Hi All,
Our day started a little later than expected on account that we slept in. It is so quiet here and while there is loads of bird life they did not wake us with birdsong this morning. I could hear the rhythm of the waves overnight, so imagine in a storm it might be quite noisy.
Our days priority job was to weed out anything going to seed, which amounted to several wheel barrows full and a drum. Shunyam has a method of destroying weeds that I had not seen before, namely placing them in a plastic barrel filling it with water, closing the lid and waiting. The result is a bit smelly but soggy mulched weeds ready for use in a few weeks.
We have been learning about some new weeds, not seen in South Australia. Today's new weed is Alligator Weed a native of South America and a problem in 30 countries, it is believed to have been introduced by accident during WW2. Once found there is regular monitoring to check on its eradication which can apparently take up to 10 years.
Shunyam is a naturopath and works from home so after lunch we pottered about a bit while she saw clients, did a bit more weeding and cleaned up ready for dinner.
Simon met a local who was not happy where we have parked the car and trailer. One of the reasons we chose Bundagen was to experience first hand an "Intentional Community". We are headed for our first lesson in dispute resolution me thinks, one of the key issues for such communities according to research.
Could be interesting, tomorrow we will take a walk down to "Main House" the communal centre.
Susan
Day 114 Bundagen Saturday 29th September 2012
Hi Folks,
Packing up day was a pretty slow affair today considering we did not have much to pack. We said our goodbyes to Corey who headed off to work and Kevin who set off to fulfill some RFS duties at a burnoff. We did a vacuum/clean loaded our things into the car and camper and were on the road by 1100.
Up the road was only 14kms according to the GPS, this must be our shortest ever journey between destinations. Filling in time we went into Coffs Harbour for some sushi for lunch then onto Bundagen Community which was established in the 1980's and our host Shuynama has lived here since the early days. Her property is about a 1/2 hectare, with many fruit trees, large veggie garden, and lily filled pond. We were shown to the cabin. Luxury another real bed!
All the properties here are off the grid and no mains water so we had the composting toilet explained. The jobs list was also discussed and we had a cup of Chai and ginger tea, delicious, and settled in.
I took a walk down to the beach about 500 metres, and managed to get "lost" coming back. There looks to be a number of tracks ready to explore. The surf was pretty wild with many partly submerged rocks, so swimming could be a bit dangerous, ohh it is apparently a nudist beach, if one is that way inclined, thankfully all today's beach goers were clothed, so I did not feel out of place.
Shuynama made roast lamb and roast veggies for dinner, and we had a getting to know chat until bedtime about 9:30.
We have landed on our feet yet again, we feel at home already. Looking forward to another interesting helpx experience.
Cheers
Susan
Packing up day was a pretty slow affair today considering we did not have much to pack. We said our goodbyes to Corey who headed off to work and Kevin who set off to fulfill some RFS duties at a burnoff. We did a vacuum/clean loaded our things into the car and camper and were on the road by 1100.
Up the road was only 14kms according to the GPS, this must be our shortest ever journey between destinations. Filling in time we went into Coffs Harbour for some sushi for lunch then onto Bundagen Community which was established in the 1980's and our host Shuynama has lived here since the early days. Her property is about a 1/2 hectare, with many fruit trees, large veggie garden, and lily filled pond. We were shown to the cabin. Luxury another real bed!
All the properties here are off the grid and no mains water so we had the composting toilet explained. The jobs list was also discussed and we had a cup of Chai and ginger tea, delicious, and settled in.
I took a walk down to the beach about 500 metres, and managed to get "lost" coming back. There looks to be a number of tracks ready to explore. The surf was pretty wild with many partly submerged rocks, so swimming could be a bit dangerous, ohh it is apparently a nudist beach, if one is that way inclined, thankfully all today's beach goers were clothed, so I did not feel out of place.
Shuynama made roast lamb and roast veggies for dinner, and we had a getting to know chat until bedtime about 9:30.
We have landed on our feet yet again, we feel at home already. Looking forward to another interesting helpx experience.
