ValandDoug

We have been lucky with the weather .. while it was raining down south, we have had quite good weather. We had five nights at beautiful Agnes Water, a place we always enjoy .. lovely beach, good campside, a pleasant coffee shop on site, and within walking distance to the shops. The last couple of days a wind came up which was unpleasant but we spent our time chatting to the friendly campers there and generally being lazy. We found that one couple who we were talking to, just looking, and unable to get into the campsite this time, were from the street above us at home .. another 'small world' event this trip. We turned around and started for home once we'd left Agnes Water, wishing we could keep heading north. We had a night ... read more

From Byron Bay, we had a night on the Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise and then three nights at Tewantin. We caught up on all the Noosa things, Eumundi markets, the beach, the shops, and some nice time with Kenda and John. Now we are at Hervey Bay and today was magic. We were picked up after lunch and driven by bus to the boat to take us out to search for whales. We were taken about an hour out of the bay when we were told lunch was ready so we joined the queue to the food. I noticed that the lady about three in front of me seemed familiar .. it was schoolfriend and bridesmaid, Betty, doing the whalewatch tour with her Probus Club. What a surprise for us both. We spent the rest ... read more

We are back at Woolgoolga at our favourite beachside site .. unfortunately, though, for just one night, tomorrow we must move to a site further back. It is very nice sitting watching the waves and walking the beach. We spent our first night at Tuncurry, at a caravan park we haven't stayed at before but one we will stay at again. It was right on the water, where the river runs to the ocean, which meant a nice walk along the riverfront to start the day. Around Taree and Kempsey there is evidence of the heavy rain and local flooding they've had recently - quite boggy paddocks and full brown creeks. Once we reached Kempsey, we took the back road .. now quite bumpy due to the trucks from the roadworks for the new highway and ... read more

As we drove from Griffith, the huge paddocks continued as far as the eye could see - under cultivation and ready for wheat planting. Each town had the inevitable big silo and the spilt grain on the road brings all manner of birds - flocks of galahs, corellas, and rosellas that take to the air in a colourful cloud as we drive towards them. Small hills appeared, changing the flat landscape we’d had for a few days. We had lunch at Narrandera by the river, then decided to turn off the highway to have a look at Ariah Park - the sign ‘town of Bowsers, Wowsers and Pepper Trees’ had us intrigued. The main street was indeed lined with pepper trees and there were quite a few old petrol bowsers dotted along the footpaths. I suppose ... read more

We had a drive around Junee before leaving next morning, driving up to look at the old homestead of Monte Crisco, a large two-storeyed building with many sheds surrounding it. A lot of the land has been sold off, there are quite a few new streets and homes around it now. Our next stop was an interesting town called Coolamon, with old shops and wide main street. There was an old grocery store at the top of the street, built 1906, and with the original long counters, shelves and trolley rails for the money to be carried to the office up above. Nowadays, it's used as a hall by the locals - there were a couple of men unpacking antiques for an upcoming auction. We were in pretty countryside until Narrandera, (on the Murrumbidge River) but ... read more