6th to 12th Nov. Coopernook to Laurieton-Dunbogan

        Thursday 6th
    Short trip to Laurieton this morning. We spent some time here in 1994 - 20 years ago - will enjoy catching up with friends again here. Driving through Laurieton on our way to Dunbogan van park, the town has gone forward big time, can't stop progress I guess, but it's no longer the sleepy little fishing village it used to be (not surprising really). Made our way to the van park and booked in for a week at $180.00. Couldn't wait to try my luck at fishing at the Fisho's wharf in the afternoon while Jim had a beer at the local pub. No luck with the fishing, but I had a ball. Jim met a few folk that he knew, but reckoned the Pub is not the same(not surprising again).


Koala near Van park at Dunbogan

     Taking the dogs for a late evening walk they reckoned there was something in the tree, yes, a Koala, only a few metres from the park and on a busy street corner.
     Watched it for while but it didn't do much. A thrill for me though and the pup's looked for it each walk for the next few days. It stayed in this tree for a couple of days and made it's way somewhere else over night.


      Friday 7th to Wednesday 12th
    
      We are having a lovely time in Dunbogan, catching up with friends in Laurieton, I am doing the tourist bit, catching up with all there is to bee seen. A few photos of the Camden Haven area.

Camden Haven River + North Brother Mt.

Dunbogan beach to Diamond head +
North Brother Mt. (Laurieton sits beneath
the mountain)

Early morning at Dunbogan on
Camden Haven river

Entrance through the sea walls
into Camden haven river

Grants beach to grants head
north of the river entrance

One of the locals at Camden haven river
with out going tide from lake flats



Jim and Vannessa
all good fun at Dunbogan

         There is so much beautiful scenery to be seen, I had forgotten how lovely the area is, these are only a few of the sights we enjoyed.
     We are moving house tomorrow to another van park on the other side of the river, on Queens lake, a bit quieter I think and the weekly rate is only $120.00, the fishing should be as good.
     Catch you later.


29th Oct to wed.5th Nov. Morisset & bulahdelah to Coopernook

              Wednesday 29th
     Taking the Sydney Newcastle freeway then on to the Pacific Highway we travelled to Morisset today. Did the necessary shopping and parked up at the Morisset showgrounds, at $20.00 per night we will be here for a couple days or so.
               Thursday 30th
     Went shopping (for fun) in town this morning and did the house work. Found a lovely pet shop while waiting for the washing at the Laundromat, they had birds of so many colours and varieties,  I have never imagined, and long haired rabbits, tropical fish, puppies and so much to look at, I had a pleasurable few minutes admiring the stock.
               
                             Friday 31st


Me at Bardens bay
Lake Macquarie

     

     Took the pup's in the Jimny for a drive out to lake Macquarie, its a huge inland salt water lake, connected to the sea. A kind local took this photo of me with the lake in the background.




              Saturday 1st November


Rainbow at Morisset

     A big market day here at the showground this morning, I had a look around and purchased a few things.  Spent some of the day preparing to travel tomorrow. The weather is not so good, with a  blustery wind and it turned into a bit of a thunderstorm this afternoon, lucky for us I had already put all the outside stuff away, including the awning before it blew too hard. Only lasted a little while and the sun came out again making a beautiful rainbow over Dilligaf

                            Sunday 2nd

         A couple of hours drive to Bulahdelah. When we arrived, there was a car show and markets on all weekend, some of the town is closed to traffic for the display.  We found the free camp at the bowling club where we stayed for the night. I walked up town to have a look at the cars on parade, man!! there were some fantastic vehicles. These 2 photos show only a few of them. I was taken with the old truck!


Car show at Bulahdelah

One of the oldies at car show Bulahdelah

     I visited the information centre while in town, got some handy maps and paid for 2 nights to park at the showground, powered sites are $17.00. We are set until Wednesday at this stage, will move the bus tomorrow morning.



