Well after Sydney we headed to the Blue mountains. we went west via Penrith then north to Richmond and along the Botanists way, stopping to partake in some home made apple pie.
After this refreshment we continued on to Bell and then south to mount Victoria and then arriving at Katoomba late afternoon where we sorted out accommodation and I got a few nice photos of the three sisters which i will put up later.
whilst at Katoomba we went to the Scenic park, which has a cable car, Sky car, and funicular railway which is at about 52%, so steep.
A great morning was spent on these which provide access and views of the rain forest below the sandstone walls and the Katoomba falls.
The blue mountains getting their name from the blue hue which comes from the eucalyptus trees.
From the Blue mountains we headed for the great western highway back down to Penrith then to Wollongong.
The the sunny day that heated the car to extremes as we trundled down the highway past pebbly beach which was well worth the 8km detour along an unmade rd through the bush to view the parrots and wallabies playing in the evening light on the grassy fringes of the beach as the temperates dropped to a more bearable level and we made for the picturesque town of Batemens Bay.
I even went for a run around the bay which was nice as it rained a little that evening.
From Batemens we headed via Tilba Tilba, a nice historic town which is almost unchanged for over 100years. We stopped at Lake entrance that night and the following day went past 90 mile beach, then along the Gippslands highway to the Mornington peninsular. and up via St Kilda into Melbourne city.
last night we indulged in a wonderful gastronomic delight on Lygon st, with Melbourne's latest resident and old friend Maria.
Today mum flys home and this time next week i will be in China again, for more adventures although not in an automatic. I need a while off driving after the past 6 weeks and 8000km.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Latest news from Down Under.
Well after the Great Ocean rd we spent a few days in and around Adelaide. we hired yet another car for two days, this was a little Toyota Yaris,
We went to Mt Lofty and Hahndorf which is a major tourist attraction in the Adelaide Hills est in 1839 and as you can guess by Germans.
We stopped on final night at Mt barker and the following day on the 7th flew to Brisbane.
After two days sampling the delights of this wonderful city we headed down the car in the latest hire car. unfortunately i ended up with an Automatic Toyota corolla. as all the smaller cars with a clutch and proper gears were out. So once again i find myself having to put up with this annoying car without a clutch.
We headed down the coast past surfers paradise, which was once nice but is now a bit tainted by high rise and commercialism. past Burleigh heads, and stopped at Byron Bay, and on departing the following day we visited the lighthouse and most easterly point in Oz, Cape Byron, so I'm told.
We then travelled thorough several national parks, one of which named Guy Fawkes, and visited Ebor falls, then made for Kempsey where we stopped on the night of the 10th.
The 11th was spent driving the remaining 400 or so km to Sydney via the Pacific Highway and Port Macquarie where it would have been nice to linger a bit loner however we needed to get to Sydney where we were splashing out and stopping at the Waldorf, its only $120 or so per night.
We visited the Opera house and Botanical gardens today and then got the ferry over to Manly which was really nice and we had a late lunch of fish and chips. unfortunately the beer wasn't up to much to wash it all down with but the food was great and the views stunning as we came back into the harbour at sunset, getting great views of the bridge and opera house.
Tomorrow we intend to head to the Blue mountains , and then its back to Melbourne.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Back in Oz, The great Ocean road
Well after over 4000km in an automatic in New Zealand i decided to jump back in yet another car....
Thank god it was a manual, otherwise this time i would have driven it into the Ocean. being so close.
After a few days in Melbourne which we saw lots of rain but also some of the great parks and buildings of this historic city, including James Cooks cottage, we decided it would be nice to travel the Great Ocean Road which traverses the south of Victoria into the Southern Territories, taking in some breathtaking views and seascapes.
We headed out of Melbourne on the 1st and went south west before a small detour to Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, we then took up the great Ocean road proper at Torquay and sped along the coast through Anglesea, Airleys inlet, Lorn and onto Appol Bay on the edge of cape Otway National Park, where we stopped for the first night.
