Waving a fond farewell to the fisher folk we departed the Entrance via the exit.
An arduous journey of 110 km's ahead we nonetheless set off undaunted. Our route followed the coast road and took us pretty much through the centre of Newcastle. I maintain that it has always been our intention to stick as close to the coast as possible. Di is of the strong belief that I was hoping to see Jennifer Hawkins aimlessly walking the streets of her home town waiting for a balding pre-geriatric to offer her a ride in a motorhome. We'll never know, Jen was a no-show.
After passing through Newcastle we came to Williamtown airport, the domestic airport for Newcastle and RAAF base for the FA18 squadron. Decided to stop at the tourist attraction of Fighterworld, which is a military aircraft museum. Very reminiscent of the aircraft museum Herb & I visited on our trip the Grand Canyon. As Di didn't have her sister to keep her company in the car this time she made it to the attached cafe. Apparently this is not an uncommon event and the staff at the cafe describe the lone women sipping on their iced coffees as "museum widows". Never one to bear a grudge (having been rejected by the airforce in his teens, due to poor eyesight) Steve meanwhile enjoyed the museum displays and the sights (and sounds) of FA18 Hornet fighter planes taking off and landing.
 |
| This is what the trainees John West didn't reject got to fly |
Having sorted that out we set-up and walked into town, about 30 minutes. Oh would the fisherfolk be proud of us now. We managed to find the fishermen's co-op and picked up some beautiful chili prawns and some remarkably good gemfish which went down a treat for tea.
Saturday 27th - Day 26
Having moved MM to the new site we set off on the motorbike for a bit of an explore (after first stopping off at the fish market to pick up some more chili prawns and gemfish). The coastline around here is still stunning but we didn't stay out long because of the arrival of the bikers nemesis - the strong offshore breeze (or maybe that's on shore breeze). Anyway the gist of it is it got very windy so we went home. After dinner sat and had a chat and a coffee with the next door neighbours. In the "my isn't it a small world vein" Ian had been a Haileybury boy and Dawn a Mentone Girls Grammar girl. Now that may not seem very exciting but bear in mind:
the closest Steve got to a fight in his school days was with the Haileybury boys at Mentone station
and the only girls Steve spoke to in his school days were the Mentone Girls Grammar girls at Mentone station. Oh and the odd (catholic) Kilbreda girl if no one was looking.
All in all the night could have finished very differently but it turned out that they were both several years older than me and all ended well.
Sunday 28th - Day 27
Lashed out and had a good old fashioned fry up for breakfast before heading out to Anna Bay and Birubi Point on the recommendation of Linda Rowe. A very good recommendation it was too.The weather was sensational so we sat outside at the cafe at the surf lif saving club and munched on calamari and chips while sipping on cokes and watching the world go by. The world in this case included the largest pod of dolphins either of us had seen with about 10 or so frolicking their little dorsal fins off. Birubi Point also overlooks the Stockton Sand Dunes - the largest moving coastal sand mass in the Southern hemisphere. (Although to be honest we must have missed the sand dunes moving while we were watching the dolphins). But what we didn't miss was how spectacular the sand dunes are, amazing. Although the dunes come right down to the sea (and you can drive your four wheel drive along the beach) as you look inland you could be looking at the Sahara desert. Or what I imagine the Sahara desert would look like. I have only seen the Sahara desert on TV and movies. At least one of those movies - Sahara (2005 starring Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz) was filmed on the Stockton Sand Dunes so now that I think about it maybe that's what confused me. (Move on Steve)
Actually the area is so nice we have decided not to move on for another 2 nights
Monday 29th - Day 28
In a continuing fitness campaign Steve walked to Shoal Bay this morning while in a role reversal Di slept in. Took a risk and grabbed a coffee at the cafe next door to the park and was pleasantly surprised - we'll give it an 8 out of 10.
But wait - the transformation has begun. Weather forecast not good, sky a bit overcast......
So we decided to walk to the local RSL, no, it gets worse.
We decided to have our main meal of the day at lunchtime
to get the cheaper deal
the special of the day
3 courses for $7.90 each !!!
Pea & Ham soup, roast pork and 4 veges and apple crumble & COLD custard
house chardy & pot of old for another $7.80
Then to maintain the image a quick trip to the pokies - for an hour and a bit.
Lunch at Syracuse and Cecconis seems a lifetime away ;-)
On the bright side we ended up winning $25 so by my estimation the club paid us a $1.20 to have a 3 course meal and be entertained for over an hour. Not bad.
Tuesday 30th November
Someone hasn't read the script - it rained overnight and was still drizzling when we got up this morning. Mind you it cleared up enough for us to walk up (the extremely steep) hill to the Nelson's Point maritime museum and tea shop. On the recommendation of Vicki & Herb we had a cappuccino and were not disappointed a definite 9 out of 10 and the view was fantastic as well.
What can I say, it was back to the RSL for lunch but obviously we couldn't have exactly the same thing for lunch again , that would be silly. So we substituted roast beef for roast pork. Magic. Unfortunately the pokies weren't as generous today even though we went back to the Jetsetter machine (where 5 Maritas - or trolley dollys or air hostesses as they are sometimes known - gets you the minor jackpot). So we have ended up sixty cents over budget for the day and it looks like we might need to switch to home brand toilet paper if we're not careful.
Packing up tomorrow and heading off to Seal Rocks, another Vicki & Herb recommendation.
No comments:
Post a Comment