On the High Side

 We are on the 10th floor here and the view is forever. I can see scrapers all the way to Coolangatta and the other way to Surfers. We found the local bottleo and super market as well as the bike hire place. Travel days are hard days so we are eating in tonight as there is a full on kitchen apartment up here. The last time we saw this view was for the Gold Coast 600 car race in 2011 and we were 20 stories up that  time. There is one higher level to us here and that is the roof where we had the best view. 

balcony view

roof top art

beach balance

Hurley Burleigh

 It was a travel day for us and it wasn't that far but it took all day. Started with a ferry ride back across to Brisbane and again we missed out on getting the whooly dhooly boat. They kept stopping because whales were getting in the way. How in convenient.

We tried in vane to get someone from the car hire place to pick us up from the jetty. The car place is 2km from the jetty. We rang up twice. I was told once upon a time that if a customer asked for something then you bent over backwards to try to do it. That must have been a fairy tale. So we got the ferry crew to stow our bags, emphasising that on no circumstance are they to end up back on the island. Then we walked the 2km to get the car and drive it back to the ferry. It was 30° while all this was happening. The drive to Burleigh Heads was slow with traffic but got there for a late lunch at the Bakery in a Paddock.

not really a paddock

Palm Tree Artist

 A free afternoon with pencils, paper, a four pack and potatoe chips. We did not go as far as the water world of wrecks but instead sat under a tree.  We observed the many different photo sessions being had at the next tree. The next tree was more popular than our tree. Our tree just had shade but the next tree had panache. We did go a cross there for  our own photo but waited until the queue died down.

The photo tree

the mighty pencil

The Desert

 After our egg and bacon roll we started out on the Desert Walk, which also included the high point lookout. Good views could be seen along the beach to the wrecking yard. It seems these hulks  are grouped into a curve when you see them from above. Although the hordes have gone from the resort, the wreck beach is still busy with boats and cars. We continued onto the desert dunes where board riders were attempting to slide. From our room and back it was a 5km circuit with stops and a swim on the return leg. 

wreck beach

Dune Riders

Rub on Tan

 Debbie is trying a different skin treatment on this trip. She has been hanging out too much with youngsters like Molly. I applied the fuzzy spray with a cloth glove and let it set overnight. We did not do it in the morning, as the effect with sun block may have been distorted. Anyway, the embalming shell has cracked open this morning revealing a slightly browner look. How long will this last?

Fast Food Feast

 Not really feast but really fast. The eateries here remind us of the Disney approach. There are cafeteria style tables stretching for at least 300 metres, both inside and out, among five named locations, including one sit down restuarant, which we will try tonight. It also seems to be a sprawling place with an Asian menu. It has to be this way as everyone gets a flashing disk to speed the self collection of meals and keep the queues down. There are 300 staff here, attentive and like an army of bees, keeping it all working.

evening view from the Grill

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The Wrecks

 Snorkling wrecks is not an easy thing. We walked a bit over 1km with our gear. There are numerous hazards like fast cars and trucks. Most cars were giant gas guzzlers with  KickAss on the side. Once in the water there were similar jetskis and speedy boats. Also I had new mask and fins not tried yet, which was an issue getting me anxious part way, due to an ill fit. We sorted most of it out. Despite the issues, the fish were huge and teeming. The hulls open up so deeply out of nowhere. We sidled passed three wrecks in a line of eight. There was a bit of chop. A young couple turned back due to sharks but they were just reefers.  If you can handle the issues then these wrecks are worth it.

Daylight Reveal

 We had a reasonable sleep but awoke to find a cruise ship hanging around off shore. Now the foot is using the other shoe. Not to be a two faced cruiser but those hoards of cruisers are crowding us. This place seems to be a mini seaside Disney. If its not the jet skis, four wheel drivers, heli riders, para riders, beach segways then the quad bikes will run you down. Nevertheless it is warm, it is swimming. WE know our way around now. Where the lunch sandwich is, the bottle shop and the cheaper breakfast. This arvo it is snorkel or bust.

not our cruiser

pelican city

Tangalooma

long day

not ours

night dolphins

 It has taken all day, a plane, a walk and a ferry but we have arrived at Tangalooma in the dark after a choppy (perhaps bouncey) boat ride. It seems we scored the small boat as we noticed the very sleek large trimaran type of hulled wave cutter that was coming up the river. After some 80 minutes we could get off to the sight of dolphins swimming in the shallows and under lights. We only had time for pizza but it did the job. 

Estelle's Cup of Cheer

 It was a small birthday gathering this time but I guess you only turn 70 once, although we are now spreading the rumour about being 60 again. James could not make it last week so we doubled up with Great Grandma and Grandpa for a home lunch.  Estelle had cake, ice cream, jelly and a butterfly cookie to take home. Whose birthday is it? I also received the hand decorated mug which was initiated straight away and yes the handle accommodates at least two fingers. Now I need an afternoon nap.

