Recipes, Travel

FINE FEATHERS AND CLAWS

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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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Travel

SUN GLINTING OFF SAND

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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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Travel

RAINBOW FALLS

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Shells on a bottle on the beach near Rainbow Falls, Australia

Patterns in the sand on the beach near Rainbow Falls, Australia

Waves crashing on the beach near Rainbow Falls, Australia
Orange rocks on the beach near Rainbow Falls, Australia
Purple and orange moss at the base of Rainbow Falls, Australia

Bare feet walking on rocks at Rainbow Falls, Australia

Water drops falling off the Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan drinking water from the Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan collecting water at Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan being eaten by the Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan and Gracie the border collie investigate the caves at Rainbow Falls, Australia

The landscape around the Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan collecting water in his water bottle from the Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan and Gracie the border collie spotting koalas

Koala in a gum tree near Rainbow Falls, Australia

Dylan homeward bound

The Rainbow Falls on the southern coast is one of those magical far away places where you don’t see a soul. Close your eyes and you can imagine you are the first people to have discovered this place.

It is a long winding walk and Dylan and I forgot to take the water so when we reached the falls it was like finding an oasis in the desert. The water fresh and delicious. I wonder how many places like this are left in Victoria.

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Family, Travel

WINTER WILD

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Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress, beautiful blue sky

Seaweed on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Gracie the Border Collie, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Playing chasey with Gracie the Border Collie, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress and sandy feet, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Dylan relaxing, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress and rock pools, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Shell scewered by dune grass, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress and Gracie the Border Collie, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Gracie the Border Collie rolling in the sand, on the beach in the Otways, Australia

Nadinoo's Fleur's Penna Dress, amongst the rock pools on the beach in the Otways, Australia

 

Sunday the rain held off until the drive home. Made bold by the prospect of new Nadinoo dressness I shed winter’s coat and boots to frolick on the beach.  But no one celebrated winter’s end quite like Gracie dog.

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