On August 29 in 1983 we arrived as Immigrants in Georgia, USA

 Hard to believe that on August 29 of 1983, now 39 years ago, we flew with our Mauzie–girl on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam to Atlanta...

There were no FREE GIFTS upon arrival

NO FREE CELLPHONES

NO BUSES WAITING TO BRING US TO POSH HOTELS...

Sanctuary Cities did NOT yet exist at that time.

We paid our own way, came with a lot of specialized expertise and we came with our legal documents!

And we LOVED to come to the USA under President Reagan! 🇺🇸

We got picked up by a Campbell colleague and set up our bed and by 3:00 we went to sleep...

Happy in front of our new home... no garden yet but we were HOME with Mauzie–girl our Dachshund.

Happy Pieter, wearing one of his Indonesian batik shirts on September 11, 1983.

Happy me on September 11!

On August 30, Pieter put the pedals on his bike and left for the store to find something edible, while I searched for some china and cutlery in the 30 boxes...

The wicker basket on top of shelf in boiler room got used for Mauzie to ride with us on the bike before the real basket arrived...

By 12:30 we went to Dairy Queen with Campbell colleague Ed, who'd picked us up the day before.

He also went with us to Bell South for a phone and then on to Macon to Huckabee, a Honey of a Deal in order to buy our 1st American car.

Buick Century 4–door Sedan

Now we can drive around and start our NEW LIFE!

Mauzie loved our new car and she got to ride in it often.

Pieter had already purchased this Whirlpool washer and dryer set when he was alone in Georgia for two weeks, prior to our immigration.

On August 31, our refrigerator/freezer got delivered and the guy gave a demonstration of the washer.

A favorite Lois jeans from Pieter shrunk and came out too short... MALE😏!

On September 2, our phone got finally connected and I called Mom right away at 11:30.

She sure was glad to finally get a token of life.

Ed had promised to let the phone ring 3 x upon our arrival (would not cost him anything...) but he'd not done so. Mom & Dad could barely sleep after our very first departure; so worried!

We've kept that routine all those years, whenever we got home we let the phone ring 7 x and that way they knew we're home safe!

September 3, shower curtains got hung...

Oh that ugly wall paper in our bathroom and the carpet!

It was a new built home but not 'all' our taste.

Guest bathroom was less wild... 

Of course a mushroom towel!

Also managed to cook my first meal on this huge stove.

Dutch appliances were by far not as big!

On Sunday, September 4, I ironed all newly bought curtains and Pieter hung them.

Mauzie happy in her oak pet bed...

Those wool Smyrna rugs with roses got hand made by me—knotted with a latch.

Two ovals beside the bed and one half round behind the bed.

Our then living room.

A strange construction with 2 steps down into living room area.

Sure glad we don't have that anymore!

Mauzie looks at us from kitchen.

From kitchen looking into veranda with screens — no windows!

We never understood WHY they build like that as the rain came inside and also the pollen and dust...

Mauzie in an empty veranda and me peeking out of kitchen door.

Mauzie in office with organ...

On October 6 our new TV got connected...

Quite a story as I answered the door and a tall black man said in dialect: 'I come to hook up your TV'...

Hook up was strange to me but I'd heard the word TV and knew what he came for.

So the curtains are hanging and a TV but not yet a wood stove...

Also on October 6, my Singer sewing machine got delivered!

Slowly things started to look like being complete and yes, like back in The Netherlands—we had houseplants!

Also on October 6, in one of the 90 total of 40–foot containers that came from The Netherlands to the harbor of Savannah for the construction of the mushroom farm, came Mauzie's basket for on our bike.

Before we had her in a wicker shopping basket but that was not so safe, she fell out once...

Happy with that and ready for a spin! 

Mauzie loved to ride with us.

On Sunday, October 9, I dropped Pieter off at the Atlanta airport, he had to fly to Michigan for Campbell Soup.

Remember, we had but ONE car, so I drove home alone with Mauzie.

Got a phone call next day that our silk rug from Kashmir had arrived at the Customs.

