Australia – Page 4 – Jewells On Tour

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Wednesday 2nd October

By admin on Thursday, October 3, 2019

Staying put in our campsite we went out for a drive around the area. The area that we’re staying is known as shoalhaven.

We drive through scenic pastures along the kangaroo valley following the kangaroo river. Crossing Hampden suspension bridge built 1898. Time for a paddle in the river to cool off, the weather is glorious.

We followed the tourist drive 7 which takes us into a pretty little town called Robinson. This was the film location of babe. Surrounded by beautiful pasture land, simply stunning.

It’s also home of a multi award winning pie shop as we’re here it would be rude not to try one!

I have to say the veggie pie I had was delicious

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Tuesday 1st October

By admin on Wednesday, October 2, 2019

We awoke to the normal early sounds of the wild life, we really must start identifying them it would be nice to know what we’re hearing especially when it sounds so close.

We have decided to move campsites even though we have to stay close to Wollongong waiting for our bikes to be ready. The campsite we are in is quite expensive and full of kids it’s more of a holiday park and it’s school holidays.

Whilst putting the tent down the large family next to us got rather excited apparently Whales can be spotted from the beach. Tent away we wondered to the shore and took a look. In the distance we were treated to whales playing, lovely. From September to November humpback and southern right whales can be seen migrating south past this coast.

We spend the day walking in the minnamurra rain forest a subtropical and warm temperate rain forest. We followed a path that was steep and challenging in places to a waterfalls. Past fig trees, ferns and orchids strange black peacock looking birds were scratching about the under growth I think that they were lyrebirds.

We are now camped at a smaller campsite right on the beach but it’s cheaper and has a tv room to sit in. Somewhere more comfortable to write this and read. Unfortunately it’s fully booked on Friday and the bikes won’t be ready until Saturday. It’s a long weekend this weekend and everywhere seems booked.

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Monday 30th September

By admin on Tuesday, October 1, 2019

We have to go to Wollongong today as our bikes are booked in for a well deserved service at a local bike shop. They are still in the boxes that we put them in for the flight from the USA. We haven’t even checked on them hopefully they’re fine.

We arrive at the shop just after it opened only to find that whoever we had spoke to to book them in hadn’t. Dame. The young staff didn’t really want to know and seemed a bit put out that we had turned up with two heavy bikes still in boxes that needed putting together as well as a service. We probably interrupted their time looking in a mirror and flicking their hair. Cuz that’s what they were doing when we walked in. Oh well boys time to do some work and earn that wage.

Bikes left with one lad who shrugged and said that they should be ready Friday we carried on driving south to a campsite at shell harbour.

We stayed in a small campsite right on the beach and spent the evening having a walk along the shore line. Back in our small tent we have no cooking facilities or any where to sit so tomorrow we will find a better equipped site. It’s school holidays and everywhere is busy and guess what the price goes up.

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Sunday 29th September

By admin on Sunday, September 29, 2019

1st night back in oz and the nocturnal noise it’s certainly very diverse. The wild life here likes to be heard if not seen.

A comfortable sleep after a great evening spent with new friends. We took full use of our en-suit, the luxury of a hot clean shower that’s not on a timer and shampoo and conditioner and and and shower gel. Lol like a kid in a candy shop. I’ve been washing myself and hair with a bar of soap. (Space and weight saving and doesn’t count as liquid on a plane). I’ve forgot how soft hair is after conditioning.

Breakfast of toast and I tried vegemite for the 1st time. Marmite is better!

And wash it down with English breakfast tea made properly with lose tea leaves.

It’s a Sunday and Madeleine and Jeremy have the day off so very kindly have offered to take us sightseeing.

We go for a lovely Sunday drive following a coastal road into a national park, with Madeleine pointing out places of interest and wild unusual plants. And it’s at least 10c warmer than New Zealand. Beautiful sunshiny day.

Lunch stop was in a cafe at Kurnell that has a plaque to commemorate captain cooks landing site in 1770 I guess he moved on from the place called 1770 in Queensland I should buy a Australian guide book.

The afternoon was spent relaxing and Madeleine cooked a delicious evening meal. We all eat together. Jeremy, Madeleine and their two sons Ben and Harry. Funny cheeky young men. A hard working family that all have to get up early for work. Tomorrow we have to leave but we have enjoyed our stay. We say our good byes tonight as we may not see them in the morning.

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Saturday 28th September

By admin on Sunday, September 29, 2019

A really bad nights sleep, well don’t think I slept, Mike definitely didn’t. We spent the night in a hotel, a nice clean room but yes it’s a budget hotel. The walls are paper thin and the room next to us were really noisy, music all night and people coming and going. Loud knocking on their door, heavy footsteps and loud conversations in Chinese . Not sure what was going on but what ever it was I’m sure it could of been done with a lot less noise.

