Arrived on the Monday afternoon, lovely weather and very uneventfull till….. It was 5pm and I was sitting on the couch and heard what sounded like a massive branch crashing. Looked up to see a coloured ball of mess cascade into the creek. There was a very large red, black and brown dog holding a wallaby by the throat under the water. After shouting and making a ruckus it still didn’t move. Dashed for the gun but it took off before I could get back to it.

Whilst I was out he walked down the stairs beside the girls back to the creek. Scary and didn’t see him again.

Well the day has arrived. We left home and took the girls out of school. Grabbed Tara as well. Expecting the Watson’s around 7 for dinner.

Arrived at Wollombi to register for the event. Not many people in town. Only had three people in front of me. Got my number plate, No. 34 and the ankle timer. Then headed into Yango on the back road. Water in the crossings and what looked like two very deep ones. Will be interesting to see bikes herbing through it.

Got up to the house about 4:15. Kids ran off to see the horses and the swing. Unpacked the car. Planning for spag bol for dinner.

Arrived up on Thursday afternoon. Creek was up and weather was great. The Watson’s are to join us on the Friday. Everyone looking forward to it.

Made chicken and flat bread for dinner. Early night. Set up dads new fire pit.

Horses ok and everything fine.

On arrival at approx 1:15pm ( Bel was very quick to mention she nearly beat my time) we were greeted by Chootie, Al, Crayden and Ann. Was lovely to see them all again.

It had been some time since they had seen the Blonde Assassins. After a lovely Thai Beef Salad and bangers, the family headed home under the watchful navigators eye.

Grandpa took the girls for a nice long ride on the Gator and then to be climbing tree. After I fixed the gate we came home for a glass of bubbles and dinner.

The girls knocked off Chicken and flat bread whilst mum cooked up a storm with spatchcock and spuds. Very nice.

Good day today. Dave and I cooked up the Moroccan soup for lunch. Doubled the recipe and work nicely. Once the pot was on the stove we went for a MTB ride up the valley for Daves first trip up. Nice easy ride but at 10 degrees at midday was a bit rude.

Lunch was tops. With a glass of rizza!

The girls went for a ride up the valley whilst Dave and I (with the kids) built the camp fire. Early lighting of the fire was good. Kids had home made chicken nuggets for dinner whilst we howed into the cheese and bubbles.

Bel made a lovely treat of “blondies” which was a recipes of butter, white chocolate and marshmallows. very nice.

Since Dave forgot the pasta maker we had to do with salmon! Salmon was baked in the oven with Dill butter ( mum the rest is in the freezer), then there was some playing. Chilli in one, chilli and preserved Lemon in the other. Served with pumkin mash and broccolini. Very nice.

Dinner was tops and was finished with daves desert. To quote “it’s a, like semi aflredo something or other…. Semifredo al caffe ice cream. ” very nice with bits of coffee in it.

Went quite well with a bucket of baileys.

Dinner over and stories begin.

And then theres us.

After the visit to the Yurt we came home for lunh of hamburgers. Everyone peeled off to do their own thing. Sophie, Michelle and Hugo went for a walk to fairy land and the dam. Dad, guy and James got out the chainsaws and gator and built a very large bongo fire between the rocks. I slept in the hammock.

Bel and I went for a quick ride up to the end of the valley.

Rob and I started preparing dinner of Roast Chicken whilst James et al lit the fire. Bloody huge.

Kids had pizza for dinner down by the fire then back to bed. Dinner was good, chooks cooked perfectly. Then to bed and watched “Red”.

Good movie about washed up CIA operatives in their last ditch effort to trams down the person behind kill orders on them all. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malcovitch and Hellen Mirum. B rate action flick but funny.

Dinner was red curry prawns. Very nice. Somehow some chillies and chilli paste made it in there. Don’t know how that happened.

Copious amounts of wine later and there was a dance party happening. Rob was concerned we would go thru the floor. Kids then went to bed and the Yango Jenga championships took place. Don’t recall the winner or going to bed!

Girls were up about 7 am again. I went for a ride. Did the “Mad Epic” in reverse. Wasn’t a good idea. The first 10km were all up hill. Dam near killed me and nearly puked!

Didn’t see much wild life, guess due to my cursing and bellowing puffs. Saw a huge black cockatoo, small snake on the road, heaps of wallabies and black boys everywhere!

Made it to the top of the Trig station. At least it was all down hill from here.

Gorgeous view, but to be honest I spent more time chasing away death due to coronary.

Great run down the hill. Got up some good speed.

Finished Cycle: 21/04/2011 10:37:04 AM
Route: Boree Track Reverse
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/e7CPaX
Ride Time: 2:15:59
Distance: 33.35 km
Average: 14.71 km/h
Fastest Speed: 52.28 km/h
Ascent: 643 meters
Calories: 1271

Well at least I worked off the previous nights calories.

Girls were coloring in when I got back.

Dad arrived at about midday, we made some lunch then he and Charlotte went into Cessnock for seed and to rebuy all the ingredients for bels ANZAC bikkies.

Sophie and I went for ANOTHER walk to fairy land and took he camera to take photos for news next term.

Bel went for a ride to be end of the valley. Best time so far.

The gaggle are due to arrive any minute. It’s now 3:36pm on Thursday.

And I’m in the hammock!

James and mum arrived in unison with Dad and Charlotte from cessnock at 3:53.

Overcast morning from a chilly night. Girls got up about 7am as we put a clock in their room and said not to get up before 7.

Been drizzling all morning. Enough to keep you in doors. Heaps of wallabies on each flat. Reading The Hobbit on the iPad as bel reads her TM’s.

Just had lunch of toasted Turkish bread with ham and cheese. Not very exciting but the girls knocked it off.

Raining again! Now what to do?

We all went for a walk to fairy land and saw some council workers lopping the branches off trees up behind the old sheds. They didn’t seem to concerned about damaging the steel/cuff fence. All ok but could have cleared it better.

Made chicken schnitzel with sour dough bread crumbs and mash potatoes. Was good. Love his stove. Had a bottle of the trusty Pikes Riesling 2010. Cracker.

Girls went to bed and watched a movie as did we. Saw ” the town”. Cops and bank robbers movie based in Boston. Ben Afleck was in it and was quite good.

Went to sleep about 11 with sounds behind the house of large animals. Think it was wallabies.

Huge full moon, flog rolling in and 12 degrees out side. The fires on!