Driving Miss Daisies
Craige wanted to get me out of the house (as I've been pretty much spending all of my time at home, not going anyway, and in bed most of my days). As he and Oz have Ken (from Cairns) staying with them, he decided we'd go on a little joy ride / drive.
They arrived here around 10.30am, and Craige elected to take his car (which is better for a passenger in the rear than my car), but I offered to drive, and he was quite happy to accept my offer. I like driving, and it takes the pressure off Craige as well. And he drives buses for his job, so to have some time out from driving is nice for him.
We elected to drive down through Wollongong, then down to Kiama to check out the blowhole. Due to the weather from the last few days, there was quite a large swell, which was coming in to the cave entrance perfectly, making for some spectacular eruptions from the blowhole itself. Even though it was a weekday, the area, AND the town itself, were quite busy. I JUST missed out on capturing the biggest "blow", but still saw some spectacular ones, which was nice.
We had a lovely lunch at Saltwater which Ken generously shouted.
As I was driving, I decided to drive us back up via Macquarie Pass, which was a road that originally opened (probably as a horse and cart track) WAAAAAY back in 1898, and it's still a rather precarious sealed road drive, with plenty of hairpin turns, and steep cliffs on the side of the road. In inclement weather, it is frequently closed, as there are rockfalls and landslips. But it's the main road to get to places like Bowral and Mittagong, without a huge diversion north, though Appin and then Campbelltown. And it's a lovely drive.
We stopped at ALDI in Mittagong to get some groceries, and wine for Oz, before heading back to my house, where Craige dropped me off, and he and Ken drove home.
It was certainly nice to get out of the house.
I wish I was using this opportunity to do more walking / hiking / exercise / eating well / doing things, but all of that is eluding me in a fog of depression...
Craige, Ken, and I at Stanwell Tops
Kiama blowhole
Craige at the blowhole
Me at the blowhole
Ken's pic of Craige and I taking pictures!
They arrived here around 10.30am, and Craige elected to take his car (which is better for a passenger in the rear than my car), but I offered to drive, and he was quite happy to accept my offer. I like driving, and it takes the pressure off Craige as well. And he drives buses for his job, so to have some time out from driving is nice for him.
We elected to drive down through Wollongong, then down to Kiama to check out the blowhole. Due to the weather from the last few days, there was quite a large swell, which was coming in to the cave entrance perfectly, making for some spectacular eruptions from the blowhole itself. Even though it was a weekday, the area, AND the town itself, were quite busy. I JUST missed out on capturing the biggest "blow", but still saw some spectacular ones, which was nice.
We had a lovely lunch at Saltwater which Ken generously shouted.
As I was driving, I decided to drive us back up via Macquarie Pass, which was a road that originally opened (probably as a horse and cart track) WAAAAAY back in 1898, and it's still a rather precarious sealed road drive, with plenty of hairpin turns, and steep cliffs on the side of the road. In inclement weather, it is frequently closed, as there are rockfalls and landslips. But it's the main road to get to places like Bowral and Mittagong, without a huge diversion north, though Appin and then Campbelltown. And it's a lovely drive.
We stopped at ALDI in Mittagong to get some groceries, and wine for Oz, before heading back to my house, where Craige dropped me off, and he and Ken drove home.
It was certainly nice to get out of the house.
I wish I was using this opportunity to do more walking / hiking / exercise / eating well / doing things, but all of that is eluding me in a fog of depression...
Craige, Ken, and I at Stanwell Tops
Kiama blowhole
Craige at the blowhole
Me at the blowhole
Ken's pic of Craige and I taking pictures!