Reflections

This trip was varied and very interesting. Wendy had not been to many of the places in Victoria, so that was all very new and interesting, including the art galleries and museums! Greg had not visited them in ages, so he enjoyed it as well. 

The temperatures down south can vary dramatically during this period.  It can be very hot and in future we will go either before or after the real summer months. It can however, also be quite cold as experienced. We will certainly avoid the school holiday period and Australia Day holiday as it is just too crowded and exceptionally noisy. 

On the home front, it is probably not a good idea to be away from home for too long during the rainy season as the place just turns into a jungle, despite the best efforts from the neighbours and the kangaroos.  About four weeks away would be about right. 

Notwithstanding all that, we had a fantastic nine weeks trekking around the country. 

Day 66: Thu 22 Feb – Dalby to Hippo Farm

Very humid with light to really heavy rain all day 

We were up bright and early at 6am as we are a bit state-lagged. We were on the road by 7:10am and stopped for fuel and coffee in Kingaroy. It was then a straight forward run home, apart from the torrential rain that came down in places. We noticed a lot of water in the gutters and the closer we got to home, the more water there was. When we checked the rain gauge, we’d received a little over 300mm (not counting evaporation) in the nine weeks we’ve been away.  And, it didn’t stop just because we were home; after lunch, and in between downpours, we unloaded the van, put it all away where it should be. 

The place looks like a jungle; the kangaroos have simply not been doing their job very well. Thanks to our neighbours, Terry and Leandra, for mowing around the house and keeping a general eye on the place. In keeping with the Thursday night tradition, we went to the Torbanlea pub for dinner with Sue and Mark.  Greg had the Barra and Wendy had a huge steak that was cooked to perfection. Nice to be home! 

Total km = 5799

Total km towing = 5059 

Pano of Hippo Farm looking a bit jungle-like

Day 65: Wed 21 Feb – Gilgandra to Dalby

Drive: 648 km

16-32 degC 

After a wild and windy night, we had breakfast early and were on the road by 8:20am NSW time (7:20am QLD).  We made good time to Coonabarabran where we stopped for fuel and then mornos was between Coonabarabran and Narrabri at a road side stop just off the highway.  Lunch was eaten just north of Moree in another road side stop. 

The road got considerably wobbly (downright awful) from Moree onwards and didn’t get better until just before Dalby. We also noted a lot of water in the gutters beside the road and in the fields/paddocks. Again, we were looking for a free camp and had identified one just south of Dalby.  However, as we approached the location, the amount of water increased and we did not know what the road was like getting into the place, and even if the camp ground would be solid enough. So, on we drove to Dalby.  It had also started to rain by this time, so we made the decision to not free camp and booked into the Dalby Tourist Park where we have stayed before.  We have a drive thru site on solid bitumen and all is well.  The Myall Creek is quite full and we hope there is no more rain upstream as we may be in a spot of trouble.

Very swollen Myall Creek adjacent to the caravan park in Dalby

Myall Creek under the bridge

Site #D2 Dalby Tourist Park

Day 64: Tue 20 Feb – Denhams Beach to Gilgandra

Drive: 606 km

14-28 degC 

An earlier start to the day than usual – 6:15am!! There was a break in the weather and Greg wanted to pack up as much, eg. bicycles, before the rain started again.  Breakfast was had soon after and we were on our way by 8:40am. We had nowhere particular in mind for our next stop, but thought that about 500 km would be a good idea given that we want to be home ASAP.  

Mornos was had in Braidwood, made in the van – no bakery items were consumed!  We made them to-go and continued onwards to Canberra, Yass and had lunch in Boorowa. Onwards through Cowra (fuel stop), Canowindra, Wellington, Dubbo, and finally stopped at Gilgandra.  We had been looking for free camps between Dubbo and Gilgandra but found none on WikiCamps.  We did see a number of possibly suitable sites off the side of the road, however, we didn’t want to be the only ones there, for security reasons. So, we opted for the Gilgandra Caravan Park.  We were checked in by 6pm and set up on site #32 by 6:30pm. A quick walk into town to stretch the legs was in order before dinner. 

