Sea Cliff Bridge - Best seen with a drone!

I have been here beofore with my old drone (DJI Phantom 4), but now with the replacement (DJI AIR 3), I am seeing things VERY differently!!!

I feel I have just more freedom with the flying, better camera(s) and the combination is just very picturesque indeed!!!

I started the day early, VERY early (thus no post last night) and had the alarm set for 0330; I woke at 0300! I was heading to a destination for tomorrows post, so after that, I went and revisited the old Sea Cliff Bridge. Opened in December 2005, and at 665 metre long, Sea Cliff Bridge is a highlight along the Grand Pacific Drive. A drive which takes in 140 kilometres worth of coastal scenery from the Royal National Park, Loftus down to Nowra.

HISTORY

Lawrence Hargrave Drive is a spectacular section of Coast Road just north of Wollongong NSW. The Sea Cliff Bridge was built to address geotechnical instability between Clifton and Coalcliff that would result in road closures, sometimes for months at a time.

The Sea Cliff Bridge was created after it was deemed the road that curved alongside the cliff face was unsafe due to rockfall activity that could close the road for months at a time.

The $49 million bridge braces against the Pacific Ocean, up to 70 metres east of the original alignment in places. It consists of a five-span, 450-metre-long balanced cantilever bridge adjoining a seven-span, 203-metre-long incremental launched bridge, sharing a common pier.

The goal of this ambitious project was to provide a fully available road with a design life of 100 years. The bridges incorporate two traffic lanes of 3.5 metres to 3.8 metres and a 2.5-metre shared pathway.

Lawrence Hargrave Drive is named after the famous aviator and the first Australian to fly at the nearby Stanwell Park.

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Back to work it is then...

So today it was a 'back to work' day, not much really happened really there, all normal...

But, I was already planning what I can get with the dron over the weekend! I sort of want to do a post (I am thinking of a Sunday) where I will visit somewhere in the Sydney Metro (maybe even a little wider) and run through the alphabet as I go along... I mean, theres 26 letters in the alphabet and 52 weeks in a year, coincidence?? Maybe not...

So, on Saturday or Sunday I will go to somewhere, that starts with the letter 'A', where, I don't know just yet, so stay tuned there...

In the meantime, here is a pic when I tried this back in 2011, but there was just too many things going on, so I will PROMISE I will complete this, this year...

'Avalon' is on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and a fave of mine that I try to get to every summer, though I am now heading to a more subdued 'Inner Harbour' beach...

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Happy New Year - Welcome to 2025

As a Christmas present to myself, I have finally upgraded my 2016 model DJI Phantom 4 drone. It has served me well over these years, and has travelled well too! But, it was now time to upgrade.... And a DJI AIR 3 it is!!

This new model has significant enhancements over the Phantom 4, camera is far superior, its also small and easier to transport and fly!!

First fly was at the 'Running Man' (Sprinter" from the Sydney Olympics in 2000. This, and two others, were atop of thr Centerpoint Tower and after removal, scattered throughout Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush. However, with the recent upgrade of the M4 (West Connex) tunnel, its now near the Homebush Bay Drive intersection, and has intrigued me since being placed there!! So I had, HAD to get a photo of it!!

Now comfortable with the flight controls, it was the following day or so, the 'Light Horse Interchange' where the M4 (joins the City to thr West) and the M7 (more of a 'Ring Road' from the M5, passing the M4 and joins the M2 to the north). In the very middle of the intersection of the M4 and M7, stands the Australian Light Horse Sculpture Parade is dedicated to the heroic troops who served in the Australian Light Horse, and their horses that could never return. It has a central mast and four sets of red poles, representing the Australian Light Horse on parade. The 55-metre-high mast with its reflective crown, located at the centre of the Light Horse Interchange, provides a focus to the sculpture. The lit mast and crown symbolise a torch in the dark.

NOW, feeling a lot more confident, I headed to the East, and discovered the 'Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly the 'Easter Creek Raceway') where the V8 Supercars race, as well as the speedway (long story involving that) and the drags are held all on the one location...

Time for some more frequent, daily adventures ahead....

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Resting Up - but managed to get something achieved!!

YES, I have been resting, not much choice really when its difficult to do much at all, but I have also been somewhat busy... With ASSISTANCE!!!

I moved house back in the November of 2016. And, late this week, we managed to cut down the boxes I have left to unpack, by 7 or 8!!!

These were bought into me basically, and they were also easy targets, alcohol!!! Now, wines were basically thrown, as were spirits that were open, and beer!!! I am not a beer drinker really, especially XXXX that Queenslanders seem to like, so they were also thrown down the sink!!!

Once sorted, and photographed haha, they were then put into the China Cabinet and set aside now for consumption in the comoing weeks or months (year?) haha

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

A fall - and extreme blood pressure!!

WELL WELL WELL..... What have I done!!!

I was up a laddrer, dead-heading the climbing Roses clambering over the arbor over the outdoor dining area, and with a few canes left to tie back, it started to rain... And yeah, rain up a ladder that shiny aluminium, aren't a good combination I found out!!!

As I started to climb down, I slipped off the middle (theres only thee) step, and started my rapid descent, I tried to brace mt fall on the outside dining table (hurt my left thumb in the process), and finally landed on the paving on my right buttock... This did my bad back absolutely NO favours at all, and arranged a GP visit for Tuesday as it was the earliest I could get in...

