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In the Backseat

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From the Arcade Fire:

I like the peace
in the backseat,
I don’t have to drive,
I don’t have to speak,
I can watch the countryside,
and I can fall asleep.

My family tree’s
losing all its leaves,
crashing towards the driver’s seat,
the lightning bolt made enough heat
to melt the street beneath your feet.

Alice died
in the night,
I’ve been learning to drive.
My whole life,
I’ve been learning.

I like the peace
in the backseat,
I don’t have to drive,
I don’t have to speak,
I can watch the countryside

Alice died
in the night,
I’ve been learning to drive.
My whole life,
I’ve been learn… Oh….

In the backseat

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In the Mist (No Gorillas)

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“What did you do on the weekend?” asked a colleague this morning.

“Well, I went bushwalking on Saturday…”

Yes, I knew it was going to be wet, but for some reason I’m a sucker for walking in the rain. After all, I did a whole week of it in Tassie and after that experience I thought I could handle a few hours in wet shoes.

Saturday morning, I was up bright and early to meet up with members of the Bankstown Bushwalking Club, a nice bunch of folks they are, to tackle the clifftops of the Grose Valley, deep in the Blue Mountains. No blue haze on that day, but there was plenty of mist.

The weather actually wasn’t that bad – I had more trouble with the miles and miles of stairs (well, it is the Blue Mountains after all). 3 hours later I was thoroughly soaked, but surprisingly contented, because despite the inclement weather, the valley was still beautiful.

Horseshoe Falls

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Give Me Some Water – Part 3

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I only found this place yesterday, but it’s on my list of favourites already. Not ‘found’ exactly, since I’ve known about The Basin for ages, but I have never managed to rustle up a trip there until yesterday.

As with most natural still water swimming spots, access isn’t easy. To get to there one has to drive all the way to Palm Beach (that’s as far away from my place as you can possibly get in Sydney) where a 20 minute ferry ride across Pittwater into Kuringai-Chase National Park awaits. But the effort is worth it, because The Basin has to be one of the prettiest places in all of Sydney.

Now, I’ve always thought that Wattamolla was lovely, but this place is even more lovely and 10 times the size. Surrounded by bush, the lagoon is blue-green and goes for a mile or more. Because of its sheer inaccessibility (the only other way to get there is by foot via a 6km track), I don’t think it would ever get full. It is so pristine and calm and beautiful that I liken it to an Aussie version of The Blue Lagoon. Only without Brooke Shields.

The Basin Lagoon

More blue lagoon-like photos

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Give Me Some Water – Part 2

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Since the weather’s still damn hot with no sign of letting off, I’ve taken to exploring Sydney’s natural still water swimming spots. After Wattamolla, another favourite of mine is Karloo Pool. Karloo is a secret and cherished spot to people of the Shire and avid bushwalkers. It’s reached by walking 45 minutes into the valley from Heathcote Station to where Kangaroo Creek makes a lovely, deep, freshwater pool. It sure was a welcome sight on this year’s visit in 30C heat and humidity. The water was cool and refreshing and there were some rock platforms on which to sit and take lunch. Apart from other visitors, there were no other signs of civilisation though we’re only a mere 2-3 kms from the edge of Sydney. The uphill return trip was rather interesting in the heat, but the discomfort was worth it.

Karloo Pool

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Black and White Memories

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It’s been 3 months since I returned from my holiday in Northland. I took my trusty Olympus OM-2 to NZ – a 30 year old camera that was my dad’s – and yesterday I got the film developed. I miss the thrill that you get upon first glimpsing your photos. Never happens any more in this instant digital age. I like the moodiness of these shots. There’s something about black and white photos that can’t be replicated with a digital SLR – character.

Lassoo

More moody photos here

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Dawn Greetings

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I started off writing this song about love found… but it ended up being about love lost.

Download the song here.

I picture your face in the quiet hours of morning
I trace the lines of laughter and of pain
You take a peek from behind long lashes
You smile as we lean into a soft, dawn kiss

‘Cos when I am with you, warm in your arms
Free from the barb of words
There is nowhere else I’d rather be
It’s here that my soul entwines with yours

Love, where are you?
I miss you
I love you
Love, where are you?
I miss you
I love you

‘Cos when I am with you, warm in your arms
Free from the barb of words
There is nowhere else I’d rather be
It’s here that my soul entwines with yours

Adventures on life's merry-go-round