The drive was mostly on good roads, with a few exceptions. We had a fantastic tail wind for most of the day, that continued well through the night. Winds of up to 35 km/h during the day, but down to 18 km/h during the night (supposedly). 

Thriving metropolis of Gilgandra

Royal Hotel Gilgandra

War tribute statue at Gilgandra

Gilgandra War Memorial

Gilgandra Town Clock

Gilgandra Services Wall

Site #32 Gilgandra Caravan Park

Ready to leave our free camp at Denhams Beach

Mornos stop at Braidwood

Day 63: Mon 19 Feb – Denhams Beach

Cool and raining 

We really wanted to go for a ride, however, it rained!!  And didn’t really stop raining all day. What a shame. So, the day was spent catching up with admin. 

Day 62: Sun 18 Feb – Denhams Beach

Quite warm 

Quite an early start considering the night before. We met back at the venue, where a number of people were staying, for breakfast. We rode down, but not sure that Wendy should have been on the bike, not even on foot. Thank goodness there were no RBTs.  We had already had breakfast so just sat with everyone and chatted.  It was then back home and down to the beach for a swim. Lunch on the back deck was fish and chips and then everyone left to go home.  A quiet night was had.

Denhams Beach

On the beach

Corellas on the lawn

Day 61: Sat 17 Feb – Denhams Beach

17-28 degC, humid 

Had breakfast then went for a ride up and down the hills of Sunshine Bay and North Batemans Bay. The rest of the day was spent preparing for the big night, including decorating the tables and surrounds at the venue – Corrigans Cove Resort.  We had hired the entire venue, which could probably have at least 80-100 persons, for 30 plus a three-person jazz band!  Needless to say, we had a nice amount of room.  

Whilst Wendy had spent countless hours dealing with management in preparing the food and drinks menu, Samantha and Suzanne organised the decorations, and did a fantastic job.  Place names were done using ribbon in a “dymo” type machine and then tied to small glass bottles filled with gold threads.  The whole theme was of course, GOLD!  Wendy had also developed a photobook titled “50 years Condensed” and had photos from many different periods from their engagement to wedding, to various places we have lived both here in Australia and Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.  That book was placed next to the cake a friend had kindly made. 

The menu was:

-          Roast beef with rosemary and garlic accompanied by a redcurrant jelly

-          Roast lamb with garlic oregano and fresh lemon

-          Chicken stroganoff with rice

-          Fresh garden salad

-          Greek salad with lemon and herb dressing

-          Slow roasted potato and sweet potato mix

-          Fresh seasonal vegetables

-          Sticky date pudding with caramel sauce and ice cream

-          Crème brûlée 

We had some lovely wines and sparkling to wash it all down with. 

A great night was had by all, and we were home in bed by 11pm. 

Table setting

Seating place names

Venue

Greg, Jenny, Jan, Bob, Alice

Samantha, Kevin, Jeanette, Ray, Heather, Bruce

Pat, Rob, Tinkie, Jo, Mike, Shelley

Suzanne, Nigel, Jenny, Frederick, Carol, Dale

Ben, Henry, James, Carla, Jemima, Joanna

Tinkie giving her speech with lovely colours in the sky

Table decorations

The original five: Dale, Mum, Dad, Wendy, Kevin

Family expands: Dale & Suzanne; Wendy & Greg; Dad & Mum; Kevin & Samantha

But wait, there’s more!: Dale, Ben, James, Suzanne, Wendy, Henry, Greg, Dad, Jemima, Carla, Kevin, Mum, Samantha, Joanna

Day 60: Fri 16 Feb – Denhams Beach

18-22 degC 

A bit of a nothing day again today.  Walking, riding, eating, chatting, have hair done, shopping and catching up with cousins who had come from Auckland and Brisbane. 

Day 59: Thu 15 Feb – Denhams Beach

17-33 degC 

After a quick 5 km walk and breakfast, it was time to pick up Rob and Tinkie’s 50^th Wedding Anniversary present/surprise. Between the three of us kids, we had paid for R&T’s old-time family friend and farming neighbour, Patricia, to fly from Zimbabwe to be with us for the function.  So, she flew from Harare to Johannesburg to Doha to Sydney to Canberra, was met at the Cbr airport by Kevin and Dale and driven to Braidwood by Kevin. Braidwood is halfway between Cbr and Batemans Bay, and we met them there and drove her home.  

