Birthday trip - planning...

[dalekboy]

As some of you know, I've talked about doing a 40th Birthday trip where I hit Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth over the course of a few weeks so I can catch up with my friends in those cities.

I figure my Sydney mates can make the trip to Canberra *grin*

Would love to drive it but the expense (plus the fact that I'd probably need to be away from home for a month or so if I drove) means I'm thinking planes. And at the moment I can get some great fares.

Anyway, these are my probable dates for those of you who'd like to help me celebrate my 40th.

Melbourne - Fri 7th to Wed 12th Sept

Adelaide - Wed 12th to Fri 14th Sept

Perth - Fri 14th to... not sure...

Perth is up in the air as to when I'd leave. I may just fly back to Canberra from Perth, or hire a car and do a round trip to Eucla for my actual birthday, or I might finally get the train after all these years of wanting to.

Have discounted putting my car on the train and then driving back simply because of the expense involved. It's actually cheaper for me to drive both ways, than train/drive.

I have to book flights by tomorrow night to get in cheap.

Thoughts? Ideas? Alternate schemes?

Comments

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

Sounds incredible - and I can't wait!

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Be nice to catch up with my Perth family

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

*purrrrryneess*

I keep wanting to call you, but it's always at the most definitely inconvenient times. Don't take my silence as anything other than being disorganised, but sending loving thoughts in any case :)

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

I'm utterly crap on the phone at the moment anyway. Phone calls are exhausting me way more than normal for some reason... And I keep not getting off them when I should, because I kind of forget.

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

My holding off may also be partly this as well...

I do miss the sound of your voice though.

*love*

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool. You got places to stay?

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Will start to figure that once I've locked down dates. The problem with all the destinations is the wanting to stay with old friends, and people I want to get to know better.

I'm always worried someone will be offended.

[harveystoat.livejournal.com]

Dude... Perth is THE fun destination capital of this, or any other, world. We would love having you back. :-) Who are the flights with?

The train would be a wonderful experience, methinks.

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Going with Virgin, since I'm a member and it builds up points for later cheap/free flights.

Will see how I'm feeling, but would like to do the train since I've never done it.

Take the train...

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

...if you can afford the 1st class sleeper.

Cattle class is to be avoided at all costs on long distance train travel; conversely the 1st class ride is to be sought out at every opportunity especially if you have people to travel with.

Sitting in the smoke-free lounge car with the bar just over there a ways chatting with friends (and playing boardgames because we could) as we crossed the nullabor to Aussiecon III is one of my fondest memories. The food was great, the service superb.

The Overlander from Adelaide to Melbourne is not as good as the Indian Pacific. I haven't done the IP from Adelaide to Sydney yet but want to one of these days.

Re: Take the train...

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. If you do take the train you could go all the way to Sydney then hire a car and drive to Sydney.

If you do decide to do this, and want company, let me know...

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I think this may be one of those weird things where you'll be in Melbourne when I'm in Sydney, but I'm hoping you'll be back in Canberra by Conflux?

[purrdence.livejournal.com]

We could smuggle you into Femmecon.... *evil grins*

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Alas, I shall miss you, as I shall be in Japan.
If you were coming down to Melbourne a little later, like the 21st of Spetmeber, there is War of the Worlds! Bwaahahahaahaaaaa

[fred-mouse.livejournal.com]

I took the train across (in cattle class) many years ago, and it was very much worth it. Mind you, in those days I think that it was still cheaper to take the train than fly, and I'm not so sure that that is the case any more.

40th birthday

[kattilz.livejournal.com]

Bring it on, it would be great to see you again........

[gutter-monkey.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be selling tour merchandise? I want a "Danny Oz National tour 2007" tshirt!

[damienps.livejournal.com]

I'd love to meet up when you get to Melbourne but I now work afternoon shift Monday to Friday so it would have to be on the Saturday or the Sunday.

[magnapops.livejournal.com]

Let us know what you have planned on the weekend and we will make the trip down to Melbourne to catch up.

[rendragon.livejournal.com]

*puts Danny dates in her diary so she can't double book herself this time*

Hoping we can 'cross paths' this time you're in Melbourne :)

[lobelet.livejournal.com]

Don't forget you have friends in New Zealand as well. We'd love to see you in Wellington.

[l-zinkiewicz.livejournal.com]

Good for you, doing this -- I thought about doing something flash for my 40th (tomorrow) but just haven't got the energy. Am trying to get a new job instead...