Saturday 21st July 2007.

Horse awoke early and climbed into the club car and drove across the Illawarra during the early hours of Saturday morning. The weather looked bleak with overcast skies and drizzling rain.

The other Club Car

Many mortals remained snugly ensconced within the warmth of their beds, blissfully unaware of the weather without and the adventures untapped.

Horse collected Diamond, Larry and new adventurer, Belter, and they steered a course for Broker's Nose ~ a peak that looms above the Illawarra escarpment. The nose inspires adventure in some and sheer terror in many others.

Belter

Reaching Broker's Nose is relatively easy and was no trouble for hardened adventurers.

Belter and Diamond

Initially the weather had closed in and visibility was poor. There was persistent drizzling rain and digital imaging was difficult. Then the skies cleared and the wonder of the Illawarra revealed itself to the four adventurers. Their grit and determination was richly rewarded.

The Illawarra

Wollongong

The Illawarra stretched out before them, from Austinmer in the north through to Shellharbour in the south. Mt Keira and Mt Kembla were clearly visible to the south. A truly inspiring sight.

Belter and Horse

The adventurers exchanged thoughts and navigational notes. Diamond, Belter and Larry also took photographs.

Carved into the sandstone outcrop that is Broker's Nose were the names of many previous adventurers from times of yore. Larry could not find his initials from his acsent in 1968.

The marks of previous adventurers

The adventurers posed to capture the moment at the peak. An inspiring monent that they shall always remember. Four men, four heroes.

The adventurers four

The peak of Broker's Nose is blighted with transmission towers and satellite dishes. No doubt these intrusive devices are used to transmit the evil messages that emanate from Canberra and Kirribili House.

Unwanted technology

The transmission tower did have one redeeming feature. It resounded with an eerie song as the wind coursed through the cables, steel and dishes.

The sound of metallic ghosts

The adventurers took photographs of the Illawarra while the sun shone through the clouds.

The Illawarra

The adventurers explored the top of the escarpment and at one moment Belter and Larry were startled by the sounds of strange sounds in the bushes. It was not unlike the cries of the three weird hags in Macbeth. Then, the truth became clear as Horse and Diamond revealed themselves from behind some bushes. Horse and Diamond are prone to gags and hijinks, even when sober.

Hijinks in the bushes

It was time to retrace our steps to the club car and return to the lives that waited below. Like a collective Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde the four adventurers would transform themselves as they blended back into the routines of the world below.

Diamond descending

The only danger faced by the four adventurers was wallaby droppings on the track. The turds lay there like silent sentinels to a moment that was once reflective and pleasant for the marsupial as it backed out the unwanted remnants of a hard earned meal.

Silent sentinels on the track