beaches

Secluded…

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Honeymoon Beach, Moreton Island, Australia…

Photo: Baz

About us…

We love the colours of the Australian Outback, the ochre red earth touching a deep blue sky on a faraway horizon; and the fabulous coastline of our sunburnt country, where a golden sandy beach is washed over by a turquoise blue sea; and the characters you meet in a quiet country pub, where it is nothing flash, but you are enriched by the encounter…

In 2017 we decided it was time to “graduate from work” and re-enter “the classroom of life” where an education is guaranteed and all that is needed is an open mind.

Thanks for joining us in the adventure…!

Cheers, Baz & Janet

Aussie Beach Bum…at play

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Merewether, East Coast Australia
Terrigal, East Coast Australia
Terrigal, East Coast Australia
The Haven, East Coast Australia
Baz and TomO

Off to the beach for a paddle.

And there’ll be plenty of “sizzling” bodies down there today with the temperature pushing over 40 degrees celcius in the Harbour City…

Seeya! 😉

(Big Bad) Baz – The Landy

Soaring like a bird (Over the ocean)

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newcastle, australia

Newcastle, East Coast Australia.

Crikey, that looks like FUN…

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Out and About on the Lake (Talk about having fun)

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Heron Class Sailboats - Narrabeen Lake, Sydney
Heron Class Sailboats – Narrabeen Lake, Sydney

It has been quite a week “Down under”.  

TomO was settling into his second week at high school, I was getting back into the swing of things at work and Janet was working on upcoming school functions and of course, looking after “her boys”…

 So when the weekend hit it was time to unwind and relax and we kicked it off with TomO’s first game of basketball, and after only two training sessions he was playing like a pro, well almost…

TomO's first basketball match
TomO’s first basketball match

 And with blue skies and perfect weather we headed to Narrabeen Lake on both Saturday and Sunday as it is our favoured weekend haunt when we are not in the mountains…

Baz - Narrabeen Lake, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Baz – Narrabeen Lake, Northern Beaches, Sydney

And what a day down on the lake, it was literally a sea of colour with plenty of paddle boards, kayaks, and with the wind getting up later, the wind surfers, and the delightful Heron Class sailboats that race most Sunday’s.

Windsurfing, Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia
Windsurfing, Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia

It was great to get reacquainted with my Epic Kayak, TomO was back on his stand up paddleboard, and Janet was catching up on all the gossip with friends who joined us.

Looks like mischief in the making
Looks like mischief in the making

 Life… you’ve got to love it, truly, no ordinary moments, no ordinary people, no ordinary moments, ever!

Jump on board – I’ll take you for a paddle (Narrabeen Lake)

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Baz - Terrigal Beach, Australia
Baz – Terrigal Beach, Australia

Narrabeen Lake, situated on the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia, is a beautiful sun-drenched oasis situated right on the ocean.

 It is a mecca for kayakers, windsurfers, and paddle board riders alike, a place where you can spend a lazy afternoon with family and friends under a shady tree just wiling away time…

Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia
Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia

 The lake, which is 10-kilometres in circumference, is my choice for kayaking as it has very few power boats on it and it makes for a great change from the daily rows on my static C2 rowing machine.

 Without fail, a pelican will glide by whilst out on the lake and how majestic are they to watch, something you don’t get to see on the rowing machine up in “The Shed“.

Rowing in the Shed
Baz on the C2 Rower

 Crikey, as much as I love climbing and mountaineering, and let’s face it you’d have to if you intend to climb Mt Everest, the other past-time I enjoy equally is just being out in one of my kayaks. Whether it is a training session, or just more of a laid-back paddle with friends…

 These days, I mostly find myself paddling my 6.5 metre long Epic kayak, a beautifully crafted and sleek boat which is quite fast, well in the right set of hands it is – but I’m working on that!

Baz - kayaking Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia
Baz – kayaking Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia

Epic Kayak, Narrabeen Lake, Australia
Epic Kayak, Narrabeen Lake, Australia

Next year this will be my choice of racing boat in the winter marathon series, a series of 20-kilmetre races run monthly for about nine-months.

And no, our winter doesn’t go for nine-months, so I’m not sure how that works out!

 Over the Christmas break I’ll be hanging up my climbing gear and heading for the lake with family, friends and the kayaks, to get some training in, and to simply enjoy the smell of the fresh sea air…

Baz - Boar's Head, Blue Mountains, Australia
Baz – Boar’s Head, Blue Mountains, Australia

 Now, I’ll let you in on a little secret, so don’t tell TomO, but he’s got a paddle-board coming for Christmas, so maybe he’ll get it a day or two early, just so he can get Out and About on it this weekend coming. After all, it’s pretty hard to hide it up in “The Shed” with him seeing it…

TomO, The Haven, Terrigal, Australia
TomO, The Haven, Terrigal, Australia

 And after a lap or two of the lake there is nothing better than kicking back and watching the sun cast a golden hue over the water as it sinks into the western horizon…

Anyway, jump on board, I’ll take you for a spin around the Lake!

Great Southern Land (Hidden in the summer for a million years)

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Mayne Range, Diamantina NP
Mayne Range, Diamantina NP

Australia is a country of diverse landscapes, from golden beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, to mountains that touch the ocean, and outback plains where the red soil kisses a deep blue sky…

 We have been fortunate to travel extensively around our country, at times piloting an aircraft over this wondrous land, and other times in one of our four-wheel drive vehicles.

 The other day we were reminiscing some of the trips we have had, especially to the Outback, our favourite place to visit.

And where is the Outback, I hear you ask…

 Well, you know, outback; back of yonder!

Those who have never visited, come on down and explore our country, to marvel at our beautiful fauna and flora…you won’t be disappointed, and those who have come and gone, return soon, we miss you.

Enjoy the photos of our travels, mostly taken by Janet and TomO…

And am I just a little bit biased about this great country, our island continent, The Great Southern Land?

Strewth mate, you bet I am!