21^st May

Well I sit here writing this with my feet soaking in Radox – I didn’t realise how sedentary my last 10 years of work were.  Paul you should have given me a standing desk as preparation!   

The last heard there were 2 remaining Quoll of the test still alive – both females (go girls).  They will do an occasional check on them but otherwise its apparently back to Canberra and come up with another better idea. 

After 2 weeks in Darwin are boss’s are back, although it will be another month before Christy can resume normal duties.  My cooking skills – well no reports of food poisoning as yet!  We actually had a good 2 weeks, with no drama’s and enjoyed the pace.  Rob is getting heaps better with the cash register and we both are finding the local indigenous much easier to understand now.  Anyone who thinks they don’t have a drinking problem though is kidding themselves.  By no means am I saying all of them but boy do we sell some alcohol.  We had a group of 7 turn up in a Holden Commodore (go figure but they have lots of Holden Commodores here) – now I’m talking 7 adults in the one car.  They must have come into the bar at least 5 different times buying cartons of VB, casks of Chardonnay and bottles of Rum.  They would take what they purchased out to the car and pack it in and then when they found an empty space they would come back in and buy more to fill it.  Now I don’t know how long it was to last them or how many was really in their group but I’m just saying….       When we sell takeaway alcohol, NT licencing laws say that we must get their name, where they are from, and where they are going to consume it.  We don’t have to sight ID so they can really tell us anything and usually when we ask where they are going to consume it – they say “Fishing”. 

Our ‘local’ Buffalo is starting to get closer to the campground and I suspect that it will have to be dealt with soon.  You can see it’s tracks in the driveway around the camping area and last week it even crossed the camping area.  I for one wouldn’t like to get up during the night and be confronted by it.  However an interesting fact from Ranger Joe – you can tell the sex of the Buffalo from it’s hoof prints.  A solid outer circle indicates a male and a softer line on the inside of the hoof mark indicates a female.  On a bright note the tracks I’ve been seeing are from a female. 

Rob and I haven’t had much time off in the past few weeks (like nothing together) but we do have Tuesday off and we are really looking forward to it.  We were going to go to Gunlom and see the waterfalls but to be honest for all you down south – its just to hot unless you go really early or late.  Thinking we will go to Katherine instead and then sunset at a local viewing point.

Hah a funny story – I popped into Pine Creek on Friday morning to make a few calls. Had to leave early as I was due back to work by lunch time.  Heading off and Rob says to me “watch out for Kangaroos!”   Like talk about set me up.  I usually sit on 120 but thought no I’ll go a bit slower although it was already 8am.  Come around a bend at Moline Golf Club (not what you think) and here’s 3 Kangaroos sitting on the left hand side of the road.  Good responsible driver that I am I slowed right down and then WHAM a Kangaroo charges me from the right side and I’m not sure if it head-butted or kicked the car above the wheel arch but hit me it did and then they all just hopped away.  No damage but you could see the mark where it hit. 

27^th May

Woke up this morning to the usual beautiful chorus of bird sounds, but you know when there is one that just always tries to be better & LOUDER?  Well he was here this morning – felt like going out and throwing something at it!! 

We had a new staff member start on Wednesday and have another 2 due to start on the 17^th June.  Bringing more staff on board as the season is starting to hot up and we are seeing more traffic every day.  Also Rob & I will be finish late July/Early August, unless they find themselves overstaffed in which case we will leave earlier.  Looking forward to being a tourist again ourselves!  The big plus in the meantime should be that Rob & I will get to have a bit more time together. 

No photo’s with this post I’m sorry – using satellite coverage and it just doesn’t cut it with uploading photo’s..

The end of the First Month!

In our time off up here we’ve been going to some of the local tourist attractions to update our knowledge  so when we chat with tourists we know a little more about where we are directing them.

Just 6km up the road is our ‘local’ waterhole.  Now this is normally just used by the locals but at this time of the year when tourists are starting to come through and none of the other swimming holes are open yet due to crocodile sightings and road conditions – we suggest a swim at Moline Rockhole.

Moline Rockhole

Reflection was beautiful

The local Ranger station is another 6km on from Moline and has an interpretative display.  Pretty rustic but as you need a park pass for Kakadu a great place to stop and get a pass at the same time.  

We’ve also been to Yurmikmik which has a 2km walk to a lookout and a loop walk through Boulder creek.  There is also a 3.5km each way walk to Motorcar falls which we have yet to do.   The main attraction at this end of the park however is Gunlom which has amazing waterfalls and swimming holes at both the top and bottom.   Gunlom however isn’t open yet – yes that’s right – due to crocodile sightings in the bottom swimming hole.   Damm crocodiles are everywhere although as I say to Rob – at least they stay in the water which is better than the Buffolo’s.  Why does everything up here want to kill you I ask???