Anyway, at the Doctors, she asked all the normal things about the fall and injury, gave me some pain relief and then asked to have a look at the Blood Pressure. Well, she was, as I was too, HORRIFIED at the level!! She asked if she could retake it, and I wasn't about to say no, and the second reading was WORSE!!! And whilst it will always rise with pain, the levels were just shocking. So a change in pain relief to something else, and the prescription for BP management, and I was off on my way again...

The following day, I visited my pharmacist, and she re-took my Blood Pressure again to see what was going on, and to report back to the GP...

I was certified OFF work for at least the week, for rest...

Hoo roo for now...

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Bernie

Busy Weekend!!

Well, it has certainly been a busy as weekend... I went out for dinner on Friday directly after work, and it ended up being a late night! Italian was great, with Garlic Prawn - Shelled king prawns, sautéed in cherry tomatoes, garlic and chilli. Served with wood-fired bread, as an entree we shared, and I ordered the Bufala e Gamberi - Buffalo mozzarella & basil topped with prawns and chilli, whilst my mate had the Campagnola - Italian Meat Lovers – ham, salami, sausage and fior di latte cheese!! (we also may have shared there too....) We also finished off with the standard coffee over a chat with a sleeping doggo on the next table!...

Saturday, whilst I went in to do a brief spot to see a mate up from Melbourne, I only stayed a little while, and headed back home to do some housework and stuff; all boring really!!!! Another day, another doggo though!!!

However, today I managed to achieve a lot of things. The half wine barrels with the roses growing over the arbor, I ripped out the Petunias that didn't survive my trip away, with some new trays of flowers to grow, and I also managed to install a security camera system!! Quite proud of that really!!! And finally, ordered some new things online shopping wise, nothing exciting just some new swimmers!! haha

Hoo roo for now...

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Back To Work Blues

Ugh, it was a 'back to work blues' kind of day today....

It was, on the most part, a pretty good day as most of the hype I had heard, wasn't on today, but in the late afternoon, yeah there was a bit of critical thinking needed, and QUICKLY!

We had a driver up north, who would've missed 2 ccritical pickups, but a bit or work, re-routing included, ensured these times were all met... I am yet to see if it all worked out though, but I suspect all is good as I had no calls after I left work!!

ONE more day tomorrow, and hopefully a relatively good day ahead!!! And then out to dinner with a mate, standard thing really!!!

Whats your plans for the weekend?? I just have some editing of photos to get through really, nothing too much!

Hoo roo for now...

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Hoo Roo Brisbane

Today was an early start, and leaving Brisbane at 0430...

Whillst I didn't have a full load of fuel to get me home, I pushed through to Ulmarra near Grafton, which is like a sleepy little village, and 'old school' servo, and the best Bacon & Egg on toast sandwich!!!! And the river view I had it with a Mocha, was great!!

Aside from that, 920km, 9hr 30min of driving, with a secondary stop at another servo on the motorway at Port Macquarie. From here, I had a car with me all the way down to Newcastle, would sit on my ass, I would naturally pull to the left lane and it would pass.... Then, it would pull to the left in front of me and then slow down!!! My Fortuner has adaptive speed cruise control, and this did my head in as I was just losing distance and time, so I simply, after about 4-5 times, stayed in the inside lane, and them on my tail!!!! Oh, and check out the windsock on the Mooney Mooney Bridge!!!!

Got home, watered the garden, made dinner whilst the washing was done, and I am now all ready and waiting to go to work tomorrow morning!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Last Day In Brisbane...

Well, today is the last day in Brisbane, and tomorrow, bright and early start of 0500, I will start the long drive home.... The road between Sydney and Brisbane (and even Sydney and Melbourne) is quite an easy drive actually, and very pleasant as well with lots to stop at along the way!

Today was spent with preakfast with a mate, I forgot to save the pic of my 'Chili Scrambled Eggs, but yesterday I had breakfast with another mate, and there I had the 'Black Forest Crepes' which was devine, and he the 'Scotched Egg' with bacon!!!

The weather hadn't eased up at all until late this afternoon when it receeded to light showers, and finally stopping about 1730 or so. I went and tended to my mates pool whilst he is also away, and reported via pics as to whats happened; he was very pleased and grateful!!!

Meanwhile, John and Murrays furkids have been mischevous with Month being my constant shadow (even to the shower) whilst Oscar has been getting into all sorts of places, one of which I don't think he would be allowed to be atop of the wine fridge!!!! They have been great to also look after this past week!!!

So, Thursday it is back to work day, not sure what I will be going back to, so that will no doubt be fun, and interesting at the same time!! I am hoping to be able to get back into a regiem of gym and swimming before work as well every day, as I seek to get back to a healthy lifestyle and lose some weight!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Welcome to 2024

Well, I am back, and my aim for 2024 is to post on a daily basis.... Lets hope I can do this!!!

I am currently up in Brisbane on a 'short break', as work went to a partial shutdown; I am also grateful for the break too I might add!

I drove up on Boxing Day, probably the worst possible day to travel? NO! I left nice and early at 0400, and the 940km journey took just on 9hrs. I went straight to my friends place in Brisbane, and given the recent storms, over to another friends to discharge some of the pool water given the storms. I have done this now twice!

The South East Queensland has been hit with severe storms, and on the Gold Coast, even a tornado!! The humidity has also been HIGH on average on a daily basis, upwards of 85%, which is not ideal!

I have managed to do some plane spotting, visit some friends, have more than enough coffee as well, however today, has been a ''day at home' with it raining all day! The Gold Coast alone has had in excess of 500mm!!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and all of the very best for 2024!!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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