Location:Bream Beach
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
A NEW BLOG !!!
If you are here looking for Kristina, Ian, Naeva and Amos's travelling roadshow blog ... Well we have moved, to a different, better platform. The WAY better The Rolling Roadshow on Wordpress. See you there. We are still moving everything over but all the new stuff will be there.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Fall is here
Happy autumn/spring, depending where you are! We welcomed in the first day of fall with overnight rain and a misty goodbye to Woodenbong and Lowell, Alicia, Charlie and Hudson. Lowell had checked the forecast for us and it said RAIN everywhere along the northern coast of NSW for the next while, so we abandoned plans to head to Byron Bay and went south instead, in search of sun. We drove for 7 hours the first day, through beautiful farmland and wind-y roads to the main twinned highway along the coast that links Brisbane with Sydney. Our overnight in Harrington, picked out specially for the amazing-looking campground and fantastic beach turned out to be a bust; 1) the campground photos looked nothing like reality (including lots of warnings of bad sand fleas and a brownish swimming pool) and 2) there was about 6 hours of consistent, cats and dogs, heavens have opened, puking, sideways pouring rain overnight. Being from Vancouver Island, this even put a good day in Tofino to the test. We dodged the puddles, packed up the wet clothes and put out a last minute call to the Bouris Network...onto The Oaks, 5 hours south, where Georgia and Marvin were waiting with a delicious meal, indoor beds and a promise of a clearing forecast!
After lots of talk about Australian and US politics, and a beautiful morning run through the rolling hills around The Oaks, and fortified by Marvin's coffee, we went south to the coast through the hairpin turns of the Macquarie National Park rainforest and popped out at jaw-dropping coastline.
Now snuggled into my down jacket (yes, it is fall), typing outside the closed registration office where the wifi signal is strong enough (see my dedication to this blog?) and, most importantly, waiting long enough so that Amos and Naeva have fallen asleep. Life in the camper is going well, and quite comfortable most of the time except around bedtime when Naeva reminds us consistently and loudly about the indignity of having to share a bed with her wriggling (often), smelly (sometimes), sweaty (always) 7 year old brother. I tried to make the case that 100 years ago she would have been sharing a bed with 7 people; she replied that 100 years ago she wouldn't have had to be dragged halfway around the world away from her friends to live in a camper.
Secretly, I think she's having fun.
A giant cockroach just missed my foot. Time for bed.
K.
Bombo Beach north of Kiama. Can you spot Naeva and Amos?
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
After lots of talk about Australian and US politics, and a beautiful morning run through the rolling hills around The Oaks, and fortified by Marvin's coffee, we went south to the coast through the hairpin turns of the Macquarie National Park rainforest and popped out at jaw-dropping coastline.
Now snuggled into my down jacket (yes, it is fall), typing outside the closed registration office where the wifi signal is strong enough (see my dedication to this blog?) and, most importantly, waiting long enough so that Amos and Naeva have fallen asleep. Life in the camper is going well, and quite comfortable most of the time except around bedtime when Naeva reminds us consistently and loudly about the indignity of having to share a bed with her wriggling (often), smelly (sometimes), sweaty (always) 7 year old brother. I tried to make the case that 100 years ago she would have been sharing a bed with 7 people; she replied that 100 years ago she wouldn't have had to be dragged halfway around the world away from her friends to live in a camper.
Secretly, I think she's having fun.
A giant cockroach just missed my foot. Time for bed.
K.
Bombo Beach north of Kiama. Can you spot Naeva and Amos?
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Ocean Street,Kiama,Australia
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Woodenbong(continued)
We also went to a few rainforests that Lowell took us to. We went to Tooloom national park and to Mount Clunie (which was just up the road from their place). We ventured to the pool one afternoon as well.
Some kind of fungi
Us posing beside a strangler fig
The view from the Tooloom lookout
The bark of a strangler fig
Naeva in the pool
Some cool miniature mushrooms
More from the Tooloom lookout
Red berries hanging from the walking stick Palm
Some kind of plant
The chair mountain behind the trees
A huge tree
Amos, Alicia and Hudson taking a selfie
Some kind of fungi
Us posing beside a strangler fig
The view from the Tooloom lookout
The bark of a strangler fig
Naeva in the pool
Some cool miniature mushrooms
More from the Tooloom lookout
Red berries hanging from the walking stick Palm
Some kind of plant
The chair mountain behind the trees
A huge tree
Amos, Alicia and Hudson taking a selfie
Location:Woodenbong
Friday, March 18, 2016
Don't put your hands where you can't see them
A quick hello from the parking lot of the Woodenbong Pool, where we have cell access for a few minutes. We've been visiting my (Kristina's) third cousins Lowell and his wife ALicia and kids Charlie and Hudson for the last few days. We have been hosted oh-so well! It is gorgeous up here, prosperous farm country just on the border of QUeensland, up in the hills. Alicia has taken us all around and cooked feasts for our crews. Lowell works for National Parks here and has been a great guide and storyteller ("Don't put your hands were you can't see them" is the common warning to the kids, thanks to spiders, snakes, leeches, jumping ants and many other creatures that live in and around the house!).