View Yurmikmik Lookout

Its such a facinating area

Loving it !

Boulder Creek

At the back of the Ranger station is a group of sheds and housing which the rangers use.  They work on a 10 day on / 4 day off roster and usually live here whilst rostered on.  Whilst I don’t think the Rangers over work themselves they do have a pretty varied role here and keep themselves busy with  things like Crocodile studies, checking road conditions, moving illegal campers on, wild animal control (including shooting of cranky buffalo’s).  Wild animal control involves horses, donkeys, dogs, dingo’s and the maintaining of sustainable numbers of these.  Apparently they did a big cull a few weeks ago.  Without harping on it – not enough buffalos culled for my liking!   Another thing the park rangers are responsible for is the control burning of the park.  They do this both from the ground and the air – using helicopters.  A traditional owner of the land is in attendance with them and they plot which areas to burn and when.  At present the fires are little and don’t burn too far due to the green growth, however they tell us that this will soon change as things dry out.   Tony (boss) has already had a go at burning around the roadhouse but it’s still too green to do much good.

After burning

How amazing is life - the day after

We also had 2 days off and used this time to travel to Mataranka to catch up with niece Aimee.  It was lovely to have some time with Aim’s and a big thank you to our hosts Betty and Jimmy at the Territory Manor & Caravan Park – we thoroughly enjoyed our night.   Aimee and I went to the thermal pools at Bitter Springs (3km away) for sunrise and it was just beautiful.  We were lazing in the water listening to all the bird life and watching the sun rise and we had the place to ourselves.  Much better than the last time I was there when  the place was overrun with people.   And what a small world it is – Jimmy said that he knew a Robert Burns which turns out to be young Rob and they went to school together.  

Aimee Barramundi feeding at Mataranka

Rob's a bit worried about size of bait !!

4^th May.     The traffic passing through is increasing now and we are getting busier.  Good for the owners but can be a bit daunting for us as we learn everything.  The owners are away quiet abit at present attending to medical issues and that only leaves 3 of us to cover everything.  We had another couple turn up last Friday but they only lasted until the Monday.  They really weren’t suited to the work and hadn’t been completely truthful with the owners when they applied.  The next couple aren’t due here for another 10 days AHH…

At present we have 10 staff from the NPWS staying in the motel.  They are here for approximately 10 days with the release of 8 Quoll into the park.  Yes more NPWS staff then Quoll!!  They collected the Quoll elsewhere and spent time training them to not eat Cane Toads.  They do this by feeding them chopped up Cane Toads laced with Laxatives.  The poor Quoll poo themselves so much they no longer touch the Toads (well that’s the theory).  Once this is instilled in them they brought them here with little collars with monitors and released into the park.  Of course they then have to contend with Snakes, Wild Dogs, Dingos and everything else up here that wants to kill them.  Day three and we have 5 Quoll still alive.   Twice a day they take a helicopter up and check the monitors and see who is still moving.  It they detect a death they then send in a ground team to the spot and they collect the dead to investigate what happened.  Stupid idiots bring them back here and put them in the motel room fridges.  YUK.  You would think with the $1M budget (yes $1M for 8 Quoll) that they would buy their own damm fridge.   At least with the release of Billibies by Western Plains Zoo they had enough sense to release them into a sancturary where they had a chance of survival.

Day Five and we have 3 Quoll remaining.  They will have to do autopsies but looking like their toad training wasn’t as effective as they thought.  They say that they’ve collected lots of great data – doesn’t really help the poor dead Quoll though does it! 

It’s been helicopter central here the last few days with the NPWS coming and going and we’ve also had the NPWS fire lighting (yes lighting not fighting) helicopter based here as well.  Lots of burning happening and some days the air is just thick with smoke & ash.  Tony did more burning off around the Roadhouse again yesterday which can be a bit confronting when it’s so close.

My cooking skills have really been put to the test over the last couple of days.  I’m okay with a couple of meals at a time but not sure how I will handle a big order – might have to be a few free drinks given out whilst they wait for their meals 😊   And we received news today that the other couple are no longer coming.  Anyone want to be Roadhouse cook for the next 5 months?? 

