Woz travelling 2022

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Whwoz
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Woz travelling 2022

#1

Post: # 78632Unread post Whwoz
Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:08 am

We have started out on our trip to visit friends at Cresent Head, NSW, not that far from Kempsey, the local regional centre. Way back in 1991 I worked for Nestle at Smithtown in the worlds oldest Milo plant and this is a friendship from then.

We will be working our way up along the NSW coast with first stop tonight at Kalimna, near Lakes Entrance, a small start on a trip 3 years in the planning, thanks Covid. Wet and dark when we got here so no photos at this stage. Will keep this thread updated with photos as best I can over next two weeks then finish off from home.

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Cornelius_Gotchberg
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#2

Post: # 78636Unread post Cornelius_Gotchberg
Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:33 am

Shoot Woz, ain't it plantin' season Down Under...?

Anywho, on the subject of traveling, the lovely and long suffering Mrs. Gotch (and the guy who worships the ground she inhabits) visited Iron County (OUR Top-O-The-World) twice as much as usual this summer.

Despite rolling along at warp speed, it still takes ~ 4 1/2 to 5 hours one way, with patchy radio reception along the way.

In an effort to bypass this inconvenience, the aforementioned Mrs. Gotch purchased the Bill Bryson Down Under/In A Sun-Burned Country CD set.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_Under_(book).

Long story short, despite being a mere third of the way through it, we're thoroughly enjoying learning about the (your) country which doubles as a continent.

The Gotch
Madison WESconsin/Growing Zone 5-A/Raised beds above the Midvale Heights spade-caking clay in the 77 Square Miles surrounded by A Sea Of Reality

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#3

Post: # 78659Unread post Whwoz
Fri Sep 16, 2022 5:31 pm

Yes @Cornelius_Gotchberg , it is getting towards planting time, although I did plant the peppers and tomatoes a couple of weeks later to allow for it.

Sounds like a good book to cover some of the Adventures that one can have in this country.

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#4

Post: # 78753Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:27 pm

We made it as far as Moruya yesterday, having stopped in Eden and Merimbula along the way. Burnt country was obvious along the way, haven't had the chance to review video yet.

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#5

Post: # 78786Unread post Whwoz
Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:21 am

Mogo zoo today. This small private zoo was nearly burnt out three years ago, but fortunately the fire was stopped before too much damage was done. The back half of some of the paddocks for zebra, giraffe, the two Southern white Rhino boys were burnt but other than fencing nothing else destroyed. They were able to get fencing fixed, only for it to be swept away in floods a couple of months later.

They didn't loose any animals to the fires, fortunately one of the local equipment hire companies donated a large compressor to run the main building with all the meat freezers in it. One of two houses on site was also powered by this compressor and they relocated all the small animals into that house in cages. Larger animals just had to chance it. Some of the workers has PTSD as a result and smoke from rubbish piles can spook them until they realise what is happening.

Travelling through Mogo township itself, one can see whereabouts the fires burnt buildings and which ones survived the fires. Fortunately it appears that most survived.

Second night at Moruya, heading off to Bradman museum and International cricket hall of fame tomorrow.

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#6

Post: # 78789Unread post Whwoz
Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:40 am

A few notes from a discussion or two with people who work/live in Eden from the fires.

The town is a harbour town and is situated primarily on a rocky headland with several other ridges leading back to our Australian Main Mountain range forming a series of small bays and beaches around what is known as Twofold bay. The fire was heading towards the town from the South West with most residents/workers gathered on the North side of Snug Cove, the central harbour of the town where most of the development is. Historically Eden was a whaling town, late a tuna cannery was built and now the main focus is tourism, with cruise ships from Sydney and Melbourne visiting.

On the day, the fire was travelling north east and was only one or two ridges away from the town centre when the wind changed direction and sent the fires to the south west destroying the other main industrial complex in the area, a wood chip mill and export facility. The centre of the town spared destruction.

On the day it was that dark that birds were roosting and you were lucky if you could see 20 meters/22yards away. The police came to try to evacuate everyone and were told to p### off, the locals had it planned that they would get onto the various tugboats and whale watching boats if needed.

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#7

Post: # 78936Unread post Whwoz
Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:38 pm

Headed inland slightly yesterday and wound up loosing 3 hours after stopping for an "inspection" of a small area and finding that the car wouldn't re-start. Dead battery the cause. Was going to go through the Bradman museum, which will be done today instead. Slept at Bundanoon.

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#8

Post: # 78951Unread post Whwoz
Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:45 am

Problem that caused " inspection" has resolved itself fully or close to. Went through the Bradman museum and International hall of fame today, could have spent a lot more time than we did if on my own, kids are interested and have played development cricket but have limited patience for staying at type of venue at the moment. Headed back down to the coast, stopping at Wollongong tonight and tomorrow with day trip to Symbio wildlife park on tomorrows agenda. Got up to see the sea cliff bridge this afternoon.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#9

Post: # 78960Unread post Cornelius_Gotchberg
Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:06 am

Woolongong? The names of places there are a hoot!

