Steven and Sharon

We spent two days with Steve and Sharon in Lenox Head, about 15K away from Byron Bay. They moved up from Melbourne late last year and are not missing it much . . .

Walking up to the Byron Bay Lighthouse, checking out surfers, schools of dolphins, and even some whales in the distance. They were hard to spot but apparently are just starting their move north to spawn.

I think this photo speaks for itself.

Friends at the lighthouse.

Beach Walk

The next day we did some more hiking, or "bush walking" as they call it here in Oz. This time near the beautiful beach. Wayne strikes a pose.

We were very lucky that the whole 5 days we were near Byron it was sunny and over 20C. Which in Fahrenheit is, uh, warmish. And pretty amazing for winter, although not unusual for the area.

Duncan is in the background of the photo, inspecting something . . .

Minyon Falls

Lucy, Duncan and I went on a 4 hour hike from the top on Minyon Falls to the bottom, and back up again. The hike was well worth the beautiful views. Some sort of bug created these "squibbles" on the tree.

The green plant, the staghorn, grows out of trees in this forrest. I believe it is sub-tropical.

Falls from the bottom.

Duncs and Lucy stop for a photo after crossing the creek.

Byron Bay

Duncan and I were fortunate enough to spend a long weekend in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales, just near the Queensland border. Byron Bay the town is a bustling little place filled with hippies, a few yuppies, and in the summer swarms of European backpackers. Luckily it is winter here and it was very quiet. Ducan's friends Lucy and Wayne (and dog Jackie) have a place nearby in Ocean Shores. Byron Bay lighthouse in the distance.

Lucy, Wayne and Jackie checking out some sea creature "artwork".

Birds at Lake Eildon

Eric and Maria have a bird feeder in their back yard which attracts lots of beautiful native birds. These two are king parrots. I think a male and a female.

These multi-colored beauties are called Rosellas.

Lake Eildon

Duncs' friends of 20 years, Eric and Maria, were nice enough to have us to their house at Lake Eildon for the Queen's Birthday long weekend. It was a little chilly. These next two photos are from their backyard, one at about 9am, and one a few hours later once the fog had rolled away. Note all the trees growing out of the middle of the lake--they grew there during the 10 years drought when there was no water in this part of the lake! When Eric and Maria bought their house a year ago they had to walk 10 mintues to the lake--now it is back up to their yard!

The boys doing some fishin'. Maria and I drank bubby from our lawn chairs.

Eric smoked some of the trout--delicious!