* BLACK DIAMOND IMAGES *: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Naurvoo, Timbertops Estate

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Garden of Eden

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Raintrees Native and Rainforest Gardens 2017

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J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California

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San Francisco, California

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Haast Pass & Fox Glacier

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Stroud, NSW Australia - Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing July 21st 2012

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]]>© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

See the actual Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Contest Gallery of images HERE

See a gallery of Historic Stroud, Booral and Stroud Road - HERE

2012 Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Results

2012 marked the 52nd annual festival held between the four Stroud towns - Stroud, NSW, Australia, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England; Stroud, Oklahoma, USA and Stroud, Ontario, Canada.

This annual event is held in each of the countries on the third Saturday in July each year.
The event this year in 2012 was officially opened by the Premier of NSW - Barry O'Farrell.

"The first Brick Throwing contest was held in 1960 between Stroud, U.S.A. and Stroud, UK – both having brickworks. The following year the Canadian and Australian Strouds were invited to join the contest. Stroud Australia made its mark in 1962 when the town suggested a rolling pin throwing contest be included on the program – “so the sheila’s could join in the fun.”
All competition rolling pins are made in Stroud, Australia, and shipped to each participating country. Competition bricks are also specially made and weigh 5 lb (2.27 kilograms) while the rolling pins weigh in at a dainty 2 lb (just under one kilogram).
Records
Each year Australia’s results are forwarded to the USA where international results are compiled and participating countries are notified of the result. All weights and measurements are calculated using imperial measurements in keeping with the other competing countries.
Brick throw record - held by United States at 142’6″ (43.2816 m)
Rolling pin throw - held by England at 156’4″ (47.5488 m)
The Competition
Members of International teams must reside within the Local Government areas of Great Lakes, Gloucester, Dungog, Port Stephens, Manning, Cessnock & Maitland

The competition involves six-person teams with points scored by the top ten individual throws. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in each event. Team points are compiled and the winning team is awarded a trophy and the privilege of competing in the international throw." Reference

The day commenced at 10.30am with a procession through the main street led by International Town Crier Mr. Graham Keating, to the showground where the day's activities took place.

A program of events such as wood chopping, tug-o-war, market stalls, horse sports and other novelty events were held place throughout the day. A truly unique & thoroughly entertaining day out!
Reference - Great lakes Tourism

Please email me at bdimages@wc.net.au if you wish to obtain any of the images in this gallery.

Hiroshima, Japan - The A Bomb Story

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1983 Built Motor Launch - 'Bargo', Blackwall Bay, Brisbane Water, NSW 20.5.2015

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]]>The 'Bargo' is a wooden carvel planked single screw line boat built at Balmain in 1983 by Bill King for Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd for use on Sydney Harbour as a motor launch.
Dimensions - 33ft X 8ft x 4ft.
The stem is raked with the stern of transom design.
Engine Motor - 56bhp 4LW Gardner diesel.
Note - Alan Stannard recalls that it was built with a 48bhp Gardner diesel.

The 'Bargo' has the distinction of being the last timber line boat built for Stannards. It was restored in 2001 and was moored at Church Point, Sydney.
By 2006 it had been fitted with a mast abaft wheelhouse and on 26th Jan 2006 was sighted operating near Bradley's Head, Sydney Harbour .
On 20th Feb 2007 the 'Bargo' was seen operating at Woolloomooloo to view Queen Mary II.
On 2th May 2015 it was sighted berthed at Blackwall Bay on Brisbane Water, near Booker Bay.

Information Acknowledgement - Mori Flapan - Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats 2015

Any additional information relating to this vessel is gratefully received.

We had travelled to Ettalong, NSW on 20th May 2015 to try to locate the tug Protrude, also (Koolya or WT85), believed to be the last Wright Shipyards, Tuncurry, NSW built boat to be still afloat but alas after visiting Blackwall Bay, where we believed her to be moored (last recorded there 2007), we came away with no boat and no leads as to her whereabouts.
The journey was not entirely for nothing as in addition to finding the Bargo in Blackwall Bay we also found the WW2 RAAF bomb scow and 54-ton, 56ft X 18ft dive tender the HMAS TORTOISE tucked over in the north western part of Riley's Bay across from Booker Bay.

