We are in Love

with South West Rocks. So much so that we have even checked out the real estate agents to get an idea of what things cost. Today I spent the entire morning snorkeling around these rocks and have never been in water as clear with as many fish as there are here. Thousands and thousands of fish just cruising around the rocks. Ron was furious as he is yet to catch one here LOL. In the background were dolphins playing around, just perfect and the beach ? well it goes on for miles with not one house on it. BLISS

I finally got him where he belongs

We arrived at South West Rocks yesterday and it is just fantastic. The beaches are amazing and the bay is to die for. As you can see we visited the Trial Bay Goal and he felt right at home LOL.

This place is definately on the Possible places to live list.

Flagging

This is the latest on the artwork. I call it "Flagging" which is the art of telling someone something just by signals. The colour in the small pipes are the colours of the international leather flag and the Three traffic light colours are to represent the code of conduct. Red - Stop, Amber - Always play safe and Green - Consent. Hope you like it.

Hastings says good-bye

We found out the other day that Michael Osborn passed away on the 7th of Dec. and his sister just found our details on his computor. Some of you may remember Michael and Hastings from their many visits to the hotel. Michael and Hastings lived in California but were regular visitors to us at the Hotel.

Michael was responsible for getting guide dogs accepted onto planes with there masters in Europe as well as changing the US Government attitude towards HIV+ visitors to the US. I am trying to find out where Hastings is and will give you an update when I find out.

We are back on the Coast

After a week in the country we are finally back where we belong. We arrived at Port Mac Quarie on Tuesday evening. Wednesday was the clean up day - clothes, Miss Guided etc as it was impossible to do it at the Warrumbungles.

The weather is great, sunny 27 each day with storms every evening. Caught up with Laurie (brother) and Liz yesterday and we are off to their place again tonight for dinner. South West rocks next week.

Road Kill waiting for us

Two of my favourite pics.

The one above was taken at the Jenolan lake which is just outside the caves. The water runs through the limestone and that gives it the distinctive colour. I have called this pic "Drowning Slowly". Above this pic is the pic of the "Bread Knife" which we climbed above yesterday. The total trek was 14.5klms and neither Ron or I can walk today LOL.

On Top of the world

Hi this was our last day at jenolan caves on the Plateau walk. Ron decided to hang out on the edge of things LOL. We are now at the Warrenbungles in NSW approx 500klms west of Sydney. We are spending approx. a week here and then it's either "Bourke" as in "Back of" or Port Mac Quarie on the coast.

On top of the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains

This was yesterday on top of the first of the Three Sisters peaks in the Blue Mountains. Today (thursday) was moving day and we are very happy to be leaving the surrounds of Sydney behind us. We have headed off to a little town called Oberon which is about 100klms further inland and just up the road from the Jenolan Caves which is tomorrows adventure.

Today we had our first S and M session in Miss Guided. NO, not what your thinking, the sewing and mending session LOL.

Well he finally has decided that it was time to learn how to use the camera and started with moi.
Now I think it is time for some stats of the trip so far:

Deaths: 2 parrots hit by car
Deaths for food:
Dozen rock oysters
Assorted Pipi's for Spagetti dinner
Mullet by accident
Parrots: Lots and lots including, black and white cockatoo's, every variety of rosella around.
Eagles: Wedgetail and Sea Eagles
Seas:
Dolphins, Sharks, Eels, Parrot fish, Angel fish, Big Green Groper, lots of whiting, snapper and other coast and reef eating fish.
Land based:
kangaroos and wallabies by the score, snakes, LARGE spiders, Goanna's, Lizards of all shapes and sizes, Koala Bears and emus.
Caravans we have passed: 384 so far

Well here we are in the Blue mountains. As you can see from the pic it is very spectacular. Ron decided that we should have the walk today as yesterday was spent travelling, so we set off to katoomba to check out the art deco buildings and then onto the Valley of the waters.

Now we had a choice of several walks: the 1 klm loop rated easy - Oh no says Ron, the Falls walk 3 klm and rated moderate - OH NO says Ron, the 4 klm overcliff walk rated moderate to hard - OOOOOOOH NO says Ron, the 6klm overcliff with return along the mid cliff rated hard to very hard - OOOOOOOH YES says Ron. Well it was absolutely breath takingly beautiful. We walked through waterfalls, around waterfalls, under waterfalls and over waterfalls. The scenery is amongst the best I have ever seen and that includes the other Grand Canyon. But after four hours of playing "mountain Goat" we were both knackered and could not have walked another step unless it was to a cold beer. All in all a great day.

