Time to relax at some rocks, South West Rocks to be precise...fingers crossed!!

Well hello, I am actually writing this on the day it happened, rather than the morning after as seems to be happening lately.  I had plans to sit outside in my fabulous new surroundings, in the dark, listening to the wildlife around me but instead I am in Winston listening to a family pitch a massive tent in the dark not 10 feet from me.  But there in lies another tale....

I left off this morning deciding what to wear on this dampest of days, keen to move on an see what my next port of call had to offer. I planned on making a little tour of the town first and had to drop off the key to the amenities block at the campsite that never was.  But before that there was rainforest to be explored.Sea Acres rainforest park to be precise, over 100 acres of rainforest, first plotted by the English back in 18 something.  I was fortunate enough to be accompanied on my walk by Dennis, the expert guide who made it a joyful and informative one, even it is was a little wet.  It was a rainfoest after all... You walk round on a boardwalk that meanders through so many different types of trees and palms and plants.  Dennis even let me try some bush tucker, explaining how most of the plants
in the forest were used by the aboriginal people for everything from food to medicine to sandpaper and cable ties!!

After a lovely and unexpected hour I bid farewell to Dennis and headed into town to have a mooch and return the aforementioned key.

Now I could go into great detail how I made it from Port MacQuarie to my first point to call but I'm not inclined to.  It was dull.  And frustrating.  And filled with roadworks and detours and new motorways that were not signed or even driven on by others it seemed, that took you miles out of your way making you beep the horn at no-one in particular on the way, to then have to drive all the way back with not a glimpse of the road you have just driven on before finally hitting the road that meandered along a river and salvation.

That salvation was Crescent Head Beach.  What a fabulous little town with an amazing beach. And an even more wonderful surf club food joint called Surf Sliders selling wonderful mouth watering fayre.  So I sat, under a tree with a glorious grilled fish burger, posh mayo and coleslaw, avocado and an interesting family with a cute Labrador called Missie.  I know she was called Missie and the male urchin kept screeching it at her over and over and over again...

A walk along the beach came next watching the surfers (for this was indeed a surfers haven and apparently the surf longboard capital) with a cracking little campsite right on the beach too.  One to remember. After recharging my batteries and a change of clothes (going from 'I have no idea what to wear so I will dress like I'm off shopping' to beach babe in a twinkle of a lambs nose) I was off to follow that river I now know to be the Belmore and the MacLeay, on a beautiful ride through rich farm country, with horses and cows grazing by the riverbanks and homesteads popping up every now and then.

All was becoming right with the world again.

The next little detour was Hat Head.

Well the blogging on in real time went well.  Fell asleep so now I sit as always, writing whilst the world comes alive. So where was I? Oh yes on the way to Hat Head.  This was another sleepy little hamlet, so cute and with another perfectly placed campsite evidently popular again with the locals, that had a river inlet to one side with a beautiful bridge that was perfect for fishing of (I know this as I saw people doing it) and the ocean on the other with another blinder of a beach.

After a short meander I was heading back the river road on my way to my next campsite - Sunshine South West Rock....not before a quick little detour up a road lined with more eucalyptus trees and that warm scented air that I love so much,which wound up and up until I was rewarded with bliss. Smokey Cape Lighthouse with a view that finally got me silent.Captain Cook lookout to the left overlooking North Smokey and Gap beach, and the a sweeping panoramic view of a bay to
the right (of unknown name!).  Stunning.  I braved the sheer climb to the top of the cliff where the lighthouse stood,crampons and hiking boots not essential, past 3 lighthouse keeper cottages that were now holiday lets.  This was definitely the place to stay to get away from it all.  View soaked in and once again feeling relaxed I finally hit my campsite.

Beautiful setting, with a pirate ship in the swimming pool and kangaroos waiting for me (yes real ones!!!) I was given free reign to pick a spot under the trees away from it all and finding the perfect spot (or so I thought) I set up before heading to the beach.  There was one in walking distance I had been reliably informed by the very helpful receptionist so headed out to find it.

After a 1000m bush walk through a lovely shaded well, bush, I came to a fork in the path and went with my ears as I could hear the waves crashing down to my right.  And I was right, and rewarded with a beautiful and almost deserted beach that I sat and enjoyed for a good couple of hours as the sun set lower in the sky.  Happy and content, wishing I could share this with a certain someone who was waiting for me at home (hello Vinnie!!) but our time will come.  I decided to head back before dark and thankfully some helpful person in the past had marked the unmarked track with a couple of sticks so I knew which way to go back from the beach and the path took on a different feel as the sun was setting and streaming through the trees.  I thought back to all the bush tucker tips that Dennis had taught me earlier in the day and started to look around to see if I could see any I could recognise as I was feeling a bit peckish.  The Doctors say there will be no lasting effects from the berries I ate but I will feel crook for a bit....only kidding!!

Finally it was back to Winston and I took myself off to the camp kitchen to cook the sangers I had bought the other day in Budululuhaha or what ever it was called, the place of geese/ducks and pies.  Food in hand I sat among the trees and cracked open the bottle of fizz I got on the first day into Hunter, and just enjoyed the tranquillity. Bangers and Bubbles, I know how to live.  That is, of course, until a family arrived after dark to find a boat parked in their camping spot so were very kindly directed to the pitch right next to me and promptly putting their tent up in darkness (credit where credit is due mind you, they did a sterling job and were initially apologetic) whilst their 2 young boys entertained themselves.  Hence the writing my blog last night.  Still, I am off out for an explore later and when I come back I will just park a couple of spaces away and all will be good for tonight...

So that is it for yesterday.  This really is a lovely place, really relaxing and if I'm honest, the best give come across yet.  I am going to chill, enjoy the beach and the solitude and hopefully some jail time!

Until tomorrow my faithful friends, TTFN xxxxx