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Finally springtime. September finally brings the spring to Sydney. After two subsequent winters (Europe – Australia), we are looking forward to it and are enjoying to see the imported trees in the city with fresh leaves – in June/July, we were only to regularly sweep up the dry leaves... (We here stress the word "imported" since all native plants are green year-round).

Spring Main Harbour Race. September 1st awaits us with the "Spring Main Harbour Race". This day, the yachts race in the main harbour. Our dinghis, however, remain in the local waters, only surrounding one more island than usual. The day shows up to 30-35 knots of wind. After his successful winter series, Michael had bought a new boat, and Peter and he decide that this is not the day to test it. Poppy however has no mercy with Claudia: They go afloat as one of two (!) dinghis. After a very unusual start (not with a horn blow at a starting line, but in the very moment when neither has capsized), the speeding journey begins and – who would have thought? – Claudia and Poppy keep on and on capsizing, eventually lose their power and are drifted onto the coastline from where they are being rescued by the rescue boat. Luckily no financial loss but lots of blue bruises. Considered that a yacht sank on this day, we can now claim our heroism ;-)

Claudia, Peter, Michael and grand scenery

Hiking in the Royal National Park. We take advantage of the following no-race-week-end for the first of many scheduled hiking tours of several days. The night temperatures now allow for camping, without yet having to fear bushfires. Thus seven of us shoulder our backpacks and we ride to the northern border of the Royal National Park south of the city. Our gang is composed by: we two Germans, Michael the Australian (with a genealogical tree until the days of the convicts), Poppy and Emma from England and Mark and Erica from South Africa. The camping permit for AU$ 3 per person is bought, tent, mattress, gas stove, muesli, and sufficient water are packed and, with the CBD still in sight, we start this beautiful hike which takes us into a different world (see also our photo gallery Royal National Park). 26 km in two days, following the coast line through permanently changing vegetation. Sometimes we feel reminded of the north-German heathland, then of South Africa, then of a stone desert, then of the first white explorers in South America while crossing a palm jungle where our backpacks are often caught in lianas. It's the smell of the rocks and plants that we enjoy, and georgious lookouts let us forget the suffering of the previous climb. We even see a snake (a python?) and in the evening, we thoroughly shake our sleeping bags in order to not have a spider in it. This is Australia! And eventually, we find some deserted beaches – not far from Sydney, but not easily accessible – and jump into the (still) chill waters.

Sunset at Seal Rocks

Lane Cove river return trip. The following week-end is a sports week-end for Peter. It was not meant to be, but it turned out as follows: On Saturday, the two of us plan to do another long paddle trip into the Lane Cove National Park (see also monthly report August). Peter gets the first shift, Claudia is scheduled for the return way. As is August, Claudia takes the train and bus to the meeting place and is preparing the picknick, when Peter rounds the last corner of the river after only 2.5 hours of paddling and enjoys the break. Unfortunately, Claudia suffers from a stiff neck which has worsened during the Saturday morning. She asks Peter to paddle back as well. And exactly like in August, the wind becomes stronger in the afternoon, comes directly from the front. Peter ploughs his way through the high waves, swares on speed boats and ferries (a kayak has right of way, but who would like to rely on?) and is even more strongly reminded by his fingers and shoulders that he is by now paddling for 5 (!) hours already. A last big effort accross the Parramatta River and finally – finally – he can get ashore at home. We reckon that Peter paddled approx. 25 km, with wind from the front during a large share. This evening, there is not much more going on, and Peters whishes to have a calm Sunday.

Sunday however shows a lovely sun and 25 knots of wind, and this time, Michael and Peter sail their new boat. They don't start the actual race, but to sail an unknown boat in this wind is challenging enough. While Claudia and Poppy (meanwhile we must say "once again") have an unintentional swim and "once again" have to be rescued by the rescue boat, Peter can try out his so far theoretical knowledge on "how to capsize". They manage to get the boat upright again and continue sailing for several times. Later, the boat keeps on going over from one side to the other, and they as well are being towed back home by the rescue boat. We nearly fall asleep during the BBQ in the evening. Nevertheless, the food gives us back power and warmth into the bodies.

Carpark in rural Australia

Exploring the country side with a rental car. After all the sports and the wounds, Claudia promises relaxation and détente to Peter for the next week-end. In order not to do anything physically demanding we rent a car – for the first time since our arrival in Sydney – and simply want to drive around. Drive the car, let the landscape pass by, sniff Australia outside the city, these are our themes on our way north. Even though we are far from the outback and not even remotely touch it, we come accross some quite lonely settlements. We ask ourselves "How do these people get water, how do they make money?" in several dry valleys and remote farms. We set up our tent directly at the beach. It is full moon and its light is reflected in the water. We fall asleep with the noise of the sea and awake from the noise of the kookaburras. The photo shows the sunrise at 5:45 am. Really very relaxing and definitely something to do for all those who will come and visit us here.

By the way: Some of our friends told us that our reports sound a bit too much like holiday. Presumably, this is a natural process if you write such reports for the Internet. Of course, we also do daily chores: We brush our teeth, do the laundry, queue up in the supermarket, miss the bus... But when you are asked on a Monday "What have you done during the week-end?" you certainly won't tell that you digested, etc., but only a filtered version of the life, correct? ;-)