Aussie I

TUES 21/3/17

After some 20 hours of flying & almost 24 hours after leaving Epsom we landed Sydney Airport @ 07.35 (fortunately the second flight from Singapore @ 6.5 hours was very quiet & we were able to lie across the seats) & proceeded to campervan depot by taxi (very expensive).

Jerry omitted to say how on entering the taxi at airport the sign he observed & readily commented on "Report a Tosser" was on many taxis, buses etc., but then how we also suffered a 70 dollar fee which was not anticipated,

Arrived at campervan depot approx. 09.20 & left approx 10.30, however we found ourselves returning within 30 mins as there were a number of faults with van (main one being a horrible drumming of the brakes). Our complaints were accepted and consequently we were allocated another vehicle. We were wandering around like headless chickens trying to get provisions, (after all we had been travelling more than 24 hours & we had a full day ahead as this was early morning & we'd left Epsom in the evening 2 days ago!!). We finally found a supermarket but it was very fancy & expensive & sold only fruit & veg, on exiting our eyes fell on "ALDI" but alas the location of such store was on the second floor of a multi retail park (our woes did not end there, however, as on exiting the police were grappling with a man on the floor (not the best of starts to our trip!!).

BY RAMSGATE (LOOKING TOWARDS DOWNTOWN SYDNEY)

In the evening we went to Coles to get more provisions and spent the night just round the corner @ Ramsgate.

Jerry did 6 kms.

WED 22/3/17

Got up around 7am & decided to move onto seafront for breakfast, We then left the vehicle & took a stroll along the beach - we decided it'd be easier to get the bus into town. A 70 minute ride on the bus got us into Sydney Harbour where we visited the Opera House and bridge. 

We got a free bus ride back as we hadn't bought a pre-paid ticket & the bus driver gave us the option of taking a chance of an inspector checking our tickets.

We then just wanted to escape Sydney & found traffic to be very heavy & faced unbelievable downpours (even the locals were stopping by the sides of the road worried) en-route to our destination at Morriset which was something of an industrial estate.

Dave did 118 kms.

THU 23/3/17

Journeyed on to Nelsons Bay wishing we had something with a better navigation system. We spent an hour wandering along the beach.

NELSONS BAY

We then proceeded to One Mile Bay where the rest of day was spent watching people fishing, surfing & swimming etc.

ONE MILE BAY

Jerry did 119 kms.

FRI 24/3/17

Left One Mile Bay @ 08.10.

SEAL ROCKS CAMPSITE

Arrived Seal Rocks Bay after coffee stop en-route & booked into campsite overlooking Pacific Ocean.

Took a dip in the sea whilst Dave took a run - weather seems to be improving (thank goodness for that!!).

Dave did 143 kms.

SAT 25/3/17

Departed Seal Rocks Campsite at 08.15 & proceeded to Boomerang Beach where we parked in carpark behind the beach and decided to take a dip in the sea with crashing waves, had coffee & snack before journeying on to

BOOMERANG BEACH

Lighthouse Beach near Port McQuarie where we spent night (wandered up road & found unexpectedly a shop with delicious ice-cream).

LIGHTHOUSE BEACH

Jerry did 165 kms.

SUN 26/3/17

Left Lighthouse Beach at 09.05.

Journeyed up A1 and turned off to make for South West Rocks where we lunched & swam. (I found a wonderful place to park in the carpark, if I don't say it myself).

SOUTH WEST ROCKS

We then moved on to Hat Head where we walked on the beach & played umpteen games of bowls & pool. We felt hungry so we had a meal in the community centre.

HAT HEAD

Dave did 126 Kms.

MON 27/3/17

Left Hat Head around 9am.

Would you believe it but just 20 minutes later we stopped for a coffee & banana.

We then stopped just north of Nambucca Heads at Valla where I went for a 25 minute run & Jerry lazed in the sun, we then had our spicy thai pot noodles.

Then had a look at Moonee Beach but were unable to park for night so continued on to Emerald Beach where we were able to get a prime beach location around 3pm.

Jerry did 145 Kms.