Rain, sun and kangaroos in Eden

Thar she blows! (In Kimra)

Things have some what improved since my last post. The sun is shining and the MOTH and I seem to have finally got the knack of plugging in and out of camp sites. Yes, the toilet in the new campervan sprung a leak. Yes, it only just stopped raining yesterday and yes , yours truly suffered chronic Ozzie-belly for three days (less blogging and more bogging) - BUT - today the sun is shining, swimming togs have been on most days despite the rain and tonight we've had the best fish and chips EVER!

Our journey thus far has looked like this:

Monday: Sydney to Wollongong; Thunderstorms

Tuesday: Wollongong to Trainworks to Moss Vale; Rain

Wednesday: Moss Vale to Jervis Bay; Downpours

Thursday: Jervis Bay to Bateman's Bay: Drizzle

Friday: Bateman's Bay to Eden; Overcast, glimmers of sunshine in the afternoon; suspected earthquake in the middle of the night!

Saturday (today):Eden to Lake's Entrance; sunshine! 



If we ever plan to do a Sydney to Melbourne drive again (which I'm dubious is particularly high on this whanau's bucket list), we'd probably take two weeks to do it and most likely stay in cabins or hostels. We would have liked to have seen a great many more sights and enjoyed a few more days in each spot, sometimes to rest, sometimes to take advantage of the camp ground facilities, sometimes to just 'be'. With little people we're averaging around 2 hours maximum driving a day, add to that numerous toilet stops three children require and the time it takes to do the everyday stuff (eating, showering, finding food etc), progress is, well, slow.

 



Inspired to dance. Who cares about the rain clouds?

However, even with the slow drive and the rain we've found some travel magic. I'm grateful for the MOTH's 'why not' attitude that has ensured watching a spectacular blow hole in Kimra (my shutter finger was always a tad too slow to capture the 'big one') and swimming fully clothed on a white sand beach in Jervis Bay. Miss K was inspired to sing and dance while the boys made a 'sand train'.  

We're making a train on the beach.

Miss K's keen eye for nature has ensured we've seen trees dripping with coloured parakeets, cockatoos and bellbirds. She even spotted a toy koala tied to tree as we've driven through the gum tree-lined Princess Highway. This morning, jumping on the 'bouncy pillow' in Eden's camping grounds she spotted something brown and moving. "Mummy, come quickly, I think I've seen a kangaroo or wombat!" (she may have meant wallaby). We were treated to a family of wild kangaroos. In Eden. Go figure.

Kangroos spotted by Miss K in Eden

 As a foodie, our travel accounts have been absent of things that tantalize our taste-buds. Partly because my stomach hasn't been up to it and partly because we've yet to encounter much to comment on. The few cafes we've sampled have been over-priced and under-taste. The exceptions have been the Heritage Bakery on the outskirts of  Milton, my butter-fried scotch fillet (the things one does and discovers when camping) and tonight's fish and chips. Fish-a-Fare in Lake's Entry does the best, fresh fish'n'chips EVER (I know, I said it already but it was SO GOOD). Their sign says they don't do 'fast food but fresh food'. Miss K suggested going back for breakfast!

Master T and the MOTH -having gobbled the fish, only chips remain.
Master T's mouthful suggests total approval.

 

I'll be the first to admit this week hasn't been plain sailing or always fun. Sometimes it's been unpleasant, frustrating, smelly (campervan, not just my fault) and downright horrible. But like Noah and his flood, after the rain, there came sunshine. Better still, there was a rainbow. This week has been kinda like that :-)

Misadventures of the Campervan Kind...

Week two, day two.
Disclaimer
Although we are trying to adopt a 'no blame policy' on our travels, I will point out that campervan-ing it from Sydney to Melbourne was the MOTH's brilliant idea. I am not a camping type girl.

But here we are...five of us in a six berth campervan...

In the beginning
Things didn't start out quite so well... While I was congratulating myself on driving the six minute drive from campervan pick up to rental car drop off through Sydney (and the MOTH had mastered central Sydney traffic and motorways), MOTH, with children in rear seat, had, within twenty seconds of starting the engine, succeeded in crashing the campervan into another campervan. He was still in the Brtiz parking lot. Thankfully damage was minor. No persons hurt (maybe a bit of pride).

Things could only get better... hmmmmmm.....

Wet in Woolongong
With an ominous looking sky, we headed out along the Pacific Coastal Highway, paid our $11 to go into the first National Park and sought out somewhere to eat. The friendly folk in the park recommended Bundeda. Quirky place. Pricey food, nonchalant café staff and gossipy locals, with a stunning beach. Well it would have been stunning if it wasn't raining. We carried on our expedition towards Melbourne.

Admist torrential rain, we pulled into Woolongong. Basics from the supermarket were needed (everything from loo rolls and scrubbing brushes to milk and bread) and the MOTH expertly parked nearby. It suddenly dawned on me then, the impracticalities of parking the Britz beast. No just 'popping out to the shops' on this journey (duh Miko).

Corrimal Beach Tourist Park, in Woolongong is where we parked up for the night, plugged into the mains (electricity and water) and got completely drenched doing so. Nothing like starting a camping journey in the middle of thunderstorms, during which the power shorted out and the campervan started to leak from about three different points!

This morning -  the sun is shining and I'm optimistic about what the day will bring. We've planned a trip to Trainworks in Thirlmere, with hopes to be further along the coast. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

It turns out that the electricity issue is not the power cord shorting out, but some greater fault with the campervan. The toilet is leaking and there are also puddles of water in the living compartment and the sink is slow draining (mostly into the drawers beneath it). When we finally figure out how to drain the grey water, we discover that the previous hirers hadn't drained it (as required) hence the water issues... the MOTH has been on the phone for what seems like hours, before finally, we're offered a replacement vehicle. They will meet us at Trainworks. Could our luck be turning...?

Almost.

Missing and Moss Vale
New Campervan. We switch luggage over. New Campervan looks good. We go into the amazing Trainworks Museum. It suddenly dawns on us that the MOTH's money belt (with money) hasn't been seen in the move. Frantic phone calls to Britz and searches all over the new (and the old - by Britz) campervan turns up nothing. Mysteriously it has disappeared... I find out later that night that the children forgot to move their pjs from under the pillow and the orange juice in the fridge. I'm praying things will come back.

And thinking I'll buy the MOTH a St Christopher - patron saint of travellers and lost things.

Trainworks which deserves its own post (tomorrow) is a much needed respite after the events of the day.

 We left Thirlmere, and were advised in Mittagong (I really rate the lady in the information centre there) to carry on to Moss Vale Village Park Camping grounds - which is where (again in the rain) we've settled. Thank goodness for the locals in the park who helped sort out our water issues (Britz did not include the right hose attachments...*sigh*). We were going to get Pizza, but the one within walking distance is closed on Tuesdays - this was evident once we walked there from the park...

So we dined on leftovers of cheese, crackers, salad, pistachio nuts and ginger biscuits with milk (for the kids) and coffee for us.

And will start tomorrow with another smile :-) It can only get better...