Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuncurry/Forster, NSW
September 29 -October 1 we stayed with Ross Garrard in Tuncurry, NSW. About 306 miles north of Sydney.
On our first night Ross served up 4 dozen oysters for us and his friend, Michelle. What a feast we had. Ross' neighbor raises oysters -- these were early season and were great. Then we had chicken on the barbie, what else? Much good talk, food and wine followed.
On Tuesday Ross took us on a grand tour south along the coast some 60 miles in tandom with Issac, Ross' son and his eight-month old daughter, Scarlett. Issac's 4X4 camper/truck is outfitted with a built-in compressor. He loves driving on the beaches, where this is allowed.
There are many salt-water lakes of varied sizes that lie to the west of the road.
This coast has many long, sandy beaches, broken-up by high hilly ridges that jut out into the ocean. Along the drive we stopped to walk out to view the beaches. We saw a four foot long goauna sunning himself on a tree. We passed a few caravan parks, busy with people enjoying the warm Spring weather.
At every stop we saw dolphin cruising close to the shore and plenty of whales, too. As we reached Tea Gardens (where we turned around) we all piled into Issac's truck and after he deflated the tires we took off on the beach in deep sand. We stopped so Issac could catch a few waves as we watched the waves.
It was really neat to see the dolphin surfing the waves and emerging through, just like the human surfers. Issac, was outside of the dophins some of the time. They were crusing and doing flips. Further out we saw many whales breaching and spouting.
On the way back we stopped in to visit with Fred and Mary Garrard, Ross', mom and dad. Wr had a nice chat about mutual firends from Hawaii and , of course, Sue Wilson, Ross and Neil. Fred and Mary have a yard full of orchids and they also raise parrots.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Ferry to Manly
We took a ferry from Circular Quay across the beautiful Sydney Harbour to Manly where we saw a gorgeous sandy Pacific beach with waves rolling in and plenty of surfers, water dragons posing in the sun, and beautiful coastal views.
The Gunners' Walk trail to North Head took us through what was once a School of Artillery where army gunners lived and trained to protect the harbour during WWII. The headland is now a sanctuary. This 10k (6+ miles) walk led to areas where one can view approaches to the harbour and the city of Sydney across the water. We saw pristine heathland, patches of rare bankdia scrub and a hanging swamp. With numerous side trails to view the coast and plenty of friendly people who engaged us, we spent hours exploring. We stopped at Bella Vista Cafe for a delicious late lunch before heading back down into Manly.
Manly is an attractive tourist destination with lots of eateries, shops and, of course, people. It is home to the Manly Freshwater World Surfing Reserve and in Feruary 2014 was host to the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing.
We ate tapas at a charming Italian place where the owner cooked, we sat on the terrace and met fellow diners, namely Kylie Egan who is a meteoroligist. Kylie recounted her adventures in Boise where she spent six weeks as a specialist in "Fire Weather." We had a fine conversation about wines from Adelaide, surfing and her adventures in the N.W. U.S.
Sunday, September 28th we climbed a pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (17 flights) and viewed both exhibits about the bridge construction...finally completed in 1932 and the 360 degree views. We visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and the The Rocks Discovery Museum.
I have not yet found a way to upload photos, so narrative is all for now.
The Gunners' Walk trail to North Head took us through what was once a School of Artillery where army gunners lived and trained to protect the harbour during WWII. The headland is now a sanctuary. This 10k (6+ miles) walk led to areas where one can view approaches to the harbour and the city of Sydney across the water. We saw pristine heathland, patches of rare bankdia scrub and a hanging swamp. With numerous side trails to view the coast and plenty of friendly people who engaged us, we spent hours exploring. We stopped at Bella Vista Cafe for a delicious late lunch before heading back down into Manly.
Manly is an attractive tourist destination with lots of eateries, shops and, of course, people. It is home to the Manly Freshwater World Surfing Reserve and in Feruary 2014 was host to the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing.
We ate tapas at a charming Italian place where the owner cooked, we sat on the terrace and met fellow diners, namely Kylie Egan who is a meteoroligist. Kylie recounted her adventures in Boise where she spent six weeks as a specialist in "Fire Weather." We had a fine conversation about wines from Adelaide, surfing and her adventures in the N.W. U.S.
Sunday, September 28th we climbed a pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (17 flights) and viewed both exhibits about the bridge construction...finally completed in 1932 and the 360 degree views. We visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and the The Rocks Discovery Museum.
I have not yet found a way to upload photos, so narrative is all for now.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
First Day: Sydney
We arrived early after a 14.5 hours flight. Weather cloudy, with threat of thunderstorms.
We are staying at YHA (Youth Hostels of Australia) in the Rocks area.