Helicopters at front of Roadhouse

Burning around the Roadhouse

Well we’ve been here a few weeks now and still here – which apparently is a lot longer than the last couple! We had a pretty quiet Easter here they say compared to previous years due to the recent Cyclone which dumped heaps of rain and closed most of the roads in the area.  There are lots of small bus groups coming through now though and it’s interesting to see the mix up of the tourists on these and to meet the different tour bus drivers.  Some of the ones we have met so far are real characters and give you a good laugh.  The roadhouse provides a BBQ area and tables for the tour groups who in turn purchase drinks etc whilst they are here.  We also have a Dormitory where some of them stay overnight. Don’t mind these as they are easy to clean.

In the bar section of the Roadhouse we have ‘Colin’ the Crocodile.  Colin is a real drawcard and everyone loves to check him out.  Tony (boss) obtained a licence to have a crocodile and purchased Colin 1 only to find out he was a Salt Water Crocodile.  This would have been okay except he started to get quite aggressive and attack the tank whenever anyone went near it.  So he was relocated and they purchased Colin 2. 

To get around the park we have 2 x 4wd buggy’s.  On the back of one they carry a rifle “for emergencies”.  Nice look when it’s parked out the front of the roadhouse but I hope we don’t ever have a need to use it.  We all carry 2way radio’s when away from the shop as a caution.

We’ve met 2 of the local Park Rangers so far.  Joe is a regular here at the bar and brought his wife Carol and 3 boys in last night to meet us.  Billy is the other one but not so friendly – maybe needs to change his job!    Joe was showing us photo’s last night of some of the local waterfalls which he sadly tells us we won’t get to see when the waterfall is flowing as it doesn’t flow for long and by the time they clear the area of crocodiles so that tourists can come in the waterfall has stopped.  I’m trying to work on him to take us in there before they let the tourists in..

I'm writing this now on friday and this past weeks been a busier.  My daily walks having taken a bit of a change - on Tuesday I spoted signs of buffalo hanging around and then on Tuesday night the rangers told me they had to shot a buffulo during the day as it was attacking cars.  They then told me that last season Tony had one attack him in the caravan park area.  Needless to say this has curtailed my walks to staying within the immediate area around the roadhouse.  AND that rifle I mentioned above may come in handy afterall!!

We took a helicopter flight over Kakadu last week which was amazing.  The escarpment was stunning to look at from the air.  
Firstly we went over Ranger mine which is in the process of closing down.  Then we headed out to see five of the waterfalls.  I went pretty crazy with the photos but will post only a few for you to get the idea.  The pilot told us that once the falls are open to the public (still closed due to crocodile sightings) that they cannot fly over the falls themselves so we were glad that we did it now! It was a great day out.

Enjoying the flight

Escarpment

Jim Jim Falls

Twin Falls

Ranger Mine Kakadu

Twin Falls

   

The edge felt so close

The road below

                                                                                                  

Mary River Roadhouse

Well what a hectic couple of weeks.  Our house sit finished up on the 31^st March and we said a sad goodbye to Swansea.  The weekend saw us enjoy a lovely time with Rob, Lucy & the boys – catching up with Lucy’s family on Saturday night with a celebration of Lucy’s 30^th Birthday.  During the day we received a call from our new employers at Mary River Roadhouse asking if we could make a dash for the NT as one of their employees had an accident and they were short staffed.  WOW yes I guess we could rearrange how next couple of weeks.  Sadly this saw Rob’s weekend at BluesFest go out the window.   So on Sunday morning after attending Frankie’s christening we hit the road once more.

A quick stop over in Port Macquarie on Sunday night saw us catch up with Bruce & Louise once more and then onto Kingscliff.  We were detoured through Lismore – such a sad sight with so much flood damaged to business’s and homes.  The same again in Murwillumbah and Chinderah. 

Jen & Garry kindly put us up for a few days and it was great to catch up.  (You guys could get your van out and join us on the road again 😊).  Our lovely mechanic at Chinderah Motors assisted us by fitting our car in for a service  week ahead of schedule - Thanks guys we really appreciated it.  Then a quick check on our house to make sure all was good and a catch up with friends before hitting the road to the NT.  Thanks everyone for meeting us with such short notice.  A big Thank you to Lynn & Kym – it was great that you came down from the Coast and we really enjoyed catching up with you again.  Maybe next at Mary River!!

3,350 km in 5 days !!   Actually a pretty good trip all round.  We had a few issues with the van hitch on the first day so stayed the Thursday night at Mitchell Caravan Park.  Craig there was very helpful and we were all good to go on the Friday.  Free camp near Winton on Friday night and another free camp between Camooweal and nowhere on Saturday night.  Funny thing about this one – we had 1 bar on our mobile but couldn’t get any radio reception.  Go figure!  Sunday saw us reach Mataranka around 3.30pm and we stopped at Territory Manor Motel & Van Park to check it out as this is where Favourite niece Aimee is going to be working after Easter for the peak season. Couple of meaningful words in their ear to look after Aims.  