More later, but here are a few photos from the last few days.
Charlie and Amos in the camper:
This is the farm where they live. Gorgeous farmland up here, in an old volcanic crater:
Lowell, Charlie and Amos in a giant strangler fig on a hike in the rainforest this morning:
On a break on the hike...can't sit too long or the leeches find you (they live in the leaf litter...and yes we were pulling them off our legs!).
Saying a big goodbye tomorrow and heading back for the coast.
K.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
More later, but here are a few photos from the last few days.
Charlie and Amos in the camper:
This is the farm where they live. Gorgeous farmland up here, in an old volcanic crater:
Lowell, Charlie and Amos in a giant strangler fig on a hike in the rainforest this morning:
On a break on the hike...can't sit too long or the leeches find you (they live in the leaf litter...and yes we were pulling them off our legs!).
Saying a big goodbye tomorrow and heading back for the coast.
K.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, March 14, 2016
Coffs Harbour
Just a quick post to say that we are in Coffs Harbour for a few days, enjoying the balmy weather and sound of the waves crashing from our campsite. Beautiful area, with lush hills running right down to the ocean.
We found another luxury (by Canadian standards!) place to stay, with giant pool, water slides and jumping pillow. The kids refused to go to the beach yesterday (200m away), wanting instead to spend the day in the pool and go on a hunt for ice cream while Ian got a few hours of bogey boarding in. Found the good stuff- homemade chocolate and chili for me, Naeva had lemon ice that I am still dreaming about. I should have been documenting our ice cream finds in photos, as the quest for a frozen treat has become an integral part of each day. The options range from Cornettos from the gas station, to upscale gelato at Bondi to everything in between.
Just waiting to go to the beach once Amos finishes his homework for the day. Easier said than done. He's been at it for an hour already.
Heading out Thursday for Woodenbong (look it up!), to visit cousins.
K.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
We found another luxury (by Canadian standards!) place to stay, with giant pool, water slides and jumping pillow. The kids refused to go to the beach yesterday (200m away), wanting instead to spend the day in the pool and go on a hunt for ice cream while Ian got a few hours of bogey boarding in. Found the good stuff- homemade chocolate and chili for me, Naeva had lemon ice that I am still dreaming about. I should have been documenting our ice cream finds in photos, as the quest for a frozen treat has become an integral part of each day. The options range from Cornettos from the gas station, to upscale gelato at Bondi to everything in between.
Just waiting to go to the beach once Amos finishes his homework for the day. Easier said than done. He's been at it for an hour already.
Heading out Thursday for Woodenbong (look it up!), to visit cousins.
K.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Coffs Harbour,Australia
Saturday, March 12, 2016
The koala hospital
Yesterday we visited a koala hospital (it has a name but I can't remember it). It was a rehabilitation centre for sick and/or injured koalas that were found out in the "Aussie Bush" (forest). Apparently it all started with Jean and Steven Star, a couple who loved koalas and wanted to care for them but did not know how to do so. So they started looking for injured koalas and would take them into there own backward and try to nurse them as best as they could.
This one's name is David. He got put into the hospital because of conjunctivitis, a form of chlamydia, a disease making that affects many koalas. He was getting fed a formula to help boost his energy.
This is another photo of David later on in the day.
This koala's name is Ocean Summer. Her mother was in a bushfire and she was in her mothers pouch. Her mother didn't survive but she did and came out with only some mangled claws. As she was only young she went home with an employee who acted like her mother until she was old enough to be on her own. She was not able to be released into the wild because she cannot climb trees without assistance because of her claws.
This one's name is David. He got put into the hospital because of conjunctivitis, a form of chlamydia, a disease making that affects many koalas. He was getting fed a formula to help boost his energy.
This is another photo of David later on in the day.
This koala's name is Ocean Summer. Her mother was in a bushfire and she was in her mothers pouch. Her mother didn't survive but she did and came out with only some mangled claws. As she was only young she went home with an employee who acted like her mother until she was old enough to be on her own. She was not able to be released into the wild because she cannot climb trees without assistance because of her claws.
41st Australia style ...
Was my 41st a few days ago. Likely won't quite have the same kind of birthday again. It started off in North Haven, NSW, Australia.
