Sydney

The view from our morning walk

Saturday morning at Gail's started with the normal routine of a cuppa and then a visit to the market, which is incredibly conveniently about 100m away.  Gail buys her weekly veggies, some delicious bread and other goodies before her weekly egg and bacon roll for breakfast.

The newly weds: Jonathon and Yu Rong

I salivated over a number of options before settling on some pork and prawn rice paper rolls for breakfast.  

Me and Jonathon

Returning to Gail's to consume our breakfast delights with another cuppa, we discussed the day's activities and resolved on a walk around the bay to Birkenhead - I had wanted to check out a couple of shops and Gail's advice was to avoid driving there at the weekend.  It was a delightfully sunny day and the 7km round walk was good exercise.  Plus my shopping was successful.

Me and Yu Rong

Packing up and checking my onward route to Jonathon's, I double checked that no tunnels would be entered on the way and headed off, stopping at a convenient Dan Murphy's for a bottle of celebratory bubbly on the way.  Clearly my idea of 'mid range' for that product is seriously downmarket in the eyes of the salesman. Thank you but no, Bollinger at $80/bottle was  not on my radar!!!  I settled for a much more plebeian bottle of non-vintage Jantz.  Good try young man!

Walking through leafy streets of Chatswood

Navigating to Jonathon's was much easier that the route to Gail's and I was pleased to arrive in good time, although concerned at his injuries from a fall he'd had on Thursday on his way home from work.  I recall he and Yu Rong walked me back to my accomodation on my previous visit as he deemed the footpaths physically hazardous.  

Gorgeous flowers on the way

My airbnb for the 3 days seems comfortable enough and conveniently close.  

A particularly nice grevillea in someone's garden

After check in I returned to Jonathon and we indulged in late afternoon tea/early nibbles with some rather delicious cheese I had purchased at the market (and other goodies)  

Pools in the Lane Cove Bushland Park

The plan for dinner was gourmet delivered:  Jonathon had identified some most suitable sushi, which proved to be superb, and Yu Rong collected it on her way back from visiting a friend.  

Lane Cove Bushland Park bushwalk

This, from my perspective, was a late wedding supper and was celebrated appropriately with a bottle of bubbly that was also to Yu Rong's taste (she has expensive tastes).  A pleasant evening was had but Jonathon was flagging due to his injuries, so I returned early to my accommodation.

The first fungus I saw but it might be slime mould

Sunday morning: I pottered about before heading around for a good mid morning coffee with Jonathon.  As he was still feeling pretty average I took myself off for a walk in the Lane Cove Bushland Park.  As Maps told me it was only a 30-40 minute walk to get to the park, I walked - through some delightfully leafy streets with gardens showing interesting and beautiful flowers.  

And I found one mushroom

I chose the walk because it was billed as one of the best fungi spotting areas in the country.  I was lured under false pretences.  There was a section that was closed to protect endangered fungi, but I saw little on the section I walked; it was, however, a very pleasant and relaxing walk.

Lillypilly falls in 1901

I proceeded on to a walk through the Gore Creek reserve down to the bay, diverting to Lillypilly Falls, and enjoyed the walk, as well as the historical interpretations en route.

Lillypilly falls now

I returned via Lane Cove main road - with the intent of procuring lunch.  My choice, mindful of not messing too much with my dietary restrictions, proved to be a really bad choice and I dispatched a good 2/3 of it into a convenient bin.

Some good sandstone cliffs
near the entrance to Gore Creek

I returned to Jonathon's, after a 9km walk, to find him no livelier than when I left and glad to accept my offer of going shopping for the necessities for dinner.  I managed this little bit of driving navigation with minimal stress, although was somewhat surprised by the route home.

Historical aqueduct near Gore Creek;
what it carried and to where
does not bear close thought

A most pleasant dinner of a medley of roast vegetables, blanched broccoli and bbq lamb and chicken skewers, accompanied by a glass or two of wine and finished off with a cheese etc platter was enjoyed by all.  

Jonathon again indicated he was getting tired and I returned early to my accomodation.  I must admit, I am somewhat worried about him.  His injuries are still not pretty.

This shallow pool / fountain / water feature at
Darling Quartern (a new term)
provided much amusement for small kiddies

Monday: I headed round for coffee about mid morning and while Jonathon was a bit brighter than the past 2 days, he was still not functioning at his best and declined to participate in activities for the days.  

One of many brilliant images

His jaw was swollen on the side of his face that was damaged, presumably swollen glands, but not the most flattering of looks. After coffee I headed off with the intent of visiting the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Maritime Museum and the Steve McCurry Icons exhibition.    

"Ghost nets" - getting the message across about 
the serious matter of drifting lost fishing gear

The train from Chatswood to Town Hall was pretty fast, and the walk from there to Darling Harbour took about 15 minutes.  Darling Harbour was ridiculously busy and I was tempted to think that there's been some major buildings added since I was last there.  The Wildlife Photography exhibition was fabulous - so many brilliant images - so much talent.  After about 3 hours at the Maritime Museum, I was fairly exhibition/museum-ed out, so headed back for the train station. 

The old and the new. Near Town Hall

Back with Jonathon and Yu Rong and Jonathon felt lively enough to drive to the shops, so I purchased the ingredients for dinner, along with a few basic groceries to see me through the next couple of nights, and Jonathon and Yu Rong prepared a lovely meal of fresh fish on the bbq, rice and stir fried vegetables.  There might have been a glass of wine to accompany that.  

Around 8:30pm, the weather started to sound rather ominous and by 9, I was on my way back to my accomodation.  It has been a delight to have spent a little time with them, I just wish it could have been more.  But I also seriously hope that Jonathon is recovered from his injuries very soon.