The next day was spent going through the national park and up the coast to where the clouds broke long enough for us to see the twelve Apostles. well only seven of them actually, the other were hidden from view.
We continued along dodging rain past two mile bay, the Arch, and London Bridge although these you need to rely on the imagination to see even when the clouds lift as they have log since fallen into the sea, which is eroding the coast at an alarm rate.
We made it to Warrnambool hopeful that we may spot some of the Southern right whales which are visible at this time of the year around the cost but unfortunately we were not to be that lucky.
after a stop of at Port Fairy we headed north and inland to the Grampians National Park, which pleased me somewhat , although unfortunately climbing would be of the cards on this whistle stop visit i could at least check out the area for a return visit.
Thank god it was a manual, otherwise this time i would have driven it into the Ocean. being so close.
After a few days in Melbourne which we saw lots of rain but also some of the great parks and buildings of this historic city, including James Cooks cottage, we decided it would be nice to travel the Great Ocean Road which traverses the south of Victoria into the Southern Territories, taking in some breathtaking views and seascapes.
We headed out of Melbourne on the 1st and went south west before a small detour to Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, we then took up the great Ocean road proper at Torquay and sped along the coast through Anglesea, Airleys inlet, Lorn and onto Appol Bay on the edge of cape Otway National Park, where we stopped for the first night.
The next day was spent going through the national park and up the coast to where the clouds broke long enough for us to see the twelve Apostles. well only seven of them actually, the other were hidden from view.
We continued along dodging rain past two mile bay, the Arch, and London Bridge although these you need to rely on the imagination to see even when the clouds lift as they have log since fallen into the sea, which is eroding the coast at an alarm rate.
We made it to Warrnambool hopeful that we may spot some of the Southern right whales which are visible at this time of the year around the cost but unfortunately we were not to be that lucky.
after a stop of at Port Fairy we headed north and inland to the Grampians National Park, which pleased me somewhat , although unfortunately climbing would be of the cards on this whistle stop visit i could at least check out the area for a return visit.
We stopped at a wonderful place in Halls Gap. Brambuk Backpackers. and the owners were only to happy to inform me of the area and climbing and hikes, they also came up with a few things for mum to do whilst i did a small walk up to the pinnacle viewing point over the valley in which we were stopping and back in time for a cup of tea and to drive via Mt Gambia, which is a town situated on an old Volcano and even has some magnificent gardens in a sink hole,
Today we drove from Kingston to Adelaide which on appearances seems a most pleasant town where we can spend a few days before flying to Brisbane on Sunday the 7th, and most likely some more driving. but providing its not an Automatic i don't really mind.
I will get the photos onto flickr when i get a chance, I have photos of New Zealand on their already.
Friday, August 29, 2008
north Island and back to Christchurch.
well after the south island we headed from Picton to the north Island. on the 20th of august.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.
The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.
From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)
From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.
We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.
We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)
All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.
The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.
There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.
Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.
The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.
From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)
From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.
We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.
We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)
All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.
The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.
There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.
Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
South Island with Mum
Mum arrived at Christchurch on the 11th about 11:30 pm so nothing was done apart from heading to a hostel to sleep.
The following day on the 12th it dawned grey and raining so we just spent the day going around firstly the cathedral, it was only a short distance from where we were stopping and built using local stone and timber it took some 50 odd years to complete ( due to lack of funds) from when the few settlers established the town back in 1850's to about 1906ish, and then after a cup of coffee we got on the old Tram, after a bit of a high step to get on, and set of at the wonderful speed of about 20kph around an inner city loop. We got of to have a look around some craft shops and then took the tram back to the quaint little regent street and walked back just avoiding the latest downpour.
On the 13th we left Christchurch and headed down the banks peninsular to a beautiful little place called Akoroa, which has some wonderful old building and a picturesque lighthouse, for which it seemed to remain sunny. After elevenses we got back on the road and headed south to Dunedin, where we arrived late and had to search around for a hostel eventually finding the YHA which was converted from an old hospital build in the 1800's and designed by some architect who's apparently built many similar buildings around the town.
