tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77143720479864378932024-02-19T22:41:51.199-08:00The Dusty CampervanThe Dusty Campervan blog is a diary of our travels, long and short in "Dusty" the VW Transporter. Trips start from home base in Canberra, Australia. On the road we love to free camp, beach fish, birdwatch, kayak and hunt out roadside stalls and markets for locally grown treats. Posts will be updated most Mondays or if something interesting happens.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-63805734781206104232016-02-26T03:00:00.001-08:002016-02-26T03:37:29.777-08:00My blog has moved It's now located at <a href="http://www.mimfilip.com/" target="_blank">www.mimfilip.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-35448500708307456672015-06-16T01:31:00.001-07:002015-06-16T02:53:15.294-07:00Sunshine and Beach Stone - CurlewThe challenge on this trip is to set aside an hour or two each day to catch up on work emails and keep the wheels of my part of the industry turning. It's early days but I have say that it seems to be working quite well.<div><br></div><div>Today was probably the best day birding that I have had, if not all time then in my most recent memory. I put the kayak in at Theodalite Creek just north of Woodgate, Queensland at around midday on an outgoing tide. It was a perfect day, for a paddle, no wind, about 23 degrees and sunny. I paddled to the northern side of the estuary and could hear quite a bit of activity coming from lantana scrub. Birds of note were, Red backed fairy wren, spangled drongo, rufous whistler, double barred finch. Then on my way back to the shore I noticed these two Bush Stone-curlew. A first for me.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiSkBcdhIWmulRiNcts6-PCoyz2zsykVYCM8RqKDDL91b8nLX5-NrOw6rm_rfglpKy4Smw2IKj_9DLVAbrmE-DLTtLeG_TTQfTBXpwb_Gg6IP1T-m_NRDAva3_E6bCA8t36lPa-UDgZg/s640/blogger-image--2136731302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiSkBcdhIWmulRiNcts6-PCoyz2zsykVYCM8RqKDDL91b8nLX5-NrOw6rm_rfglpKy4Smw2IKj_9DLVAbrmE-DLTtLeG_TTQfTBXpwb_Gg6IP1T-m_NRDAva3_E6bCA8t36lPa-UDgZg/s640/blogger-image--2136731302.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR5tlFrNCmmwmoougu00UwjHmsu6Im7PQ9uaWlVeXrjj2KiZiNw0Di1-pgMWLP81v547ouloPP_m5EbGftT-E7Q8CRXk49gCUI0uoZr3pYJDqJ_zya6odhGkTu-BU4pl6Nx4-3zHdt4k/s640/blogger-image-1512746326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR5tlFrNCmmwmoougu00UwjHmsu6Im7PQ9uaWlVeXrjj2KiZiNw0Di1-pgMWLP81v547ouloPP_m5EbGftT-E7Q8CRXk49gCUI0uoZr3pYJDqJ_zya6odhGkTu-BU4pl6Nx4-3zHdt4k/s640/blogger-image-1512746326.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-2805780683363339992015-06-12T01:31:00.001-07:002015-06-13T13:31:38.150-07:00Catching up with the DustyCampervanI managed to get a flight to Brisbane courtesy of some free air miles with Virgin, best fare of the day was a 7:30 takeoff. The temperature was a chilly -3. Mr P and Dusty were at Brizzey to meet me and we set off for the 90k drive north to Noosa.<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> As a rule I never book ahead but had reserved a waterfront site for a week at the Noosa River Caravan Park. We arrived with high expectations of a site overlooking the river, unfortunately they had omitted to tell me the site was on bitumen. Not a blade of grass to be seen. We were given a full refund, I got the impression that ours was a fairly common reaction. Fortunately it wasn't busy and after a bit of driving around we caught the ferry out to Noosa North Shore Camp for the night.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqvnDbQgW88zm7Ig1ezL2qyUAKpuMlQQSHHMEIFcDEmbGIGWV1YKmUWw_1s2hsNCxzQuZoda9mj3wuzGlhBjy0hvDK4c0Hf45IYNZBmEKJbcRGji6I1glf6kOTZeFClmAWLsz72b84Hk/s640/blogger-image--1053798679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqvnDbQgW88zm7Ig1ezL2qyUAKpuMlQQSHHMEIFcDEmbGIGWV1YKmUWw_1s2hsNCxzQuZoda9mj3wuzGlhBjy0hvDK4c0Hf45IYNZBmEKJbcRGji6I1glf6kOTZeFClmAWLsz72b84Hk/s640/blogger-image--1053798679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I managed to get in a walk along the beach before the wind and rain set in for the night. Saturday morning we had arranged to meet the kids at Yandina Markets to stock up on fresh produce. Most travellers go to the more touristy Eumundi markets near by. Yandina is more of a local produce market, lots of tropical fruits and really friendly people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Back to Chez Seidl for a delicious very low food miles lunch, local Mooloolaba king prawns, most of the produce came from the garden.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgD4UHJJke_Yy-8M7AJCKvhkxOmx1XZ0a0CDXmuXtftaK5G8Za2PVNGNWmo-M8JxB54T6xCtk0n3d8WeNqmRDutF4s_CfpnidorN4lEZg0kjn0blOFgVKr5yK6M2SWmFPqMv3_qBUy5I/s640/blogger-image-1917873535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgD4UHJJke_Yy-8M7AJCKvhkxOmx1XZ0a0CDXmuXtftaK5G8Za2PVNGNWmo-M8JxB54T6xCtk0n3d8WeNqmRDutF4s_CfpnidorN4lEZg0kjn0blOFgVKr5yK6M2SWmFPqMv3_qBUy5I/s640/blogger-image-1917873535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmoHqC4ApG52Gn5hT_eirj3j-KdTtoqR0pKs-xlYQUhBsXL46D9DlBgLW3PEIGWSqJwVmFAAE5LUnAEPts8yb-HsRRHZUVGBcRERH-m3dBvpz2KoVlBudEhFxk29PzDLUe-bvwDiXv74/s640/blogger-image-142665606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmoHqC4ApG52Gn5hT_eirj3j-KdTtoqR0pKs-xlYQUhBsXL46D9DlBgLW3PEIGWSqJwVmFAAE5LUnAEPts8yb-HsRRHZUVGBcRERH-m3dBvpz2KoVlBudEhFxk29PzDLUe-bvwDiXv74/s640/blogger-image-142665606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Helen is hard at work tending seedlings planted by the local primary school students. We chatted and I ticked off a few birds on my list. Notably a flock of scarlet honeyeaters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tonight we are Coolum Beach, great park and access to the Sunshine Coast free wifi. It's warm, the sun is shining and they are catching fish off the beach. Life on the road is good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Coolum Beach Holiday Park 1827 David Low Way, Coolum Beach-26.528297 153.091234tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-33317572465217632362014-11-09T00:02:00.000-08:002014-11-09T00:19:18.127-08:00Messing about in Wooden Boats - Narooma Just home again from a great weekend catching up with friends in Narooma. We happened to be in town for the 2014 Narooma Boats Afloat Festival. This was the 9th time the featival has been held in Fosters Bay with a flotilla of over 50 boats on show. There were wooden boats of all shapes and sizes, clinkers, putt putts, steam boats, electric and sail boats, something for everyone, as well as arts shows in the quaint little boatsheds around the bay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narooma Marina was the place to be on Saturday.</td></tr>
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The flotilla arrived for just as the jazz band started playing and we had settled in for the afternoon. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elixir- definately the spice of life!</td></tr>
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Regularly on Sunday mornings, some of the town's sharpest minds gather for a cuppa and a spot of trivia. This Sunday, quiz master Charlie, invited us and along with some other boffins for a breakfast cruise on his beautiful "Wagonga Princess". </div>
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Contestants boarded from the wharf near the Fishing Club laden with baked treats, <i>Thirsty</i> had his amazing gourmet sandwiches and <i>Pig Slops</i> was not going to part with the recipe for his special chocolate slice, needless to say we all had a jolly time.</div>
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<a href="http://wagongainletcruises.com.au/" target="_blank">Wagonga Inlet Cruises </a>are a great way to spend a few hour next time you are in Narooma.Check out more photos from the weekend on the photo page.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-34922291749299097462014-08-31T01:55:00.001-07:002014-08-31T01:55:30.901-07:00Bungonia Gorge closed, doors open.The fog on the Federal Highway was so thick on Sunday morning, that we missed seeing Lake George and the Collector turnoff, we passed several peletons blindly riding their way through the white out, thankful no doubt for their multi coloured Lycra and tail lights. Our destination was the Bungonia Gorge National Park 30 minutes east of Goulburn on Mountain Ash road.<br />