By the time we got home, our other friends, Jenny and Nigel had also arrived.  As R&T had no idea Pat was coming, we had to sneak her down the veranda to the back deck.  Greg was filming the event and Tinkie was quite confused by this, but when she saw Pat, she almost had a coronary she was so excited. It was quite an emotional time.  By this time Pat had been travelling for almost two days and how she kept her eyes open we’ll never know.  Lunch was had and then an LLD.

The rest of the day was spent catching up with Pat. Dinner was at our favourite Indian restaurant that has moved to a waterfront setting and it was quite speccy.  Food was good as was the company; R&T, Jen & Nige and Pat.

Pat and Rob

Tinkie and Pat

Batemans Bay, early evening

Our dinner

Day 58: Wed 14 Feb – Denhams Beach

16-40 degC (quite warm!) 

Another hills ride, this time some at the back of where we are staying and others on the northside of BB. The northside hills are a lot more challenging than those on this side. 

Whilst Wendy went with Tinkie to a Ladies lunch in Mogo, Greg continued with his tasks in the B&B room.

Wendy’s Valentine gift from Greg

Batemans Bay jetty, early morning

Day 57: Tue 13 Feb – Denhams Beach

Overcast and rainy most of the day 

Wendy went for a walk whilst Greg did a shorter barefoot walk before applying a second coat of paint.  He then started on installing a TV aerial point together with a power point.  This took quite a bit of crawling under the house to find the correct wires and then feeding them up into the wall cavities.  Whilst we couldn’t hear too many bad words coming out of mouths, we are sure they were said very quietly or in their heads!!  Greg discovered an old coax joiner was faulty, so he replaced that and bingo!, managed to get the smart TV to tune and we were all happy then.

Day 56: Mon 12 Feb – Denhams Beach

Cool with light rain in the evening 

After a blood warming morning ride in the hills, we had mornos at home for a change. Greg then got stuck into the painting of the door frame in the AirB&B room, and Wendy did some domestic chores. 

Another day of not doing that much.

Day 55: Sun 11 Feb – Denhams Beach

18-24 degC 

Greg walked to Church whilst Wendy completed more domestic duties before having a cuppa and a relaxing read.  Lunch came and went, with no rest period. Greg rode to Bunnings to get some keys cut and then into town as Bunnings did not have the correct blank, but they were just closing up.  There is always tomorrow. 

Not much more to tell really.  

Day 54: Sat 10 Feb – Denhams Beach

Cool to warm and muggy with a light rain in the evening 

After a hot, cooked breakfast we set off on the bikes to ride the hills of Batemans Bay.  Whilst we have ridden most days since leaving DB, we have not had real hills until we got to Eden, but we were only there for two nights.  So, whilst we both huffed and puffed a bit (Wendy more than Greg), we both really enjoyed the ride as it got the blood flowing.  We went across the bridge to North BB and then back into town to meet Rob and Tinkie for mornos.  We had coffee at a health food shop and one of the cakes on offer was a beetroot and cacao, so Wendy just had to try that one.  She was given a recipe some time ago, but never made it as she wasn’t too sure about the concept of having beetroot in a cake.  However, it wasn’t too bad, tasted earthy, but not something we’d have every day. We then rode home. 

Lunch was the usual salad on the back deck with Rob and Tinkie, followed by a rest period. Greg is reading 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and has not been able to put it down. Wendy got it from Santa for Christmas and also enjoyed reading it. After the rest period, we investigated the suspected leak.  We have a magazine rack on the shower wall and thought the leak may have been coming from somewhere there – perhaps one of the screws holding the rack up had punctured one of the water pipes.  Just how we were going to see inside the wall was another matter. Anyway, after removing the rack we were pleasantly surprised to find a neatly cut square in the wall especially designed to get access to the water pipes!! So, whilst Greg observed the fittings, Wendy turned the tap on and lo and behold out came a very fine jet of water from a tiny hole in the brass fitting that directs the mixed water to the shower rose. So, even though it was a fine stream, it continued after the tap was closed as there was still water in shower rose hose. That was why the seating was so wet.  Greg was about to head off to Bunnings to buy a new connector when Rob suggested we just solder it, so that’s what we did. Before reassembling everything, we applied a lot of sealant to negate any other potential leaks and left it to dry.  Will try the shower tomorrow. 

