Whales, Wollumbin, Wattles & Waterfalls

A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed a day beside the seaside with friends Tony and Lesley. A coffee at the pub overlooking Byron Bay, a leisurely stroll along the seafront, a glorious picnic on the beach and an awe-inspiring whale-watching hike around the headland.

And YES we saw whales (migrating north to breed). Most were off in the distance, visible by their fountaining blows of water - a couple were quite close up - close enough to see the patterns made by the barnicles on their huge and curvaceous black and white bodies as they serenely cut through the waves. It brought a tear to my eye, glimpsing these majestic beasts from that other watery world. Their numbers are increasing significantly every year along the Australian coast - fantastic.

The walk over the headland took us through a grove of cabbage palms and a forest of cycads, which was almost as incredible as seeing the whales, but then I've got a thing about unusual trees! The photo above shows Lesley, Tony and Tam standing beside a couple of cycads with crows-nest ferns growing within them. What a lovely day, and good to be off the cold mountain and beside the glorious Pacific ocean.

Here's me half way up Wollumbin (Cloud Catcher) aka Mt Warning on my 40th birthday, photo c/o Dad. The tip of this ancient volcanic plug is allegedly the first bit of Australia to get sunlight in the morning and is just around the corner, by Aussie standards, from where we live. We had a lovely time. Sadly, I didn't quite make it to the top after witnessing a young lad of about 10 scrambling down at break neck speed (almost literally) losing his footing and nearly falling over the steep drop to the side right in front of me. I completely lost my nerve at this point and decided to wait out the last 100m upward stretch to the summit whilst Dad (at the tender age of 74) made it to the top. I've done it before and so knew what I was missing. Its 4km up and 4km down and I have to say I was crippled for the next three days. Hmmmm, more exercise definitely required.

And here's Dad in fine fettle at a recent garden club visit to Bamboo Oasis designing new ways of making use of excess dried out bamboo shoot bits! Moments later the bishop-style head-gear was inverted and placed over the groin - I was laughing so much I forgot to take a photo. I love a bloke with a sense of humour!

Spot the difference between the following two photos? If you look carefully you'll find Tam making the first cut whilst felling a 40' Sally Wattle, with guidance from Grant. The wattle wasn't there in 2004 - which just goes to show how fast a tree can grow here - and how quickly they can be felled!



MISSON ACCOMPLISHED!

Tam cordless drill in hand, up on roof, preparing a batton for the ladder to lie against so that I can fix the leak along the 5' sloping edge of the chimney - ooh, we know how to have fun up here at Blue Knob! The roof is now fixed, and yes it was me, although there's no photo as usual! No more pools of water beside the fireplace after heavy rain. Well, hopefully not, yet to be tested, endless blue skies at the moment. What a hardship, but still very cold nights.

Hell's Bells - here's Tam standing precariously at the top of the rather dramatically named Hell Hole Falls, deep within Mt Jerusalem National Park - a recent hike with Nimbin Bush Walkers on yet another sunny day.

More tales of intrepid adventures and near-death experiences soon....