Port Stephens, NSW - Ferries

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USArmy WT85/Protrude at Abbotsford 2019

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]]>The US Army WT85 was moved to Abbotsford Boat Shed in Sydney by new owner Roger Kyle in early 2019 following the vessels salvage from its mooring site at Gosford Pier. On the 26th February 2019 the vessel had sunk on its mooring and there were grave fears that the incident would end the life of this Wright Shipyards Tuncurry 1943 built tug boat. Then owner David Winning refloated the vessel and offered it to Roger Kyle who was delight to take ownership of the historic vessel, the last surviving vessel built by the Wrights after some 87 years of wooden boat building. The business, under founer, John Wright, began in Bungwahl at the head of the Myall Lakes in 1867 and moved to Tuncurry by 1875. When John Wright died in 1910 his son Ernest Wright assumed control of John Wright and Co Shipyards managing the business through a difficult era between the two world wars until his death in 1946. During this periods contracts were few and far between due to a lack of demand for coastal trading ships brought about by the rise of railway transportation from 1912 when the railway came to Taree. Additionally steel ships were replacing wooden ships by this time. After the second world war began the demand for 45 foot wooden tug boats became apparent due to dangerous waters infested with mines. Wright Shipyards were very excited to be one of the numerous NSW coastal shipyards contracted to build these boats for the US Army and US Army WT85 was one of the earliest vessels built at that time.
This vessel has seen numerous owners over its life of 76 years to date.

May 10th Visit to - 'US Army WT 85' - 'Protrude'/'Koolya'

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]]>On 10th May 2016 a group of members and friends of the Great Lakes Historical Society, based in Tuncurry NSW, travelled to Gosford for the purposes of going on board the US Army WT 85 Protrude to experience a trip out on the Brisbane Water.
Unfortunately the wind was blowing so hard it was simply not possible to leave the Gosford Breakwall mooring.
Those in attendance did spend some valued time onboard talking with current owner David Winning and exploring every nook and cranny of the boat. David started the engine and it purred over very nicely for much of the time we were on board.
The museum and all who visited the Protrude are very grateful for the time both David Winning and Larry Elliott made available to us during our visits to Gosford and Woy Woy. We are also very grateful to them for the provision of important information, documents, artefacts and photos relating to the US Army WT85 Protrude (1943) which will form a significant body of information at the museum for all to benefit from in the future.
We had also paid a visit earlier in the day to Woy Woy to connect with former owner Larry Elliott who was able to provide us with a lot of information and a vessel registration certificate which detailed ownership by Stannard Bros Launch Services PTY LTD dated 21st July 1982 with Edward Horace Ballard of 19 Wharf Rd Balmain's name listed on the certificate and crossed through as the vessel was sold at this time to Aaron Maher of 31 Queen St, Concord, 2137 on the 28th August 1987.
We have still to contact previous owners the Stannard Family, Aaron Maher, Allan Draper and Murray McDonald, owners prior to Larry Elliott and current owner David Winning.
Further details of the Protrude are listed on the gallery descriptions and individual images below at the following links.

HERE at Flickr
Gallery 1 at Zenfolio
Gallery 2 at Zenfolio

'US Army WT 85' - 'Protrude'/'Koolya', Launched 1944 in Tuncurry by Wright Shipyards, NSW

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]]>'US Army WT85' - 'Protrude'/'Koolya' was a 45ft WW2 US Army wooden towboat.
Earlier vessel history can be viewed HERE

See a gallery of Documents and Historic Photos of US ARMY WT 85 Protrude HERE

After several years of researchers trying to locate the 'Protrude' it was with some considerable jubilation when we walked onto Gosford breakwall on 24th October 2015 and finally set eyes on this elusive but tough little boat.
From a historical perspective this vessel has assumed immense significance to the community of Tuncurry NSW.

