Ross’s son Ben and his family spent the day with us at the beach. Ross body surfing Daniel on the boogie board Kandyce on the boogie board Harrison on the boogie board Ben on the boogie board Daniel boogie boarding with the GoPro mounted on the boogie board Ross and Barb went for a long walk and then took Daniel to the surf club for a chai latte. The yoga class add stuck to the wall of surf club

Our new neighbour brought their favorite birdie friend on holiday with them Very nice camp trailer belonging to our neighbour, Peter. Had every conceivable addition for remote camping including instant hot water and dusted heating A torture device similar to the rack. Barb wasn’t happy with the dishwashing, so Ross is being punished The North Haven beach viewed from the end on the rock wall entrance. Terrific place we’ve often spoken about after passing through on a drizzly day many years ago

All three of us went for a ride on our bikes into Laurieton, before making our way back to camp.   There is a path along the inlet most of the way which is a nice way to spend a hour of so riding along watching the boats and people fishing. Before head toward Laurieton we headed upto the surf club to check out the beach.   The beach is great and the surf club has a cafe which serves snacks as well as a breakfast and lunch menu.   Breakfast includes Daniels favorite, egg benedict so we’ll no doubt end up there one [ ... ]

Ross and Daniel were up early this morning. They are making a short movie and needed to film in the long dark path through the bush to the beach for a particular scene. They forgot to film last night and we leave today After the path filming, Ross took the drone to the cliff top over looking the beach. A local fella, Gary, arrived and was letting Ross know everything about the beach, the surf, his bike and Ross’s Bunnings purchased drone. Set up and all systems checked, the drone flew out over the cliff and almost immediately reported an electronic power [ ... ]

Crusty is right here -31.63323186,152.82917972 Hit this Google Maps link if the lower map isn’t visible https://www.google.com/maps/place/-31.63323186,152.82917972

Very quiet night in Camp Crusty last night with Daniel in bed, and Barb unconscious. Barbs new friends next door have everything that opens shuts in their 21ft Franklin caravan.   The annex has an Aldi portable aircon which was surprisingly efficient.   They have misting fans, leather reclining chairs, ice machine, and coffee machine.   They have a green plastic strip sprinkler on the annex roof which they say knocks about 5 deg of the annex temp in the hot sun. Jack chatted extensively to Ross about his incredibly successful finance and superannuation business.  He was very open and forthcoming about his opulent [ ... ]

New Years Day 2017. We were in bed by 11.15pm last night.   New years celebrations have never been high on our agenda, and midnight is way past our bed time. Apparently a huge storm blew through very early this morning, Barb woke up but Ross didnt know anything about. The mini Pie Makers cousin, the mini Panini Maker which like the Pie Maker hasnt seen much action got a workout this morning for Daniel breakfast It was pretty quiet around the caravan park this morning, not sure if it was sore heads or coincidence.   It was very hot today, and very humid.   We headed [ ... ]

Despite a rapidly deteriorating knee, Ross decided to try out a walk this morning. He’s been braving the surf with Daniel which has been really putting pressure on his knee. He’s been tolerating the pain, otherwise Daniel would be very disappointed. Daniel absolutely loves the surf. Long walk which despite a constant feeling his knee would jar, pulled up surprisingly well. 3 cheers for anti inflammatorys and Tramadol Ross can’t seem to get away from this wonderful stuff These places are fantastic for getting out on foot. We spent a few hours at the beach with Daniels new replacement blow up donut that [ ... ]

The forecast wet weather arrived this morning, as did the 1st walk of shame for the trip. The walk of shame is Ross’s description of slow, unflattering shuffle with the caravan poo tank to the caravan park dump point to empty it. 5 days is a good effort. During peak holiday times when bookings are in week block’s, vacate day arrives and there a constant Lemming like March across the caravan park towards the dump point. Mostly only drizzle this morning, so we set about battering down for a possible torrential downpour in our absence before we head to see the new Jamunji [ ... ]

Ross’s mate is up in Sapphire Beach, just on the northern outskirts of Coffs Harbour They’d arranged to catch up, and went fishing today in Bluey’s inflatable About 8 or 10 Bream caught, but none big enough to keep After Ross got back after lunch we had a drive around the town and went for a walk along the break wall which leads to the bar entrance of the Nambucca River From a lookout high on a cliff over looking the Nambucca River entrance The rocks of the break wall provide a canvas for travellers art … but that public art also attracts idiots and [ ... ]

Warm and rain free night despite the forecast both over night and today. We keep getting told about the smashing they got here in the 3 days before we arrived. The caravan park is terraced on the side of a hill and water was running through the place like rapids. Many camp sites all but washed away and a few people just packed up and went home. We, on the other hand have had nothing but great weather so far. Morning fresh ground coffee in the free camp inspired, purpose bought Bialetti Mukka, and what a wonderful thing it is We wandered around [ ... ]

We slept like logs last night. A few backpackers in their junkie cars turned up during the night. One parking right in front of our car, but we were heading into town on foot for breakfast anyway. Some don’t even have any real sleeping arrangements, other than the seats in the car. Since January we’d forgotten how much we despised backpackers … it came flooding back today Very popular camp area, and quite a few pulled in only to struggle to find enough room, and drove out again Great view of the Myall River and camp area from halfway across the bridge Breakfast [ ... ]

Here is my location 30° 38′ 13.46436″ S 153° 0′ 48.91199″ E https://www.google.com/maps/place/-30.63707343294047+153.0135866627097

Driving into the state forest last night at Murraguldrie, we read that the state forest is a Gazetted hunting area. That didn’t really bother anyone until the shotgun blasts started out in the forest around sunset. Blasts were going off on both sides of us. Who the hell goes hunting Xmas night .. and what do you hunt on Xmas outside reindeer. Ross got up during the night, and wandered out for a pee in his birthday suit. There’s something a little un-nerving about standing naked in the bush whilst shotguns are going off around you … it’s slightly Deliverance’ish. The view from [ ... ]

Here is my location 32° 24′ 50.48536″ S 152° 12′ 19.57472″ E , Bulahdelah, New South Wales Australia https://www.google.com/maps/place/-32.41402371032859+152.2054374217987

Barb was so happy to be going away she did a little dance before we left home We drove away from the factory around midday, so we weren’t expecting to pitch camp till around 5.30pm. Before we left home there was a conscious decision (championed by Barb, and forced onto the rest) to eat well and shed some weight. Everyone is included, although Max is expected to beef up. A pre-trip fridge posted record will be waiting for us to return for comparisons, and according to Ross the awarding of prizes A roadhouse coffee stop for the adults threw Daniel of the cart. [ ... ]

Here is my location 35° 30′ 9.16054″ S 147° 37′ 30.30749″ E , Kyeamba, New South Wales Australia https://www.google.com/maps/place/-35.50254459517447+147.62508541345596    

Xmas over for another year and that means Its time to head north on yet another pilgrimage to our spiritual home …. anywhere north of here So ….. its now time to ….. We’re heading to a Xmas night restricted free camp at a Vietnam Veterans Retreat in the Murraguldrie State Forest off the Hume Hwy, about 30min north of Holbrook in NSW