A Picnic in the Bush

A clear windless day for a picnic at the Casuarina camp site

A real rustic Aussie visitors centre

Lunch at a rather natural picnic table.

Picnic in the Alps

It is now 5 months sine I enjoyed a picnic lunch in a spectacular location it the Alps on the Frence/Italian border at the Col du Maddalena.
We were en route to Pra Loup to watch stage 17 of the Tour de France.

It was a clear windless day and it was a pity to have to leave that idyllic scene. Our little dark blue car can be seen at the roadside.

Oasis in the City

Today we visited Boyce House in the suburbs.  This is an impressive historical property that was donated to the university by the former owners.

Spring is Here

After a slow start with colder temperatures through September, we have now launched into Spring with some spectacular days.
This morning we enjoyed the blue sky and the calm conditions to have a walk in the park.

The Oldest and the Youngest

We have just had a wonderful time with Stephen and Melinda and Caleb.  It was a rare chance to see the Oldest Doyle and the Youngest Doyle together.
They arrived yesterday afternoon and after a short talk, we went round to Joanne's place and enjoyed a meal with lots of talk and fun. Then today, they again called in to see us and we joined all the Bainbridges for a walk through the botanical gardens, and then we drove up to Picnic Point for coffee and chips before Steven Melinda and Caleb departed for the Gold Coast.  Here are a few photos taken today.
It was a most enjoyable 24 hours - we are so glad that they made the effort to come and see us up here in the "high country" at Toowoomba.

A look at the Past

Sometimes in the midst of all the technology of the future, it is good to remember a little of the past.
Today we saw some of that at Cobb and Co, where the Australian Light Horse division was remembered in a display of ancient warfare, set with an appropriate background of windmills.

It was rather co-incidental that adjacent to the display was a small car that would not have been too far out of place with the horses in those past years.

Surveying the Jungle

It was not all sightseeing and cycling on my recent trip to Canelli in Italy. Occasionally there was some work to do.

One task that I set myself, was to survey the undeveloped area of land that extends from the house up the valley alongside the Valle Oscura creek. Until recently this strip of land was pure jungle - difficult to walk through and impossible to see the extent. But as Stuart had slashed his way into it and formed a basic track, I got to work and attempted to measure it to set out the boundarys. My main primitive instrument was a long string line which I had previously marked out in 10 meter sections. By stretching this along the embankment, I was able to establish the key points that I wanted to mark.
My reward for doing this job, was a cool beer in the shade of the Fienile.