Having a lovely time in Kangaroo Valley south of Sydney at a bush retreat for the wedding of Amanda and Tris Burke. Bob and Julie Lymn travel with us. Great privilege to be invited and great fun. We stay in cabins among the trees around a lake. We see kangaroos in a paddock on the way there and a couple of wombats ambling around in a cute, wombatty way.
There’s a viewing platform on a bluff with fantastic vistas across the valley of the Kangaroo River several hundred feet below and to a golf course on the far side. There is also a spectacular outdoor “cathedral” with huge moss-covered rocks towering at least 15 metres either side of a central space. Unfortunately it pours with rain. It was a rainfall record I think – 230mm in one day in Kangaroo Valley.
We have the ceremony under cover – but it is still amazing. Lots of very moving speeches, lots of good food and booze. Then the youngsters crank up the disco gear and there’s lots of dancing. Even us oldies join in! Great family time with lots of people coming from different parts of Australia and from Europe to join in. Jan and I share a cabin with Tony (father of the groom) and Madelaine and have a few laughs. We know them because we stayed in their place in Marche in Italy.
Today we move to a rented beach house in Gerroa, about 40 minutes from Kangaroo Valley, for a few days. The little mountain road that winds down the escarpment is covered with debris brought down by the rain – including some hefty branches that block half the road. The house at Gerroa is a spectacular place with wonderful views of the crashing surf – but it is still raining. It should stop this afternon.