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The fog had cleared by the time we reached the park entrance. Where we joined a group of dismayed walkers, peering at the sign notifying us that the park was indeed closed for feral animal control. Not to worry, we were keen to back track to the old Bungonia township and pursue that other much loved pastime of exploring graveyards and old churches.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ Church - Anglican Church Bungonia</td></tr>
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In its heyday the Great South Road (aka Hume Hway) passed through the townsip of Bungonia, when the road was rerouted the township fell into decline. The 2006 census recorded 258 residents, I would hazard a guess that the number would be much less today. Bungonia's historical legacy is a number of fine building, a beautiful old stone police station, complete with flogging tree, St Michael's Catholic reputed to be the oldest standing Catholic Church on the Australian mainland and the Anglical church at the other end of the township.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Michael's Catholic Church - 1847</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After and hour exploring we drove out of town and followed the signs to Tarago, but somehow got side tracked and spotted the quaint little church below in a paddock just off the road. This looked like a perfectly sheltered spot for lunch.<br />
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The church and graveyard were beautifully maintained with some very old headstones, dating back to the early 1900's as well as a memorial to those locals lost in war. We sat in the sun debating why churches were locked these days, we had found most of the churches in rural Tasmania were unlocked during daylight hours. You can imagine our delight when we found this one was also unlocked.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-81578110739157925292014-07-27T02:18:00.004-07:002014-08-01T02:22:51.570-07:00Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay and Eastern Bristlebird encountersWith a weekend to do just what I wanted, it was a great excuse to head to the coast for some sunshine, to try an rid myself of a persistent cough and sore throat that has dogged me for the past couple of weeks.<br>
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I left Canberra on Friday after a couple of meetings in the morning and decided to make my way to Booderee National Park on Jervis Bay via, Nerriga. I tuned into a great community radio station, playing a mixture of, jazz, rock and blues, that fitted my mood perfectly and 3 hours later I was on Jervis Bay road. I had read that Green Patch was the best suited camp site for a van , all the other being walk in sites. The visitors centre was closed when i arrived, so I wasn't able to get my camping permit or maps, but the park is well sign posted.<br>
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The weather at the coast was 10 degrees warmer during the day, the nights were a bit chilly and I missed being able to have a camp fire. I spent Friday afternoon getting set up and them heading out to explore, the area around Green Patch and Bristol Rocks.<br>
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It was well and truly dark by the time I got back to camp, I made the most of the hot showers, such a treat in at National Park. The campsite what just about empty, but I had set up next to a couple of Grey Nomads (Gomads) just for security. It was wonderful dropping off to sleep listening to the call of a Mopoke Owl in the distance. I spoke with the ranger on Saturday morning and he gave me a chit to pay on my way out, all very civilised.<br>
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Jervis Bay is picture perfect and I was having lots of fun, with my new camera. I walked out to Telegraph Swamp after breakfast and was soon high fiving myself after an Eastern Bristlebird walked across the track in front of me, I first for me and one that I hadn't dreamed of being lucky enough to see on this trip. The flowering heath was alive with honeyeaters this area will become a mecca for birders in the coming weeks.<br>
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I had literally walked my legs off and was tucked up in bed just after sunset,needless to say I was up again and on the road before sunrise.</div>
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This shot was not as spectacular as I had hoped, the sandstone cliff opposite needed to be in the sun not in silhouette, but well worth the walk just to see the sunrise. I drove over to Caves Beach and watched the surfers while I cooked my scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.</div>
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I then was the first into the National Botanic Gardens, more Eastern Bristle birds, here as well; as several Brassian Thrush, Shiny Black Cockatoos and a pair of Gang Gangs of note.</div>
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I decided to take the Kangaroo Valley route on the way home, and apart from taking an interesting detour via Mount Scanzi. Well some may call it a wrong turn but it was very picturesque albeit mostly dirt, thankfully Google maps told be I was not lost.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-11316166083124128802014-06-22T01:59:00.001-07:002014-06-22T03:35:44.338-07:00Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rock NP winter weekend escape<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the thermometer sitting on -1 most mornings last week, we decided to take a chance on the predicted 20 degree maximums forcast for the coast on Saturday and Sunday being close to accurate to make mid winter dash for some warmer. A very large bag of firewood and the winter doona were thrown in also, just to be safe.</span><br>
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<b>Clyde or Brown?</b></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The trip to the coast via the Brown Mountain always seems so much more relaxing, no territorians, trying to break the land speed record by making it Batemans Bay in under 2 hours. We were struck by the lush vegetation and green paddocks around Bega, no wonder they make such great cheese here. After several stops to buy food we arrived in Tathra around midday. Mimosa Rocks NP is a short drive north of Tathra, Gillards Beach is 5 klms off the main road. A dirt road, but it had been recently graded so the corregations, didn't result in any breakages this time.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site map - Gillards Beach</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the choice of the 70 sites that run alond the back of the sand dunes,great views, plenty shade and best of all grass underfoot. Most popular camp sites are so loved that the grass doesn't get a chance to recover. We chose a site with a fire pit and a great view.</span></div>
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One of the advantages of camping on the south coast in Winter is that is just about completely deserted. We had the pick of the sites and as the afternoon wore on the temperature did reach a balmy 18 degrees. Mr P opted for shorts and decided to try his luck with his surf rod in the gutter just below the camp site.<br>
