LIVERPOOL HOMETOWN OF THE BEATLES & THE KOP (LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB) MUSEUM The population of Liverpool, a vibrant city in the northwest of England, is estimated to be around half a million people. Situated approximately four hours north of London, Liverpool boasts a rich history and cultural significance. The city is divided by the iconic River Mersey, which not only serves as a picturesque waterway but also plays a crucial role in the city's transportation infrastructure. One notable feature of Liverpool is the presence of two short road traffic tunnels that run underneath the river, providing convenient access between different parts of the city. For those looking to experience a unique mode of transport, the short Mersey River Ferry crossing offers a delightful journey that can be enjoyed daily. The ferry ride typically lasts around ten minutes, allowing passengers to soak in the scenic views of the river and the surrounding areas. During the ferry crossing, passengers are often treated to the sounds of the famous song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" by Gerry and the Pacemakers, adding a touch of musical charm to the experience. For those interested in immersing themselves in the Beatles' legacy, a visit to the fab4 Cafe riverside is a must. Here, visitors can savor a cup of coffee while surrounded by Beatles memorabilia, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the city's most famous musical exports. Traveldriven THE FAB4 CAFE, LIVERPOOL CROSSING 'THE MERSEY' BY FERRY LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL GOOGLE MAPS PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

SINGAPORE A four day stopover enroute to France. Singapore is officially known as the Republic of Singapore. Raffles Hotel is the most famous hotel in Singapore. Singapore Sling The origin of the Singapore Sling Cocktail history dates back to the 1930's. Ingredients of gin, Grand Marnier, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, pineapple, lime, bitters and club soda. Inside Raffles Hotel patrons enjoy a sling in the Long Bar for greater than $30 US. Beer is much more reasonable priced and the peanuts are free. It's a long held tradition to grab a bag of provided unshelled peanuts, eat and throw the discarded shells on the Long Bar floor. Do this anywhere else in Singapore and expect a large fine. Feels comical among the plush décor and obviously well heeled clientele. Gardens By The Bay Is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) in the Central Region of Singapore. The park consists of three waterfront gardens. Supertrees are the 18 tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens' landscape with heights up to 50 metres (160 ft). The Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse in the world. Free nightly light shows. Free picnics are allowed on the green lawns. Marina Bay Sands Is a casino hotel topped with a boat like structure said to resemble a deck of cards. An infinity edge pool at a height of 66.5 m (218 ft) overlooks the Singapore skyline. Access for guests only. On this occasion we were caught out by an over flight of birds walking the F1 street track under construction for the upcoming race. The birds relieving themselves on us unsuspecting tourists walking below. Soiling our shirts. Singapore is a safe and clean city for tourists. Although, can be pricey. Traveldriven CLICK TO ENTER RAFFLES HOTEL GA RDENS BY THE BAY MARINA BAY SANDS NIGHT SKYLINE SINGAPORE RAFFLES HOTEL HAS GONE NUTS CLOUD FOREST, FLOWER DOME & SUPERTREES GARDENS BY THE BAY GARDENS BY THE BAY WATERFALL GARDENS BY THE BAY DOME STRUCTURES FOR PLANTS SINGAPORE DANCING LIGHT SHOW SINGAPORE LION MARINA BAY SINGAPORE GOOGLE MAPS PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Point Cook Is a bay side suburb of Melbourne. Twenty-two km south-west of the CBD. It has an operational RAAF Base. It is the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force, and is the home of the RAAF Museum. Point Cook wetlands surround much of the base. Prior reservations are required to enter the Base and view the museum. RAAF Base Point Cook On entry to the security gatehouse visitor's are issued with a day pass and continue driving to a carpark near to the museum. Old barrack buildings still remain. 'Warning beware of snakes' signs are placed on the outside walls of many of the old barracks. These area's are out of bounds to the public. People on the day, which was hot, didn't see any snakes. All public walkways are well clear and signposted. A few of the static strike aircraft on display are: McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet General Dynamics F-111G (nicknamed the flying pig) There are many other non-strike static aircraft displays. A one plane flying display with commentary is performed on selected days for the gathering of people attending the museum. This is performed above the main runway by a piston propelled warplane of a previous era. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP RAAF BASE POINT COOK GOOGLE MAPS RAAF MUSEUM POINT COOK BEWARE OF SNAKES SIGNAGE F I-11 FIGHTER BOMBER STATIC DISPLAY AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE PREV VICTORIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

