Cloud watching (Marramarra Lodge)

After a sound night's sleep, we were woken to the sound of voices. As it turned out, they were probably from the early breakfasters. Sound travels when there is precious little to compete with it. Tuesday's weather was proving to be as capricious and changeable as the previous day. We opted to breakfast al fresco in, what was at the time, sunshine. It was soon followed by light drizzle. That too didn't last before the clouds parted and so it went. Hence the title for today. We did a lot of cloud watching because they moved so fast. The song? A favourite from a favourite of ours Abby Dobson circa 2003.

The sun did come out

Just to keep Jayne guessing, I had a breakfast brioche roll which contained two foods I avoid if possible: egg and avocado (pronounced arvo-cardo in the 'fern). I didn't die, but it destroyed a good bacon roll. The service was attentive and efficient, as it has been since we arrived.

We ordered a picnic hamper for lunch in the vain belief that we would be kayaking somewhere on the Hawkesbury River to a destination to be decided. Should the weather hold of course. In the intervening period of time, I had decided we were going, not going, going, not sure, going, let's wait awhile and so it went. As I tap away at the moment we are going but the wind is now getting up ... perhaps a picnic in the boat shed would be a safer option.

Just relax and enjoy the view

And finally that was the option chosen. Our picnic was back-packed and we walked down to the boatshed where the wind was just as annoying. The backpack contained a neat little picnic set with wine glasses, well wine plastics, a corkscrew - wow, ancient artefact, but NO wine. The food was great. A quinoa, crab and beet salad, cheese, olives and crackers and chocolate and vanilla mousse with honeycomb shards. Again, I don't get it. The fridge in the boatshed was filled with beer but not a wine in sight. We've enjoyed our stay, and the staff couldn't be more effusive or responsive, but it's the little things. The finesse, Jayne would say. At Jonah's you were being finessed but you didn't notice, here you notice its absence.

Toys @ the boatshed

More toys

Post picnic lunch, the weather decided to turn again and the cloud cleared, the wind dropped and the sun shone. We opted for a couple of glasses of wine in the only place we can enjoy them, the lodge. Well, this time, the pool deck next to the lodge.

A pretty orchid on the path

We ticked the clock down, enjoying the afternoon and playing Scrabble. No, don't be concerned dear reader, we didn't keep score. Unusual I know. It was a friendly game, not our usual bloodsport battle-to-the-death event. And then the wind shifted into overdrive and we sought the relative safety of our tent, but not before we met one of the locals. He just came meandering through the pool area, unconcerned by all around him. Check out his photo.

Just popping in for a swim

The sun continued to shine as the wind picked up. The tent entered rock'n'roll mode and was buffeted from all sides. We were quite comfortable inside enjoying the view and cloud watching.

I went to dinner prepared for the sunset with both mobile phone and my camera. Neither were required, as the day slipped into night with barely a smudge of colour beyond the grey of the clouds. Dinner tonight was a five course cracker. Even jayne approved. The amuse bouche of Balmain bug was followed by ceviche of Kingfish, both were fresh and tasty. The zucchini, basil and macadamia soup was lovely, the macadamia a welcome addition and something I will use at home. The palate cleanser was a strawberry sorbet and signalled a change of wine from the NZ sauvignon blanc to a Victorian Cabernet Merlot. The main was wagyu steak accompanied by a miso and date sauce, followed up by a lemongrass creme brulee. All delightful.

Until next time

Sunsets (Marramarra Lodge)

And the day, dear reader, continued to be unpredictable as far as the weather was concerned. The skies were grey and the cloud moved fast. One minute we had sunshine, the next rain. As a result, the planned walk on Palm Beach up to Barrenjoey was abandoned as was my hope of chalking up 15,000 steps today.

It was only an hour's drive (ish) to the pick up point at Mooney Mooney which meant we would get there very early. The aborted morning beach walk had thrown out the timeline for the day. Brooklyn, I thought. We should stop in there. A lifetime ago we spent a magical winter's afternoon with Lyn and Wayne at the Angler's Rest Hotel. It was the only time we'd been to Brooklyn but I imagined we'd be able to burn an hour or so there.

Not quite. The rain had returned, discouraging any attempt to sit on the front verandah of the pub. A café, I thought. Ah, no. Well, if there was one it remained elusive to me. So after a few minutes of deliberating we hit the road again and in 10 minutes were sitting in the drizzle at the car park at the Mooney Mooney boat ramp, our designated pick up point for Marramarra Lodge.

And there we sat. Jayne read her book and I walked laps of the car park in between the rain showers. As 2pm approached, we gathered our bags and walked to the wharf just in time for another rain squall to sweep through and dampen our spirits a touch. The launch arrived, we boarded and sat back for the 20 minute ride to the lodge where we were greeted by Shona and a glass of 'champagne'. Despite the weather, the setting is rather idyllic. The 'tent' that is our accommodation has full length glass sliding doors that open to a magnificent view of the Hawkesbury River. We are secluded and private and no more than a 2 minute walk to reception.

Looking in from the deck

There is a complimentary bar fridge in the tent, that curiously, does not stock wine. The lodge itself has a fully stocked complimentary refreshment area, but you can't get a bottle of wine to enjoy on your deck overlooking the river. We repaired to the lodge and had a couple of glasses of wine and played a British trivial pursuit game that Jayne found. Rather apt really, considering I believe most things British are trivial - commencing with the monarchy.

On the deck looking east

From the lounge

Looking south down the river

Dinner was 6:30pm in the lodge. It was a five course affair with amuse bouche to start. The matching wines were a semillon and a shiraz durif blend from Rutherglen. Must get back there again, we haven't visited that wine region for many years. The first three courses were excellent: zucchini flower, snapper in tamarind sauce and a basil, lime and champagne sorbet. Sorry no pictures. Once again we ventured out sans mobile phones. Daring aren't we?

That was where dinner peaked. Well as far as Jayne is concerned. The lamb which followed was not quite the melt-in-your-mouth experience that was expected and the mushrooms overpowered the lamb. The dessert, a salted caramel truffle doughnut (one of those chunky American numbers without the whole), was not light enough. Goodness, this is reading like a review in the SMH Goodfood Guide. 

Jayne summed it up by saying that Jonah's was an adult and Marramarra was a teenager. One was restrained finesse, the other not quite there yet.

But the view of the sunset from the lodge! Hence today's title, a Powderfinger number from their 2003 Vulture Street record.

No words, just pictures, although they still don't do it justice.

Post dinner it was back to the deck to enjoy the sounds of the river at night. Fortunately the wind had died down so we weren't subjected to the whoomp and flap noises as the wind billowed the roof and then dropped it. There was however a very lonely koel bird looking for someone to love. I hope he finds her soon because he was driving some of the other guests mad with his plaintive call. You haven't heard one dear reader? Of course you have, but just in case try this

Until next time.