              Monday 3rd & Tuesday 4th
     A bit cool on Monday morning, but should be a nice day even though it is cloudy. Tuesday much the same. A relaxing couple of days.

                                     Wednesday 5th


Tarbuck bay between Bulahdelah &
Forster

    

     We left Bulahdelah this morning heading for Coopernook, not too far up the scenic coast road. On the way we came across this lovely part of Wallis lake, called Tarbuck bay, the swans were an added bonus in the photo, there were 6 of them.





The sand bar entrance between
Forster and Tuncurry

     Arriving in Forster mid morning we stopped at the shopping centre to gather any larder items I needed, had some breakfast and continued. Over the bridge between Forster and Tuncurry, a magnificent sandbar and entrance to the lakes. Photo shows part of it. Forster/Tuncurry is much larger than expected, not a little seaside village at all.

About 20km out of Tuncurry we had a blow-out on the rear inside dual wheels. Bug - RRRR. Managed to find a road way to pull into and called a tyre repair company from Tuncurry to come out and fix it for us.
                                                            On to Coopernook. Found the pub, a great looking old building.

The Coopernook Hotel

   
     They allow fully self contained vehicles to park behind the hotel, just patronise the bar and or bistro, no problems there.

     The hotel is on the bank of the river, a pretty setting for a hotel. Not much else about here, a boat ramp, a few old cottages
 and the floating public pontoon. We are experiencing light rain with the odd lightning flash and thunder. Apparently Sydney and Newcastle are coping a fierce storm at present, hopefully it won't reach Coopernook.

     That's it for now, stayed tuned when we get to Laurieton.

             
    

24th to 28th Oct. North through Sydney to Brooklyn

          Friday 24th


Crossing the Shoalhaven river
north/east of Berry

    On our way north. Visiting friends in south Sydney, then through the city traffic to the other side of Sydney.

The ocean! first glimpse
out from Gerroa

     Leaving Berry  early we crossed over the Shoalhaven river , very picturesque in the  morning light.  We drove through many towns and it was nice to see the ocean again. The tree tunnel along 7 mile beach(where the trees met over the road forming a tunnel) before Gerroa,  was something new.

The traffic increased as we went further north.
    


View of Gerringong and beyond

 
      The road traversed through many quaint country towns and villages, small and large, Kiama, Port Kembla, Towradgi and Thirroul to name a few, with some fairly steep climbs and descents, looking back out the bus window the view was ever changing. When I could get a photo opportunity  through the houses and buildings hanging to the cliff face of some towns, I managed this one looking back toward Gerringong early in the trip.
    

     We continued our way up hill and down dale until we found a place to pull over for a rest at Coledale, a small cliff-side/beach-side town about 45km from our destination of Miainbar.


Sharkeys beach at Coledale

     The beach side park we were at is called Sharkey's beach, a long stretch of white sand and the surf is up.    We spent the night here.
     The puppies had some fun on the beach, getting covered in sand and salt from the waves I managed to get Yip in to while playing with Dot. Washed them off in a small creek flowing onto the beach which was fresh water and they relaxed by the bus to dry themselves.


Surfs up at Sharkeys
beach - Coledale

  

      One end of the beach looked a 'beaut fishing spot for the keen rock fisherman, but I denied myself the pleasure, Too lazy, I guess to find the fishing gear needed.

    

Sunrise at Sharkey's beach Coledale

              Saturday 25th
   
      What a way to spend a morning, frolicking along the beach at sunrise. Had small breakfast and we were on our way again, but not before I took this sunrise picture through the sea mist. 

    



     Just north of Coledale is a piece of road construction which needed to be seen to be believed. Only opened a few short years ago apparently, (about 2005).
                                               
                                                    The Seacliff Bridge.
     We have been travelling along the Grand Pacific Drive, (about 71km of scenic roadway from Wollongong to Stanwell Tops) when we passed over the bridge. It is 665m long and 40mtrs above the sea, connecting a safe passage between Clifton and Coalcliff. (apparently it was pretty dangerous with falling rocks and the like before this was built)


looking back at the Seacliff Bridge

Seacliff Bridge
Clifton to Coalcliff

                                                 

       A few pictures to show what it's like, it is quite a breath taking view!




