Splendid Sunday on the Coast

19 may 2013: It began with an early morning paddle and then a walk on the beach where we had it entirely to ourselves; at times it felt like I was on ‘Lost’ and it was 10am. Then it was into the car to tour the many stunning headlands which are just a stone throw from each other to discover a few more pristine beaches before we headed home.
Our base camp for the weekend was the Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park at Gerroa. It’s in a great location and you are situated directly on Crooked River and only a short stroll through the sand dunes to Seven Mile Beach. The accommodation was excellent and very well priced, it certainly ticked all the boxes for us.
This part of the coast has so much to offer, there is a multitude of water ways that will cater for all needs, brilliant point and beach breaks and most times (outside of school Hols) you will probably be the only one who is walking along the beach. It has been a few years since I had last been through Gerroa and Gerringong and it certainly wont be the last! I hope you enjoy a few happy snaps from today’s adventures.

Base camp cabin....great location. That's the Crooked River in front.

Base camp cabin….great location. That’s the Crooked River in front.

That's our prime location.

That’s our prime location.

Crooked River Reflections

Crooked River Reflections.

Blue Angel Creek. This is a small arm that runs off Crooked River at which the Holiday Park backs onto on the other side

Blue Angel Creek. This is a small arm that runs off Crooked River at which the Holiday Park backs onto on the other side

Blue Angel Creek

Blue Angel Creek reflections

A different view of the 'Safari Cabins'

A different view of the ‘Safari Cabins’

Heading west towards the mountains on Crooked River

Heading west towards the mountains on Crooked River.

A short stroll down here and soon you are on Seven Mile Beach.

A short stroll down here and soon you are on Seven Mile Beach.

Crispy sand castles

Crispy sand castles

We had the entire beach to ourselves... Love it!

We had the entire beach to ourselves… Love it!

Where the river meets the ocean.

Where the river meets the ocean.

It was such a nice day!

It was such a nice day!

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There is never a dull moment.

There is never a dull moment.

Wild under water bubbles

Wild under water bubbles that just sat on the sand bed floor.

Or are they Sea Pearls :)

Or are they Sea Pearls :)

They had use mesmerised.

Testing out the sand dunes.....yep...All Good!

Testing out the sand dunes…..yep…All Good!

We had the best time.

We had the best family weekend away.

So many brilliant headlands.

So many brilliant headlands.

Just left use wanting more!

I hope that you enjoyed a few snap shots from a splendid day at the beach.

Sand between my toes

18 May 2013: We’ve had a beautiful day hanging out pelicans and walking stunning beaches that stretch for miles. Today’s photo blog is just a brief portion of what this truly stunning section of the Illawarra coast has to offer. It’s such a shame that we have only two days here, but it’s better to experience a little of a lot, rather than nothing at all.

The afternoon was of to  a great start as I was Photo bombed  @ Greenwell Point

Photobombing pelicans  @ Greenwell Point was a great way to start the afternoon

Ohhhh....now this place hits the spot.

Ohhhh….now this place hits the spot.

I just loved hanging out with the locals. They were so comfortable with me!

I just loved hanging out with the locals. They were so comfortable with me!

If only they could talk

If only they could talk.

Prime view...but the locals always do.

Prime view…but the locals always do.

One day I want to be as big as you.

One day I want to be as big as you.

Great water ways

Great water ways

Johno and his pride and joy. Good to see that you are living the dream mate!

Crooked River Reflections

Crooked River Reflections

Seven Mile beach

A beautiful evening walk on Seven Mile Beach

I loving memory of Peter James Mayhew.

In loving memory of Peter James Mayhew…..Miss you mate!

So nice to feel the sand between my toes

So nice to feel the sand between my toes.

Surreal Sunrise + Balloons = Unique Canberra Landscape.

May 9, 2013: Dancing mist on the water, balloons hovering overhead and a smooth sunrise was the perfect combination to start the day. The mist rolled in from the wetlands at 5.45am chasing me into the main basin. This gave Lake Burley Griffin a totally different persona and it wasn’t too long before the morning sun burnt through to reveal a beautiful autumn day here in Canberra.

6.12am: A misty start to day.

6.12am: A misty start to day.

6.23am: It amazing how things can take on a different persona.

6.31am: A misty main basin

6.31am: A misty main basin

6.35am: 4 minute later and into the middle of the lake where the mist has burnt off.

6.35am: 4 minutes later and the mist had burnt off beautiful pastel pinks to the west.

6.40am: 19 minutes to go until to pops up.

6.40am: 19 minutes to go until the sun pops up….Loving it!

Another brilliant autumn morning is forming.

Another brilliant autumn day is on it way.

The power of the eights

Silhouette eights

6.59am; Slicing through the sunrise.

6.59am: Slicing through the sunrise.

