Berry and beyond

Jesus as a Koala Bear

Kangaroo field (they're hiding at the moment)

Wombat in camping field

Kookaburra waiting to steal our food

Tuna fish being prepared for Kookaburras - and us

On our way to Jervis Bay (see previous post) we stopped at Berry, which Elaine really loved, so I'll leave her to tell you about it ....... hello, yes Berry was how I imagine a small amercican town in the wild west to be. It didn't have swing saloon doors but it had that quaint, verandah surrounded, slightly ramshackle look about it. There were some surprising shops like the one that sold many different types of cuckoo clocks and a shop that had a koala nativity in its window (see above). I sampled the local ice cream which was delicious, as usual. The others had coffee and cake. Then it was on to Jervis bay

After Jervis Bay we drove on to Kangaroo Valley - a small town as well as the valley itself - where we found a very reasonable Motel for us oldies (Ruth and Bob were the only ones planning to sleep under canvas - though they didn't seem to mind sharing use of our shower) which had a very spacious en suite and a small swimming pool which I made good use of on the next day.

Once we had deposited our bag and made a bit more space in the car we drove on to find the camp site (large field with toilet block). the camping facilities may not have been extensive, but the setting was wonderful and there was even a river to wash in. As the name suggests we were in a beautiful valley surrounded by wooded hills and the whole place could have been designated as an Australian Wildlife Sanctuary. As Elaine was cooking the tuna fish kangaroos hopped across the far side of the campsite into the field shown above. I think that I may have a photograph of them on my old fashioned SLR but you'll have to wait till we get back to see that.

Next to arrive were the Kookaburras, who started off by flying to a nearby tree, then one got bolder and moved to the tent and finally they rested on the boot of the car, before waiting till we had served up the meal. Then it swooped and stole the tuna fish from Ruth's plate as she sat with it on her lap. She and Elaine had the rest of their meals sat in the car with the doors firmly closed.

Washing up was interrupted too. This time it was the wombats who started to emerge just before dusk. They are like huge guinea pigs and just spent their time scratching or munching grass. I ( Elaine) tried to take a photo of some on the second night of our stay in Kangaroo Valley but I was divebombed again. This time it was by some frantic Plovers who must have laid eggs in the grass that day beacause the day before the grass had been mown and there was only a small patch of long grass left in which to hide a clutch of eggs. I did feel sorry for them. Numerous people crossed the grass where there nest must have been and each time they went berserk. It made bringing up teenagers seem easy!