Adventures with Tug’n Joey

Saturday Saturday dawned still windy but dry so we walked in to town again to meet local couple Jim and Joan for a coffee at their usual Saturday morning venue. Jim gave Michael a few tips re fishing spots and as one of them was across the road from Boyters Lane that was our next stop. We each spent a couple of hours at our respective hobbies with varying degrees of success. After lunch we took the drive out to Smoky Cape. As the highest lighthouse in Australia it has spectacular views in all directions. Our afternoon drinks were again spoiled by the arrival of the golfers but this time there were more of them plus kids and onlookers. I felt I had to say something so approached a member of the group who was taking photos. I suggested it wasn’t a great example for the kids to be putting rubbish in to the waterway. I was told that was just my opinion, they were good people and to go away. Even though my actions made no difference I felt better about having spoken up...maybe they’ll recon...

  Thursday As Al and Helen are heading home tomorrow we agreed to stay in Tuncurry tonight so we could eat at a nice restaurant. As well as celebrating a great holiday, we had Al and Michael’s birthdays to mark. Al chose the park in Tuncurry for its easy proximity to town and after 4 days without a decent shower the amenities were welcome but... We all agreed it felt like we were on the set of The Truman Show. I know there are some who enjoy the neat streets, plastic grass, Tractor to put your van on site, on site cafe and lots of children’s facilities but I admit the Big 4 experience is not for us. Once our van had been placed on site (We weren’t allowed to do it ourselves)we enjoyed a long hot shower before we explored the area around Forster. Some nice beaches but the area reminds me of the lower part of the Gold Coast.  We did enjoy a great Italian dinner followed by a walk along the boardwalk before bed. Friday Over a coffee in the onsite cafe we discussed making our get ...

 Tuesday 27th After sleeping on it we decided to continue with our original plan to go down the mountain towards Gloucester so we said goodbye to the flushing toilet and headed off. But first another stop in Walcha for supplies, and another coffee, this time at a venue that had got our attention yesterday. An old pub, that has been turned in to a coffee shop and B&B, judging by the garden decorations it is owned by someone very creative. I was particularly taken by the tree made from star picket fence posts. As you can see by the last photo Al and Helen’s camper is very easy to keep track off. The journey down the mountain went without drama, although the 6/7km downhill is very steep and I think Al made the right call, judging that it would be easier going down the hill with a van, rather than pulling it up (providing your brakes work well). Our next stop didn’t look all that inviting from the road, but once over the hill and away from the farmhouse, we found plenty of sites to...

  Monday 26th Monday morning dawned clear and sunny but with predictions of rain we decided to get in early and complete the walk around the top of the gorge. There are 2 drops, the first falls 85m and the second 65m to the bottom of the gorge. Aboriginal people tell the story of how the Rainbow Serpent created the gorge at Apsley Falls in the Dreamtime.  The Rainbow Serpent is said to travel underground from the base of the falls to reappear 20 km upstream at the Mill Hole on the Apsley River in Walcha. The site is now marked at the Mill Hole by the Rainbow Serpent mosaic made with the help of the local Aboriginal community. After lunch we ventured in to Walcha as Michael was beginning to have coffee withdrawals. We found it to be a lovely little town with an Open Air Gallery containing sculptures and artworks. We enjoyed a walk along both sides of the levee bank that protects the town from flooding, viewing some of the artworks, Michael testing ‘The Throne’ for a f...