Also this is home to a cadburys chocolate factory and a magnificently grand and ornate train station.
the next day was a much more pleasant dawn and we left Dunedin heading south again down the east coast to the Catlin's, an area of great beauty which runs across the south coast to Invercargill. As far as towns go this one should probably be avoided except for its only apparent redeeming factor, the beautiful Queens park and botanical gardens.
From Invercargill we headed north and slowly climbed the foothills and up the valleys to Te Anau, a most attractive town by a crystal clear lake, with snowy peaks, and unfortunately snowy roads which prevented us from making the journey onwards to Milford Sound.
We stopped at a modern and well equipped hostel and waited around on the 15th hoping for an improvement from the snow which much to our disappointment didn't happen. When the road was closed for the 3rd day this being the 16th we packed up and headed to Queenstown where i meet back up with a friend to reacquire some climbing gear that had been misappropriated due to mutual error and I took mum to explore the little settlement of Arrowtown which was established in the gold rush when many Chinese migrated to test their luck and their fortunes, most of these came from Guangdong so must have had a real shock when they experienced the cold and snowy winters which must have been a real hardship when one looks at the shacks and the remains of the little village they setup just outside the main town. A late lunch was had in Arrowtown and we headed back to Queenstown hoping for the clouds to rise so we could get a view of the town by going up the gondola, this unfortunately wasn't to happen and to insult us a bit more it decided to snow.
The 17th dawned and we headed north Past the much quieter town of Wanaka and up highway 6, and with the aid of chains to get through some snowy sections of road we made it to Haast after some spectacular views from the snaking road of the lakes and surrounding countryside and it appeared that on the west coast we had well and truly left the bad weather behind us and made our way over to the Franz Joseph Glacier which unfortunately isn't a patch on what it used to be but then what glaciers are nowadays.
We left the Frans Joseph behind us and headed up what is apperently one of the most scenic sections of highway on the south Island heading past "the road kill cafe" at Puka as the locals call it. Renowned for its possum pie. Yum Yum.
It was a bit to early for lunch but i picked up a pair of trousers for the princely sum of $1 (bargain) and we headed up to Pancake rocks which is well worth seeing. we were then left with a good few hours of driving to go before getting to the north coast at Motueka, where we spent the night and today went to the Able Tasman National Park, we were once again blessed with beautifully sunshine and spent the better part of the day heading by boat up the coast past sandy beaches clear waters granite boulders, one in the shape of a split apple, and also fur seals and cormorants, which were sat sunbathing not a care in the world.
Tonight we are stopping at Picton before getting the ferry across to the north Island tomorrow. It must be mentioned that the Hostel is one of the best yet, it even has free chocolate pudding and ice cream, gets my vote although with all this driving and sitting around I'm liable to start getting fat. mind you i could have a shave and a hair cut which would probably make me a few pounds lighter.
Well thats the first week traveling with Mum, an Automatic car (which im growing to hate) and about 2500km. will this car survive... i may just have to dump it in the ocean..
The following day on the 12th it dawned grey and raining so we just spent the day going around firstly the cathedral, it was only a short distance from where we were stopping and built using local stone and timber it took some 50 odd years to complete ( due to lack of funds) from when the few settlers established the town back in 1850's to about 1906ish, and then after a cup of coffee we got on the old Tram, after a bit of a high step to get on, and set of at the wonderful speed of about 20kph around an inner city loop. We got of to have a look around some craft shops and then took the tram back to the quaint little regent street and walked back just avoiding the latest downpour.
On the 13th we left Christchurch and headed down the banks peninsular to a beautiful little place called Akoroa, which has some wonderful old building and a picturesque lighthouse, for which it seemed to remain sunny. After elevenses we got back on the road and headed south to Dunedin, where we arrived late and had to search around for a hostel eventually finding the YHA which was converted from an old hospital build in the 1800's and designed by some architect who's apparently built many similar buildings around the town.
