GUMNUTS.....AND OTHER STUFF

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Hang Gliding at Stanwell Park NSW 26th Oct 2014

Just to get out of the house, we decided to to go for a drive through Royal National Park to Stanwell Park. The hang gliders were having a great time jumping of the 'Tops'.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Hang Gliders Riding Free.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Zane, Janis and Iveta visit Sydney.

We had a chance to show Zane's Dad and Iveta some of the sights of Sydney today.

Zane suggested that we could pick them up from Epping train station and then drive out to North Head. We decided to have morning tea at Nth Head and then go to Palm beach for lunch where they could catch the ferry back to Ettalong.
The day was sunny but the wind was cold and fairly strong (see photos with red blankets). We had a bit of a 'brush with the stars' event at Palm Beach, as they were filming an episode of 'Home and Away' when we arrived. At first, Zane thought that all the people we first saw where in the queue to get into the restaurant, but they were only watching the actors do their stuff.
It was good to catch up and finally meet Zane's dad, Janis.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Zane, Janis and Iveta on a windy day at Nth Head, with the Sydney skyline in the background.

Janis taking photos from Nth Head.

Getting it all on video.

Looking across the heads to Sydney.

Should have taken a fishing rod. These fish were in the ocean off Nth Head.

Our tour leader having a rest.

Enjoying the view.

Pointing out a reason why you don't stand right on the edge.

Taking photos of the sandstone rock-face.

Rugging-up against the cool breeze.
The 2 locals had warm clothes for the conditions.

It was warmer sitting in the sun at the back.

Janis at Manly Beach.

Looking north over Narrabeen Beach and Lake from Collaroy Plateau.

Lunch at the 'Boatshed', Palm Beach.

'Catch of the Day' at table number 47.

After lunch it was time to catch a ferry.

On the Palm Beach ferry wharf.

The end to a sunny but windy trip to the northern beaches.

Sailing back to Latvia, Umina.

When we arrived at Palm Beach they were filming an

episode of 'Home and Away'.

'Home and Away' stars' Matt' and 'Sasha'.

'Home and Away' stars' Matt' and 'Sasha'.
He tried to stab her with his tie.

'Sasha' and 'Matt' from 'Home and Away'.

''Home and Away' actors..

'Alf', 'Marilyn', 'John' and (maybe) 'Irene', from 'Home and away'.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

West Australian Wildflower Trip. 1st Day Perth 9th Sept.2014

'When I stepped off the bus at our first stop, John Forrest National Park, my excitement nearly turned to panic when I realized that all the colours in front of me were from plants that I had not seen before, and I didn't know which one to photograph first'. My first encounter with the wildflowers.

The Ross Tour's 'Wildflower Wanderers'

This is the first day of our Ross Tour's 'Western Australia's Wildflowers 2014' trip.

Our tour leader was horticulturalist, author, Gardening Australia presenter, radio gardening guru and the world's master of the pun, Angus Stewart. Our driver was Martin, a Perth local, who was a mountain of information and, with Angus, would make this a fantastic trip I will always remember.

Our shuttle bus trip from home to the airport seemed to take for ever, the traffic through Castle Hill/Cherrybrook was chockerblock, didn't do our heart rates any good, but we still made it with time to spare. After being introduced to Angus and the other members of the trip by Royce, from Ross Tours, it was all aboard the plane to head for Perth, Western Australia.

We were met at the airport by Martin, who from the very first minute let us know that only he would load the luggage into the luggage trailer, he had no argument from me, and it was then of to the Duxton Hotel. At dinner, and WHAT a dinner, that night we met the other 2 couple that had arrived in Perth earlier or by other means.

Lynn and I spent the free time we had on the first afternoon to have a look around Perth close to the hotel.

(With some 4,500 photos to go through, and nearly all the plants being new, this trip might take some time to be completed on the blog.)

The real plants start tomorrow.

N.B. Plant names in RED have been added after page completed.

Videos have to be watched on this page.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Fleurieu Peninsula and Saint Vincent Gulf.

The tip of Yorke Peninsula with Kangaroo Island in the background.

Esperance and the Southern Ocean.

The green, green grass of the outskirts of Perth.

No swans on the Swan river.

Looking up Victoria Ave towards the Duxton Hotel (our bed for the night).

The Duxton and paws.

The Duxton's main foyer (a little like our place).

Lynn meets Lorraine, Jan, Ethel and Norma.

Not so squeezie, our hotel room.
No, we didn't steal Bob's luggage, that's our room number.

Our view over the Swan River to South Perth.

Crossing over Langley Park Lynn thought that the swallows were attacking her,
but all they were after were the insects we were disturbing from the grass. You
could hear their beaks clicking as they caught their prey.

We walked to the Perth Bell Tower.

(Video)

Ascending the Perth Bell Tower.

As long as I don't look down.

Perth Bell Tower.

Bell-ting it out.

View from the Bell Tower.

Elizabeth Quay development project at the (what use to be) Esplanade Reserve.

Perth Bell Tower.

Barrack Street Jetty and the Swan River.

Looking towards the Duxton Hotel over the Supreme Court Gardens and Riverside Drive.

Some of the 12 main bells in the tower.

The oldest bell in Australia. This bell, weighing 459 kg, was cast in approximately 1550 and was one of four bells used in the tower of the parish church at Upton Grey in Hampshire, England.