Sydney, Jervis Bay, and Batemans Bay

23-29 March 2008

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Sunday, 23 March

Colin and Lorraine kindly ran us to the airport early afternoon.  Got complimentary upgrades to business class which made for a very comfortable flight.  Interesting meal menu as it had no relationship to the actual food except for the dessert which was close!  There was an unusual westerly wind flow so we were 40 minutes early, then first through immigration and customs as our bags were the first off.  Being so early we had to wait half an hour for Simon to pick us up.  Didn’t need any dinner.

Warm night with a thunderstorm and rain.

Monday, 24 March

Walked up to the corner to a café for breakfast then caught a bus into the city to go to the Art Gallery to see an exhibition.  The queue to see the exhibition was very long so had a quick look around the rest of the gallery and then walked down through the Gardens to Circular Quay.  Intrigued with all the large bats that are in their thousands in the trees in the garden (they call them flying foxes!).  Stopped at the Opera House Bar for a refreshing drink or two, then caught the ferry to Manly.  Walked down to the Manly surf beach – lots of people in and out of the water.  Caught the ferry back and then a bus home.

Fine day, rain at night

 Tuesday, 25 March

Caught the bus into the city to Queen Victoria Building to meet Simon.  Annette went shopping and the 2 boys went to see the exhibition at the National Gallery and then visited a photographic exhibition at the National Library.  Met Annette at the Victoria Basement Kitchen shop – huge shop with substantially reduced prices.

Caught a taxi to the Fish Market and had Yum Char for lunch - very good.  Caught another taxi home.

That evening we all had a great meal at Restaurant Atelier to celebrate Simon’s upcoming 32nd birthday.

Fine day, heavy rain in the evening

Wednesday, 26 March

Left Sydney ~ 10 am and headed south.  Stopped at Baird Park to view the new sea bridge and then stopped further on to walk over it.

Had a picnic on the beach at Coledale and then had snack at Berry at the Wood Burner Bakery Café (coffees and cakes  - prune tart for Annette and she got the recipe!) and had a walk around the little historic Berry.

Stopped the night at a cabin at the Holiday Park at Huskisson – nice spot

Fine day and night

 

Thursday, 27March

Had a drive into the Jervis Bay National Park and at the end of it walked for an hour and a half to see the sheer cliffs over the sea.  Drove down the coast from Jervis Bay to bach at Batemans Bay.  Stopped at Ulladulla for a pie or two at Hayden's Pies, recommended in the Sydney Herald – great pies.  The bach is a lovely little house with no power but gas cooking and water heater.  Light form candles and gas lamps.  Had an open fire each night as the house has a large veranda around 2 and a half sides and with all the gum trees stays cool all day.  Two bedrooms both with access off the deck – no internal access

Dinner was oysters shucked by Simon, sausages from Berry with salad, and apple and rhubarb pie from

Fine day, heavy rain at night

                  

Friday, 28 March

Late morning went for walk around the lovely little beach here and around the headland.  Lazy afternoon

Dinner was 42 oysters followed by corn on the cob and bananas stuffed with chocolate cooked on the open fire

Fine day and night

 

Saturday, 29 March

Late morning went into Batemans Bay.  Called at Information Centre to find local Avis agent to check on warning light on dash – no problem.  Left laptops at Info centre on charge.  Info Centre staff were the most pleasant and helpful we have come across anywhere.

Walked around the little town and then had lunch at the Bare Canvas Café.  Bought some groceries and more oysters for dinner.  Dinner was oysters (50 – all shucked by Simon) followed by salad with smoked trout, followed again by bananas stuffed with chocolate cooked on the open fire – yum.

Fine day and night