Days 12 - 20 20th - 27th February 2013, Location: Near Port Macquarie

Well we are sitting out the wet weather on the farm. Hoping to move on when it clears up in a day or 2 so will update post when we move on.

Time for some dvd's and hot chocolate and a good book.

Well the sun finally came out and we were able to pack up and escape the wet weather.

Having no fixed agenda has been a bonus this last week being flooded in, what went from an overnight visit ended up being a 13 day stay instead.

After drying out the canvas and packing up on the 27th we headed south enroute to Dubbo, however due to the Oxley Highway being cut by flood meant we had to go via Raymond Terrace, so a quick call in at Taree to restock the pantry and fuel up the cruiser and Dubbo here we come.

Driving through Maitland was beautiful, amazed at how you driver through the middle of the cemetary. Would be a nice town to come back to and visit, lots of historical buildings here.

Poor Rena is missing her cousins already and the freedome of the farm. Have to make sure that we add some play stops in for her along the way.

Arrived at Cassillas Rest Area and set up camp for the night, nice bush outlook and has a pit toilet but is good for a free overnight camp.

Day 10 & 11, Monday & Tuesday 18th & 19th February 2013, Location: Near Port Macquarie

Still at the farm, hard to budge from such a beautiful location and such good company.

More walking around the farm, and relaxing. Batteries are well and truely recharged now. Rena has settled in really well.

Not much to report for these two days except we went in to Port again on Tuesday and James got his part for the Cruiser he was after and we all got our hairs cut. It is amazing how good you feel after a hair cut, didn't have time to do it before we left.

Rena posing with her new fringe

The last month before we left just was so hectic, no matter how well prepared you are there is always something that pops up that you have to deal with before you can leave.

Restocked the pantry and got Rena a milkshake. Bought the new Camps Australia 7 book, back to camp to work out our route south.

I will post some photos soon of where we are staying and you will understand why I say it is so relaxing and beautiful.

Keep watching the weather map, the wet weather we dodged in Queensland is going to come down this way, might have to move on soon to escape the weather or be flooded in and have to stay here a couple extra days.

Just as well we are on holidays and can stay as long as we are welcome. :)

Day 8 & 9, Saturday & Sunday 16th & 17th February 2013, Location: Near Port Macquarie

Saturday we slept in until 10 am. Very decadent indeed.

We went for another walk down to the river, and Rena and the other kids went for a paddle and threw some stones across the river.

Back up at the house, Rena went for another swim in the pool, whilst I chatted and caught up with my good friend.

James got asked to look at a Caravan, and he was great and got a number of things sorted out for them.

Relaxed alot today.

Sunday saw pretty much the same as Saturday, alot of relaxing for me, James however, went for a paddle down the river with the other adults.

After he got home from his paddle I asked him again if we could get our canoe and yay I get my canoe when we get to WA, I want a mad river canoe and they make them in WA. :) and not many stockists on the east coast and none willing to ship it over here for us, but now I get one wooohoo. :)

More relaxing and catching up and oh washing and trying to get clothes dry with the on and off again rain.

Day 7, Friday 15th February 2013, Location: Near Port Macquarie

starting to relax, each day we seem to be waking up a little later, it is so great not to have to get up at 5am each day to get ready for work. Could definately get use to this. Might have to buy a lotto ticket every now and then. But then that might upset the bosses a bit if we win and not come back to work, but we could live with that. (Hey one has to have a dream)

Today we went for a walk around the farm, and down to the river very beautiful country around here.

Very relaxing day catching up with good friends, and a quick trip in to Port Macquarie to get some supplies and try and track down a part for James for the cruiser.

Tonight we had a Pizza night with the neighbours, made me realise how much I miss living in the country and country people.

Haven't laughed so much in ages, and the wood fired pizza over made the meal even more enjoyable. Oh and the cheesecake for desert, mmm mmmm mmmmmm :)

Very late night, haven't had this much to drink in a very long time. :) That's what good company does, you don't realise how much you are drinking nor how late it is getting.

p.s. Rena is loving it here, she is getting along like a house on fire with the girls and is really enjoying the pool. She might not want to move on.

