Peter and I have been listening to the radio (no TV on Rene) and the continuing commentary on the foul weather conditions being experienced in NSW in the past 48 hours (23-4-15). We were there two weeks ago to catch up with our friends Roger and Carole at Toronto and to look in briefly on one of our favourite sailing grounds. They met us at the Fassifern train station and took us back to their place for lunch and Toronto news. In the afternoon we drove into Newcastle to see the Maritime Centre. We were all interested in the various shipwrecks in Stockton Bight and the horrendous weather that accompanied them. I'm glad we weren't there this week.
Roger and Carole have a new toy - Zeus. He is a quirky little run about that they are intending to use to explore some of the lake systems in NSW. We took Zeus for a motor around Toronto Bay and called in for coffee at our favourite coffee shop. Thanks for a lovely couple of days Roger and Carole. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sydney 10th - 13th April
Only a couple of days left in Sydney. We managed to squeeze in as much family time as possible, accompanying Leisha and Jessica to the park, harbour walks and shopping. On Saturday Greg, Leisha, Jessica, Peter and I decided to motor Ocean Street over to the south side of the harbour to Rose Bay. Peter and I did not stop there back in 2013 when we were in Sydney in Rene. I wanted to visit Vaucluse House as I had seen it in a garden book and the kitchen garden piqued my interest.
We anchored Ocean Street in 4m of water between two jetties and a large port hand marker. Rose Bay is shallow close in and it is best to anchor in the eastern bay as seaplanes use the western area.
Everyone piled in the dinghy and we landed on a small beach nearby. A short walk up the hill and we found ourselves in the grounds of Strickland House. This part of Sydney Harbour was once graced by family mansions surrounded by extensive parkland gardens. It appears that in the 1920's many of these properties were purchased by the government so that the people had access to the harbour and the properties could be used for community activities.
Strickland House
Peter and I have spent much of our many visits to Sydney walking the beautiful bush tracks along the north side of the harbour from Gore Cove to North Head and marvelled at the wonderful access that the public have to such an amazing place. Looking over to the south side and seeing suburbia stretching into the distance we did not realise that these lovely public parkland spaces existed. At Vaucluse House we watched as men, and women dressed in brightly coloured saris, arrived for an Indian wedding. Peter was not very complimentary about the music. He thought that it sounded a bit like - 'if your cat made a noise like that on the fence in the night you would shoot it!!!' The kitchen garden was a disappointment. Maybe it was because of the change of season.
Vaucluse House
Stables at Vaucluse House
On the 13th it was goodbye to Sydney for a while and off to Townsville, Peter's family and Rene tucked safely in her pen in Nelly Bay Magnetic Island. Thank you Greg, Leisha and Jessica for giving us such a lovely time in Sydney. We'll be back!
Greg Leisha and Jessica
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