Cheers
Susan
Day 113 Bellingen Friday 28th September 2012
Hi All,
Well I am well and truly paranoid now after yet another tick
this time on my right shoulder blade, I am doubtful I could have picked it up
in the garden this morning as all I had done up til its arrival was shovel
weeds from the veggie garden into the bin, throw some cut lomandra leaves on to
the garden, paint the pergola, and do a general tidy up. I wasn’t working in an
area that matches the description for tick habitat. To top things off Simon
announced the previous tick was indeed a paralysis tick, but he didn’t want to
worry me, Kevin also relayed a local news story about a huge rise in paralysis
ticks locally. As we are moving just up the road we will be on the alert, it
does seem that after a few bites that some sort of sensitisation occurs as I
felt todays one itch like crazy while insitu, whereas before I did not feel the
itch until after they were removed.
I tried over 4 or so hours to snap a picture of Duggan, what a fruitless exercise. Initially I did not believe Kevin when he announced that Duggan does not like his photo taken. I tried hiding behind plants, people and sundry other objects, setting the camera up and producing it when Duggs was not looking, using the phone camera instead, waiting til he was eating, then sleeping but no real success.
The two dogs are such characters and really quite adorable but do have a few naught traits too. The yard is ringed with a special proximity wire which activates a buzzer gadget on their collars which is supposed to deter them from crossing the line. Ella has worked out that if she runs fast enough she can avoid the buzzer so she not allowed to wander at all.
 |
| Sunset from the top of the driveway |
Simon blower vacuumed the fallen leaves and we both pulled
up some ageratum. Daniel was busy clearing up various piles of bamboo ready for a
burn once the fire season ends.
 |
| Duggan |
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| Ella |
We popped into town fo a few chores and coffee before some more sumptious pizzas for tea. We have conversations with Daniel about differences in food between here and the USA. Tonight he ate pumpkin as a vegetable for only the second time, pronouncing it quite ok, mmm caramalised pumpkin, baby spinach and ricotta pizza yum. He also tried anchovies for the first time and will try vegemite in the coming days, apparently kangaroo is on the menu tomorrow night, another first, but we will miss it.
I didnt get to make more lomandra place mats, but did a bit of internet research on weaving techniques and have a few ideas for other projects. I was amazed at how much the prototype shrunk overnight, something to consider, with a bit more experimenation required.
 |
| A view up the Bellinger River toward Bellingen, the mauve trees are Paulowina's |
Cheers
Susan
Day 112 Bellingen Thursday 27th September 2012
Hi All,
Today was a slow and steady day. Simon finished off bogging the timber and I was able to get a coat of paint on. Tomorrow painting should be complete, although the top surface of the exposed pergola beam will probably need a few more coats for cast iron protection from the elements. Kevin has been pricing hardwood for bearers and joists for the deck extension and finding a huge variation in prices.
I potted some plants, transplanted others and somehow managed to attract another hitch hiker, damn ticks, so another surgical extraction is underway. I am not sure if it is the bites or something else but my neck is sore as, I desperately want a massage, but cant risk one with the tick bites.
Kevin managed to attract a leech today and reading our next hosts reviews I found a previous helper bemoaning the leeches there, more joy!
We are trying to plan our next few months, but have hit an impasse, I would like to helpx at the hotel on the cattle station, but Simon reckons it is too far and probably too many hours as the hosts want us to be their replacement while they are away interstate. There might be an option of some income, will have to find out.
Our last day here tomorrow and I had an idea to make a farewell gift of some placemats from woven lomandra, the prototype I played with today turned out ok, maybe I can make a couple tomorrow.
Night all
Susan
Today was a slow and steady day. Simon finished off bogging the timber and I was able to get a coat of paint on. Tomorrow painting should be complete, although the top surface of the exposed pergola beam will probably need a few more coats for cast iron protection from the elements. Kevin has been pricing hardwood for bearers and joists for the deck extension and finding a huge variation in prices.
I potted some plants, transplanted others and somehow managed to attract another hitch hiker, damn ticks, so another surgical extraction is underway. I am not sure if it is the bites or something else but my neck is sore as, I desperately want a massage, but cant risk one with the tick bites.
 |
| Tick exterminated with Lyclear, and removed with tweezers, it is about 3mm in size |
Kevin managed to attract a leech today and reading our next hosts reviews I found a previous helper bemoaning the leeches there, more joy!