Kristina came home from a run with a coffee, sausage roll and delicious little lavender muffin cake. As an aside - Australia is of course an easy place to travel as a Canadian. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful - lots of "How ya going mate" "No problem love" "Ya doll" "No drama" etc. - but eating out is quite expensive. A simple espresso will run 4 dollars or more, so there are less expressos being consume than normal. So a morning coffee (from the store) is an appreciated treat.
Then it was off for a morning of body boarding. The bad dads will be disappointed but decided it was easier to transport (it is) and easier to share (already has been) a body board to got myself a full package with fins.
(Sorry will improve the picture quality later)
Despite multiple attempts Kristina tried getting me on video catching a wave. Had part to do with the few good ways and a lot to do with my talents. In this picture you can see me ... No not paddling ... But me twisting my board around (Ok you can't see me). The guy paddling is the only Aussie on the water who didn't say hi to me and give me lots of advice about where to go and what to do. I think perhaps because he couldn't speak. He looked about 80, skinny and gaunt and no teeth. He caught more ways than me. Luckily I have 39 more years to improve my wave catching technique.
These are of me ...
And then the kids joined in.
And we ended our day in Port McQuarrie with a bottle of Neve!, some lamingtons and nice dinner out at the Beach House, watching the thousands of large fruit bats make there way out for the night.
Posted by old Ian
P.S. Still haven't found a site quite like Toowoon Bay, but that is our goal for tonight.
Kristina came home from a run with a coffee, sausage roll and delicious little lavender muffin cake. As an aside - Australia is of course an easy place to travel as a Canadian. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful - lots of "How ya going mate" "No problem love" "Ya doll" "No drama" etc. - but eating out is quite expensive. A simple espresso will run 4 dollars or more, so there are less expressos being consume than normal. So a morning coffee (from the store) is an appreciated treat.
Then it was off for a morning of body boarding. The bad dads will be disappointed but decided it was easier to transport (it is) and easier to share (already has been) a body board to got myself a full package with fins.
(Sorry will improve the picture quality later)
Despite multiple attempts Kristina tried getting me on video catching a wave. Had part to do with the few good ways and a lot to do with my talents. In this picture you can see me ... No not paddling ... But me twisting my board around (Ok you can't see me). The guy paddling is the only Aussie on the water who didn't say hi to me and give me lots of advice about where to go and what to do. I think perhaps because he couldn't speak. He looked about 80, skinny and gaunt and no teeth. He caught more ways than me. Luckily I have 39 more years to improve my wave catching technique.
These are of me ...
And then the kids joined in.
And we ended our day in Port McQuarrie with a bottle of Neve!, some lamingtons and nice dinner out at the Beach House, watching the thousands of large fruit bats make there way out for the night.
Posted by old Ian
P.S. Still haven't found a site quite like Toowoon Bay, but that is our goal for tonight.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Camping à la Toowoon Bay
Apologies but this was supposed to be posted a few days ago. We thought it did, but technology ...
Took off from Sydney in our Camperman camper
Arrived two days ago (March 7th) in Toowoon Bay. May never leave. This is the beach at our campsite, where we've been learning the basics of boogie boarding (Ian bought a body board and fin set as a early birthday present).
Our days so far are pretty simple. Long breakfast. Head to beach. Home for lunch. Schoolwork/shade time in the afternoon. Back to pool or beach. Dinner. Bed. Throw in a morning run, a couple of beer, and one ice cream every day (our pre-trip promise). I thought it might take a while to decompress after a crazy few months at work and moving. I was wrong.
We are staying in a "caravan park", which is Australian for decadent, luxury this-is-not-BC-Parks camping.
Amos on dish duty, with outdoor swimming pool behind him:
Kids bouncing on the inflatable pillow:
Chillin' with CamperMan in the perfect, breezy 29 degree heat:
- K.
Postscript ...
Took off from Sydney in our Camperman camper
Arrived two days ago (March 7th) in Toowoon Bay. May never leave. This is the beach at our campsite, where we've been learning the basics of boogie boarding (Ian bought a body board and fin set as a early birthday present).
Our days so far are pretty simple. Long breakfast. Head to beach. Home for lunch. Schoolwork/shade time in the afternoon. Back to pool or beach. Dinner. Bed. Throw in a morning run, a couple of beer, and one ice cream every day (our pre-trip promise). I thought it might take a while to decompress after a crazy few months at work and moving. I was wrong.
We are staying in a "caravan park", which is Australian for decadent, luxury this-is-not-BC-Parks camping.
Amos on dish duty, with outdoor swimming pool behind him:
Kids bouncing on the inflatable pillow:
Chillin' with CamperMan in the perfect, breezy 29 degree heat:
- K.
