FROM ESTUARY TO OCEAN

Tom and Laura walking from the estuary to the ocean, the Otways

Tom & Dylans walking along the beach with their fishing gear, the Otways

Tom wading through the shallow waters where the river meets the ocean, the Otways

Laura and Tom walking along the beach, the Otways

Cliffs on the beach, the Otways

An abandoned show on the beach, the Otways

Windy beach, 80s denim romper, the Otways

Rocks pools, the Otways

Engraved rocks, the Otways

Engraved rocks on the beach, the Otways

 

It was quiet, an aged man and wife sat on the pier with what looked like very impressive fishing rods indeed. They seemed intent on their lines dangling into the water below and unimpressed by the nosey newcomers grunting “chicken” when question about their bait.

All heads whipped as the dunes began to vibrate and a low thumping sound began rumbling from behind the reeds, the makers of the “doof doof” screamed into site, all four wheel drive and no brains, youths hanging out of every window, sunglasses and smirks. We looked from the narrow bridge, to the bull-bar of the car and lungs halting watched it skim inches past the couple, grim gargoyles with set faces.

On the search for pleasanter company, ie isolation, we headed in the opposite direction to the “doof doof” towards the ocean. We set up rods and waited, but then the cool change came in…

 

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FINE FEATHERS AND CLAWS

Tomato pizza at the Wye River Cafe, the Otways

Handcut chips and aioli at the Wye River Cafe, the Otways

Rosella eating seeds at Kennett River, the Otways

Housemates koala watching, Kennett River, the Otways

Male koala on the prowl at Kennett River, the Otways

Koala acrobatics at Kennett River, the Otways

Lady Koala having none of it, Kennett River, the Otways

Parrot eating seed from our housemate's hand at Grey River, the Otways

We stopped for lunch at the Wye River Cafe for some overpriced deliciousness. The food is such a treat and all with that gourmet amount of oil and salt, that is enough to make you really unhealthy, but hidden under enough fresh veg and herbs so you think you can get away with no one noticing.

Sometimes I can’t help myself and and I surrender to my primitive urges to take photos of food, why does sunlight glistening on crystals of salted chips tempt me so?

We took our housemates to spot their first koala and we barely turned the corner into Kennet River when there was one right in front of our faces. It is kind of anticlimactic when there isn’t even the slightest bit of tree scanning. They were treated to said koala, a lecherous old man koala no doubt, trying to get some action from a lady koala demurely perched on a branch. She would have none of it of course and no amount of his grunting and grasping could sway her, the claws came out and after some shrieking he slipped and skidded down down down the trunk to lick his wounds. She sat arms crossed in disgust.

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SUN GLINTING OFF SAND

Gracie watching swimmers at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Wild flowers in the dunes at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Flowery romper and sun hat at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Searching rock pools at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Dylan at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Dylan playing with Gracie dog at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Tom chasing Gracie dog with flippers at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Sunscreen and wetsuits at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

Sitting on rocks in a blue romper at the Grey River Beach, the Otways

The weather was finally dreaming of summer and two gloriously sunny days at the beach made up for weeks of mud and dreary grey skies above tarpaulins. We took our housemates for their first Australian beach adventure and, Antarctic water aside, I was proud of my little Australia, she really can impress when she puts a little effort in. So sun and salt washed away the tiredness, which we had been storing up, a sigh of relief that the main slog of the Permablitz was over and gently pushing the knowledge that there is so many ends untied in the garden out to sea bobbing towards the horizon for at least a few days of lazy leisure.

 

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SUNLIGHT ON FEATHERS

Pink blossoms on a morning walk through Flemington

Hen in a neighbours front garden on a morning walk through Flemington

Gracie dog woofing at trains on a morning walk through Flemington

Hot chocolate and coffee at Made Cafe in Flemington

Lacey foam on an empty coffee glass at Made Cafe in Flemington

Breakfast Plate with egg, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes and fetta at Made Cafe in Flemington

Dylan's empty plate at Made Cafe in Flemington

Made Cafe in Flemington

Gracie inspecting a fluffy dog, is it a sheep?
With the weight of a big day of clay and earth bags ahead we got up early to treat ourselves to a nice breakfast at Made Cafe. It was a perfect spring morning, pink petals against blue sky. The staff at Made know Gracie well, to our shame, as the dog that hates trains. Situated opposite a train station, we provided the morning entertainment for our fellow breakfasters.Luckily they all had fluffy friends with leads fastened tightly to their hearts, so they found our blushes more hysterical than Gracie’s noise annoying.

As my egg yolk burst so did all my dreams of getting into food blogging. I realised Dylan was just too quick for me to snap a shot of his plate before the food miraculously disappeared with a blink into his belly.

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