We are trying to plan our next few months, but have hit an impasse, I would like to helpx at the hotel on the cattle station, but Simon reckons it is too far and probably too many hours as the hosts want us to be their replacement while they are away interstate. There might be an option of some income, will have to find out.
Our last day here tomorrow and I had an idea to make a farewell gift of some placemats from woven lomandra, the prototype I played with today turned out ok, maybe I can make a couple tomorrow.
Night all
Susan
Day 111 Bellingen Wednesday 26th September 2012
Hi All,
Today started with introductions to Daniel who arrived last night. He has been in Australia from the USA for 3 weeks.
We announced our intention to have the day off and set about "dressing up", our usual helpx clothing is not fit for a trip to town, in fact it is almost ready for the rag bag, torn trousers and paint spattered tops. Not that they will be any great loss as we have been purchasing working clothes from op shops, at 50c - $3 an item, however we get our money's worth.
We spent the day in Bellingen following the historical walk guide after first visiting the old cheesery now a market and cafe. The town originally called Boat Harbour had a wharf from where cedar was shipped to the UK. The initial Bellingen township was at Fernmount about 6 kms down the road, but was moved in about 1900, apparently whole buildings were moved by bullock cart.
As it is school holidays the town was bustling, presumably with holiday makers, the town has loads of cafes, and most were doing a brisk trade. There is also predominance of "arty" type shops with price tags that made us shudder.
Our only purchases lunch and coffees, and a 50c computer magazine for Simon from an op shop. After lunch we drove out to Promised Land along the loop road - very pretty, home, rumour has it, to various film/media personalities.
Homeward we walked through the Bellingen/Fernmount cemetery, where most of the headstones were in a poor state of repair, hardly readable, prompting some theorising on our parts as to why... bushfire, flood, mildew.... who knows....
The days conclusion revolved around food, as usual, spicy chicken burritos and sticky date pudding, yumm.
And a last paranoid moment as yet another tick was removed from my neck/shoulder. We think it hopped aboard when we walked down to the river before lunch, the little blighters can wander about a body for a few hours before latching on, uugh. I am sure my neck is feeling stiff!
Night folks
Susan
Today started with introductions to Daniel who arrived last night. He has been in Australia from the USA for 3 weeks.
We announced our intention to have the day off and set about "dressing up", our usual helpx clothing is not fit for a trip to town, in fact it is almost ready for the rag bag, torn trousers and paint spattered tops. Not that they will be any great loss as we have been purchasing working clothes from op shops, at 50c - $3 an item, however we get our money's worth.
We spent the day in Bellingen following the historical walk guide after first visiting the old cheesery now a market and cafe. The town originally called Boat Harbour had a wharf from where cedar was shipped to the UK. The initial Bellingen township was at Fernmount about 6 kms down the road, but was moved in about 1900, apparently whole buildings were moved by bullock cart.
 |
| Court House |
 |
| The Commonwealth bank circa 1938 |
 |
| Old war memorial circa 1921 |
 |
| Look closely at the writing on the building |
 |
| Great community project |
As it is school holidays the town was bustling, presumably with holiday makers, the town has loads of cafes, and most were doing a brisk trade. There is also predominance of "arty" type shops with price tags that made us shudder.
Our only purchases lunch and coffees, and a 50c computer magazine for Simon from an op shop. After lunch we drove out to Promised Land along the loop road - very pretty, home, rumour has it, to various film/media personalities.
Homeward we walked through the Bellingen/Fernmount cemetery, where most of the headstones were in a poor state of repair, hardly readable, prompting some theorising on our parts as to why... bushfire, flood, mildew.... who knows....
The days conclusion revolved around food, as usual, spicy chicken burritos and sticky date pudding, yumm.
And a last paranoid moment as yet another tick was removed from my neck/shoulder. We think it hopped aboard when we walked down to the river before lunch, the little blighters can wander about a body for a few hours before latching on, uugh. I am sure my neck is feeling stiff!
Night folks
Susan
Day 110 Bellingen Tuesday 25th September 2012
Hi All,
Today started a little earlier than normal as we farewelled Larry who is off up north for work and won't be back until Sunday.
After our morning coffee and breakfast we started on the mulching completing the areas near the bower bird nest. Then we adjorned to our favourite weeding jobs, Lantana for Simon and Ageratum for me.