Pieter had ordered it, more or less the same as he'd left behind with Thea, his ex...

She got the house, all the furniture, a brand new car and some cash as Pieter was so happy with finding true love and now he wanted to close the book of living 27 years like brother and sister...

On October 12, I drove to Delta Air Cargo in Atlanta with the photo album from Pieter's trip to Kashmir.

{Part X Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Srinagar, J & K Silk & Wool Rugs - Pashminas} ←click link

A very friendly female customs agent handled it and I paid a very reasonable fee.

Then I went to the airport with Mauzie and I'd gone to the gate and spread out the silk rug and placed Mauzie on it.

She growled at anyone daring to step ON it...

Pieter smiled when he walked out of the plane and saw us; ONLY you could pull something like that off he said!

Oh, on November 20, when we all three came back from The Netherlands on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Pieter looked puzzled as the same female customs agent hugged me as she recognized me!

Here is our new silk rug from Kashmir, together with some Dutch pewter on our oak coffee table in the living room.

Top right is our Reuge music box from Switzerland; a precious gift Pieter once received for his helpful advice to solve mushroom related problems.

Writer Pieter J.C. Vedder at his oak secretary desk.

Due to his previous 'marriage' of 27 years, living like brother and sister, the world gained the prized 'mushroom bible'. 

Pieter's 1st Dutch edition was published in 1961. 

After 5 Dutch editions, it also got published in English. Now a total of 8 languages and we published our newest, most complete edition in 20020: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting ←click it

On October 29, Pieter built this little plastic green house to shelter tender plants for winter cold.

We also purchased some wood for our wood burner that got stacked up against the house.

On November 22, our new wood stove got delivered!

Mauzie loved being in her basket in front of it and I loved to knit.

That huge bottle of 3.7 liter (0.97 gallon) wine was a gift from our mushroom friends in Italy and we emptied that on New Years Eve in the Highlands, North Carolina with 12 friends.

On December 8, another container had arrived, in which our newly bought rattan set also was transported to the mushroom plant's site.

So our kitchen bay window area now also got filled up!

My hand crocheted table cloth on top of rattan table.

We were really having a home again by the end of 1983.

Related links:

{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me

August 29, 1983 We Immigrated to the USA | previous post by me

Our First Christmas and DEEP Frost in Georgia | previous post by me

More about Mauzie our Dachshund that Immigrated to the USA | previous post by me

HEALTHY HEART recipe for CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP

 For both of us it is a MUST to prepare our own meals.

So here I love to share with you a Healthy Heart Recipe.

Also for Chronic Kidney Disease where Low Sodium Food is KEY!

CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP...

Any time I see some great quality mushrooms at Costco, I grab them for using in our kitchen.

These were Baby Bella, 680 g or 24 oz.

For Mushroom Quality Criteria:

{What YOU should LOOK for when Buying Fresh Mushrooms} ←click link to my previous post.

~

Pieter had found at Walmart Supercenter, Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Low Sodium Soup and than it disappeared...

So we contacted Campbell's Soup.

It was already on April 19, of this year, that we got a courteous email reply from Mr. Alex Jablokov, Manager, Sales Operations—Campbell's Foodservice.

We even got a direct link to Amazon for: Campbell's Classic Low Sodium Ready to Serve Cream of Mushroom Soup, 7.25 Oz, Pack of 24 ←click it.

INGREDIENTS:

24 oz of fresh baby bella, cleaned and sliced

1 bunch of chopped green onions

4–7.25 oz cans of low sodium cream of mushroom 

1–14 oz can of coconut milk

3 teaspoons of spicy curry

2 teaspoons of turmeric

pepper to taste

2 tablespoons of butter

Sauté green onions in 2 tablespoons of butter, add sliced ​​mushrooms and spices

Simmer for 5 minutes. Add coconut milk and 4 cans of Cream of Mushroom Low Sodium Soup, let heat through and SERVE...

Made this soup on June 30, after coming back from my solo trip to Europe and I used the double yellow Kalanchoe plant as a quick accent.

The yellow goes well with the soup due to the use of Spicy Curry powder and Turmeric.

