Stroud to Wollongong, NSW

Getting close to the border with Victoria now, just 4hrs away! Love it when we get to tick off a new State!

Had a lovely time in historic Stroud, met a family who volunteered at the museums - and scored a free dinner at their farm. Yessss!

The most memorable thing about that night was their regaling a tale about a Dingo stealing their Dachshund. Literally picked it up and ran off with it! I kept a close eye on Dick but the Chihuahua in his heritage means he is fierce and menacing when he needs to be.

We met up with a long lost friend whilst in Sydney, Jen Bishop the journalist from ye olde Wiltshire and had a wonderful gossip about the good old days, when detectives were predatory and WPcs loved it. Literally, the best afternoon I've had in years!

I did the Sydney tourist trail on my 40th with a betrothed ( #scandal ) so have seen the Opera House and bridge. Didn't venture into the CBD this time. Too hot for a black dog.

Spent Australia Day by the pool as it was stinking hot. For the Brits reading this, the 26th Jan marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, Botany Bay and raising of the Union Flag by Captain Arthur Phillip, who brought 700 convicts with him.

It has become an awkwardly political date, with Aboriginal tribes calling it Invasion Day. Being a first generation Australian with no history here, I am late to the party but can totally see their point. I just hope they don't write it out of the history books.

South of Sydney, the NSW coast line is gorgeous, so hoping our opinion of NSW will improve before we leave. Not a fan of the over legislation and littering of the countryside and beaches with signs advertising lots and lots of rules. Which we pointedly ignore.

Rules!

An over zealous dog warden attempted to write us a ticket a few weeks back in Belmont, as apparently it wasn't an off leash area and Dick had been swimming. Since when did local Councils have jurisdiction over the damn sea?!

As he started to make out the ticket to my alter ego, Felicity Jones of Brighton, UK, I airily pointed out there was no sign in the direction we had walked, and that Assistance Dogs are not allowed to eliminate whilst on leash. That last part was utter tripe that I'd just made up.

Dick was backing me up by handily having a poo 💩 . The warden was a fellow grumpy ex cop and after agreeing that dogs are better than people, he ripped up the ticket and I grinned delightedly (on the inside).

Not that it mattered. Felicity Jones is a fictional character and I doubt she had any intention of paying my fine.

I developed a habit early on in this trip of leaving my phone behind, so attached is every photo I've taken since Taree. All seven of them!

Edit: went to a Buddhist Temple in Wollongong today so have added some new photos.Read more