BLARNEY CASTLE The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone . Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. There are many versions of the origin of the stone, including a claim that it was the Lia Fáil — a numinous stone upon which Irish kings were crowned. Wikipedia The highest tower of Barney Castle is twenty eight metres or ninety feet. Access to the Blarney Stone is via a tight spiral stone stairway inside one of the towers. The stairway spirals to the righthand side and has guard railing in place. The higher up the tighter the spiral. At the top exit is a mainly flat walkway leading to the Blarney Stone on the opposite side of the building. The walkway follows the ramparts inside the top stone outer walls. The internal structure is hollow down to ground level. All walkways have safety rails. Kiss the Barney Stone To kiss the Barney Stone one's legs are held firmly by two assistants and the person leans over backwards and down and faces upward on the parapet's edge. An assistant reaches down and wipes the stone clean between kisses. People are moved along and take stone stairs to ground level. There is no public access to Blarney Castle Dungeon. A small area can be viewed from the outside. The Castle grounds are quite interesting. Druid Stones, Grotto etc. Traveldriven BLARNEY CASTLE BENCH DRUID STONES THE DUNGEON DID THE BLARNEY STONE MOVE? IRISHNESS? THE BLARNEY STONE & BING CROSBY GARDEN ARCHWAY OF BLARNEY CASTLE PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Galway Is a city in County Galway in the West of Ireland. Drove to Galway. About eighty thousand residents. A city of shopfronts with winding streets. A micro Royal Mile of Edinburgh feeling if you like. Very pleasant wandering the city streets with many street performers. One in particular Irish dancing in the street to accordion music. Emma O'sullivan. Very well known in Ireland. Many video's are on Youtube. Traveldriven posted the below video of Emma to Youtube. This went viral and gained well in excess of one million views. Very unexpected. Originally described the video as tap dancing but it was pointed out Irish dancing is not tap dancing. Changed the video description then later went viral. A little bit guilty did not leave a tip in the bag. Traveldriven Galway https://www.google.com/maps/place/Galway,+Ireland   WALKING THE IRISH COUNTRYSIDE Emma O'sullivan Irish dancing ROSS CASTLE SIGNAGE ONLY IN IRELAND MURPHY'S PUB, MURPHY'S LAW MAD HATTERS OF DINGLE IRISH FLOWER BOAT STORM IN A TEA CUP STORE IRISH COAST GUARD PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

WACK - Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids. Show & Shine Fundraiser & optional gold coin donation at entry. May Park March Labour Day long weekend in Horsham, Victoria. Also on the same weekend is the fishing competition often attended by thousands of people camping on the banks of the Wimmera River. The Show & Shine is situated off Baillie Street and Dimboola Road. On the May Park grassed grounds. There are large grassed area's with shady palm trees. Two hundred and sixty vehicles on display. Many from the surrounding Western Victorian towns and farming communities. Usually there is great autumn weather. Horsham is a regional city in the Wimmera region of western Victoria. Horsham is approximately three hundred kilometres west of Melbourne. Traveldriven LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND FISHING COMPETITION Show & Shine 2024 OLD FORD TRUCK BIG ENGINE HOLDEN GRILLED FJ 186ci MUSTANG CREAM Show & Shine 2023 An old completely refitted out in new condition tray truck or ute. Mag wheels. No spoke rimmed spare tyre? Rabbit Trapper decals and rabbit hanging from side mirror. Stuffed and fake of course! No drinking and driving is the message authorities like to send and is a very sensible message to all. The above image has a skeleton holding a can of Victoria Bitter. Note the beer screw tops glued on the glovebox. All Australian beers. Early Ford stretched limo in need of a full paint respray. Bonnet, roof and boot paint in poor repair. Flying boot emblem. Electric windows. MAD MAX KAWASAKI Z900 Dale Bensch was a stuntman on the mad max (1979) moive set. He appeared as a stunt double for Jim Goose, MFB and as the donut rider in the main street. He also was one of the stunt riders on the country bridge crash scene. The urban myth created was he died as a result of the stunt going wrong. The bike unintentionally flipping over. However this was untrue. Nice swag tied down with straps and four into one pipes. A few arrivals at Show & Shine HORSHAM SHOW & SHINE 2020 HORSHAM SHOW & SHINE 2020 HORSHAM SHOW & SHINE 2018 MUSTANG SHELBY SUPER SNAKE EARLY MUSTANG BRIGHT RED LIGHT BLUE CONVERTIBLE MUSTANG WITH TOP UP NICE YELLOW SANDMAN TOWING VAN IN BACKGROUND EARLY MODEL RED MUSTANG CHERRY RED CONVERTIBLE MUSTANG REAR VIEW CHERRY RED CONVERTIBLE MUSTANG FRONT VIEW 1964 AND A HALF ON SIGN? EARLY MUSTANG BLUE COLOUR SHELBY SUPER SNAKE GT 500 5.4L 2008 PREV SHOW & SHINE NEXT HOMEPAGE