Served in our French Pillivuyt soup cups with the Bridal Rose (Sterling, 1903 ) by Alvin soup spoon.

ENJOY!

Husband Pieter's 1994, 4th of July Speech

 About time for sharing this special speech by husband Pieter, delivered on the 4th of July at the Dublin stadion before fireworks.

If watching video click on CC Closed Caption!Pieter has written several speeches in his life time and he spoke at The International Society for Mushroom Science (ISMS) Congress numerous times. Always in a foreign language though...~

The 4th of July 1994

Thanks for the kind introduction; now you know almost all about the two of us. 

For the introduction of a speaker a typical question always is, what is exactly your title?

In a certain booklet we found that there is actually no prouder title than to be an American Citizen. 

Although the weather is not cooperating too well, today we have something really important to celebrate as you all know we celebrate Uncle Sam's 218th Birthday, the birth of this great nation.

In the introduction, you have heard that we are new Americans, although we came to this country already in 1983.

My wife's love–affair with the United States started in April of 1983; her very first visit to the New World.

Some Campbell Soup people taught her at that time some history by visiting Rockford (Grand Rapids), Michigan, where President Ford grew up. They thought maybe she was homesick and thus they brought her to Holland in Michigan. 

She was not homesick but just absorbing all she could about this fascinating New World. 

One of the highlights was the visit to Chestnut Street in Philadelphia; to the Independence Hall—the home of the Liberty Bell, a shrine of Patriotism for all Americans.

There we learned more about Life with a capital 'L' and also about Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

The next day we flew to Dublin, Georgia and there we fell deeper and deeper in love with the New World. 

So, in August of 1983, we came to live here.

This was Our Pursuit of Happiness.

Last year we got our American Citizenship and since then we can say: we are Dutch by birth and Americans by choice, and we are proud of both. 

There are a couple of reasons for that pride. Maybe you didn't know, but the Dutch, of any nation, have the longest uninterrupted friendly relationship with the U.S. and for sure we like to keep it that way.

It was on November 16 in 1776, that the Fort on the Dutch Island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean returned the salute from the American warship Andrea Dorea, as it entered the harbor. 

 This was the first salute by a foreign power to the flag of the United States of America. 

As the history books say: this was a very courageous action by the Dutch, and it enhanced the diplomatic credibility of the United States of America. 

It also gave a strong boost to the moral of the revolutionary troops.

So, today it is 218 years ago that the U.S. has been founded.

In the Dutch tradition, Birthdays always are important events, often celebrated with an all–day open house, birthday gifts etc.

A good question, not only for us but for all immigrants could be: 'Why did you come to the U.S.?

What did we expect to find here what we eventually didn't have in the country where we lived before? 

Although a lot of things have changed since then, the answer will be more or less identical to what brought the founding fathers to this of the world over 200 years ago.

The most important reason for them was the freedom and the space to live in the broadest sense.

The freedom to believe in God in different ways; the freedom to have your own opinion, the opportunity to develop yourself up to the limits etc. 

On this Birthday we should never forget that the Founding Fathers, and after them numerous immigrants, have for sure not chosen the easiest way. They didn't find a paradise; they just found a place with almost unlimited opportunities, but they had to be explored. 

Very important also is that their Freedom was based on a STRONG MORAL AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

That, in combination with hard work, made this country into what it is today; in our opinion the best country to live in.

We have a number of good reasons to make this statement.

As you perhaps know, or picked up from the introduction, for our job we traveled and still do, all over the world and lived in several countries.

We lived in Dublin, Georgia from 1983 through 1988 and after that in Italy and Indonesia.

We more and more discovered what a great country the U.S. is to live in; we got homesick and looked for every opportunity to return.

With O'Henry we can say, "You can't appreciate home 'till yu've left it... or old glory 'till you see it hanging on a broomstick on the shanty of a consul in a foreign town."

We think Americans in general don't realize how blessed they are, too many things we just take for granted. 

Especially the younger generation should realize that it hasn't been always this good, just travel the world and find out how spoiled in fact we are.

