On our Way ....

Well ... we are on our way. We left DC this morning and we are now at the LAX airport on a layover waiting for the flight to Sydney. We had 7+ hours here in LA, so instead of hanging around the airport we grabbed a cab and headed for the beach -- Manhattan Beach to be specific. It's only about 15 minutes away but, as you can see, it might as well be on a separate planet. On a beautiful clear day with a stiff breeze from the ocean, the beach was not too crowded, but the beach volleyball was in full swing.

Manhattan Beach is a pleasant beach-side town with a steep hill down to the water. After a walk along the boardwalk and out to the pier, we had a meal at Cafe Pierre where they had a great heirloom tomato salad and a nice cheese tray. It was a quiet start to the trip.

And now it is on to Sydney. For those at home following along, the itinerary looks something like this:

3 days in Sydney getting acclimated and enjoying the Opera House view

3 days in Wellington (capital of New Zealand at the south end of the northern island) meeting old friends and watching the US play Australia in the Rugby World Cup

3 days in Nelson (confusingly on the north end of the south island!), trying out the near by wine country and art, and watching the US v. Italy match

6 days driving south from Nelson to Queenstown with stops along the way down the West Coast of the south island of New Zealand. The highlight will be the helicopter ride onto Franz Josef glacier (unless we go crazy and try bungee jumping in Queenstown .... NOT!)

5 days in Rotarua (back on the north island again), including a 4 day hike up into the nearby mountains (max altitude only 3000 feet this time around)

3 days in Adelaide Australia, trying wine from the McLaren Vale

and finally, 3 days, in Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef for some sun and fun and a visit to the coral reefs.

After that its back to Sydney to get our flight home. Should be exciting and exhausting.