Abnormal Immune System Your body’s immune system protects you from dangerous organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, and cancer cells. If such organisms infect an otherwise healthy body, the immune system reacts by producing antibodies and an increased number of specific blood cells (called lymphocytes), which try to overcome the infection. An overactive immune system can also cause problems: some people have an overactive immune system that attacks the normal healthy cells of the body. This is called an autoimmune reaction and may lead to potentially life-threatening situations such as those with a diagnosis of CIDP. CORONAVIRUS PREPPING CORONAVIRUS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION AND VACCINES EASTER EGGS & COVID-19 ISOLATION COVID-19 PANDEMIC & SELF ISOLATION PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

THREDBO SKI VILLAGE Thredbo is a village and ski resort in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of Sydney, accessible by the Alpine Way via Cooma, Berridale, and Jindabyne. The village is built in the valley of the Thredbo River, also known as the Crackenback River, at the foot of the Ramshead Range. Lake Crackenback is seventeen km from Thredbo. A very small lake with foreshore holiday units. Popular for lakeside fishing. The town has around 4,150 beds, but a permanent population of only about 471 people. When the mountain is fully covered by snow, Thredbo has the longest ski runs in Australia, and this attracts around 700,000 winter visitors annually. In summer, Thredbo is a hiking and summer sport destination, including rock climbing and abseiling, fishing, cross-country cycling and downhill MTB riding and hosts a blues music festival. Approximately 550ks from Melbourne. Driving from Corryong then on to the Victorian/New South Wales border. The fully sealed Alpine Way road begins and passes through Thredbo and continues to Jindabyne, the closest town in New South Wales. Kosciuszko Express Chairlift From Thredbo Village the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift operates 365 days a year. 1.8km in length and rises to a height of 560 metres. The open scenic chairlift takes 15 minutes one way to Eagles Nest restaurant, Australia’s highest restaurant and closest access point to Mount Kosciuszko. A walking track of 13km return. I visited in summer and did not use it. I don’t like heights. The open chairlift has since been replaced by an enclosed gondola. The Man From Snowy River Poem " The Man from Snowy River " is a famous poem by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. First verse: There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from Old Regret had got away, And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight, For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are, And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight. Verse thirteen and poem finish: And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise Their torn and rugged battlements on high, Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze At midnight in the cold and frosty sky, And where around the Overflow the reed -beds sweep and sway To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide, The man from Snowy River is a household word today, And the stockmen tell the story of his ride. Banjo Paterson Early History The Man From Snowy River was penned in the late eighteen hundreds. Australia was finding it's own identity in the world. A group of colonies. England still the highest authority in the land. Australia not yet a Federation of states. Australians looked for inspirations in something they could relate to. Tales from far off foreign shores losing relevancy. Stories and poems from the bush were told and written about. The characters be they real or fictional showed traits Australians admired. Resourcefulness and fairness in a land they were now accustomed too. Be it city or country. Poems were able to be printed and made available to the general public via newspapers of the day. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP THREDBO GOOGLE MAPS JINDABYNE GOOGLE MAPS THREDBO SKI VILLAGE NSW SKI FIELDS CORRYONG TO JINDABYNE THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER CORRYONG VICTORIA Lake Crackenback New South Wales LOOKING DOWN ON THREDBO By Toby Hudson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?crid=9390276 PREV NSW NEXT HOMEPAGE

