Motley2 Travels

Just a quick post to let you know we are still alive and kicking.  Had a terrible week with mozzie bites.  My little toe is bigger than my big toe which means I cannot wear shoes of any description without irritation.  So we haven’t been out much either.

Got two stone chips on the windscreen of the car on the way here from trucks passing, so that was fun

It continues to rain and thunderstorms almost daily.  Although not on the scale that Sydney has experienced over the past couple of days, it still amounts to a lot of water.

On a more positive note, I dug out of one of our many boxes a little usb digital tv receiver we bought before our trip.  Didn’t hold out much hope of it being very good but it is incredible.  Beats the tv reception on our 12v/240v Tv any day and this is with the little aerial that came supplied.  So I can see the tv being sold at the next market we go to

Not a lot of luck with markets here either in the lead up to Christmas.  As casuals we can’t get booked in.

What a depressing post this one this

Hopefully better next time !

It’s been a whole week since I last updated.  It has been a busy week so not a lot of time to keep up.  The days have become a bit mixed up too and I can’t remember what we did on any particular day so I’ll give you a week’s run down.

Our second day here, someone decided that they liked our little 12V esky and helped themselves to it while we slept.  They must have seen it during the day because it was pretty well covered up at night and under the table.  On Saturday we went to Eumundi market and had a downpour to end all downpours but it cleared up and we had a good market.  On Sunday it was back to Caloundra where again we were prepared for the rain and sure enough down it came.  It seeems to be a pattern that there is a downpour early in the morning and then it becomes fine.

We went for a drive to Maleny up in the mountains, a nice little town full of art and craft shops and then continued on to the Glass House Mountains. This was my favourite peak and I was clicking away with the camera as we were driving along.  We found a great little spot to get some really good photographs and also picked up a good few mozzie bites. Here is Motley1 clicking away.  We stopped at Mary Cairncross Reserve, a natural rainforest and I believe the only part that still exists in this area.  This is a really beautiful area which I much prefer to the coast.  There are the most incredible trees and root systems and we spent a few hours here. This was one of the many lookouts along the drive to the mountains.

We met a guy who was cycling around the east coast with the bike laden with his camping gear.  He was from Minnesota and was checking the area out for a return visit with his wife and family.  He stayed and had coffee and a long chat about everything Australian.

We also went for a day to the Gold Coast to visit family.  A long drive which should have taken 2 hours but 25kms outside of Brisbane the traffic was backed up all the way to the Gateway toll.  Still, we had a nice visit and went out for lunch.  It was nice to catch up.

Yesterday we went to Eumundi market and have a fairly good day there.  Afterwards we took the advice of our neighbours in the caravan park and went for a drive to Montville.

What a beautiful little place.!  Right on top of the mountain with spectacular views.

Janet, we took another wrong turn check here and see where we ended up this time

Here are a few pictures from around the town.  1:  2:  3:  4:  5:  6:  7:

We sat at the end of the jetty here in Mooloolaba the other night and watched the dolphins play and the turtles feed and that was beautiful, here is a beautiful shot of the moon over the water which is now my desktop wallpaper.

Do you remember about the stolen esky ?  Well got up yesterday morning, made the coffee and went to sit outside to drink it and discovered that this time someone had taken our chair.  One had already broken so we are reduced to sitting on a little fishing stool in turns .

Well we are off again this morning, so better go and get packed up.  Will post again as soon as we are able.

Well it’s been a long time since the last entry so there is a lot to catch up with but don’t worry I’ll keep it short

It’s fairly nice here in Coolangatta. The park is nice even though it is at the end of the runway and we get a good view of the planes. On Sunday the 11th November, we went to the Coolangatta Market. The downpour we had was unbelievable.

