The Daily Good News
velocityjohnno wrote:Yes, we'd booked accomodation at Middleton (it's got really nice there!) and decided to go for a walk on the beach as soon as we checked in.. Never seen anything like it and been surfing/following the coast since 1990
Velocityjohnno. How are you ? Some nice writing from your good self over the last few days, you are nearing the summit of my AFL/NRL type ladder of contributors to Swellnet forums, by years end id be saying you’d be playing in the Grand Final.
You commented on the Valley of The Giants, my ears pricked up. What vegetation did you see and what about it that made you think of Tassie, you know Ive got a curious mind, id be pleased to hear more. AWLoved the whole Great Southern, did the Stirlings/Porongorups/VOG, some lesser walks and the coast road along to Walpole then back to Perth via Manjimup. You still have a place there DSDS? Ocean beach was open to the inlet - very different from when I first saw it in the mid 90s. And longboards seem to have taken off in the corner as well as the surf mum/kids running around scene that we have locally on the SC, it all looked really nice. After enjoying in the 90s I didn't get to buy the mead (or the alpaca jumper I pledged I'd buy) this time either, but will be back!
I noted the understorey at VOG contained stuff that looked very much like the Gondwanic Tassie rainforest understory, and so the 'feel' of the trip was like Tassie in WA. Lots of animals/birds to be seen.
Oh yeah got some great pics etc in the drive over the Nullarbor too, there's one maybe I can send to Craig to post in the pics thread.
Met the most remarkable older fellow at Eucla - he had a chat with me, over 80 I'd say, and his wife and self had just done the Simpson desert in nothing but a Suzuki Jimny, sparsely but competently decked out, and swags. He'd asked me about how to get to the Telegraph stations (I'd encountered them on a survey run of the Roe plain 20 years ago and so had some knowledge of the way). Edit: I absolutely love that part of the world.
Hey Alfred,
(Cats fan: much trauma over the years in grand finals, absolved when they blew the lid off it in 2007!)
OK understorey in Valley of Giants: we know that the wetter areas of Australia have kept gondwanic understorey vegetation, I immediately think of things like Sassafras and the native Pepper in Tassie. After a while you get to know them by looking... So I noticed plants under the Tingles that appeared similar in leaf, flower, and how some did a sprawling messy branching everywhere. The amazing Tingle trees are Eucalypts however, so it's a hybrid setup...
Got a couple of iconic pics of them but too addled to post them up here.
velocityjohnno wrote:Hey Alfred,
(Cats fan: much trauma over the years in grand finals, absolved when they blew the lid off it in 2007!)
OK understorey in Valley of Giants: we know that the wetter areas of Australia have kept gondwanic understorey vegetation, I immediately think of things like Sassafras and the native Pepper in Tassie. After a while you get to know them by looking... So I noticed plants under the Tingles that appeared similar in leaf, flower, and how some did a sprawling messy branching everywhere. The amazing Tingle trees are Eucalypts however, so it's a hybrid setup...
Got a couple of iconic pics of them but too addled to post them up here.
VJ. I’m on your coast but a Pies fan. I can only dream of what if, had we got there, way better performance that those ugly ducklings.
How good are the giant Red Tingles (Eucalyptus jacksonii ). When walking through that area, that whole feeling of giant tree trunks with massive girth, felt like all the tree trunks were the legs of past giants, totally awe inspiring place. Lived in Albany almost 40 years ago and ventured to all of those aforementioned places. Hopefully the whole area will remain that way for years to come. Already a big fuck up with that by-pass road south of Perth chewing partially into the Bibbulmun Track. Once its gone, its gone. AW.
Still on a high from Friday's scenes and riding.
Last week's cold outbreak brought 40cm+ to the NSW Main Range and one last crack at some quality skiing on the classic spring lines.
Steve Wall, Big Tyson, myself and another mate arrived in the Charlotte Pass turning circle late on Thursday evening and decided to hike out in the beautiful moonlight. Froth was high and seeing that you could ski from the top down to the crossing was incredible especially being the start of November.
The skin up from the crossing was all snow, easy as and stunning in the moonlight with no head-torches needed. We arrived at camp around 2am and were in bed by 2:30am. Here are the scenes just before hitting the hay.
On waking up Friday morning, I could not believe what lay out before us. Almost full coverage, much like a good low tide winter, with all runs a goer. North face Carruthers was even loaded, and with one look at that, being able to ski it in early November, we headed straight up.
