31/12/16 Happy new year

  Here we are , another year starting , this is where we were for the last days of 2016 - Bungendore !!

 We ventured into Canberra a couple of times , taking advantage of the post christmas sales to replace a broken electric shaver and treat myself to a new phone . We also paddled along the Molonglo River & into Lake Burley Griffin , shame the wind was as strong as it was - there were white caps on the lake !! 

  Lyn was treated to a beautiful Thai lunch afterwards for her birthday . 

The weather has been all over the place , mostly warm , but with wind rain & overcast , storms as well .

 One of the days at Bungendore , we found Lake Rd - it leads up to the southern end of the lake - about 10klms of gravel road . I would suggest not a lot of people would have seen this end of the lake  , and it's been a long time since we've seen this much water in the lake - you can see wheel tracks from where people have been driving onto the lake bed for a long time - not now however !!

  The eastern side of the lake is home to one of the largest wind farms , these are just a few of the turbines .

 The next photo is where the road ends at a property gate , looking back south towards Bungendore .

 Fences that seem to go across the lake are at regular intervals on this shallow lake .

 Looking north back over the lake toward Goulburn direction .

 Beside the road growing happily in amongst all the grass seed are thistles , and these were flowering, bringing some colour to the golden grass seed .

 There was an interesting beetle / bug in the flower - nice mottled green camouflage , and a rather large nose for the size of it !!

 Aniseed plants had also flowered and gone to seed .

This dam was near the start of Lake Road , the ridge made a nice backdrop .

  Christmas delivered us a surprise present , totally unexpected . The box has only just been opened to reveal the contents a couple of days ago - we haven't had time or the room to try it out . After watching many tutorials and reading instructions , and watching tutorials again ( because I'd forgotten a few things ) , I assembled it , configured the motors , checked the electrics , charged the batteries and had a practice run on a simulator - the time had come to do it for real !! Attaching the phone , app turned on , everything charged and turned on , it was time to do it in real time . I wandered down the track a bit away from trees and fences and placed it on the ground , compass calibrated , it was time to go ! Motors on , it was time for lift off - and it was just as easy as the simulator !! My drone took off vertically and hovered at whatever height I chose , it turned around , went left & right , forward & reverse , and even did it in reverse when you have it pointing back toward you - forward becomes reverse , left becomes right , reverse becomes forward  - will I get this right  ??? Well yes , it was really easy to fly , I even had to contend with a bit of turbulence from the wind , and did it well !!
 Even managed to get some photos taken as well !!

I'll just get higher and let it hover there while I figure this photo thing out , oh yeh , that's the photo button , click , I've done it , wasn't that hard hahahaha .

 Okay let's try that again , this time a lot lower , yes that's me again !!

 This is turning into a bit of fun , better get Lyn and show her what's happening here - see just look at the phone screen and it's easy , just press that button , click , and there you have it - mental note to oneself - must look at the drone to get photos of us instead of looking at the screen !!!! Doh

  I've often wondered what we could take photo's off with a drone , also they do make a bit of noise and can be a bit annoying - guess I'm going to annoy people now !!! only for about 25mins till the batteries need recharging again !!
  Stay tuned , I'm sure you'll be seeing more from above in the future !!!
Well till next year , I'm not doing another blog in 2016 !!!! Hehehehe
Have a wonderful new year , hope it's everything you wish for and more .
Cheers and thanks for reading .
Lyn & Alan

27/12/16 Merry Christmas escape the city

  Back again , hopefully everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to 2017 , we had a great day - a long one - but a great day . Picked up Justin & Taylor from the airport from their trip to New York , their plane ran late - supposed to land at 9:15am , but got in at 10:20am minus their luggage !! theirs and about 15 others !! It was having an extended holiday and arrived the next day !! 