All the kids came to the market along with Michael and Chantelle, Jason & Monique and Dylan were on the next stall. On Monday we were able to dry things out a bit but the weather remained very cool. We had a drive around the Gold Coast area over the next few days. I’m afraid it’s just “not my cup of tea”. Definately not somewhere I would like to settle..way too busy. by far! The weather forecast remains bad with lots more rain predicted so we decided on Thursday morning to head out of the Gold Coast and go further north.

We found a caravan park which is not on the coast but not too far away. It is very peaceful and quiet and the layout was quite unusual. Every caravan site had it’s own bitumen road on which you parked like a drive through with a large grassed area beside each van. We settled here for a few days and were quickly joined by some of the local wildlife including bush turkeys, tree mice and the usual array of birds.

On Friday we drove to Buderim which is a lovely little town in the mountains with great views of the coastline and this amazing tree. What do you think that is living in there?

On Saturday we went to the Eumundi Market which is reputed to be the biggest and best market in Australia. In fact they are called the “World Famous Eumundi Markets” with in excess of 650 stalls. How many of you have heard of them? We certainly hadn’t before we were further up the coast.

As has become the norm we had a huge downpour of rain during the morning but it was still a good market with coaches and buses arriving all morning from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. On Sunday we did the Caloundra market which we preferred to Eumundi. This is a street market with lots of buskers around giving it a really good atmosphere plus NO RAIN !!!!! We got back to the park hot and sticky so enjoyed a spa and swim in the heated pool. It’s a hard life but somebody has to do it

Monday we spent all day working and worked on and off till around 11.30pm. Still getting plenty of rain but so far only at night. Tuesday we went for a drive to the coast and a look around. It was a very hot day so the seabreeze was great.

Wednesday morning up early again and off to Eumundi for the midweek market. A very hot day today although it rained this morning early. Not such a good market on a Wednesday although we got some incredibly cheap fruit and veg and met some really nice people. This evening we watched an outdoor movie sitting on a blanket on the grass, in the caravan park. A thoroughly enjoyable experience!

Thursday morning the rain started again. It knew we were packing up today. However, by 9.00am it was dry and warm so we were able to pack everything dry and head off to our next stop which is here. It’s late now..here is the last look out the caravan window before we turn in for the night.

Next instalment won’t be quite as long appearing I hope.

We left Soldiers Point and headed up the coast for Forster/Tuncurry.  It rained most of the way.  It rained and rained and rained although in the brief times it wasn’t raining the weather was warm.  The park was built around a pirate theme for the kids and I’m sure families would love it..  We visited with friends and had dinner there but decided that the weather was just too bad and that we would carry on up the coast to Coffs Harbour.  Unfortunately, the rain just never let up and we drove through some pretty heavy downpours.  The weather forecast was for more of the same for a week so we thought it was probably a waste of time staying in Coffs.  We drove on to Ballina and spent the night there but in a drive thru site as we thought we would outrun the rain and head for sunny Queensland.  You know the place, “sunny one day perfect the next“.  It isn’t you know

Still raining and also much cooler than it was further down the coast.

We met up with Natasha, who was visiting her younger sister and saw her off at the airport for her trip back to Sydney and yesterday we got visitors here at the park.

Some pictures to follow…….

We left Sydney on Friday morning and headed north.  A bit dubious about this character who appeared at the Sydney park the night before we left.  We have spent our time here in this park at Soldiers Point.  It is not too far from Nelsons Bay.  Saturday, we went to the market at Anna Bay and had a drive around the area where Ben played with his new toy.  We now have a video camera on permanent loan.  We sat outside the van until late.  It was a beautiful temperature and then remembered we had an early start for Nelsons Bay market this morning.  This is the sight that met us this morning complete with thunder and lightning.  The market of course was cancelled.  By 10.00am it was beautiful with blue skies and very warm.  We went for a drive to Nelson’s Bay anyway and had a walk along the seashore, paddling and sat by the marina for a while.  Of course, we had to take this picture , it’s mandatory

We headed into Newcastle to see David about the car which has developed a shudder in the steering wheel whenever you brake.  Later we went for a drive around Newcastle and took these pictures, 1 :  2:  3 .

