Old Man... I'm a lot like you are

I’ll try to go in order of the events that have transpired over the past 10 days; including Dave’s arrival.  The past 2 weeks has been filled with quite a bit of fun and adventure, aided by the fact that Dave’s trip is “Action Packed.”

Myself and nine others visited White’s Beach for an overnight camping trip.  I had an absolute blast hanging out with the boys, Joe and Hue (AUS).  Thank you so much to Michelle (Seattle) for organizing the great trip.  Although this beach isn’t too far away, it seems to be a hidden gem of beaches.  We brought food, drinks, tents and an open mind looking forward to the morning sunrise.

My mate, Joe playing some 6-sting Cliffside… I was even nervous for him with the wind blowing 60 feet above the water!

Joe and I probably playing a little Gotye “Somebody I used to know.”  One of his best songs he does from start to finish.

Climbing down from the rocks, Michelle gives me a big “Cheeeeese.”

I was the first to wake up in the morning just before 6am; the magic started from there.

So White’s Beach was a big success being good times with good people.  It rained a bit that night, but we found a small cove (not quite a cave) to sleep inside instead of the tents we had brought. 

A few days later, Hue left to go back to Melbourne for University.  Hue is 21, and an amazing guitarist.  Always looking to have a good time, I had a blast getting to know Hugh in Tent City.  Hugh worked as a Sea Kayak tour guide while he was here in Byron.  He studies urban planning at University, but I’d hope Hugh uses his music talents for years to come.

Enter Dave

We had gone to the beach and sea kayaking in the first few days of Dave’s visit.  I’ll save him the embarrassment in posting the first beach picture, apparently people have been spending a bit of time indoors back in the Nati!  We went and took out Julie’s sea kayak out to the beach on a rather windy, rough water day.  Needless to say it took us about 5 tries and 20 minutes to paddle out to calmer waters off the beach.  We paddled out maybe a half mile and floated in the water a bit getting a chance to jump out for a swim.  It’s always a weird feeling treading water when you know there is many many feet before you reach the sea floor! 

Dave mentioned that he really wanted to make sure to take a lot of pictures while he was here… This is his first picture of the trip as we began the hike around Minyon Falls.  Day 4 of his trip.

Here are a few pictures of the hike around Minyon Falls with Dave and Julie.  The hike was really enjoyable and a really “natural” trail where you really had to watch where you stepped.

Dave and Julie make there way across a stream running through to the falls.  One of the few spots where they’ve created spots for people to walk.

Dave and I at the base of a huge tree, which I believe is a “strangler tree.”  A tree that grows off of and around a totally different tree.  We’re probably a ¼ the way through the total 7.5km hike.

Dave and Julie make there way down to the water at the bottom of Minyon Falls.  Just checking the temp for now, but Dave and I will get into what felt like 40 degree water in just a few minutes.  I didn't get any pics on my phone, but Julie snapped a few shots of us getting pelted by the water falling from the top!








From a viewing spot on the way home from Minyon Falls.  This shows all of the bay and the lighthouse on the far right.

We stopped off at an old abandoned golf course
where Julie says many Kangaroos/Wallabies hang out in the evening.  This among a few others we saw is the first of them I’ve seen since being here in OZ!

In the mean time, since Hugh has left and gone back to Melbourne, I’ve taken the opportunity to move from my current tent spot I acquired soon after my arrival.  I took on the task of moving all of my stuff from my old spot to Hugh’s old spot, now my spot.  Trying to make this move as easy as possible, I took down the fly and collapsed the tent.  I thought for a minute how I could do this quickly by possibly taking the whole tent full of stuff in one trip. 

There are moments in your life when you realize you are becoming your parents or just recognizing your shared traits for that matter.  I got a huge smile on my face when I realized what I needed to do to transport my tent.  I had the tent somewhat rolled up and thinking of my options when many memories came to me from my childhood.  When doing yard work with my Dad, collecting sticks debree and the like, he always had a great way of rolling up all of the sticks and branches into a tight bundle and easily carried out to the trash.  I snapped into action and created this “stick bundle” with my rolled up tent.  It was pretty heavy, but I got it up to the new spot and set up with the quickness.  Following are shots of one of those awesome moments in time where you love and appreciate being your Father’s Son!

Feeling artsy, Joe snapped a picture of me on my first day in “Beverly Hills.”  The Hills is a small camping area located at the top of the campground.  Generally the water runs off pretty well and it’s close to the restrooms.

Wait, maybe joe didn’t snap that picture.  He’s taking a siesta on Hugh’s old bed… We’ve got this bed to lounge for the time being, but we’ll probably be forced to get rid of it soon.  Great place to take a nap other than a hot tent in the afternoon!

Flash to MOUNT WARNING!!!

This was one of the adventures I’ve been most looking forward to.  Julie, Dave, Cheri and Myself went up to Mt. Warning last night to camp out before climbing the mountain for sunset.  After we get the tents set up Dave snaps into action creating a fire.  This fire building was more or less completed 3 hours later…

Julie prepares some of the vego meal for herself and Cheri.  Dave and I will take down some chicken sold for a family of four.

We woke up at 3am and were on the trail to the top of Mt. Warning by 3:45am.  Dave is ready to go with his head lamp!

After a long trek to the top... The first glimpse of light!

Flinn got all bundled while we were at the top; and smart she was cause it was so cold!  Of course, I didn’t bring anything other than the shirt on my back; and of course it was drenched with sweat by the time we got to the top. (It took us 100 minutes to reach the top after 4.4km climb)

We were in the clouds and they would come and go for the hour that we were at the top.  This is the first view of the bottom.

Sunrise begins to show as I stand on the north side of the peak

Dave and I just before we make our way back down the mountain.  I think it took about 80 min to get down.  You’d think it’d be easier, but the trail is so rough you’ve got to take your time with foot placement in some areas. 

As you make your way the last 50 yds up to the peak, this is what you contend with!  They needed to put a chain link in just so you could pull yourself up on some of those rocks!

And that's the story as of now...