All packed and ready for round two

bit cloudy today but after a bug day getting ready we deserve a nice cooling breeze 

 The final Itinerary has been agreed and we fly off tomorrow morning at 09.20 that means leaving the house at 06.30 ( only get up that early to go fishing) We then go to our hotel we  have two days in Darwen when we will pick up the Camper pick up some supplies Sat we head off to  KAKADO
 where will spend 4/5 days exploring. around the 14th we head for Katherine, Manbullo, which will be another few days exploring about the 17th we head for Litchfield yes you got it another few days exploring the last couple of days we are heading for Cullen bay which is a popular tourist thing to do then on the 21st we fly back to Brisbane AT 01.05 YES I am going to be ill still awake at that time in the morning.
 I have given that info so those who wish (sad people ) can follow on a map. as you can see some of the areas are very remote so communication will be spasmodic so we will have to see what happens its just like boating really. a lot of preparation, we are all ex scouters so it comes easy "be prepared" God bless be good whilst we are away
Buggerlugs 

training sessions

Hi Everyone

Well other than my fishing of which I will not bore you things have hit a clam plane and this week we are just very slowly getting ready for the trip up north I can now confirm it is Friday My sister in law has organised everything "she speaks the lingo" so I just keep nodding my head , actually thats unfair Mary and Roger have been before though that was 15 years ago but they seem to know the best camp sites places to visit and so on Its always best to have some  local knowledge "local in this case is 5 hours flying away " though in Ausi terms that can be classed as local.
As this trip is going to include a lot of Bush walking Noreen has decided I need to get in training (as if living with Noreen isnt enough training to keep one in tip top condition which you all know I AM
We have been traveling  about quite a bit to the places that we know can be challenging on the feet,back and head such as Shopping Malls and Markets they just kill my feet especially over here where they all have marble floors. However once those had been conquered and I could do two hrs without complaint we moved onto the serious stuff like Burliegh Head land and Spring brook falls
Burliegh Head land is just what it says it a head land that juts out into the sea separating two bays and is about 600 ft the second half being made up of rain forest. Spring brook is 60m inland and seems to be where a glacier was once formed and when it melted in left behind a huge hole in the shape of a ally which at its head is a 250ft waterfall .
Must tell you about my fishing exploits this morning.Today Roger had another job on so I again ventured out on my own Now before I left Roger did give the thumbs up but also informed me that there was a wind warning out for our coast line. I said dont worry Roge I am experienced with boats and wind ??????  What he omitted to tell me was the the wind was coming from the south (south bloody pole) and the tide, though I went out on a high tide was a very slow one anyway with a freezing wind in my face an OFF shore gale and a low flowing tide life out on the water was bloody awful our little tinny was like a cork in a bottle tossed about like a piece of flotsam I couldn't keep my bail on the bottom and after 3 hours of bloody hard work I noticed I was the only daft bugger left on the water fishing . with my constant concentration of watching for tide, wind and rocks I hadn't really noticed all the other boats out fishing had already ran for cover. I headed for the lee of the land where I hoped to find shelter from the icy wind which I did but in shore it is very shallow and I was now on an ebbing tide.. Solution throttle back open her up bow out of the water and pray that I reached the safety of the canal and home before it started to snow ( well I had had every other weather weather condition so it might as well snow. HOWEVER I did catch three fish hooray.

