Gotta Get A Roadie

After what seemed like an eternity finally we are set to go! Mind you we had to contend with a few hiccups along the way. But in our usual fashion this was all done and dusted and had no bearing on the events of our day. Thank goodness. The issue arose when Amy wanted to partake in our straya day festivities. With only two kayaks and no means of being able to carry a third vessel we were stuck. Couldn’t fit 3 on the Hyundai (not safe), couldn’t fit 1 on Amy’s focus (no roof racks), couldn’t hire one( the website said yes but when we called said no), go somewhere else( I really wanted to go to glenworth valley). So we were stuck and feeling horrible cause we said yes but couldn’t make it happen. Until! Hang on a second- I have my old roof racks from the Astra that you can attach when needed. Heck yeah, lets do this.

So we set sail and made our way to glenworth valley. It was an overcast day, however still perfect for kayaking. We arrived about 1pm, eventually found our launch site. Borrowed a map, paddle and aeroguard from our mates at glenworth valley. Thanks guys!  And set off to check out the delights of popran creek.

The creek was pretty shallow and while our newbie found her bearings I set off to enjoy the sights of our new found creek. They  should warn participants to bring anything to repel the mossies. Damn they were everywhere. Since we borrowed some from our mates we were ok. We throughly enjoyed our day. I would like to come back and continue the journey. It was such a  peaceful ride. Minimal currents and you could take your time to absorb your surroundings without the current taking you down stream again. Eventually we made it to the end of popran creek which spills into mangrove creek, decided that we should head back but should probably wait till the tour group that was behind us now get ahead. Obviously it will make it super difficult to paddle back if the leader realised I had his paddle. Sshhh……

 

As the current was pushing us down stream the ride back was a little more demanding. Unfortunately by the time we got back it was quiet late in the afternoon and the gates closed in an hr. We decided that our sangers would have to wait till we got home. All in all it was a top way to celebrate the day and I look forward to our return.

Happy Straya Day!!

Last night we decided that as we were getting a reprieve from the hot summer days and mild temps in the mid 40s we should take the opportunity to really break our new assets in. I really wanted to visit Brooklyn as reviews had mentioned this was an ideal spot to kayak and there was always something interesting to see. We set off mid morning and found an off street to port our vessels (haha, I only just learnt what that means).

I thought if we head off following the current and head around dangar island the other side would be brutal but then we could finish strong. In the beginning the current was sweet and paddling was cruisey. We saw a boat that took on a little too much water.

We saw some huge jellies. These guys were massive.

The Hawkesbury bridge seemed like it was decades away. And even taking the smallest breather would lead you backwards a couple of hundred mtrs and as my girl called out “it feels like we are paddling with a fork” could not of said it better myself.

Eventually we got around the tip of dangar island but then, slap me sideways and call me Sally. It wasn’t until we were 90% of the way around and stopped by a huge retaining wall for a train that I realised something was amiss.

Being the male in the relationship I’m always the one that ventures off and does things half cocked. (Excuse the pun!) today was no different. So my beautiful wifey decided she would be smart and probably best not to rely on my abilities, or lack of. And work out where we were and where the hell is the bloody car.

Once my princess worked out where we were and possibly where the bloody car could be she has now set off on foot and will hopefully return before night fall to collect  the car and return to pick my sorry maleness ass up and have some sangers on the BBQ with my burnt hands and legs all due to my awesome maleness and refusing to put sunscreen on my legs. Obviously the sun will not burn my legs while sitting in a kayak nor will my hands burn from paddling in the sun for 3hrs.

In case you were wondering girl did find the car and our sangers were the bomb!!

Man I love this place. After an unexpected trip which led us back down the coast to visit dad in hospital as he was experiencing some unexplained dizziness and nausea and really not feeling well. Poor man! Hope you are feeling better dad. We decided that in between hospital visits we could visit our favourite destination and try out our new kayaks courtesy of anaconda and since it was such a sweet day check out the what swims beneath. As we were quite short on time it literally was a dip, paddle and out. Obviously everyone else had the same idea as it took 45mins to get into currawong and we counted about 30 cars in front from when we first joined the line. 

