Dec 18, 2013
Still hanging about in Sydney. Been reading a lot, walking, riding and experimenting with a new cooking setup using
alcohol stoves
. Had me collecting aluminium tins for a bit and making different stove models. After a lot of trying, I'm going to stick to my MSR for cycling. Alcohol stoves have their place, but I prefer the MSR experience.
In the new year I'll be on the road again (More on this in another post). With that in mind I started testing my gear out. Some of it hasn't rested well. First time using the MSR stove, fuel sprayed out of the adjustment knob. Seals had gone hard with age. I suspect that the heat of inside the van didn't help them at all.
Not to worry. Had this happen before and it was soon fixed and a great meal cooked up.
I had hoped to do some hiking, but having troubles with a sore back. Even when carrying a light day pack. Its only when carrying a pack. Cycling is no problem. In fact, cycling seems to make it better. So, going to give the hiking idea away for the moment and continue with cycling.
Will be staying in Sydney for the Xmas period. I have some things to do early in the near year, and traveling outwards from Sydney at Xmas time with all the crowds heading out for holidays, finding a spot close by, and then travelling back with the crowds doesn't appeal to me. With all the people that leave, Sydney will be quiet. So I'll stay about a bit longer.
Oct 24, 2013
The weather in Sydney has been unusual. This day, we had hail:
The next, it was over 30C.
My house sit finished, and my plans for bush walking have been put on hold. I held of leaving because of the number of fires about, and that was a good decision. Most of the Blue Mountains is burning now. All the National Parks are closed also. At this rate I'll not get to go until next year. Though, the way the winds are, everything might have burn't out by then...
In the mean time, I've been wandering the streets. Walking and cycling. In a car park in the city, I found these bird houses?
The wall also had this mural.
This load bike was in another car park in an industrial area. I wondered what they carried on it.
A stop to read the paper.
Having seen lots of the motorcycle pizza delivery, this was pleasing. This was in the CBD area.
Oct 03, 2013
Still in Sydney, been stretching my legs, walking about. Also been enjoying fruit that you are unlikely to find in the country:
Durian
, reckoned by some as the "king of fruits". Not sure if I'd go that far, but it is definitely delicious. (Had to check for the "queen of fruits"; the
mangosteen
. They fruit about the same time.) I'm lucky that I find them pleasant smelling. Other people aren't so lucky. In Asia, some hotels and public transport ban them. I ate mine outside, sitting in the garden.
Walking about town isn't the same as out bush, so headed for a walk down in "The Royal".
Looking on the
National Parks website
, the walk I did is listed as the
Karloo
and
Uloola
walking tracks. They have the distance for Uloola listed as 10km, but is more like 5. Another site list
Uloola
as going from Heathcote to Waterfall which would be about 10km. So there is a bit of confusion there on naming or distance. The National Parks rate both as "medium difficulty". I rate it (Heathcote to Waterfall) as an
bludge
walk.
Was disappointed at the the state of Karloo Pool. Looked like some people had camped or partied there - so smashed beer bottles, half burnt plastic and trash left behind.
While sitting about at Uloola Falls, a couple of joggers turned up. One guy surprised me by drinking from the stream. He reckoned it tasted "just like water". Not sure what that means - as pure water is tasteless. That water was certainly not pure. And while the water looks clear, I wouldn't trust drinking it - especially in the Royal! Clear flowing water is not safe to drink. The bugs that cause illness are tiny - you can't see them. His mate didn't seem keen on him drinking it either.
For me, a pleasant day was had.
Sep 27, 2013
Riding along a stretch of the bike path, I notice the trees have yellow strips painted on their trunks. Looking across the canal, I think their days are numbered.
Hunting about online, I found it is part of work Sydney Water is doing for a Cooks River remediation project -
http://www.sydneywaternews.com.au/2013/08/20/working-together-to-restore-the-cooks-river/
Along with replacing the steep concrete sides with a more natural rock bank, the non native willow trees will be replaced with natives.
So, definitely progress :)
Comments:
Date: 2013-09-27 11:13
Author: Anonymous
I does look good but it would surely be better if they found a way to retain the trees. In this expedient days trees are often seen as easily replaceable and in a local blinkered view they are. The trouble starts as we widen our view and realise that each one of these was probably 20 years old and somewhere else out of our view another similar tree has just been yanked out and transplanted. The result is still a 50% loss ie we could have had two trees absorbing carbon, providing habitat and soon there will only be one. :(
Date: 2013-10-24 07:11
Author: Megan Lee Webb
Went back recently and there is a sign up explaining the tree removal. So I wasn't the only one wondering. Yes some of the non natives are being removed, but they claim 80,000 natives will be planted to replace them. I wondered how they counted them all..
Sep 12, 2013
Lying on their back, enjoying the morning sunshine
Comments:
Date: 2013-09-13 10:28
Author: M
Hey Megan that's awesome welcome to my side of the continent. How about a chai? Galleon? Joinery? You pick.. It would be great to meet the person behind these travels. Keen to chat about bikes and vans and travelling. 0433-095-277