Also this is home to a cadburys chocolate factory and a magnificently grand and ornate train station.
the next day was a much more pleasant dawn and we left Dunedin heading south again down the east coast to the Catlin's, an area of great beauty which runs across the south coast to Invercargill. As far as towns go this one should probably be avoided except for its only apparent redeeming factor, the beautiful Queens park and botanical gardens.
From Invercargill we headed north and slowly climbed the foothills and up the valleys to Te Anau, a most attractive town by a crystal clear lake, with snowy peaks, and unfortunately snowy roads which prevented us from making the journey onwards to Milford Sound.
We stopped at a modern and well equipped hostel and waited around on the 15th hoping for an improvement from the snow which much to our disappointment didn't happen. When the road was closed for the 3rd day this being the 16th we packed up and headed to Queenstown where i meet back up with a friend to reacquire some climbing gear that had been misappropriated due to mutual error and I took mum to explore the little settlement of Arrowtown which was established in the gold rush when many Chinese migrated to test their luck and their fortunes, most of these came from Guangdong so must have had a real shock when they experienced the cold and snowy winters which must have been a real hardship when one looks at the shacks and the remains of the little village they setup just outside the main town. A late lunch was had in Arrowtown and we headed back to Queenstown hoping for the clouds to rise so we could get a view of the town by going up the gondola, this unfortunately wasn't to happen and to insult us a bit more it decided to snow.
The 17th dawned and we headed north Past the much quieter town of Wanaka and up highway 6, and with the aid of chains to get through some snowy sections of road we made it to Haast after some spectacular views from the snaking road of the lakes and surrounding countryside and it appeared that on the west coast we had well and truly left the bad weather behind us and made our way over to the Franz Joseph Glacier which unfortunately isn't a patch on what it used to be but then what glaciers are nowadays.
We left the Frans Joseph behind us and headed up what is apperently one of the most scenic sections of highway on the south Island heading past "the road kill cafe" at Puka as the locals call it. Renowned for its possum pie. Yum Yum.
It was a bit to early for lunch but i picked up a pair of trousers for the princely sum of $1 (bargain) and we headed up to Pancake rocks which is well worth seeing. we were then left with a good few hours of driving to go before getting to the north coast at Motueka, where we spent the night and today went to the Able Tasman National Park, we were once again blessed with beautifully sunshine and spent the better part of the day heading by boat up the coast past sandy beaches clear waters granite boulders, one in the shape of a split apple, and also fur seals and cormorants, which were sat sunbathing not a care in the world.
Tonight we are stopping at Picton before getting the ferry across to the north Island tomorrow. It must be mentioned that the Hostel is one of the best yet, it even has free chocolate pudding and ice cream, gets my vote although with all this driving and sitting around I'm liable to start getting fat. mind you i could have a shave and a hair cut which would probably make me a few pounds lighter.
Well thats the first week traveling with Mum, an Automatic car (which im growing to hate) and about 2500km. will this car survive... i may just have to dump it in the ocean..
Saturday, July 26, 2008
New Zealand.
well I made it to New Zealand, after another night in another airport, i love thermarests.
i made it to Christchurch late evening on the 22nd, where i spent two nights and a rainy day wandering around before i got a cheap rental van, $5 per day plus $15 booking fee and spent two days traveling south, i was fortunate enough to meet a Korean lad who was happy to share the fuel bill ($130) and we set off to Queenstown via some stunning scenery which had us stopping frequently to take photos, (will upload when i find a machine which recognizes my hdd),
This appears as the home of extreme sports, although they are fairly extreme on the pocket as well. A 45m bungee jump costs about $160, that's probably over $50 per second, a bit too much for my wallet although i may be persuaded to go skiing if i can find any reasonable prices. I'm not holding my breath.
