B days, beautiful blue sky, blue water, bush flowers and birthday

 On Sunday I traveled down the other side of Brisbane Water to Patonga, and at each turn the scenes were a delight, why had I waited so long to see this part of Australia? This is on the hill looking down to Woy Woy from Staples Lookout

 Driving down the road I nearly didn't go to the Mt Ettalong lookout, the parking lot was so scruffy and no sign to tell of the beauty a short walk away, but I talked to some people coming back and they said do it. This is looking south towards Palm Beach

 and then admiring the gum trees, grass trees and large rocks as I walked I made it to the lookout looking north to Gosford in the distance. What a hidden gem.

 Driving to Patonga the side of the road was lined with flannel flowers. The road ends at Patonga, but there is still more to explore.

And then on Tuesday my cousin and I went driving to Wisemans Ferry, St Albans and side roads exploring the past, only to return home to a birthday surprise.  Pavlova made by Grant who had come from Sydney especially for dinner.  Having a birthday away from home is a pretty good idea. 

Especially when I'll be back in Brisbane by Friday and then more celebrations at the weekend.  LG

 After arriving home from Fiji, I just had to get moving again, a quick trip to Gosford to fill in some family history gaps, and then at the weekend I went driving, to places I have never been before on the coast south from Terrigal, the photo above is  part of Forrester's beach. I want more time to explore those rocks

 

 then I discovered the Three Points lookout and this is the view looking north.  Captain Cook mapped this area closely

 and if you walk a bit further at the lookout you get the view to the south, to Lion Head and even south to Sydney if I had taken the photo with the panorama lens, but for some reason I couldn't get it to work

 Maitland Bay is a hidden gem, its a 20 minute walk down steps to the beach and longer coming up, I went half way  to a lookout standing on massive rocks, (the dark at the top of the photo is a  tree branch) but the mosquitos made me change my mind.  Next time I'll take repellent and be prepared. Just wish I could grow  Eriostomens like the ones I saw flowering along the track

I ended up at Wagstaffe which is the end of the road on that side of Brisbane Water but to-morrow is another day of driving and that was even more breathtaking.