Unfortunately the rain a few days ago seems to have invigorated the plants and newly sprouted plants were in evidence, to top that off I noticed a very large mauve lantana near the yurt. We had the usual google search and a physical comparison to establish it is classed as an ornamental variety, but still a classified noxious weed! Tommorrow the curtain falls. It is unfortunate really that plants with spectacular flowers often become problematic for us humans, and there are some particularly attractive Lantana varieties.
Simon completed the sanding and bogging of the timber beams, it will be ready for painting on Thursday.
We had a late lunch and a leisurly afternoon, I did practice some house cleaning in "our" bathroom which was in need of a vacumm after Simons beard trim.
Corey made hamburgers for tea and we started watching a half dozen movies before settling on the Mel Gibson "What women want" we decided it was funnier the first time.
Kevin is burning the midnight oil and will set off to pick up the new helper from the train station shortly.
Bedtime for me, night folks
Susan
Today started a little earlier than normal as we farewelled Larry who is off up north for work and won't be back until Sunday.
After our morning coffee and breakfast we started on the mulching completing the areas near the bower bird nest. Then we adjorned to our favourite weeding jobs, Lantana for Simon and Ageratum for me.
 |
| This variety being the type eradicated here |
 |
| The mauve "ornamental" variety |
Unfortunately the rain a few days ago seems to have invigorated the plants and newly sprouted plants were in evidence, to top that off I noticed a very large mauve lantana near the yurt. We had the usual google search and a physical comparison to establish it is classed as an ornamental variety, but still a classified noxious weed! Tommorrow the curtain falls. It is unfortunate really that plants with spectacular flowers often become problematic for us humans, and there are some particularly attractive Lantana varieties.
Simon completed the sanding and bogging of the timber beams, it will be ready for painting on Thursday.
We had a late lunch and a leisurly afternoon, I did practice some house cleaning in "our" bathroom which was in need of a vacumm after Simons beard trim.
Corey made hamburgers for tea and we started watching a half dozen movies before settling on the Mel Gibson "What women want" we decided it was funnier the first time.
Kevin is burning the midnight oil and will set off to pick up the new helper from the train station shortly.
 |
| Ella looking distainfully at the doggie warning tape |
Bedtime for me, night folks
Susan
Day 109 Bellingen Monday 24th September 2012
Hi All,
The apprentice blogger is in the hot seat tonight, well sitting up in bed typing! Simon announced last night that I could take over the blog writing for a couple of days, I am sure it was some type of dare... I protested of course saying he is much the better writer, well it has worked up til now!
It was quite gratifying looking down towards the dam this morning to see the results of yesterdays work. As I was telling Kevin last night I do like to have projects underway, at home this drives Simon crazy as I am always planning 3 of more projects ahead, in the world of Helpx we supply the labour for other peoples projects, I guess I am getting my fix that way.
This world of helpxing is really a fabulous thing, we do often remark what a good life it is, meeting new people, living in allsorts of different situations and accommodation, generally free from the minutiae of the everyday, but that is not entirely true as there are groundhog days every now and again.
Today we moved on to mulching, that was after Simon got the mower working a red Jonsared ride on that came with the house, a lead to the battery was loose. Simon shovelled and ferried the mulch and I spread it out. I also managed to dig up a good number of broad leaf weeds in the previously mulched bed. The area under the persimmon tree completed we moved on to the bed adjacent to the bower birds nest. This one is a regent, and collects blue items to adorn its bower, with the main trinkets, clothes pegs (blue) plastic dolls tea cup (blue) plastic from broken ice cream containers (did I mention blue). Apparently the bird was annoyed we were close by and was making quite a racket or so Kevin said, I didn't hear it myself.
Today's work day came to an abrupt halt just before lunch as the clouds rolled in with some very loud thunder claps. Doogan was beside himself cowering in the pantry, Ella is now copying his behaviour and had crawled under the coffee table. Over lunch of grilled open sandwiches we discussed and googled "dogs fear of thunder" and "loudest thunder" "thunder dbA" to find that the loudest thunder is about 120 decibels and had ruptured ear drums, broken windows and popped nail out of walls. Thankfully nothing untoward here.
