A SEASIDE CHRISTMAS

Fruit salad, Grey River Christmas

Putting up decorations for Christmas at Grey River

Toasted croissants, Grey River Christmas

Breakfast BBQ for Christmas at Grey River

Christmas muffins for breakfast at Grey River
Fruit salad, Grey River Christmas

Christmas Breakfast, Grey River

Linesman fixing powerline, Grey River Christmas

Little Dog receives his present with suspicion, Grey River Christmas

Dylan's Christmas present Swainston's Fish of Australia, Grey River Christmas

Charlie and Little sitting on dad's lap, Grey River Christmas

Tom taking Wardy out spearfishing, Grey River Christmas

Fisherman and fisherdog on the beach, Grey River Christmas

Trout, Grey River Christmas

Watercolour fish, Grey River Christmas

Gracie dog decorated for christmas, Grey River Christmas

Hash browns, Grey River Christmas

Christmas Dinner, Grey River

Birthday cake, Grey River Christmas

Chess, Grey River Christmas

Stormy weather took out the power lines so Christmas  morning began with a crackling fire and smokey toasted croissants. Traditions of plastic trees, turkey and shouting matches are made to be broken: family, friends and fishing are much nicer. Chocolate birthday cake is pretty delightful as well.

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SECRET PLACES IN SPRING

Fishing by where the river meets the sea, the Otways

Rock sitting by the river, the Otways

Fishing off a rock, the Otways

Searching for a snag, the Otways

Rethreading the fishing rod, the Otways

Blue skies diminishing, wrapping up against the chill, the Otways

Plants growing in the dunes, the Otways

The wind began to pick up, the Otways

Sand through our toes, the Otways

Running for cover, the Otways

Packing up in the wind, the Otways

Rugging up against the wind chill, the Otways

Homeward bound through the reeds of the estaury, the Otways

…and the wind blew in, sand turned savage began biting our legs. What seemed like an easy wade across the river mouth before became treacherous as I began to sink, the sickly quick sand like slurry giving way beneath me to gobble up legs to the knee. I pulled myself free as the clouds rolled in and we ran for the cover, although I think some were secretly running towards lunch as our hooks remained empty. But lovely remote spots are wild like that, and that is their charm.

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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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