We left South West Rocks this morning (Monday) after a windy night with heavy (and noisy) waves crashing over the rocks and beach .. the draw back for being so close we suppose. A little drizzle early this morning, but we woke to a another clear day with the wind reduced to a stiff breeze.
We packed up as Daniel sat on the hill and sketched in his drawing book. Who knows… a little Picasso in the making perhaps. Barb is definately glad that he is drawing again after a long time of being uninterested.
We drove out of South West Rocks and headed to the branch in the road that takes you either back to or along the coast more directly to Kempsey along the coast. This is how the conservation went
Ross, “Maybe we should head back to the highway, there’s a town …… “
Barb “….. called Frederickson, that has …….”
Ross ” … the best award winning ……. “
Barb ” … Pies shop”
We discussed how early it was, and how we couldn’t be eating pies for breakfast ……….. no we couldn’t be eating pies for breakfast ………. no ……… we ……….. couldn’t ????? Could we ????? We’ll just drive past and have a look, you know, as tourists (silly, naive people)….
We found the Fredo Pie Shop on the hill as the signs leading into town said we would. The pie shop is a less than impressive, fibre cement shop painted up to attract attention. We made the group decision to stop, pop inside and have a look: as tourists.
Holly Guacamole, once inside there was a gastromomical adventure to turn the most militant vegan. The array of tasty pie and pie like products was vast and excitingly yummy. Who were we kidding? We ordered up big, and made the obligitory comments of how bad it was and blaa blaa blaa, but no-one made any real attempt to leave, or stop salivating, or find a salad bar.
We sat outside in the alfresco eating area outside …. and enjoyed what cannot be described in type. Pastry heaven, for breakfast, on plastic chairs, in blistering sun. The look on Barb’s face says it all
We headed into Port Macquarie to pick up Daniel’s Nintendo DS, and spied a Rivers shop nearby to replace Daniels aging imitation Crocs. We managed to pick up some odd imitation Crocs which look like Dinosaur feet.
We drove through our intended destination, North Haven. The surf was chopped up so we decided to head a little further south to Manning Point where there is a Big 4 caravan park with an oasis pool complete with water slide. We thought it was a good opportunity while the wind was blowing, to take Daniel to a caravan park with some good fun stuff for him.
We are here at Manning Point 
Manning Point consists of a general store ………….. and nothing else. The caravan park is pretty good and the oasis pool excellent, along with the jumping pillow. Outside the caravan park was …. wait for it …. an operating 1960’s grass spinkler. Ross and Barb were stunned, and it was going full belt too. In Victoria this guy would have been turned in by the neighbours, and decended on by a crack team of water police and beaten within an inch of his life
The oasis pool was good and Daniel enjoyed the pool, water slide and jumping pillow. Phase two of the plan didnt pan out … there wasnt any kids Daniels age in the park.
The beach in Manning Point is 4×4 accessable and there is an access point directly from the caravan park. Ross decided against taking the car down on the beach because there wasnt anywhere in the “town” to properly wash the sand and salt off. After lasts years Fraser Island drive, Ross went to 3 car washes and spent 2 hours hosing the underneath of the car.
It was a warm and still night last night and we had all the screens open.
This morning (Tuesday) Barb hoired Daniel one of the caravan park peddle cars. He peddle around for an hour in the little Ferrari before we packed up our lunch and the car and headed the 25km to the town of Old Bar to spend the day there on the beach.
The town of Old Bar is an actual town, unlike Manning Point. There was a few shops, cafes and a supermarket. The beach was a little disappointing with not as sinlge person about; not a very pleasant beach and the gusty wind and choppy conditions didnt excite us. It was getting quite hot by this stage so we headed back to camp and after checking the Manning Point beach, spend the whole day in the pool.
It was hot enough today to put the aircon on in the camper, something we’ve only done a hanful of time in the past.
Daniel decided to have a red hot go at the snorkling gear and loved it. He picked it up very quickly, but unfortunately because Ross and Barb were pretty sure he wouldnt use it, went for cheaper gear instead of the silicone mask, and the cheaper mask wasnt too comfortable for Daniel. Daniel instead used his swimming goggles and just held his nose and kicked about the pool on and off for the whole day, swapping for a few zips on the water slide. As a side benefit, using the fins quickly had Daniel kicking much better.
Tomorrow morning we head south a couple of hours to Port Stephens, and Anna Bay in particular. We ar booked there for 4 days. We contacted the couple we met in Byron Bay who are already in the Port Stephens area, and plan to catch up in Port Stephens over the next few days.
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