Markey Christmas Party

NOOSA

Well Jenny has had her 25th birthday twice this year at Noosa. To celebrate we flew to the Gold Coast and saw Em & Steve then Em lent us her car (thanks Em, we didnt really lose the keys) and drove up to the Sunshine Coast via the Eumundi markets. These markets were great but it was bucketing down so we didn't get to do all our Christmas shopping. Found our digs in Noosa which was a great location. A walk through the rainforest to the main street. Most days spent walking, swimming, relaxing, checking out the location. Jenny would move here in a flash.

Oog, Pelican and CD

Finally caught up with my best mates from Ourimbah Public School days. i grew up with these blokes and had some great adventures with them at school, visiting each others places, through the scouts, on our dairy farm and later hangin about in Gosford and Gosford High. Keith(AKA Oog) spent many years in the cleaning contract business on the central coast and now resides at Halidays Point where he is a Yoga teacher. Malcolm (AKA Pelican, big bird or the big flappa) spent many years with the Commonwealth Bank but has recently moved to Bathurst and now is a remedial massage therapist. I, alas, am still teaching.

Vegie & Herb Garden

Hinchinbrook Island - Thorsborne Trail

Carey's Peak Walk

Went to Gloucester Tops last weekend to test out our hiking legs in preparation for the Thorsborne Trail, Hinchenbrook. Arrived at the Allyn River camp ground (the same place only the previous week where a mad bunch of dropkicks went to each other with machettes and chainsaws) to be greeted by our welcoming party, Mike & Kez. Fortunately the camparea was devoid of any idiots and M&K had chosen the BEST spot and had a gnice fire going with drinks and nibblies. Next day the hikers headed for Lagoon Pinch which is the start point for walking. A locked gate prevents any vehicle from entering. The walk was quite tough with heavy backpacks so we had frequent stops and travelled slowly. At the half way point there is a side detour to Selby Alley Hut. This hut was built by walkers in the 1930s and is still used today.

We got to the top but the view was a white out so headed for our campsite. As the pictures show it was a great place. Plenty of fresh water to boil the billy for tea and to rehydrate our dinner. The walk, although tough (just as tough coming down as it really wrecks your knees) was good to get a feel of the packs and also to see what we really need (and what we could leave behind) when we go to Hinchie.

Easter Bike Riding

Went to Mudgee for the Mudgee Muster bike riding get together. Jenny couldn't come (awwwwe) so I went with Ray and another cobweb rider Brian. We rocked into Mudgee on Friday at lunchtime, put the tents and the tarp up, enjoyed a sausage sizzle with other riders and headed into town on our bikes looking for a coffee shop. We had a coffee shop crawl over the 4 days at Mudgee tasting the best that Mudgee has to offer and my favourite was the Butcher shop cafe, yum. We did a 25km introductory ride this day and went back to camp for a few beers and a feed followed by a trivia night in the big shed. next day more rides including a ride to one of the wineries and back. Ray and I took some mountain bikes (thanks Rod) and did a mountain bike single track trail in the Mudgee hills. Scary but fun. Back home for more beers, red wines and muscat with our bedtime coffee. By the time we got to Monday we were pretty biked out but went on a 50Km round trip ride. Got 15km out and decided to turn back as we had enough riding.

The last weekend of the school holidays Jenny and I and 9 other cobweb riders went out to Dungog for some rolling hill riding. I rode in the morning at Newcastle on our regular ride and then headed out to Dungog for an afternoon ride of about 50km. Back to the motel for very refreshing beers. Then top the local pub for typical country tucker. Huge big steaks etc.
Morning ride called the Fosterton loop was very picturesque returning to Dungog for a big breakfast, YUM. Home for a rest.