US Army WT 85 is the last vessel still in service that was built by Wright Shipyards of Tuncurry NSW, one of Australia's leading wooden shipbuilding firms from the mid 1870's till the mid 1950's.
Wright Shipyards commenced building ships in 1867 with the construction of the schooner 'Caledonia' by company founder, John Wright, and Alexander Croll at Boolambayte Creek near Bungwahl NSW.
Wright moved to Tuncurry in 1875 and established shipyards and sawmilling operations. He was the first white settler in Tuncurry with John Wright's son Ernest, the first non-indigenous child born in Tuncurry, taking over the shipyards following the death of his father in 1910.

After the declaration of war by the United States in December 1941, the US Army let contracts to various shipyards across Australia to build specialized vessels for the war effort. With construction of steel ships by this time more dominant these wooden towboat contracts were a lifeline to the struggling shipbuilding firm with Wright Shipyards securing a contract to build 45', 66' and 85' wooden boats with five 45' boats similar to the US Army WT 85 pictured above built and launched by Wright Shipyards in the period 1943-44.

This vessel, US Army WT 85, later known as 'Protrude' and also as 'Koolya', was completed in late 1943 and taken out over the Tuncurry-Forster bar by the harbour boat, "Eldorado' on 24th July 1944 where it was handed over to US Army WT 68 to be towed to Sydney for its final fit out.

US Army WT 85 is the last of the five WT 85 Class tow boats built by Ernest Wright Shipyards to be still afloat and more significantly, the last surviving Wright Shipyards built boat.
The vessel is currently owned by David Winning from the NSW Central Coast after purchase from Larry Elliott of Woy Woy, NSW in October 2013 (tbc).
In January (tbc) 2013 the vessel, then moored in Blackwall Bay near Ettalong, sank on its mooring after very heavy rain following a critical breakdown of its bilge pumps.
A salvage company successfully refloated the US Army WT 85 - 'Protrude' and it was moved to Gosford Breakwall where it remains today undergoing restoration.

Wright Shipyards became quite busy fulfilling shipbuilding contracts during WW 2 and this continued into 1946 when Ernest Wright commenced construction of what was to become the shipping company's last major vessel, the 'Santa Cruz'/'Norfolk Whaler' (120' & 217.47 gross tons).
Unfortunately Ernest Wright did not live to see his company's last major vessel launched, passing away in that year.
A lingering eight years after construction had commenced, Ernest's son John Wright Junior, finally launched the Santa Cruz/Norfolk Whaler in 1954 and with the viability of the shipyards by now in question he closed the shipyards shortly after; thus ending a proud 87 year Wright family shipbuilding dynasty in Tuncurry, NSW with among many other achievements, the company achieving the record for building the largest wooden ship constructed in NSW to ever see service.
That vessel was the 'Uralba' (154.8' & 603 gross tons) which was launched at Tuncurry in September 1941.

While the US Army WT 85 - 'Protrude' may not have been a vessel of the huge size of the 'Uralba' its significance is nevertheless historically important as it reflects the massive contribution made to the war effort and the fact that it is the last floating operational vessel built by Ernest Wright & Son Shipyards.
The Tuncurry community may hopefully one day see the last surviving remnant of a once proud shipbuilding tradition returned to its birthplace.
List of wooden ships built by Wright Shipyards, Tuncurry - 1867 to 1954.

