Dunns Swamp to Scone.

Monday 21 May : Dunns Swamp Rest Day

What a way to welcome the week. Some more alliteration for you quirky literacy types.

Very foggy, but then this is a swamp. Started my exploration at 9am with a walk along the swamp edge. The trusty camera took some very nice shots when I pushed the buttons on it. One absolutely amazing shot of the swamp, while another looks like a painting I have seen somewhere in a gallery. I've been waiting nearly two months for my photography to get better.

Walked up to the very top of the pagoda lookout formation. There I sat in the type of solitude only the Aussie bush can provide watching the fog melt away to reveal the mountains to the north and the swamp and the camping area below. Splendid. Sat and soaked it all in. Birds in the rainforest behind me, water gushing out at the weir around the bend, a clearing sky, rolling dips in the terrain and pagoda topped rocky outcrops all around. Removed my watch as today was to be timeless.

Walked the walk but had no one to talk to. Did the loop which included a stop at the weir, which had an interesting flow regulation structure, and Long Cave, which was (you guessed it) long. Not as long or engaging as the 'wall' at the north end of Glen Alice Trail yesterday, but long nevertheless. I did however find more evidence of the 'special rocks' here and duly recorded the evidence. Somewhat appropriate in this pagoda formation country.

Back at camp I had some more damper. Would like to think it was the latter variable, but it was probably the former which led to it's edibility status. Washed my Crookwell socks, thermals and shirt for it stank from the sweat of the pushing yesterday. A small party arrived to explore the graffitied cave just behind my camp. Terry came over - a local high school teacher with a small group on a day trip. I was invited for a sausage lunch after we got talking about travel and stuff. Terry had walked 400km of a trail from Perth to Albury in Western Australia along the coast. I don't know how the walkers do it - at least I have two wheels to help me with my load.

The meal turned out to be a feast. Kathy and Jenny were also in the party, as were the kids Nick, Donna and Ted. Nick is from a property near Running Stream and is a bit of a country character, Donna is a budding artist from the drawings I saw of hers and Ted doesn't mind the odd Mintie. It turned out it was Nick's birthday so there was cake to be had as well - a true feast!

After lunch Terry took the kids... have you ever had BBQed banana and onion? - forget milk and honey - what an unreal combination... for a stroll/climb around the rock formations which envelop the camping sites. The ladies and I chatted and tidied up. All good days have some drama, and this one had one of the kids having an eye to eye with a boulder. The boulder won. Thus the team packed up after some quality first aiding to hit the road in time to return to catch adjoining buses. A generous offer of leftover sausages, bread, cheese slices, banana and heaven's H20 (rainwater) was made. How could I say 'No'? I wouldn't have to boil swamp water for my journey tomorrow and could have a hearty dinner and lunch tomorrow. This gives the pedantic rationing behaviour a bit of a breather as well. A big thanks to these folk for their kindness and entertaining company. Like Terry pointed out - when you see a solo traveller you are never sure whether they want to, or should be left to, their own devices. I now had to return to my own company.

Was I brave enough? By golly gosh I was! The thermometer hung in my fully closed tent read 40 degrees C. It was sunny and still, so was really quite warm. I dug out the togs and got changed brashly on 'the beach' for I was now the only one at the swamp. I was goin' swimmin'.

Never, ever before have I swum in water so cold. Swam 20m out and back four times with a short catch your breath/regain body temperature break in between. Very refreshing, but more sultanas than prunes. Worked on my Victorian tan while scribbling in my journal when I could no longer take to the water. An all round awakening episode to be sure.

Tidied up camp and transferred photos before stocking up on wood and taking a shot of some fluro moss and a banksia flower. The regular QLD bottle brush is soft and scented. I nearly walked away without touching one (a legacy of the 'look but don't touch' upbringing) but I'm glad I did. These ones you could easily brush your hair with they are that stiff bristled. This reminds me of an unpublished event at Red Hands Cave just out of Sydney. I had not been touching much of the bush I had been passing through. I'm not really sure why. I put my hand on this tree walking away from the cave and then sort of grabbed it. I didn't hug it but I was there for about a minute just 'feeling' the smoothness of the bark. So there you go.

Got dinner organised and what a feast! : 2 x sausages with cheese on bread and then curried rice and sausages as a main. Washed down with hot chocolate. In bed by 6:20pm and off to sleep by a slowly dying fire.

Tuesday 22 May : Dunns Swamp to Myrtle Grove

62.7km, 5h 12min, max 49km/hr.

