We’re Home…

Never one to miss an opportunity, and after all life is the journey, not the destination. So on the way home from the farm sit, I planned a mini 3 day road trip.

We travelled along the notorious Putty Road (more on this in a later post) planning to visit the Hunter Valley Gardens.

It started to rain…

So abandoned that idea and after lunch carried on to Newcastle where I had booked a 2 night stay in an Airbnb.

It was a delightfully renovated home, immaculately clean and we also had the company of 2 adorable whippets.

Willow

Winston

Newcastle is a city I have always just bypassed so this time decided to have a brief 2 day explore.

It rained…

But the museum was open, then, when the rain stopped for a short time, we took a drive around the wharf area and passed the beaches.

The ocean was whipped into a frenzy around Nobby’s Head lighthouse which has been a safety beacon for ships at sea since 1821.

Next morning it was still raining, but the Art Gallery was now open. It closed on Mondays. So after a pleasant couple of hours looking around, we pressed on North towards home.

The rain was getting heavier…

Then it became torrential…

Time to stop for lunch and wait for it to ease up. So we pulled into Bulahdelah. Fortunately we could park right outside the Tavern and dash inside. The tavern is on the banks of the Myall River. Look at it…

It is in flood and creeping closer to the township. Some out lying properties were already cut off.

The next Airbnb was at South West Rocks. (We have been here before, check it out here)Another delightful home with a friendly hostess. Jennifer is a traveller so we had many stories to swap. After a brief look around the beach and ordering a pizza for dinner we went back to Jennifer’s place and had a movie evening, watching “The Castle” a classic Aussie movie, along with Jennifer and another couple who were staying the week with Jennifer.

Next morning the skies had cleared and it was only 350 kilometres to home. We are now travelling along the Pacific Highway, Australia’s Number 1 motorway. Although some parts still had road works happening, as the Pacific Highway is in the process of a major up-grade, a large part is now open and the going was good.

And the sun was shining…

The clouds were lifting and the sky was dramatic.

We are back in sunny Queensland…

So we arrived home yesterday and I am doing this post as I wait for the loads of washing to go through.

At this point I have not made, or even thought of, where too next…

Time to relax…

On the way home : Lingering Look at Windows

Only 3 kilometres along the coast from Trial Bay gaol is the charming little seaside town of South West Rocks. Our friends put it as a “must see” and recommended we definitely should visit it.

After the walk to the lighthouse and being immersed in gaol life all morning the time had flown round to 3-30pm, coffee time. First priority was to find some where open. A local bakery is always a good choice. We made it just as they were closing but they made a good coffee and we chose one of their home-made meat pies to sustain us.

I think we must’ve been all “photo’d” out. Do you ever get like that?  As walking around the small shopping area we just looked and didn’t take any photos. Then I spotted some windows and had to snap them. So here are a few window photos.

I rather like this colour combination.

look closer at this lead light window

Then we walked round the corner and down to the beach. This apartment block was all windows.

When we turned round it was just WOW what a view they have.

With views like this my photography mojo was turned back on.

What a great place to sit and contemplate or meditate

I tried to catch that magical effect of the sun sparkling like diamonds on the ocean. I vaguely remember reading some where that there is a special expression used to describe this and it has a calming effect on the mind. Can any one out there tell me what it is?

It was a beautiful moment watching the swimmers enjoying the ocean.

So ends another interesting day, not many more days before we will be heading home to the Goldcoast.

***********************

G’day Dawn. I’m sneaking in a second post about windows this week.