8^th December 2016 (Eden, NSW)

The weather predictions along this coastline appear to be a bit inaccurate and there were indications of thunderstorms at 5pm. Nevertheless, we thought that we could fit in 18 holes of golf before the weather changed.

We found to our surprise that the course harbours about 300 kangaroos, clearly enjoying the fertilised fairways since these have more nutritional grass than in the surrounding land. What was even more surprising was that there were at least 50 on fairway 17, not only on the margins but sitting in the middle of the fairway in front of the tee and extending 100 yds or more beyond. Sheila found it all rather intimidating. It would be quite scary if they started to get aggressive since they are formidable boxers.

Sheila's ball heads to a few targets.

Hardly look bothered by a few golfers!

After golf we headed back into town to get a bite and sort out my mobile. Unfortunately, the local repair expert couldn’t resolve the problem so it looks as though I will have to purchase a new phone.

We headed down to the Eden Killer Whale Museum and heard an almost unbelievable story of how a pack of killer whales (Orca) worked with local whale-men off Twofold Bay, where we are located, for decades during the 1800’s and early 1900’s. These killer whales, which returned each year, would herd the baleen whales into Twofold Bay. They would alert the whale-men of their prey’s arrival by “flop-tailing”, i.e. trashing the water with their tails, and the chase would be on. After the whale was harpooned, some of the killers would expedite its death by rolling over its blowhole to stop it breathing, and others would swim below it to prevent it diving deep (sounding).  When the whale was dead, the killers would take the tongue and lips as their rewards and leave the carcass for the whale-men to bring ashore. Whaling from Twofold Bay continued unto the late 1920’s.

Eden's Killer Whale Museum

 The wind picked up by about 3pm and by 6pm it started raining.  Since our accommodation is up high and quite exposed to the Tasman Sea we can certainly could hear it beating on the outside of our apartment.

Eden Wharf

We decided to go back down to the Hooked on Seafood shop in the Eden Wharf and purchase salmon with salad plus a few sweet potatoes and take it back to the apartment. The food was excellent and incredibly good value with sizeable portions. This we followed by the last of Hazel’s Christmas cake with a cup of tea – excellent cake.