Seacliff Bridge
looking back from Coalcliff

       Not too much further to go.  The drive through Stanwell Park area is lush ferns and forest, the temperature dropped while driving this part of the trip, cool in the shadow of green trees either side of the road.


Audley Weir

      Arrived in Miainbar early. Drove down a steep hill toward Port Hacking hoping to get close to the waters edge. Not so, narrow road with just enough room to turn around and go back up the hill and park on a bit of flat ground we found. This is where we will park for a couple of nights while we visit our friends here.

     We went to Audley weir for a couple of hours. Beautiful place to picnic, too busy for my liking. You can't do anything without a heavy wallet. Even wanted $11.00 for a day pass which allowed you to park your vehicle and use the grounds.

Art display on bus stop at Miainbar

    

         Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th we spent with our friends, catching up on 20 years. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend the weekend. Thanks to our great friends Kate and Steve. Thanks guys!!
                                                   This mural in the bus stop was on the other side of the road where we were parked. It is like a virtual life story of Miainbar in 2002. Well done!

             Monday 27th
     Only travelled for half an hour or so this morning, to Janalli to catch up with more old friends of Sydney. Spent the day with them, lovely to catch up. Can do without the city life style though, been there - done that and so happy to be doing what we are.

            Tuesday 28th



Hawkesbury river and Brooklyn bridge

     We departed Janalli early this morning to try and beat the Sydney peak traffic. (Ha - Ha)Refuelled Dilligaf and off we went - and went - and went. !!!!!!!!!     Two hours later we had travelled an enormous 40km. City driving!! you can keep it.  Jim was coping really well and had slipped into the hustle and bustle of city driving after a short distance, unlike me - and I was only the passenger!!
     70km from our departure in Janalli we came to Brooklyn and the Hawkesbury river. Only took us 3 hours to get here. Oh well, that's life, but I don't care if we never have to drive in city traffic again.
    

      We decided to stop here for the night, it is a delightful rest area on Deerubbin reserve.
 Jim and the puppies enjoyed a relax on the lawn in front of Dilligaf. A tiring sort of day but glad to be on the northern side of Sydney.
    


relaxing at Deerubbin reserve at
Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury river

     I Tried my hand at fishing earlier in the day, but the only bait I could muster was dog meat, but never mind that, I had fun and Yip and Dot waited with bated breath for me bring something in. (which never happened) Enjoyed the evening watching the fairy lights of the highway traffic.

    

    


     Another chapter in our trip has come to an end as we look forward to heading north again, away from the busy city and on to the next faze of our journey. North and catch up with more of our friends of 20 years ago. It's going to be fun. Catch you then.
    

18th to 23rd Oct Nowra and Berry

                    
                                              Saturday 18th


Bird life at Nowra

Nowra showgrounds grandstand

         

     We are at Nowra, at the Nowra showground camp ground. It  is very pretty and a large area to walk Dot and Yip. The bird life is neat and the buildings are all very ornate, as this photo of the grandstand shows.

 

     I spent some time at the Farmers Market this morning -  interesting. There are the meat and fish market, fruit and vegie market with all fresh produce. Purchased a few things. Also went to an Aldi store which I haven't been in before, a bit different to the supermarkets I am used to.

                   Sunday 19th


Hanging Rock - at the showground camp area Nowra.
Shoalhaven river - a long way down the cliff

     Driving around in the Jimny with Dot and Yip this morning, sight seeing.

     Visited the Shoalhaven zoo, didn't go in, but a nice setting for a zoo on the bank of the Shoalhaven river. There is a camping area here at the zoo, $10.00 per person per night and $2.00 for power. Really good rate and the camp is right on the Shoalhaven river, BUT!! no dogs allowed. Oh well! the showground camp is nice too!!