We got back to the park around 5.30 and Ben went to cool off in the pool before tea.

Heading off in the morning.

Will post soon and let you know where we end up.  

Monday we spent replacing bookmarks and the day just disappeared.  This morning we set off to Windsor, an historic town in the Hawkesbury Valley.  We drove out to the Richmond Airforce Base and the planes were taking off and landing all the time.  I joked with Ben that he would get arrested for photographing a forces base and had just said it when the sirens started, we both laughed but it was an ambulance driving at speed along the road.

We had a walk around Windsor which was very quiet and peaceful after Sydney.  Not too many people around and no one in a massive hurry to go nowhere.  

 We visited a Lolly Shop which sold British Lollies but I only bought a bag of Revels and a packet of Imps.  Here is Ben sitting in quite contemplation of the bag of salted licquorice which he had just bought.

We had chinese take away tonight courtesy of the park management which was very nice of them.  If they don’t watch out we’ll be staying longer!

 Till next time….

Saturday 27th, we decided to go into Darling Harbour.  Colin drove in as by the time we did all the other bits and pieces we wanted to get done it was a bit late to take the train.

One of the striking features of Darling Harbour is of course the Monorail and this one was just pulling into the station as we arrived.  We had a walk around and had a look at the North Steyne which is now a restaurant.

The Endeavour was in port and was open to the public to look around.  It is incredible to think that ships as small a this plied the ocean regularly.  Give me the QM2 anytime.

We went to the National Maritime Museum and paid a visit to the Welcome Wall.  The wall was commissioned a few years ago now to honour the migrants who made this country what it is today.  The names are on the wall and if you then look up the database in the museum or online you can find out details of the families. 

We hadn’t been to look at the Claassens entry for some time so we found it easily enough..well I found it and it wasn’t easily either.  It was a long walk back to the museum to check which number plaque the names were on so we just read them all until we found it.

We went and had some fudge (mandatory for me everytime I’ve been to Darling Harbour) and a coffee and then walked around the harbour to the other side.  We watched a busker juggling for a while.  This is a shot of one of my favourite water features at the harbour.

We came back to the caravan park all worn out after our long day in the city.

Sunday morning we were off to the market.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was a very good craft market.  We had music for the whole day from Leather & Lace who were very good and played the kind of music I enjoy listening to.

Colin cooked a chicken on the bbq for tea and we lazed around for the rest of the afternoon.

We have well and truly settled into our Sydney Park.  The food is good, the showers are great, the only drawback is the birds have to compete with the traffic to be heard.

Wednesday we went for a drive to Berowra Waters, a lovely little village on the Hawkesbury River.  As is usual with our drives it was a very windy and hilly road but the views are spectacular.  We had lunch at the Berowra Waters Marina.  We ordered fish and chips and although it was a little cool outside, we took a table at the edge of the balcony.

Ben was sitting holding his fish when a kookaburra flew between us and took the fish straight out of his hands.  It was so fast that he didn’t realise what had happened but everyone else at the marina saw it and cheered the kookaburra.  It had good taste that bird though because it was the nicest piece of fish we have had for a while.

We took the free ferry across the Hawkesbury and came back through some lovely country roads.

Thursday we went to the Macquarie Centre, a huge shopping centre in North Ryde.  Neither of us could cope with the noise in the place and although Colin came to meet us for lunch, we gave it a miss and headed home.

Today Friday, we set off for The Blue Mountains.  Ben had never been up there before so we thought it would be a good opportunity for him to visit.  It is a long slow steady climb to the top of the mountains where you reach Katoomba.  Just as we arrived there was an almighty thunder storm and everything below us was shrouded in mist.  Luckily by the time we had some lunch, the rain had almost cleared and we were able to take some pictures.  The most famous landmark in Katoomba is the three sisters rock formation.  Aboriginal legend says these three rocks are sisters who were turned to stone.  The clouds were very low and the cablecar and skyway disappeared into the clouds on the way down.