As the Founding Fathers long time ago, we've found our real happiness in this country. 

We often have to answer the question why we've chosen to live in America. 

We think we are able to give a reasonable answer because we can compare.

Our standard answer to that question is: The U.S. is for sure not paradise and not the ideal society because it is built up by some 250 million human beings. But traveling over the world, we can assure you that you will have a hard time to find a better place to live. Therefore, we have good reasons to be thankful and to celebrate the Birthday of this great nation. 

Like in the Dutch tradition, we should not come to a Birthday party with empty hands; one has to carry a gift.

What kind of a gift could we come up with for the Birthday of our country?

The most appropriate gift in our opinion would be that we promise to contribute our share in what the Founding Fathers once started.

They worked hard to develop this country, made it prosperous and a better place to live for everybody. They installed and maintained high moral values, based on a strong believe in God.

They've shown the world that they could handle their freedom.

Our forefathers didn't contribute frivolous gifts to this country.

So, let's celebrate this Birthday of our nation not only with a spectacular firework but let us wrap up a big box for Uncle Sam, containing:

A huge amount of humility, a lot of tolerance, respect for each other and patience, the most of integrity and compassion and a strong will to share freely with others.

Thank you Founding Fathers!

Happy Birthday Uncle Sam, we love this country.

May God bless this nation and all of us.

~
Happy 247th Independence Day!

900 impressions on LinkedIn...

Related links:{December 30, 1993 U.S. flag flown over U.S. Capitol for both of us!} | previous post by me {The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776} | previous post by me{4th of July Speech given by my husband Pieter} | previous post by me

Pieter's Nettleton Shoes – Another Royal Gift

Pieter over the decades has been greatly appreciated for his helpful advice to mushroom growers worldwide.

From Ben (Bernardo J.) Penturelli in Reading, Pennsylvania, who worked with Campbell Soup's Mushroom Division at the time, Pieter got these sent as a gift to his Dutch home in 1980.

For helping solve their mushroom farms' problems and for the courtesies extended during their recent trip to the Practical Mushroom Training College in Horst, The Netherlands.

Here are Pieter's Nettleton shoes.

From the side and visible is the hand stitched sole.

We had picked them up at the cobbler in Atlanta after he'd added 1 cm to the right shoe.

Pieter's middle brother played a trick on him when he was about 9 years old, by pulling the chair from under him and he fell. Thereby hurting his tail bone and it completely shifted to one side.

That made him have his left leg 1 cm longer, always had to take that into consideration when hemming up his pants.

As he ages, it kind of bothered him more and having the sole adjusted is a great comfort for having less pressure on his tailbone.

When biking and I ride behind him, I can tell he leans to one side on the saddle, also due to the shifted tailbone...

Well, so far he has made it to high age but it sure was a nasty trick with serious and lasting consequences.

Pieter's gifted pair were the Nettleton 0199 Traditionals – Plain Toe Blucher – Burgundy

Nettleton – The Syracuse, NY based company made quality shoes for over 100 years before it closed in the 1980s.

Yet, SaksOff5th is still selling them?! 

Doing some more digging into Nettleton's history and information, I learned that there exists a KNOCKOFF (?) Nettleton FB Page, where they show a phone number from the Philippines... 

AHA! It is all about $$$

Our trust in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF5th also got a bit dented.

Related link:

Refreshing to find such GREAT COURTESY at Grand Hyatt Buckhead, Atlanta | previous post by me

My Pieter is SO LUCKY for having viewed Mt. St. Helen Before its BIG Eruption | previous post by me with photo of Ben (Bernardo J.) Penturelli. 

{Pieter’s Tanner Krolle Attaché - Royal Gift purchased at Harrods by English Friend} | previous post by me

The Three Most Important Items for Mushroom Production 'Compost, Compost, Compost!'

 Pieter's famous saying:

The three most important facts for a high yield are:

• Compost • Compost • Compost

Pieter checking the compost at the wharf of the Leaver farm in Campbellville, Ontario Canada (now Monaghan Mushrooms).

