12th Oct

Sunday 12^th October 2014

Once again we got away right on 9.00am that’s normal for our mob, if I had my way we would be on the road about 7.30am and stop earlier. Anyway we weren’t in any great hurry today. The other Queenslanders were long gone by the time we pulled out but even though we stopped for fuel, somewhere on the road we passed them and were set up at Lane Cove River Tourist Park by the time they pulled in. We were fortunate enough to get a good site with enough room to erect David’s tent and close by all the amenities.

Lane Cove River Tourist Park has been established in Lane Cove National Park and is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife organisation or whatever they are called now in NSW. It is claimed to be the closest caravan/camping venue to the CBD and I would recommend it to any person wishing to visit Sydney travelling by caravan, motorhome or even by car, as there are quite a number of cabins for hire. It is obviously a very popular venue and booking would be advisable. It’s a huge venue with plenty of room between van sites, amenities where we are situated are 1^st class and spotless.

A 10 minute walk down the road is North Ryde station where for $2.50 (being a senior), you can purchase a 24hr ticket that allows you to travel on and the train, light train, buses or ferries hop on hop off as they say any where in Sydney.

10th Oct 2014

Saturday 10^th October 2014     

 Continuing south we left the main highway and travelled via the Myall Lakes system for a few kilometres, this was another eye opener for us as we never had realised just how big these lake are. Northern NSW has a lot to offer travelling tourists with its fabulous river systems, large lakes and beautiful beaches.

We spent the night in a small caravan park just off the Pacific Highway at a place called Bulahdelah, it was cheap and convenient and just after we set up camp three more vans from Qld slotted in alongside of us doing the same thing and all heading for Lane Cove in Sydney.

Thursday 9th Oct

Thursday 9^th

Continuing south we had another good run the wind hadn’t got up so we didn’t have to punch into that and although we had a lot of rain over-night and had to pack David’s tent wet, we drove out of the inclement weather by the time we got to Southwest Rocks. Fuel on the outskirts of Grafton cost $1.62/lt for diesel.

Friday 10^th Oct 2014

Southwest Rocks situated a few kilometres south of the Macleay River mouth is another one of those discovered ideal holiday centres. Apparently what was once a sleepy little fishing haven is now a growing holiday centre and a picturesque spot it is at that. Once again the township is situated on a raised bluff, nothing as high as Yamba but raised enough to create great views out over the ocean from the pub that is in a prime position on one side of the road running parallel with the coast and on the other side of the road is a terraced caravan park set amongst giant Norfolk Pines and over looking the beautiful sandy and sheltered Horseshoe Bay. A variety of small shops form the CBD (couple of dozen) with the usual seaside village fare, couple of bakeries that sell coffee and takeaways as well as bread and cakes (and great vanilla slices), bottle shop, butchers, chemist, several boutiques, banking facilities, souvenirs and knicnacks and a tattoo parlour. No doubt there were others but that gives you an idea. A kilometre or so down the road is an IGA and a few shops and a couple more kls there is a reasonable Coles shopping centre.

We spent a couple of nights in the Top Tourist caravan park within walking distance of the town situated on a tidal water way, very peaceful, plenty of room and very good facilities.

Just south of SW Rocks on the southern side of Trial Bay is the old Trial Bay jail. Trial Bay was considered to be a suitable place to build a safe haven for sailing ships enroute between Brisbane and Sydney and it required a large breakwall causeway to be built out from the headland to protect the wharf and anchorage. Convict labour was used to build the causeway and the jail was built to house the convicts. Only a third of the causeway got built and most of that got washed away and by this time ships had improved and didn’t need to stop at Trial Bay. The prison closed and was stripped of everything. At the outbreak of WW1 hundreds of German settlers were rounded up, only the males, and interned in the prison. Two to a cell the cell doors weren’t locked at night but the main gate was secured and no one attempted to escape. As the prison had been stripped of everything all the interns had were the few comforts they brought with them in their suitcases. It’s an interesting place and worth the visit (not the fee).