Well Wanaka was on the way so we headed past there for a few more vistas of snowy peaks and rolling hills and lakes. Its all starting to remind me of a cross between the lakes Scotland and Norway, shame that the prices are no better. however in land of over 40 million sheep and just 4 million people I cant complain too much, the vistas are great the towns are not that intrusive and I have found proper beer, but can't afford to drink it.
Hobgoblin and Black sheep are $8 a bottle. ouch. and other beer is about $6 a pint.
I spent today, my forth day in New Zealand, wandering up a Via Ferrata that leads to the top of queens town hill, it took just over 1hr and I recall seeing a sign that said something about private land and that i wasn't aloud beyond a certain point to access the Via Ferrata.
They obviously didn't realise that an 8ft high fence and a bit of barbed wire wasn't going to stop most folks and as this was 15 minutes up the path so i wasn't prepared to head back down. besides i figured if anyone asked i would pretend i was German and didn't speak english.
Well no one asked and I enjoy a fine view from the 900m summit, across the town below and the lake beyond to a horizon on snowy peaks.
A pleasant stroll led back down to town through the Douglas fir, the familiar smell of pine and resin reminded me of adventures past, the alps, dolomite's, Scotland, Norway, and in many ways this land seems so similar, i would like to just set off into those hills and keep walking, climbing and absorbing the wonders of the hills once again.
Tomorrow i plan to head up the Ben Lomond track, although some of it is supposed to be closed and from my view early today i could see plenty of snow above 1000m so i probably won't take the summit track as i unfortunately i have no winter gear and I'm not about to start spending money for it here.
Will upload the photos later and with luck will get a few good shots tomorrow.
i made it to Christchurch late evening on the 22nd, where i spent two nights and a rainy day wandering around before i got a cheap rental van, $5 per day plus $15 booking fee and spent two days traveling south, i was fortunate enough to meet a Korean lad who was happy to share the fuel bill ($130) and we set off to Queenstown via some stunning scenery which had us stopping frequently to take photos, (will upload when i find a machine which recognizes my hdd),
This appears as the home of extreme sports, although they are fairly extreme on the pocket as well. A 45m bungee jump costs about $160, that's probably over $50 per second, a bit too much for my wallet although i may be persuaded to go skiing if i can find any reasonable prices. I'm not holding my breath.
Well Wanaka was on the way so we headed past there for a few more vistas of snowy peaks and rolling hills and lakes. Its all starting to remind me of a cross between the lakes Scotland and Norway, shame that the prices are no better. however in land of over 40 million sheep and just 4 million people I cant complain too much, the vistas are great the towns are not that intrusive and I have found proper beer, but can't afford to drink it.
Hobgoblin and Black sheep are $8 a bottle. ouch. and other beer is about $6 a pint.
I spent today, my forth day in New Zealand, wandering up a Via Ferrata that leads to the top of queens town hill, it took just over 1hr and I recall seeing a sign that said something about private land and that i wasn't aloud beyond a certain point to access the Via Ferrata.
They obviously didn't realise that an 8ft high fence and a bit of barbed wire wasn't going to stop most folks and as this was 15 minutes up the path so i wasn't prepared to head back down. besides i figured if anyone asked i would pretend i was German and didn't speak english.
Well no one asked and I enjoy a fine view from the 900m summit, across the town below and the lake beyond to a horizon on snowy peaks.
A pleasant stroll led back down to town through the Douglas fir, the familiar smell of pine and resin reminded me of adventures past, the alps, dolomite's, Scotland, Norway, and in many ways this land seems so similar, i would like to just set off into those hills and keep walking, climbing and absorbing the wonders of the hills once again.
Tomorrow i plan to head up the Ben Lomond track, although some of it is supposed to be closed and from my view early today i could see plenty of snow above 1000m so i probably won't take the summit track as i unfortunately i have no winter gear and I'm not about to start spending money for it here.
Will upload the photos later and with luck will get a few good shots tomorrow.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Still down under
well its been a while so this is what iv been up to.
