Hobbies

I have had a lifelong interest in photography which has provided the rich material for my newest hobby blogging. I also "trade" the stock market on paper as my risk appetite has declined with age. This is documented in my web site abuelosystem.net. In 2010 a friend introduced us to day walking clubs which has been life changing. I am a member of the Sydney Ferry Appreciation group for photo opportunities as we travel on the ferries a lot. I also read a lot of fictional crime novels (see Library).

Photography

The moods of Sydney Harbour. There is extraordinary variation in the light on the harbour.

I also have fun with memes.

Sydney Ferries

The Sydney Ferry Appreciation people are "ferry spotters" like train spotters. They get great fun out of spotting the different harbour ferries.

Day Walks

Navigation Warning

The maps included with these posts are not to be used, under any circumstances, for navigation purposes. They are intended simply as track records for explanation only. Never rely solely on mobile phones for navigation. There may be no coverage where you are going and your battery may go flat. Always carry a phone recharger pack. Download the map where you are going beforehand so you are not reliant on the Internet.

Every year our NPA #1 Walking Group puts on 3 days of walks in a regional area away from Sydney

#1 Barrington Tops near Gloucester, NSW

In April 2024 we spent three days walking with our National Parks Association bush walking group in the Barrington Tops rain forest national park. A fantastic experience apart from being constantly wet and assailed by leeches. The arctic beech forest was a standout. It is a forest remnant from Gondwana Land thousands of years old.

#2 Merimbula, South Coast NSW

Merimbula is on the far south coast of NSW. We did one "normal" walk from Kangarutha, one aborted walk at Deep Water creek after a challenging detour down a very rough fire trail when the weather went to the pack. It was a very stressful return drive to our journey break at Manyana as the highway was closed at Mogo by floodwaters.

Kangarutha Walk

Salt Water Creek

We were slack in not paying attention to the directions at the walk briefing. When I saw a sign saying Salt Water Creek I naturally turned off. What I did not realise that the actual turn off was further along and we had embarked down a very rough and blocked fire trail. Fortunately, my rough orienteering driving experience came in handy and I was able to extricate us and two passengers with only a small amount of repairable trim damage! Most of us were not prepared to brave the creek crossing! Note the girl crossing with a baby on her back. The guys fishing caught some large native salmon.

#3 Return Journey

We did not do the third day walk because the weather turned severely nasty with flood warnings for the Princes Highway. We were very relieved to get to our half way overnight stop at Manyana. We called into Green Patch to see our son who was camping in the wet.

Accommodation in Merimbula

Our accommodation in Merimbula was comfortable but architecturally unusual cabins.

#3 Namadji National Park near Canberra

We spent three days at the end of May 2026 walking with a group (N=20) in the Namadji National Park near Canberra. This koala enclosure is in the Eucalyptus Forest section. These koalas are as agile as monkeys in their tree environment.