It was April 10, 1995 when Pieter did a two-day seminar for them.

May I add one more Mushroom Editorial Review...

Written in 1989 by Tom Gannon and published in CAMPBELL'S NEWSLETTER:

Remember when you were in school, how there would be a teacher who would make you learn a certain subject almost in spite of yourself? 

Usually they were not the easiest or favorite teacher at the time, but when you look back, they were the ones who taught you a course that was important to you later.

Oftentimes they were more strict, maintained a higher level of discipline, piled on the home work, and were quite demanding in the learning and practicing of the basics of the course.

They had a style and method of communicating the subject matter that made learning challenging and interesting.

They were always well prepared, and had a great deal of knowledge and experience in teaching the material.

I was told at graduation that the commencement activity was not the end but the beginning of a learning process that would last for life.

Hardly did I belief that I would meet a teacher when I was in my fifties who could teach me so much about a subject I had been working with for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Pieter Vedder has for over 5 years brought to our company (Campbell Soup's Mushroom Division) a training program like no other company has had before. 

Not only the subject matter on the basics and beyond of growing mushrooms, but a new type of technology to go with it. 

Pieter reviewed farm operations and aided them in identifying and correcting problem areas.

He helped them in design and engineering of two new mushroom operations and carried the CAMSCO image to the mushroom industry on a National and International level.

He provided us with our present mushroom strain, found the basic solution to the Hillsboro virus problem and kept us up to date on mushroom publications from all over the world.

Pieter was always at his best in the classroom situation.

After being a part of several of his training courses I recall a number of topics that have helped us attain the present level of quality and production.

Can anyone forget the three most important items for mushroom production "Compost, compost, compost!" or the early sessions on lower temperature pasteurizations, no steaming peat moss, and using spent lime?

It took a long time to simplify compost formulas and utilize higher levels of chicken litter.

How about the classes we had on the biological range for conditioning compost, recycled compost water, and method of pre–wetting?

His discussions of easily degradable carbohydrates and their relation to selectivity are now well known to many of us.

I hope we'll always remember how he emphasized the importance oof hygiene and sanitation in control of disease and insects! 

Special sessions on Phase I–II provided an opportunity to share seasonal information that has resulted in more consistent production and quality. The sessions on the "case to harvest" areas have helped us to perfect methods of CAC'ing and deep scratching.

Pieter was always a strong advocate of maintaining the basics of mushroom growing. 

He taught us what we need to strive for. 

If we use the information he has given us we can continue to improve our operations and be more consistent.

In closing I can say, I not only met a very special teacher, but also a special friend.

We spent many hours together in the classroom, traveling on the farms, in motels, airports, and such.

We exchanged many ideas, shared numerous experiences and talked of our lives in general.

I wish him the very best in his new position, and look forward to his future contact with CAMSCO!

God Bless, Best Wishes, Thank You!

Pieter indeed was an excellent teacher; even in a non–native language...

The above is from our book: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting

Some Mushroom Growers Wisdom

The three most important facts for a high yield are:

• Compost • Compost • Compost            P.J.C. Vedder

Using part of one of the FOREWORDS in our book: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting

Allow me to introduce you to the author; Pieter J.C. Vedder. He is a consummate educator. Not only a very knowledgeable technical advisor, he has seen and worked with the most sophisticated modern processes and techniques, but just as important, he has observed and consulted with some of the most rudimentary no frills operations with the minimum level of machinery or mechanical controls of basic process.

In the late 1980s we opened up Campbell's access to the industry. We had unused capacity of spawn and supplement plants, so we set about to pursue these two basic ingredients for sale, to most other commercial mushroom farms. One of our competitive strengths was, to offer growers's training sessions on the road, to areas where we could draw from large and small clusters of growers. We held mostly one, and also two–day growing seminars. Many sites became annual renewals. Pieter, together with his wife Mariette, was a significant draw. Frequent sites were Kennett Square and Temple, Pennsylvania; West Chicago, Illinois; Ontario (above photo) and British Colombia in Canada; Santa Cruz, California; Waco, Texas and tours to 3 towns in Ireland and a two–day Growing Seminar at Tewkesbury Park, in the U.K.