Monday was a short drive into Katherine and a bit of shopping before heading to Pine Creek to check out what services are available to us in our nearest town.  Cute little place with a small supermarket, bottle shop ( a necessity ), post office and other basics.  58km further on and we reached our destination of Mary River Roadhouse.  Now we weren’t sure what to expect really as it’s been 2 years since we were last up here but I can say it’s a pleasant surprise.  The grass is green (although they say as the dry sets in this won’t last) the place, although old, is well looked after and clean. 

Mary River Roadhouse

Amenities Block

Camp Kitchen

Camp fire in grounds

Our campsite at Mary River

Accommodation block

Our employers are Tony & Christy, who took a leasehold on the Roadhouse 2 years ago, are working on improving the property.  Although old we were pleasantly surprised as to how clean the place is and the grounds are a lovely green and well maintained.  Note though the green probably won't last through the whole dry season.

There is Bob (blue) and Ruby (red) the resident cattledogs here for protection – so I’m making really good friends with them as I'm thinking I might need them sometime.  Ruby has a tendency to nip your heels if you’re not watching but I’m already working on training her to choose someone else’s ankles rather than mine.  I take either one of them with me when walking as there is dingo's and water buffalo around :(

There is also a dozen chooks which are well caged up due to the roaming Dingo’s.  

Rob and I are doing a bit of everything work wise.  Cleaning, stocking drinks, serving in the bar and cafe, food preparation and now I'm learning to do the cooking as well.  Hopefully I don't poison anyone.   The bar is interesting work.  The whole liquor act in the NT is so confusing and each premises has their own legalities.  Our bar is open 10am to 10pm daily.  And as far as I can see there are no restrictions on how much alcohol one can purchase.  Weird because in Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs there are restrictions on this.  You can drink in the bar (all cans) however if you want to take away then we have to record your name and where you are from and where you are planning to consume the alcohol.  There is also 4 pages of names of people that are banned from purchasing alcohol by either their local Aboriginal council, the police or self banned.  Pretty time consuming when you are selling the stuff!!  Most of the local indiginious (our main customers in the bar) speak their native language plus english but are so hard to understand.  I've taken to asking them for ID so I can copy their names off that. 

At Mary River there is no Mobile reception (although I can get Messanger through Satellite so use that if you want to contact me), there is no Radio reception, TV only through Satellite (which we don't have), no newspapers - and it's a 58km drive to the nearest "town" where we can get mobile reception.  Guess Rob & I will get to spend a lot of quality time together.

Relaxing by the pool after a hard days work!

Did I mention the pool - the saving grace as it's so damm hot and humid here at present.  The Dry season hasn't officially started as yet so I think Rob & I are dropping weight by the hour!! 

More next week but needless to say we came here for the experience and so far loving it.  Take care xx

Exploring the Central Coast

This week we started to explore further afield.

Firstly Catherine Hill Bay - what a beautiful little historic mining village that is about to be spoilt :(
Entering through Flowers Drive you encounter lots of old miners cottages lining the street (only the one street) and real old world charm. It is the oldest continuous settlement in the City of Lake Macquarie.
Once you reach the crest the views are amazing.

Beach & Inlet at Catherine Hill Bay

Catherine Hill Bay beach

Overlooking the rocks near Wharf

The wharf was closed in recent times and sadly now no public access

Looking back towards the wharf & surf club

The settlement was first made in 1865 and served as a base for coal mining.  More recently it has become popular as a surfing beach.

The sad part is that if you go a couple of hundred metres beyond the surf club there is now a major new house & land development.  We are talking a 550 lot subdivision.  Whilst there has been a separate entrance created off the highway into this development - you can only hope that the new residents don't use Flowers drive as this will spoil the nature of this small settlement. (when the new residents come as it is still all vacant land- although all the streets & kerb/guttering has been laid)
Catherine Hill Bay residents opposed the development and it was held up in the courts for 10 years.  In the end - although they didn't stop the development they certainly made the covenets worthwhile to maintain some of the integrity of the area.

