Day 8 - Huskisson

Tuesday dawned overcast, but not raining, and still.  The sea was like glass.  Perfect for our planned outing. 

We had booked a “Jervis Bay Passage” cruise.  This was to take two and a half hours and go right around Jervis Bay.

Of course we had to sit up the front.  I’m a really bad sailor, but I didn’t have any trouble at all on this trip. 

Do you notice something in the above photo?  The sun came out.  Yay!

The bay is twice the size of Sydney Harbour and if you were to walk the shoreline it is 128kms.  There are several beaches which boast some of the whitest sand in the world. It is a marine park and home to about 100 dolphins, although we didn’t see any on the day.

The water is so clear and a gorgeous turquoise colour.  This spot was about four metres deep with healthy sea grass beds.  Can you believe that back in the 1960s they did preliminary works to build a nuclear power plant here.  The plan was to use the sea water for cooling, which would have killed everything in the bay.  Thank goodness that didn’t go ahead.

The bay is home to a small naval base, which has some lovely old buildings.

We had noticed a large vessel in the middle of the bay, which we assumed was naval, but apparently it is a large fishing vessel.  The captain of our cruise wondered why it was there, as they are rarely seen in the area.

You can see the heads of the bay in the distance.  We went all the way out there.

The lighthouse on the northern side is Point Perpendicular.  It is a name you often hear in weather reports, with seas conditions described as either north or south of Point Perpendicular.  When you get to see it you can easily understand why it got its name.

The boat actually went a little outside the heads to show the series of cliffs that run up the coastline.

Back in the bay, the cliffs were quilted impressive.

This formation is the “Pancake Stack”.

This is the “Boat Harbour”, despite never having been used for that purpose.

And finally, the view of Huskisson as we returned to shore.

It was the best way to see Jervis Bay.  There are so many things you would never seen any other way.  We are really pleased we went, and that we chose to go on Tuesday, as it was the best weather conditions for the week.  

Do you notice that the sea was not like glass for the second half of the trip, as the breeze was picking up.

After lunch we went for a drive down the south side of the bay, where some of the famous beaches are.  It was a Tuesday afternoon, outside of school holidays and we were unable to find a parking spot anywhere near the beaches.  We can’t imagine what it must be like over the Christmas holidays.

Once we returned to the van, we went for another walk along the beach.  It was nice and blue, but the water was much colder.

The wind had whipped up the sand quite a bit, creating unusual patterns against the small shells.

And so ended another day in paradise.  This was the only other sunset I was able to see all trip, for what it’s worth.

Day 7 - Nelligen to Huskisson

On Monday it was time to pack up the van and head north to Huskisson.  This was a whole 113 kms up the road.  We stopped in at Ulladulla for a walk up and down the street and morning tea.

It is a pretty little harbour.  The boats were a nice pop of colour on a dull day.

Up a side street we saw a cute little cottage.  It is a museum, but was not open when we were there.

We arrived in Huskisson and were set up in the caravan park in time for a late lunch.  It is a nice park, with in easy walking distance to the town centre along a pleasant walking path.

By then, the weather that had been threatening rain set in as the finest mizzle.  We still went for a walk into town, without getting too wet.  The view out to sea was rather misty.

We then went for a walk along the beach, which is just behind the caravan park.  Still mizzly, but not cold.

A couple of spots along the way had quite a few small shells washed up, being low tide.

Of course, I had to have a little play.  Most were left there.  Just a couple came home to be put with my collection around a plant pot on the back verandah.

And that filled our day.  While in town we booked a tour for the next day, as it was forecast to be the best weather for the week.

My March Wishes

I seem to have gone missing in action.  While we were away, we had surprisingly poor internet coverage, so I will finish my travelogue very  soon.  I will also do a recap of what we got up to during February soon as well.

Today, I will share my wishes for the current month of March.  We will actually be home this month and I have a lot I wish to achieve, so I need to get cracking.

Firstly, to my stitching wishes.  These are extensive, as I have so much I really want to get either completed or prepped ready for Scrub Stitchin’ next month.  We will be heading off early, so I really want to get things done this month.

MY MAIN MONTHLY GOAL

This time the main goal I want to complete is the Anni Downs Pouch that was our Scrub Stitchin’ project back in 2024.  For some unknown reason, I haven’t really been enthralled with making this item, which is strange, as I love Anni’s projects.  As I get more done I am starting to like it more.  Anyway, I really want to finally be able to take it for show and tell this year.  I still have to complete the appliqué and stitchery before starting on the construction.  It will be worked on at my stitching days and once the RSC blocks are done.  

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is red and it is the easy, obvious thing to get out of the way first up.  I have my three projects that I am working on, which are pretty much prepped, ready to go.

