Step 111 Tannum Sands – 1770 114 km's

Monday 22^nd August

Despite signs proclaiming “you are in Paradise” we drove into drizzle all the way today.

While checking in at 1770 Camping Ground we discovered that there is a high wind warning until at least Thursday. One of the main reasons for coming here is that it is one of V & H's favourite spots. They particularly recommend that we do the Lady Musgrove Island Reef tour. With the high wind warnings the cruises are not running until Thursday so rather than the three nights we had planned we booked in for four and tentatively booked the cruise for Thursday.

V & H have not let us down, 1770 itself is a lovely little beach side village. No supermarket or major shops but a couple of nice little coffee shops, a pub and boat hire. To be honest I'm surprised Captain Cook didn't just prop here rather than carrying on up the coast. After he hit the reef a few hundred km's further on I'm betting he was thinking the same thing. His crew certainly were.

Again, the town has a lovely boardwalk and this time it follows the beach, with fantastic views over the water.

Di has now taken a shine to the place as they don't sell cask wine at the pub and so she got to buy bottled wine for the first time in a very long while.

Another sign that does NOT encourage swimming

While sitting in the van sipping away at wine o'clock (avoiding the drizzle) we are entertained for half an hour watching a couple trying to reverse their van on to the site. Not for the first time we congratulate ourselves on making the choice not to tow. I'm guessing we wouldn't have made it this far with a caravan, or even the bike trailer. Hats off to those who successfully do it.

A bit better night on the movie front tonight, The Book of Eli with Denzel Washington. Probably wouldn't have enjoyed it so much if we hadn't watched The American last night because it's not that good.

Tuesday 23^rd (TED) – Friday 26^th August

Despite the stiff breeze blowing all week it really is a pleasant few days here in 1770. Steve managed a walk every day, including one walk to the top of the hill at the point. A hill which quite possibly qualifies as a mountain!

View from the top of the hill/mountain

Sun shining most of the time and we had a few pleasant chats to the neighbours. Next door couple is from Sassafras and we managed to get their life stories over the few days. Also discovered that you don't need to drink to be dangerous. The wife (it's always the wife) was a real live wire.

Agnes Water - just down the road

Wednesday was a lovely day for Di with a trip to the hairdresser (coffee included in the price due to the woman's husband running the coffee shop next door). Not such a good day for Steve with a phone interview for a job. What was that teary face symbol again? Unless someone manages to sell the blog to a book publisher or I win a first division Tattslotto prize soon I am facing the real possibility that I will be back in an office in the next month.

Now this is the office I would like to be "working" in

Also found out on Wednesday that the cruise is cancelled again tomorrow due to the weather so that was a bit disappointing. Although just before we discovered it was cancelled Vicki decided to finally tell us that the boat trip out can be a bit rough and that she was a little worried about me after my experience in the light plane in WA. Another Sandra Sully moment. (as in “this is Sandra Sully with the LATE news”)

This is the boat we didn't go on

Given Di was so impressed with the coffee on Wednesday, on Thursday we walked back into town for another one. A very pleasant time sitting drinking coffee and catching up on the trashy magazines. Just to help keep the local economy going we shared a snot block vanilla slice.

Are you looking at me?
The Robert Di Niro of the kangaroo world

To finish off the stay here we also managed to catch up with V & H's friend Chris and Joy who just happened to be staying in 1770 at the same time, but at a different park. Unfortunately the weather had turned a bit cool so we only managed a quick wine o'clock with them in the park.

Friday 26^th August

Time to pack up and move on and

IT'S RAINING.

Again we realise how lucky we have been with the weather on this trip. It would not have been anywhere near as enjoyable if we had copped more rain. On the other hand MM does make it so much easier as there is very little to do to pack up and move on. If we had left the outside mats behind, we wouldn't have had to go outside at all to pack up. Trust me, I did consider leaving the outside mats behind.

Might be a good job we are leaving
Did someone say "global warming"?