  From the airport it was over to Tracey & Joe’s ( Taylors Mum & hubby ) for christmas lunch / afternoon , where we had a wonderful meal / feast . It was good to see Richard again as well ( Taylors Grandad ) , we had christmas with him last year at Emma & Mike’s place . Time slipped away , as it does , and the jet lagged couple were starting to crumble so we took them home - I think they transferred some of their jet lag to me , as when we got back to the park I just went straight to bed .

  After a good sleep , we got organised and tidied up a bit - we had a couple coming over to look at the RV . They arrived around 10am & left near 12 noon after a good inspection and chat about anything & everything to do with the RV . Pam & Geoff are a lovely couple looking to get on the road and travel around like us !!

 Justin & Taylor arrived to have lunch with us , just after Pam & Geoff left . Justin & Taylor announced their engagement whilst they were in New York , so it was great to have them back to chat to in person , and catch up with their holiday news . They headed off later , but we were meeting up again at The Ranch - a hotel / convention centre in Epping for tea with Richard , Joe & Tracey . Unfortunately Tracey had a twinge in her back and had to stay at home .  After our lunch , Lyn & I shared and entree for tea - Lime & Paprika Calamari - it was beautiful !!! The size of this entree was our standard main meal size !!! just as well we only got one .

  Time slipped away again and we said our goodbyes , Richard was flying back to WA on Tuesday , and we were heading off out of the city - we couldn’t extend our stay as the park was fully booked !! It would have been nice to stay longer , but we’ll catch up again in February .

  There are lots of family groups and friends all camping here - when we got back home last night , we found the group behind us had set up their 3 caravans , multiple gazebos and tents all across the 3 sites , they even managed to squeeze a tent into the gap between our van and one of their caravans - glad they didn’t snore , as we would have heard them !! There was just enough room for me to squeeze through !

  After another good sleep , we got up and got organised , hitching up and driving out at 8:30 am . The traffic was good , and apart from one stop and start at a red light , that had the clutch emitting that wonderful burning clutch smell , it was pretty uneventful - fortunately !! Traffic heading north was in chaos mode - pretty normal for this time of year . We had a great run through Pennant Hills Road , only stopping for 3 red lights . The M7 was excellent as well , everything was going well untill we arrived at Narellan Rd off ramp , where we practically stopped and crawled all the way to the Menangle rest area . After a toilet break & driver change , we headed off again , the traffic was flowing again , another bit of a log jam at Picton Road , after that it was bust but smooth sailing . 

 Deciding to stop at Marulan at the BP service centre was good - all the bowsers on the south side were all closed - even the truck diesel side !! No more petrol stations till Goulburn , fortunately we had enough to get there or it would have been down the road , turn off & turn around and come back to the northern side , then fill up before going through Marulan and turning south again - all right in a car , but can be a pain with our rig !! 

  We haven’t been into Goulburn for many years , so it was interesting to see how it had changed . Back out on the highway and onto the Federal Hwy , we had lunch at the first rest area . Off again , we passed Collector and it was good to see Lake George had some water in it - 2 years ago it had very little . 

 Turning off the highway , we headed to Bungendore - this will be part of our escape from the city and coast untill school holidays is over . We set up just as a storm was starting to drop it’s load of rain on us , so , that’s it for today - the blog should return to a more regular affair again , we’ll see how it goes !! Here's a map link :- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RPRM_6Eua78Xl5zw_K6HyG0S0A0&usp=sharing