Macquarie Princess Cruise Boat - Berowra Waters, NSW

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]]>It was by pure chance that I happened to stop at Berowra Waters for lunch on the 17th April 2015, just in time to see the Macquarie Princess embark, laden with dignitaries, on its centenary cruise on the Hawkesbury River
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/former-boat...
A history of the vessel essentially copied from Macquarie Princess's facebook page
1915: The Macquarie Princess was built by W. Holmes & Co, McMahons Point, Sydney, NSW, Australia. She was then named the 'Nambucca' and used on the Nambucca River as a cream boat to collect milk containers from dairy farmers along the river to be delivered to the NORCO butter factory.
1925 - 1938: By 1925 cargo transport had become more economical via road, and the Nambucca was commissioned by the NAVY as a personnel transportation vessel, running from Balmain to Garden Island on Sydney Harbour.
1938: Nicholson Brothers Harbour Transport which was based at Balmain, purchased the vessel. Her name was changed to 'Promote' and she joined sister vessels the 'Provide' and later the 'Produce' and 'Protend' on the Balmain to Erskine Street (Darling Harbour) run. During her years as a ferry on the Harbour, the superstructure included an open top deck which enabled her to carry 197 passengers comfortably.
1969 - 1973: The Promote, continued to work on Sydney Harbour as part of the Stannard Brothers fleet of commuter ferries.
1973 - 1974: The 'Promote' went to Broken Bay Ferries, operated by George and Thelma Bennet, and continued to work as a commuter ferry, this time on Pittwater.
1974 - 1979: The Promote continued to work on Pittwater as Scotland Island Co-op (John Hebden) included her in their fleet.
1980: David Mitchell purchased the vessel and she was taken to Lake Macquarie for conversion to a cruise boat. Her name was changed once again to "Macquarie Princess".
1983: The Macquarie Princess was purchased by Gordon & Joan Mandin and commenced operation at Berowra Waters on the Hawkesbury River as cruise vessel.
2003: The Mandin Family retired and the Macquarie Princess was purchased by owner operators Fred & Carolyn Mulae, and Gino & Mary Donofrio. The vessel underwent a major mechanical overhaul and structural restoration.
2007: The Macquarie Princess was purchased by John & Lisa Tillott, and along with the help of children Jasmine & Bradley is now run as a family operated cruise boat.
The Macquarie Princess has now operated from the very same wharf at Berowra Waters West Marina since 1983, and in this time has carried over 650 000 passengers.
The Tillott family look forward to ensuring that the M.V “Macquarie Princess” will continue to cruise the Hawkesbury for many years to come.

Moving Naurvoo 20.2.2016

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]]>After 17 years of construction the 37 foot catamaran Naurvoo was moved from its resting place on concrete runways outside Phil Wright's shed at Timbertops, off the Lakes Way near Darawank just north of Tuncurry, NSW.
The vessel Naurvoo had some months earlier been winched out on wooden rollers of the shed in which it had been built and was left standing on 2 concrete runways ready for impending transport by truck to the Wallamba River at Darawank where it is to soon be launched.
On the very evening it came out of the shed a wild storm with cyclonic winds came in from the west and severely tested the waterproofing of the windows. Unfortunately they were found wanting and leaked. This meant re engineering the windows a task that took many months culminating in the moving of the boat by crane and truck to the front of the property on 20.2.2016 where after some final work is completed it will be moved to the river by truck and launched into the Wallamba River. At this point in time the mast and sails will be installed on the vessel.
It was something of a surprise when an opportunity presented itself, following an unseasonal substantial dry spell in late February 2016, allowing a crane and truck to be able to safely negotiate the often wet ground to be able to successfully move the catamaran to the front of the property.
In conclusion it is worth mentioning that the last vessel built by a member of the Wright family was in 1954 when Wright Shipyards of Tuncurry, following an 87 year dynasty of shipbuilding, launched the Santa Cruz, a 126 foot and 175 ton wooden trading vessel. The Santa Cruz was later known as the Norfolk Whaler and later still as the Arcturus.
Complete list of ships built by Wright Shipyards Tuncurry 1867 to 1954

Raising Naurvoo 15th February 2014

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]]>On Saturday 15th February 2014 the first steps toward the launch of Phil's 37 foot catamaran Naurvoo were taken.
In order to get the boat out of the shed it was necessary to raise the boat by about 10cm in order to place wooden rollers under the two keels.
This was done by driving large hardwood wedges under each keel, operating simultaneously on both keels and on both sides of each keel at the same time to ensure the vessel lifted equally throughout the raising process.
Using sledge hammers to drive the wedges and a team of about 8 people the boat was successfully raised in little more than an hour and a half.
The next stage is to remove the front of the shed that has sheltered the boat for the 18 years of its construction.
Once that is done the boat will be towed out of the shed via 2 concrete paths where it will await the arrival of a crane. The crane will lift the boat and place it on a truck and it will be taken to the Wallamba River in preparation for its official launching.
After launch the mast will be erected and a few minor finishing touches made before the vessel will finally commence its maiden voyage down the Wallamba River to Tuncurry.
Phil's Great Great Grandfather John Wright built his first boat in Australia in 1867. It was the Caledonia, a schooner.
From 1875 he began building wooden ships in Tuncurry, a family tradition that was continued by his son Ernest and Ernest's son John Wright Junior. The last boat launced out of Wright Shipyards was the Santa Cruz in 1954. The shipyards closed down soon after due to lack of demand for wooden ships. The Wright family had built boats in the district for 87 years until Phil continued the tradition when he began construction in 1996 at Green Point where the keels were built before moving to Timbertops Estate just north of Tuncurry soon after. At Timbertops the boat quickly took shape in a large green shed which became Phil's second home.

