Wednesday, February 24, 2010
canberra
arrived in Canberra in time for a late lunch on the lake by the Carillon. Visited Robert and Robyn for evening drinks, nibbles, followed by dinner. Today we got some culture, with Robert and Robyn who were our chauffers for the day. First stop, the Bald archies for some satirical portraits, (Tony Abbott in his speedos was a favoured theme), then early lunch at Tilley Devine's cafe gallery, before heading to the national gallery to see the post-impressionist masterpeices from the Musee D'Orsay in Paris (Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne etc). worth seeing, but as with all art, some appealed more than others. very busy at the gallery.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sydney
still no photos, facebook is not a nice product at present
A wonderful week, staying at Lane Cove caravan park where we lived for 5 months 25 years ago when we first moved to Sydney. Park is still vey much the same, but no bird cage any more,and is now managed by National Parks.
Had several visits with Kerryn, and used her unit as a base on several days. Did our traditional trip to Chinatown on Friday night, and had breakfast at a lovely cafe in Roseville(Echo on the Marina) on Saturday morning. Kerryn specialises in finding superb locations for cafe style meals.
Peter organised new sunglasses, the only medical component of this trip to Sydney - we will do the dentist next time.
Caught up with several friends, many of whom are now retired, or working part time, which eased the pressure on the weekend. Much eating and drinking.
Put the car in on Monday, as it is still giving us problems, sometimes the accelerator doesn't seem to work. Still no fix, perhaps it is the cruise control?? Will sort it out in Adelaide when we get home.
Overall, an excellent week in Sydney
A wonderful week, staying at Lane Cove caravan park where we lived for 5 months 25 years ago when we first moved to Sydney. Park is still vey much the same, but no bird cage any more,and is now managed by National Parks.
Had several visits with Kerryn, and used her unit as a base on several days. Did our traditional trip to Chinatown on Friday night, and had breakfast at a lovely cafe in Roseville(Echo on the Marina) on Saturday morning. Kerryn specialises in finding superb locations for cafe style meals.
Peter organised new sunglasses, the only medical component of this trip to Sydney - we will do the dentist next time.
Caught up with several friends, many of whom are now retired, or working part time, which eased the pressure on the weekend. Much eating and drinking.
Put the car in on Monday, as it is still giving us problems, sometimes the accelerator doesn't seem to work. Still no fix, perhaps it is the cruise control?? Will sort it out in Adelaide when we get home.
Overall, an excellent week in Sydney
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Patonga (near Gosford)
no photos because I am having trouble uploading them
Day 28 - arrived at Patonga mid afternoon, to the first rumblings of a storm, so quickly set up camp. A glorious spot, on the northern side of the hawkesbury, across the water from Brooklyn. The caravan park is on the point between the beach and Patonga creek, with views to Palm Beach and Barrenjoey peninsula, and out through the heads to the Pacific Ocean. A glorious spot.
Went into Umina for shopping and phone calls, and on the way home, the storm hit. Lightning and driving rain. Peter could just see the lines on the road, using them to drive by, nowhere to pull off. When we got back to the caravan park it was in total disarray, a tree had been split by lightning, most tents had collapsed, and people were wringing the water out of their possessions. Also,the power was out.
Telstra repeater was also out, so returned to Umina to make calls, to sort out the plans for the weekend. Jenni sent a message offering us a bed and a casserole if we were washed out, but our house was undamaged and dry. HOwever, during the night it did develop a leak, so we had a suitably positioned bowl on the bench seat to catch the drips. Power came back about 10pm.
Day 29 - Saturday. Weather didn't look good, so Ian and Louise decided to come up for lunch, rather than for a day of kayaking. However, the weather cleared a bit, so we took the kayaks out for our first paddle on the Patonga Creek. Met about 3 people fishing. Then, a pleasant lunch at the pub, before we picked Kerryn up from the Woy Woy station. A lovely day with friends.
Day 30 - Sunday. Jenni and Phil came over with their kayak, some kayaking and much chatting, then we went back to Jenni's for lunch. Dropped Kerryn at the station and headed home. Caravan park almost empty after the weekend. Another lovely day with friends.
Day 31 - Monday . Big kayaking expedition up the creek, out for about 4 hours, but we did it with the tides, so had tide assistance both ways. Hard to believe we are just an hour out of Sydney
Day 28 - arrived at Patonga mid afternoon, to the first rumblings of a storm, so quickly set up camp. A glorious spot, on the northern side of the hawkesbury, across the water from Brooklyn. The caravan park is on the point between the beach and Patonga creek, with views to Palm Beach and Barrenjoey peninsula, and out through the heads to the Pacific Ocean. A glorious spot.
Went into Umina for shopping and phone calls, and on the way home, the storm hit. Lightning and driving rain. Peter could just see the lines on the road, using them to drive by, nowhere to pull off. When we got back to the caravan park it was in total disarray, a tree had been split by lightning, most tents had collapsed, and people were wringing the water out of their possessions. Also,the power was out.