Cheers 

23/12/16 Back in the big smoke

 Been a bit busy with family & friends of late , so here's the goss .
 We left Wingham and headed out to Tallwoods / Blackhead for 3 nights to visit Alan & Di , and maybe fit a game of golf in . We arrived Friday and set up , had lunch , then went on visitation duties, chatting with Di till Alan arrived back from Sydney . Golf was sorted for Saturday , Bbq for after golf and a catch up with Bruce & Elaine as well . Back to the park for a swim in the indoor pool .
 After only playing 9 holes of golf at Coffs Harbour , and 18 holes at Moss Vale since we left Alice Springs , so I wasn't expecting miracles . However , the game came together well and I won the day with 39 points !!! I was impressed , the day was great and we still had the Bbq to go !!
 Well the Bbq was also great and we spent the next 6 or 7 hours chatting , laughing and having a great night - thanks Alan & Di and Bruce & Elaine for the company .
 Sunday we drove around Diamond Beach , checking out Seascape - a subdivision with lots of large houses and ocean views . Back for lunch , then round to Alan & Di's for a quick visit to say our farewells , tomorrow we head a bit further south .
  Monday arrived , we had breakfast & did a few things then went for a swim before we left . It was only about 110klms down the road to Karuah , a place we have driven through and had brief stops at for many many years . It is situated beside the waters of Port Stephens , and now it has been bypassed ( 12 years ago ) it is a much quieter place . We stayed at the Karuah Jetty Caravan Park - and yes it has it's own jetty - all 200m of it . It was pretty windy and cool when we walked down for a look , but it was impressive .

  Nelsons Bay can be seen in the distance .

  We went to Raymond Terrace for some spare parts for Lyns bike , and to get some glue/sealer for the van , before coming back and going for a ride around town .
 Yesterday we headed back to Raymond Terrace again to do some food shopping , but this time we went a round about way , through Clarence Town , Seaham , Nelsons Plains , then to Raymond Terrace .
 Clarence Town is a nice little town that surrounds the Williams River , we went down to a boat ramp for a look .

 We also disturbs this little water dragon while we were there .

  After driving through some lovely countryside , we'd arrived to shop - people everywhere - oh my god , what have we let ourselves in for ??? As it turns out , it was busy , but not that bad - we must be relaxed , amazing what travelling does for you !!!
  Shopping done , it was back onto the highway back to Karuah , where we packed it away and had a relaxed afternoon .
 
Time had come - today we hit the road again - down to Sydney 2 days before christmas - what were we thinking ????? The traffic heading north was constant all the way , traffic heading south didn't seem quite so bad , but was still quite busy . Off the M1 motorway and onto the Pacific Hwy down to Mona Vale Rd and off to Narrabeen . Now the fun starts , narrow lanes , fortunately not many big vehicles & trucks , but plenty of cars . Coming down the hill from the plateau certainly tested out the brakes , but we arrived at our destination without any drama's at all - pretty good considering the traffic .
 We set up and headed out for a walk up North Narrabeen Headland , that gave us some nice views of the coast and the lake .

 From the headland you can see all the way down Collaroy Beach to Long Reef Golf Course .

 We kept going up the hill a bit further and found a view over Turimetta Beach ( one we hadn't heard of before today !! ) . The headland at the end is Warriewood Headland , a couple of hang gliders were flying in the sea breeze .

    The rock shelf below us looked interesting , how it was layered , the colouring etc .

 Back to the park , it was time for a beer & some salsa after an interesting drive - note to oneself - maybe Sydney isn't the destination to be driving to this close to christmas , then again anywhere on the coast at this time of year probably isn't the place to be driving !!!!
  That's it for today and probably till after christmas , so to you and yours , Merry Christmas and a great new year from us .
 Lookout 2017 , more adventures to come !!!!  🇦🇺  🏌 🚴 🍻 🎄😎
Here's a map link :- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GV5OpaShOCkAlfhjV7U5zqYJDXk&usp=sharing

16/12/16 Been a bit slack , so here's the goss !!

 We’ve travelled again , catching up with my brother at Stuarts Point , south of Macksville .  After a quick 9 holes of golf at Coffs Harbour with Mark , we packed & headed off , arriving before lunch .

 After no power for a few days , we have ended up with a few loads of washing to be done , fortunately for us the weather was beautiful , so everything was washed & dried in no time at all . We checked out the jetty at the park , with a view to having a paddle in the morning . Black swans like this stretch of water - there were 20 of them - here’s some of them .