Day 6, Thursday 14th February, Location: Dumaresq Dam Recreation Area

Today we awoke to a very cool morning, jumpers straight on, and a reasonably quick pack up. Its cool up here in Armidale.

Off to find the dump point, then a quick stop at Big W to get Rena a bigger camp chair so that she can sit up at the table with us. (And James a Valentines day Rose cant forget him on this special day even if it was only small)

Enroute to Port Macquarie we called in to Tia Falls, what a beautiful hidden spot. Have to note this one and come back and camp here one day.

We had lunch then went on the Waterfall/Gorge walk and Rena was happily walking along talking about Dinosaurs, she definately is still into dino's.

The Tia Falls were running (could here them as soon as you pulled up in the car) will post photos if the usb stick allows. Then we went and walked up to the gorge lookout.

Mark this one to come back and do the long waterfall/Tia River walk, would take all day and would need your hiking boots and lots of water.

Back to the car and on the road again, was strange to see all the wild apple trees growing along the side of the road, pitty you couldnt stop and pick some but there wasnt anywhere safe to pull up.

We were about 10 klms away from our destination for the night and kept seeing these yellow road closed signs, but since I hadn't been down this way for almost 14 years I couldnt remember the name of the roads, so we kept going only to find that yep, we could not go forward, so back track, about 20klm plus to go around the bridge and finally arrive at our destination.

Ahhhh to be on a farm in the country again, good people, fresh air ahhhhhhhhh.

Day 5, Wednesday 13th February 2013, Location: Mann River Nature Reserve

Today slept in, well since we dont have a schedule I dont suppose you could call it a sleep in. Just got up when I wanted. Ahh the joys of not working. :)

Time to pack up camp and move on. Destination Armidale to restock the pantry and wash some clothes, yeah I know the boring stuff.

We found the laundromat easily, and bonus was that 2 doors up was I would have to say the best bakery Id visited in a long time.

Clothes in the machines, off we went and go ourselves some freshly made sandwiches, some treats and drinks and back to watch the machines go round and round.

After the visit to the laundromat it was time to find coles, James had fun finding a parking spot for the cruiser and camper, dont think that they cater for caravans or camper trailers much here in Armidale.

After the quick shop James did a fantastic job of getting the cruiser and camper out of a very tight car park, and off the Dumaresq Dam Recreation Area for the night.

Nice spot, very popular with the grey nomads, we went to camp next to a permanent resident but as he had his generator running we thought we would relocate to a quieter spot considering canvas doesn't do a good job at sound insulation.

Rena was very happy there was another girl here about 7 - 8 and they found each other straight away, along with the kids playground. Rena played for quiet some time. The other little girl is on her way around Australia too, only there stay here at the dam has been for 5 months now. (Hope that they get to follow their dream again soon.)

Nice dam, it is at times like this that I wish we had a canoe would have been nice to go for a spin around the dam. (Except for the white flying flies around sunset, were really thick).

Well very chilly tonight so will head indoors early tonight and update blog and catch up on emails.
(photos to follow soon)

Tomorrow off to Port Macquarie to catch up with family so will update blog in a couple of days.

Day 4, Tuesday 12th February 2013, Location: Mann River Nature Reserve

I will start by saying that my batteries are recharged and ready to move on.

This morning we awoke to be shrouded in mist, so no sunrise photo. However I did manage to get some photos of birds before Rena woke up. Once I process them in lightroom ill post them on here as I took them with my good camera and not Rena’s one.

After our neighbours just up the creek moved out this morning, we decided we would go for a walk and check out the creek up there and that campsite.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Photos taken and as I was taking one more this time of the mountain in the background when miss 4 year old decided that mum needed a heart starter for the morning. Just in the corner of my eye as taking the photo see little miss independent who was told not to go in the water, floating down the fast moving creek.

I went to try and grab her, but the rocks are like black ice, one wrong move and I could get rather wet and sore, just at this time with a lot of yelling at Rena going on, she managed to grab a rock on the other side and scramble out and sat on the rock on the other side. It wasn’t much distance but felt like a mile.

James to the rescue, he came back, jumped to the other side of the creek and came to Rena’s rescue. He carried her back to the right side of the creek.

Very sullen, she walked back to camp, I think little miss independent 4 year old might listen to mum and dad from now on when we say don’t go in the creek, it is really cold and stay out of the water.

