Some days just float away and at the end it doesn’t appear that much has transpired, so a post doesn’t seem to naturally come to me. The other thing that’s difficult to ignore is the fact that my first 6 weeks were overwhelming with history and artifacts and relics. Australia is just as old as America, so most everything seems new! So what I have to share is nature and people and places…
Our morning yesterday began with an attempted boat ride around Lake Macquarie with Will’s daughter and family. We got settled in the bow and with a rev of the engine and a nearby boat wake, caused a huge wave to come onboard. Will and I were promptly drenched. And then the motor conked out. So, after a change into dry clothes, we stated on dry ground a took a long walk around Lake Macquarie, to a high point with a view of this large inland salt-water lake. It was lovely. High tea back with Will’s daughter and family, and the entertainment of the local birds. I loved the Sulpher-crested cockatoo and was able to irritate him just enough to get the full crest displayed!
Here’s a bit of history to break up the daily diary — today marks the 75th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Darwin. A little known fact is that more bombs were dropped on Darwin than on Pearl Harbor. There were more casualties in Pearl Harbor, but the amount of ordinance was much greater.
Today, a train ride to Sydney brought us to the Surrey Hills which is filled with old colonial homes, and many old bars/taverns. Very charming area. One window display I found fascinating — some short tales/stories, called Flashers, which is an attempt to adapt story telling to today’s lifestyle of shorter bites. Great idea as long as it doesn’t become a substitute for the long form!
We were there to meet two friends we had met on the Camino de Santiago for lunch. I had referred to Le and David as the cutest couple on the Camino, and Will and I had met them independently during our walk. Talking about the Camino experience with those who have also undergone this transformative adventure brings back all the reasons why it was exactly that. Something about 35-40 days of walking 12-18 miles a day across the varying terrain of Spain brings those who accomplish it a connection that time doesn’t necessarily diminish. We had a wonderful few hours reminiscing and remembering and comparing notes. And somehow those who do it once often want to do it again. The Camino calls.
Another simple day in New South Wales.
Birds share info. Stop pissing them off, Lorrie.