We dropped it probably half an hour too early, with the north-east (skiers left side) being nice and creamy but the centre through right side still iced up and hard. Still it was fun though the exit torturous. Steve (skiing below) got straight out with ski cramps but the rest of us couldn't skin up the steeps and boot packing saw us post holing through the fresh cover, down to the underlying bush. Very exhausting in the baking sun.
After a short recovery we headed off to TWK and dropped down to the west, it was 10/10 fast, creamy corn, 300m+ of vert and incredible spring skiing. We climbed back up and did it again but the snow had gone heavy and saturated, making it a fun, but slower second descent.
Big T laying down..
The weather came in later evening as we retreated back to base camp. Low cloud bubbling away to the west and storm towers firing up to the north-east.
We woke to complete white-out conditions, perfect for a lie in and then retreat back to Jindy for a big breaky/lunch and coffee. A trip for the ages!
These little trips are a very special part of Swellnet Craig, don't stop them!
Craig wrote:Still on a high from Friday's scenes and riding.
Last week's cold outbreak brought 40cm+ to the NSW Main Range and one last crack at some quality skiing on the classic spring lines.
Steve Wall, Big Tyson, myself and another mate arrived in the Charlotte Pass turning circle late on Thursday evening and decided to hike out in the beautiful moonlight. Froth was high and seeing that you could ski from the top down to the crossing was incredible especially being the start of November.
The skin up from the crossing was all snow, easy as and stunning in the moonlight with no head-torches needed. We arrived at camp around 2am and were in bed by 2:30am. Here are the scenes just before hitting the hay.
On waking up Friday morning, I could not believe what lay out before us. Almost full coverage, much like a good low tide winter, with all runs a goer. North face Carruthers was even loaded, and with one look at that, being able to ski it in early November, we headed straight up.
We dropped it probably half an hour too early, with the north-east (skiers left side) being nice and creamy but the centre through right side still iced up and hard. Still it was fun though the exit torturous. Steve (skiing below) got straight out with ski cramps but the rest of us couldn't skin up the steeps and boot packing saw us post holing through the fresh cover, down to the underlying bush. Very exhausting in the baking sun.
After a short recovery we headed off to TWK and dropped down to the west, it was 10/10 fast, creamy corn, 300m+ of vert and incredible spring skiing. We climbed back up and did it again but the snow had gone heavy and saturated, making it a fun, but slower second descent.
Big T laying down..
The weather came in later evening as we retreated back to base camp. Low cloud bubbling away to the west and storm towers firing up to the north-east.
We woke to complete white-out conditions, perfect for a lie in and then retreat back to Jindy for a big breaky/lunch and coffee. A trip for the ages!
Craig. Awe inspiring shots and photography, really enjoy your perspective on life, get out there amongst it, remember you are a long time underground.
Me and two mates of 45 years just spent the most amazing 10 nights at Lances Right on Sipora. Suffice to say, the Swellnet forecast came to TOTAL fruition. It never got below 4ft and it pumped every day culminating in last weekends 6-7ft over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, still pumping 4ft when we left. All hail the Shoulder Season we say, going back for a month same time next year, all aboard anyone !!!!!
Totes cool Craig, thanks for sharing.
Thanks VJ, AW and WOL.
How good also WA, haven't surfed that wave yet, looks like a dream!
Craig photographs his fellow trekker climbing the dune to search for her missing companion.
After finding her friend, they set off into the setting sun looking for shelter from the Empire in a hidden desert Resistance outpost.
Ha!
Very good Wally. I did say that you needed to tone those colours down Craig :)
Reno Recovered .
udo wrote:Reno Recovered .
Wow, there is a backstory in that.
https://beachgrit.com/2021/11/breaking-hawaiian-surf-icon-and-former-wor...
https://beachgrit.com/2017/06/reno-snarling-mess-spewing-threats/
udo wrote:
Where everyone is a Champion!!!
｡.*:・’ﾟ:。'(((＋_＋)))｡.*:ﾟ･’ﾟﾟ:。’･ﾟ
stoked surfer girls
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-21/women-surfers-in-peru-finding-joy...
Absolute wanker!
Roadkill, how's he tipped off authorities with that crazy rant video and is now arrested. What a duck egg..
Not only did Greta Thunberg destroy Andrew Tate with her tweet, she made him so angry he inadvertently tipped off Romanian authorities of his presence in Romania with his lame comeback video.
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) December 29, 2022
Greta is an absolute legend. pic.twitter.com/VkuvYfZvAd
Andrew Tate is the worst type of influencer. Millions of teenage boys who idolise him will soon be young men with dangerous attitudes towards women.
