And our adventure draws to a close - but there are now photos to enjoy...and a map!

Greetings dear reader,

We arrived safely back on Monday after our grand adventure - thanks for sharing the journey and we'll let you know when the next one begins. In the meantime you can share an edited photo version of our Jabi adventure by clicking here and viewing in slideshow.

Enjoy!

The Flying Nabateans

Our adventure map

Farewell King Island

Greetings dear reader from Tocumwal. A slight deviation from the original plan. Yesterday we explored King Island - a place of great scenery, horse racing, surfing, golf, fishing, walking, agriculture, good food and shipwrecks. The island is 64km long and 27km wide - less tropical but with 1400 people more populous than Flinders Island. We got up close and personal with some lighthouses and enjoyed walks along the expansive and isolated beaches. A unique insight into island life.

This morning in good weather we completed our Bass Strait second crossing! Woohoo!

And 2.5 hours here we are in Tocumwal. The weather will decide when we take off for Wollongong. Insha'allah tomorrow, but we'll see!

The Flying Nabateans

10-4 King Island

We made our way across Bass Strait this morning via Wynard(North Tassie) for fuel to King Island. Such nice smooth weather! King Island airport was busy. We especially liked meeting the guy in the Drifter. Now a Drifter has an open cockpit and is amphibious. So this guy is now on his way across Bass Strait in an open cockpit at 40 - 60 knots per hour. He seemed to think that being able to land on the water was an advantage! It takes all sorts of adventurers to make the world go around we guess. We came to the hotel via the King Island dairy and factory for some cheese tasting - nice selection to taste.


It's now 5.30 pm so after our walk into King Island CBD (one and a bit streets) for late lunch, saying hello to the King Island physiotherapist whom Vasant knows and walking back, we are enjoying staring at the Indian Ocean from the hotel room, listening to the waves and generally having some down time.

Tomorrow we explore the Island

Until the next blog

The Flying Nabateans

The beautiful Gordon River

Another good day on Safari dear reader! After a leisurely breakfast on the harbour at Strahan we boarded the Eagle and sailed through the harbour and Hells Gate to explore Sarah Island (be very grateful you weren't a convict from 1822-1833) and sailed up the beautiful Gordon River among Huon Pines and ageless vegetation - one feels quite insignificant in the face of such timeless beauty. Leisurely and enriching. Weather looks good for our departure tomorrow so Insha'Allah the next post will be from King's Island.

Until the next blog

The Flying Nabateans

Friendly by name and friendly by nature

Yes dear Reader, here we are after our landing at Friendly Beaches airstrip. We arrived over the ocean to beautiful warm sunny calm weather - definitely a friendly place for Jabi. Bicheno is a beach holiday town. Very relaxing cafes and shops and a good place for a welcome walk and sightseeing. We are taking a break from the afternoon summer warmth and planning our trip to Strahan tomorrow. Then we'll be off for some more sightseeing.


http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=AU#/results?q=friendly%20beaches%20landing

(friendly beaches airstrip landing - not us, but interesting to view)

Now ....if you are feeling like a change from the everyday we came across an interesting option for those requiring a little solitude. Put your name down to mind Deal House lighthouse in Bass Strait for 3 months! Most expenses paid in return for tending the garden and looking after the buildings. The Lighthouse function is remotely managed. Just imagine how many books could be read, dreams dreamt and steps climbed. You heard it here...

Until the next post

The Flying Nabateans

Good Morning dear reader,

Let us begin by thanking all our well wishers - your emails,texts and calls are so nice! So what's been happening? Yesterday we discovered Flinders Island. It's just as the brochures say - it's greatest asset is it's natural beauty. Sun, beaches, vineyards , good food and some great walks and of course some local characters and stories that remoteness seems to breed. Today we take off for Friendly Beaches.Weather looks good, pilot and navigator are ready to roll.Enjoy your day!

The Flying Nabateans

Good morning Bass Strait

Good morning dear Reader,

So here we are at Bairnsdale airport.Avgas man has arrived. Planes are being juiced up and in about 30 mins with life jackets on we will be off into the wild blue yonder. Warm and dry here ....lovely

The Flying Nabateans

Sunny Bairnsdale

Greetings dear Reader,

What a beautiful trip down the south coast of NSW And Victoria to arrive in sunny Bairnsdale at around 4.30pm. We came via the Ms...Moruya,Meriumbula, Mallacoota...and hugged the coast most of the way to avoid showers and cloud. It's a new experience for the flying Nabeteans to be part of a convoy but very relaxing as on our arrival a taxi had been booked, accommodation ready and suggestions for where to find a beer. Now that's luxury. After dinner we promenaded to discover the sights of Bairnsdale. Seems to be a thriving town which is good to see. Tomorrow we cross Bass Strait to discover Flinders Island.


How can you sit in a plane all day and be exhausted by 9pm? These and other questions will be explored on the Tassie safari...so stay up to date!


Until the next post

The Flying Nabateans

Another Jabi adventure is about to begin...and it's a Tassie safari!

Greetings dear Reader,
Um, wondered the Flying Nabateans, how should we kick off our 2012 Jabi adventures? Of course....across Bass Strait for a Tassie safari. So with maps, life jackets, EPIRB,compass, water and muesli bars at hand, and two small bags we are ready to roll tomorrow.  Insha'Allah here is the Jabi route ....2,400 kms over 10 days...quiet leisurely compared to the Lake Eyre adventure.

We'll be iPad blogging this time so photos might be limited, but we'll do our best to share the sights, sounds and our favourite moments as we go.
The Flying Nabateans

Day	Feb	Route	Distance		Time	Weather	About the area
			Nms	Kms	HH:MM
Sat	11	Wollongong-Bairnsdale (Vic)	253	455.4	2:20	Bairnsdale	Bairnsdale
Sun	12	Bairnsdale via Bass Strait to Lady Barron Flinders Island	134	241.2	1:13	Bass Strait	Flinders Island    Lady Barron
Mon	13	Flinders Island				Flinders Island	We'll be tripping around Flinders Island
Tues	14	Friendly Beaches	115	207	1:03	Friendly Beaches	Bicheno
Wed	15	Friendly Beaches-Strahan	132	237.6	1:13	Strahan	Strahan
Thurs	16	Strahan					World Heritage Cruise - Gordon River   (Strahan)
Fri	17	Strahan-King Island	151	271.8	1:22	King Island	King Island
Sat	18	King Island					We'll be exploring everything King Island has to offer
Sun	19	King Island via Bass Strait to Bendigo (Vic)	189	340.2	1:43	Bendigo	Bendigo
Mon	20	Bendigo-Wollongong (NSW)	341	613.8	3:06	Albion Park
			1315	2,367	12:00