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The total catch for the afternoon were 6 salmon, but no elusive tailor, despite all the conditions being perfect. 5 salmon were returned to the ocean, I love fresh salmon for breakfast so we decided to keep one.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohJvCHRx8WEc_ZkKEWiAJG1cdG_31gBwqFaKQ73m_nJ-2CSdinSzkPlmrks2IiPWRHhcQfebtKuKR8sX2AU55Yn_Sy7HIZ9fPttGB2UjJkHs_R4anyY9MI02f3yUwrm-hsYiydZDAn0o/s1600/2014-06-22+08.06.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohJvCHRx8WEc_ZkKEWiAJG1cdG_31gBwqFaKQ73m_nJ-2CSdinSzkPlmrks2IiPWRHhcQfebtKuKR8sX2AU55Yn_Sy7HIZ9fPttGB2UjJkHs_R4anyY9MI02f3yUwrm-hsYiydZDAn0o/s1600/2014-06-22+08.06.51.jpg" height="239" width="320"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan fried salmon with goats cheese,lemon and black pepper on toast</td></tr>
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Birds and walks</h4>
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The trees around the camp site were full of wattle birds and New Holland Honeyeaters. I made the trek to Blithrey inlet via Middle Lagoon on both days, with a total of 28 species. The lagoon had opened to the sea last week so was now tidal, large flocks of Australian Coot were fossicking for meal along the shore. Best bird of the weekend was a Crested Shrite Tit a lifer for me.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: small; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-30738257312145210012014-04-21T16:05:00.001-07:002014-04-21T16:05:43.615-07:00Time to get back on the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>I am writing this after my last morning paddle up the river at Sandon, we have been here now for 14 days and tomorrow we need to point the Dusty Campervan south to be home by next weekend.<div><br></div><div><b>Paddling, </b>is like a narcotic, calming, sleep inducing and addictive. I have paddled up river for several klms every morning with the tide and against it. I am sure come tomorrow I will have withdrawal symptoms. </div><div><br></div><div>My bird list for our stay has notched 68 species, with hours spent in the mangroves trying to decide if the honeyeaters were white cheeked or white throated or both. Every bend of the river is dotted with whistling kite and sea eagle nests. There is also a large nest in the Norfolk Island Pine above our van and this has been our pre dawn alarm clock, a sound that will always remind me of our holiday here.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEXgiXq0OchcO7drcjkisBFikvfyHQmZbxvpT7s0brSVJP2IU8nhv1LCcl8U2kDvcdrpRkM6XCpXtI3IkWqwdAXxEoxNWOg35VCubVKNwjuN9-RR3RLx-0CGtqduC46RIx5-9W2eSC6M/s640/blogger-image--1316301350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEXgiXq0OchcO7drcjkisBFikvfyHQmZbxvpT7s0brSVJP2IU8nhv1LCcl8U2kDvcdrpRkM6XCpXtI3IkWqwdAXxEoxNWOg35VCubVKNwjuN9-RR3RLx-0CGtqduC46RIx5-9W2eSC6M/s640/blogger-image--1316301350.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Shacks</b>, the old beach shacks at Sandon have a charm all of their own. Their owners fought with the National Parks to retain possession and won the case. Although, they now must remain within the title holders family or relinquished. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the photo below I am returning from my daily ride to the rubbish bins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T-BnVy1shHOzg1VQXxQF176Kb6KUSAdwEsiKcFLU0jFmUcgBQON4CtPTlXKBeBK8mf2-S3A9y-uaEOZ6bfJZv5O4m1IkmKKRMfZUna91JOhzcMtgPbg-Guy6wS3XQrv88BasRbiodwY/s640/blogger-image--1692522663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T-BnVy1shHOzg1VQXxQF176Kb6KUSAdwEsiKcFLU0jFmUcgBQON4CtPTlXKBeBK8mf2-S3A9y-uaEOZ6bfJZv5O4m1IkmKKRMfZUna91JOhzcMtgPbg-Guy6wS3XQrv88BasRbiodwY/s640/blogger-image--1692522663.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EZf2TiEFDqlviAf6EwJYrmiTU8wmbYJ6RNov4Z7P270URo2X9KrG290clitRtuqruAaMHlvlKTYJh8Yd9DORxlzeIpoYkhYlMNXky8Cik1JfUDWbVip8K2-BuCqbXR5-f62uDUZyrO0/s640/blogger-image-137447757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EZf2TiEFDqlviAf6EwJYrmiTU8wmbYJ6RNov4Z7P270URo2X9KrG290clitRtuqruAaMHlvlKTYJh8Yd9DORxlzeIpoYkhYlMNXky8Cik1JfUDWbVip8K2-BuCqbXR5-f62uDUZyrO0/s640/blogger-image-137447757.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqEPf6ncXsFhdpYFc1BDrJOgn9Wf6WfenRtNECtOS9gDsX8EQmnHd1zUYmpKA_1WDUToMsNQZU-fwXuRuR1gyKSkGXvXc3xK4RkL90CMINSVKi2ziTuZ-Ozdw5vtmcWHJJjnvjcmUhVM/s640/blogger-image--17485032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqEPf6ncXsFhdpYFc1BDrJOgn9Wf6WfenRtNECtOS9gDsX8EQmnHd1zUYmpKA_1WDUToMsNQZU-fwXuRuR1gyKSkGXvXc3xK4RkL90CMINSVKi2ziTuZ-Ozdw5vtmcWHJJjnvjcmUhVM/s640/blogger-image--17485032.jpg"></a></div>Mr P is always on the look out for someone to have a chat with, here he is with Sandon local identity Bobby. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYOKhI4kFgoYRUgUIt3-DZVaJvvhSOD-MciisWrshmfeJD5ckkMaht1hqikYVB6xgk6Gkgw-PeTpMxyFeh-pSl-8S6os1dTZZiClDFUZvvs2U_CENoYt0HTg7j0ylNoW9AkkTwj-raUI/s640/blogger-image--1863152167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYOKhI4kFgoYRUgUIt3-DZVaJvvhSOD-MciisWrshmfeJD5ckkMaht1hqikYVB6xgk6Gkgw-PeTpMxyFeh-pSl-8S6os1dTZZiClDFUZvvs2U_CENoYt0HTg7j0ylNoW9AkkTwj-raUI/s640/blogger-image--1863152167.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Tomorrow we will drive south calling into Red Rock and Mylestrom on our way to Crowdy Bay NP. We have eaten fish every day for 2 weeks, I am thinking a pizza might be on tomorrow night's menu.</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-76770918394931236712014-04-12T17:22:00.001-07:002014-04-12T17:50:22.612-07:00Yuraygir National Park, Sandon River CampingOur fist week has passed and we are well and truly on Sandon River time. The days are very busy, getting up at daylight and paddling up the river, with good fishing and birding, back for a lunch of Paul's catch of the day. Our afternoons are spent reading,swimming and then more paddling around dusk. Life seems to revolve a round the tides. I have even taken the pushey out for a spin down the bumpy road for a couple of klms, to the point where the corrugations bounce me off the seat. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rhrqDjU2InhVlSGTcus5NDDNPBRTVY1b6MmpguDpiJ-D2vpTxt3ZkfEc6VbdSFLTHawof0OVAx7tg_3TihquwO6foR15adRvsJNxZLNimNbddlMVAyqagoDU3dM8jgwpl0CSX2bz9HY/s640/blogger-image--703948460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rhrqDjU2InhVlSGTcus5NDDNPBRTVY1b6MmpguDpiJ-D2vpTxt3ZkfEc6VbdSFLTHawof0OVAx7tg_3TihquwO6foR15adRvsJNxZLNimNbddlMVAyqagoDU3dM8jgwpl0CSX2bz9HY/s640/blogger-image--703948460.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>The camp is now well and truly at capacity and we are so glad that we got here and secured a great spot on the foreshore before it became busy. The 40 sites and 8 beach shacks get water from 6 large rain water tanks, the toilets are serviced with bore water. We are keeping our tanks full incase of any shortages in the coming week.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4A490Z3XU4X6OyTo3QlryhCqPftTzE67R_tfI8B_AOqox0o7iFSTAGk9afY7ou1W9fYGfckTJcsnPQ6-ZCiiNv13kHaGvq9jcOhPej0OSDB7d_2ekrkMOnMKFbMED5IYFWOADhzYJac/s640/blogger-image-696575739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4A490Z3XU4X6OyTo3QlryhCqPftTzE67R_tfI8B_AOqox0o7iFSTAGk9afY7ou1W9fYGfckTJcsnPQ6-ZCiiNv13kHaGvq9jcOhPej0OSDB7d_2ekrkMOnMKFbMED5IYFWOADhzYJac/s640/blogger-image-696575739.jpg"></a></div>This is the view from across the river at Sandon Village, the only access to the settlement is via boat or 4Wd along the beach.</div><div><br></div><div>The campervan is holding up well to the rough roads,we have found that our batteries only hold enough power for 3 days and have been chatting to other campers about the benefits of getting a solar panel.</div><div><br></div><div>On the fishing front, the catches have been consistent, with the best fish being a 9kg flat head, this was given to a large family group camping nearby, they very nicely reciprocated with a nice bottle of red. Stay tuned for the photos. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Maclean Maclean-29.44941 153.20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-19974929479860588222014-04-09T16:38:00.001-07:002014-04-09T16:49:39.880-07:00Sandon River Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>We arrived back at the Sandon River camp in the Yurigar NP on Monday, after a great time with family in Yandina and Mount Tamborine.