After lunch we did managed to get a few other jobs completed - cleaning up the battery terminals on the mower - Simon, cleaning and stacking a few more bricks - me.
We both did a wander around cameras in hand, me photographing flowers and Simon birds, of which there are so many here. I was thinking back to the bird feeder I painted in Woodbridge Tasmania, and wondered if it is of any success in attracting birds yet? The equivalent amount of seed here would be gone in 10 minutes!
I also let my tidy genie out today and did a rearrange of the cutlery and utensil drawers, might drive the guys crazy..... Kevin and I shared the dinner making I did beef stroganoff with noodles and he made waffles, we are eating well, thankfully there is a hike from the paddock up hill otherwise all this good living would be showing.
Cheers
Susan
The apprentice blogger is in the hot seat tonight, well sitting up in bed typing! Simon announced last night that I could take over the blog writing for a couple of days, I am sure it was some type of dare... I protested of course saying he is much the better writer, well it has worked up til now!
It was quite gratifying looking down towards the dam this morning to see the results of yesterdays work. As I was telling Kevin last night I do like to have projects underway, at home this drives Simon crazy as I am always planning 3 of more projects ahead, in the world of Helpx we supply the labour for other peoples projects, I guess I am getting my fix that way.
 |
| Pano of paddock and dam |
This world of helpxing is really a fabulous thing, we do often remark what a good life it is, meeting new people, living in allsorts of different situations and accommodation, generally free from the minutiae of the everyday, but that is not entirely true as there are groundhog days every now and again.
Today we moved on to mulching, that was after Simon got the mower working a red Jonsared ride on that came with the house, a lead to the battery was loose. Simon shovelled and ferried the mulch and I spread it out. I also managed to dig up a good number of broad leaf weeds in the previously mulched bed. The area under the persimmon tree completed we moved on to the bed adjacent to the bower birds nest. This one is a regent, and collects blue items to adorn its bower, with the main trinkets, clothes pegs (blue) plastic dolls tea cup (blue) plastic from broken ice cream containers (did I mention blue). Apparently the bird was annoyed we were close by and was making quite a racket or so Kevin said, I didn't hear it myself.
 |
| Shovelling |
 |
| Is this responsible driving at 2 kms/hr? |
After lunch we did managed to get a few other jobs completed - cleaning up the battery terminals on the mower - Simon, cleaning and stacking a few more bricks - me.
We both did a wander around cameras in hand, me photographing flowers and Simon birds, of which there are so many here. I was thinking back to the bird feeder I painted in Woodbridge Tasmania, and wondered if it is of any success in attracting birds yet? The equivalent amount of seed here would be gone in 10 minutes!
 |
| Grevillia |
 |
| Grevillia creeping prostrate form |
 |
| Native Hibiscus |
 |
| Cigar flower |
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| Lily |
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| Azalea |
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| Begonia |
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| Unknown but has beautiful fragrance |
 |
| Bromeliad |
Cheers
Susan
Day 108 Bellingen Sunday 23rd September 2012
Hi Folks,
Another fine sunny day today.
The task of the day was removing papyrus in the dam. It was all hands on deck. I was assigned the brushcutter while Susan, Larry and Kevin removed the debris and sprayed the stumps with frog friendly round up. We used the old floating island as a platform. As we moved further out the papyrus became more floating and feet disappeared into the water. Susan managed to get one very wet foot. It was hot work swinging the brush cutter and the sweat was pouring off of me. We called a halt at lunchtime with plenty achieved. Today's question is how did they make paper from papyrus. The answer is here
For some reason the hot water has gone cold in the house. With all the sweating today we are hoping it will be hot in the morning!
After lunch I finished the filling job on the verandah. Susan pulled up lomandra and did some weeding. She then made lemon butter. The lemon butter accompanied ice cream and rock melon for dessert tonight ,which we had after vegetable soup.
night folks
Simon
Another fine sunny day today.