Postscript ...
Sunday, March 6, 2016
So many Bourises
Since we arrived five days ago, we've been staying with my (Kristina's) dad's first cousin, Arthur, and his wife Ann. We have also spent lots of time with Peter, a second cousin, and his wife, Liz. We have been treated royally: taken to the zoo, to beaches, to a football game, and had too many delicious meals to count, under both sun and stars.
When my grandfather left Greece for Canada in the 1920s, his brother (Arthur's father) eventually came to Australia with his five sons. Ann figures there are over 60 Bourises in Australia now.
Ann and Arthur at the breakfast table (note the vegemite, olives and feta cheese):
On Saturday, they held an afternoon party in the garden, with a yard full of Bourises, to welcome us. In the beautiful afternoon breeze, we talked and saw old faces and met many new ones. And we ate and ate and ate: souvlaki, halloumi cheese, salads, fresh rolls, plates loaded with olives and feta, pavlova, strudel, Greek milk cake, fresh figs, breads, washed down with VB and Australian wines. I think there were 10 more plates in there, too.
This is just the dessert table:
The kids all played football and tag in the garden - and every one of them had the last name Bouris. At one point, I looked out at Naeva playing with cousins Isabella, Billy and Cam - all four of them in grade six, all four who share the same great-great-grandfather. What a special experience for all of us, to realize we are all linked by name and history and more than a few physical (and behavioural!) similarities. Last night, Peter gave us a slideshow of some of the 20,000+ photos that he has scanned, all the way back to the 1930s and tracing the expanding Bouris family over the years, with photos of family visits back and forth to Australia and Canada over the years.
Naeva, Ann and Arthur drawing a family tree over morning tea today:
The Bouris Family Tree (part 1):
Thanks, Australian Bourises, for welcoming us into (y)our big, warm family! We are so very lucky.
Ian is picking up the camper from "CamperMan" right now, and we're saying goodbye to the "rellos" for a few weeks, heading north up the coast.
K.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
When my grandfather left Greece for Canada in the 1920s, his brother (Arthur's father) eventually came to Australia with his five sons. Ann figures there are over 60 Bourises in Australia now.
Ann and Arthur at the breakfast table (note the vegemite, olives and feta cheese):
On Saturday, they held an afternoon party in the garden, with a yard full of Bourises, to welcome us. In the beautiful afternoon breeze, we talked and saw old faces and met many new ones. And we ate and ate and ate: souvlaki, halloumi cheese, salads, fresh rolls, plates loaded with olives and feta, pavlova, strudel, Greek milk cake, fresh figs, breads, washed down with VB and Australian wines. I think there were 10 more plates in there, too.
This is just the dessert table:
The kids all played football and tag in the garden - and every one of them had the last name Bouris. At one point, I looked out at Naeva playing with cousins Isabella, Billy and Cam - all four of them in grade six, all four who share the same great-great-grandfather. What a special experience for all of us, to realize we are all linked by name and history and more than a few physical (and behavioural!) similarities. Last night, Peter gave us a slideshow of some of the 20,000+ photos that he has scanned, all the way back to the 1930s and tracing the expanding Bouris family over the years, with photos of family visits back and forth to Australia and Canada over the years.
Naeva, Ann and Arthur drawing a family tree over morning tea today:
The Bouris Family Tree (part 1):
Thanks, Australian Bourises, for welcoming us into (y)our big, warm family! We are so very lucky.
Ian is picking up the camper from "CamperMan" right now, and we're saying goodbye to the "rellos" for a few weeks, heading north up the coast.
K.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The footy match
We went to see a football (rugby) match! The Roosters vs the Rabbitohs. It was a big rivalry game. We were going for the bunnies whereas our cousins were going for the roosters!
Posted by Naeva
Posted by Naeva
Location:Moore Park,Australia
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my!
A few days ago we visited the Taronga Zoo!
An African giraffe with Sydney
in the background
Naeva and Amos petting a snake
(it was non venomous)
The cutest koala you've ever seen!
A kangaroo lying in the shade
away from the 30 degree heat!
A baby chimpanzee crawling
on a log tunnel.
An emu walking about.
A bird specialist performing the bird show
A male gorilla liking some sweet potato
Amos posing as a lemur!
Posted by Naeva
An African giraffe with Sydney
in the background
Naeva and Amos petting a snake
(it was non venomous)
The cutest koala you've ever seen!
A kangaroo lying in the shade
away from the 30 degree heat!
A baby chimpanzee crawling
on a log tunnel.
An emu walking about.
A bird specialist performing the bird show
A male gorilla liking some sweet potato
Amos posing as a lemur!
Posted by Naeva
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