 After a good night’s sleep we were up early and after some breakfast we headed down to the jetty and hit the water . We paddled in The Macleay Arm section of the Macleay River , which stretch’s  from Grassy Head back down to South West Rocks . We didn’t paddle that far , instead we went round to the end at Grassy Head and then back to Stuart’s Point footbridge and return , approx 9klms . It is salt water , so has lot’s of mangroves , weed and shallow sections , but is teeming with fish and birdlife - here’s some pics .

 The tide was on it’s way out , so we discovered when we got to the footbridge , floating underneath it in the current , the realisation that we had to paddle against it sank in pretty quick !!! It was only flowing faster there due to the narrow section near the footbridge , and eased up a bit as we got further away from the bridge , thankfully !!

  We spent the afternoon talking & catching up with Gordon . We missed Meredith , she was in Canberra for family Xmas catchup . Sorry we missed you Meredith !!

After another good sleep , we headed over to Grassy Head and went for a walk along the beach toward Stuarts Point . The beach stretches off into the distance for about 5 or 6 kilometres . The hills on the horizon are near South West Rocks & Smokey Cape .

 Time to hit the road again and head off to Wingham , to catch up with Maree & Kevin ( sister & her husband ) . Stopping in Taree for some shopping and lunch , we continued on to Wingham and parked down at The Brush . The Brush is a remnant section of rainforest , that houses a large population of flying foxes , and is located beside the Manning River , there’s also a boat ramp , it’s a very popular area and well used by the locals and visitors alike !! This is our view of the river .

 We set up where we wanted , as we were the only ones there , before going to Maree & Kevins , where we stayed till about 9pm . 

  With water right beside us like this , there was only one thing to do - get out and get paddling - we seem to be doing this a bit of late , must be making up for lost time while we were up north & over west !! 

 Reflections were pretty good again, the wind not annoying us till later . We glided past the old wharf - used many years ago as a base to transport goods further down to Taree and beyond .

 The Brush made a nice back drop for the van & ute .

Continuing up the river , we passed under the bridge to Tinonee and kept going . Houses are built on the top of The Bight , and have great views down over the river and the farm lands on the other side . 

A bit further up is a house , seemingly perched on the side of the hill with even better views of the river .

 We paddled further up , deciding we needed to get out and stretch our legs , we chose this rock in the middle of the river !!

 It was getting pretty hot , so we headed back down the river . The temperature got up to about 42 today - that’s hot enough .

 Back to the van , we slid the kayak up the bank and dropped into the water and sat cooling off for about half an hour !!  We cleaned the kayak , had some lunch , before retiring back to the river again for another cool down . 

  We had another swim later with Maree & Kevin , before we had some tea with them .

 The flying foxes are well known for their mass departure flight from the brush on dusk , tonight was no different as they flew down to the river for a drink and then head off for the night finding whatever food they can find . It was also full moon , adding to the display .

 Here’s a map link :- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p72fg7WCNeFrYbO8BkIgFMN8_-s&usp=sharing

8/12/16 Catchup

 Hi there , we are in Coffs Harbour at the moment , we left Murwillumbah on Tuesday after one of the loudest thunderstorms we've had the pleasure of being in . It was around 4-5am when it stuck . With each lightning bolt came the thunder - as it crashed and banged , then echoed all through the valley around us - we could hear each thunder clap 6 to 7 times , and there were plenty of them .
 As a sad note , a young man was killed when a tree was hit by lightning on Mt Warning - it fell on him ?? details are a bit sketchy , apparently he was camping up there , his lady friend was also injured.
        It also bucketed down rain , we packed after the rain had stopped and headed off , leaving around 10:30am , and only got some light rain on the way down to Coffs Harbour . We caught up with Mark , who we'd been parked beside in Moss Vale prior to us starting our trip .
 Coffs had rain yesterday as well , so we shopped and wandered around the shopping centre's for some entertainment .
 Today we took care of a few jobs and went for a walk around Coffs Harbour Creek , before having dinner with Mark .
 That's it , all up to date , here are some photo's from Murwillumbah .