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| The brushcutter gingerly steps out on the papyrus |
 |
| View from a distance |
 |
| Papyrus movement |
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| Side view showing the extent of the papyrus |
 |
| Progress at lunchtime |
The task of the day was removing papyrus in the dam. It was all hands on deck. I was assigned the brushcutter while Susan, Larry and Kevin removed the debris and sprayed the stumps with frog friendly round up. We used the old floating island as a platform. As we moved further out the papyrus became more floating and feet disappeared into the water. Susan managed to get one very wet foot. It was hot work swinging the brush cutter and the sweat was pouring off of me. We called a halt at lunchtime with plenty achieved. Today's question is how did they make paper from papyrus. The answer is here
For some reason the hot water has gone cold in the house. With all the sweating today we are hoping it will be hot in the morning!
 |
| Rainbow Lorikeet |
 |
| Rainbow lorikeet (Susan's pictures) |
 |
| White headed pigeon |
 |
| Lemon butter yummy! |
After lunch I finished the filling job on the verandah. Susan pulled up lomandra and did some weeding. She then made lemon butter. The lemon butter accompanied ice cream and rock melon for dessert tonight ,which we had after vegetable soup.
night folks
Simon
Day 107 Bellingen Saturday 22nd September 2012
Hi All,
We headed out around 9 up to the tablelands via Bellingen. Our first stop was Mountain View where we did just that (enjoyed the view). We drove through Dorigo and Ebor taking the turn off to Lookout Point in New England national park. This presented a problem since we intended to be there for some hours and did not have any food with us.
We decided to head back the 15km or so to Ebor taking in a couple of sights on the way. The first stop was at our turnaround point the Dutton trout hatchery. While Susan waited in the car I took the $5 self guided tour. The tour was very enjoyable starting with an 11 minute movie in the theatre. There was a wall of fish tanks containing native fish. The rest of the tour was around the adult fish ponds and into the hatchery. the hatchery was in full swing packaging boxes of live fingerlings to be collected by the local acclimatisation societies. The hatchery produces over 2 million fingerlings per year.
By the time we returned to Ebor it was lunchtime and we stopped at Fusspots cafe. Susan had been laid low with a severe headache and was feeling pretty poorly. We had a nice lunch, steak sandwich and hamburger followed by coffee. After lunch we travelled to the upper and lower Ebor falls on the Guy Fawkes River. These were only short walks from the car.
We then travelled back to the New England National Park and drove to the end of the road to Point Lookout. The park is world heritage listed and contains Gondwana rain forest. The view from the lookout was stunning and there are many walks to be explored. the park has a couple of camping areas and cabins and would be well worth a return visit.
The afternoon was slipping way but we had time to drive towards Armidale to Wollomombi Falls. There are actually 2 falls the other being Chandler falls. Wollomombi falls are 260 metres high. The gorge is very impressive and a hell of a way down from the lookouts.
We returned to base for a delicious chicken curry tea. After taking some drugs Susan felt much better. The weather was glorious up on the table lands. However it is obviously cooler than the coast with pictures on the hatchery wall showing snow! Something else that needs to be considered when choosinga place to live seasonal weather variations!
Night folks
Simon
We headed out around 9 up to the tablelands via Bellingen. Our first stop was Mountain View where we did just that (enjoyed the view). We drove through Dorigo and Ebor taking the turn off to Lookout Point in New England national park. This presented a problem since we intended to be there for some hours and did not have any food with us.
 |
| Aquarium wall at the hatchery |
 |
| Fingerling trays at the hatchery |
 |
| Fingerlings |
Fingerlings (no sound)
Adult fish
We decided to head back the 15km or so to Ebor taking in a couple of sights on the way. The first stop was at our turnaround point the Dutton trout hatchery. While Susan waited in the car I took the $5 self guided tour. The tour was very enjoyable starting with an 11 minute movie in the theatre. There was a wall of fish tanks containing native fish. The rest of the tour was around the adult fish ponds and into the hatchery. the hatchery was in full swing packaging boxes of live fingerlings to be collected by the local acclimatisation societies. The hatchery produces over 2 million fingerlings per year.
 |
| Upper and lower Ebor Falls |
Ebor Falls
By the time we returned to Ebor it was lunchtime and we stopped at Fusspots cafe. Susan had been laid low with a severe headache and was feeling pretty poorly. We had a nice lunch, steak sandwich and hamburger followed by coffee. After lunch we travelled to the upper and lower Ebor falls on the Guy Fawkes River. These were only short walks from the car.
 |
| Point Lookout (1563 metres) Click for the big picture |
View from Point lookout
We then travelled back to the New England National Park and drove to the end of the road to Point Lookout. The park is world heritage listed and contains Gondwana rain forest. The view from the lookout was stunning and there are many walks to be explored. the park has a couple of camping areas and cabins and would be well worth a return visit.