Naurvoo - August 7th & 16th September 2011

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]]>Naurvoo is a 37 foot catamaran, and has been named in recognition of the boat builders family history which dates to the Morman Prophet Joseph Smith who was killed in 1844 in Carthage, Illinois, USA after an angry mob stormed the upper room of Carthage jail, in which he and his brother Hyram were both being held.

The name Nauvoo, applies to the city in Illinois in the United States and which was renamed from Commerce in 1840 by Joseph Smith.
The boat builder is not involved with the Mormon Religion other than by family descent so added an 'r' into the boats name, so it is spelled - Naurvoo, and not Nauvoo.
The Catamaran has been in the construction phase for at least 15 years and is a one man construction job, and is finally nearing completion.
The detailed worksmanship in the boat is outstanding and it is hoped that good weather prevails for the launching to allow the boat to be transported by truck and launched into the Wallamba River near Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast some time during 2013.
Once in the water a complete fit-out of sails and other finishing touches will occur before sailing off into the wild blue yonder.

Harry Thompson Sculptures - Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie

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]]>In 1960 Harry and Jean Thompson moved from Warren in western NSW after winning the lottery and buying a caravan. Being from the bush, with no experience of the beach Harry got bogged in the sand at Shelly Beach at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid North Coast.
The Thompsons decided there and then that they had found their spiritual home and thereafter made their caravan their permanent home at beautiful Shelly Beach,
The Thomsons were long time unofficial caretakers of this idyllic Port Macquarie beach and in the process became legendary as they successfully garnered the support of Port Macquarie residents in their effort to resist many vigorous attempts by the local Port Macquarie - Hasting Shire Council to evict them from their self proclaimed beach side home.
Harry Thompson, died on 31st January 2000 at age 83 and the community began fund raising for a memorial, now evident at the northern end of Shelly Beach in the form of a wooden sculpture of Harry and interestingly, his caravan.The area has become known as 'Harry's Corner' and a walking trail with 254 steps, all laboriously built by Harry, leads to a nearby lookout now known as 'Harry's Lookout'
Such was the fondness with which Harry was held he was elected citizen of the year in 1983 and in 1999 was proclaimed 'Mayor of Shelly Beach'

In 2009 an unbelievable mindless act of vandalism saw the sculpture of Harry decapitated. Fortunately local builder and friend of Harry, Ted Sala, came to the rescue and repairs were made and Harry once again stands a silent sentinal watching over his beloved Shelly Beach.

Sculptors - Sue Bell, Stephen Killick, Stephen King (2005)

I am uncertain what qualities made Harry such a revered and loved local squatter or why he came to Shelly Beach, but he obviously won the hearts of all who knew him. I remember his van and having seen him there on several visits in the 1960's but I have little knowledge of the man or what led to his immortalization.
Any information additional to my above description is welcomed.
Some more info on Harry Thompson HERE

