The time had come to leave Benabbio. There were many things I would miss, the tranquility and beauty not least. I never tired of the mountains that surrounded us
and the mesmerising mist that awaited when I opened the bedroom shutters in the morning.
No matter where we wandered in the village, the mountains followed us.
We were sad to say goodbye to beautiful Benabbio and our new found friends
but there were more adventures awaiting us.
While travelling with my sister when she was here on holiday, we followed the Channel Highway south from Hobart. The day was overcast and calm and we felt a contented peace as we meandered through the drizzle. We pulled over at Gordon, not realising the Foreshore Reserve is usually a popular camping spot.
The boatshed and ramp were deserted and, apart from a couple of brave souls, there was no-one in sight.
The subdued beauty of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island beyond was breathtaking.
The channel and island were named after Rear-Admiral Bruni D’Entrecasteaux who discovered them in 1792 while searching for missing fellow explorer, Jean François La Pérouse (he was never found).
We were mesmerised by the ethereal silence that cocooned us
and reluctantly, we continued on our journey.
Leaving Caernarfon, we followed the Menai Strait northward with the Isle of Anglesey across the water to our left. The Menai Bridge was built to carry traffic between Anglesey and mainland Wales.
Construction began in 1819 with the towers on either side of the strait, built using stone from Penmon quarry on the island.
It was the first iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world, completed in 1826.
We walked across the bridge, stopping to admire the view northward to the Irish Sea.
We couldn’t resist a visit to nearby Penrhyn Castle.
It’s not really a castle at all but a country house built to resemble a Norman castle.
Created between 1820 and 1833, Penrhyn was built on the site of a 14th century manor house and is now owned by the National Trust.
After exploring the gorgeous restored interior, we strolled through the grounds.
The countryside was breathtaking, with views across Snowdonia National Park
and north to Llandudno and the Great Orme.
Whether you love or loathe the idea of a mock castle, you can’t help but be impressed by the workmanship.
This year we crossed another item off our bucket list. Having seen those TV programs of trans-continental train journeys, we thought how nice it would be to just relax on a train and be transported from one side of the country to the other. One Wednesday in August, we flew to Sydney to experience our own 4,352km rail odyssey. Arriving at Central Station early, the engine of the Indian Pacific was waiting patiently at the platform.
We checked in our luggage and walked into the city for some lunch. When we returned, the carriages lined both sides of the platform.
We sipped beverages and nibbled canapés while being entertained for an hour or so prior to boarding.
We found our cabin
and made ourselves at home
as we left Central Station behind.
Once our carriage attendant had familiarised us with the routine and off-train excursions, we made our way along the corridor,
through four carriages, to the Outback Explorer Lounge.
Many an hour was whiled away and a few bevvies imbibed in the comfort of the lounge.
I finished the book on the journey and left it behind for others to enjoy. The superb meals were served in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant and it was a great way to get to know our fellow travellers.
While we were out, the cabin elves created a cosy bedroom.
There was only one thing left to do after a long day.
On the last weekend of the guitar making course, Michael had some time off between coats of oil. The two of us took a drive to Abetone, a renowned skiing resort in the Apennines. There were remnants of snow on the alps and a bracing crispness in the air.
We parked the car just as some Vespa enthusiasts were leaving.
The town was very quiet,
most of the shops had closed and the hotels and holiday chalets were waiting patiently for next season.
The view from the Hotel Bellavista was stunning, the ski runs clearly visible between the trees.
The chairlifts had been put to bed for the summer.
There weren’t many places open for lunch but fortunately, we found La Casina. The open fire and cosy ambience were perfect
along with the delicious food. The staff spoke no English and we inadvertently ordered roasted balsamic onions as our vegetable side dish.
We walked further after lunch, accompanied by magnificent scenery.
Our stroll through a tranquil beech forest was cut short by two rather unfriendly dogs who didn’t like us on their turf.
From the higher ground, we had a different perspective of the alps
and of the town nestled snugly in the valley.
It was time to wend our way back to Benabbio for that final coat of oil and our last night at Villa San Rocco.
cannonhillchronicles 