Wollomombi Falls in the late afternoon
The afternoon was slipping way but we had time to drive towards Armidale to Wollomombi Falls. There are actually 2 falls the other being Chandler falls. Wollomombi falls are 260 metres high. The gorge is very impressive and a hell of a way down from the lookouts.
We returned to base for a delicious chicken curry tea. After taking some drugs Susan felt much better. The weather was glorious up on the table lands. However it is obviously cooler than the coast with pictures on the hatchery wall showing snow! Something else that needs to be considered when choosinga place to live seasonal weather variations!
Night folks
Simon
Day 106 Bellingen Friday 21st September 2012
Hi Folks,
A short blog tonight as it is late and I am tired.
We had light showers today under cloudy skies for most of the day which made things a bit difficult. I ended up applying some more filler to the woodwork under a rigged up tarpaulin. Hopefully a nice warm windy drying day tomorrow. I also pulled a fascia board off the deck and did some brush cutting in the vegetable patch where Susan was digging and weeding. I spent some time reading the brush cutter instructions and consequently adjusting the harness and the mounting points for the attachment and handlebars. It makes it a lot easier to use. I also read up on the mixture fine adjustments so it now idles a bit better. It looks like the clutch is not working properly since the head spins at low idle speed so a repair is required.
Other than that not much to report. We had some more terrific home made pizzas for tea and our kindly hosts bought me some beer! I wasted a heap of time this evening trying to unlock my Optus modem after following their published instructions which are not correct.
We have a day off tomorrow and will proceed to the New England National Park for a look around.
The weather looks as if it will be fine and sunny so there should be some good views.
night folks
SImon
A short blog tonight as it is late and I am tired.
We had light showers today under cloudy skies for most of the day which made things a bit difficult. I ended up applying some more filler to the woodwork under a rigged up tarpaulin. Hopefully a nice warm windy drying day tomorrow. I also pulled a fascia board off the deck and did some brush cutting in the vegetable patch where Susan was digging and weeding. I spent some time reading the brush cutter instructions and consequently adjusting the harness and the mounting points for the attachment and handlebars. It makes it a lot easier to use. I also read up on the mixture fine adjustments so it now idles a bit better. It looks like the clutch is not working properly since the head spins at low idle speed so a repair is required.
Other than that not much to report. We had some more terrific home made pizzas for tea and our kindly hosts bought me some beer! I wasted a heap of time this evening trying to unlock my Optus modem after following their published instructions which are not correct.
We have a day off tomorrow and will proceed to the New England National Park for a look around.
The weather looks as if it will be fine and sunny so there should be some good views.
night folks
SImon
Day 105 Bellingen Thursday 20th September 2012
Evening folks,
Today's blog starts last night just before bed. Susan had me examine something on her shoulder that I had looked at earlier in the evening. This time it did look like a small tick. I put the Lyclear on to kill it and deal with it in the morning.
In the morning Susan was laying in bed and felt something roll from her nether regions. I retrieved a small bloated nymph stage tick from the bed and disposed of it also removing the something from her shoulder. Hopefully that's the end of it. It is a bit hard to detect them if you can't feel them.
Today most of our working hours were spent with Kevin replacing the verandah poles. The cross beam out in the weather was a bit rotten where the upright and bearers intersect so will be patched up as best I can. The local hardware was a bit short on stock but we have some premixed acrylic putty which should do the job. We propped the beams up on a new pole, removed the old one, propped the beam up with the old one and installed the new. It all went pretty smoothly. The poles were the right size although I did have to take 5mm off the bottom of one. I joked to Larry last night that he would come home to the roof on the ground with three pairs of legs sticking out.
We were sitting in the bedroom this afternoon when Kevin rang from the garden to see if we wanted to see a couple of black snakes. I kept well back but did manage to snap the larger one in the distance.
Susan made pumpkin soup for tea, while Kevin and Corey made affogato with kahlua for dessert. Excellent!
