Sunday, January 24, 2010

Ro and Kieran get ready to step into our shoes













Two old friends of ours are about to step into our shoes for seven months so that we can achieve our lifelong ambition of walking the Appalachian trail, on the eastern USA, from end to end - 2,120 miles. Rosemary and Kieran have recently retired and are very excited about taking on the role of looking after our B&B guests, running the fruit tasting and the farm. We are booked to fly to the USA on the 29th March and return on 20th October. Rosemary and Kieran have stayed with us on several occasions over the years at Cape Trib, and love the area.

Rosemary most recently worked as a child psychologist in schools, but has swapped problem parents and challenging adolescents for the peace and quiet of the vegetable garden.  Now there’s also more time for other interests such as the local environment, listening to music, reading and cooking home-grown food.  Travelling has always been a particular passion, and after spending six months last year exploring outback Australia, especially the Kimberley and Pilbara, it’s time for the next adventure sampling life in the Wet Tropics and eating lots of exotic tropical fruit while Digby and Alison take a break.  

Kieran has a background as a culinary herb farmer and has worked both as a voluntary and professional bush regenerator for the National Trust and a private company in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.  Kieran’s main interests are bird-watching and environmental weed control.  In 2003 he was awarded the Centennial Medal by the federal government for his efforts in protecting native vegetation and was named environmental achiever of the year by his local government authority.  He is the founder of several conservation groups and is the editor of a monthly 14-page conservation newsletter.   
Kieran and Rosemary are both looking forward to the experience. The photo above shows Kieran, Rosemary and Digby enjoying a hamburger at Glen Helen Gorge in the Northern Territory. Ro and Kieran acted as our back up team while we walked the Larapinta Trail over 21 days.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Opening of our new packing shed

 A gathering of supporters for the official opening of the new packing shed by Mayor Val Schier