Sing for ME Kylie.

Kylie sings "On a night like this..." in the background. I'm sitting at a table on a chair with a back to it sipping coffee with something a little extra. Damper is cooking in the wood fire oven, the fluorescent bulb casts an even light throughout the room and the washing up sits in the sink longing for attention. My gear is scattered around the room, the clock ticks evenly above my head, five of the bunks will be empty tonight, the couch is minding my panniers which get lighter daily and if I get time I may read the Inside Sport at the end of the bench. Welcome to hut accommodation Myrtle Grove style. If only I could work out how to change the voltage to 240 volts from the current 12 volts...

I intended to leave Dunns Swamp as early as possible to attempt an arrival at Myrtle Grove some 60km away. 8:45 am was a pretty lousy effort. There are plenty of tent sites here, in fact everywhere you look a round a boulder. IN every other place there's a pit toilet - there must be at least six of them in the camping ware. They have semi transparent rooves, but questionable septic theory. The instructions were only basic, and there was like a plunger mechanism which I think was meant to give you the feeling of flushing. In addition outside they have what looks like two white plastic mufflers. I really should have taken a photo.

Figure if I could average about 12km/hr I'd be riding for about 5 hours. This turned out to be an exceptionally well executed goal with both these being achieved (12.0km/hr and 5h 12min).

At 15km I passed a car which stopped to talk... the occupant that is. It turned out to be the wife of the owner of 'Box Ridges', a property I was meant to have ridden through yesterday. She'd left the padlocks undone today as well which was great (I ended up having a half hour lunch break there). She warned me that the ride up Nullo Mountain was steep. I said that I was aware of that and that I'd see how I went going up in terms of whether or not I made it past their place by 'camp set up time'. When people say something is steep to me now, I just sort of agree and then wait to find out for myself. My definition of steep starts with a 'T' or an 'L' and this was defined early on in the trip.

Yes it was steep up Nullo Mt Rd, but it was only about 3km to the top (a baby in my terms) which was a very nice surprise. Was at the top at 11am, 2 hours after starting and with nearly 30km done. Blokes were mending the road as I started my pedal along the ridge to the north. Plenty of waves and very considerate on the roads with their multi-tonne machinery and loads. Followed one's fresh tracks through a soft bit of newly graded road which was generous of him. As I rode past another who was waiting to dump his load (sounds ominous doesn't it) he asked "Are you winning?" . That was a real good laugh. Sometimes comments just hit the sweet spot. I'd like to see Lance with a set of panniers etc. strapped to his Trek bike hauling it up some old dirt road.

Made very good time here along this ridge to the aforementioned lunch stop. It was actually a deer fence gate so it was a bit of a struggle to balance the bike and fiddle with getting through. I had anticipated getting to this point at 2pm, so was 2 hours ahead of myself. This is a very nice position to be in. Dawdled along after fixing the next gate's hinge which marked the re-entry into Wollemi N.P.

A couple of km down the ridge I came across what were meant to be the ruins of a hut. The hut looked great in it's restored 50's sort of way, and as the two park rangers (David and Brian) told me over a cup of coffee it had been that way for a good 12 months at least. I found out that being a permanent ranger is the best job a man could want. Well, these two had definitely found their niche after 20 odd occupations between them. Today they were doing some fence stuff and drainage for the hut. Tomorrow they had to finish the job. The next days would hold something different, probably in a totally different place. We had a very decent chat while I was there. I told them about crossing paths with Ed and Maria on the trail when asked about others doing the same and David reckoned he'd busted them down at Dunns Swamp (a no horse area) ages ago. Apparently they were just looking on their way past.

Climbed 400m today and descended 800m. A nice ratio for a 60km day. It actually felt like a 35-40km day, but this is probably also due to the quality of much of the road up to 10km to go, where it really turned into a track.

Plenty of history in this area. Widden, a 7th generation horse stud over the boundary fence is famous for its quality of thoroughbred stock. The Tindales (who own Myrtle Grove, in the area for 6 generations) had a prize stallion the 'Duke of Athol' stolen by the Redford Gang. Yes, this is 'Robbery Under Arms' and Captain Starlight was the man who paid the time for the Tindale's stallion. Mr Harvey of Harvey Norman fame owns the horse stud on the adjoining property to Widden. He flies in from time to time and lands on their airstrip. Of course. The most NW winerys of the Hunter Valley can be found here and I'll be visiting a few over the next couple of days hopefully. I can't take any with me so I guess I'll have to have ample samples on location. Some serious open cut and subterranean coal mining happens around these here parts too. The coal seam starts in the area around Newcastle on the coast and runs around the Wollemi (and probably through underneath) to the Lithgow area. Run out of coal? Never... it just gets harder to dig out.