Ok folks keep the reply's coming

GB everyone
Buggerlugs

 Burliegh Head towards the sea

 Half way look out and a breather

Very popular with the surfers hence this very imaginative bench 

also popular with the keep fit brigade everyone is at it 

that climb behind doesn't look much but it is 

Noreen with no compass bearing 

pretty dense as we reach the summit and then its harder still going down 

MORE OF THE TRASH

HI FOLKS

Would you believe its three weeks today that we arrived Time is flying past so quickly. I believe that its next Thurs we all fly up to Darwin for our camping trip into the Northern Territories.  I say camping its what people of our age and 70 years experience of Camping call camping So to that end we have ditched the tents and now have a 6 birth camper van which will do for us, at least now camping at night no one will be needed to stand guard for the crocks?
This week has been what most people would call hectic however Noreen and I just seem to roll with it, we seem to have developed a routine of Fishing starts at 06.30 depending on the tide its been ok this week I have been able to reach the Ebbing tide which has produced a few fish mostly its Roger and I but on a few occasion; now that I have a knowledge of the water I have been allowed out on my own. on our return about 4/5 hours later its morning coffee then its showered and out for a cruise in Mary's car seeing some of the local sights and being a typical tourist (one has to do what one can for the out of season shops and cafes. Today being a Saturday Rodger took us for a very nice tour of the extensive Broad Water by boat up to the top end of Stradbrook which is an Island that separates the Broad water from the Southern Pacific  and south China Sea very interesting to be able to see how these coastal areas have been and are continuing to be developed.
So life hear in Aus is continuing at a fare old pace. its a weekend off this weekend as tomorrow is Rogers birthday Party all the family are coming over so Noreen and I are looking forward to seeing all our great Nephews and Nieces it will probably be a riotous occasion where I get thrown in the pool (which for some reason unknown to me Kids seem to enjoy??) then its getting ready for the trip up North I have been warned that I cannot take any fishing gear as this is going to be a NO FISHING trip It has been pointed out to me that I have pushed my luck far enough with my nine lives  and as Noreen pointed out God has thrown me back twice. For some reason Crocodiles seem to be attracted to anglers and as my running skills are some what in abeyance in fact none existent I have therefore reluctantly agreed to leave my Rods where they can cause no harm. so when Noreen awakes in the morning and finds an empty space she will know I have not gone off with Crocodile Dundee I am only making her breakfast ?
That is basically it I will leave some picks to tell the rest
God bless to you all
And again if you read this please comment its makes all this one finger typing worth it
Buggerlugs Downunder

Noreen and Mary rounding up some of the Locals

This is a Shovel Nosed Ray or Shark and make very good eating 

this was one of my solo sorties out in the bay

View fro my lounger whilst enjoying Breakfast

An Island resort on Stradbrook Island remember not many people about this is the off season  

Two Ladies of Leisure awaiting to be transported home

Weekends the water is packed with every variety of Craft from the humble ubiquitous fishing tinny to the Ocean going yachts and cruisers people Kite Surfing, kayaking, para sailing jet skiing and of course fishing the water is veritable playground for people of every age everyone wants to just enjoy it and it does seem to work even those stupid H.A,S rules which in most cases just restrict enjoyment seem to be very much more relaxed and place the responsibility and the onus on you the percipient.

   

This Boat was apparently used to film part of the Pirates of the Caribbean I was not allowed to take it for a trip around the bay 

This is a nautical map of where we actually are and of the broad water I go fishing  

This is a map of the canal system where we are the arrow marks the actual House 

Put her into the wind Noreen !!!!!!!

God Bless

FIRST WEEK

First Week

Yes it will be two weeks tomorrow seem like we have been here for years isnt it strange how quickly you remember your surroundings we have just returned from the shops (which here there are plenty including fishing tackle the best one is BCF boating , camping fishing all under one roof its as big as two football pitches ) anyway we have just returned from Noreen type shopping

to do this we borrow Mary's car quite a large automatic so in a short run I had to get use to the automatic, road signs, ausi drivers, and the setting sun, still we hae returned didnt get lost and no scrapes even though the precinct car park is underground and as tight as a rabbits warren

The hard part of the week was the two days blues festival we were both still in jet lag mode having just spent three days travelling But I would not have missed it for the world what a fantastic two days But it did leave us quite exhausted for the rest of the week so we hae been very lazy I have been on three fishing trips two with Roger and one by myself and if you think driving a car for the first time is nervy try sailing a strange boat in strange waters But I got out caught some fish and returned with everything intact. From the house I have about 25min sailing on the canal to get out to the Broad Water, the canal is wonderful; All this land was once swamp then the developers moved in they first built a canal system as a meens of draining the land then divided up into plots for house building so now the canals are lined with some fantastic houses this being one all with pools and private jetties it really a wonderful place for those who like water as we do

The rest of the from your perspective has been boring because we have just been visiting old haunts and getting accustomed to our new habitat though I have some great pics to show