Pension Day lunch at kiama

Bugs, Scallops, Oysters, Prawns, Fish and Octypus

Here's the latest offering from the on-road painting dept. "Sunset at Meninge SA". I just realised that you cannot leave comments unless you are a member so the email address is da53@bigpond.com if you want a chat.

Hello from Shoalhaven Heads

Well we have finally arrived at our last stop before heading inland to escape the chaos of Easter on the Coast. We landed here on Thursday and checked in to a great little park and lashed out to get the luxury of our own ensuite for the week. Shoalhaven is a pretty forgettable place, really not much to say except its bounded by a river on one side and ocean surf beaches on the other. Berry is close by and its a haven for foodies. Great cheese, wine, meat etc etc so we spent a fortune there stocking up. Friday night the weekend warriors arrived and as usual caused absolute havoc in the park all weekend ending up with the management arriving at 2.30am to tell them to shut the ---- up or ---- off. which they sort of did.

Last night was Mardi Gras in Sydney and to celebrate Ron and I gave Miss Guided her first big bath LOL. She's now spic and span for Mardi Gras. We are off fishing this afternoon, (Sunday) so the Hunter and Gatherer can do his thing.

Guess who's neighbourhood this is ??

While I was snorkeling at Jervis Bay this mightly eagle dropped in to get a snack and check us out.

Attack of the Killer Goanna

Now for those who didn't believe we would ever get off road here's the proof. Hidden away on the coast was a wonderful little beach which to get to required a bit of rough roading - stream crossing and wild life avoiding. LOL

This little fella just wouldn't pose from the other end, so you have to work with what you've got. He measured about 4.5 ft long and if he had decided that he was photo shy you wouldn't have seen me for dust. LOL

At last we are back in contact with the world. LOL The story so far: We finally headed north away from WET Mallacoota to a little place called Tathra. It is heaven on earth. The park is a palm filled oasis with a resort style pool and great staff. It is situated across the street from the best beach so far, so you know where we spent alot of the next week.

After selling my diving gear on Ebay, I had to bite the bullet and buy a new set to go snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and many hours were spent chasing fish towards the hunter gatherer (armed with fishing rod)- to no avail LOL. That said he did manage to catch the sucidial "Mullet".

We walked the national parks which were full of very wild life including snakes, goanna's, the cutest black wallabies and everything else that bites etc.

The only hitch to this wonderful place was it's a black spot for communication - no phones or internet. Some would say that's a good thing LOL.

We originally booked in for four days but stayed a week before we had to leave as the park was booked out. A must return.

Friday we headed up the road to Batemans Bay in anticipation of continuing the great beach adventure, unfortunately we are getting closer to Sydney and close to Canberra so the populations have increased, the parks standards have decreased proportionaly in relation to population and twice someone has tried to burgle us. Getting out of here on Tuesday - Thank God.

Love to all and feel free to leave comments etc.

Well we are off and running with the big trip. We headed down the highway to lake Tyers for a couple of days just to sort out the cobwebs and get back into the routine of life in Miss Guided. The weather was ok and we got to spend lots of time wondering up and down the beach.

As usual it didnt take long to work out what we had forgotten something and the first was the B----- phone charger and we are in the only town in the world without a phone shop. Quick call to steve and he mailed it to Mallacoota for us.

Stop two as you have guessed was wonderful sunny and relaxing Mallacoota. (that's what the brochures say) We have now been here three days and it has done nothing but rain rain rain and unfortunately the forcast further north is more rain. I keep telling Ron that we need to turn left and the sooner the better LOL. The pic above is the Huner/Gatherer at work. This was the only dry 5 minutes at mallacoota and he ran off to the jetty to catch dinner. Luckly I had the lamb roast ready to go, however he did find a couple of dozen oysters in the rocks so we had oyster mornay for lunch. Next stop is Tathra in NSW and if all goes well we head that way tomorrow. That again is dependant on the weather as we wont pack up Miss Guided while she's wet, a bit like going to bed with your leathers still on - you just dont do it LOL