WESconsin has it's share (some say MORE than its share) of...um...creatively-named towns; a smattering:
https://discoverwisconsin.com/blog/25-s ... own-names/

Incuriously missing are the Polk County hamlets of Wanderoos & Deronda, whose unique...um...flair might be fitting for Down Under.

FUN FACT
: I've been to every town listed above...and BEYOND!

The Gotch
Madison WESconsin/Growing Zone 5-A/Raised beds above the Midvale Heights spade-caking clay in the 77 Square Miles surrounded by A Sea Of Reality

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karstopography
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#10

Post: # 78990Unread post karstopography
Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:33 pm

Lots of space there. Australia is not much smaller than the lower 48 states and has less people than Texas. I know Texas has a lot of wide open spaces, but Australia is on a whole other level.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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Whwoz
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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#11

Post: # 79102Unread post Whwoz
Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:36 am

Lots of space down under, with around 80% of our population living in around 15% of the land. The rest of the land simply doesn't have the water to sustain much life. Vast areas west of the Great Dividing Range see less than 10 inches/250 mm rain a year on average, but rain may not fall in areas for years. Often floods from tropical cyclones can send rain down to our lowest point, Lake Eyre in South Australia. These floods events can be literally just the with of the flood zone, with some stations (ranches) not seeing any pasture growth while others are literally knee deep in fodder.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#12

Post: # 79103Unread post Whwoz
Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:45 am

Yesterday was a day spent at Symbio Wildlife Park followed by a run back to base over the Seacliff bridge again.

Today we travelled from Wollongong up to Gosford via Bondi Beach (what's the fuss all about?) , From there we travelled over the Sydney Harbour bridge, just as well it was a public holiday as with only minimal traffic in Sydney making movement through the city easier.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#13

Post: # 79112Unread post Whwoz
Thu Sep 22, 2022 5:48 am

Struggling to get the time to sort photos to post folks, plenty being taken though. Accommodation has mainly been in family room with 4 beds in one room, to bed for us once kids are in bed.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#14

Post: # 79251Unread post Whwoz
Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:07 am

Ok, we have made it as far North as we will travel and are spending the next 4 nights at Kempsey. Tomorrow we catch up with friends, then head over to South West Rocks on Monday or Tuesday. Lovely part of the world around here. Will take photos and post later

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#15

Post: # 79307Unread post Whwoz
Sun Sep 25, 2022 3:20 am

Went out to mates today, very wet as to be expected considering how much rain the district has had. Wondered through his orchid house, mostly native but some exotic, photographed a number but all are showing effect of the weather with fungal spotting on them.

Followed up with a trip out to the township of Crescent Head were a bit of time was spent attempting to body surf but waves were not really suitable.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#16

Post: # 79405Unread post Whwoz
Mon Sep 26, 2022 4:17 pm

Laundry day yesterday morning followed by trip out toy old Stomping ground in South West Rocks. 31 years ago I lived there and the developers have got hold of the town and really expanded it. No longer a quiet beachside town, but still a fabulous location. Unfortunately the water was far too dirty to be swimming in with two creeks and the districts major river emptying into the sea there.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#17

Post: # 79409Unread post karstopography
Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:48 pm

@Whwoz sorry, fat finger thumb down vote was unintentional.

Enjoy your travels.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#18

Post: # 79441Unread post Whwoz
Tue Sep 27, 2022 7:37 am

@karstopography , not a problem, realise how easy it is to hit the wrong button, particularly if an unexpected glitch occurs.

Today was a visit to the second of our good friends up here, an exceptional grower of Den speciosum particularly the varieties speciosum, curvicaule and grandiflorum. Some exceptional flowers amongst his plants. Unfortunately finished flowering but he had some photos of them. Truely magnificent.

Followed this up with a run to the koala hospital in Port Macquarie then dinner with the friends we visited on Sunday.

This winds up the north bound leg of the journey, tomorrow we head home, only a 4.5 hr drive interrupted by a visit to the Shark and Ray recovery centre near Port Stephens.

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#19

Post: # 79497Unread post Whwoz
Wed Sep 28, 2022 4:02 am

Shark and Ray recovery centre was all about the by catch from when the netters beach haul. Injured eagle rays, banjo sharks, Port Jackson sharks and a couple of other species are allowed to recover, housed on site then sent out to aquariums for display. They also have about 5 Longfin eels which can be feed and walked through there tank.

Back to Kariong tonight before an 8.5 hr run tomorrow to Echuca, where the intention is to travel on a different paddle steamer to last year.

Forgot to mention that we have just been on the edge of a severe thunderstorm, we only received a comparative sprinkle to what some areas would have received. Driving for 3/4 hr looking at lighting flashing before we got to it

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Re: Woz travelling 2022

#20

Post: # 79550Unread post Whwoz
Thu Sep 29, 2022 7:17 am

Made it to Echuca, long day nearly 9 hrs drive time plus a couple of good breaks.

That thunderstorm I mentioned yesterday produced some large hail, glad we were out of that. Not exactly sure how large, but people were bagging it and it made several news feeds.

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