Gardens of Stone (Wolgan Valley)

A sublime hike to The Gardens of Stone with Gavin, Srini, Rajesh and Michal.

Highlights

• Michal's amazing driving over muddy, cratered roads to get us to the start of the hike. My car got stuck and started to over-heat so we had to abandon her half way. Thank goodness for Michal's Saburu!
• Coming across a lovely grotto early on in the hike where we signed the guest book as a grumpy Scott Morrison.
• Hiking along a ridge almost all the way so the going was pretty flat. A low effort hike but with awesome rewards.
• After an hour of hiking, the ridge opening up with sublime views of The Wolgan Valley.
• The extraordinary rock formations including awesome pagodas.  This part of the world is not called "Gardens of Stone" for nothing.
• Stunning views of rain on the horizon with shafts of light shining though. The rain caught up with us after a little while but it cleared up quickly.
• Reaching a great camp site but deciding to press on in case we came to an even better one.
• Srini's exhortation that we hike to The Nipple, famous for its epic views.  We reached it and carried our packs up it for good measure (God knows why!) to reach another group of hikers Srini knew.
• The wind picking up, it started getting bitterly cold. No better camps site eventuated so we regrouped our steps back to the initial one.
• After setting up our tents, enjoying a gorgeous sunset over the valley while sipping wine.
• Collecting wood and making a wonderful fire that warmed us up nicely.
• Lots more wine, delicious sea food Laksa (thanks Srini) and sublime sausages fried up in garlic butter on the fire (thanks Gavin).
• Srini declaring loudly that he was "The Last Man Standing."  What a champion he is.
• Gavin's tent suddenly blowing away in the strong wind and requiring some rapid action to stop it.
• A rather chilly night to put it mildly. Gavin's pesky tent decided to collapse in the middle of the night requiring more action.
• More scrumptious sausages for breakfast. Never tasted anything so good!!
• A relatively gentle walk back, enjoying more sublime views.
• Rajesh carrying my pack down a treacherous incline when my fear of heights kicked in. Now that IS a true champion!!
• More muddy fun driving back out.
• Stopping off for pizza on the way back.
• All in all, a fantastic weekend.
• PS  The saying of the weekend, "Did you stop for a Hot Lunch?"

The muddy drive to the start of the hike

My car started to overheat and we worried it would end up like this!

Hiking in

The dream team.

I loved this grotto we came to early on in the hike.

Scott Morison aka Gavin left a message in the sign in book.

Sublime views across the valley

Rain on the horizon

Ascending The Nipple

Sun starting to set

Sunset and wine

Camping

By the fire

Hiking back

 

Top Gun Maverick

 What a movie!

So cool!!

Anthony Albanese (new prime minister of Australia) came to Gavin's book launch in 2016 and I got to photograph him. I remember thinking at the time that he is a really lovely guy.

Visiting Jilly in Bowral

 

Letter to Michael

Sorry I haven't been in contact like I said I would.  Life has been unbelievably hectic for really wonderful reasons I wanted to share as it involves you directly!

You'll remember Sue went to both the Arctic and Antarctic on her travels and they were the best travel experiences of her life. Her eyes would light up whenever she spoke of her adventures there and her photos were unbelievable.  I got to edit her photos from both places and dreamed of going myself one day.  However, the cost of getting on the ship  is very, very high and I wondered if I would ever get the chance.

Then, out of the blue, an educational company who a good friend works for contacted me and asked me if I'd like to go on an Arctic expedition with them as  their nature photographer and researcher - totally for free!!   If the trip is a success, there will be the chance to go to Antarctica too and several other destinations around the world.  An absolute dream come true!!

The only challenge was that I needed to have the latest, mirrorless camera and my camera and some of my lenses are very out of date.  

So, thanks to your amazing generosity, I was able to go out and get all the photographic equipment I need. Without it, I would really have struggled to afford it. The process of deciding which camera and lenses to get has been unbelievably exciting.

I've had a chance to really get to use the new camera and lenses over the past few weeks and it's blown me away with what it can do. It somehow knows when you are photographing an animal and focuses on the animal's eyes without you having to do anything. It's total magic and takes all the stress out of photographing wildlife.  Photographing polar bears is going to be a cinch with it.

So I just wanted to thank you again for all you've enabled . I appreciate it more than words can say.  I know Sue, wherever she may be, will be absolutely and thoroughly delighted too.  I really have a wonderful sense of that.

I leave for the Arctic tomorrow and will be away 3 weeks or so.  When I get back, I'd love to take you out for lunch and regale you with my adventures and show you some of my photos.

I hope you are doing really well.

G

Hiking in The Nattai Wilderness (Southern Highlands)

A hike down to The Nattai River with Srini and Omar.

Highlights

• Discussing the challenges and perils of modern dating.
• A relatively gentle descent down the valley until we reached the river. 
• The river eventually opening up into a wonderful, wide vista where it turned into a mini-rapid. Very scenic.
• An invigorating dip in the rapids.
• Having lunch by the river and a little bit of a nap.
• Walking back, we headed off onto another track that promised a good view, but after discovering it would require more hiking than we thought, we turned back. Sorry Srini!  Democracy won the day.
• The sun setting as we returned to the car.
• Stopping off for a good feed on the way home.

At the start of the trail

Hiking down into the river from the top of the valley

A lovely warm, sunny day

Beautiful views across the valley

Arriving at the river

The Nattai River opening up into a grand vista

The perfect place for an invigorating dip

Back up at the top of the valley as the sun started to set

Happy 50th birthday dear Jo

My birthday video

An amazing life map by Mikaela

Festivities

From Jo:

"Turning 50 is not so bad when you feel so loved and spoilt by so many amazing people!!  3 night breakaway to my favourite apartment block in Kalk Bay, champagne breakfast at Simon’s, baby tea friends for cocktails and cake on our balcony overlooking the harbour below, and a magical super full moon swim tonight x"

Posters Jo made for her party

Jo graduates as a Zoe Project birth companion

In Jo's words

It was the new Zoe Project volunteer graduation this morning in Retreat. Not only did I hand out certificates to my new nursery ladies but I also graduated as a birth companion. I feel so privileged and honoured to be able to support and encourage moms in labour and to be their biggest cheerleaders.

So amazing what Jo is doing.  So inspiring!!