BETTY’S SCRAPPY STRIPS

I have two more strips to make.  They aren’t due until June, but I want to deliver them to Betty at Scrub Stitchin’.  The outstanding colours are orange and red.  That ties in nicely with RSC, which is a bonus.

USING ELLY MAY

Having quilted quite a few quilts now, I am quite happy with how I’m going.  So far, I have only used the basic version of the software.  Now it is time to start using the next level.  The main reason for this is that the design that I want to use on the bright fish quilts is only available on the Pro version.  Nothing like a deadline to get you going.  I really need to throw together a quick and easy baby quilt to have a practise on first.

When I bought the machine I purchased a Superglide foot.  It read well and is ideal for quilting over appliqué.  However, I have since read that several people have had the foot break when using it.  I need to test that out too.  Apparently, the height above the machine bed that you position it makes all the difference.  

If all goes well, I should have (fingers crossed) another three quilts quilted.

KNITTING AND CROCHET

This month I wish to knit a blue beanie in the same pattern as the oatmeal one.  I have decided that I will keep that one for me, even if it is a little on the large size.  The blue one will be for Mick, to replace the one I accidentally shrunk.  This has a deadline, as I want to enter it in the local show.

STITCHING DAYS

I can work on the Anni Downs Pouch and the ribbing of my beanie at my stitching days.  The chart section of the beanie needs too much concentration.  I also have a secret project happening, which I can work on then as well.  Fingers crossed, I may have a quilt to bind as well.

15 MINUTES A DAY

If I am to get all that done I really need to do at least 15 minutes a day.  So far, I’ve done very little.  

Unlike last month, when my goals were rather vague, this month they are rather specific.  Hopefully, they will all be achieved.

NON STITCHING WISHES

1. Try a new recipe.

2. Read a book.

3. Have a fun day out. (I don’t really think this will happen in March.  We’ll see.)

4. Help at the church fete.

We’ll see at the end of the month how I go with everything.

Days 5 & 6 - Nelligan and Batemans Bay

On the Saturday we took a drive down to Batemans Bay to have a look around.  I was trying to work out the last time we visited.  I can see a visit in 2017 on my blog, but I know we came again after that.  I’m pretty sure it was 2018, after visiting the Braidwood Quilts weekend, but I evidently didn’t get around to blogging about it.

We started our day by enjoying a fish and chips lunch at The Boatshed.

We noticed quite a bit of public art around the place.

Lat time we were there the old opening bridge was still in place and they were just doing the very early stages of the civil work for the approaches to the new bridge.

Now, the skyline looks quite different with the lower line of the bridge.  The weather was glorious, with the water sparkling.

Just below Batehaven we noticed a sign pointing to “Observation Point”.  That’s new since our last visit.

It sports stunning views into the Bay and out to sea.  

On the Sunday, we just had a quiet time back at the van.

Mick took his kayak out on the Nelligan Creek for a while.

In the afternoon we walked down to the Nelligan village to get an ice cream.  No photo, as they were really runny and we were trying to stop them running up our arms.  The village dates back to the 1850s, so there are a couple of cute old buildings.

Then it was time to finish reading the book I bought at the Bungendore op shop.

We finished our time at Nelligan with a delicious pub dinner at the Steam Packet Hotel, right over the road from the caravan park.  A very relaxing couple of days.

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Day 4 - Canberra to Nelligan

I’m finally back.  We have had poor internet coverage is my excuse.

After our visit to Canberra, we started to head east towards the coast.  Firstly heading back towards Bungendore.  As you can see, the weather was somewhat overcast.

Our intention was to just drive through, but as we went up a side street, we noticed “Phil’s Op Shop”, so of course we stopped.  What a bonus that was.

It turns out that the op shop is run by St Philips for Anglicare and on Friday mornings they host a community morning tea in the op shop.  They insisted we have morning tea, which consisted of barista coffee and a mix of bought and home made biscuits and slices.  They prepared the coffee while we went shopping. The morning tea was as good as any coffee shop.  I found several doileys and embroidered hand towels and a book.  An extra donation was made for the morning tea as well, as we were going to buy morning tea somewhere anyway.  It was nice to see a quilt on the back wall and some pretty doiley curtains.

Our next stop was Braidwood. We just had a walk up and down the street, as we didn’t need to get morning tea.  The quilt shop was closed, not that I needed anything.  Our only purchase was bread from the bakery.

After Braidwood the scenery made a rather rapid change from tablelands to coastal.  The grass was lush and green.

Then, as we started down Clyde Mountain we had the tall trees and were met by some rather moody, misty weather.

Our destination for the next three nights was Nelligan, which is on the Clyde River, just upstream from Batemans Bay.  Our van site had beautiful lush grass.  It was a very popular caravan park, being the weekend, with lots of families.  We were just going to have a chilled couple of days.

My first task was to finish the book I was reading.  A nice, light enjoyable read.  It was a nice gift from Jennifer of Bronze Wombat.