Day 3 - Sunday off to Merimbula NSW

After a good weekend it was time to move on..1hour and a half on to Merimbula via Bega and Tarthra

Tarthra has a great look out..

Due to impending two days of rain I canned the camping idea and booked into a hostel..

Surprising 50/50 seniors travellers to young here....I think I'm still the latter

On the way I saw a caravan who lost its wheel while travelling...poor old couple searching for it in a paddock. I felt sorry for them. How that could happen who knows ...

Next saw an old guy miles from nowhere on a bike. Two bag one on each front wheel and a back pack. I thought he was mad too be on the road with semis albeit off the main highway.....

I then met this old guy at the hostel....64years old from Denmark. Here for five weeks riding 4000plus kilometres rain hail or shine....agghhhhh..it was him ...what a wimp am I ...and...he has no safety gear.

No EPIRB ..no satellite phone ..no first aid kit ...no extra water ...aagghhh have I over catered...?..

Hang on he doesn't even have a mobile....Hmmmmm...maybe he's wrong.

He is bloody fit.  

Tommy would be too lonely for me to take a bike now

Off to Eden in the morning to see whales....yay 

Photos to come......

Day 3 - Saturday & Sunday Narooma NSW

On the Friday afternoon I drove to Narooma which is 350km south of Sydney. Peter and Kylie have a holiday house there. 

Saturday started with a bacon and egg roll at the local cafe follow by a walk around town.

Narooma is a small tourist town with a population of approx. 8500. Its right on the coast with a big four caravan park right on the harbour that makes it way out to meet some dramatic ocean front.

The water here is pristine turquoise when the sun shines. Its a bit of a gem.

A walk around the harbour up to the point took us past the fast flowing waters entering the harbour to the Ocean side where dramatic rock formations are slammed by the waves. A particular one is Australia Rock, (because the whole in the rock is the shape of Australia) 

See the seals lying sun baking and swimming on the harbour entrance. Some amazing wildlife to be seen with a black bird with the most amazing red beak.

After lunch i put in some work and helped with the lawn followed by fine dinning at the Whale Restaurant was a treat.

An afternoon drive to Tilba to buy some cheese and see the town followed by a stop off at Mystery Bay on the way back to Narooma. Some great camping sites there for those interested.

The next morning it was off to breakfast, walk the dogs and time for me to say farewell.

Thanks Peter and Kylie and kids for a great couple of days.

Peter, Kylie, Keisha and Dizzy

Day 2. Saturday Canberra to Narooma - A Pilgrim and Indian visit the big house on the way

After being hosted by Peter and Kylie at their new home and a lovely dinner at a local cafe idecided to get serious about this journey and visit the control room of the country...Parliament House.

On arrival i got to see Geoffrey Robertson QC doing an interview at the front. I wanted to ask him for a photo together but got to shy. Remember the ABC series Hypotheticals. They were great.

The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 9 May 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. Costing more than A$1.1 billion, it was the most expensive building in the world at the time of its construction. 

Whooh. ....Didnt know that one.

That said I think its worth the value. Walking through it I was taken aback by how important this place is and what it represents. No matter what we may think of the behaviour of any of the people in the chamber, its the government that we have, and it works.

I was unexpectedly feeling very respectful of what the building represents not only of the past but for the future.



Upon entry inside i was met by some lovely security people who were in hysterics about the T-shirt I was wearing. Note above. Thanks Jay. It was his...

The picture of Harold Holt made me recall the day when I went to school in 1967 and a kid was asking me if my dad had died. I was only six.

Geoffrey Robertson QC

Harold Holt. PM 1967

. 

The House of Representatives

The Senate

Its unclear why the rooms are red and green but are the same as the house of commons in England.

Day 1 - Friday - Sydney to Canberra via Lake George

You may or may not know that I have been travelling to and from Canberra for over 7 years, several times a month for work.

40km out of Canberra is Lake George. Having driven past and flown over it several times a month it was time to stop and take in the view, on this my first day of adventure.

Standing there you can gaze across the 25km-long, 10km-wide lake which, when full, looks like a permanent fixture. But that doesn't happen often as locals know well, it's possible for Lake George to disappear entirely. The large body of water rises and falls seemingly mysteriously, and has done throughout its history.  As was typical over the past ten years its is close to empty again.

Just by co-incidence the two strangers I met at the service station also drive into the rest stop to take in the amazing view so we caught up for another chat.

Definitely worth a look if your travelling past. Finally Now Im starting to feel excited about this big adventure im heading into.

Lake_George_(New_South_Wales)

Below is a picture of the student accommodation buildings I was involved with in the design over many years. Some of my best work assisted with this fabulous building.


UniLodge @ ANU pictures

Day 1 the trip to Uluru = Journey 3 Yay...

The day has finally come. Still not excited for some reason.

Travelling down the Princes highway to turn off into the M5 Tunnel i hit my first traffic jam.
The semi trailer driver behind me was suffering road rage with his vehicle almost shunting Tommy Touareg off the road to ensure other drivers didnt jump the queue.

I met a lovely couple for 5 mins at the servo half way to canberra who kindly came up to me and said how much they loved Tommy Touareg. ( they drove a new Audi Q7)

A quick trip to Gloucester

After a night in Newcastle with Angus, Michelle and little Archer,  I did a quick trip to Gloucester.

A nice drive that probably not enough Sydney locals do passing Dungog and the Barrington Tops national park. I must come back here.

Thanks to the guys at Drifta Car Kitchens who custom fitted the new drawers in Tommy Touareg. Really cool.

For the gardeners out their check out this Bouganvillia noted on the way through Stroud. (sorry about the quality of the picture)

Less than a week to go.!

Shopping is almost done. I have  that much safety gear that one would think i was going to the Sahara desert.  Have all the 4wd recovery equipment, 10L spare diesel, fridge, solar panels to run the fridge, tent, mattress etc etc.  Still waiting on the satellite phone to arrive.  I have also bought a personal EPIRB ( emergency positioning location device ) just in case. Lets hope i dont set that off by accident.

UHF radio, Roof Rack and extending sunshade installed.
Bash plates are installed under the car Monday, drawers in the back Tuesday,
Pack Wednesday and on the road Thursday.

The Journey then begins. The destination is Uluru. When and what direction i take to get their is flexible.

New camera lens yet to arrive from the store..fingers crossed

Must not forget water....Hmmmm that's the most important.