Telstra repeater was also out, so returned to Umina to make calls, to sort out the plans for the weekend. Jenni sent a message offering us a bed and a casserole if we were washed out, but our house was undamaged and dry. HOwever, during the night it did develop a leak, so we had a suitably positioned bowl on the bench seat to catch the drips. Power came back about 10pm.
Day 29 - Saturday. Weather didn't look good, so Ian and Louise decided to come up for lunch, rather than for a day of kayaking. However, the weather cleared a bit, so we took the kayaks out for our first paddle on the Patonga Creek. Met about 3 people fishing. Then, a pleasant lunch at the pub, before we picked Kerryn up from the Woy Woy station. A lovely day with friends.
Day 30 - Sunday. Jenni and Phil came over with their kayak, some kayaking and much chatting, then we went back to Jenni's for lunch. Dropped Kerryn at the station and headed home. Caravan park almost empty after the weekend. Another lovely day with friends.
Day 31 - Monday . Big kayaking expedition up the creek, out for about 4 hours, but we did it with the tides, so had tide assistance both ways. Hard to believe we are just an hour out of Sydney
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Coffs Harbour
Day 22 - the rain has set in, cyclone Olga is to blame. Drove around the Bellingen river. Started at Mylestom, as we had heard good things about it, a lovely spot with beach and river frontage. Then down to Urunga, to the mouth of the Bellingen river. Great river, hope to kayak in it. Lunch at Bellingen, then deicded to check out the Bongil Bongil National park, south of Sawtell. Approached it from the Sawtell end, found the picnic area and boat launching area. Only drizzling now. Planned to come back tomorrow for a kayak, even if it is raining, cos it is warm. Then watched the surfers at the heads at Sawtell, wild seas, the surfers climb down the hill, then paddle out. Back home, and cooked roast pork for dinner - a nice change from a barby.
Day 23 - it has been bucketing down. storm and flood warnings current, so no hope of kayaking today. The roof is leaking through the smoke detector, which has been beeping for hours. I booked the accommodation at Coffs, as I expected we would get some wet weather at this time of the year, and may like to dry out for a few days. I timed it perfectly.
Still went out kayaking, in the Bongil Bongil National park, a nice easy paddle up the bonville creek for a bit. Friends from Woolgoolga came down with their 2 boys, and we spent a pleasant afternoon swimming, drinking and eating.
Day 24 - headed off to the pier in Coffs for Peter's fish and chips. He had been hanging out for them, then walked around muttonbird island, and drove around the foreshore a bit. Checked out the local Aldi, and did some shopping.
Day 25- the car went in for service this morning, first thing, and Peter waited for it. We then went for a drive up to Dorrigo via some mountain tracks. Lovely forest/rainforest drive. Water flowing over the falls at Dorrigo, still generally wet everywhere. On way back home bought a tray of mangoes to take south with us. The mango season is coming to an end, but we sure enjoyed them.
Evening- dinner at the Game Fisherman's club, the flashest building on Coffs foreshore. Should have gone for lunch or an early dinner to enjoy the view, but still good.
Day 25 - headed south to Forster (to our friends house at Coomba Park). lovely drive down via Port Macquarie. Maz had prepared a feast for us, and it was great to see them again.
Day 27 - picnic at Wallis Lake, with plans to go kayaking, but the wind came up, so it just became a picnic of prawns and sandwiches, with some liquid refreshment. Another pleasant day.
Day 23 - it has been bucketing down. storm and flood warnings current, so no hope of kayaking today. The roof is leaking through the smoke detector, which has been beeping for hours. I booked the accommodation at Coffs, as I expected we would get some wet weather at this time of the year, and may like to dry out for a few days. I timed it perfectly.
Still went out kayaking, in the Bongil Bongil National park, a nice easy paddle up the bonville creek for a bit. Friends from Woolgoolga came down with their 2 boys, and we spent a pleasant afternoon swimming, drinking and eating.
Day 24 - headed off to the pier in Coffs for Peter's fish and chips. He had been hanging out for them, then walked around muttonbird island, and drove around the foreshore a bit. Checked out the local Aldi, and did some shopping.
Day 25- the car went in for service this morning, first thing, and Peter waited for it. We then went for a drive up to Dorrigo via some mountain tracks. Lovely forest/rainforest drive. Water flowing over the falls at Dorrigo, still generally wet everywhere. On way back home bought a tray of mangoes to take south with us. The mango season is coming to an end, but we sure enjoyed them.
Evening- dinner at the Game Fisherman's club, the flashest building on Coffs foreshore. Should have gone for lunch or an early dinner to enjoy the view, but still good.
Day 25 - headed south to Forster (to our friends house at Coomba Park). lovely drive down via Port Macquarie. Maz had prepared a feast for us, and it was great to see them again.
Day 27 - picnic at Wallis Lake, with plans to go kayaking, but the wind came up, so it just became a picnic of prawns and sandwiches, with some liquid refreshment. Another pleasant day.
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