all my joints ache this morning, but coolest night due to fan, rice pudding for breakfast. Taxi picked us up 8.40am and it took ages to get to Port botany, eventually found Warehouse Solutions, and it is raining.
Picked up paperwork and they had to jumpstart the Landrover, Colin connected the fridge and off we went. Got through Sydney and avoided the toll roads. First stop Brookvale to pick up carnet from Jason, had a good chat with him whilst Colin talked to Steve (manager),he greeted us as "you must be scabbyrsoles". Then on to Thornleigh to a camping shop, bad news cant use our camping bottles had to buy 2 new ones which are refillable, a griddle pan and a solar shower. The 2 older women in the shop inspected the landrover and loved Mr Merzouga the bear, they were telling us about the recent visit to Oz by the queen, they gave us a free Bushmans insect repelent spray and their card incase we needed any advice. Drove 100 metres to a cafe for some massive sandwhiches (yummy). Woollies for food shopping and on to camp site at Lane Cove National Park. Found out tent was wet so put it up to dry in now sunshine,we appear to have more stuff than room,will sort it out tomorrow. We are pitched next to a familly with 4 kids so hope not too noisy tonight. Colin rang Jonny and he will see us tomorrow.Had dinner of steak and salad cooked on our new skillet. Found out familly next to us live in the tent as they are homeless. As evening went on we saw lots of parrots in the trees and wild Brush Turkeys running through the camp.
11 November Friday
Airbed went down and parrots started before 6am, lovely sunny day.
Got all the clothes on to the ground sheet and sorted into the boxes,with what we think we won't need into the suit case along with Marks rucksack. Managed to get food tins into a side locker and spare toiletrys in with the gas bottles, storage better than we thought (at the moment).
Young English couple came and borrowed some tools as they knocked a metal piece off the top of their camper van and needed to put it back on before taking van back tomorrow otherwise they lose $500 deposit.They have traveling the last 3 months with their delightfull 15 month old daughter Sophie, they then off to Thailand for 3 days before going home.
Noticed a German registerd vehicle had pulled onto site, got talking to the couple after lunch and discovered that they came into the country via Freemantle and they had been in the country 6 months. Colin had a good chat with the man who was telling him about there travels over the last 20 years or so, whilst the lady gave me some useful maps.
we went swimming in the site pool, it was cold to start with but really nice, did a few lengths before going back to tent, Johnny rangus not long after and just finished cutting Colin's hair when Johnny, Donna arrived with her brother and his partner. The 2 girls hurt themselves when they went for a walk so they left with Ash and Jonney stayed for a few tinneys and a catch up about the old biking days (Rose gave him a Scareypig hug just for Dawn),unfortunately he had to go at 7 as going out for a meal that night. It was really great to see him (LE MANS ROCKS).
Cooked at camp kitchen tonight, sausages on the barby (Marion we eat meat) with cheesey mash(lovely). Its another lovely evening just sat listening to the crickets. Feel as though we are getting organised and settling into things with our own camping stuff.Hope the airbed stays up tonight. Saw our first live possum.
12 November Saturday
Airbed went down again.
Up early but didnt manage to leave site untill 10 am, overcast morning a lot cooler. Set off up the Pacific Highway, lots of bikers on the road, can see why as roads very twisty and smooth surface, ideal for bikes with not much traffic. Stopped for lunch at the point picnic reserve at Entrance on the Central Coast Highway. There are lots of pelicans hanging around by the fish cleaning area, lots of people fishing from boats and the shore.
Colin has had 2 Landrover drivers wave at him.
We met up with the Pacific Highway at Doyalson heading towards the coast again and up past Swansea, round Newcastle and onto Hawks Nest and our campsite for the night at Myall River Camp, it is set in the Myall Lakes National Park and cover 98 acres, there are lots of campers here, it is a basic bush camp with compost toilets and water tap. Our neighbours are father from Sydney and son from Newcastle who works for ARB 4x4 accessories and has given us his card, another useful contact. Just the tent up tonight(no awning or side panels), put on insect repelant just in case. a kookabura tried to take some food frommy plate.
Tried to ring Ricky and Emma but nobody answering,so read till bedtime.
Airbed?
13 November Sunday
Yes its gone down again
Up early again, bit of condensation in the tent, bacon butty for breakfast. Got talking to mum of the group next to us her and husband on holiday and off up the coast as well, she gave us some ideas where to get an airbed. Colin rang kids but had gone to bed so said would ring again tonight. Tried Nat and Robyn but no answer, then Robyn rang back so got her to hang up and then rang straight back, found all the girls in one room at a jewelry party so had a chat with all in one go, Natalie talking about Christmas with Sandie,Karen is just busy and Robyn is just Robyn (she had a date with Crofty at the Landrover club).
they have strange looking caravans in Oz
Left site at 10 am and drove on Mungo Bush road to a little car ferry,
followed by a dirt road to Bulahdelah
where we joined the Pacific Highway to the national motorbike museum at Nabiac, couldnt believe how many bikes they had (over 800), Colin found a few he had owned in the past.
