River Cruise

Through the local branch of the National Trust we have come to know John and Susan, who belong to the Wooden Boat Association. Last Saturday they invited us to join them and some other enthusiasts on a cruise up the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains. The Nepean is a broad, calm stretch of water. It was here during the 2000 Summer Olympics that the rowing competitions were held.

Our craft was the lovely MS Molly.



We were accompanied by an assortment of other little wooden boats, including speedboats (one of which had travelled all the way from Lake Tahoe to Australia)






and a small craft that reminded us of "The African Queen", the boat in which Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn escaped in the movie of that name.





This area on the plain at the foot of the mountains is blazingly hot in summer, but has mild winter temperatures, at least during the daytime. On this day, it reached 20º C. Michael enjoyed the sunshine.




We travelled about as far up the river as it was navigable. A broad rock provided a handy place for our picnic lunch.






Susan guarded the Esky full of beer...



but I preferred a glass of wine.



Note our suitably nautical attire.

Below us the boats bobbed patiently.




By early afternoon, the sun was already beginning to drop behind the high banks,



so we headed back to the landing stage, where MS Molly was loaded back on the trailer for the short journey home.



Thank you, John and Susan, for a lovely day.

River Cruise

Through the local branch of the National Trust we have come to know John and Susan, who belong to the Wooden Boat Association. Last Saturday they invited us to join them and some other enthusiasts on a cruise up the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains. The Nepean is a broad, calm stretch of water. It was here during the 2000 Summer Olympics that the rowing competitions were held.

Our craft was the lovely MS Molly.



We were accompanied by an assortment of other little wooden boats, including speedboats (one of which had travelled all the way from Lake Tahoe to Australia)






and a small craft that reminded us of "The African Queen", the boat in which Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn escaped in the movie of that name.





This area on the plain at the foot of the mountains is blazingly hot in summer, but has mild winter temperatures, at least during the daytime. On this day, it reached 20º C. Michael enjoyed the sunshine.




We travelled about as far up the river as it was navigable. A broad rock provided a handy place for our picnic lunch.






Susan guarded the Esky full of beer...



but I preferred a glass of wine.



Note our suitably nautical attire.

Below us the boats bobbed patiently.




By early afternoon, the sun was already beginning to drop behind the high banks,



so we headed back to the landing stage, where MS Molly was loaded back on the trailer for the short journey home.



Thank you, John and Susan, for a lovely day.

Trail to Hanging Rock

The last couple of weeks have been hectic, so we decided a walk was in order to give us something calm to reflect on. We had tried the trail to Hanging Rock once before, but turned back when a storm blew up.
This time, although a few gloomy clouds swept overhead, we had generally pleasant if cool weather and reached the end of the trail. Where the hanging rock itself was, we had no clue, but the sheer cliff walls across the valley were spectacular.



From the cliff edge on this clear afternoon we could see all the way to the distant towers of Sydney. There is something disconcerting about standing in the midst of this wilderness and gazing out towards where one fifth of the population of this vast country lives. Michael took time out to sketch.



Naturally, I spent that time investigating the surrounding flora. Tall black flower spikes of grass trees rose through the undergrowth.In my childhood they were called "black boys", but culturally sensitive times have since demanded a more inoffensive name.



Winter brings fuzzy golden flowers on the many wattle species. This is the sunshine wattle, Acacia terminalis.



New growth on some of the eucalypts matched dark red stems to the crescent-shaped, sage-green leaves.

Trail to Hanging Rock

The last couple of weeks have been hectic, so we decided a walk was in order to give us something calm to reflect on. We had tried the trail to Hanging Rock once before, but turned back when a storm blew up.
This time, although a few gloomy clouds swept overhead, we had generally pleasant if cool weather and reached the end of the trail. Where the hanging rock itself was, we had no clue, but the sheer cliff walls across the valley were spectacular.



From the cliff edge on this clear afternoon we could see all the way to the distant towers of Sydney. There is something disconcerting about standing in the midst of this wilderness and gazing out towards where one fifth of the population of this vast country lives. Michael took time out to sketch.



Naturally, I spent that time investigating the surrounding flora. Tall black flower spikes of grass trees rose through the undergrowth.In my childhood they were called "black boys", but culturally sensitive times have since demanded a more inoffensive name.



Winter brings fuzzy golden flowers on the many wattle species. This is the sunshine wattle, Acacia terminalis.



New growth on some of the eucalypts matched dark red stems to the crescent-shaped, sage-green leaves.

Flowers for my Mum

My dear mum died on July 16 in her 91st year. She so loved scented flowers that we chose a posy of violets rather than the usual flowers to place beside her coffin at the memorial service.

Flowers for my Mum

My dear mum died on July 16 in her 91st year. She so loved scented flowers that we chose a posy of violets rather than the usual flowers to place beside her coffin at the memorial service.

Topiary

There's nothing like a little topiary to improve an ugly shed. This was in Bundanoon, an attractive hamlet in the southern highlands of NSW.