 Next was a bike ride from Eleebana around to Marmong Point and return.  This is around the top of Lake Macquarie and takes in Warners Bay.  It is a lovely ride and we enjoyed lunch at Pippi's @ Speers Point on the way back.  Ah it's a hard life!

t

Checking for fish

Time for a trip to Newcastle.  We had heard that Fort Scratchley was worth a visit and they were right.  Overlooking Nobby's beach it is 1of 5 lines of defence that Australia had in the Newcastle area.  Entry is free to the Fort and they is 1/2 dozen little museums set up that have some interesting artifacts and stories.  For $20 you can do the underground tour which lasts around 1 hour and again worth taking the time.  What we did learn was that they actually build the 'tunnels' on top of the rise that was there and then they put dirt on top creating the hill.   When Newcastle was bombed by a submarine in WWII - they sadly missed the opportunity to take out the sub when a fog rolled in and obsecured their line of fire.  Some of the cannons have been restored to working order and at 1pm daily they fire off one cannon blast (just powder no blast as local residents complained).

Fort Scratchley overlooking harbour

Knobbys Beach

Looking out from the tower

Ship leaving port

Looking at the Fort from the carpark

About to fire the Cannon

Next was lunch and we were lucky to catch two acts from the Newcastle Fringe Festival which is on this week.
Africa Entsha sung in gospel style in both Zulu and English - amazing and no back up music!

Africa Entsha

Stimela The Gumboot Musical

Stimela is a celebration of song & dance with song and stomping feet! It was born out of the oppressive gold mines of South Africa. 

Next was Anzac Memorial walk - stunning views

View South

Anzac Memorial Walkway

Enjoying the view

Thursday was our long awaited Fernleigh Track ride.  We had hoped for a clear day but settled for grey skies and no rain (we hoped)
The path runs along the old railway track from Belmont to Adamstown. 15km each way - we did it easy and thoroughly enjoyed both the ride itself and the beautiful bushland scenery. 

Thru the old railway tunnel

Time to turn around and head back

Enjoying the ride

Today - just enjoying time with Rob, Lucy, Alby and Frankie. 

Alby enjoying the park

One more week at Swansea and then heading North.
For those that haven't already heard - after Easter in Kingscliff we are headed off to the Mary River Roadhouse near Pine Creek in the Northern Territory for 4 months work. 

Swansea

Swansea on the Central Coast of NSW - what a lovely place.  Although I am sure if it ever stops raining it will be even more lovely!   That said there have been periods of sun and although the humidity is through the roof we have been able to get out and do some exploring.  We have been increasing the distance we ride on the bikes each day, getting ourselves ready to do the Fernleigh Track (Belmont to Adamstown & return) when the weather clears.  One of our rides was to Murray Beach - what a beautiful little spot but the hill getting in there was probably a bit more that what we were ready to tackle.  Oh well not ones to give up we made it and enjoyed the ride back down!!

Rob at the Foreshore @ Murrays Beach

Murrays Beach wharf

We enjoyed the walk out to Galgabba Point which is between Swansea & Murrays Beach and is a significant bushland area.  Beautiful walk and so much to look at whilst your walking through the bush.

There was some beautiful sights during our walk

Caves Beach is aptly named for all the caves in the cliff face overlooking the beach.  These are only accessible from the beach at low tide.  Last Saturday, along we Rob, Lucy & the boys, we decided to investigate.  Alby just loved it and I have to say it was pretty special to look at and walk through some of the caves.

Caves Beach looking towards the caves

Entry to a cave

Looking out from one of the caves

You can walk through some of them

Caves Beach

And one more

Looking towards some of the caves

The rock above was also lovely to look at

Now which one was the way back?

Ah Rob made it!

A few days later we did the Caves Beach Walk which follows along the cliff line.  Spoon Rocks features the remains of a breakwall constructed to load coal into waiting ships before the Newcastle port was created.  You walk up again to Quarries head which gives an outstanding view and although I couldn't capture it well enough on the day - we counted 18 ships lined up going to (or from) Newcastle.  We then continued into Wallarah National Park finishing overlooking Pinny Beach.  I say fnishing - we then had to walk back but it was well worth it.

Looking back at Caves Beach

Beach at Spoon Rocks

Breakwall at Spoon Rocks

Starting to climb

Quarries Head

On our way up

Quarries Head

Overlooking Pinny Beach

Loved some of the native bushes

What goes up must go down

We also enjoyed the Green Point foreshore walk (well until it started to rain on us). You get an amazing view looking over Lake Macquarie

Green point foreshore looking towards Belmont

Oh here comes the rain :)

With the rain came a rainbow

So pretty looking through the tress

Sorry one more

We've also enjoyed catching up with some friends.  Lew - it was great to see you and I hope Rob didn't lead you too astray!
Lynn - it's hard to believe we haven't seen each other for years, it was just so easy to catch up and looking forward to spending some more time with you before we go.  Helen - I wish you were here with us!
We have 2 more weeks here so hopefully I will be able to show you some photo's with blue skies soon.....