Found a rest area towards Taree for lunch, tried to find K Mart but has been closed for 2 years. Back on to the Highway and at Kew joined Ocean Drive op to Port Macquarie where we found a Big W (they sell everthing) and bought a queen airbed . Tired so found a local camp site called Edgewater Holiday Park. Just put up tent when it started raining so put up the awning, new airbed is bigger so threw away old one (first time Colin has thrown something away for going down on him).
On way to camp site had slight problem with Landrover , second fuel tank pipes seemed to be blocked so had transfer some fuel from one tank to the other by using a plastic glass (it worked) to get us to the nearest fuel station. After dinner we rang Harry and Ellie, it was so good to hear them bought tears to our eyes. Sat in camp kitchen catching up with journal, wilst thunder lightning and raining outside. Heard grunting like a pig on the site, found out later it is a Koala.
14 November Monday
Airbed stayed up, but we are on a slight slope so spent all night rolling into the middle into Colin. As usual very noisy rainbow parrots early, it is sunny, which is drying out the tent. Whilst eating breakfast a KOALA ran across the site and up a tree,
great to see so early in the trip. when we left the site we were given sweeties and a sticker (just for colin). Caught a ferry across the Hastings river, only 200m from campsite, to get to Point Plomer Road which is 4wheel drive only for 40 kms, it took 2 hours but was great fun (it follows the coastline even you can't see the coast) stopped at Bill Hill beach for coffee (lovely bay).
The road had potholes in place, was sandy in places gravel and dirt but nothing difficult.
Made our way to Pacific Highway to continue north, It is already 31 degrees. Stopped at Macksville by the river for lunch where we sat in the shade surrounded by gulls waiting for food. carried on up to Coffs Harbour but couldn't find anywhere to park so didn't stop. then to Grafton and filled up with fuel (including jerry cans) as had 8cents litre off voucher (less than £1 per litre), past Maclean which advertises itself as a Scottish town, decided to camp in a rest area for the night at Tabbimoble. A bloke pulled up and got talking to Colin as he also has a series landrover and an old Triumph motorbike and he lives close to Marion and Laurie at Manly West, Brisbane. He left us his card and said should we need anything to give him a ring (getting quite a collection of cards). whilst talking a monitor lizard wandered past. Colin rang Laurie and we will drive straight through to Brisbane tomorrow via Byron Bay.
It is a bit noisy with the traffic. and lots of bites again.
15 November Tuesday
Awake early but went back to sleep again till 7.30pm, bit noisy but not too bad.
away by 8.30am on road towards ballina and found the coast road to Lennox head stopped at Sharpes Beach, it was lovely
Unfortunately the road to Lennox Head is broken so had to take a detour, back onto road to Byron Bay (most eastern point of Oz), drove up to Cape Byron, the road is slipping away so had to go through roadworks, whilst they rebuild the road. stopped in the car park for a coffess and went down to the beach,. it was a long beautiful beach with several surfers on their boards (better than bondi), it is a beach to return to.
jumped onto M1 and stopped at Coombara Service station for lunch, arrived at Laurie and Marion's just after 2.30pm NSW time but 1.30pm Queensland time- work that one out they are on the same longitude but in different time zones, we surprise Laurie a bit as Colin had forgotten to ring him, we were made very welcome and didn't stop chatting till Marion got home from work (Laurie didn't get his lawn cut), which added another voice to the talk, we feel very relaxed in their company. we get to meet Abbey Thursday (grandaughter) who is 11 days older than Harry and Ellie. eventually went to bed about 11pm, decided not to put on aircon just use fan (trying to acclimatise).
16 November Wednesday
Great nights sleep, and stayed cool. It is already hot outside at 7.30am but there is a nice breeze. Laurie cooked breakfast on the BBQ. Colin went man shopping with Laurie for a relay and looked a UHF CB radios which are needed here for the range. I went shopping with Marion but she showed me the coast first, it is lovely they are so close to the sea. We went to a supermarket called IGA which appears cheaper than the others, also you get money off if you produce a fuel receipt showing the litres. Back at the house put the washing in and the men managed their bits and pieces as well. Leigh arrived and stayed for dinner (still haven't been in the pool). Lovely day, and ithas felt cooler.
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