We did just a couple of the many walks to the different lookouts, occasionally stopping to shelter from the rain.

The best lookout is of course Mary’s Lookout   Why they would name something that high up after me I do not know.  It took a lot of courage for me to walk out there to have a picture taken.

Before leaving Katoomba, Ben dallied a while with the three sisters.  I only managed to capture a shot of him with two of them, you’ll have to take my word for it that there were three.

If you are all wondering why there are so many pictures of Ben in this post, I borrowed Colin’s camera and managed to finally get some pictures of my own to use.  Now I think my pictures are just as good ..what do you think?

Well, we finally left Batemans Bay on Friday, here are B & J relaxing while J and I do all the work  of packing up.  We headed north whilst the 2jays headed for Merimbula.  We reached Fairy Meadow about 1.30pm and booked into the Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort.  We got a site right on the beach which was very nice but also very windy.  The wind hasn’t really let up for long all the way up the coast. 

There was a bike path running through the park which went all the way into Wollongong in one direction and to Kiama in the other.  Ben set out on a bike ride after lunch whilst I settled down with my book.  The beach was fairly busy and it was fun watching the parasailing.  There are two lighthouses at the Wollongong wharf.

We drove into Wollongong and had fish and chips for tea sitting on the dock of the bay

On Saturday morning we went to Windang market which was o.k.  On the way home, we came across the 27th Wollongong Highland Games and of course we stopped there for a while to listen to the pipe bands and eat scottish pies and slice sausage.

Colin drove down in the evening and we three went out for tea and a drive around Wollongong.

On Sunday morning we headed off to the Dapto market, it was 35 degrees by 9.30am and was decidedly uncomfortable.  We packed up the van after lunch, hitched up and left the park around 2.00pm.  

We had the choice of roads out of Wollongong, The infamous Bulli Pass, through Kangaroo Valley or over Mount Ousley.  We took option number three and the car handled it with ease.  It is a slow and steady climb for quite some kilometres.

We arrived in our Sydney Caravan park and were met by the very friendly staff.  We checked out the site and the amenities and  found them quite adequate so we have booked in here for a while.

More pictures soon of this park and our surrounds…..

We had a really windy night on Tuesday night and didn’t sleep much after getting up at 2.30am to peg the annex down.  Everyone in the park was up, taking down awnings, adding more guy ropes to tents, it was pretty wild.  Wednesday was a cold day, although the sun was warm the wind was really cold so we didn’t do much at all. 

Today we got up early and despite the fact that 1jay has been suffering from a bad back decided that we would go out for the day.  We drove to Tilba Tilba and Central Tilba, which a Heritage Trust Village.  It is an old gold mining area and dairy farming.  Nowadays it is full of craft shops, cafes and the Tilba Cheese Factory.  We had a taste of most of their cheeses.

We then walked all the way up to the lookout over the town (still very windy) and took some photographs from up there.  The hill overlooking the town is called the Dromedary.

From there we headed to Narooma and had our picnic lunch by the Marine Park.  The pelicans and seagulls helped us eat lunch.

We then went to Mogo which is another “crafty” little village with a Gold Mining theme park and a zoo.  We went to the zoo to see the only white lions in Australia.  They have 14 lions ( 3 litters having been born in the last 18 months or so and as the last litter consisted of 5 male cubs, they are going to have to ship some of them out to other zoos.

The big hit of the zoo though was the meerkats.  Ben loves these little animals which are much smaller than you think.  The red pandas, the giraffes, the snakes, the otters, the bears, the marmosets, emus and the zebras were all photographed many times over.

We came back to the caravan park and cooked what will be our last tea together for some time.

Tomorrow we head in different directions although the 2jays may stay another day if 1jay’s back hasn’t improved considerably.

May be a few days till the next post as this will end our free wi-fi for a while.