 A selection of the views we experienced while at Nowra and the show ground camping area.

Shoalhaven river and road bridge at Nowra

Dot and Yip at Nowra beside the
Shoalhaven river

    

      This photo of our puppies was taken from beside the Nowra golf club (which is behind me), and the Shoalhaven river behind Dot and Yip.

    A great way to spend a day on the golf course with views like this.

     We had a neat look around and a great day.





                        Monday 20th
     A change in the weather, it's misty rain today, not enough to be yukky, but a little damp, I guess we had to have some wet weather eventually. Just had a relax day.

                      Tuesday 21st
     Big move today.  - - -!!!
               About 15km to Berry. At the Berry showground, $24.00 p/n here, a bit cool as the day is rather overcast. Not to worry, I spent the day walking around and checking the village of Berry and walking the dogs around the suburbs.



The hotel at Berry, note the kangaroo in the surf
boat on the roof and the signs to everywhere

                      Wednesday 22nd
     

     The weather has healed and dawned a bright sunny day. A bit cool early but nice by mid morning.


     Walking around the town found some fun things like the surf boats on the roof of the hotel with the Kangaroo leaning in!!, and the sign post with distances to all places around the world from here.

     




Court house building coat of arms

     Another building is the court house, This coat of arms is on the front of the building, very special and nicely done.






Cane bike found in a store in berry on display

     And I found a funny piece of art in the entrance of one of the business'.  Not funny actually, as much, as very clever, a lot of work must have gone into this piece. The shop attendant couldn't tell me anything about it but didn't mind my taking a photo of it, A full size motor bike made of cane like weaving a basket but it's a motor bike.

     I had a fun couple of hours checking out the town, very up market. Lot's of eating places and speciality shops with all you need to decorate your home if you are a bit guppy-like, and clothing shops, very hippy-like. Not for me but interesting anyway. Also all the necessary shops, IGA, baker, butcher and such, all you need, plus.
   
     Berry is a neat little town, known as the town of trees. There are some lovely old trees lining most of the streets, in the business centre, as well as all around the suburbs. Don't know what most of them are, I only enjoyed them, some I have never seen before, flowering trees of all kinds.


2 passenger jets over Berry showground
(maybe Sydney to Melbourne?)

     The Berry showground has been around for some time, they are celebrating the 127th show in January 2015. A facility to be proud of with all  you need to run a very successful show each year. The camp ground takes up a small part of the overall property.

     I looked sky ward this afternoon to see these two jet trails in the sky. The day so clear and sky blue you could almost touch the planes as they passed over head.



                  Thursday 23rd

     Another glorious day.
     Had a show on at the camp today, Dairy cow competition. There were maybe 30 odd dairy cows here putting on their best for the owners, with 10 categories I was told, the competition was fierce, great morning had by all, I think.
     Another relaxing day, preparing to move on tomorrow. Filled Jimny with fuel and Jim loaded him back on the trailer.
     We have enjoyed our stay at Berry. Dot has had a ball  talking with other campers and Yip has taken the suburbs in her stride. She seems to have come to terms with suburbia and all the distractions there are. Sometimes she frets a little when confronted with something really big or noisy, but all in all is coping with domestic life well. Jim is going well, although I don't think Sydney is going to much for either of us it will be nice to catch up with our mates of long ago.
     That's my lot for now, catch you when we have departed Sydney I think, in a few days time.
             Chow for now.




14th to 17th Oct. Albert to Nowra

              Tuesday 14th
     Still pretty cool this morning, have to keep moving.
     Travelled 320 km today, a long one, going through some little towns on the way, such as Trangie, (a small one) Narromine ( a little bigger) Wellington (bigger again) and took a rest at a roadside rest area 32km north of Wellington (another big one). It's raining and darned cold so carried on after a while to Molong, a neat looking town where we stopped at the Molong caravan park for the night with a powered site at $20.50 per night, so that we could have the heater going, Man it's cold!!