Anyway up we get at 4:30 am ready for the shuttle bus to the airport not a problem. Managed to get that and we were the only ones on the bus nice and early for the check in.

At the airport we checked in hand luggage only, we are allowed one bag to go in the over head storage and one bag under the seat. We have less stuff going back and it wasn’t a problem coming so why leaving is it. They weigh our luggage and tell us that we have to pay $75 to check them in the hold. Money grabbing gits

The flight is 7am but it’s delayed, we finally take off at 9:30 am a three and a half hour bumpy, boring flight, no entertainment just sit and stair at the back of the chair in front. What joy.

The landing was pretty bumpy I thought that we were going to over shoot the run way. Mike recons it was a manual landing because it was so rough, but hay it’s a adventure I tell you.

Back in Australia and funny we had only been here for 3 weeks before we went to New Zealand but it felt like we were home. We picked up our hire car and drive to Kate’s house and pick up our bikes from her garden, frightening her poor daughter who she thought we were burglars sorry.

Next stop we had arranged to meet a face book friend mark. Mark lives in Sydney and is a keen cyclist, he has been following our face book page and offered a place for us to stay. Thank you mark. But as it happens we also had been offered a place to stay by someone else I love the power of the internet. Anyway we met mark and he very kindly brought us lunch and gave us a idea of a cycle route to do on our next tour.

After leaving mark we make our way to madeleines house our home for the night. Madeleine is also a complete stranger from internet land who offered us some where to stay.

Madeleine and family are lovely made us so welcome. We have our own room with en-suite in a beautiful house with a swimming pool. That’s it I’m moving in squatters rights. A lovely evening with delicious home cooked food and plenty of drinks the conversation was flowing. And funny but it’s been a long day and with the time difference it’s even longer not wanting the evening to end we reluctantly went to bed.

We loved it so much we are staying another night. We not going with out a fight!

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Sunday 26th August

By admin on Sunday, August 25, 2019

Today we enjoyed our last day in oz for a month. We spent the day wondering around Sydney. When we return we can get back into cycle touring. I’ve missed being on the bike, but so close to New Zealand we can’t not visit. Who knows if we’re ever going to be this side of the world ever again.

Sydney is a lovely city full of old buildings and public art. We did the normal touristy things and yet again the weather was excellent, just right for tramping around a city for hours.

We spent the night in a airport hotel and our flight is 9:40 in the morning.

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Saturday 24th August

By admin on Saturday, August 24, 2019

100 miles drive south just 80 miles away from Sydney. Airport hotel tomorrow night booked. We both love Australia so New Zealand has a lot to live up to.

Today’s campsite on the beach. Still lovely and with good facilities.

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Friday 23rd August

By admin on Friday, August 23, 2019

Not much to say about today. We’re going south so another 200 miles drive down the coast and we are in a campsite just passed Coffs Harbour.

We managed a quick pie stop on Route let’s hope New Zealand likes pie I think mike is addicted.

Another campsite we have stunning views over the ocean and yet again the facilities are great.

We cooked up a basic meal of beans, mushrooms,sweetcorn and cheese in a spicy sauce making full use of the indoor kitchen and finished off the day with a walk along the beach.

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Thursday 22nd August

By admin on Thursday, August 22, 2019

We started the day with a breakfast snack at the local bakery. And wondered around Australias Stonehenge. The stones were donated to the town of Glen Innes from other Celtic countries In recognition of all the celts that have moved here.were heading east along the Gwydir highway and there’s nothing along the way. It’s a relatively new road cutting across the mountain. Opened in 1960 so it only has look out rest areas and the odd road side loo that’s not particularly inviting.

However it cuts through national parks and forests offering up fantastic views.

Our destination tonight is the city of Grafton in a well equipped campsite back in the tent tonight lets hope we don’t get to cold.

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Tuesday 20th August

By admin on Tuesday, August 20, 2019

We drove to Tamworth today famous for its country music festival. Lots of big stars have played here including Kieth urban if you haven’t heard of him you may of heard of his spouse someone called Nicole Kidman. It’s a city based at the foot of the mountains and has a really nice feel about the place. With lots of statues around proud of its country music vibe. It also is the home of the country music hall of fame.

On the way to Tamworth we passed through little towns called Coolah where I brought a cardigan from a charity shop for $2 and quirindi for a coffee. The weather is still nice day time but again it’s going to be a chilly night.

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