Mon, 25 Jun - Early morning seminary. It is declutter Monday for Sister Haley. It is clean the flat Monday for Elder Haley. Then a visit to hospital where one of the sisters is having gall stone problems. Never a dull moment in Grafton, NSW.
Tue, 26 Jun - Early morning seminary. Out to visit with Joyce Wallbank later in the morning. Sarah is heading for Lismore where they can take care of the gall stones. Playing taxi driver for Shane. While waiting on Shane, we stopped by to visit with the cousin who was referred to us, and set up a time to return and visit some more.
Wed, 27 Jun - Early morning seminary. Then out to Maclean to visit with Joan Hibberd. Elder Haley usually administers the Sacrament to Joan since she is not able to come to the Branch Sunday meetings. The afternoon is with Primary Faith in God activity and then FHC/Young Women in the eveing.
Thur, 28 Jun - FHC in the morning. Then off to Coffs Harbour to pick up the new Church phone - a smart phone. We stopped by to see Barry Ward on our way home, but he was down and out for the day; however, we were able to talk with his daughter, Jane. Then on home for the evening and try to get the new phone working - it did not work. We stopped by Arielle's home tonight to drop off a birthday Hanks Kitchen slice and carrot cake - Arielle's birthday is this coming Saturday, but she will be in Coffs so we celebrated early.
Fri, 29 Jun - Elder Haley went to Optus to have them check out the phone - only to have it work there. Now it is working just fine, so I guess we did not wait long enough for the SIM to be activated by Optus last night. We had lunch with the referral and a good visit for a few hours; however, we were not able to get any Gospel discussion started. We are not sure we will make much progress with the cousin, but she is a lovely lady to visit. Then back home to play taxi for Shane and show him the table we have in the flat that we will need to donate when we leave.
Sat, 30 Jun - We picked up Joyce Wallbank and spent the day in the country enjoying the country and trying to find a platypus (we did not). We did see where Joyce used to live out in the hills and hollers - a beautiful place in the woods. We did make it to Jackadgery for ice cream, so the day ended up just as good as the rest of the day in the beautiful country side of the Clarence valley.
We feel extremely blessed to have had a chance to serve the Lord here in the Clarence Valley - with beautiful country and beautiful people.
Sun, 1 Jul - We got word that a friend in Sydney, Tom Anderson, passed away this morning. We will go to Sydney for the funeral. After the church meetings, we took the Sacrament to Margaret Leach who is not able to make it to Sunday meetings very often. One of her nieces was there and partook of the sacrament as well. Then later in the evening we met with Sister Patricia Stiller and went over some Church computer things with her.
The welcoming committee at Joyce Wallbanks
A tree full of Rainbow Lorikeets - NOISY
Mr Australia with his Drizabone vest and Akubra hat. On the march to check out the Clarence River. Closer to the head waters and not so mighty here
Sisters Haley & Joyce Wallbank on the shore of the Clarence River, between Copmanhurst and Wine Grove
The Clarence River - heading towards the head waters
Welcome committee out to make sure we stop and say hi
Now, just who is the boss around here. Apparently it is not us
The tree had grown out along an older barbed wire fence; hence the growths out both sides of the trunk
Australia cattle country
More cattle country. Note the dead gum (eucalyptus) trees which are a fixture all over the cattle country area.
The Lilydale bridge over the Clarence river. We are getting closer to the source.
Don't look now, but some of the neighbors are watching
Pick your pumpkin. On the right are GrammerC pumpkins - the long ones. We got one of the Kent pumpkins (rounded and in the middle group)
planted trees. Come back in 50 years and cut them down and plant new ones.
A Campdraft show ground. Campdraft is a cattle/horse sport where the horse & rider have to direct a single steer (or heifer) through certain barrels strictly by heading the cow in the proper direction. The world championship Campdraft competition is held in Sydney each year during the Royal Easter Show.
A cow patty. Sister Haley was wanting to know what they are used for and why would anyone want to burn them for fuel.
Going into Fine Flower - watch out for the traffic
There is Fine Flower. There used to be a post office there many years ago when transportation was by horse and wagon
Mr mailbox
The trap door on Mr. Mailbox. We just love the innovation used by Aussies in making their mailboxes. Some how the US Post Office has missed out on a way to liven up the country side with the stale, same-o, same-o prescription mail box.
Cow patty hill overlooking the valley and far away mountians
And some of the contributors to Cow patty hill
Carnham creek, getting near to the Clarence
Coombadjha is only 4 km away
Get ready, the suspense is killing me
The bridge over the river Clarence
Elder Haley & Joyce surveying the still water area on the Clarence
On the look out for platypus
Well, no patypus, but a few cattle decide to mosey on
Mr. Australia (again). On the hill down to the Clarence
It must be lunch time - chicken schnitzel and smoked ham sandwiches. with plenty of wonderful company
The "mighty" Clarence near its beginnings.
And more of the mighty Clarence
The bridge over the river Clarence, with our car in the far distance
Some lily pads in the Clarence
The rolling hills and mountains of cattle country
The lower, thin "cloud" is smoke from burn off. The Aussies burn off large sections of the land each year to prevent build up of dead grass and to rejuvenate the grass that is there
A typical dam in the cattle country where water can collect and cattle can get a drink
One of the locals, strutting his stuff.
The hide on this one is really pretty - love the white/grey/black brindle
Some of the local campers at one of the campsites along the Mann river
A grass tree
The road near where Joyce Wallbank used to live.
The map of the area we traveled today. the map is at the Jackadgery Caravan park where we usually stop for a giant ice cream cone. We started in Grafton (lower right). Went on the north side of the Clarence to Copmanhurts, Wine Grove, through Fine Flower and crossed the Clarence near Coombadjha (center top). Then winding down Cangai to Jackadgery where we headed back north-west to get to the ice cream at the Caravan park. After having our fill of ice cream we drove southeast to Grafton. It was about 250-300 km and took about 8 hours with stops (millions of stops to look at the beautiful country and take pictures) and lunch.
Sunset over the Clarence near Grafton. A pretty way to end the day. We are sorry that the photos do not due justice to the colours and brilliance of the sunsets here.
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