Airport Parking

 We are back at Tulla tomorrow and one of the changes lately is not to use a credit card for access but you get a code to scan at the gate instead.  We did this for the first time earlier in the year but it was printed in a large format on an A4 sheet. So I was crumpling and folding and shaping this thing to try to get it near the scanner. After five minutes and cars banking up it let us thru. This time I have the code on my phone haha, for easy access to the scanner. I checked it and all images have been taken out of the message. I fiddled with it and got the images restored except the coded image is now the only one that is still missing.  OK back to the paper copy. These are 1st world problems.  I do prefer the credit card swiping and they still do that at Avalon.

Cool Spring

 Is it just me or is this the coldest September yet. We have been packing our bags today to try and find somewhere warmer further North.  Nothing is guaranteed, as we have been caught out by crap weather previously. Some final garden bed time has been spent mulching and fertilising as well as the front courtyard trees getting a Spring haircut. Not sure if this is a good thing cutting back budding branches on the weeping cherry but it does look tidy and with no more trip hazards.  We will have a day in Willie to get closer to the airport but holidays start tomorrow.  Did someone say retirees were always on holiday.

Pesky Minors,Grubs and Possums

The veggie bed has been under attack from minor birds since we cleared away the old strawberries. It seems a signal to them that you can now come and dig over the resulting fresh ground and grab any worms that may surface. It would be ok if they took the scarab grubs that we are finding now. Some beetle or other has layed eggs and these fat white grubs are chewing thru what they can find, so they are being tossed. As for the minors, there is now a mini fence running along the edge which will hopefully contain their foraging from spilling down to the path.  Will this work bear fruit?

Beach Clean No 955

 I thought I would get across earlier today before any rain comes in which seems to be a pattern during the afternoon lately.  The tide was lower and left clear tide lines to be walked. I chose one to follow and got a half bag of stuff including cans, plastic tops, bags, lollipop sticks and one dinosaur.  Not to forget two more golf balls.  The coast care group must have been along recently as there were mounds of cut brush piled in places. Not sure if it is a good idea to leave the cuttings that way to dry out for this Summer.

Come Death and High Water

 Rather a dramatic title which does not quite get to that level of drama in the book.  I know this author from the Vera TV shows so I gave this book a try.  It is one of those isolated group murders, this time we are on an island cut off by the sea.  Actually it is just the tide coming in and its still fairly shallow and yes you can get off soon, just wait six hours. Anyway the deed gets done while they are bird watching. These bird watchers are a nasty lot. ( Go watch the movie "The Big Year". It is good.)  Eventually the sleuth gets them back to the island for the big reveal.  I found it a bit slow but still worth a read. I also get the seaside dramas of wind, rain and Sun.  Got all of those here.

Big Weekend

 Estelle still had some beans but not too many left this morning.  We used up any remaining energy by going to the park and then a cafe.  The sky was overcast but we got away with any weather issues the whole weekend. There was a lot of action like sitting at the long table and getting a platter of grills, followed by a big indoor bouncing session and more cake later. I even got my own picture with Debbie's drawing skills coming out.  With all of this it seemed the simple helium balloon was one of the favourites and they had the tightest grip on them to make sure they were not floating off.  Not to mention my own bigger balloon ride experience that has to be slotted in now.

Whose Party

 We made it out to the Armstrong Grill which is a rustic cookup in an old shed that was either previously a hangar because a crashed plane is hanging from the roof or an ex hay shed.  I tried the pork ribs this time but in future I think I will stick to the beef ribs.  Then it was onto the Bounce centre where they also had  climbing walls where an auto belay system was in use. Just clip in and start climbing. These grandies were like spiders.  

who likes corn chips

bouncing not running

the circles

the plates

Birthday Walk

 Doing anything with grandies is bound to be physical like blowing cobwebs out on the beach even though it is a bit blustery. There was plenty for Estelle to be occupied.  Dead fish seemed good value and also washed up sponges from the pole line. Then there was the seaweed tossing which had to be done directly back into the water where they had come from. Lastly it was following some dog tracks all the way up the beach and then back again.  The ramp to get home seemed daunting, then suddenly it was a run to the top so she could feel her heart beat.  I need a sit down.

Tainted Cup

 This book is this years Hugo winner and is a murder mystery set in an other worldly place. There are styles of murder whereby the suspects are often grouped in an isolated way and maybe cut off by the tide, stuck on a plateau or locked in a castle. This one has no such boundary. Make up an entire world with big histories and big problems and throw in a murder whodunnit.  It is a good yarn and includes a few super powers as well. This is a series of books and for once the Hugo winner is the first book in the set.  What's more the second volume, is already published this year, which I was also given. Good planning. Maybe it will turn out to be the next year's Hugo winner. 

Rock Grotto

 One of our best spots on the beach has been invaded by grass balls and vegetation over the last few months.  I cleared a small amount yesterday but went back this morning to finish the job. Not quite. I did remove all the balls and most of the weeds. It is not surprising that there are spiders living in all that nice sea grass. Another hazard was the discarded needle laying on the ground as well.  Vigilance is key.  I hope now the loose stuff will dry out and blow away. Of course another high tide combined with a wind might put it all back again.