Haha, I reckon that's 1-0 to Greta.
overthefalls wrote:Andrew Tate is the worst type of influencer. Millions of teenage boys who idolise him will soon be young men with dangerous attitudes towards women.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/06/andrew-tate-violent-m...
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/11/22/andrew-tate-red-pill-muslim
There's gold in them thar hills.
http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/12/30/27-favourite-things-people-are-sayin...
Last year was not such a good one for my nearest and dearest. Getting older, aging parents and the issues that come with all that. However, I don't want to dwell on the shit that happened, but rather on one of the positives, being the good news thread and all.
Just under 13 months ago we adopted mad pup. So a year or so later where are we? Well, he doesn't eat shoes any more. He has stopped shitting on the rugs. He sometimes comes back when called, just as long as there is not anything more interesting to be found elsewhere. He loves stirring up the old boy but still allows him to "win". He loves to walk and run and never stops. He beats most dogs on our beach, only a greyhound pointer x bests him over 50 m. He's a delight really, still mad as fuck but such a positive in our lives. Not pretty, but he does get attention. Here's to our dogs, love em.
Nice one, Blackers. Dogs keep us sane. Hope the other stuff get better.
I'll take a leaf out of your book and not dwell on the fact that our old boy is dying, but that we've had 13 years of unconditional love (both ways, of course), fun, madness and joy.
These days he spends about 20 hours a day sleeping and can barely get up. But he still wags his tail and eats his food, bless him.
Good onya Kelly , if you’re not feeling it , don’t paddle out , plus made another guys day .
Absolutely nothing to prove out there. Good on him.
Supafreak wrote:Good onya Kelly , if you’re not feeling it , don’t paddle out , plus made another guys day . https://youtu.be/z34xkSlD9Vs
What a good thing. He didn’t need it as much as the next guy wanted it. Fantastic
Here's Chris in Action from a few yrs ago........yew
Island Bay wrote:Nice one, Blackers. Dogs keep us sane....
Cheers IB. We keep moving forward.
Hope the remaining time with your mate is quality time. Beautiful photo.
How good are dogs! It's hard IB, got no words for you except when the time comes it's hope it's peaceful.
Blackers, great little write up on the pup. He sounds like a beauty.
Our little Lab has slotted right in and is part of the family. We also have another new Mini-Schnauzer pup and they're as thick as thieves now.
Dogs are the best. So generous.
Cheers, Zen.
Nothing lasts forever, and today is terribly hard, but we will always remember this boy:
My condolences to you and your family IB , always sad when our family pets move on .
Yep, very , very sad and heartbreaking.
All the best for you and yours IB.
Thank you, Supa and FR.
He went downhill fast the last 10 days, and was losing his faculties and dignity, so we had to act. Not easy, though.
Sobering stuff, IB. Hopefully the memories keep returning to all the funny things he did.
Losing a family member is always hard condolences IB.
:( Bummer IB, thoughts are with ya.
Horrible time to go through IB, I'm sure he had a fantastic life with you
Thoughts are with you IB. A sad day.
Its a deep in the bones sadness when you have to put down your mate.
A big hug from the Swellnet community IB.
Good morning, and thank you for all your kind words.
It's was very strange to go to sleep without the gentle snoring of an old hound in the background, and to wake up without him.
After a wonderful long life, he had few pleasures left, and the last few days he couldn't even enjoy sniffing around in his fave spots, couldn't get comfortable in his bed, and was deeply ashamed after pooing on the floor. It was definitely time go.
Life goes on, until it doesn't.
Island Bay wrote:Good morning, and thank you for all your kind words.
It's was very strange to go to sleep without the gentle snoring of an old hound in the background, and to wake up without him.
After a wonderful long life, he had few pleasures left, and the last few days he couldn't even enjoy sniffing around in his fave spots, couldn't get comfortable in his bed, and was deeply ashamed after pooing on the floor. It was definitely time go.
Life goes on, until it doesn't.
Island Bay. My condolences to you and Mrs. IB. He and you guys had a great life together. Hardest thing for us mere humans to do is to end an animals life, totally heartbreaking, but we know when it’s time, plenty of abnormal signs tell us that. I imagine you’ll have many thoughts running through your mind over the next few days, months, some sad but mostly joyous ones triggered by some visual or mental cue. He was a happy dog and that’s what they do, make you Happy. All the best AW.
My condolences, sending some love your way to you and your family IB
IB, I'm really sorry for your loss. Dogs are indeed the best people.
Dedicated to good news ....