Flying out of fabulously sunny WA, we doubted that the weather could continue to be as picture perfect, but the perfect end of summer weather kept on coming, meeting every stereotype that everyone has of Australia as a sun-filled paradise- which it is of course! Apart from a couple of days of rain, the good old South Coast of NSW turned on the most spectacular weather. Our first night at Dad's in Huskisson saw us on the sunshine filled deck of the Husky Pub watching the Hobbie World sailing championships out on Jervis Bay. We then met up with Mum, Kim, Ant and the Kids at the beach. What better way to greet your nephews and niece than with a water fight at Monna Monna beach! (I won of course).
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| Spectacular Jervis Bay views from Husky Pub |
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| Attack!!! |
The next few weeks we caught up with friends and family, explored the beautiful South Coast and Jervis Bay.
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| Callum and Zac |
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Baylie!
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| Future environmentalist and tree hugger- Declan |
Wine and cheese tasting at Two Figs Winery with Mum and Kim
Grape stomping at Crooked River Winery |
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| Seafood Feast- Yum Yum! |
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| At the Fisherman's club overlooking 7 Mile beach in Gerringong |
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| Werri Beach- start of the Kiama coast path |
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| Kiama Coast path |
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James on a rock!
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Walking at the bay
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| Spectacular views from the old light house at Jervis Bay |
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We also headed up to the Blue Mountains to walk the 6 Foot Track, a three day hike from Jenolan Caves to Katoomba.
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| With Dad at the 3 Sisters in Katoomba, The Blue Mountains |
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| Looking out over Orphan Rock at Katoomba |
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| The cool entrance to Jenolan Caves |
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| James at the beginning of the 6 Foot Track |
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| View down to the caves at the beginning of the 6 Foot Track |
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| What's that Skip? |
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| Hello! There were so many Kangaroos and Wallabies on this trek! |
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| Crossing the Coxes River on the 6 Foot Track |
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| Coming into Megalong Valley |
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| Nelly's Glen on the 6 Foot Track |
Then it was back to the Shoalhaven, where we ate lots of yummy food (thanks Mum!), went out for copious amounts of coffee (thanks Kim!) and drank too much wine (damm you liquor land and your 20% specials.....) I also had a close encounter with Australian wild life, when i was bitten (yes bitten) by an lizard while sitting in Mum's back yard, which we are now calling Jurassic Park.
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| Kiama |
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| Water monitor at Minamurra rain forest |
We also had a couple of days catching in Sydney catching up with friends reliving my Uni days on a pub crawl in Glebe. We rounded it off with a sail on one of the Tall Ships on the Harbour. James headed to the UK to sort out the bike and I spent another week at home and even got in a long weekend trip to Canberra with Mum, where I realised I have been mis-judging our fair capital- I actually loved it!
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| Best harbour in the world! |
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| Opera House-Aussie Icon |
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| Not a halo above Jules there....it's a stop sign.....but that is a story for another time! |
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| Relaxing on the harbour |
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| Cheers |
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| Beautiful from any angle |
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| And this angle too! |
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| Big James and Little James |
To everyone in Australia, thanks so much for a wonderful time, I miss you all already!
So now we have just landed in London, where yesterday, it was the hottest day of the year so far! The next leg of the trip is walking the GR7 in Andalusia and we are heading there tomorrow. Can't wait!
