So, lets begin todays ramblings, after a wonderful sunrise it was time to leave wine country behind and find some beaches! All packed up and ready to go, Winston, Mavis and I headed out north in the direction of the Great Lakes.
I drove out on the highway that is far more picturesque than any motorway we have back home, and headed for my first stop, the quaintly named Tea Gardens, via a pit stop at a cafe in the shape of Ayers Rock. I kid you not, it was a sight to behold. Back to Tea Gardens, quaint it was too. Nestled on a stunning lake with fishing boats a plenty, it was joined to the other side by the Singing Bridge (unsure why, it didn't make a noise but it made me feel like singing a ditty on the way over). I had a meander up the boardwalk talking in the sunshine and then headed for the ever helpful tourist information office. As always it didn't disappoint and the wonderfully helpful local showed me all the best places to visit on my little trip to my destination, Tuncurry. Although I did just smile and say 'oooo that sounds lovely' when she highlighted the off road route through the National Park, not quite sure Winston is up to that, but I took her advice on the beaches.
And she was right. There were 2 beaches on offer here, Jimmys and Bennets and both were spectacular, and deserted!! So I oood'd and aaaaaaa'd and paddled and sat for a while, feeing the sun beating down and the smile speeding over my face, all accompanied with the obligatory 'I look naked' selfie.....
Next stop was Bulahdelah where the Great Lakes Way started, the road which would, as it says on the tin, take whoever drove it to the Great Lakes. But first there was fuel to be had for both me and Winston (I don't bother feeding Mavis, she seems to do ok) and the place I was headed for was the bakery on Stroud Street, legendary for it's pies. So two bought (one for now and one for ron), supplies also purchased in the local shops including pork and pistachio bangers and some cheese that I had to buy tin foil and freezer bags to wrap it in as it was soooooo smelly.
I decided to eat my first pie at the lovely little picnic tops but the river that seemed popular and looked very quaint with all the ducks milling around (now on further examination I am not 100% sure there weren't geese which would explain their behaviour). No benches were free so I sat on the lush grass and began to savour my meat pie when some of the duck/geese became interested in me. Very interested. Far too interested. And when they were rooting in my handbag, pecking at my feet and staring me in the eye ready to take that pie from my hands (much to the amusement of everyone else sitting at table munching their lunch) I realised it may be time to swallow my pride and get up. Thankfully I was saved by a small hamster like creature (Isuspect it was a dog) that diverted the attention of the duck/geese long enough for me to escape.
Winston fuelled we were ready for the off and so began the stunning drive through thick lush tall trees, with bends that required 2nd gear and sheer drops on one side that would have made me nervous had I been sitting in the passenger seat. Truly beautiful. Then the trees broke and lakes came into view, vast expanses of water glistening in the sunshine, names which escape me but Smiths lake stood out as a thing of beauty.
A small detour to Seal Rocks which was breathtaking (I am running out of describing words and I hate to use one more than once in a paragraph so forgive me if I do) with the turquoise blue and green crystal water I had been craving for. There was also a lovely campsite right on the beach which in hindsight would have been a stunner to stay at but onwards and upwards it was.
The road carried on in same beautiful way for miles and then I felt the need to eat my second pie, so I came across a perfect tranquil little spot called Sunset which even more importantly was duck/geese free. This pie was even more amazing than the first, beef curry, and as I sat shaded by the tall majestic trees, watching the glass like water ripple I realised once again how lucky I am to be alive and have the life I do.
After a bush wee and wishing I could stay there to see it if the little area lived up to its name, I headed out nearer to my final destination, the roads getting a little more bumpy which was not really working for Winston and all the precariously placed items in the back, or for my suspension as I had decided to go braless for the first time....
Anyhoo, I finally arrived in the lovely Tuncurry through Forster (pronounced foster) over a bridge that spans green crystal clear waters of the lakes and checked into my site. Lovely, right on the lake but HEAVING!! Full to the brim with fisherman and local holiday makers, but I can see why, the fishing here must be as amazing as the lakes are. Then I am told by the receptionist that my DAD had been here looking for me!!! OMG!! It turns out he and Fred were passing through and wanted to say hello but I was still hours away enjoying the beaches so they checked into a local motel!! So after some texting and number confusion (I dialled the wrong number and got a bloke, then got a call from a very angry woman asking who I was ringing her fella....it took a while but we got there in the end) we finally met in the local Bellvue Motel. Bless them both, they had stayed with a friend called May somewhere neither of them remember and were heading up to Coffs Harbour so we sat, had a couple of drinks and a bit of dinner and I settled them into their motel room, which resembled as cross between Phycho and Crossroads....
Then it was back to the site for me and bed. Not before I had made a decision to move on a day early and head further up the coast. Don't get me wrong this place is lovely, but I have seen all I need to and have no intention of fishing so I am off in search of something more. Having said that the sunrise was spectacular this morning and I detoured from the shower block at 6am with toothbrush in hand to wonder at it. The pictures are something special and you will get to see them if I ever get wifi again.
And after the sunset faded I met Pops and Fred for a rather fine breakfast at the cafe on site and bid them farewell as they too had made the decision to take a detour and head back for Sydney. And then it wad out on the next leg of my travels and to find more wifi....still think the pics will have to wait but fear not, they will be with you in abundance soon.....
TTFN faithful followers!
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