<div><br></div><div>Our decision to get here before the school holiday travellers has paid off and we have secured a great camp site on the river and 100 metres from the surf beach. This is probably one of the best camps that we have stayed in, it ticks all the boxes, camp fires, warm water to swim in and the fish are biting, not to mention that there are flush toilets and tank water on site. The only downside is the 9 km of coregations on the way in or out.</div><div><br></div><div>Internet connection is non existent so I am posting this from Maclean, this morning. We have come into town to get some supplies for the next week and to charge the batteries in the van. Weather permitting our plan is to stay here for another week or 10 days. Today's temperature is 29 degrees and the water must be about 21'so life is good. My bird list is averaging around 35 species each day with 5 new birds on my life list.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrubg-iZbPBbZly_eufg7p5_CTVTHrjtjUDLE36-2UKiqO4DBPBstH-1ahII2kMhe5wNH_mxJW_hcEU0gTtgPaLNjkTogz0EzETnxoCuVmJ_t4pqsLL7UU-2EpawwYDk7yoVBNaaf3Gs/s640/blogger-image--1309174933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrubg-iZbPBbZly_eufg7p5_CTVTHrjtjUDLE36-2UKiqO4DBPBstH-1ahII2kMhe5wNH_mxJW_hcEU0gTtgPaLNjkTogz0EzETnxoCuVmJ_t4pqsLL7UU-2EpawwYDk7yoVBNaaf3Gs/s640/blogger-image--1309174933.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89ARnlp3g6um7YTqapd0Q8kZZRl0DcaqqxiqEaKaGbvOOGQqqlg4qw-XGm5pGRmObuLe-lPCmKLA5hA7vJtZsuLj-ZEbRi_LZYlzDcSqAKRDfIbBqqRgMWqz_zNPjpnKlA5RE8KpAwSs/s640/blogger-image--330123930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89ARnlp3g6um7YTqapd0Q8kZZRl0DcaqqxiqEaKaGbvOOGQqqlg4qw-XGm5pGRmObuLe-lPCmKLA5hA7vJtZsuLj-ZEbRi_LZYlzDcSqAKRDfIbBqqRgMWqz_zNPjpnKlA5RE8KpAwSs/s640/blogger-image--330123930.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyHBjWaYahlrrHJa9lBavh2LpHAsMGvL-KtEBEoVz5cug5ZjvG8WGVGmXz83UdRX_dBqBdQBRe3p8827vd4GWKN_GhGcBS_OqPjjkKXkUDRYWvhZPpgnt2-95YPmbs3hgVkofFRsTmpE/s640/blogger-image--2129240194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyHBjWaYahlrrHJa9lBavh2LpHAsMGvL-KtEBEoVz5cug5ZjvG8WGVGmXz83UdRX_dBqBdQBRe3p8827vd4GWKN_GhGcBS_OqPjjkKXkUDRYWvhZPpgnt2-95YPmbs3hgVkofFRsTmpE/s640/blogger-image--2129240194.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Maclean Maclean-29.455365 153.196816tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-47564354433918465212014-04-01T22:07:00.001-07:002014-04-02T02:42:43.225-07:00The Great Sandy National ParkA visit to the renowned RANSAR listed birding site of Inskip Point was high on my list of priorities for this trip. There were still some migratory birds in residence all showing lots of breeding plumage, feeding at low tide. I have to wonder why these frequent flyers return annually for a stop overin this area. The Great Sandy NP, is all about the 4WD, the beaches a far from being safe habitats but busy access roads.We stayed at the camp ground at Inskip point and I was surprised that nearly everyone had bought their dogs along with them. Hardly ideal for nesting sites for endangered birds species.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsV6ESK8axlmpZTNSIV1SukI5czMqRcsCMSrDEF6lMXdif8oCHF6dl5R2LxJ3VdYRjWtd86bD0AU6AGLtJ2VQyUn-_yKvMgfXrLtVMJx5wyo6QmEHO_9thQ1RKFMZY_dCGNuiU4vFPq4/s640/blogger-image-1750148799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsV6ESK8axlmpZTNSIV1SukI5czMqRcsCMSrDEF6lMXdif8oCHF6dl5R2LxJ3VdYRjWtd86bD0AU6AGLtJ2VQyUn-_yKvMgfXrLtVMJx5wyo6QmEHO_9thQ1RKFMZY_dCGNuiU4vFPq4/s640/blogger-image-1750148799.jpg"></a></div><br><div><b>How</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>exit a camp site.</b></div><div>Dusty took a wrong turn on our way out of the campsite and ended stuck in the sand. Fellow campers stood around and offered advice so we unhitched the venter took the bikes off. Then "Tiney" arrived and hitched up his 4bee with some slick knots on a borrowed rope of help and we soon back on the road. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo44KWjrDMGv884a3WekN9zUb7Zrj5Z-knOVnjAdeP30aX07mGPA27KrJy4UafktdiSf7CKsGBM7AVbKsK2mtVLLhDin4ekDpGTMC8bmgkpvGJad2QZBTPZnChpA6SATZmnRnFJIa7WNg/s640/blogger-image--1175318780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo44KWjrDMGv884a3WekN9zUb7Zrj5Z-knOVnjAdeP30aX07mGPA27KrJy4UafktdiSf7CKsGBM7AVbKsK2mtVLLhDin4ekDpGTMC8bmgkpvGJad2QZBTPZnChpA6SATZmnRnFJIa7WNg/s640/blogger-image--1175318780.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We have headed back south to Boreen Point looking for some paddling and fishing. The water hasn't cleared after the heavy rain at the weekend. We will call into Noosaville tomorrow to collect our new shade screen and then off to Eumundi Markets.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-30256955598731781692014-03-30T02:30:00.001-07:002014-03-30T13:57:41.462-07:00Road trip to the Sunshine CoastIt's taken a visit from the Dusty Camper to break the drought in South East Queensland. Torrential rain followed us most of the way from Grafton inland to the border. The sun came out in the afternoon as we arrived for a night at Toollum Falls This was the first water over the falls in 8 months and the talk of the nearby town of Urbanville bringing the locals came out for a look. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk_4aYznfyNkEmLv3_wXeeTcshvRObQzyxTj4CYvUCxkXHnDL-zzgLkmIXNxuHnaaZhCcZMha3JKN74r8NPaL-W3Vhpyk7q4wMw2FCtvBslUEGTQC3EXwCl14DwU2X_BIWn4XeEtwLxw/s640/blogger-image-959774655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk_4aYznfyNkEmLv3_wXeeTcshvRObQzyxTj4CYvUCxkXHnDL-zzgLkmIXNxuHnaaZhCcZMha3JKN74r8NPaL-W3Vhpyk7q4wMw2FCtvBslUEGTQC3EXwCl14DwU2X_BIWn4XeEtwLxw/s640/blogger-image-959774655.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The sun continued to shine into the afternoon and there was some excellent birding, of note some Golden Whistlers and Lewins Honeyeaters in good numbers as well as a huge Diamond Python curled up beside the path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkEDMiPnJU0oBa22PKBmsq6hhzHRFZ6GXGSPXgE6G2fvJT3sagk16D_xiWdU8ogBGMseqOUKqWVdKuFXKmNcKTSevWUoGyPApPr0xHCNKyxdYucqLrQNE_GwUlUmM7KlbK1VPTXKiP-w/s640/blogger-image-2032207435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkEDMiPnJU0oBa22PKBmsq6hhzHRFZ6GXGSPXgE6G2fvJT3sagk16D_xiWdU8ogBGMseqOUKqWVdKuFXKmNcKTSevWUoGyPApPr0xHCNKyxdYucqLrQNE_GwUlUmM7KlbK1VPTXKiP-w/s640/blogger-image-2032207435.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have used the Camps book (7th edition) to find these great out of the way sites. After a smooth trip, this Brisbane we arrived at Chez Seidl at Yandina in time for a delicious home grown lunch on the verandah.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7jLipcbkUVcjx-zarhR1VF1nyP-2hvToZt5jiNKN7mhAWXW3D3Mhy1RAHnu7GcMNlUc6UheFsUP32GIeejbeDRqH2Hl0c7PAcNSLDXz6gPqy78gsCb1L4G6CHy-zY_N43moypjCqEzs/s640/blogger-image--293903093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7jLipcbkUVcjx-zarhR1VF1nyP-2hvToZt5jiNKN7mhAWXW3D3Mhy1RAHnu7GcMNlUc6UheFsUP32GIeejbeDRqH2Hl0c7PAcNSLDXz6gPqy78gsCb1L4G6CHy-zY_N43moypjCqEzs/s640/blogger-image--293903093.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-11667874322264291092014-03-27T14:16:00.001-07:002014-03-30T02:30:03.183-07:00Capertee ValleyWe left Narooma on Sunday morning, with the view of making it to Abercrombie River NP by evening. After a stop at Surf Beach to catch up with my mum and dad and to wish mum a happy 91st birthday for next month we were back up the Clyde and on the road to Goulburn by early afternoon. <div><br></div><div>The road through to Oberon is almost all sealed except for a few patches of bone shattering coregations. We reached our destination at Bummaroo Ford (camps no 430) around 4 o'clock and were lulled to sleep by the sounds of Powerful Owls calling down the valley.