New South Wales mid coast report....

We have reached our last full day on the mid coast NSW Diamond beach. Tomorrow we head in to Sydney to explore for a few days and nights, and then off to our cruise. The rationale around this week was to get us in the vacation spirit....and various spirits have helped with that...and to get 'acclimated' to the time zones, climate, etc. We have been amazing... no one has had any illness and all have had good sleeping nights. We will attribute all that to good living and strong constitutions! We pray that continues...

Wednesday we traveled back to Forster - Tuncurry (about a 20 minute drive) and took a luncheon cruise on Wallis Lake. This region of NSW is known as the 

Great Lakes Region, and Wallis is one of those lakes.....although it is mostly saltwater and three rivers empty into it. The water is beautiful shades of green and blue, and this area is 

famous for Australian pelicans.....who breed on 'Pelican Island'. We got a fleeting glance at a sea turtle, and spotted a sea eagle. Saw some kangaroos cooling themselves on the shore. Commercially they raise oysters in the lake....so we got some good education on that process...which takes 3 years and much work!  The Captain was

 also chief cook and steward....so we drifted while we ate lunch, and enjoyed getting to know some of the other passengers. Very pleasant experience.

The 'Mid Coast' region we are visiting is sort of a get away spot for folks from Sydney. School started up again here at the end of January, after a 6-8 week break, so mostly retired folks or families with real young kids here at the resort. So timing wise...this is like after Labor Day in the States. The climate is sub-tropical......large rolling hills, many eucalyptus trees...also known as gum trees, fig trees and a variety of palms. They are going through a dry period, and fire danger is high. They had a fire in the region while we were here and the smoke looked like big thunder clouds. Didn't last long.

On Thursday, Doug got a round of golf in @ Tall Woods CC....just a bit down the

road. Doug played alone....teeing off before 7:30am, and found the course very dry except for the greens.  Couldn't figure out why his shots were  coming up short....then remembered that 

those Yard markers were probably actually Meter markers. He shot a 49 on the front, and 41 on the back with three birdies.....and has the sore hands to prove it! Yes....he will be bringing home the appropriate souvenirs.

Randy traveled up to Taree area to join the Manning Valley Birdwatchers on an outing. We met at the Saltwater Nature Preserve and they welcomed me into their group, and seemed to enjoy having a yank who thought every bird was new and exciting. Won't bore you all with the whole list, but the common birds were yellow faced honey eaters, a variety of fig birds, brush turkeys, kookaburras, magpies and magpie larks.

 Some of the special ones were a juvenile sea eagle, Australian hobby falcon, rainbow lorikeet, olive backed oriole, green catbird and a 

 bright yellow whistler. I was a 'youngster' in this group, and when they stopped for tea at about 9:30...I headed back home.

 Many, many very colorful birds here....that you would expect to see in a pet store.

The girls have been very good about keeping up with their exercise routines. Each morning includes a long walk, or some time in the fitness center on a stationary bike or doing a Firm Believers routine with the iPod. Makes Doug and I exhausted (and thirsty)  just watching! Their routine then takes them to the pool to read and do their sun worship.....then we bring cocktails to the pool and join them for a while......and then head down to explore the ocean. Diamond beach is somewhere around 8 miles long.....so we could explore for a long time. When we walk, we have to be mindful of the little jellyfish who have washed up with the waves so we don't get stung.

We've been grilling out many nights, and always eat meals out on the deck. We have a small Webber, and everyone pitches in. One night we went in to Black Head to a local tavern for pizza. We sampled the local fare  ( including 'chips and gravy'... french fries served with a brown gravy dipping sauce ) and the local brews. Some youngsters....18 is the drinking age...were playing pool nearby and sending one of their Mates off to the Army. 

Every night around dusk we head off to do some 'Roo watching'. We have never failed to see some, and some evenings we have seen a dozen or more. Good pictures are difficult, unless you catch them when there is good light....but the bigger ones seem to wait until it is fairly dark to venture out. Have seen several with joeys in their pouch.....and that is not getting old. There are signs in the region warning that this is Koala country......but the locals claim we would be very, very lucky to spot one. Doesn't deter us from looking....

Today we are catching up on some laundry before we go stay in a regular hotel or a cruise ship for about 3 weeks. We will make a final run into Forster this afternoon to return some things, and grill up the rest of our groceries before we depart in the morning. Looks like you are getting some warmer weather in Milwaukee....and we will both see temperatures in the mid to high 30's :)

You stay warm now.....and we'll try to stay cool!