Ash to the left, ash to the right.....

[erick (Eric)]

Amazing. I flew Melb-Syd last Thursday, flew Syd-Melb last Sunday and flew Melb-Bris this morning. Just managed to sneak around the ash cloud shutdowns! Today by about 90 minutes, it seems!

So I'm up on a beach in Queensland. Small place - some hundreds of people only. Just went out to the beach - what a glorious sky!!

[Jen]

gee Eric your getting around a bit

[asimov (John)]

Well, you're not on MY beach in QLD, as I just checked - Small place some NOBODY on it except me

[Suzy]

Make up your mind Erik, which state do you want to be in?!

[BPO]

Earthquakes, volcanoes and ash clouds. What next?

On the plus side, Australia has snow and NZ doesn't.

This is the first June solstice where normal 4WD vehicles without chains can be driven up to my mountaintop observatory site.

Best. Winter. EVER.

[iceman (Mike)]

I flew up to the Sunshine Coast on Monday night, and tried to fly back yesterday but my flight was cancelled due to the ahs.

So my colleague and I rented a car and drove the 12+ hours back to Sydney.

Was a fun roadtrip! I wish...

[Liz]

Am soooo glad I havent any flights booked at the moment, could disrupt your plans/hols hugely!!

ya not on my beach either eric, noone there except the pelicans.

BPO - what!! no snow in NZ .... sunds great going up to your mountaintop observatory site in your 4WD, way to go.

[BPO]

Hi Liz! The basin/valley below is completely obscured by cloud but it's clear up here. Looking at the Southern Alps and other ranges, the only snow is the permanent stuff. This is some freaky weather, but I'm not complaining, because I'm getting too old for high altitude stunt driving! You keep that snow over there in west island, okay?

[Ric]

It's not "Where's Wally" any more.

It's "Where's Eric"

[erick (Eric)]

Holiday, folks. Back soon for the final packup and move to Sydney. I think then it'll be NSW until I'm buried there.