HMAS TORTOISE Riley's Bay, Ettalong 20th May 2015

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]]>We travelled to Ettalong, NSW on 20th May 2015 to try to locate the tug Protrude, also (Koolya or WT85), believed to be the last Wright Shipyards, Tuncurry, NSW built boat to be still afloat but alas after visiting Blackwall Bay, where we believed her to be moored (last recorded there 2007), we came away with no boat and no leads as to her whereabouts.
The journey was not entirely for nothing as tucked over in the north western part of Riley's Bay opposite Booker Bay we were very pleased to find the WW2 RAAF bomb scow and 50-ton?, 56ftx18ft dive tender the HMAS TORTOISE.
Apart from the number Y292 placed prominently on the bow of the port or left hand side of the still registered, rather disheveled looking vessel, there were no obvious name markings to suggest it was in fact the Tortoise.
The HMAS TORTOISE was a sister ship to the HMAS TURTLE and both could be immediately recognised by the size of their names painted on the stern.
Construction of '015-73' ? later known as Tortoise, commenced in late 1944 and was completed in 1945 at Slazengers Pty Ltd Shipyards on the Cooks River at Alexandria ? in Sydney.
The HMAS TORTOISE and the HMAS TURTLE were two of 6 x 50 ton ? vessels built as RAAF harbour and island service craft, or bomb scows, capable of carrying 2-1/4 tons of cargo in a single hold serviced by a derrick post. Another 27 boats were under construction when the war ended.

Originally launched as the 'RAAF 015-73' ? it was not until the vessel was transferred to the RAN's HMAS Rushcutter and HMAS Penguin bases in 1962 that the name HMAS TORTOISE was applied. She was also and given the pendant number Y292 which she still proudly displays today.
Other Names - {015-73}-'45 HMAS Tortoise-'62b68b71 {Y292}-'62b68b71b74 Tortoise-'74b88 {TV1}-b89 Ref - Australia NZ Boat Register

Both HMAS TORTOISE 'RAAF 015-73' ? and HMAS TURTLE 'RAAF 015-75' ? were sold on April 26, 1974, with the Tortoise converted for salvage work in the Philippines and along the Australian East Coast while the Turtle saw service as a small privately owned cargo vessel and operated in northern Australia.
Eight years on in 1982, it was reported that the Tortoise had been abandoned as a hulk in Sydney's Hen and Chicken Bay where she was vandalized and badly damaged.
On the 11th March 1988 Tortoise was purchased by Mr FJ Hewitt of Umina, NSW and was restored by cadets of the TS Hawkesbury with assistance from personnel from the HMAS Waterhen at Waverton, NSW.
Read more details in the 'The Navy' - Magazine of the Navy League of Australia Jan-March 1990 P.22
On the 1st of May 1988 The TS TORTOISE was loaned to the TS Hawkesbury as a training vessel for naval cadets, primarily operating on the Hawkesbury River and in Broken Bay and obviously wider afield in northern Australia as she required assistance from the HMAS Tarakan 11 following a breakdown on the 19th August 1992 enroute from Darwin to Cairns.
In August 1992, while participating in Operation
BEACHCOMBER, Tarakan was involved in two rescue missions. On 9 August she began searching for a 17-foot fibreglass boat which had capsized the previous evening with two crew members aboard. The search proved unsuccessful but the two men were later found near Dunk Island, one of whom, sadly, was deceased. On 19 August she came to the assistance of the Naval Reserve Cadet training vessel, TV Tortoise, which had broken down while en route from Darwin to Cairns. Tarakan took Tortoise in tow and arrived in Cairns on 22 August.
There is a good image of the Diving Tender Tortoise beached at Port Stephens in 1968 after a long scroll down.
After 1992 I have no further information and would be grateful of any details to complete the fascinating history of the HMAS TORTOISE.
Obviously the Tortoise was moved to Riley's Bay at some stage after 1992 so its possible the Protrude may well be still afloat somewhere having been renovated in 1991.
Any assistance in locating the Protrude is welcomed.

World Naval Ships Forum

Helicopter Flight Waimanu & Honokane'Nui Valleys, Hawaii.

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]]>See 2 other galleries of this helicopter flight - Oct 2012
Gallery 1 - Mauna Loa Helicopter Flight

Gallery 3 - West Coast Helicopter Flight

We chose Paradise Helicopters out of Kailua Kona to take a 3 hour helicopter site seeing journey over the massive Mauna Loa Volcano. Our pilot then headed across to the North East Coast to Hilo, passing to the south of Mauna Kea. From Hilo we flew along the coast, past the entrance to the lush Waipo Valley before turning briefly inland into the Waimanu Valley. We hovered here below the top of the spectacular Waihilau Falls before flying over Honokane'iki Valley and into Honokane'nui Valley. We flew up the steep walled valley to the historic but isolated Honokane'nui Cabins where we landed.

