Hervey Bay

The end of another lovely day at Hervey Bay.

Recovering

This is the best way to recover from a few busy days on Fraser Island.

A few days at Hervey Bay. Very peaceful.

Knifeblade Sandblow

Maheno Shipwreck

Fraser Island was amazing but pretty tiring. Lots of soft sand driving, steering clear of the dingoes and incredible scenery. Didn't get bogged.

Now, where was I?

That was destabilising! I have just completed my first return to my previous life for a few days and it felt very peculiar. Alison's Dad Barry flew up to meet us at the Gold Coast Airport and I in turn flew down to Gerringong for a few days to keep in touch with my practice and read my mail and do some other very important things or something like that. It was lovely to catch up with Mum and Dad who looked after me very well.

Anyway, Gerringong has not changed much in our absence. Surprise,  surprise. It is still the fantastic place it was when we left. If I had any doubts about where we lived, and the life we live, then travelling around Australia has put those doubts to bed. First objective accomplished. 

Now, where was I? 

Wet N' Wild

Australia Zoo

Mooloolaba Beach

Right back into the groove. Enjoying Queensland. Off to Fraser Island in the next few days and then further on up the coast as we move further away from home. 

I have to admit it...

I recall sitting in Mr Quine's Year 5 Class at Gerringong Public School back in the 1970's chatting with Oyster, Wizard, Sharpie and Axeman about what we would like to do when we grew up. I know we should have been concentrating on Maths or Comprehension or something important but the topic seemed compelling. Anyway, in my wildest dreams, I came up with Professional Surfing as my chosen career path. Well...

I have to admit it...  this was a misguided choice as they often are. This is not the first time I have realised this by the way, but our current tour has sealed the deal. I am hopeless and I need to face facts that I am going to have to retire. I had visions of me clambering over the sand dunes or out to the nearest point break every morning as we travelled the coastline of this marvellous country. This was obviously some sort of perverse fantasy and the board has come off the roof maybe three times and when it has, it has not been pretty. Give it up for goodness sake and put that dream to bed.

Despite the fact that the surfing has not been a big part of this advcnture , we have continued to enjoy ourselves, finding plenty of alternative activities. We stayed at Grafton for one week and really enjoyed the side trips including Yamba, Maclean, the Yuraygir National Park and the Nymboida River. The rapids on the Nymboida provided us with some of the funniest moments of the trip. The kids favourite was seeing their mother stranded on a rock after negotiating a challenging set of rapids.

One minute she was happily watching her family from a safe place.

The next , struggling to stay afloat.

Before becoming stranded on a rock in fits of laughter or rage or despair or whatever that was. The kids were definitely laughing. I am wise enough to suppress my desire to crack up in these uncertain moments.

The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Charlie and I even had the chance to get the Paddle Board on the Clarence confirming my fears that my surfing career is over.

We also enjoyed the Grafton pool and water slide where I was able to demonstrate to the kids the skills required to win the Gak Alexander Memorial Turkey Dive 2 years running.

We are now enjoying a few days in Alstonville where we are touring around the Northern Rivers district. Have managed Byron Bay, Lennox Head and Ballina today while yesterday we popped into Nimbin. What is that all about? 

 Off to Nightcap National Park and Bangalow tomorrow.

Give in to the force.

The force is too strong, I must give in. Yes, my desires to camp in bush camps by the beach have been worn down by a superior force. The Dark Side does not share my joy of being encrusted in salt as I retire to bed after a successful day at the beach. Oh no, sand and salt are apparently not welcome in the bed. Showers at the end of each day are a key part of life. A compromise must be reached .

The compromise is establishing a base in civilisation, not too far from a beach or waterhole so we can enjoy the pleasures of these places and return at night to the comforts of home. It seems to be working.

Dangar Falls near Dorrigo

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Skywalk at Dorrigo

Ready for a swim in the river at Bellingen

Pebbly Beach in the Yuraygir National Park north of Coffs Harbour.
Where I wanted to camp. At least we were able to visit and enjoy this really special place. 

Station Creek, also in the Yuraygir NP.

We travelled from South West Rocks to Bellingen for Easter so we could get away from the throng on the coast. This was a masterstroke ( yes, by me) as we found Bellingen to be uncrowded and a really lovely, if wet place. It even passed the " could you live here?" test. It was a pretty chilled time and Alison and I even managed to sneak out for dinner one night with Ruby as our baby sitter. Thanks Roobs. Towards the end of our stay, Charlie and Ella expressed the symptoms of  a viral challenge which they have fortunately moved on from and the rest of us have so far avoided. 

Our new base is Grafton which has allowed us to explore the Yuraygir NP. Over the next few days we plan to visit Yamba, Maclean and the waterholes and waterfalls around Nymboida. Grafton has surprised us with the mighty Clarence River and beautiful architecture. Our caravan park is the best yet and while I bag the Dark Side for their need for comfort, I have to admit to beginning to soften to it's evil allure.