Oceanic Gypsies
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Travel Blog Posts
A Gentleman Bushranger - Australia’s own Captain Thunderbolt
Published: April 17th 2011Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Armidale
April 18th 2011
How many prisoners have swum to freedom through the shark infested waters surrounding Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour? At this stage, we have no idea; but we do know that Fred Ward was one of them. On 11 September 1863, carrying tools of escape, Fred’s courageous and loyal wife (Mary-Ann Bugg) swam both ways through shark infested waters in order to get her husband back. The pair (plus one other prisoner) then made a daring escape to their freedom. With Police in hot pursuit, Fred became NSW’s most successful (and last professional) Bushranger. Given the title Captain Thunderbolt by those who knew and loved him, he was by all accounts a gentleman; agreeable, handsome and a good conversationalist who avoided violence. The fact that he was so likeable appears to have helped his success as a ... read more
April 15th 2011
Turtles, turtles everywhere! The Kustom owners at Chrystal Blue Lagoon sure know a great location when they see it. We spent the day out there and discovered a turtle hatchery full of very cute little babies. We swam and snorkled in the lagoon and got up close and personal with lots of colourful sealife. Exhausted and ready to eat, the over-water restaurant was calling. Friendly staff happily prepared the most delicious seafood platter, freshly caught in the waters below. The other Gypsy taste tested Vanuatu's famously tender organic beef, BBQ’d to perfection … he wasn’t disappointed. Established and managed by local ni-Vanuatu Kustom owners on Turtle Bay Beach, just 20 minutes drive from Port Vila, Crystal Blue offers conference facilities, restaurant, workshop and a chapel (just in case the tropical ambience gets you in the marrying ... read more
Tot: 0.052s; Tpl: 0.002s; cc: 8; qc: 38; dbt: 0.038s; 1; s:notus w:www (50.28.60.10); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.4mb