               Wednesday 15th


Molong main street with the
old hotel on the right 

     The rain has eased but it is cold again this morning with frost on the grass!! Not so nice walking Dot and Yip this morning and Dot was complaining a little, but Yip didn't seem to care. Nice inside the bus though.


Molong Catholic Church
Beautiful building

     I took a couple of walks during the day and took some neat photo's of the beautiful buildings in town and around. One of the nice things I spied is all the Poplar Trees in town, I haven't seen them in ages and was impressed, as I was with the whole town really, It is a pretty and oh so green town with the Molong river running through, clean and cold.

St Paul's Church at Blayney

               Thursday 16th
      From Molong we passed through Orange, a practise run for the pilot at city street driving for when we get to Sydney, he said it was easy enough!, then on to Blayney where we found another neat church building, this time St Paul's Church,  lovely!



Canola crop on way to Cowra

Going through lots of little towns along the way - Millthorpe was pretty with an avenue of trees over the road we passed along, on to Linhurst, with lovely green pastures along the way and a crop I had never seen before, Canola, a vista of yellow to behold.

     On to Cowra we went with grain crops on the farm land, also stock - sheep and Cattle - the crops being canola, as I mentioned, along with wheat and I'm not sure what else. Nice to see the Poplar trees and weeping willows every where.
    


Boorowa Hotel

     On to Boorowa, stopping for few minutes rest to admire the buildings again such as the Hotel.  Further along in the paddocks I saw a flock of sheep, the ones with black faces but amongst them where a few completely black ones, not a lot of them about and they where easy to spot being  a bit different.




On to Yass over the Hume Highway
nice farmland  here

       As we got nearer to Yass ( our destination for today) the traffic got a bit heavier, must be in the  vicinity of the big smoke (cities). We headed along the Yass Valley road and in to Yass after going over the Hume highway (with all the traffic going to the big city of Canberra), I guess.  We spent the night at the Yass show ground camping area, only $20.00 a night.


Friday 17th
     A cold night in Yass!! heading closer to the coast today to Nowra.
        We travelled through neat places again on our way, one was Fitzroy falls with a large reservoir suitable for a sailing club to be present. We stopped for a short time, the puppies weren't allowed to be there so we went on.


The bridge entering
Kangaroo Valley

     Next was Kangaroo Valley - really pretty little place, looks cold though. The approach bridge was something special,  one lane.
     There was no way we could find a park big enough for the bus, so we kept going.
     We had wound our way down the very steep hill into the valley then we wind our way up the  hill then down again toward Nowra.

      The road was pretty narrow, steep and windy, there were warnings to be aware of passing trucks on the corners, heaps of U-bends. The bus brake pads were smokin' - nearly.      Great views though.

One of the many
U-bends on the hill down
to Nowra

Kangaroo valley to Nowra
view out bus window





Once we got to the bottom we were almost in Nowra, only a little way to go. We found the Information centre and arranged to camp at the Nowra showground camp site for the next 4 nights at $28.00 a night. A bit pricey as the facilities only provide toilets, no showers, but Caravan parks are very expensive and crowded. The show ground is very pretty area over looking the Shoal haven river and not crowded at all.

 

So, that's where we are at the moment. Having a relax 'til early next week when we will make our way to Sydney. That should be fun. See you then with more photo's.

4th to 13th October Cobar to Albert (the heart of N.S.W)

    Saturday 4th

Metal worker at Gilgunnia
rest area

     Heading south still.
          Came across this little rest area at Gilgunnia, 40 km south of Cobar where we stopped for time out, just a quirky thing I found and had to photograph.



The Royal Hotel at
Mount Hope

     We continued to Mount Hope where we spent the night out the back of the Hotel. Nothing here, just the pub and a couple private houses, and some empty places too, (some of them quite neat looking).
     While here, a group of Ulysses bike riders called in for lunch, about 35 of them, which made for a busy time for the couple of attendants in the pub.

                  Sunday 5th
          
     Daylight saving started today in N.S.W. so have adjusted our clocks forward by 1 hour.