After four nights in Sydney and wandering around some of the beaches and a day at the climbing wall i jumped on a bus and headed north in search of Dan and Jo.
Last message i had from them is that they were up at surfers paradise so i thought this would be a good place to start. I was wrong, they weren't their and despite a very nice beach and what i assumed were good surf conditions the place didn't have anything really worth seeing and seemed a bit like a cross between a tacky 18-30's holiday location and somewhere which long ago lost its beauty to make way for the exploiting capitalism and souvenir's shops. I decided to head on to Brisbane and check out the city.
It was a good choice but still no Dan or Jo. However i did spend a couple of relaxing days in the city, walking around the green areas and even doing some climbing at Kangaroo point, which is a hidden little gem as far as inner city climbing goes but not a patch on the grit or sandstone of back home and fairly tame. I wasn't discouraged and spent several hrs soloing around on the rock and traversing almost its full length.
But as always city life is expensive and this was more than enough excuse i needed to return to the road, I had also received news that Dan and Jo were up in Childers looking for work so that determined my next stop and a day on the bus followed. After a couple of days we meet up and drank a few beers whilst running through the highpoint of our travels thus far. for Dan and Jo that didn't include waiting around in this poky little town waiting to pick mandarins but after a week of fishing and a day spent climbing on some lose lucking and friable sandstone in which dan seemed to have some strange that it would deify all odds and stay where it was, which to my non to reassured surprise it did. Wow.
After a bit of a drive we ended up at Harvey bay, the stop off point for Frasier Island and we got wonderful weather and had two great days driving a Toyota Hi-Lux around the sandy tracks and beaches. ate BBQ stake and enjoyed some wonderful scenery.
It was then time to turn north, my fellow travelers had plans to go sailing in the Whitsundays and for me a flight to Melbourne and then onto New Zealand awaits, So after a few days traveling some uneventful fishing and great sightseeing we parted ways a little wiser a littel older and somwhat more hungover than planned. All in all a successful month.
See my flikcr site for many more photos.
After four nights in Sydney and wandering around some of the beaches and a day at the climbing wall i jumped on a bus and headed north in search of Dan and Jo.
Last message i had from them is that they were up at surfers paradise so i thought this would be a good place to start. I was wrong, they weren't their and despite a very nice beach and what i assumed were good surf conditions the place didn't have anything really worth seeing and seemed a bit like a cross between a tacky 18-30's holiday location and somewhere which long ago lost its beauty to make way for the exploiting capitalism and souvenir's shops. I decided to head on to Brisbane and check out the city.
It was a good choice but still no Dan or Jo. However i did spend a couple of relaxing days in the city, walking around the green areas and even doing some climbing at Kangaroo point, which is a hidden little gem as far as inner city climbing goes but not a patch on the grit or sandstone of back home and fairly tame. I wasn't discouraged and spent several hrs soloing around on the rock and traversing almost its full length.
But as always city life is expensive and this was more than enough excuse i needed to return to the road, I had also received news that Dan and Jo were up in Childers looking for work so that determined my next stop and a day on the bus followed. After a couple of days we meet up and drank a few beers whilst running through the highpoint of our travels thus far. for Dan and Jo that didn't include waiting around in this poky little town waiting to pick mandarins but after a week of fishing and a day spent climbing on some lose lucking and friable sandstone in which dan seemed to have some strange that it would deify all odds and stay where it was, which to my non to reassured surprise it did. Wow.
After a bit of a drive we ended up at Harvey bay, the stop off point for Frasier Island and we got wonderful weather and had two great days driving a Toyota Hi-Lux around the sandy tracks and beaches. ate BBQ stake and enjoyed some wonderful scenery.
It was then time to turn north, my fellow travelers had plans to go sailing in the Whitsundays and for me a flight to Melbourne and then onto New Zealand awaits, So after a few days traveling some uneventful fishing and great sightseeing we parted ways a little wiser a littel older and somwhat more hungover than planned. All in all a successful month.
See my flikcr site for many more photos.
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