The water did not disappoint. It was so clear and truly spectacular. I would like to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of my girl. Who has previously mentioned is quite petrified of the ocean and worried she would become a sharks next meal. Well those feelings are truly unfounded. This girl was already ahead of me and always on the look out for the next creature she could beckon me through the snorkel for me to come and see.

After a round of snorkelling it was time to break our kayaks in. We packed everything on board and decide that we would head around to greater waters. Wow, I wish I had pics to show the craziness of these waves. Sadly we didn’t make it the whole way home and I decided it would probably be safest to head back before I created the next shipwreck for fellow snorklers to enjoy. Lol!

For the 2 1/2hrs we spent at currawong we had such a good time. The weather was perfect and I will never get tired of visiting honeymoon bay. 

It’s the 31st of December 2016. The last day of a pretty rough year to say the least. We decided that we would like to bring in the new year down the south.  We left on Friday after work and made the 3hr trip down to visit dad. We spoke about options we had for some fun activities to do while down there and as the weather had been pretty sweet we decided this time that snorkelling and paddle boarding were the activities we could partake.

Saturday, we woke and discussed plans as to what to do for the day. The weather was overcast, however still quite warm. After some light discussions and my girl walking away( I can never decide what to do- so frustrating) snorkelling at honey moon bay was the way to go and we could take the boards if weather and time permitted.

After 15mins of playing in the cold water we decided to brave the elements and go see what exciting creatures inhabit within. Upon entering the water we came across quite a few different creatures of the fin variety. It was here I realised a    go pro would of been awesome right now. ( don’t worry it’s been added to my wish list).

We had a break and returned to the water.  Where I was ushered to come look at some fish that my girl had found. Which I know now was a decoy. As I approached I could see about a dozen black stripped fish. They were about 2-3 inches in length but still quite pretty to watch. As I was captivated by the fish I didn’t notice my girl holding a little box with a ring inside. For some unbeknown reason I thought oh wow she round a ring in a box while snorkelling. (Yup, I laughed about it too). No no I was wrong. It was here my girl popped the question that all girls( ladies) wants to hear.

To top the day off we headed around the corner and went for a paddle we saw about 6 stingrays( again I wish I had a go pro)

 

Omg, never in a million years was I expecting that. Safe to say today is the best day of my life. Yes, girl I will spend the rest of my life with you.

Omg, I’m so excited. Christmas has finally arrived

So our first year has been memorable to the say the least. From muddy runs, mountain bike stacks, miss navigating bush walks, canoeing down the valley and who could possibly forget a new activity known as mallooning.

So what shall we do to celebrate our first year? If your guess was to spend a weekend patting alpacas then you would be right. Our journey begins with a late lunch while heading towards the M1 on Pennant Hills Rd. We decide that Oporto sounded like a perfect option. So my girl finds the closest location is about 6kms away. Great. So we back track all the way to the MACQUARIE centre into a food court and lose about  90mins. God I love my girl!!

We finally arrive just after 7pm. We are met at the gates by Lauren(I think). We are given 2 buckets of food cause we all know 1 would never be enough. Needless to say we have since been through nearly 3 buckets. As I scroll through the pictures taken I would buy another 100 more for the priceless pictures I now have.

The highlight of the event was telling girl I was about to pull over so she could fed some white alpacas eagerly awaiting some of her buckets of pellets, however before I had a chance to stop she had opened the door flung herself out and had an alpacas head in her pellet bucket before I had set the handbrake and put the car into park. Another reason why she is so perfect.

Tonight we are planning the visit the Christmas Lights @ Huntervalley Gardens.

Blindingly dazzling is the best way to describe the more than 2 million lights ( I did some research)of the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens.

The light and music extravaganza is truly stunning and is a surefire way to score extra brownie points this weekend. I had searched the World Wide Web to find a suitable activity that would blow my girls mind and I wasn’t disappointed, not only was she blown away by the experience but susprisingly I too was stunned by the colour and bright lights of this festive event.

My favourite moments were the 12 days of Christmas were each day lights up as the go through the song, the under the sea display was cool (pictured above) and the light display over the fountain to the tunes of “I got a feeling” and “uptown funk”. When I ask girl what her favourite moment was she happily replied “all of it!” I asked anything in particular? “The bettle” was the following reply. Mind you this was a little creature girl had rescued and return back to the garden a little further down the path. Man this girl is amazing😊