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from a semi trailer roll over we had an in eventful drive through to Lithgow and on to Wallerawang</div><div>Where we stopped for a cuppa and to our delight found that the rest area loos also has hot showers, does it get any better?</div><div><br></div><div>Our next stop was the birding mecca of NSW the Capertee Valley. This beautiful valley is largest enclosed valley in the world and the home of the elusive Regent Honeyeater. We camped at Glen Davis (camps 381), a community run site. A great spot, run on the honesty box - donation. Our only neighbours were a couple of twitchers, looking to tick of the Honeyeater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Posting this on the road north of Grafton it's raining so we have decided to leave the coast and find some fine weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIn0zBjz8fd4-zYev1G5Sya3JGqW4sY4RoAYcbu3Vb7xk0Kw8rNCMsCcsfKwIdSS_vn7sx3RT5OiTwiIjuUor1jUXNMVo5kqvKn10G5T9bHesdqt6vlDMbMwQaQn1HqYIoUtSAAELAauM/s640/blogger-image-1099978983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIn0zBjz8fd4-zYev1G5Sya3JGqW4sY4RoAYcbu3Vb7xk0Kw8rNCMsCcsfKwIdSS_vn7sx3RT5OiTwiIjuUor1jUXNMVo5kqvKn10G5T9bHesdqt6vlDMbMwQaQn1HqYIoUtSAAELAauM/s640/blogger-image-1099978983.jpg"></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-39428072809064694282014-03-14T01:50:00.001-07:002014-03-14T01:50:38.200-07:00Road trip planningMr P is back from his fishing trip to the coast and Dusty is in need of an overhaul inside and out before next setting of on our road trip, north to Queensland.<br />
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First things first, curtains and seat covers were stripped out and put in the wash, this was a long overdue chore. We will need to go out to Fyshwick tomorrow to get the shower tent and pump. I think Anaconda will be out best bet for these. Monday it's new tyres and a trip to Bitch'n stitch' for the privacy screen for the Fiama awning.<br />
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We are hoping to get down to Narooma next Saturday for the school reunion and a catch up with friends before hitting the road north on Sunday. Our first stop will be the popular birding spot at Capertee Valley, driving up through Goulburn to Bathurst will also by pass Sydney.<br />
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Stay tuned for more reports.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-23125413688417461402014-03-10T02:02:00.000-07:002014-03-10T04:57:57.642-07:00Snowy Mountains Road trip - Canberra Day Long Weekend.<br />
Like a lot of Canberrans we made the most of the 3 day weekend, to take a break from the city. The weather at the coast was predicted to be wet and windy, no better excuse was need to head the hills. We were on the road by 8am on Saturday morning and made a stop in Cooma, I love a good Tourist Information Centre. All those free maps and the local bird list. Our destination was the thermal pool at Yarrongabilly Caves in the Kosciusko National Park, via Adaminaby and Kiandra.<br />
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I forgot to take the camera down with us, so this image is uploaded from the Internet. The pools are down a steep track from the car park, the walk takes about 15 minutes on the way down and was a bit of a trek back up taking us twice as long. We enjoyed the afternoon swimming in the 27 degree water, despite a couple of showers of rain. There is no camp site at the pools so we drove on to the site of old township of Yarrongabilly, to a great little camp site beside the river.<br />
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Although we saw lots of warning signs and poo on the road we didn't see any of the reported 7,500 brumbies running wild the the park.<br />
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The VW really went well and ate up the hills arriving at the camp in time to get the fire going before dark. We were relieved when this storm passed to the north, entertaining us over dinner with a lightening show.<br />
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The drive through the mountains to Tumut follows the side of the Blowering Reservior, most of the campsites along the way were patronised by water skiers, so we decided to continue on stopping for lunch at the 24 hour RV camp at Gundagui. This site is really interesting as it under Gundagui's beautiful old wooden bridges, you can just make out the railway bridge in the background..</div>
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Sunday night was spent at the great camp at Jugiong Showground. This is a very clever move by the showground trust and the Harden Shire Council, to bring grey nomads into the area. Thus tapping those tourist dollars.</div>
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I had a great paddle up the Murrumbidgee River while Mr P peddled around the town. Our camp spot was beside the river complete with a camp fire. We were able to burn some more of our supply fence posts we carry in the Venter. </div>
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We very happily made a donation for our nights stay.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-65379751367127246112014-02-24T01:00:00.001-08:002014-02-24T11:43:24.301-08:00Lakes Roadtrip - Paddling in Conjola National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berringer Lake Conjola National Park</td></tr>
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Although we had both done some research for our 3 day road trip to explore the lakes in the Milton, Ulladulla area, we really had no set plans. Best way to travel I think!<br />
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We had decided to take the road to the coast through Nerriga on Friday afternoon. Although mostly sealed there are very few opportunities to overtake. At one stage we had a convoy of 10, 4WD utes behind Dusty, we obligingly pulled over just outside Nerriga and had a chuckle when all 10 utes pulled into the Nerriga pub car park 2 klms down the road.<br />
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Friday night we free camped at a spot I had spied on an earlier trip near Bendalong, toilets, electric BBQ and a waterfront view. Good birding as well, I ticked 1 rufous fantail just near the toilet block (a first for me). Saturday morning was overcast and drizzling rain so we decided to make the trip down the coast, to see if we could get access to Termeil Lake south of Ulladulla. Unfortunately the road into this part of the Meroo National park is 4WD only. We took the 2WD access road to Meroon Headland and spoke to some the fishermen camping they were pulling down their tents as the fish were not biting.<br />
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Time for someserious fishing,so we opted to pull into aptly named little hamlet of Fishermans Paradise for a paddle. This is a backwater of Lake Conjola, I had a great paddle in the falling light up the picturesque Porter Creek as far as the wooden bridge. The creek goes under the highway and is navigable up to the dam a trip for another day. The fishing back at the ramp was pretty ordinary, but was an ideal spot to spend the night.<br />
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Sunday we made for beautiful Berringer Lake, in Conjola National Park. This little lake is much quieter than the adjoining Lake Conjola. Unfortunately the mouth of the lake is very silted up and like most extuaries along the coast really need a goodtidal flow to improve the fishing. Mr P managed to bag a nice flathead and swag of tailer for dinner.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overnight camp spot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Eagle nest<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't know the story behind this sink in the middle of nowhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish were biting, trailer and flathead.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-34828175404516535132014-02-16T01:27:00.001-08:002014-02-16T01:27:38.044-08:00Congo Camping Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a week of temperatures in the high 30s it was no wonder that we were joined by a steady stream of traffic down the Clyde on Friday afternoon. Our 5 o'clock departure meant that there were the usual number of idiots on the road, breaking their necks to get to the Bay in under 2 hours. Safely arrived at sea level it was a relief to smell the salt air again and and feel the sea breeze.<br />