Well one can live in hope J

From the little amount my feet got wet in the creek, it was like ice, so little Rena will take a while to warm up.

Back at camp enough excitement for one day. Miss 4 yr old very sullen and in need of some mummy hugs.
After dinner we had a little visitor to the camp, unfortunately for Rena she missed seeing it.

 

 

Day 3, Monday 11th February 2013, Location: Mann River Nature Reserve

Well the batteries must be starting to recharge the batteries as both James and my witt is starting to come back.

Day to sort out the camper all be it slowly. Cant rush these things.

Need to work out what I missed packing and do we really need it with what I have packed or missed.

Testing out the dream pot again and cooking a cake for the first time.

Rena is feeling being away from all her friends at day care. It is at times like this that a brother or sister could fill that gap of a playmate.

Hopefully next camp spot will have a few kids her age so that she can interact with them a bit and get some play time in. Not the same playing with mum and dad as it is with kids your own age.

I could see myself napping and reading a lot at this wonderfully peaceful relaxing spot, however as I have a very active 4 year old it just isn’t going to happen.

As the afternoon progressed Rena decided that she couldn’t stay out of the water any longer and decided that she was going to do some relaxing, photos explain it all. (will upload later)

We had another afternoon storm, and once again the afternoon and evening was a tad cool. Made me wonder if I hadn’t culled the winter clothing at my own expense. It was even cold enough for me to put my one and only jumper on. 

p.s. The cake turner out really well. So much so there is no photographic evidence of it, will have to take a photo next time.
(p.s. Photos to come when Net more user friendly)

Day 2, Sunday 10th February 2013, Location: Mann River Nature Reserve

Awoke to a beautiful morning the sun hidden behind the clouds, (so no sunrise photos today) the kookaburras serenading the day into existence.

It didn’t take long for the clouds to burn off and nature to move in, we had ducks visiting us and wallabies and kangaroos. The Rainbow lorikeets were up the trees above us happily feeding away.

Time to set up the shower. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Human Again!!!!! Clean and smelling like roses. Nothing beats a nice warm shower, (after all that work cleaning and packing the house up I wouldn’t let anyone use the showers at home so I didn’t have to clean them again, so 3 days without a shower only a bucket and washcloth hence the AHHHH shower moment). 

Thanks to my big brother Peter for suggesting this spot. Definitely a nice spot to come and set up camp and relax for a couple of days and recharge the batteries.

Really good camp sites, for all types of campers, if you were game enough to drive your Winnebago here they even have a spot for you. Mum and Dad you could bring your camper here too, nice flat spot, just waiting for you. Wink Wink, although I think you would much prefer Hastings Point Caravan Park so mum could swim in the surf. 

Took Rena for a walk and we checked out the creek will post some photos of our campsite and also of the River. Beautiful Spot!!
Will update photos when the net isnt being a pain in the ......

Day 1 Saturday 9th February 2013 - Location: Burpengary, Total distance travelled for day 506 klm

Well after months(well years) of planning, and weeks of packing and cleaning getting the house ready to rent out, we are finally on our way after a quick stop at North Lakes to buy a new DVD player (a must with the 4 yr old in back seat carrying on because our other one just died). 

Finally we hit the road (10.30am)

It was great to pass the Gold Coast and hit the tweed again, a beautiful place. We took a quick detour and rest break in to Pottsville and Hastings Point.

Sat on top of the headland and ate lunch whilst taking pictures and sending them to mum and dad for a bit of a stir as this is one of their favourite holiday spots.

On the road again, next stop Grafton for fuel and then on to Mann River.  Cant tell you much about the scenery between Pottsville and Grafton as I did a fair amount of snoozing. I think that the last couple of weeks has just about drained my batteries flat. 

The road from Grafton to Mann River is truly spectacular, the tree ferns were huge. The road very windy and one needs to keep your eyes on the road not the scenery. At one stage we were up in the clouds, which made it look even more gorgeous.

We arrived at Mann River Nature Reserve and found a nice spot right next to the river and set up camp. 

Early night tonight, batteries all around verging on empty and badly in need of a good nights sleep. (This was easy with the sounds of the river running, very relaxing noise.)