It was all very quiet at Umina Beach, even on Queen’s Birthday weekend.
There weren’t any swimmers this time, just a few walkers.
I’m guessing that the crowds have headed for the mountains, but winter at a seaside town has its own delights, I think.
Tag Archives: nsw
Winter has come
A sharp drop into chilly temperatures and an almighty storm meant that winter has come and that endless summer is now a distant memory. Our crepe myrtle is shedding its last leaves and will soon be bare.
Autumn Beach Walk – Part 3
The sun sets fast in autumn, so it wasn’t long until we got a glimpse of a lovely sunset over Umina Beach.
Soon it will be winter solstice, and perhaps a wet patch, so let’s enjoy the beach-going weather while it lasts.
Autumn Beach Walk – Part 2
I can’t quite believe that Bridie the Beagle is now at the ripe old age of 13. She’s well into pensioner age now and much of the time is content to lounge about.
Unless she senses another dog ‘invading’ her territory.
Or when there’s a beach walk on the cards.
That’s when she gets really active, behaving more like a disobedient pup (do beagles ever grow out of this stage?)
Sprinting, jogging, and all the while sniffing out the many scents on the beach. She particularly likes seaweed!
Strange dog…
Cruising the Hawkesbury – Part 5
Pretty soon we were cruising past long stretches of bush and mangroves. With national parks on both sides of the river on this stretch, there was nary a house in sight. The landscape here has probably changed little in 200 years.
Being mid-week, there weren’t even many boats on this stretch of river, except for this fishing boat. Fishing and oyster farming used to be the mainstays of the lower Hawkesbury. These days it’s almost impossible to make a living from these industries. The oyster industry has been particularly hit hard in recent years due to disease.
Cruising the Hawkesbury – Part 4
Further upstream, we pass under the Pacific Highway/M1 bridges. Not so exciting as the railway bridge, but important bridges nonetheless since Sydney would be very cut off northwards if they were to go down.
Then it was cruising into the great Australian bush.
The Hawkesbury sandstone has been sculpted by the elements into all sorts of shapes here.
Cruising the Hawkesbury – Part 2
Our first mail stop was at Dangar Island, just off Brooklyn. It is a settled island with ‘facilities’ (electricity, sewerage, and garbage pickup) but no cars.
As you can see, all the residents (and pets) get around by boat. Some even commute to work from here.
The island’s public jetty has ferries to the mainland, and a rural fire service boat in case of emergencies.
The riverboat drops off and picks up not only mail but supplies as well. It’s a crucial service!
Kangaroo Valley – Part 3
The venue for the reception was slightly out of town at Melross & Willow’s Estate, in a converted barn. By then the clouds were threatening to burst, so there wasn’t any croquet or skittles, but the view was still spectacular.
The estate is also a working horse and cattle property, but I’m guessing that it might have been a dairy as well at one stage. These days, it’s all about the wine.
Kangaroo Valley – Part 2
The wedding was in the very quaint St Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Kangaroo Valley village.
Quaint because it was built in 1888 and as you can see doesn’t seat very many people – everyone really needed to squash in!
As with a lot of 19th Century churches, there are the obligatory stained-glass windows. These are modest but colourful, reflecting the farming community that it served back when it was built.
A lovely little country church.
Kangaroo Valley – Part 1
We spent last weekend in Kangaroo Valley for my cousin J’s wedding. I hadn’t been in Kangaroo Valley for close to 15 years, and it’s certainly gotten busier in that time. I remember only the ice cream shop in the village before, and now there is a dozen places to eat as well as shops of all sorts. But one thing that hasn’t changed is Hampden Bridge.
Built in 1898, it’s still the oldest timber suspension bridge in Australia, still one-laned, and still stands high above the Kangaroo River.
Static and Silence 