Very early morning this morning ….. thanks Poo Poo Head. It was quite muggy all night, and we had the canvass open, so when Poo Poo Head got up, I just presumed it was a reasonable hour because it was light in the camper. Barb isnt complaining, Poo Poo Head has slept through almost every night we have been away.
Barb migrated across the camper into Poo Poo Heads bed for a little extra sleep time …. Ha …. Poo Poo Head just followed, so it Ross that by default got the quiet time.
We met the giant motor home owners. They are returning to Brisbane after “only” 3 months on the road. The giant motor home is powered by a little 3.o litre diesel, and is front wheel drive.
Late yesterday afternoon a strong on shore wind sprung up. Our trade off with Poo Poo Head having the sea view was repaid when we could open all our canvass at our end, out of the wind. Whilst it was muggy, the flow of air through the open 3 sides was quiet nice through the night.
When I woke (or when Poo Poo Head woke me), I presumed the strong wind was still blowing because of the horrendous noise. As soon as I stepped outside there was not a breath of wind … it was the crashing of rough surf on the beach. The waves were pounding the coast, and rolling right over the sand and into the grass hill at the base of the camp ground.
Poo Poo Head once again found himself in he ideal position for his favourite past time 
I waddled off to the coffee shop for a fresh fix only to be told they weren’t open for another half hour. A short wander found a competitor with a half hour edge that got my money.
The water was too rough for Poo Poo Head, so we decided to leave it until after lunch for Beach Poo Poo. Ross went out of the boogie board whilst Poo Poo Head slept.
We discovered an historic Gaol about 5km south on the visible point across Trial Bay. Its always good to see the good way we used to treat crooks, so off we went.
Poo Poo Head found what he thought was a licorice strap hanging out of the wall … it was a gloss black painted section of iron bar. Full points for observation. Never let a licorice opportunity slip past.
Poo Poo Head was explaining to us his ‘version’ of what this old machine was used for 100 years ago. It was very enlightening and possible even true.
The Trial Bay Gaol was originally built solely to house the prisoner labour used to build a 900 odd foot breakwater out into Trial Bay last century. It is the only time in Australia a gaol has been purpose built to house prisoner labour for public works … excellent idea ; visionaries Ross says … should be more off it.
The breakwater was not successful, so the goal was abandoned. On the outbreak of the 1st World War, the gaol was used as an overflow for the internment of Australians of German descendant. One of the interned was at the time, a leading Orthopedic Surgeon.The cell doors were never locked, and the front gate was open during daylight hours … it was still a gaol, and cramped as a late 1800’s goal would be.
The gaol was abandoned when frightened authorities thought the inmates were communicating with an imaginary German war boat off the coast and the idea was muted there may be a rescue attempt. 2/3’s of the interned were Australian citizens and a large percentage were 2nd and 3rd generation Australian.
All the wooden and outbuilding structures were set alight and they march out for a the Holsworthy Camp in Sydney. The building was left abandoned for 40 years, and oddly there are signs plastered all over the place about the historical significance of the place, and the historical scribbling on the walls by the Germans interned. All we could find was graffiti on almost every wall by knuckleheads since the internment and not one before.I think the historical significance only helps to cover the entry fee into a building that until recently, no-one gave 2 hoots about for 40 years.
We spent the afternoon at the Trial Bay beach that looked so good yesterday. The tide was way out and the water rough. Poo Poo Head found his entertainment in the brackish water of the inlet.
The computer mouse has died and the internet is running like a grey nomad, so I’ve cut the pics a little short.
Off to Barbs mostest bestest favourite place tomorrow ….. Nambucca Heads
Leave a Reply