Guns and planes

What a busy day for the eyes it was today! The tour start was not particularly early but we managed to fit in three different experiences. To begin with we drove from our base Hotel at Soldiers Point to Newcastle. The drive through the countryside on this perfect clear winters day was fantastic. Everything looked so bright and healthy, the grass and trees are all green and lush and the grazing animals all looked so fat and healthy. There seem to be a lot of horses in this part of the world and on some of the small holdings there were different breeds of sheep that are not usually seen further inland.

Our first stop was at Fort Scratchley on the mouth of the Hunter River, a place of canons and sandstone buildings.

We were met by Len who was to be our guide through the tunnels of the fort. We had an interesting history lesson on the activities of the fort and its one moment of glory during the 2^nd world war when four shots were made in response to a submarine attack.

I know it is really a “Mans” thing but the women in the party all showed their interest in the gun emplacements and narrow tunnel passageways!

After we emerged to the daylight we were taken into town where we were “let loose” to amuse ourselves. Fantastic! A whole hour and half to find lunch and to take as many photos as I wanted! Newcastle seems to have so many interesting old buildings and historic homes that you really need much longer – and a car to take you further afield!

Even in the short distance I managed to walk during that hour I collected several very stately buildings – built from sandstone that had been brought out from the UK because at the time they were constructed, suitable sandstone quarries had not been found in Australia.

We were to meet the “Talking tram” close to where the ferry crossed the river so of course I just had to race around and take an action shot of the ferry as it left!

What a brilliant way to see the city – traveling around on what looked to be an old tram but was really not so old and was actually riding on a truck chassis. Our tram driver took us up to see the lighthouse, traveling up a one car wide track up to the top of the rise.

Once on the top, beside the no-longer used lighthouse, we alighted and were able to take lots of photographs of the views from up there.

I could write reams about the things we saw from the tram and show you dozens of photographs – but I will control that urge!

Back into our mini bus we clambered and off we went again. This time to Williamstown where we pulled up in front of a place called “Fighterworld” which is next to the military air field of Williamstown. Another wonderful place for the males in the group! One of our party was in the air-force during WW2 so he was in his element! Here were two hangers containing military aircraft

 

There were all sorts of military planes both on the ground and suspended from the rafters ranging from small prop planes right up to the F111.

 With such a visual overload from today’s tour you would have thought that we would all have a quick meal and go and put our feet up – but instead we sat around the table after the meal was finished and talked “until the cows came home” until the noise from the bar became too loud for us to hear conversation! Could tomorrow bett