7.02am: Balloons Aloft in Canberra

7.02am: Balloons Aloft in Canberra

Prime view of the 'Big  House'

Prime view of the ‘Big House’

We had it all this morning.....Stunning sunrise, clear skies, hovering balloons and photo bombing swans.

We had it all this morning…..Stunning sunrise, clear skies, hovering balloons and photo bombing swans.

Tri - Flection

Tri – Flection

Synchronised ballooning

Synchronised ballooning

Double Decker Balloon

Double decker balloon

In full flight.

In full flight.

Canberra........'The Balloon Capital of Australia'

Canberra……..’The Balloon Capital of Australia’

I hope that you enjoy the shots from another beautiful morning.  

TOTALLY IMMERSED

May 8, 2013: What a transformation! It’s one of the best sunrises I have taken in for a while. Simply stunning is one way I could describe my experience out on water this morning.  I found myself totally immersed in an amazing natural light show that was just brilliant. Paddling and photography are opposites but yet they complement each other so much. This is why I love it, because when you are out here you are only looking for the nice in the day and everything else just gets put on hold. Floating away on the water allows me to be plunged into a world of natural beauty where it provides me such peace and contentment; I just love greeting each day like this. I hope that you like the shots as much as I have enjoyed taking them.

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“The earth has music for those who listen.” George Santayana

Ditto Day

6 May 2013: How good is Canberra? I was severed up another day that was nearly identical to yesterdays and trust me I’m not complaining. I’m amazed at how many serene starts we continually have, the only thing that I am noticing is that we are hitting the sub zero temperatures now and it won’t be long before the water on my hatches begin to freeze again. Then you know it’s cold!

Ditto day has begun

Ditto day has begun

Super smooth conditions once again

Super smooth conditions once again

The water was like a sheet of glass.

The water was like a sheet of glass.

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I've lost count how many calm mornings we have had in autumn.

I’ve lost count how many calm mornings we have had in autumn.

Ahhhhh the serenity.

Ahhhhh the serenity.

Balloons Aloft again

Balloons Aloft again

With crystal clear skies

With crystal clear skies

Although the fingers were a bit crisper this morning than yesterday.

Although the fingers were a bit crisper this morning than yesterday.

Abstract balloon

Floating in the main basin with 'Big Stevo'

Floating in the main basin with ‘Big Stevo’

Another great morning was had on Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. I hope that you enjoyed the photos.

Canberra Kaleidoscope

5 May 2013: Orange tones to the east, pinks to west,  vivid reds on the foreshore, golden sunrises, crystal blue skies, yellow balloons floating overhead and greens from the trees reflecting on glassy water. What a kaleidoscope of colour Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra was this morning.

6.13am: Out there again to enjoy another LBG Lightshow.

6.13am: Out there again to enjoy another LBG Lightshow.

6.26am: Its so nice when the water is so smooth like this.

6.26am: Its so nice when the water is so smooth like this.

6.32am: The ornamental pears look vivid and the sun doesn't rise for another 19mins!

6.32am: The ornamental pears look vivid and the sun doesn’t rise for another 19mins!

6.50am: The golden glow to the east.

6.50am: The golden glow to the east.

6.53am: Every day is a bonus.

6.53am: Every day is a bonus.

7.ooam: Now I decide to head back to snap a few more shots of the foreshore because they won't be there for much longer.

7.ooam: Now I decide to head back to snap a few more shots of the foreshore because the reds of the pears won’t be there for much longer.

They look like Giant Raspberry's.

They look like Giant Raspberry’s.

Not a cloud in the sky.

Here comes the balloons!

Here comes the balloons!

The balloons are such a part of the Canberra landscape.

The balloons are such a huge part of the Canberra landscape.

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Cruising the Canberra skies.

Cruising the Canberra skies.

Crystal blue skies for the remainder of the morning. This is a typical autumn day in Canberra.

Crystal blue skies for the remainder of the morning. This is a typical autumn day in Canberra.

You can see why it's called  'The Bush Capital'

You can see why it’s called ‘The Bush Capital’

“Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty” Richard P. Feynman

Chilly start for the Chilli and I

3 May 2013: It was a fresh start this morning as the temperature dropped below zero. When I walked out at 5.20am I noticed that we had our first frost and it felt like someone had left the freezer door ajar. The fingers were a little snappy and the ears certainly had a frosting. It seems that it’s time to break out the gloves and the Bennie.

Nothing like getting an early start to the day

6.03am: A cool breeze started to pick up.

All the warning signs were in place....WINTER IS ON ITS WAY!

All the warning signs were in place….WINTER IS ON ITS WAY!

But once you get past that initial chill.

But once you get past that initial chill.

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You will be taking in another beautiful sunrise.

It is well worth the effort!

It’s well worth the effort!

Soon the pastel pinks of the dawn are warming you from the inside.

Soon the pastel pinks of the dawn are warming you from the inside.

And yet again you have been a part of another sunrise.

At this point I’m warm as toast admiring the mist dancing on the surface.