NOTHING TO SAY REALLY...

The van is still in Kiama getting fixed since 18 Feb..

Its a waiting game...

I AM IN SYDNEY. MY VAN IS STILL IN KIAMA, GRRR..

Stayin with friends at Sutherland in Sydney

Nuthin much to say since last post, except grrrr...

Van still not fixed by friday arvo so I borrowed mechanics car and drove to Sydney.
Awaiting call that its ready whenever that is....

Went to Cronulla beach and walked along coast too Port hacking today.

Entrance to Port Hacking

Big Sunday swells at Cronulla

ANOTHER DAY WAITIN 4 THE VAN TO BE FIXED

Latest is the injection pump will be back here first thing in the morning, the radiator came back this arvo as well.  So it all gets put back together tomorrow hopefully ok and I can go back to Sydney stay with friends for a bit.

Very social here after 4 pm each day. 5 staff plus other dudes droppin in sittin around chattin etc. till 6 - 7 pm each evening.  Thats the country for ya..  Owner stayed here tonite till 8.30 so I had a good chat alone for about an hour about his business and changes he is gettin done once he heard I was an accounting  graduate...

Took a drive up to Shell Harbour in borrowed car today.. Was going to try a well known diving and snorkel area but ran out of time..Went for a walk locally around coastline across local headlands and beaches.  One of the workers took me up a local mountain to see coastal view as well.

Kiama has 2 natural blowholes in the coastal rocks.  I walked past the little blowhole.  See pics and Video upload.

Little blowhole, Kiama

Fine mist, Little blowhole, Kiama

OUT EXPLORING WHILE WAITIN 4 VAN TO BE FIXED

Borrowed mechanics car, went swimming early, snorkeling and exploring inland up mountain range to a Nat Park.  

Carrington Falls, Budderoo NP west of Kiama

At Kiama, snorkelled all around here, excellent place

 

CHECK OUT THE 'INTERACTIVE MAP' PAGE ABOVE TO SEE WHERE I AM GOING

I WILL BE UPDATING THE MAP AS I MOVE AROUND.

COME BACK TO IT SOON....

HEY THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, NOT EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON MY ROAD TRIP

I am stayin in a mechanics workshop at Kiama south of Woolongong on my own for at least the next 2 nites.

Last nite I slept in van outside in street and have been in here since 7am this morning.

Mechanic tells me this arvo the diesel injection pump is coming out of engine in morning and going to another diesel place to get looked over and fixed.  Normal time is 2 days to get it back..  Hmmmm

The only problemo is the longer I am here the bigger the cost??  Looks like it will be 2 minute noodles for a fair while..Donations gratefully excepted...:)

On the flip side I get free use of an old falcon to cruise around in each day.

Very friendly dudes here, even gave me a beer earlier...

I am glad this problem happened on coast and not in the middle of the outback/desert, I would have to light a match or two and fly home as the cost would be prohibitive out there.

I will now have confidence the diesel injection pump is in top shape which is a major part of the engine...

Havin asparagus and leek risotto with salmon for dinner from coles, yummmmoooo!

IS ANYONE LOOKIN AT THE VIDEOS I HAVE PUT ON, SEE VIDEO PAGE ABOVE...

My home till at least thursday I think

Drop in for a cuppa, the billy is boiling!!

Top of engine is off, (oily part) turbo cover and battery as well.  The injection pump is underneath the cerrated pipe to the right of the top of motor, thats for the uninitiated like myself....

UPDATE....AT MECHANIC AT KIAMA GETTIN FUEL LINE REPAIRED

IT may be a long day waiting 4 repairs to occur??  I also asked for some extra work checking this and that...Am sitting in the mechanics office, at least have internet.

YOU BEEN CHECKIN MY VIDEO PAGE ABOVE???

GERRINGONG NEAR KIAMA FOR W/END

On the Cahill expressway goin through Sydney city

 

Been an interesting day.

Started with 6.30 am jump into the surf.

Went to go out in Van but had problem with engine cutting out.

Called NRMA after much deliberation looks like I have a blocked fuel line....

Organised to meet a mechanic monday morning at Kiama to fix.

Then back to Sydney stayin with friends.

Went to local markets today.  Smoked salmon salad for dinner yummo...

Surfs up at Gerrinjong early morning, great surf swim and walk

Bobbins Head, Kuringai chase NP, great place for kayaking , yehhhh...

Hawkesbury river at Brooklyn right near the Newcastle freeway bridge

Somersby Falls, Brisbane waters Nat Park

Somersby falls, great dip under raging torrent, tried out the 10 sec timer on camera

 

Brisbane waters, Woy Woy, great kayaking afternoon there

 

View from Patonga beach across Hawkesbury river entrance to Barrenjoey headland

 

Cormorants takin a break at Patonga beach, I paddled near them!

