Wednesday 1st November 2006

We when the website was published yesterday there was still a lot of excitement to go as daughter Kym and son-in-law Lee were flying in to Sydney airport at 6:30p.m. and we were going to be there to meet them and spend a bit of time with them before they fly out on their way home to Western Australia... Think we may have said that numerous times in the web site recently, but we have not seen them for over three months so are really looking forward to even the little bit of time we can have with them at the airport.

Getting there was a bit of a task as we drove there in the Patrol and we didn't have a street directory or an e-tag Toll card, se we set Miss Bossy to take us to the airport and gave here instructions to avoid any toll ways. This seemed like a good idea at the time, but we found that we would be cruising down the motorway with ease, then she would direct us into the back streets and we would wind our way around places we didn't know existed and didn't want to return to, then she would guide us back onto another highway or motorway further down the track. This went on for about an hour and a half before we arrived at the airport and found ourselves in a parking area that had a minimum parking fee of twenty dollars, regardless of how short our stay was.

Next we navigated our way into the domestic terminal and after passing through the security checkpoint we made our way up to the arrivals door that Kym and Lee's flight was due to arrive at. We had made it with about twenty minutes to spare, although their flight was about ten minutes late arriving, during which time Pammy became more and more excited.

Eventually the faces we had been dying to see came out around the corner of the arrivals door and there were hugs all around... (well Lee did get a hug from Pammy but only a hand shake from the 'Other One' as if he hugged Lee he might have ended up with a black eye!) The next hour Pammy and Kym had almost two hours worth of conversation (women can talk and listen at the same time!) and we heard a lot about Hamilton Island and their experiences there. They in turn discovered a little about our travels. Eventually our time together ran out and with some sadness, but also a lot of thankfulness that we had had the opportunity to meet up even for a brief time, we waved good bye with the promise that we will be home in three or four weeks to see them again.

Next came the return journey back to the caravan park in some kind of reverse procedure with much of our time spent in back streets not having any idea at all where we were, but eventually Miss Bossy took us back onto the Motorway we wanted to be on and directed us back to the caravan park without having to pass through any toll ways. After enjoying a relaxing drink or two and finding a snack to satisfy our needs, we eventually climbed into bed and closed our eyes, feeling quite exhausted, around midnight.

After the last few rather hectic days it was now time to move out of the Sydney environs and head a little further south down the New South Wales coastline. Having said that, we were pretty slow getting started and organised this morning so it was about 10:10a.m. before we had hitched up the caravan and driven out of the caravan park at Penrith for the last time.

Although we didn't really know where we were going to stop tonight, we made our way south through Appin, Woolongong, Dunmore and Minnamurra before stopping for lunch as a rest stop on the side of the highway. After our lunch break we continued down through Kiama, Berry, Bomaderry, Nowra, Wandandian, Cojoka, Yatte Yattar, Milton, Ulladulla, Termeil, East Lynne and Benandarah before arriving in Batemans Bay where we decided it would be a good place to stop for a couple of nights

After driving along the ocean front we pulled into an FPA caravan park across the road from a beach and booked in for the next two nights. After setting up the caravan we drove back down the street to a Woolworths store where Pammy had a little therapy, or at least we managed to buy some pork chops and other bits and pieces for dinner.

Tomorrow we will have a look around Batemans Bay but are most looking for resting up a little before moving on further south the following day, but right now it is time to make those pork chops fit for a Queen.. and maybe he will get some as well!

Thursday 2nd November 2006

Friday 3rd November 2006

Around 10:p.m. last night we lost power to the caravan and then discovered the owner had turned it off as there were sparks flying from a shorting wire at the top of the power pole beside our caravan. After a little deliberation, we connected a longer power lead to the caravan and stretched it across an internal road to another supply that was still connected and this managed to get us through the night and remained in place until we left in the morning. All in all, although the caravan park was in an ideal location, there were few powered sites and there was a lot that could be done to improve it so if we ever pass this way again, we may choose a different park to stay in.

The morning arrived in a dreary way with the sun hidden behind a very overcast sky and everything wet from the drizzling rain that just seemed to continue non stop. We still thought Batemans Bay was a great holiday destination but it would have been so much better if our visit had coincided with some warm summer days.

Although it continued to drizzle, we managed to pack everything up and pull out onto the road by about 9:a.m. when we headed south along the coast road we had traversed the day before on our sight seeing drive. This time we continued for about 30 kilometres before turning left onto the Princes Highway once more and headed off in a southerly direction toward our final destination of Pambula.

The drive south took us through Moruya, Coila, Bodalla, Narooma, Tilba,Cobargo, Brogo, Bega, Wolumla and Pambula before driving out to Pambula Beach where we booked in to the Big4 Holiday Hub Beach Resort Park. This drive started out through some pretty good scenery, but the further south we drove the better it became. We found ourselves traveling through some quite mountainous country with tall forests that at times even ventured into light rain forests, then opened out to green pastures on the sides of sloping fields, many with black and white dairy cows producing tomorrows milk quota. In the distance there were high ranges of mountains with rain clouds masking their crests. Then we would drop down to cross inlets and lakes where towns and small communities nestled around the water, with yachts and watercraft moored in little coves. This drive would have been one of the most scenic we have negotiated on this trip.

On arrival at the caravan park in Pambula Beach we booked in for the next two nights and were taken to our powered site where there were kangaroos grazing and lazing around all over the place. The park fronts onto a sandy beach bay and has facilities such as a heated swimming pool, games rooms, mini golf, children's bouncing air blanket and a lot more family friendly activities and friendly service. It didn't take too long to set up and then have lunch of soup and toast before providing a little extra for one of the local kangaroos as well.

Around 2:15pm we headed out of the park and made our way in to Pambula where we made an examination of a pink shop called Toad Hall that was filled with craft and souvenirs, however she was quite disappointed because the only thing she could find that she wanted was a tea towel with pelicans and the name of Pambula on it. Next we went to a food store and found a couple of items we needed.

As we had a little time to spare we headed off down Princes Highway for another 20 kilometres and had a look around Eden, which is a pretty little town located on quite a large sandy bay with very picturesque surroundings. Right on the ocean front was the local cemetery and we don't think there would be another cemetery in Australia with such a prime location and great views. We stopped at the beach front and took a photograph or two and then drove around the town a little more before making our way back onto the Princes Highway and then all the way back to Pambula.

Just before arriving back at the caravan we were stopped by a local police patrol and had to undergo a preliminary breathalyser test which obviously gave a zero result. The young officer that conducted the test was extremely pleasant and after the test, the fact that we had something in common (Service in the Police Service) we had quite a good chat and we were wished all the best for the rest of our time here and our journey home to Western Australia. It was great to see the local police are on the job and making sure the roads are as safe as they can make them. The better the job they do, the safer we are whilst driving in their area.

After all this we arrived back at the caravan park and the wandering kangaroos at about 4:06p.m. and settled in for the rest of the afternoon. Tomorrow we intend to drive up along the coastal drive for a way and then maybe visit Bega again without the caravan behind us. However right now, having passed the breathalyser test and arrived safely back at the caravan, and as we are not driving again tonight, it is safe to participate in Happy Hour, as Pammy has her tongue hanging out and a very thirsty and expectant look on her face.