I trust you will find their publication useful. Having an interest in mushroom growing already makes you a friend.

Jack A. McDaniel, Macungie, Pennsylvania/USA, May 2020

Related links:

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | previous post by me

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting in University Textbooks together with Mushroom Cultivator | previous post by me

Editiorial Review from CEO Campbell Soup: You Brought a World-Renowned Professionalism to our Operations when they Sorely Needed Expertise | previous post by me

Editorial Review: P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing - The Content is so Clear and Comprehensive | photo of Pieter making compost by hand in 1962

Shillington, Pennsylvania where we lived

 After our stop in Virginia for one night and next day lunch at General Lee's Headquarters in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania we continued to the Hampton Inn in Reading, PA.

That made our trip now around 800 miles or 1287 km.

Pieter did a seminar for Campbell Soup in Temple, PA.

Meanwhile, I was free to roam around and visit the apartment where we both lived for almost half a year.

Here we are at 402 Community Drive in Shillington, Pennsylvania where our Mercury Sable slept outside all winter, no garage nor carport.Also I spent time at our favorite antique Weaver's Mall, a huge mall with several antique dealers.Found some of our French Baccarat glasses and a decanter with silver spout and lid.That was November 7, 1994Next day I went with Pieter to the Campbell Soup Mushroom Division office, as Pieter did a farm tour, and I did crochet 16 Christmas ornaments for our City Hall: {16 Crocheted Christmas Ornaments I made for the City Hall's Tree} ←click link.Pieter also did a farm tour for Georgi Foods and started his two days of seminar in Temple, PA. Final seminar day at Kenneth Square and it ended with a buffet.Tough days for doing such a one-man-show! But my Pieter always managed to do so, very well.Below this post you can read the 'Mushroom' Editorial Review from Campbell's CEO~Next we visited our widower friend and I cooked for him and his friends.After 3 nights in Wilmington, Delaware we drove home in one stretch... that were 755 miles or 1215 km.
So now you know where we all lived; Dublin, Georgia; Shillington, Pennsylvania; Cornuda in the Venice area in Italy; Wonosobo, Indonesia and again in Dublin, Georgia...
Editiorial Review from CEO Campbell Soup: You Brought a World-Renowned Professionalism to our Operations when they Sorely Needed ExpertiseHusband Pieter became SUPERMAN - When Push Came to Shove | previous post only a couple of weeks after returning from above Campbell Seminar...The Three Most Important Items for Mushroom Production 'Compost, Compost, Compost!' | editorial written by Campbell colleague upon Pieter's resignation and departure to Italy...1988 Juli 27 Farewell to our Beautiful Garden and Baby Devils (squirrels) | video with lots of info below about our move to Shillington, Pennsylvania

Pieter Plays Organ in Bandung Indonesia

On Sunday, June 24 in 1995 while doing consulting work in Indonesia we went with one of the staff people to visit Retreat House Pratista, Cimahi, near Bandung, Indonesia.

There was a Dutch speaking pastor at this Crosier Monastery or Monastery of the Order of the Holy Cross (Kruisheren in Dutch).

When Pieter spotted the organ, he just started playing... without any music, just by heart!

Hope you enjoy this 1:37 minute video.

Starting video with the different Cross they use, not one of the suffering Christ!

The staff member seen in this video became our house guest end of August, the day after my sister and significant other left, after staying four weeks with us.On Saturday August 26, 1995 he flew with us together to San Francisco. On Sunday we got picked up, for going to Santa Cruz where Pieter did a Phase I and Phase II seminar for Campbell Soup for 54 participants. Those were tough one-man shows for Pieter doing it solo for two days and half a day a farm tour towards the end.Pieter did wear a Batik shirt, my sewing creation. The late Pastor Vermuilen was looking on...
Related link:{My Batik Creations} | previous post where I show Pieter's batik shirt as my sewing creation

Our Australia Adventure of Escaping Flooded Hawkesbury River area via ONLY Bridge NOT UNDER WATER...