 

CURRENTLY AT GERRINGONG ON COAST

Near Kiama sth of Sydney.

Arrived sydney y'day.  Spending w/end here camping with
Belinda and Adam then back to Sydney tmorrow arvo for a while.

Went for early 6.30am swim, very sweet.

Pictures to come later

AT BOUDDI NP ACROSS A BIG LOT OF WATER FROM HAWKESBURY RIVER ENTRANCE

Today I went kayaking early on Lake Macquarie at Swansea, then snorkelling around lots of rock areas at Caves beach at Swansea and kayaking at Tuggerah Lake around The Entrance township. All very good.

Tuggerah Lakes from The Entrance town, I kayaked here

Terrigal
 

Terrigal has their own diving platform

Avoca, eating Fish n Chips watchin the girls surf boat crew

 

View from Bouddi NP lookout.  Shows Hawkesbury river entrance on right and Barrenjoey headland on left which is approx 30 klms north of Manly.  Oh yeah the beach far left is Palm Beach.  All those Home and Away TV show headcases :) would know that is where the show is filmed.  Over it.....CLICK TO VIEW LARGER

BLOG NEWS ALERT...

I succesfully launched the new kayak early this morning on Lake Macquarie
at Swansea which is south of Newcastle. 

Went for a 1 hour paddle around some islands on the lake, saw about 8 species of seabirds and ducks.

I wasn't game to take the camera on the kayak even though it has a sealed hatch..The camera is not mine...

Its the kayak, went real well.  Lake Macquarie at Swansea.

One of Ducks I saw, just came by here. Anyone know its name.  Can't find my bird book , hmmm.

NEW BUDGET KAYAK. Click on pic for larger picture

 

 

Can you see the kayak??  Easy to spot , very bright.

HAD AN AMAZING SNORKELLING EXPERIENCE TODAY

I am still buzzing after todays snorkel.
I went to a place called fly point said to be good for diving and snorkel.
It is in the Port Stephen inlet.

I went in the water at end of the beach by the rocks, see picture below.
From start of rocks I went around the corner and followed rocks

For the next hour I saw 100's and 100's of fish of all sizes and different species, some in big groups and the odd large schools and possibly several thousand small 1 to 2 inch schools of juvenile fish all swimming around me in only 2 to 6ft of water no more than between 10 to 60 ft offshore.

 Truly amazing stuff. 

Also went through Newcastle to pick up new kayak. will be tryin it on lake Macquarie tomorrow.

Started snorkelling far end of beach and around corner

Port Stephens entrance, I climbed up right hand Tomaree NP headland

and half way up left hand Yaccabi headland...

 

Late arvo shimmer on hunter river at Newcastle

 

Small lighthouse on left above Hunter river breakwater, Newcastle

 

Hawks nest beach from Tomaree NP headland

 

Lookin south from Tomaree NP headland, these are all local Tomaree NP beaches at Nelsons Bay town

 

Nelson Bay Lighthouse just off the coast.  Built in 1861

 

Nelson Bay town from Tomaree NP headland

 

FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY A DOSE OF FLORA & FAUNA

Myall Lakes NP, along beach dunes

Myall lakes NP, 100 mtrs back from dunes

Myall lakes NP, 100 mtrs back from dunes

Close up of previous flowering tree

Elizabeth beach, Booti Booti NP, among the dunes

Rainforest walk, Mungo Brush camp, Myall Lakes NP

GOODAY FROM NELSON BAY

Nelson bay town is on the southern side of Port Stephens waterway.

Been hangin at Mungo Brush area of Myall Lakes NP and  Hawks Nest beach which is on the northern side of Port Stephens.

I bought a cheap kayak on ebay today.  Will be picking it up from Newcastle in next day or so which is only 50 klms away from here.

See videos taken from Hawks nest.

Click on pictures for larger view...

Broughton Island NE of Hawks Nest beach

 

Yaccabi headland, Nth side of Port Stephens entrance

 

Climbed half way up Yaccabi headland, view of Port Stephens inlet

Cabbage tree island NE of Yaccabi headland

 

\

This Sooty Oystercatcher was not sharing his meal

 

About an hour before sunset on Port Stephen waterway at Nelson bay town

 

 

Myall Lakes Nat Park, Mungo Brush camp by  the lake nth of Hawks Nest

MORE PICTURES

Seal Rocks, fishing boats are dragged up from surf by a cable

Boat harbour on Lake Wallis at Forster.  I went snorkelling in there y'day saw heaps of fish

Lake Wallis, Forster, furtherest end from sea

A bit haggard, 7.30am after trekking across 2.5 klm headland, havin a break before return trip.  BTW can't find the shaver........