Amsterdam canal cruise

The canals criss cross the city creating a highway full of boats, and scenic cruisers.

This was the second time we had had a canal cruise through Amsterdam and each time the weather was not kind. This time it was overcast but at least it didn't rain. To us Amsterdam is not a pretty city, but I have spoken to people who live here and they love it.

House boats line the canal shores.

No  you are not drunk, the buildings have a lean up

These buildings are separating and gradually moving apart.

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The doorway to Waldorf Astoria, my how the other half live

These buildings were falling apart when we visited Amsterdam in 2005. I think they might stand a while longer

Seagull Chick Nursery, Busselton Jetty WA

Perched on a rotting railing next to the refurbished jetty, nesting seagulls, in holes in the timber, some with eggs, the hopefuls with no eggs, but still nesting, and to my delight, two chicks, one brave and up on top to view the world and the other snuggled down out of the wind.

Travelling in our rented Hyundai I30 from Thrifty car rentals we were on our way from Margaret River to catch our flight from Perth back to reality in Melbourne to travel home in Wagga, Busselton took our attention, we missed stopping there when we visited the West about ten years ago.

The water always attracts us and we found the Busselton Jetty with its quaint boat houses and miniature train.  We wanted to walk the Jetty and experience the history and stories that were shown in murals and placques all along the 1.8km jetty as it stretches into Geographe Bay

Dive Bombing Pelicans, Tea Gardens, Port Stephens

We left the pier where we had landed to walk across the bridge and discover Hawkes Nest. The dreadful racket of the pelicans waiting for a free feed attracted my attention. They were coming in  from all directions, divebombing into land.  Screeching and squawking as they fought with each other over the scraps from the fishermen cleaning their catch.

Tea Gardens panorama taken from the bridge linking Hawkes Nest. Tea Gardens sits on the Myall River flowing into Myall Lake and   surrounded by Myall National Park, the Myall River emptying into Port Stephens.

Tea Gardens Panorama

Beautiful yacht

 We caught the ferry, a quaint, old fashioned boat, from Nelson Bay, after missing the first trip by ten minutes, we had to wait for the next schedule. We could hear the chugging before we saw the boat. We all looked at each other with apprehension, as the boat pulled into the pier, we were a little concerned that we wouldn't make the trip.

Our mode of transport was a little more rustic, quaint, antiquated, but cute

Wind power

Canoeing the Myall Lakes

House without mortgage