Trucks, Tree Tops, and Bloody Stop Lights

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Geo: -32.9272, 151.776

Left Kiama at 9am, with Marie driving, okay so we went from the M1 to the A7 then back to the Mi. Driving through the Blue Mountains was not bad, but trucks, my god I have never seen so many in my life. The Blue Mountains were beautiful and we were so high it was amazing looking down on the tree tops. I managed a few glimpses, when trucks were not passing me.

After I managed to get past Sydney, dodging the centre we came upon 16 traffic lights, most of them red that I became quite inept at changing gears and sick to death of them. We have a friend who told us it was the best way to go and only 10 sets of lights. Wait till we see him again.

We then came upon the sign for the Australian Reptile Park, Mick said if you want to see it turn, because we will not be coming back to see it. So we ended up having a wonderful expereince at the Reptile Park, we were among a group of school children, Mick was glad he was not one of the teachers. One hour and we made lunch in the van then left for Newcastle.

At 3pm we arrived in Newcastle I once again hit every red light there was and no where to pull up until we had gone right through to the port. Every street narrow and difficult to get into, we saw the information centre but could not get to it. It was a jungle of buildings, lights and traffic.

We stopped at the port and Mick suggested he drive while I get the information to get us to a caravan park. Sounded good, so on my IPhone I found a caravan park and directed Mick, rather she directed were to go. Good one, we ended up in Lipton (something like that) in a street with no caravan park, but a closed down RSL. We hopped out and sat in the van, looked at maps on our IPad and IPhone.

Try again, all I wanted to do was get out of this place, did not care were, sick of the trucks and lights. Worse still Mick got green lights had a good run, except the directions my IPhone gave us which this time directed us to a Truck stop. Great!!

Mick finally found the Pacific Highway, I deleted the map on my IPhone and we arrived in Belmont on the coast a suburb of Newcastle, neither of us are going back to Newcastle.

The Spinnakers Leisure Park we spotted, so pulled in and have a drive through site with ensuite, thats all they had!! Finally something went right for us. It was about 5pm before we were set up. We will be here for a couple of days, to rest and have a look around.

The temperature today reached 27o

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Photos

Komodo Dragon
Only two years old and the handler had him over his shoulder.

Heaps of Turtles
The enclosures were well appointed

Galapagos Tortoise
Bowl of tucker 63 years old and can eat 30kg of food a day

Tasmanian Devil
He was inquisitive

Brologa
Mick can remember them nesting down the back of Mellee in Edenhope. Uncle Dave would never let the kids go near them unless he was with them.

One of the many sculptures
The entrance to the Reptile Park, a Frill Neck Lizard one of many in the park.

Comments

[Trevor]

Newcastle - we have been there 12 months ago.............what a croc having a Visitor Info centre you cannot pull up at. We, like you. gave up and drove through to a quiet place beyond the city centre. Keep up the Grey Nomad work and keep p
ushing for the Senior discounts.

[muzoconnor]

Thanks Trev at least we know it is not just us. Mick said he got all the green lights because his male. He wanted me to let you know. He also tried seniors card at the Reptile Park and here at the park, no luck.

[Mick]

Will not come back to Newcastle. Little ute suffering from sore gearbox and clutch. She did well though, eventually, for a girl.

[Anne Naismith]

Hello you 2. Looks you are having a great time. Hows the van and ute coping? All good here. I am going down to Queenscliff for a few days. The weather is supposed to be warm next week. Keep enjoying yourselves. Love Annie and John xx

[muzoconnor]

Good to hear from you Anne, we are enjoying ourselves the break has been good. You enjoy your time in Queenscliff, I think so long as you get away and do something different, it is important. Love you all