The offending brass fitting and hole in the wall

behind the magazine rack

Batemans Bay, behind the fish & chip shop

Batemans Bay harbour

View from the bridge

Day 53: Fri 9 Feb – Eden to Denhams Beach

 Drive: 202 km

Coolish, with a bit of rain in DB 

Not a lot to say for today. We were on the road by 9:15am, heading for our second “home”, Denhams Beach.  We stopped on the side of the road near Quaama for mornos, and then continued.  Arrived in DB about 12:45pm, reversed the van into the driveway in one go (well done Greg), set up, made lunch and had it with mum and dad on the back deck.  It was then LLD time and we both went out like lights for at least an hour! 

We went out to dinner (again) with mum, dad and Jan and Bob (close friends of mum and dad’s) to a Chinese restaurant at Malua Bay Club. The meals were all very nice however, the noise was deafening.  It wasn’t just the lady on the microphone announcing the raffle winners, but more the noise from the people.  They need some noise dampeners on their ceiling we think.  Only got to bed just before 11pm. 

Just before we left Eden, we discovered the seating immediately adjacent to the shower was wet and had no idea from whence it came. So, to be sure we both used the shower in the house, with the intent of investigating the issue in the morning.

The beach this morning

Mornos stop

Day 52: Thu 8 Feb – Eden

 19-28 degC, windy 

We didn’t sleep in for quite as long this morning, so after breakfast we left, on the bikes, about 9am to play tourist. First stop, after a monster climb, was the Eden Killer Whale Museum.  Amongst the exhibits was Old Tom who allegedly assisted the whalers by summonsing them every time he and his pod “cornered” a whale.  The whalers would then go out to sea, harpoon the said whale, wait for the “killers” to eat the juiciest parts – the lip and tongue, then bring the whale into shore for processing.  Legend has it that the “killers” and the whalers worked in a symbiotic arrangement. Museums like this are always sad in that it depicts what us humans can and will do to other creatures, for our own benefit. 

Anyway, after that somewhat sombre experience it was down a different MONSTER hill that even Greg had to apply his brakes, for a coffee at the wharf precinct. And, what goes down must surely go back up again. Yep, another climb was in store for us to get to the Eden Lookout and Rotary Park which had the Fishermen / Mariners Memorial and the Marine Rescue nearby. 

Unfortunately, to get back into town, we had to go downhill and then up a very big hill; Greg made it all the way, Wendy 4/5 of the way.  We spent a few minutes exploring the centre of Eden before heading home for lunch and a rest. The ride down the hill to the van park was the best. 

The afternoon was spent driving to various beaches, then resting before dinner.  Dinner was in the centre of town, so a hike up the hill sharpened the appetite nicely. We decided on the Eden Fishermen’s Recreation Club as our venue for Thursday night eat out.  It had an all-you-can-eat-buffet for $21 each, including seafood.  Greg reckoned he certainly got his money’s worth.  We both had dessert as well, something we hardly ever do, but it was included and it was good.  All washed down with a very respectable Marlborough SB – 821 South.  The walk home (mainly downhill) settled the stomach contents nicely.  A read and a spot of blogging before bed.

Ave Maria Grotto, Eden

Pano of Ave Maria Grotto and surrounds

Skeleton of Old Tom, a killer whale

An old whaling boat

Size comparisons

A sun valve, first iteration of automated lighthouse

Pano from the Eden lookout

Pano of Corcora Beach and Snug Cove beyond

View of Calle Calle Bay

Rugged coastline

Eden War Memorial

Mary MacKillop Hall, Eden

Ave Maria Grotto, Eden

Mariner / fishermen memorial

Snug Cove and Eden Wharf precinct

Old hotel made to look new, Eden