And then the plans change...

All of a sudden this Coronavirus situation becomes more urgent.  New Zealand has announced that anyone entering the country will have to self isolate for two weeks. We had deluded ourselves to think that we could carry on.  Surely we could keep to ourselves since we were going to drive all around New Zealand.  But then we realize what about the accommodations, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. that we would have to go to.  Hmmmm....maybe this is not possible as self isolation really means staying in your home.  Now we hear that there are substantial fines for anyone that does not follow the rules and we’re not even sure of the rules.

Then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that all Canadians that are abroad need to come home before the end of March. Countries are closing borders, airlines are cancelling flights.  Very quickly things are escalating.  We need to get home and so we cancel plans for the east coast and New Zealand.  How disappointing however we have enjoyed 7 wonderful weeks so far.  Now our priority is to get an Emergency Passport for Marlene.  Marlene is in touch with the consulate in Canberra but now we have to fly to Canberra to get the passport.  Then we will fly to Brisbane to and fly home direct.   Air New Zealand is no longer flying to Vancouver.  Quantas is shutting down.  We don’t want to fly through the states as we don’t know what would happen if the border between Canada and the U.S. closes.  We choose Air Canada direct and even then there are no seats in economy for at least a week.  This works for us as we need time to get Marlene’s passport so we manage to book a flight on March 26th.  Hopefully it won’t be cancelled!  It costs $1300.00 each for the one way flight.  That’s the same price we paid for our whole flight but we’re happy to have it.  Anything to get home. 

We spend a day booking flights and hotel rooms and cancelling all the arrangements we had made for the next 6 weeks.  A lot of this is non refundable!  Hopefully I will return to finish this holiday one day.  We then need to de stress and take some time to relax.  We go in to Narre Warren and get our hair cut.  Feels sooooo....good!

The next day we go in to Melbourne to take the boat down the Yarra River to Williamstown which is Melbourne’s first port settlement starting in 1835.

We arrive this morning by train.  Everything is quieter than normal as more and more businesses close or are eerily empty of customers

We go to the river to buy our tickets for the cruise to Williamstown which leaves at 10:30.

We go to this cafe called La Camera who has made the news with the measures they are taking to keep the restaurant open and yet make it safe.  As we enter we have our temperature checked.  Looked like I was being shot with a laser gun.  We pass the test and enjoy a wonderful cappuccino on the patio overlooking the river.

We board our boat for the 50 minute cruise down the river to Williamstown.

And off we go.

Nice day....warm but not too hot.

There are the most amazing buildings here.

We leave Melbourne behind...

We go by the docks where they are loading container ships.

And approach Williamstown.