I tell you what. It's nice to be able to walk about as I please as I write this, stretching the legs and re heating the coffee. Bill and I spoke for some time about a huge range of topics from a cold American teenage walker on his way through to the outcome of the coming federal election after he introduced me to this hut. He noted that I was a day late when I found him burning some junk wood near his house paddock, while noted that most of the properties in this area have towering sandstone boundary fences. Stunning farm scenery which I hope the cattle, who gave me an unforgettable welcome, appreciate. Bill said that after a while you don't even notice it. I agree, but it is vastly different to the flat expanses you find at Augathella in central western QLD.

So, that just about wraps up today. Damper should be almost ready. I've run out of Southern to taint my coffee which is a shame, but the car radio attached beneath the bench continues to pump out Scone listener requests...

(Photos : Cow welcome at Myrtle Grove as I went through 'their' gate and the sandstone boundary fence.)

Wednesday 23 May : Myrtle Grove to Gilliburn Cottage

96.2km, 5h 04 min, max 58km/hr.

Oh... very tired after this one, but what a day.

(STRUCTURE = Range : road summary; places; people)

Myrtle Grove to Phipps Cutting :

A few km of dirt roads and a single gate followed by bitumen. Rolling roads which followed the Widden Creek down to meet the sandy Goulburn River.

Widden Stud was the most notable part of this section. They mow their paddocks (uh, horses do eat grass), paint their fences (uh, use iron standards), and have feeder sheds in the paddocks instead of trees (uh, trees are better for shade). It was pristine but very manufactured and un natural. Wollemi N.P. was just over the ridge to the east for most of the ride but it was all through private property down the Widden Valley. The creek has a very flat bottom of sand which is unlike any of the other creeks on this trip. There is plenty of sandstone about to erode though. Phipps Cutting is basically where road builders had to chop a bit of the rock away to get a road here rather than ford /bridge the Goulburn River (The last Goulburn River I forded I got a flat tyre). Phipps may have been the engineer or surveyor.

I waved to plenty of cars on this road and got a few waves and a few toots. Those driving newer cars with the air conditioning on and wearing sunglasses can't seem to see me or have an aversion to waving. Sad I guess. Other than that it was a people-less morning.

Phipps Cutting to James Estate :

The road basically followed the Goulburn River but then left it and climbed over a saddle. This was all bitumen and a very wide one lane, Maybe they couldn't afford the white paint.

The Goulburn River isn't that pretty to look at. On the other side of the river in Goulburn River N.P. I was spending a fair bit of time looking at Mt Dangar, wondering how it was pronounced and why it was named or misspelt so. A nice painted wooden fence and mown After the saddle the vineyards erupted. I pulled in at James Estate for a look and a taste. They have 60 acres of vines and produce about 90 tonnes of wine a year. Not a lot really. An nice looking winery and friendly atmosphere.

Talked to one of the workers and he filled me in on the basic statistics of the winery. Before that it had been no one since Phipps Cutting. I then chatted for about 40min to Natasha in the cellar while I sampled some of their goods. They always give you those funny little glasses which your nose always gets in the way of. I should have gone and got my metal mug. Informed Natasha that I'd be heading Reynolds Winery way and she informed me that she lived practically next door. I was invited to crash on the sofa if I was still in the area come nightfall.

James Estate to Sandy Hollow :

Flat bitumen from one narrow single lane bridge crossing to the highway that runs through Sandy Hollow.

The shortest section of the day. Mostly vines of the useful and organised type that grow grapes. In town was very little. An Ag store, school, servo, hotel and maybe three other commercial places. I tried out the servo which had the post office. Picked up my permit to camp on TSRs which I probably wouldn't use at all. Had some hot chips to quell my craving for potato food. Sat outside and ate them in the sun while I considered where I was headed to next.

The bloke running the post office section in the servo was a bit indifferent and casual while the ladies behind the counter were very active and procedural. The other customers didn't mind having a decent stare at me and my bike, but I'm used to that now.

Sandy Hollow to Rosemount Estate :

A climb on the highway out of town but then onto a slowly descending wide single lane road to the winery.