The Hotham Alpine Resort is a Victorian ski resort. Located on the slopes of Mount Hotham. The ski resort comprises an alpine village, situated at an altitude of 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) above mean sea level. Hotham Alpine Resort is located along the Great Alpine Road on Mount Hotham Victoria. Embarking on a picturesque journey along the Great Alpine Road during the enchanting autumn months provided a unique and unforgettable experience. As I traversed through the winding roads, nature decided to surprise me with a touch of winter magic as Mount Hotham was blanketed with its first layer of snow for the season shortly after my passage. The weather took a dramatic turn as I made my way through the region, encountering heavy rain and strong winds that swept across Mount Hotham in the afternoon, followed by a similar weather pattern driving through Dinner Plain during the late morning. Navigating through the challenging conditions with my fog lights illuminating the path ahead, I continued my journey through the thick fog, eventually arriving at the charming town of Bright nestled on the other side of the majestic mountains. Autumn and winter a blend of seasons that added a unique charm to the landscape. The changing weather conditions only added to the allure of the journey, making it a truly memorable adventure filled with unexpected twists and turns. Large trucks are a common sight on the Great Alpine Road, traversing the winding mountainous terrain with their massive size and power. These trucks play a crucial role in transporting goods and materials across the region, ensuring that essential supplies reach their destinations efficiently. During the snow season, the road conditions on the Great Alpine Road can become treacherous and challenging to navigate. As a result, car wheel chains are not just recommended but required to enhance traction and ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. These chains provide vehicles with the necessary grip to maneuver through the icy and snowy roads, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring a smoother journey. Both large trucks and regular vehicles must adhere to these safety measures to minimize the impact of adverse weather conditions on travel along the Great Alpine Road. By following these guidelines, drivers can help maintain the flow of traffic and prevent disruptions caused by inclement weather, ultimately promoting safety for all road users. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP HOTHAM ALPINE RESORT GOOGLE MAPS IN REALTIME BRIGHT GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE VICTORIA GREAT ALPINE ROAD MOUNT HOTHAM ALPINE ROAD PREV VICTORIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

Most of the Victorian and New South Wales border is separated and defined by the Murray River. The Murray River flows and extends into the state of South Australia. There are many regional towns along the banks of the river. Most of the larger towns are on the Victorian side. The Victorian and New South Wales towns are divided by the river. The state they are in depends on the side they are located on. There is no river border defined in South Australia as the river is all in the one State. There are numerous river locks in South Australia to maintain an adequate water level. The South Australian town of Renmark has riverboat tours as does Echuca in Victoria. A few river towns have daily river tours. Traveldriven MURRAY RIVER TOWNS DRIVEN RIGHT TO LEFT OF MAP UPPER MURRAY RIVER VICTORIA TOWARDS MURRAY RIVER OUTLET SOUTH AUSTRALIA..... Melbourne CBD driving distance to Wodonga Vic. via National Highway M31(Hume Fwy) Approx. 321km Sydney CBD driving distance to Albury NSW via National Highway M31(Hume Fwy) Approx. 553 km ALBURY-WODONGA NSW/VIC CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/AlburyWodonga Wodonga driving distance to Yarrawonga Victoria. via Murray Valley Hwy/B400 Approx. 90 km YARRAWONGA VIC CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yarrawonga Yarrawonga driving distance to Echuca Victoria. via Murray Valley Hwy/B400 Approx. 91 km ECHUCA VIC CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Echuca Echuca driving distance to Swan Hill Victoria via Murray Valley Hwy/B400 Approx. 154 km SWAN HILL VIC CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swan+Hill Swan Hill driving distance to Mildura Victoria via Murray Valley Hwy and Sturt Hwy/A20 Approx. 223 km MILDURA VIC CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mildura Mildura driving distance to Renmark SA via National Highway A20 Approx. 137 km RENMARK SA CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Renmark Renmark driving distance to Mannum SA via National Highway A20 Approx. 208 km MANNUM SA CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mannum Mannum driving distance to Murray Bridge SA via Mannum Rd Approx. 33 km MURRAY BRIDGE SA CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Murray+Bridge+SA Murray Bridge driving distance to Tailem Bend SA via National Highway A1 Approx. 25 km TAILEM BEND SA CLICK/TAP REALTIME UPDATE https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tailem+Bend+SA Tailem Bend to Adelaide South Australia via National Highway M1 Approx. 96 km Captain Proud Murray River paddleboat cruises from Murray Bridge, South Australia. Caged Bunyip Murray Bridge. Sturt Reserve. Kayak the bend in the Murray River at Renmark RENMARK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA RIVER TOWN RENMARK PREV VICTORIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