PS The pesky rubber decking was packed up yesterday and bundled into the back of a car.  Treasure for some and a shipwreck for others.

another possum raid

cleared but not totally cleaned

Weighting Game

 Use of weights is meant to be a good thing as you get a bit older. Now I have trouble gripping normal weights which are attached to bars.  Dumbells also give me finger trouble, so I dusted off my shot put which was still laying around.  This is a weight that requires an open palm to handle and it is a brute of a canonball.  For the last two months I have been hefting it around and balancing it with one hand. My left arm is still dodgy since I dragged that sheet of rubber matting up the hill and I have previously had bursitus and tendonitis in that elbow but so far so good.  

I ordered a new shot that is age appropriate, being 4kg and it arrived yesterday.  Way back when, I could get the canonball out over 12 metres so what would it be like nowadays.  I took it down to the beach for a first try.  My main aim was not to hurt anything.  So after a 50 yar hiatus, I tried a simple stand and deliver.  It went out about 6 metres. So then came the reverse crouch and I estimate this was around 8 metres.  A good goal would be 10 metres but who knows where this might go. 

PS This week Ryan Crouser (USA) sent a canonball (7.26kg) out 22.34 m to take gold.

Arty photo. I could barely find enough sand to put on

Strawberry Field revealed

It was blowing from the North but our piece of veggie dirt is quite protected from that direction so it did not stop us getting the green thumbs out.  Mine were black thumbs by the time I did the weeding and bleeding.  I can tell you, strawberry plants that have been in the ground for three years get quite woody underneath.  We had a row of 12 plants or so that were due to be replaced and they pop out of the ground with no trouble. Not like some of the other stuff sprouting in the last six months.  Also found, were a few ugly grubs that happily got disposed of.  We know that shredded paper is good for worm farms maybe I should just be burying the stuff out back.  The ground is prepared and resting.

before

after

Award Two Golds

 It seems to me that trying to separate two guys who are sprinting at the end of a 42km race and you have to take it to thousands of a second, then give them both a gold medal. Two golds have been awarded in athletics previously.  The Tokyo championships have come alive since spectators were banned at the previous Olympics and we have a favourable time slot from here. We can thank covid for an athletics rerun in Tokyo.  Mind you there can't be to many wins for Tanzania previously.

Black Sheep

 I have been wanting to checkout the woolstores here but have never got around to it. The Black Sheep is a restuarant in the same building but not part of the museum.  So even though we were having lunch in this part there were observation points thru to the old wool processing. We could see a loom with many coloured wool skeins which stretched across one side of the building.  Our beach friend Jill worked nearby and knows how to work this apparatus. As for lunch we went entirely for share plates, which was very tasty. I tried their expresso martini which was topped off with a belgian shaved chocolate. How decadent.

Gin Joint

share plates

shaved expresso

Shredders Law of Volume

 For the past week or so I have been threading and shredding Pure Bookkeeping paper records going back 20 yar. Now these were the days when you applied for a service on a paper form. You wrote on it Companty details, names, addresses, banking details, ACNs and more, everything that scammers would love to know.  It seems that online security is not so good an option with all the security breaches that keep happening. This stuff is not going to be read by anyone.  I have determined that the compact volume of paper to be shredded will produce an equivalent volume 10 times the original size in shredded airy paper strips.  Maybe I should get a quote to get this done.  Two boxes of paper does not seem a lot. The council here will not take shredded paper as recycling, in the yellow bin. They will take it if you bring it to them at the recycle centre, provided it is all enclosed in paper bags.  Paper Warfare.

Beach Walk No 833

 It has been a few weeks since the last wave walk, bag drag or rubbish run.  Plenty has been deposited from the bay yet again.  I had my assistant this time doing a lot of the bending, picking and carrying. We got a good sized haul with the same contenders being rope pieces, lids, foam and plastic bags, as well as one stinky poo bag.  On the way back to the bin we saw that the decking we hauled up two weeks ago was still decorating the side walk.  Someone had draped it along the fence.  We used the Snap Send Solve to direct it to council attention which they must already know about,since the bin has been emptied at least once. Let's see if this system is still working.

Coffee Martini

 I have been wanting to make some of these drinks myself instead of paying $22 for one in a coffee palace or other such establishment.  The cold pressed variety in cans come in four packs but there are a number of companies out there all of which seem to have a slightly different version.  I found a recipe to go shopping by and thought I had all the ingredients.  My other problem was getting the measures right as I was estimating mils from an overly large container.  I had previously prepared two espressos from my machine and placed them in the fridge.  However it turns out I need maple syrup as well.  So I tried combining vodka, kahlua, coffee and ice with incorrect measures and no syrup.  Needless to say it wasn't quite right. I will have to get onto our Canadian friends to send over some maple syrup.  

Watching the Watcher

 If a van was parked outfront for four days you might think what is going on here.  We have had a boat directly out front for the last four or five days.  Once upon a time we were constrained by a small van at holiday times but at least you could get outside and run around.  I have seen some movement like shaking out the laundry etc so they must just be taking an extended rest break from all that flitting about the ocean. It is a reasonable size cruiser named Poseidon and has come from the Gippsland Lakes, maybe doing the big lap.