The school is a two teacher school and a nice size. Uncomfortably close to the highway I felt, but it's a bit late to move it. Sandy Hollow has a delightful insignia for the town - a horse shoe with a bit of grape vine and a cluster of grapes hanging from it. Very nice to look at and very representative of the area. Just before Rosemount Estate about 15km out of town is a military area. A large double truck wizzed past me with large 'EXPLOSIVES' signs on it. This made me really pay attention to what was on the road coming here and there. Most of the large semis had Rosemount Estate on the side. I felt that these were far less threatening and less likely to totally destroy me. The Estate has a large processing area which does all of their wine from their vineyards scattered around the country. The cellar is accompanied by a restaurant and outside is heavily landscaped with plenty of roses. This spells m-o-n-e-y. I hadn't the nerve to ask what wine they served in the restaurant.

Stopped in at the school and spoke to Jenny in the administration. Was there for about 20 minutes talking about the trip and school stuff. Their specialists sometimes come all the way from Newcastle to teach the kids. Wow. The teachers do most of the stuff themselves in terms of music, P.E. and L.O.T.E.. Ok, so maybe the QLD system isn't all that bad. I spoke at length (until closing time) to the lady at the Rosemount cellar. Very chatty conversation and because I was there last I was offered a bottle of the tasting wine which as 3/4 full. I found room in the pannier easily for that one. I'm not sure if it was genuine kindness or a marketing ploy since she was aware I was staying at a James Estate Employee's house. They get poured down the sink anyway.

Rosemount Estate to Gilliburn Cottage :

More rolling bitumen hills slowly gaining altitude and then losing it. A bit of a mix here of single lane with two in each direction along the Merriwa - Denman Road. Some decent hills closer to the cottage, but a very orange sunset distracted me from them and the exhausted feeling I had from riding so far today.

I retraced my tracks for 10km here so nothing new in the first part. Was very wary of the truck movements in the area, but the activity had died down since it was now after four pm. Some more vineyards and properties along the road to the cottage but nothing that was startling. Man I was hurting. Gilliburn Cottage is off the bitumen road and tucked away near the creek which I can't name. It's an oldish building with interesting design features and has obviously seen a few renovations and add ons and door/wall moving.

The only folk I saw were the sisters Natasha and Angelique at Gilliburn Cottage. I arrived at 5:30 - exceptionally late, in not enough light and with a dusk bug in my eye. That's why I don't ride at dusk. They don't have a TV, which Angelique is learning to cope with (she's studying law) but they do have plenty of animal life. Natasha (working at the estate but also studying environ. science) has two very happy dogs, a cat which didn't bother to be friendly at all and some crazy transparent fish... and a plate fish which was kinda weird. She had a frog book which I wouldn't mind reading - there are some ugly amphibians out there. We had a risotto for dinner which was a 'seconds please' type of meal and then a few too many glasses of wine. Well, four... or was it 5?... made me very sleepy and talkative. We talked for ages on topics like how to stop cats peeing in selected spots inside and why it's maybe not so good to share a house with 7 other people.

Thursday 24 May : Gilliburn Cottage to Glenbawn Dam

-- Australia's Greatest Morning Tea --

64km, 3h 40 min (both exactly), max 71km/hr.

A nail in my head and tyre.

Tired from the moment I rode away from the cottage. Aimed to take it easy, and only cover about 45km but as you can see that sort of blew up in my face. The last 5km around the dam was very difficult.

After a weet-bix with stewed apples breakfast I washed up as their mowers weren't working and the lawn needed a mow. Played fetch outside with the dogs at various times through the morning - Hanna's preference was for the dear 1//2 frisbee, while Zeek preferred the blue end of a bone toy being tossed. These two have ripped their toys to pieces. Natasha is making them some snazzy coats for winter because they are in a pretty exposed area. Showed Angelique the web site and hope it is not entertaining enough to distract her from the law study. I had a flick through the criminal law book and it is terribly bland, wordy and there's no pictures... c'mon how else do you expect to hold an adult's attention?

Rode on into the north end of Muswellbrook and had lunch and slept by the Vietnam memorial for half an hour. Decided that the sooner I get to Aberdeen and then to Lake Glenbawn the sooner I get to lay down for good. Saw a sign with something interesting on it.

(Photos : How far? and Lake Glenbawn late afternoon)

Hooray! Picked up a loaf of bread and some bananas from the store in Aberdeen and then (very hooray) picked up Ang and Steve's parcels from a very nice lady at the post office. She had great eyes. Real gloves and the maps that would get me to Brisbane. Plugged on to the lake as the afternoon wore on.

