Driving around

Not sure why blog never puts my photos in the order I put them in, I do know how to change them but its a nuisance, so today I have had to change them again. I had a couple of days in Gosford, had dinner with a friend, spent time at the library and managed to fall over in a car park with only a graze to my elbow to show for it. Then headed off to NSW State Records, giving myself two days if I need extra time there. Not long after I arrived they announced a coffee van was outside, that's something new and much appreciated as the archives are in a remote place and you need to bring your own food, I had bought a sandwich when I stopped for petrol and the coffee made it bearable. They do have a coffee and tea making facility. I'm always amazed at how much you can find, and after I finished looking at Preston history things, I decided to check if there was anything about my early schools and what a gem. Nothing about Berkeley Vale, my first school, but Taylors Arm was a real find. I got my admission and Miltons and even found a cousin had been staying with us and went to school as well. Then I had a peek inside the punishment book, no I wasn't in it, but you can guess who was.












I didn't need a second day at the archives so headed off towards the south coast, unfortunately it was dark and wet for most of the way and I would have missed some amazing views, but Tom Tom guided me to Wollongong and I found a good motel with a Thai food place adjoining, the curry tofu and coconut rice went to my taste. Next day I headed off to Kiama, I should have detoured off to look at the big Buddhist temple but I was hungry, the weather had cleared somewhat and my first stop was for fruit toast and coffee at this pretty little cafe, its more years than I can remember since I was in Kiama and I'd forgotten how historic it is.







Even though I went to the little blow hole first, the big blow hole has decided to be first in this blog. It was putting on a good show and from the walkway here I could see back to the little blow hole, its on that far point but not in the photo, it was putting on an amazing show as well







I'm pleased I went to the little blowhole first, and while I was there two women came and I took their photo and so they took mine, if you look closely you will see the spray of water shooting straight up in the air, I am standing on the lookout so it a great height, not every wave put on this show but it was certainly worthwhile. I drove around the beach to the big blow hole and marvelled at the surfers out catching the waves.









I drove along the beaches on the tourist drive toward Clifton, and decided this area of the coast would be worth a longer visit. I've crossed off a few more places from my book of 1015 things to see in Australia. I was driving north across the sea cliff bridge, if I had of been driving south I could have stopped and walked the 600 metres but perhaps thats an idea for next time and when its sunny. The sea bridge is visible in this photo. It was a great view from Stanwell tops. The views up the coast as I drove were good as well



From here I decided to drive through the National Park to Sutherland were Mums grandfather had lived. I thought I would have found more information at the library but everything I would have liked to see was locked up. However I did have a find and discovered that Charles Gogerly, (whose daughter Agnes married Patrick Michael Duffy and their son Charles Duffy married Annie Dening, my ggrandmother who I vaguely remember) had lived in the area and Gogerly cottage is heritage listed and Gogerly point is named after him. It was getting late and next day I had wanted to drive up the MacDonald valley but after talking to a lady knowledgeable on the area she said I would be wasting my time as there are only some old chimmeys standing and you really need a guide to point out places of interest. With that information I headed back to Gosford and on the Monday went to see the new headstone on Annie Duffy's grave where Mum wanted her ashes put, I had a text reminder from my surgeon that my operation I thought was on the 25th was actually on the 21st, not that I wanted my operation on the 25th as it was scheduled for the time that Mum had died and I thought that wasn't the best omen. So on the Tuesday I got up early and headed back to Brisbane

Back in Brissie and off again

I arrived back a few days before Dave's parents arrived and we had an enjoyable week until Jim suffered a severe medical emergency and everyone's life has been on hold. I don't have to say more as its been an ongoing sad Facebook topic.
Chris and the boys came to visit for a couple of days and they made some extra excitement in the house, with Carlo deciding that a banana makes a good hat











I've been crocheting flowers for ages to make a rug, its filled in my time in Fiji and in Brisbane while watching TV. I couldn't resist putting all the colours out to do a count and I'm sure 340 will be sufficient. Now I have to sew them onto a backing fabric, wonder why I fell for this idea in the Better Homes and Garden magazine.












Ben joined us for a day at Australia Zoo. Last time I was there was with Nina and Camille and feeding the overfed Kangaroos still appeals.










I had been wanting to go south to check out more family history and see friends, I worried about going while so much is happening, but everyone agreed I should do my own thing and so off I went. First stop Coffs Harbour to see Gwen who has also been sick and has improved after a quick visit to hospital. No visit to Korara is complete without a walk on the beach to check out the pebbles. The weather has been bad recently and the beach was covered in stones. I did pick up a couple I couldn't resist but thought a photo would suffice to show how beautiful they are close up




















I spent two nights with Gwen and then headed off to Gosford. Stopped at Short Order in Macksville for a coffee and panini and remembered to pay this time.

Fiji-cruising into port

I had seen this cay as we cruised by and wondered who ever went there, on the second last day we found out, it was us, the crew have been planting coconuts each visit. It took a couple of minutes to walk around the sandy beach and then it was off to snorkel.














I found this starfish on the beach and don't ever take one with you as I had to air out my bag for a day to get the smell out, I didn't go on the second snorkel, (I was having a massage) and when the other came back they said but the beach was covered in these starfish and it was hard to walk without treading on them.














This purple wine nearly covers the cay, and holds the sand in place, would like to go back in a few years and see how it has changed, in the background is Viti Levu near Rakiraki























Sometimes you see unexpected things from the glass bottom boat!













We cruised on to our anchor for the night near Latouka, the sunset was not one of the best so I was hoping for a good sunrise but the sleeping giant mountain and the clouds stopped the spectacular, but even so the clouds and the water were like a pink fairy land











We cruised into Denarau marina and saw a magnificent boat the Suri, everyone thought it was Tom Cruises boat, but I read in the newspaper the next weekend that it is a hire cruise boat with every luxury including a helicopter, didn't make any check on how much it costs, the old saying 'if you have to ask you can't afford it'.
I took a taxi to the bus station and got the bus back to Suva, 5 seats across the bus with a very narrow aisle, lucky I scored a seat with a young woman and was not squashed up like some. The bus stopped at Sigatoka long enough for me to get some bananas for a snack. There was continuous video movies with guns and loud noise eagerly watched by all the young children, I had a book to read, 'Food' true short stories about eating around the world. Even with the noise I managed a sleep during the 3+hours of travel and woke up near Pacific Harbour and it was raining. I decided if I'm travelling by bus again I need some ear plugs.