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