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Published: November 21st 2007
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Our visit to Nimbin.
A never to be forgotton experience. Our next stop was Ballina where we stayed on a caravan park which can only be reached by ferry, all very quaint but in exiting the ramp we managed to shere off the little caps which cover the stabilizing legs of the caravan. Oh well, back to square one where we used wooden blocks to do the same function.
From this area we ventured out to visit Byron Bay (on a cold misty day) Lennox Head, Mullumbimby, Lismore and Nimbin. All these places were well worth a mention but Nimbin will always stay in our minds. Some of you may have heard of it but for those like us who were innocent of all knowledge it was a real culture shock. Nimbin is the psychydelic hippy centre of Australia. It was like going back to the 60's with "make love - not war" and "ban the bomb" slogans everywhere. The hippies are mainly geriatric now but there obvious signs that there is a younger generation to take over when the older ones depart. The smell of funny cigarettes abounds and our friend was offered "magic mushrooms" on the street. Every other vehicle seemed to be a Kombi Van painted in the
Caravan Catering.
Our Melbourne Cup lunch - complete with a little flutter. flowers and star signs from that era. Since then we have asked various fellow travellers have they been to Nimbin, they just laugh out loud.
Next on to Coffs Harbour, staying at the Split Beach Holiday Park, definately the best park we have been to so far. The ammenities were clean and numerous, and I think if the washing lines could be put end to end they would have measured close to a quarter of a kilometer. Most parks offer laundry facilities but forget that you need a line to peg your washing out on. Maybe they think folk use tumble driers nowadays.
Day 1 saw us in the lovely clear pool, day 2, 3, 4 and 5 saw us almost swimming out of the caravan !!!! It rained in a downpour for 4 days and 4 nights, we were dry and cosy in the van but venturing out was a nightmare, clothes, shoes towels etc., all wet and no way to dry them off. When the nearby little river flooded we thought we would have to move, then at the last minute the level dropped and when the sun came out it dried up within hours.
We met up
Trevor tries out his new shoes.
Why does everyone call him bigfeet. with old friends Diane, Ted and Kate whom we originally made friends with 25 years ago in Sorrento, then they went back to the UK and we met up with them when we visited there. Now they are back in Australia and living in the most beautiful part of NSW called Bellingen. There is a huge river running, waterfalls everywhere and the countryside is lush and green.
They spent Melbourne Cup Day with us and Pat and I managed a little banquet from the kitchens of our caravans.
Pat visited the Doctor here and found the pain she had been experiencing in her foot was a broken bone, this was operated on within days and she is now in a bandage and big airboot, only managing to get around with crutches and a wheelchair. They have stayed on in Coffs for another 10 days to see the Doctor to see if they can continue or if they need to go back to W.A. immediately. We have moved on on our own and hope they will be catching up with us soon.
Leaving this area we had to travel from Bellingen, through Dorrigo and on to Armidale. Vertical is the word
Poor Pat.
John's new role as Nurse !!! I would use to describe the roads !!!!!!! The scenery was breathtaking, sheer drops off the side of the road, waterfalls, even travelling in the clouds at times but we feared our poor car would not make it especially towing a loaded caravan. However we did and gave the engine a well deserved rest before we carried on.
We are now in Tamworth, the country music capital of Australia and a very interesting place to visit. Definately a cowboy town with country music coming from every shop doorway. It is very quiet here right now but in January the whole place turns into a huge festival, THE place to be.
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