Kalinga station homestead and family

    

     We are calling in to stay with some friends at Condobolin today. They have a mixed farm, actually 47 km west of Condobolin, with sheep, cattle and crops, so should be an interesting few days. Have been invited to their grandsons first birthday party this afternoon with a pig on the spit, what an opportunistic time to visit eh?

     Hopefully we will stay a few days catching up with them.



                Thursday 9th


Gum Bend Lake Condobolin

    We had a relaxing time at Kalinga but time to move on.

     Not far today, only into Condobolin to restock, then 3km from town to a man made lake called Gum Bend Lake where there is a free camp.



Dot & Yip on the Lachlan river bank
looking at the Carp in the water

     What a beautiful place. The local people should be very proud of this facility, there are free B.B.Q's, picnic tables, boat ramp and nice green manicured lawn all around the lake, plenty of room for camping and day trips, I believe there may be fish to be caught as well.
     The Lachlan river runs fairly close by too and should be good fishing I reckon. It is full of Carp though, we saw them by this tree in the river, where Dot and Yip where intrigued with the sight of them swimming on the surface of the water, seemingly gasping for air, (they are a declared pest in fresh water ways and should be destroyed if caught while fishing). Dot and Yip managed to have a swim in the river while we where here for 2 days.
     A lovely interlude in our travels.


           Saturday 11th
     Travelled a short distance to Trundle. Camped the night at the local showground.  What a neat town. it was like taking a step back in time. I wandered around taking photos which I have for you to see.


Restored Movie theatre (closed)

Trundle Hotel (longest hotel veranda
in NSW at 87.6mtrs

Trundle Motors (still in business)








Ring neck parrot at Trundle

     The bird life is pretty neat too! I managed to get this photo before it flew away. It is a ring neck parrot, there was a pair of them feeding on the grass seed here.


Another great place we have managed to explore on our trip planner and enjoyed.

                                   Sunday 12th
 
                                    To Albert today.
     
       Drove through Tullamore about 60km from Trundle. This town, with a population of about 500, is very Irish orientated.

Tullamore Hotel

    

     It seems to have everything you need in the way of business' and, as in all outback towns, has the pub. this one is no exception with a beaut' old building form 1919.  The café come museum is very interesting although we didn't spend a lot of time here it looks like another neat little town.
   



     Onwards to Albert!
 Now there ain't much here either!!


The Rabbit Trap Hotel in Albert

   

    The Rabbit Trap Hotel complete with caravan park, has powered sites for $10.00 per night, a fuel depot with the cheapest fuel we have come across for some time, diesel was only 1.50 per litre, a church and private houses.    
     We settled in for couple of nights.






Religious Home in Albert!
(maybe not!!)

     On walking with the puppies around the streets I found that there was, once, maybe three churches here. One is obviously in use, another is just empty and kind of falling to pieces, but then I came across this one which seems to be privately owned and occupied. Just sort of says it all I reckon, what do you think? no offence intended I'm sure.


Double Decker bus outside the
town of Albert

   
     Out beside the main road is this old double decker bus.
      Can't miss the town of Albert with this out the front!!
    It's an old Albion Ventura, the sign on the front of says "Glasgow to Sydney" Not sure if it made it to Sydney as it's about 300km short,  here at Albert.




Rabbit trappers hut at Albert

  

      This is how the rabbit trappers of the time took refuge from the elements. Not particularly comfortable I don't think, but I guess it did the job, some-where to cook a hot meal and roll out the swag for a sleep, the whole building is only about 3mtrs by 3mtrs.


     We had a bit of thunder storm tonight, not much rain, maybe enough to settle the dust for a while would be about all.

    Monday 13th
     Jim washed the bus today and we had a bit of clean-up. The weather has turned a bit shi&ty and it's pretty cold with a nasty wind coming form the Alps or somewhere, so have spent the day inside keeping warm.

    Another day tomorrow, catch you then.