After about 45 mins relaxing around the historic 1905 cabins we again took to the skys, heading inland further up the high walled Honokane'nui valley before lifting up over the top and over the rugged Kohala Forest Reserve. We continued on passing over green ranch lands before crossing over to the dry Kohala west side and hitting the coast just above the small settlement of Hale Ho'onanea, (just above Kawaihae Harbour).
Turning south the pilot headed down the west coast passing over small towns and villages, dry desolate lava flow landscapes and over a number of large, lavish golf resorts with manufactured green fairways.
We landed at Kailua Kona airport and took a taxi the 26 miles to The Sheraton Kona Resort and spa at Keauhou Bay where we enjoyed a few not so relaxing days. Seeing the giant Manta Rays swimming with snorkelers in the evenings was a highlight as was the informative full circle island tour we did with Roberts Big island Tours the day after the helicopter flight.

Boeing Factory, Seattle

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Oahu - Aerial Photos

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Portland, Oregon, USA

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Day 1 Olympic National Park

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Mt Rainier, Washington

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Route Maps USA Aug Sept Oct 2018

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Astoria,Fort Clatsup, Canon Beach

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Mt Hood - Columbia Gorge, Oregon, USA

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]]>It was by pure chance that we saw Columbia Gorge and Mt Hood on our brief two and a half day trip to Portland, Oregon in late September 2012.
We had tried to book from Australia on a tour of Columbia Gorge but none were going on the day we needed.
We therefore chose a tour with 'Evergreen Escapes' out of Portland to the Oregon Coast which was fantastic.
When we were in Victoria BC in Canada we were fortunate met two nice ladies who offered to show us around Portland when we were to eventually arrive there some 3 weeks later.
We received a phone call at our hotel in Seattle the morning before we caught the AmTrak Starlight Express train from Seattle to Portland (thats another story, but we recommend having no dealings with Amtrak).

The call was from Sandi,one of the ladies we met in Victoria BC, to let us know that she would pick us up at 3.30 pm at the station in Portland.
The rest is history, she did so and proceeded to drive us to Columbia Gorge, Vista Point, numerous waterfalls, a fish farm and on to Mt Hood where we had dinner at the historic Timberline Lodge.
We arrived back in Portland by 9.15pm, having been on the road for almost 6 hours - an unexpected and incredibly interesting sightseeing journey that we had entirely ruled out due to our previous inability to book a tour on the limited days we had available in Portland.

The next day we took a great tour to the Oregon Coast to Astoria, Fort Clatsup and Canon Beach.

As we were leaving the following day at 1.00pm we had tried to book a city tour in the morning to no avail due to conference parties having booked out all available tours.
Our wonderful friend, unprompted, again rang in the morning early to say she was taking us on a city tour. She arrived with a fruit breakfast at 9.15am and proceded to show us much of what Portland has to offer in just under 3 hours finishing at 12.10pm at Portland airport. As we bid our very sad farewells she presented us with with some of home grown fruit, an Oregon music CD and a box of locally made chocolates.
It was made all the more wonderful by the fact that this lovely lady lived 40 minutes out of Portland but was enthusiastic to show us as much of Oregon as could be crammed in in the short space of time we had there.
Her knowledge of Oregon history was outstanding and we learned so much along with building a wonderful friendship.
We will never forget this incredible hospitality, and we hope to reciprocate in Australia one day as well as revisiting Portland and our wonderful new friend, next time with a bit more time to become better acquainted.
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou Sandi, you are always in our hearts.

Red Rock - Corindi Beaches July 2020

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Nambucca Heads Breakwall Graffiti 22.11.2009

(* BLACK DIAMOND IMAGES *) — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Check out this short gallery while you are here - Nambucca Heads Street Art Mosaic