Kayaker

Kayaker,
originally uploaded by skyring.

Kerri's reading group selected the Penguin book of The Beach, by Alex Garland . Or possibly, The Penguin Book of the Beach, edited by Robert Drewe.

So we went out and got a copy of Garland's book, which Kerri couldn't get into. I'm making my way through it, enjoying it so far - but it's hard to find a travel book I don't like -and I'll see how I go as the story progresses.

Other members of the book club reported that they found it difficult to get past the first few stories, so it's quite possible that different members of the club have been reading different books.

Anyway, one of the members has a beach house at Merimbula, and invited the rest down to discuss the book(s). "Would you like to come with me?" Kerri asked and i replied, "Too right!"

She talks about the book and I catch up on sleep and wander around taking photographs.

So we booked a motel that sounded really nice and was a good price.

Then last week, Kerri says the weekend's cancelled due to lack of attendance, but would we still like to go?

That makes it all the more attractive, I replied.

So here we are in Merimbula, having a mini-break, off to check out and have brunch with the beach-house owner in a bit.

We left Canberra about eleven after a lazy (and in my case sleepy) Saturday morning. Straight down the Monaro to Cooma, where we had breakfasty type meals at noon. Kerri's omelette looked grand, and my ham cheese and tomato on toast was lovely.

Then I took over the driving for the twisty bits over the hills to Bega and onto Merimbula. The Snowy Mountains Highway is superb driving. Long stretches over alpine plains, rolling golden hills into the distance, and then down the scarp to the coast, winding roads stuck behind some bozo in a hat. Green fields full of cows all producing Bega cheeses straight from the source.

Merimbula, and our motel is on the highway overlooking the town. A view out over lakes, headlands, peninsulas and beaches, fishing boats and holiday homes. Our private balcony is a grand place for sitting back with a drink and taking it all in.

We had a cuppa, Kerri read the weekend papers and I had a needed nap.

Then we spent an hour or two just bumming around the town and beach, watching people fishing and frolicking. All delightfully Aussie beach culture stuff.

Takeaway Thai from "The Hot Wok", which we took back to the room and consumed on the balcony with glasses of cider as a storm rolled in, lightning flashing over the town.

This morning, we've been decadent, tea and Magnums on the balcony until it got too sunny, now going through the dregs of the papers.

A lovely break, and I'm looking forward to brunch at a lakeside cafe, followed by our drive home.

So good to spend time with Kerri, walking hand in hand along the beach, just the two of us.