Sydney Harbour Tourist Attractions Sydney Harbour is a part of the Port Jackson waterway area. As is Middle Harbour and North Harbour. Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, all form the natural harbour waterways of Sydney, New South Wales. The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney Harbour are together both one of the most known Australian icons. Great tourist harbour views of the bridge are from the Opera House. The bridge is often called the coat hanger in Australian slang. Sydney Tourist Attractions The Opera House is in effect part of Circular Quay where many water ferries are boarded. Take a water taxi from Circular Quay to Luna Park amusements across the harbour or to Darling Harbour tourist attractions. A water taxi is a convenient scenic and a fast ten minute trip on the harbour. Prices may vary so check first. While at Circuar Quay a few tourist providers may be seen dressed as Captain Cook. Enticing people with travel plans. It is not uncommon to encounter a handful of enthusiastic individuals who take on the persona of the famous explorer Captain Cook. These providers go to great lengths to capture the essence of this historical figure, donning elaborate costumes complete with white wigs and long coat tails. Their goal is to attract the attention of passersby and engage them in conversations about travel opportunities and exciting adventures. While some may attempt to mimic a British accent to enhance the authenticity of their portrayal, there is no guarantee that every "Captain Cook" you encounter will sound like a true Brit. Nonetheless, these dedicated individuals play a unique role in adding a touch of whimsy and historical charm to the tourist experience, making them a memorable sight for visitors exploring new destinations. Walk the Historic ‘Rocks’ from Circular Quay and grab a coffee next to the Opera House. Climb the Harbour Bridge if heights are no problem. Bookings essential. Traveldriven SYDNEY CURRENT FIVE DAY FORECAST ENTER CLICK/TAP SYDNEY HARBOUR DARLING HARBOUR GOOGLE MAPS THE ROCKS, SYDNEY CBD PREV NSW NEXT PREV AUSTRALIA ICONS NEXT

Hamilton Island The Great Barrier Reef The island is a tourist mecca of the Whitsunday Islands Group in Queensland, Australia. All types of accommodation and tourist activities. Located approximately 887 kilometres (551 mi) north of Brisbane. Hamilton Island Airport is serviced by commercial domestic flights from all over Australia. High rise units are some of the many accommodation sites available. There is an 18 hole golf course on neighbouring Dent Island. Daydream Island is serviced daily by ferry and is 18 km distant. Boat cruises depart for Whitehaven Beach on a high speed catamaran. The beach thirty minutes away. Visitors on Hamilton Island use golf buggies as a means of getting about. Regular public bus services run on the island. Watersports hired on Hamilton Island's Catseye Beach are within quick walking distance from high rise accommodation. Sailing catamarans are available for hourly hire from Catseye Beach. Prior little experience required. All must stay within the confines of Catseye Bay. Hire a Sailboat on Catseye Bay I wanted to try a little sailing. Others did not want to join in so I hired a Hobie Getaway catamaran for a solo sail of a few hours. The hire person said any prior sailing experience would be useful. Or perhaps not to go solo. Some time ago I was told, but not shown, how to manoeuvre a small sailboat and I had gleaned sailing basics online without being on water. I said beginner sailing experience. The hire person, a girl no older than twenty in a brief bikini, instructed don't leave the confines of Catseye Bay as the off shore currents will overcome the sailing capacity of the cat and be pushed dozens of kilometres away further along The Great Barrier Reef. Rescue of Sailors in Difficulty The young girls quote, 'I am watching the craft on the bay if any unlikely incidents happen I will attend and assist' she explained. Appearances did not give confidence. However, she must be competent to have the job. The Getaway sailboat has a a full-batten mainsail, dual transom-hung rudders and no keel or dagger boards. A mast-top float and righting line to right the boat upon capsize. Five metres in length and a beam over two metres. Mast length of 7.6 metres. Both rudders are steered in tandem by the steering tiller. Stalled in Wind Catseye Bay is 1.7 km wide by 800 metres. With life jacket on, but no person to boat tether, I jibed to the left of the bay and stalled in slight gusting wind. Mainsail fluttering and the Getaway sailboat drifting towards a shoreline of rocks. Unable to steer about. Maybe assistance is already needed. The thought of rescue by an attractive woman in a bikini very pleasant but embarrassing. However, ten minutes of a few failed tacking attempts and the cat turned around. Wind billowing the sail. Solo Sailing Fun The cat took off like a rocket across the bay. Tacked starboard towards land and shot 1.5 km on return, further out this time. Slowed, using the tiller and tacked back again. Watching movement of waves for the gusting wind and the thin telltales sailcloth on the cat. Did not capsize once. Upon tacking moving body weight from port to starboard and back was essential to avoid tipping. If parted away from the cat for any reason the speed was such, attempting to catch and reboarding the cat impossible. Great experience as the breeze freshened. Jibed and tacked many times lifting the hull clear of the water on occasion. Enjoyed sailing solo for several hours. Great fun. Alas, no need for a rescue. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP HAMILTON ISLAND GOOGLE MAPS ISLAND SUNSET SAILING A GETAWAY SAILBOAT IN STRONG WIND PREV BARRIER REEF NEXT PREV QUEENSLAND NEXT HOMEPAGE