Boys' own adventure. Away in the distance the dust was rising and it proved to be these bikers ahead at a road junction in the south west of the state. A la Boorman and McGregor?

Traffic cops were all over the place. Trouble at the airport? Climate change protest? Or just on the way to Maccas? Was an escapee swimming the harbour? Then it was the water police and a chopper. All coincidental for there was no critical incident. Some members of the NSW Police force began posing for a photo.
Taken on the Stockton foreshore, the suburb on the northern side of the harbour.

Passing by the new coal loader under construction there was no sign of the Happy Buccaneer. The machinery had been unloaded and was high and dry on the wharf and the Happy Buccaneer had sailed again. See recent posting.

To the distant Murray River. Little paddle steamers at Echuca are into tourism nowdays.
World scientists are having a powwow and examining the estuary of the Murray river, an area which is under great stress.
The river, in SE Australia, is long and flows east west in dry regions and reaches the ocean in the Coorong (roughly south of Adelaide) joined along the way by other waterways that had their beginnings thousands of miles to the north.
The Coorong is a Ramsar site of international importance with a rare environment but the water levels there are very low and the taking of water out of the system is implicated among other factors.
Great potential for good management of the river system exists through a united approach by the states, it is said. It is not as though international borders are involved in the process. So, 'come on' experts and do what should be done!

Roughly further west of the Hunter-Goulburn, roughly over the Great Dividing (mountain) Range (what a name!) where crops are growing. Is this crop canola? Show-off.

Further into the Goulburn Valley, the National Parks has provided a rest area and a story board that tells about Phippes Cutting which is a hand-made road, part of which can be explored nearby.
This Wollemi National Park is included in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage.
The area is within the traditional country of the Wanaruah Aboriginal people.
Horse transport is associated with the horse studs in the district. Widden Valley seems hidden away.

The Goulburn Valley is splendid at this time of year. The Goulburn river is a major tributary of the Hunter river and they join up near Denman.

Cruising past hills similar to old Microsoft background or desktop. It was all a blur while on the move. The open road went to our head after miles of road works and speed restrictions. We still have pioneering road works to achieve our major freeway links and thats all going well as can be expected in my estimation.

Big theme on CDP. Some type of transporter/loader and a truck. The top sets are removed to the ground for use at the work place.

Canine One and Two

Ceremonial mats airing after a special occasion in the Tongan Community. The mats are from the South Pacific island and are woven from parts of a plant.

Recreation

Catch of the day

Fisherman

On Stockton Breakwater wall.

Shipwreck

Navigation aids.

Newcastle Station is no longer in the 'hub' of the city. It has decorative iron posts. Victoriana?

Bales of wool. Fleece. Trading in wool has declined in Newcastle, I suspect, and has moved elsewhere, after all, we can't have it all or can we? So wool transport is rarely seen now.
Another rarity: The photo has depth of field.
Below: The Happy Buccaneer appeared unchanged Thursday afternoon. The building of the groundwork on the wharf goes ahead ready to receive the cargo, I believe. The ship's cranes were busy moving in tandem but in opposite directions so as to maintain the critical balance, I suspect.

Garside Gardens in King Edward Park are colourful and the design copies the logo of the City Council and celebrates 150 years of Local Government (in floral script). Logo: Great place, Great lifestyle, Great Future.

Below, Happy Buccaneer and 48 hours later, on Tuesday afternoon, the unloading operation looks to be in a similar position as it was yesterday.
Second photo shows a loader already in operation and is the type of thing being extricated and unloaded.

More of the balancing act on Happy Buccaneer, nearly 24 hours later. The load has been moved around to sit at a right angle across the deck.

The Happy Buccaneer of the BIGLIFT fleet is unloading several large fabrications using massive cranes with a giant SWL 700t/29m. Huisman. The vessel is registered in the Netherlands.
One part of the coal loader is assembled and set up on the wharf, second photo. As afternoon wore on, the next large piece hovered above the deck, first photo, to be gradually swung around for unloading, a process that will take hours to complete said one of the workman.

Automated sashimi sashay
rolls on
tract of degustation
loop loader
The cook in the eatery next door where we ate. A virtual little Japanese experience. Nearby the games were in action.

Up in the Hunter valley, close to a coal mine, the train line reaches its limit and loops back while gradually filling up under a coal loader.
Perhaps the train driver uses psychic powers to control the operation because the loading drops out of view when the engine creeps forward around the loop!

The construction of a coal loader is an uncommon sight. The weather was stormy.
This third loader will convey coal to the ships at the wharf at Kooragang Island.
One after another, non stop, ships convey this commodity from Newcastle, described as the world's largest coal export port.
A large metal fabrication is seen in place. Its arrival was previously shown on this site.

Heavenly Grind at Speers Point Park

Meals on wheels

Does Cuddles dream of scampering around, dream of youth and vigour? Cuddles is 18 years old.

The Servant Song
Will you let me be your servant...

We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are trav'lers on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

...in the night-time of your fear;
Iwill hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when your are weeping;
when you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
'till we've seen this journey through...

Will you let me be your servant...
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard from Scripture in Song.

Clunk, clunk, clunk. Two clunkers were on the tow trucks after an accident on Maitland Road. Although clunkers is an exaggeration, one car was a large VW sedan and the other was a Toyota 3WD.

Another hospital scene at The Royal Newcastle Centre. Music sooths. Volunteer musicians take turns at the piano.
Cafes and shops are among the services in this space which offers some relief from the medical milieu.
The Centre is attached to the John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, and has orthopaedic type services and more. The Centre replaces the original 'Royal' by the seaside in Newcastle East, which has been demolished and the land sold for high rise apartments.

The Mater Hospital has been rebuild along pleasant lines. It could be said this general hospital specialises in Oncology and Mental Health services.
It may have limited beds but it has a bright Delimarche.

Toronto and Lake Macquarie on a winter Sabbath afternoon.

In Toronto by Lake Macquarie
To the person who may be interested in a link: would they leave a comment here to backup the story.

Cafe: Ripples by the Lake, Toronto. Midwinter. The days have been pleasantly mild

A little out of town on a back road is Toronto Country Club and golf. From this angle the ambience is superb!

This was no 'dark night of the soul'. No way. Once, as a guest at World Youth Day this young man found this country appealing and has returned here to seek to stay longer.
He was happy among former acquaintances and the crowd at a trivia night fund-raiser for the next WYD in Madrid and for funds for the bushfire appeal.
Night theme. Another idea was that of the Newcastle Knights League team, but the photo could be anywhere.
This is blog post number 1019!