After finishing our work for Campbell Soup's mushroom farm in Australia, we flew from Melbourne to Sydney, where our mushroom friends picked us up. 

We stayed with our Mushroom related Australian friends in their newly built home on the rocks, overlooking the Hawkesbury River...

The dark rooftop in the form of a cross more or less, is where we were staying...

We had previously spent the day in Sydney and they took us to Centre Point, Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise & Opera House, see post about it below.

Next day on July 3, 1988 we went to the BLUE MOUNTAINS with Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours.

Visited the Katoomba & Jenolan Caves, all arranged and carried out by our great Mushroom friends! Again you find those two previous posts below...

July 4: We enjoyed a dinner together with 58 mushroom farmers + spouses. John Miller had organized that.

It was almost overwhelming... 

July 5, on Tuesday I devoted my time to giving harvesting training while Pieter met with 3 compost makers. A relaxed evening at home with our friends, watching the movie of The Man From Snowy River.

July 6, Wednesday we got an urgent wakeup call with the mention: HURRY! We must leave NOW—look out of the window and you know WHY!!! We heard and saw a foaming and roaring river; already 3 m (9.84 ft) above bridgelevel! 

A large flood of the Hawkesbury River.

We hurried packing up and grabbed a bite and started our journey north through the mountains, for reaching the ONLY high enough bridge to cross this Hawkesbury River Monster, then going South to the Sydney airport for our flight back to San Francisco, USA on Qantas Airlines...

Our friends still had to drive home and IF LUCKY, could cross back over the river!

We all were fortunate that no fallen trees were blocking the road...

The place our mushroom friends lived was Ebenezer and you can see the Hawkesbury River winding like a snake through the mountains...

We arrived at Sydney airport around noon for our 14:00 o'clock flight. 

What an adventure, I was so car sick from the windy road through the mountains at a rather high speed, since our friends had to make it back again for reaching home themselves!

After vomiting and not much eating, we arrived in 13 hours + 25 minutes non-stop in San Francisco with tailwind.

Our suitcases did not arrive... and we drove home and got there around 22:00 o'clock with 14 hours time difference!

On July 7, our suitcases got delivered by 18:00 o'clock...

A most memorable trip home!

~ 

It will flood again ← short 5.59 min. video

Five of the 10 largest floods since the record flood of 1867 have occurred since Warragamba Dam was completed in 1960. The last major flood was in 1990.

One of those 10 was the one we dealt with in 1988...

The Monster Hawkesbury River got 12.2 m (40 feet) above normal...

It can be so devastating...!

February 17, 2013 in the Sydney Morning Herald

Pushing for Warragamba solution, flood protection campaigner John Miller in Windsor. Photo: Jacky Ghossein ←click link

Our mushroom friend John Miller has always been so active in fighting the flooding!

February 16, 2018 in the Hawkesbury Gazette

New proposal for river crossing ←click link

Second crossing: John Miller and floodplain committee member Maurie Smith on the corner of Kurrajong and Chapel Roads, Richmond, where there has been a proposal for a second bridge. Picture: Geoff Jones.

John Miller received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his exceptional contributions!

Hawkesbury Ambassador now an OAM: John Miller named in Queen's Birthday Honours ←click link

In 1986 John Miller had become the Hawkesbury State Emergency Service chief warden, enlisting 250 others with local knowledge to establish an early flood warning network.

Of course, Mr Miller was also well known as a driving force behind a third river crossing from Richmond to North Richmond...

John Miller was very active in this and surely deserved receiving this OAM!

Both of us owe John Miller the idea of also installing a quiet bathroom heater fan with lights! We got 3 installed and LOVE this 'warming' luxury during the cold season.

Having to travel all the way down under for learning about that! 

Related links:

Sydney Centre Point Tower, Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise & Opera House | previous post about great time spent with friends

With Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours to the BLUE MOUNTAINS Australia | previous post about great time spent with friends 

Katoomba & Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains Australia | previous post about great time spent with friends