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Over the next few trips we are going to paddle some of the lesser known waterways of the south coast. This weekend our destination is <b>Congo Creek,</b> a small waterway accessed via South Head Road south of Moruya Heads. We camped at the very popular National Parks campground, and were lucky to get the last site on the foreshore.<br />
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The paddle up the creek from the beach takes about 50 minutes, with a few stops to look at the wide variety of bird-life. 36 species were counted for the weekend, with the highlight being a Lewin's Honeyeater and a Spotted Pardalote, birds that I have not encountered in this area before. As well as a Lyrebird scuttling off the Kings Highway at the top of the Clyde on Sunday afternoon.<br />
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In February 2013 Congo Creek was the site of a large fish kill <a href="http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/1345208/fish-kill-at-congo-creek-due-to-low-oxygen-gallery/" target="_blank">http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/1345208/fish-kill-at-congo-creek-due-to-low-oxygen-gallery/</a> The creek is on the way to recovering, with a few lucky fishermen (not us) bagging a nice flathead and bream.<br />
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On Saturday afternoon we were joined by a delightful couple from the UK driving a Bocklet Expedition Camper. They had driven overland through Europe to Asia via Pakestan and down through Indonesia via Timor Leste to Darwin. There was a gathering of campervan nuts like me queueing for a peek inside and to hear their stories.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bocklet was a late arrival and had to park at the boat ramp on Congo Creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congo Creek Mouth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Terns on the beach at the mouth of the creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr P trying his luck with lures<br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-39239888663984013412014-01-27T01:27:00.003-08:002014-01-27T13:20:52.393-08:00Australia Day Long Weekend Road TripAustralia Day marks the end of the Christmas holiday season on the South Coast of NSW. This now means that all our favourite weekend haunts are not so busy. After an afternoon fish at Preddys Wharf at Moruya we drove down to Potato Point and parked at our favourite picnic area and toilet block. We didn't want to attempt the road in the the National Park during the storm and in the dark. Dusty does not have great undercarriage clearance, the low hanging water tank takes a bit of a pizzling on dirt tracks. After a top up with water and and a dash to the loo we set off to find the spot Mr P had located a few weeks earlier. This area is a maze of tracks and after a couple of wrong turns we found the spot in time for breakfast on the lake and what a view.<br />
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Saturday morning paddle to Borang Lake</h3>
I had hoped to photograph the 2 Little Eagles that I had spotted last weekend, so loaded the camera and tripod and set off after breakfast. Given the windy conditions, this was going to be a challenge. Midway down the creek past Horse Island the wind picked up from the south, I made good time with the tide in my favour reaching Borang in 1 hour and fifteen minutes. The paddle back was fine until I was back in the open lake. My little boat had taken in quite a bit of water by the time I reached camp on the southern side of the lake. Round trip time 4.5 hours of paddling, I was shagged and no Little Eagles.<br />
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Sunday Morning and the north easterly was up early again, so we decided to drive over to Coopers Island and explore that part of the river system. We have often given these bucolic dairy farming areas a wide berth because of the flies, but with the breeze today they weren't too bad. It was a beautiful paddle downstream in to Trunkatebella Lake and upstream towards Tuross.</div>
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We decided to explore the camping possibilities along the river near the bridge on the drive south to Bodalla. Given that it was Australia Day proper, there were lots of Aussies, water skiing, jet skiing and sitting in plastic wading pools eating sausage sangers so we opted for a quiet spot down stream of the bridge. We had the area to ourselves, probably because this part of the river does not have deep water access. A great spot for some more fishing and exploring of the river.</div>
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Fishing and birding</h3>
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The windy conditions didn't help, but we managed to eat fish each day with a nice bream to bring home. On the birding front I spotted 45 species, with this one seen on the shore of the lake closer to the beach, I think it's a Black Fronted Dotterall and other suggestions?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-57210874581072198512014-01-19T01:25:00.000-08:002014-01-19T01:25:13.363-08:00Tuross River kayak tripMy hectic work schedule and the thermometer hitting 40 for the last 3 days, had me feling rattey and in much need of an escape to the coast. Mr P had discovered some excellent kayaking spots along the Tuross River on his last 2 solo trips and was keen to show off the fishing and bird life in the area.<br />
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We arrived in the early Thursday afternoon, I was still not sparking on all cylinders and decided to veg out and tackle a longer paddle around Horse Iisland after a good nights sleep. This is such a pristine waterway.<br />
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Friday morning and I set off in a thick fog for a paddle around Horse Island, I always feel a bit nervous paddling with my camera gear, even in dry bags. My lenses are great only if you get up reasonably close to the subject. This Willy Wagtail was very obliging and didn't seem to mind me hanging around it's nest trying to get a good shot.</div>
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The paddle around Horse Island (named, we think because it is shaped like a horse) takes around 1 hour not counting stops for birding, I managed it in about 2 hours. I was battling the tide and a strong north easterly breeze on my way back to the camp site.</div>
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Sunday morning we were both on the water by 7am, Mr P off to his fishing spot and I went further down river to Borang Island. I never knew that this lake existed, lots of birds in this quiet backwater surrounded by now defunct dairy farms. The trip took around 2 and a half hours, in that time the fisherman had been busy, wcatching this stud 70cm flathead. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Tuross River, Bodalla NSW, Australia-36.0653994 150.04835120000007-36.116735899999995 149.96767020000007 -36.0140629 150.12903220000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-84427562147931769422013-12-30T21:49:00.001-08:002013-12-31T00:15:00.110-08:00Christmas Roadtrip<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Our early departure from Canberra on Friday meant we missed the majority of the traffic, exiting for the coast. After a shortstop at Surf Beach to drop the Christmas goodies into the family's freezer for safe keeping we headed down to Tuross. The plan being 2 nights camping before taking up a holiday house at Tomakin with friends and some of the kids.<br />
