These two were playing hide-and-seek with me.
Tag Archives: fauna
Patonga – Part 5
But the highlight of the visit were the very tame pelicans – there were plenty of them by the beach at Patonga. Some of them were rather shy…
But most did let me get quite close to them.
More pelican photos tomorrow!
Canine Interlude – Despondent
One thing about beagles – they’re extreme attention seekers. If you’re not showering attention on them 24/7 they become rather despondent. Below, little princess wasn’t happy that we haven’t given her a pat… in the last two minutes.
Lazy Sunday – Part 3
Meanwhile, back at Umina Beach…
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……..
Oh, er, what was I meant to be doing? Guarding the house? What do you mean I’m a guard dog??
Winter Walk – Freedom
The beagle loves walks, especially walks along the beach, more than she loves food. If you know about beagles and their obsession with food then you realise that taking walks is Number One in their list of things to do. Perhaps it’s because they are in their most natural element on the beach, especially a leash-free beach like this part of Umina Beach is. The beagle can sniff and mark territory and dig holes (almost) wherever she likes.
And of course she can run like the wind.
Winter Walk – A Dog Owner’s Convention
Apologies for the lack of posts the last two weeks. BB and I have been on the road around NSW. We’re almost on the home stretch and have many photos to show you, but until then here are a few posts about our last walk along Umina Beach. There seemed to be a dog owner’s convention – a large dog owner’s convention – that seemed to freak our little beagle right out.
Winter Drive – Going Home
After a lunch of prawn and chilli pizza, and chicken pesto linguine (waited upon by a surprisingly patient beagle), we headed back home to the Coast. I particularly like this shot of our princess. Many dogs like to poke their heads out of moving car windows – she’s no exception.
Winter Drive – Vines
To appreciate just how small this winery is, this is the extent of its vineyard. The owner took us personally through his wines, and in the end we bought a couple of bottles of shiraz, semillion, and a vibrant rose (stocking up for next summer).
In the meantime, the beagle (who went along with us) had other ideas – getting acquainted with the bull in the vineyard.
You won’t win this battle, beagle.
Canine Interlude – Meditation
It is almost bedtime, and the beagle spends her final moments meditating… in front of the heater.
The Nakasendo – Minshuku
A 2km walk from Tsumago takes me to my accommodation, a minshuku (or traditional inn) called Hanaya.
It’s an old inn that’s been in business for more than 150 years, with a few extensions. It’s run traditionally, with futons on tatami-floored rooms (that’s the woven matting), with a share bath made of hardwood, and serves breakfasts and wonderful dinners. Unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of my meals here, but I remember that the dinners were enormous, with sashimi entrees, followed by a noodle hotpot, and other things besides. And the hosts were wonderfully kind. We chatted in broken English/Japanese, and when I left we even exchanged presents (so Japanese).
Well, with such a wonderful place to rest and eat, no wonder their pet St Bernard was always sound asleep.
Static and Silence 