Incidentally contrary to what I thought, the name Trial Bay has nothing to do with the legal system, it was named after a ship that sunk in the vicinity.

Seven or eight kilometres to the south of the jail a road winds its way up to the Smoky Head lighthouse so named by Captain Cook who observed smoke from fires lit by Aborigines. It’s a short but very steep climb from the car park up to the lighthouse itself but well worth the views. The light is un-manned but still working and from the base you can see the large prism rotating. There are a couple of picturesque lighthouse keeper cottages close by that are now holiday rentals. They look rather charming all painted brilliant white and command a fabulous view.

Yamba 8th Oct

Wed: 8^th Oct 2014

We took a passenger ferry to Yamba situated at the mouth of the Clarence on the southern side of the river. I think the Clarence must be one of the biggest river systems at least in NSW it looks huge even on a map, the ferry trip travelling diagonally across between Iluka and Yamba takes 45 minutes each way and all of $7 return. Yamba is well known for its seafood and supplies both Sydney and Brisbane fish markets. Yamba is tucked behind a high steep bluff that protects it from the relentless Pacific Ocean. Obviously prime real-estate it must have a view from top that would be sensational, but after looking at the trees bending over in the strong south easterly blast we were copping we chose not to walk up the steep road to have a look. It’s a tidy little town that is growing rapidly as it becomes increasingly popular as a holiday destination. Arriving around 11.00am we wandered around the town centre checking all the shops making a few light purchases keeping in mind we had to carry everything, had coffee and lunch and even went for a walk along the river to the entrance and back. By then we had seen enough but the next ferry back to Iluka wasn’t due until 3.15pm and it was only 1.00pm, it was a long couple of hours.

Souther Trip NSW 2014

Wednesday 8^th October 2014

Our first night on the road was spent at the Anchorage Holiday Park Iluka, a quiet venue adjacent to the Clarence River norther NSW. The trip down yesterday was easy driving without any major issues certainly nothing with the caravan at least. However at one point on the highway we were passed by a large motorised horse transporter, we were travelling at about 95 kph at the time. As the transporter proceeded to pull back to the left hand side of he highway something that looked like a window frame flew off the truck and started cartwheeling along the road. At our speed it appeared as if it was hurtling back down the highway towards us all and although everyone was madly braking none of us had a chance of pulling up in time to avoid it. As it cartwheeled in the right hand lane I watched expecting it to clobber the nearest car then it must have seen our outfit and suddenly it leapt into the air just missing the bonnet of the nearest car and we watched it as if in slow motion, cartwheel across the road and impact the front of our vehicle. By the time we pulled up the transporter and any witnesses were long gone, but whatever it was that hit us fortunately hit the bull bar and although there was a bit of damage it really was minor thank goodness.    

Sunday 9th Feb 2014

Sun 9^th Feb 2014

Nancy’s cataract operation was very successful she was aware of something going on but never felt a thing and to all accounts the next day the specialist was very pleased with the post op inspection. For a couple of days Nancy had a gritty feeling in her eye and it is still very susceptible to bright light so really dark sunnies outside and we watch TV at night with lights of, other than that all good. Two lots of drops 4 times a day, surprising how quickly that seems to come around and at night when she goes to bed she looks like Captain Hook with a patch on the eye to stop her from accidentally rubbing it in her sleep (only for a few nights). Four weeks of drops and then she will be like new. In the meantime she has the other eye done on the 26^th Feb and then it will be a repeat performance although in the meantime she is inclined to be a bit one eyed!!

The specialist was talking about setting one eye for long sight and the next will be set for closer things so Nancy will only have to wear glasses for reading. Amazing what they can do these days and we think it is all such big deal but when you go to the clinic it is carried out like an assembly line. I guess the more they do the better they become.

Apparently my dear old mum who is in her mid 90’s is starting to fade rapidly so I just hope she hangs on until all this eye business with Nancy is over, whatever will be, will be though and at 95 she is just tired and entitled to go when she pleases.

that's all for now

Nigel