Jervis Bay

Welcome to Jervis Bay - a short flight from Brisbane, down to Sydney to see my mates, then off in the car, for a short drive 3 hours south, and we arrived at Beautiful Jervis bay.

Fabulous beaches - ofcourse, we are in Australia, what do you expect??





We got up early to take pictures of the sunrise....This picture is courtesy of Herbert.



Kangroo - just coolin' out....




We went to a nearby lake to kayak....



Going Kayaking with Kerri. Don't laugh at the shorts or the shoes....Since it was WINTER, I thought it might, oh, I don't know, maybe COLD??? So, I didn't bring proper clothes. Luckily, I got good mates. Shorts, courtesy of Herbert, water shoes, courtesy of Lady Lisa.








Birds having a picnic....












Washin' Dishes with Lisa.....







Queenie - (my nickname) being silly....



more silliness...




Our own personal chef...








Off we go on a hike....

This is an attractive outfit that I have on. :-)

A Day at the Horse Races!

I have no idea who these girls are....but, this is the type of crazy stuff the people where to the horse races!



Yes, this guy IS wearing a red suit with a red hat....



We took the train...and ofcourse, both I and Natalie was late. The reason I was late, was because I couldn't find anything outrageous to wear so that I could still squeeze into....I ended up with a biker/fairy type outfit. The dress was a fairy dress, adorned with knee high boots and a black leather jacket - which I didn't end up needing because it was bloody hot - welcome to winter in Brisbane.....

Rachel is so happy that we finally showed up!!





we jumped on a very crowded train, where everyone was dressed in their finest clothes...half of them rip roaring drunk, although it was only 11 am in the morning!



We have arrived at Ekka day Horse Races! Me and my 2 beautiful friends, Natalie and Rachel

















I won the first race! I guess who came in first and who placed!!! Ofcourse, when you only bet $1, you don't win too much....Enough to pay for the $9.00 drink!








Double Rainbow on the way home...

Rowing Camp

Sunrise at the Rowing Camp...



As I jogged along the Brisbane river and the sun begins to rise, I would see slick boats, their occupants all rowing in perfect synchronicity, gliding by. I want to do that! I want to do that! Rowing is a perfect combination of exercises of the mind and the body. It is a combination of focusing on timing and perfecting your stoke along with physical exhilaration to make your heart race.

I search and search the Internet for club near my house. As this one has no web site, I just happened upon it as I drove along the river's edge in search of a shed.




At first I was an outsider to the tight knit family. I didn't know how to row, I was constantly doing everything wrong and to top it off, I am a Yankee. When the professional coach was there, he yelled at me for 2 hours straight. My sun glasses hid my tears of frustration and embarrassment.

Still, I showed up every opportunity I was allowed. I get up out of bed at 4:14 to be at the shed by 4:50 am.

I have even completed my first rowing regatta! Pictures of that coming soon.

So, yes, you can do anything that you put your mind to, persistence is the key. I am proof.

Ready to Row....



Yeah...but, which way??




Going for a tinny ride....



From up above...




Just chillin' on the deck....



Susan is ready for some action....

Time to Play in the mud!

Come go hiking with me.....we are off to my favorite hiking spot, the Western Scenic Rim, which is an hour and 1/2 drive from Brisbane, if you don't get lost, which I always do. Or there is a wreck, or there is construction, or there is pouring rain. Yet, I always return to my favorite spot for a long hike, a bottle of wine, and cheese and crakers...let's go....






up the trail....




Typical Queensland rainforest foliage...so beautiful. I always said I was going to live somewhere there was palmtrees....and even named my business back in North Carolina: www.palmtreeinc.net







This is the trail of two Black boys. No, not the tale of Two Black Boys, but, a trail adorned with a "Black Boy" plant. The name of the plant was changed to be more policitically correct when a sigh was found that said: "Black boys for sale at nursery up ahead". :-)













You can see how high up I am from the winding road below....that is the road you drive in on to get to this hike.