Since we updated our Helpx profile the other day we have had a rush of enquiries which Susan is dealing with at the moment. So many locations so little time !
Night folks
Simon
Today's blog starts last night just before bed. Susan had me examine something on her shoulder that I had looked at earlier in the evening. This time it did look like a small tick. I put the Lyclear on to kill it and deal with it in the morning.
In the morning Susan was laying in bed and felt something roll from her nether regions. I retrieved a small bloated nymph stage tick from the bed and disposed of it also removing the something from her shoulder. Hopefully that's the end of it. It is a bit hard to detect them if you can't feel them.
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| Pole 2 |
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| Pole 1, 3.1 meters |
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| Bogging up pole 2 |
Today most of our working hours were spent with Kevin replacing the verandah poles. The cross beam out in the weather was a bit rotten where the upright and bearers intersect so will be patched up as best I can. The local hardware was a bit short on stock but we have some premixed acrylic putty which should do the job. We propped the beams up on a new pole, removed the old one, propped the beam up with the old one and installed the new. It all went pretty smoothly. The poles were the right size although I did have to take 5mm off the bottom of one. I joked to Larry last night that he would come home to the roof on the ground with three pairs of legs sticking out.
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| Distant black snake |
We were sitting in the bedroom this afternoon when Kevin rang from the garden to see if we wanted to see a couple of black snakes. I kept well back but did manage to snap the larger one in the distance.
Susan made pumpkin soup for tea, while Kevin and Corey made affogato with kahlua for dessert. Excellent!
Since we updated our Helpx profile the other day we have had a rush of enquiries which Susan is dealing with at the moment. So many locations so little time !
Night folks
Simon
Day 104 Bellingen Wednesday 19th September 2012
Hi Folks,
Another sunny day.The air was fresh and humid after yesterdays rain. I walked the circumference of the property this morning enjoying the ambience.
On to our tasks today. I sprayed the outside of the house with the surface spray. I then removed some of the timber that needs to go for the pole replacement. I also jacked up the deck on my bottle jack since it is supported on a pole that is to be removed. It was opportune that I took the swag off the trailer to get the jack out since some of the downpour yesterday had penetrated the outside bag of the swag so I was able to dry it. Susan continued coating the new poles, took up some shorts for Larry and started weeding the vegetable garden. A task I carried on with after lunch when she went down the hill to continue work on the blue curse.
Birds were abundant today. Unfortunately a catbird, one I could probably never hope to photograph in the wild, flew into a window and killed itself this morning. Burying it became another task for the day.
The afternoon excitement was a cow breaking into the property from next door. Kevin chased it back between the fence strands and I leant a small hand to repair the entry point.
Tea tonight was BBQ prepared by Corey. Excellent steaks!
On the planning front we have decided subject to the next hosts approval to stay here until Saturday week and jump about 15 minutes up the road.
night folks
Simon
Another sunny day.The air was fresh and humid after yesterdays rain. I walked the circumference of the property this morning enjoying the ambience.
On to our tasks today. I sprayed the outside of the house with the surface spray. I then removed some of the timber that needs to go for the pole replacement. I also jacked up the deck on my bottle jack since it is supported on a pole that is to be removed. It was opportune that I took the swag off the trailer to get the jack out since some of the downpour yesterday had penetrated the outside bag of the swag so I was able to dry it. Susan continued coating the new poles, took up some shorts for Larry and started weeding the vegetable garden. A task I carried on with after lunch when she went down the hill to continue work on the blue curse.
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| Scaly breasted lorikeet |
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| Little wattlebird |
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| Scaly breasted lorikeet |
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| Green catbird. Makes a call like a cat or a baby. |
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| Kangaroo paw in the garden |
Grevillea in the garden
Birds were abundant today. Unfortunately a catbird, one I could probably never hope to photograph in the wild, flew into a window and killed itself this morning. Burying it became another task for the day.
The afternoon excitement was a cow breaking into the property from next door. Kevin chased it back between the fence strands and I leant a small hand to repair the entry point.
Tea tonight was BBQ prepared by Corey. Excellent steaks!
On the planning front we have decided subject to the next hosts approval to stay here until Saturday week and jump about 15 minutes up the road.
night folks
Simon
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