Friday, September 27, 2013

Progress?


Riding along a stretch of the bike path, I notice the trees have yellow strips painted on their trunks. Looking across the canal,  I think their days are numbered.

Hunting about online, I found it is part of work Sydney Water is doing for a Cooks River remediation project - http://www.sydneywaternews.com.au/2013/08/20/working-together-to-restore-the-cooks-river/   Along with replacing the steep concrete sides with a more natural rock bank, the non native willow trees will be replaced with natives.

So, definitely progress :)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Enjoying the sun

Lying on their back, enjoying the morning sunshine






Farewell Barraba

After leaving Far North Queensland, I decided to travel back to Barraba for a bit. Arriving in town on Thursday morning, I walked about asking if anyone knew of any volunteer, casual or part-time jobs going. Well, within the space of an hour, I was hired.

It was to have been an easy casual position: waitress/kitchen-hand. But that quickly changed and I found myself with the title 'Manager', planning, directing staff, and making changes.  Looking back on the time now, it was fun and exciting. Long hours but ultimately rewarding.

I was only to have been working for a couple weeks, but ended up extending my time to a couple of months.

If your ever travelling up near Barraba, phone up and book a lunch, or stay at The Playhouse Hotel  http://www.playhousehotel.com/



And this is where I am now...

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Be careful what you wish for

After missing the cooler weather down south, I traveled south. And got cooler weather in abundance.


-8C  Definitely cooler.  Found lots of exciting things: throwing water on the windscreen was a bad idea - it just froze and just made the ice layer thicker.  Wiper blades froze onto the windscreen and don't move. The water washer also froze. Ice is very abrasive - I now need new windscreen wipers..
The taps outside froze solid - so check for running water before taking off your clothes for a shower.  My van is unheated - so stuff inside froze also.   More than one blanket was needed.  Getting up and running to the shower block in thongs was guaranteed to give you frozen feet before you arrived.  Leaving the shower, wet hair froze on the run back. 

Was an interesting experience.  One that I'm not that keen to repeat. 


I like cool times, but sub zero temperatures - I just don't have the gear for enjoying it.