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After a sleepless night I decided to ride over the the chemist for some pain killers, this was going to be the only way I would be able to get back in the kayak any time soon. The holiday making hoardes are yet to arrive and we have had he place pretty much to ourselves, no paddling for the next few days. On to Narooma and as the fish are not biting I walked over to the great little fish shop at the bridge for the makings of the seafood paella.</div>
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Sunday morning and back up to Broulee to collect the house key, this is the second visit to this beach house for Christmas. It is a great spot, right on the beach with amazing views down the coast. No road trips this week as Dusty has been converted into an extra bedroom. The days quickly meld into one another, swimming, eating, paddling, walking, cycling and drinking. Not necessarily in that order. </div>
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While we have been idling away in a quiet little backwater, the south coast's population has quadrupled. We have headed back down the coast to Corunna Lake and Bermagui for the last few days, of our holiday. Last night we went to sleep watching the prawner's lamps twinkling around the edge of the lake. It was a full house this morning with 7 campervans lined up along the foreshore.<br />
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Days end - Mystery Bay</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-59755852646085713482013-12-08T01:04:00.000-08:002013-12-08T11:42:53.723-08:00Tuross is terrific!That was the sales pitch used by real estate agents in the 60's and Tuross Heads is still a gem of a spot and our destination for the 2nd road trip of Summer. A later start from Canberra saw us at the Rustic Pizza again for our pickup at 6:50pm.<br>
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There are camps that are just too good to share, some of you may be able to guess the location of this one.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaXJo0Rzva9gObD1Rnn6et7sBoNEQmhyphenhyphenznC4TP3tp5BKvGoE865-cVRsXLsZvoKYrZetPdyUXJ0gDc9PmkA1bi_Mc3h1lgvLM5wAV4KmNXpgskrMADk44CNkrWXHy4ngRGBS7iXCkpjY/s1600/04-IMG_9441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaXJo0Rzva9gObD1Rnn6et7sBoNEQmhyphenhyphenznC4TP3tp5BKvGoE865-cVRsXLsZvoKYrZetPdyUXJ0gDc9PmkA1bi_Mc3h1lgvLM5wAV4KmNXpgskrMADk44CNkrWXHy4ngRGBS7iXCkpjY/s320/04-IMG_9441.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great overnight camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason why we were up so early.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsYoA5sgWbjYIOyNfnn7RsS7WiDlHSggRRQzHGk-lmx2PJ6vBWl_BjlkYRtc1fy-_z9JihpvyNLIJI415EIU1OPRwJUJMQ1WmicI_rKmiD48PEiZLdRAUhyGWyIQuTiaaNjleWeqJsLc/s1600/03-IMG_9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsYoA5sgWbjYIOyNfnn7RsS7WiDlHSggRRQzHGk-lmx2PJ6vBWl_BjlkYRtc1fy-_z9JihpvyNLIJI415EIU1OPRwJUJMQ1WmicI_rKmiD48PEiZLdRAUhyGWyIQuTiaaNjleWeqJsLc/s320/03-IMG_9435.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect paddling conditions</td></tr>
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Tuross Lake is the breeding site of several endangered bird species. Before the king tides and heavy swells of the last 2 days there were 70 Fairy Terns and Little Terns nests on the sand spit at the lake entrance. By Sunday morning these were reduced significantly. Hopefully it is still early enough in the season for these birds to lay more eggs.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another endangered species Sooty Oystercatcher</td></tr>
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Both Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers were observed either with chicks or sitting on eggs.<br>
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These Sanderlings breed in the Arctic and make the long distance flight to Tuross to escape the Northern Winter. Another species at risk.</div>
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These Hooded Plovers put on a great decoy display, that involved Mrs Plover running around pretending to have a broken leg. Thankfully she finally settled down and went back to nest sitting all under Mr Plover's watchful eye.</div>
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Frank (20months) and his dad out collecting drift oysters, love the raft! </div>
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This is a popular spot for kayaking, the locals have cleverly dredged a channel from the beach the deeper part of the lake, all under the guise of digging for oysters. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Tuross Lake, New South Wales, Australia-36.0394838 150.10980210000002-36.0908328 150.02912110000003 -35.9881348 150.19048310000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-68383601948365032132013-12-01T02:18:00.000-08:002013-12-01T02:18:06.653-08:00Our first roadtrip for Summer<h2>
Destination Preddys Wharf.</h2>
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<b></b>An early start meant that I was able to get away from work by 3pm. The Friday afternoon traffic down the Clyde was orderly, probably the increased police presence helped. A wet road, down a mountain needs a bit of respect. At least 3 drivers were having a bad start to their weekend.<br />
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A stop in Moruya, for bait and a wood fired pizza, at a new place I had spotted on a previous trip. We opted for the Moruya River, great choice, just the right amount of anchovies. It was raining by the time we arrived at <a href="https://toiletmap.gov.au/Toilet/39547" target="_blank">Preddys Wharf</a>. So beer and pizza and wait for the rain to stop, in my case in bed early with my book.<br />
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Fish for lunch and diner, was the challenge and Mr P came up trumps. Shovel nose shark fillets and a nice pan size bream. Saturday morning and not a breath of wind, perfect glassy conditions for my paddle up the Moruya River to the heads. Of note was a flock of 30 Little Terns, perched on the rocks. </div>
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After a trip to the Moruya markets and a stop in Broulee for the SMH, we headed to Tomakin, by now the sun was shining and we launched the kayaks and paddled up the Tomakin River. Mr P dropped a very nice bream, bigger than the earlier catch. I obligingly paddled back and collected the landing net from Dusty.</div>
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We decided to camp the night at Windsock Beach and try the beach for some salmon. No visible gutters along the beach and a large school of dolphins meant that the beach was not going to be fishing today. Fortunately there is always birding.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Wood Swallow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noisy Friar Birds</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-28840113543996585312013-11-24T02:24:00.001-08:002013-11-24T02:24:56.645-08:00Capital WeekendIt was decided to have a weekend close to home, so no long road trip, just a couple of outings in between cleaning up my patch in the garden and catching up with friends.<br />
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On my drive to work, I often pass birders setting off for an early morning walk through Callum Brae Nature Reserve. The lucky buggers! So, Saturday morning and I was up at sparrows. There were already a couple of cars parked, at the gate on Mugga Lane when I arrived at 6:00. The circuit of the reserve took about 90 minutes. This is definitely the best time of day, and no snakes.<br />
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Birds of note were, Black faced cuckoo-shrike, Wedge Tail Eagle, Straited Thorn-bills nesting, Rufous Whistler and Buff Rumped Thorn-bill. 17 species all up, that I could confidently identify. </div>
