1st March – 21st March
Sydney – Melbourne
So after six months hard work and living up the Sydney lifestyle we’re back on the road, living in a tent and embarking on our trip around Australia.
Total km covered so far = 1000, we haven’t even reached ‘B’ albums on the iPod and road kill so far is zero.
Highlight: Waking up to friendly wallabies outside our tent at Beachcomber Campsite on Potato Point
Lowlight: No surf (Si) / Simon being irate at lack of surf (Charl)
My parents arrived on the 1st March and we had a relaxed week around Manly sorting out our truck whilst mum and dad got used to the holiday lifestyle and sunshine. We were really lucky despite the worst summer in Sydney ever (probably) the sun appeared with my parents and stayed all week. The guys in Manly put on a great leaving BBQ for us – thanks Steve and Alex et al – and on the 8th March we left Sydney for a short weekend in the Blue Mountains. Monday was traumatic as I headed off with my mum to get Amy and Jamie from the airport and dad and Simon went to get the parent’s motormobile from different ends of the city – a stressful day all round but then we were truly on our way.
view from the flat with Charl's parent's over Manly Beach
The manly crew at our farewell barbie
Holiday cottage in Blackheath, Blue Mountains
yeah I know, another blue mountains scenic photo. we don't get bored of them though
Stop 1 – Booderee National Park (Jervis Bay)
Stayed at Green Patch campsite with resident possums, rosellas and kookaburras and all very civilised.
Jervis bay (we've already put a few pics up in a previous post )
Stop 2 – Potato Point, north of Narooma
This must be our favourite campsite so far – Beachcomber – full of tame wallabies, less tame but still there kangaroos, a monitor lizard, emus and scheming kookaburras. Staying practically on the beach, with roaring fires each evening it was great. Despite our best efforts a kookaburra flew off with a kebab from the bbq on the first night and stole some steak from on my fork a couple of nights later.
This must be our favourite campsite so far – Beachcomber – full of tame wallabies, less tame but still there kangaroos, a monitor lizard, emus and scheming kookaburras. Staying practically on the beach, with roaring fires each evening it was great. Despite our best efforts a kookaburra flew off with a kebab from the bbq on the first night and stole some steak from on my fork a couple of nights later.
Had a day out snorkelling with fur seals – very cool – but otherwise just enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Kangaroo's in the morning sun - Beachcomber
The view out to the beach
Practicing with Hand Winch - god help us if we ever need to use it
a new addition to the daily vehicle check - checking underside for wallabies before driving off
This little critter is a bush tailed possum - comes out after dark
one of our campmates
Seal colony - Narooma
a (collective noun?) of Pelicans at Narooma
Stop 3 – Mallacoota
Beautiful views over the inlet that Mallacoota is situated on, a plethora of Pelicans and a lack of fish despite our best attempts. All credit to Jamie who stuck with it but between us we just couldn’t catch a thing. Had a good chat here on one evening with a Ten Pound Pom who’s now a semi-grey nomad. The guy’s got acres of land, a quiet life, and spends a good few months of the year travelling about in his Patrol, camping. Simon’s tempted.
Pelican in Mid Landing at Mallacoota inlet
yes that's right - another pelican, at sunset this time
Fishing in the Mallacoota Inlet (unsuccesfully)
The worlds slowest hire boat
Stop 4 – Lakes Entrance
The site of the jumping pillow. 2nd highlight of the trip was the jumping pillow at this campsite (Eastern Beaches Caravan Park). We only managed to sneak on a for a little while as the selfish 3 - 8 year olds wouldn’t let us have a look in. We didn’t see that much at Lakes Entrance but Simon did trounce me at mini-golf and we spent one day carrying out emergency surgery to our fridge plug which someone (me) smashed in the car door. We are much better acquainted with some of the electrics in the truck now though.
The si and charl Oz Pro tour - Lakes Entrance. Simon 1 Charlotte 0
sunset over one of the lakes
We’re on our way into Melbourne where we’ll be saying goodbye to mum and dad, and proving to Amy and Jamie that there more to Australia than quiet country campsites (if we can manage to stay up later than 9 o’clock).