$13.60 for two night camping here at Lake Glenbawn and the views and facilities make that a real bargain. Set up camp, cooked some dinner and then went to bed. I'll try to use up as much of the 'long term' food items I've had so I can do a proper restock in Scone on Saturday. This means the right pannier will get lighter which may cause a problem or two. I'll deal with that later. Quite a good sunset tonight. A very clear sky with good quality stars too. Boy am I tired.

Friday 25 May : Glenbawn Dam Rest Day

Moved camp because the ranger pointed out that I'd parked myself in the 'day area'... which was a great spot and heaps flatter than the place I moved to.

Got talking to Leigh and Anne the only other two people here. They're driving around Australia in a van but are from England. We're doing much the same thing really and seem to get on very easily.

Worked on site and sorted through maps but have no highlighter so can't put path on clearly. Was going to sit at the picnic tables to type but there is a chilly wind blowing and it's far too cool.

Yep - just me, my camera and nature. That's the whole shot, but reduced in size. Check out the water hey. That's why I didn't write a lot for today - I've been too busy staring at this.

Recharged batteries at the amenities block Glen Davis style. Wrote some emails and typed some journal stuff. Sometimes it seems to never end. Still recharging human battery.

After a tuna and odd-rice-pasta dinner took Rosemount wine over to 'the van' for an evening by the fire with Leigh and Anne. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Saturday 26 May : Glenbawn Dam to Scone

25.1km, 1hr 32min, max 55km/hr.

Yeah, this was a kind of a 'good' crazy day.

Intended to get away by 9am but that didn't happen and I don't think it ever had a chance of happening. Woke up and started typing away happily and all of a sudden it was 8:45. Went up to have a shower and saw Leigh and Anne who were on their way to wash up. My breakfast washing up consists of swishing some water in my steel cup to rinse out the residual oats or bran (or even oats and bran!) and rubbing my fingers around inside. They have a bit more of an advanced setup than me though.

I was left speechless upon seeing this, and the answer is 'Yes'.

Packed up and lo and behold my rack was rubbing heavily upon the rear wheel. C'mon rack! Pull yourself together and co-operate! Thought it might fade as some mechanical errs do so rode slowly over to Anne and Leigh's van which looked ready to go. An hour later I figured I'd better get a-rolling down that road to Scone. We'd been talking about campsites and roads and the places we were going to next and time just passed. You know when this happens that you're on to a good friendship thing when this happens. They are very easy to talk to and we had lots of laughs. We swapped addresses and then I whirred down the road shaking my head because I'd forgotten about the rubbing rack and I was going to have to stop an re pack. I did this 2km down the road as I'd tried shifting my weight and all sorts of other stupid in-motion adjustments that I'm too embarrassed to mention here. Pulled over, unpacked, re packed and then didn't have a problem. I knew exactly what it was from the start, I was just being stubborn or lazy or dumb (or even stubborn, lazy and dumb!). I guess you want to know. Too bad. It's a result of something I'd been doing while here which I have mentioned before, and it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't done it at Baal Bone Creek.

Scone appeared to be a nice place with plenty of nice features. The main street has a concrete surface. I didn't ask why. They also have a Woolworths and a Bi-Lo, but no fast food outlet like KFC or Maccas. I guess folk can just drive for 2o minutes to Muswellbrook to get their fix, or for an hour and a half to Tamworth to get their fix in a more country atmosphere. A nice info centre with a internet section, but you know what? I couldn't upload there because they have some radio setup with the council office which I will have to go to on Monday. Have to wait around for a day which I don't want to do, but that's too bad.

Had a Milo ice cream cup which was very nice but difficult to eat and dig out. Talked to the boss info lady about my upload scenario and she also suggested the library down town. Decided to go park myself in a caravan park and picked the one at the south end of town, that is the Aberdeen end, and the small one (or even the small one to the south at the Aberdeen end of town!). Eric and Jackie run this one and they're great. We had a chat (Jackie and I) before I set up tent and jammed all the gear inside. A powered site care of a industrial orange lead running from the amenities block to my tent. Better than sitting in the amenities Glen Davis style.