God Bless you all

Getting ready for a day out on Mary's boat

Noreen with the best seat going down the canal to open water

Out on the spit its a great walk after a good Lunch

Two Sisters causing chaos Just look at that weather closing in 

Noreen and Mary rounding up some of the locals

Looking Down just one of the canals

Me and Roger in our little fishing tinny

First two days

Hi Everyone
Well we have arrived more by good luck than good management as I predicted there was not enough time to disembark in Sydney collect baggage, pass through Passport control, security  then change.
from international to Domestic airport all in 90 mins. we missed our connection to Brisbane, and managed to get the next flight which was only an hour to wait. Other than that the trip was relatively  smooth all except the turbulence, from Manchester to Abu Dhabi it was like riding a roller coaster, at times  I thought we were going to fall apart. However we made it and your ticket only gets you to your destination it never promises it will be done in comfort  but the flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney was almost empty at least 150 spare seats we just stretched out in the spare seats it was most relaxing
We arrived in Brisbane to a fan fare of welcomes; but were knackered but after a few hours we were up and at them and went to the Big Blues Festival at Broad Beach I like Glastonbury without the mud and rain which is replaced by Sun and sand well most of it takes over the of Broadbeach town centre difficult to explain like most music festivals "you have to be there " My nephew Mark who is another wonderful Musician is now a festival organiser and has done a great job with this one, look it up on google, We went again last night to see the finale my favorite blues band "Canned Heat " were heading  why is it that guys and gals of my era can still play and entertain with such passion and freedom truly remarkable. I know that all music should be experienced life but when you see these guys some who have been doing now over 50 years it makes me realise why I love my music. I have a little note printed on my guitar that reads "I dont understand music but I love the sound it makes. " I cannot read music Maryanne has tried to teach me now, Thomas is attempting to teach me all without success. However  I still manage to make an acceptable sound ? and as I am not writing music or conducting I have never found it a disadvantage
So thats the week end over today has dawn wet we had a bit of a storm in the night and its still raining however its only 06,10  so there is time for it to clear up. This morning Roger and I are sorting out the boat and fishing gear ready for a few trips out trying to empty the oceans of its fish stocks don't worry all you environmentalists we only take what we can eat the rest go back .
Then this afternoon I have to go shopping as I omitted to pack my Toilet bag luckily I don't need mu to to keep my appearances up to a very high standard so the cost will be kept down to a very bear minimum ????
So Folks thats it for the first two days of our 72 day stay down under
Stay tuned in
God Bless
Buggerlugs

Well you have o start somewhere

great big Blues bands

and those who just love music

The place 

The  Place 

US

Off we Go

Up up up and Away

May the 16 we fly today

I knew the day wasn't going to mode well when at 04.00 this morning the phone rang now with little Evie not being so good it was panic time anyway having released my self from the arms of Orphius I found the offending phone and answered expecting anything BUT what I got was “ good morning did you order a airport Taxi in my confusion I said well yes I did He then said well Im here could you open the gate and let me in I said of course I can but would he mind waiting about 12 hours as the taxi I had booked was for 4.00pm not 4.00 am The poor an was devastated and couldn't apologise enough.

I will state now that at 15.50 Lee called to say he was waiting in the car park so that episode with the taxi's. Except on the way it was incident free free no traffic going into Manchester but I said to Lee you had better book a late tea as the traffic leaving Manchester was grid locked.

The airport was very relaxed and unusually quiet. However I do think that security just wait for me and use me as a training aid. As usual I set all the alarms off with my Biomic Body this then meant a full search I know it was my fault that I forgot I had a “credit card multi tool in my wallet. Now this little inoffensive little card caused more alrm than an AK45 you would have thought that I with my credit card multi tool were going to take over the world or even single handedly Solve Brexit. I have found with Security that you must smile ignore all sarcastic comments and giggles and just act stupid which as you know I have down to a fine art anyway ha ing done as much humiliation as they could with the Multi Tool the decided to go one further and started to swab for drugs.

Noreen thought all this was hilarious mainly because when flying I always wear very loose trousers however this dosent help when you have to stand a kimbo with your arms in the air with no belt to hold up what dignity you have left Howeer when they realise Noreen was with me and therefor a co-conspirator in the attack on world domination and the solving of Brexit they called her back shoes off the lot that took the smile off her face

lol

The rest of it was or I should say it is at the moment as we are just taking off I will continue after I have sampled dinner or from Abu Dhabi where we have 3 hours on the ground

Well flying long haul is just as bad as short haul The days of relaxed flying can now only be enjoyed by the elite . you have to pay for the most recent films, Snacks, any extra drinks. The food is included but its awful, however sleep is free so we took quite a lot of that. We are in the Airport lounge Noreen has just returned after buying a smoothy and a coffee she only had sterling and is fuming because she has about 5 rehad change out of a tenner

Flying out in three hours

the Fun starts in Sydney wait for the next episode

Abandon ship (for ten weeks)

Hi Everyone

Well its arrived  only 5 days to go and we fly to Australia another long trip of 10 weeks ish
This time it seems we have been waiting a long time I thought we would never get it together however it seems we have arrived at count down. Our intentions are to have a few weeks in Runaway Bay with Mary and Roger just acclimatising then we fly up to Darwin couple of days exploring the sites the we pick up a large camper and we all go off for 10 days exploring the Northern Territories, I have always wanted to  there  but never made it problem is its so bloody big. one day traveling is like going from Devon to Argyle when you are on a road and you see a sign that says "no Fuel for 650k " then you realise that you are on your own, its a great feeling of freedom cant beet it

I will of course be running the blog I hope to do at least one a week or more but ther could be times when internet is not possible

We depart Manchester at 20.30 hrs on the 16 May its an epic journey via Abu Dhabi, Sydney then onto Brisbane

I know we are only away for 10 weeks but it has been a very busy time getting the Buggerlugs ready to be abandoned, though thats not quite true as she will be getting lots of visitors and may even go out for a little run, So I have had to get her ready for that as well.

Thats it keep an eye on the blog starting next week