The rocks, as its name suggests, forms a rocky peninsula jutting out into Sydney Harbour. It's prime real estate and people have lived here for over 300 year before the arrival of the Europeans. The Rocks became home to many of the convicts of the First Fleet who arrived in 1788. The name of the earliest residents who carved out the streets and cuts in the hilly ridges are not known. Irish rebel, Richard Byrne, lived on the site from around 1805. Since Byrne was a stone mason, he is believed responsible for some of the quarrying of the site. The Byrne famiy sold off their land bit by bit in the 1840s and 50s.The siste wa considered worth saving so in 2006 proposals wer sought for a suitable development to safeguard the future of the site. The YHA's proposal is designed to protect the unique site and make it publicly accessible, to create an innovative synergy between the site and The Rocks area and to conserve and interpret the site and its remains.
Photos do not work to show how the building is elevated over the site area...but it works to allow viewing of many foundaions and there are many informational displays throughout thr 3-storey building.
The buildilng is nestled near the approach to the bridge. And the approach has been enclosed and provides space for basket ball which were in very active use at 10:00 p.m.
We can see the Opera House, all lit up and shining white from our room.
We are staying at YHA (Youth Hostels of Australia) in the Rocks area.
The rocks, as its name suggests, forms a rocky peninsula jutting out into Sydney Harbour. It's prime real estate and people have lived here for over 300 year before the arrival of the Europeans. The Rocks became home to many of the convicts of the First Fleet who arrived in 1788. The name of the earliest residents who carved out the streets and cuts in the hilly ridges are not known. Irish rebel, Richard Byrne, lived on the site from around 1805. Since Byrne was a stone mason, he is believed responsible for some of the quarrying of the site. The Byrne famiy sold off their land bit by bit in the 1840s and 50s.The siste wa considered worth saving so in 2006 proposals wer sought for a suitable development to safeguard the future of the site. The YHA's proposal is designed to protect the unique site and make it publicly accessible, to create an innovative synergy between the site and The Rocks area and to conserve and interpret the site and its remains.
Photos do not work to show how the building is elevated over the site area...but it works to allow viewing of many foundaions and there are many informational displays throughout thr 3-storey building.
The buildilng is nestled near the approach to the bridge. And the approach has been enclosed and provides space for basket ball which were in very active use at 10:00 p.m.
We can see the Opera House, all lit up and shining white from our room.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
When does a journey begin?
The idea to travel to Australia has been in our minds for many years. It started softly with a thought that it would be a neat place to go. And they speak our language.
Friends returned to Hawaii after spending time in Australia telling tales of the fun and beauty down under.
Friends, Ted and Sue, are Australian, and long-time Prindle Catamaran Club sailing pals.
Sue's brother, Neal, used to stay with us on visits to Hawaii. Now we expect to meet up with Neil and Marg during our travels.
It was discussed more actively while sailing with Eric, Kathee, Mark, Judy, Val and Larry in 2011 while in Tahiti.
We committed in February 2014.
Now we are about to embark.
Friends returned to Hawaii after spending time in Australia telling tales of the fun and beauty down under.
Friends, Ted and Sue, are Australian, and long-time Prindle Catamaran Club sailing pals.
Sue's brother, Neal, used to stay with us on visits to Hawaii. Now we expect to meet up with Neil and Marg during our travels.
It was discussed more actively while sailing with Eric, Kathee, Mark, Judy, Val and Larry in 2011 while in Tahiti.
We committed in February 2014.
Now we are about to embark.
Pre Trip Attempt #1
South of the Equator
With all the last minute attendance at Apple workshops, list making, studying how to set up a blog, buying of a new keyboard for my I-Pad, ordering of spear guns in which I made a error in the shipping address, trip planning, packing, repacking, and weighing of bags, conference calling, menu planning, and forgetting what I just thought about, it's a wonder whether we'll get out of here. We will. We are now reviewing stacks of pages of notes and winnowing down the paperwork we'll need to carry. We're saying "goodbyes."
With all the last minute attendance at Apple workshops, list making, studying how to set up a blog, buying of a new keyboard for my I-Pad, ordering of spear guns in which I made a error in the shipping address, trip planning, packing, repacking, and weighing of bags, conference calling, menu planning, and forgetting what I just thought about, it's a wonder whether we'll get out of here. We will. We are now reviewing stacks of pages of notes and winnowing down the paperwork we'll need to carry. We're saying "goodbyes."
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Getting started
We will soon be on our trip. Departure day is getting closer...only 9 more days 'til we leave Park Sierra for La Habra near L.A. where we will stay with Tom Byrnes for three nights before taking off for Australia on Tuesday, September 23rd.
This is my first attempt to write a blog. Brian is my long-distance coach.
This is my first attempt to write a blog. Brian is my long-distance coach.
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