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Sunday morning, we finished off the last of the cleanup of spent annuals in the front garden. Time to pack a picnic lunch, load the kayaks onto the trailer and head the 20 minutes down the road south to Tharwa Village on the edge of the Namadgi National Park.</div>
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We are so lucky to have this great area on our doorstep, our destination today was the Tharwa Sandwash and the Gigerline Nature Reserve. We have walked this area a few times, but this was our first paddle in the Murrumbidgee River.<br />
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The Sandwash parking area has nice shade trees, with picnic tables. There is easy carry to the river for the kayaks via a rock stairway. A group had been camping overnight in swags. Fishing is not permitted, I didn't see any No Camping signs.<br />
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We headed up stream towards Angle Crossing. There were plenty of birds visible along the banks, of special note was a Black fronted Dotterel, all on its lonesome and 2 Little Corellas.<br />
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Mr P hoisted his sail, and copped some heckling from the campers. He made good time up stream with the wind. This is still very much a work in progress, so no photos yet. We decided that we needed to adapt a fly proof eating area, before our trip in May. Another use for my large roll of camouflage netting. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Gigerline Nature Reserve-35.509871738383964 149.06764984130859-35.522797238383966 149.04747984130859 -35.496946238383963 149.0878198413086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-78755535261250247932013-11-17T01:34:00.000-08:002013-11-17T01:34:30.876-08:00Far South Coast Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After consulting the Bureau of Met. on Friday it was decided that the proposed trip to Bendalong would have to be postponed. The rain depression along the coast was moving north and the Far South Coast looked like having more stable weather. We decided to take the Snowy Mountains Highway down the Brown Mountain to Bermagui on Friday afternoon.<br />
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We arrived at Bermi (local lingo) around 7 oclock and the southerly was still in full swing. We found a camp near Wallaga Lake and settled in for the night, we were a little closer to the road that we would have usually pulled up. fortunately the rain drummed out any traffic sounds.<br />
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<b>Saturday morning</b> and Wallaga Lake was alive with birds, it was too choppy for a paddle so we picked up the SMH and headed to Camel Rock. The rain had now stopped and I set off to walk to around the headland back to the lake via Murana Point. Mr P settled in with the paper and his new Wilbur Smith read.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North of Camel Rock</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Dromaderry and Wallaga Lake</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shell Midden on Murana Point</td></tr>
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The headland scrub was alive with superb fairy wrens, whip birds and red browed finches. Birds of note were 2 juvenile sea eagles and a wedge tail eagle hunting around the cliff.<br />
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I then spent the rest of the morning checking the 100s of dead Shearwaters on the beach for bands. Gruesome task, the odds of finding a banded bird are a bit like winning the lottery.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0Bermagui NSW 2546, Australia-36.4292545 150.07603500000005-36.531464 149.91467350000005 -36.327045 150.23739650000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714372047986437893.post-10172569125681618992013-11-09T22:53:00.001-08:002013-11-09T22:53:40.271-08:00Bird Banding at Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve, NSW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many thanks go to my gorgeous nephew Lee and Master Bird Bander, Mark Clayton for including me in their latest bird banding trip to Charcoal Tank, NR near West Wyalong.<br />
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Friday was going to be a scorcher with an expected 37 degrees forecast for the western plains. I left Canberra around midday and stopped to stock up on supplies in Yass. I wasn't going to need much in the way of food, the plan was to eat out both nights. My rendezvous point with the banders was the West Wyalong Services Club at 1900 hours.<br />
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The wheat harvest is currently in full swing across most of the central west area, local croppers were casting nervous eyes skyward as the cool change and storm clouds rolled in. By the time I had reached Barmedman, the storm had passed and the temperature dropped to 2O dregees, it was still very humid.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barmedman grain silo</td></tr>
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I arrived at the club in WW and watched as car loads of very glamorous looking folk piled inside, definately not birders! More like a night at the Logies, all that was missing was the red carpet. Turns out it was the year 12 formal. Fridays night's dinner was pretty ordinary, it was decided to try another regular haunt, the Long Hong Chinese restaurant for tommorrow night.<br />
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There is no shortage of hotels, motels and restaurants along Main street. The town is at the intesection of 3 highways and half way point between Brisbane and Adelaide. The reason for the trip was not to crtitque restaurants and look at beautiful old federation architecture, but to band birds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federation architecture in West Wyalong</td></tr>
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Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve has been the site of a very comprehensive banding program for the past 19 years. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The reserve conserves a woodland of mugga iron bark and black cypress pine growing on the lower slopes and green, blue and bull mallee on gravelly ridges.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrEQy9d2WTh4CrDHv1emPGaBZGrl5tK4TLFGKQMiFQmaZL41Ax6zXsDv92-KTKz0XYdbZYrIeH8Nw8_0kAA5f0Hne-gk3GXtJ-tiyvHu0oZq-OQsHDQp7ROU0BZXc3xDTcYVVrUZ3xAo/s1600/1-IMG_9351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrEQy9d2WTh4CrDHv1emPGaBZGrl5tK4TLFGKQMiFQmaZL41Ax6zXsDv92-KTKz0XYdbZYrIeH8Nw8_0kAA5f0Hne-gk3GXtJ-tiyvHu0oZq-OQsHDQp7ROU0BZXc3xDTcYVVrUZ3xAo/s320/1-IMG_9351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee carefully releases a White Plumed Honeyeater </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Red-capped robin is banded</td></tr>
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The banding party was made up of members of the Canberra Ornitholigists Group as well as bird banders from Sweden and Canberra. Any time spent in good company and in the outdoors is always rewarding and I added another 10 birds to my life list.</div>
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I departed the camp at 930hrs on Sunday and headed for the mineral pool at Barmedman; a flushing loo, a shower and a swim in the mineral pool, just what I need after a couple of nights bush camping. I also managed to pick up 3 White Winged Trillers that I missed at CT as well as a new bird for me, a White Browed Woodswalllow. It was soon time to chase the storms back to Canberra and plan for the next adventure.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mineral Pool at Barmedman</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188478032283872701noreply@blogger.com0