The House(s) of Fran_mart

 This covers our drive from Mallacoota to Sale. We paused in Cann River to get fuel.  The Shell servo there had closed: presumably their recent bout of low prices was simply selling off exiting stock before they switched off the pumps.  No biggie, we just went to the United station up the road: still about 10c/l cheaper than Mallacoota.   As we had plenty of time we swung into a Reserve at Nowa Nowa.  The Boggy Creek Walk was certainly boggy, but more of a swim than a walk. On, on to Bruthen where we had heard good things about the bakery.   Indeed it appeared to be good with a pie rating about 8.5 on the official scale.  The main issue - losing a point - was that the crust was a little underdone. We called in to the very adequate Visitors Centre where a display of teapots caught my eye. A memorial to an explorer.  He seems to have been an unpleasant person : I am surprised the memorial is still standing! Although I am no longer seeking ...

One of our gripes about this area is the predilection of the Shire for banning dogs from everywhere near Forster.  I don't think this is because they are in thrall to the National Sparks and Wildfires Service as some of the banned areas are quite a way from National Parks.  Today we went to Hawks Nest and found a great beach there, where dogs are allowed on leash pretty much all the time. So well done Council. I am sure my regular reader is shocked at me approving of something done by any Local Government body, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em. The day began as usual with a walk along Topi Rd. The first posing bird was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.  That was followed by an adult Pied Butcherbird, behaving much better than yesterday's specimen.  I notice the dirty tip to its beak and was then attracted to the talons. I really wouldn't want them anywhere near any part of my body! Our outing today was to drive to Buladelah and then in to Myall Lakes National Park - ...

Frances and I have very fond memories of Dalton, just North of Gunning, as a native flower site.  It became less attractive a few years ago when the cemetery was incinerated by the Bush Fire people for reasons best known to them.  However, we wanted a shortish trip out of Carwoola so pointed the Jetta in that direction this morning. First up, we swung in to the Cemetery and found things very much better.  The area out of the burial grounds (which seem to have acquired some new fences) was regenerating very well. Jumping ahead a tad, we also visited Broadway TSR on the road to Boorowa.  That had some damp patches .. As a result of the dampness both areas were well endowed with mosquitoes.  The cemetery was very much sun orchid central.  When we first got there (about 0920) they were not yet open, possibly as the temperature was only about 16 o C.  We called back on the way home (about noon) and the 23 o C had not only got the Thelymitra carn...