Went to the Bi-Lo to grocery shop and got me enough food to last about 3 weeks which puts me at about Tenterfield. This was not what I intended to do but is a good situation because there really isn't a lot between here and there. $70 it cost, I used a trolley, and most of it was Bi-Lo brand. I still can't get over the price of bananas at $0.99/kg. This is just heaven. Luckily I'd gotten smart and had brought an empty pannier with me to carry the stuff back. Stopped in at the bottle shop and added to my Visa bill. Well, that's what it's for. Got a tallie of Hahn Light Ice which I found to be very elegant and aesthetically pleasing and appealing (or even those things separately!). Also went for a small Jim and a smaller Bundy. They'll pack better I reckon. I'll let you know how they pack anyhow.

Back to the tent and did the tear and stuff routine which I found quite amusing as I finished off my tallie so I'd only have to walk to the bin once. Settled down to write emails for an hour or so as I had now decided that I would stay put here for all of tomorrow. Will update web pages that have been in need of attention tomorrow as well as update week nine and ten.

I'd bought some sausages, 3 potatoes and an onion because I was going to have a hearty meaty meal. Yep - all of those things. Eric had to fill the gas cylinder as it was empty and we had a chat as I cooked dinner. It consisted of the thick sausages with onion rings and BBQed slices of potato on poppy seed buns. Why poppy seed buns? Well, they were 70c for half a dozen on special and I knew I'd consume them in the next 16 hours when I bought them. A super meal. Had some hot chocolate to wash it all down. Eric asked about my path and warned me about the problems in and around Armidale at present. This may have some bearing on the path I choose in the area.

Went back to the tent and typed emails late into the evening. Rang Steven, and Shauno bought a house. Have a heap to go out as there'd been a few on back log waiting to be replied to. Plus I wrote a few to those I hadn't heard from for a while or whose name didn't appear in the 'sent' folder. Am hoping to get a few 'newies' on my next batch received as I've encouraged a few people I've met since Sydney to email me. We'll see.

Sunday 27 May : Scone Sitting

Simple things.

Today I spent a day in Scone - it wasn't bad at all.

I did some easy typing stuff to fix my web site flaws.

With my new highlighter I scoured my maps, till I had marked a route.

Then down to Woolies I did ride to get some lunchtime loot.

When I returned I cooked a feast of stroganoff in buns.

And mopped the rest with my loaf of bread that'd been sitting in the sun.

An email epic I did write, I bet she's been waiting for a reply.

I predicted how I'd ride a certain road with tears all in my eyes.

More web site stuff to fix and add to fill in the afternoon.

While hoping that tonight's dull sky would not reveal a moon.

For this morning it was nice and warm - probably 10 degrees.

And rain was having a look around, but no cycling so I was pleased.

I'd bought some green beans on which to snack and I declare that healthy.

Cheaper than tomatoes ($4.99/kg) unless you're feeling wealthy.

Nuts and orange juice and jam on bread were also part of the 'snack'.

I'm on the road tomorrow and it won't fit in my pack.

Clever me - I bought a bag, well it's really a cheapie pillow case.

(I'm sick of the plastic bags tied on) It's a striped one with no girlie lace.

In this I'll put my bananas and tins which never really fit.

This has made my day you know, and my smiling face is lit.

I've 30 emails waiting to be sent tomorrow form a plug.

And a different looking web site - I should give myself a hug.

Speaking of such things - I actually stopped and had a stretch.

This afternoon between my activities and it just felt the best.

My little nylon house doesn't really let me lie fully out.

And when the iBooks humming there's barely any space about.

I'm going to type the start of this week up, so now this entry is slowing

I've no pictures to add today, ok, but the web sites slowly growing.

(Growing to a point in fact that I'm nearly at the 5MB limit.

So if pictures in earlier weeks disappear you'll know I'm culling in it.)

(And isn't it amazing when you write a first draft and on reading it it sounds ok.

I guess it's a reflection on a relaxing and stressless kind of day)

(Three may not be too lucky but this means there'll be six brackets.

Ok, I'm going now, I'll end my poetic blurb, so don't kick up a racket.)

Notes:

If I spell your name incorrectly email me a critical

note and sign off with the correct spelling!

Terry - Thanks for the lunch invite and for the company. Dinner was hearty that night for sure. Hope the boy's all right.

Martin - Do surveyors get places/structures named after them or are they not important enough?

Natasha - Thanks for the welcome, sofa for the night and risotto etc. I owe you guys one.

Angelique - Still can't remember that JJJ announcer's name. Skinny dude with longish hair and great interview technique. It's floating in my forehead but I can't grab it.

Baker - Get into the NP ranger jobs. Isn't that what you wanted to do years ago? A tops job apparently but it's hard to get permanent.