur.

Relishing the quiet life in a smaller city

Picnic point lookout in Toowoomba

After a busy month of sightseeing in Melbourne, it has been a pleasure to have a change of pace. This month I have been house and dog sitting once more in the lovely city of Toowoomba, Queensland. Its population of about 160,000 falls within my ideal range for a place to live.

Bunya pine, a native tree, in a city park.

Early morning dog walks along quiet residential streets and through green parks provide an abundance of sensory input. Bird life is represented by the distinctive calls of the kookaburra, whipbird, Australian magpie, and various brilliantly feathered parrots. 

Scarlet rosella.

Native trees, garden flowers and other botanical specimens amaze with their shapes, sizes and colours. What olfactory delights my canine companion has enjoyed I do not know but mine have included eucalyptus, rose, jasmine and frangipani.

The delicately scented frangipani.

Days to work on my genealogy and family history research and writing. Time to read – outdoors on the patio if I want. Occasional trips to the grocery store. So far so good with driving the car on the other side of the road. I have finally learned to signal/indicate turns with the proper lever instead of turning on the wipers.

A field of galahs.

Social activities with friends I met last year and with new contacts – a family barbecue; drinks in a café by the park; 10-pin bowling; circle dance; a walk in a park with my charge, two other dogs and their human companion.

The largest hibiscus flowers I have seen. 

This is my life in Toowoomba in a home away from home where for the present I am not a tourist but just living a typical retirement in a different setting. 

Paperbark trees at the bird sanctuary.