Down The East Coast, Current at Manning Point near Taree

8/10/16 Day 134 (Sa). In the last two weeks I have been seriously neglectful in my blog entries and so I will have to cover the last two weeks in one go.

View from our camp at Collosuem Roadhouse

Plover @ Poona

After leaving Rockhampton we travelled south to Poona and then on to Tin Can Bay where we stayed for three days. It was a very tiny CP with space for four temporary sites and about sixteen permanents. But it was close to the river and very handy for fishing. Lib wasn’t feeling the best and so she spent most of her time in camp. As for the fishing… I caught a total of five fish. A mixture of Bream and other species but they were all under sized. Though it was very pleasant sitting on the jetty in the late afternoon, whiling away the time. On one day we had Takeaway for lunch and I almost fell over when I saw their prices. Lib had the Fisherman’s Basket @ $18.50 and I had a Works Burger @ $13.

Sunset Fishing @ Poona

Sunset Fishing @ Tin Can Bay

After leaving Tin Can Bay we travelled into the mountains to Mount Hallen to visit with old family friends, Chris and Ken. They are always the same – funny, pleasant, wonderful. They have bought and built a new place out in the hills and it is simply stunning. 10 acres on which they can do whatever they like. The home paddock is mowed by mower and the rest is kept short by an old racing horse they were given. As always we shared plenty of beers and stories and we had a fantastic time. It was just a pity we could not have stayed longer as we get on like a house on fire and they are the warmest and welcoming friends.

After saying goodbye to Chris and Ken we took the back roads through the hills across the QLD/NSW border to Nimbin. It is a very hilly and winding road and as such it was a very slow and long day behind the wheel. On one particular hill we were in first gear at about five km/h and hoping Bess was going to make it to the top. There were plenty of the old style wooden single lane bridges at which we had to slow down to about 25 km/h and lots of steep hilly sections which certainly did test Bess’ braking system. Although the day was tough driving it was an absolutely stunning drive. The scenery was amazing and we even saw a place we would like to come back and stay at one day but it was a tent site only. After an anxiety filled day we drove into Nimbin just after dark and went and stayed at the showgrounds. That evening we went for a walk through town but as most of the shops were closed we decided to have another look in the morning.

Our Campsite @ Mt Hallen

Byron Markets

Byron Markets

After having another look the next day we drove into Byron Bay as their monthly Sunday markets were on and we were keen to have a look as they had always been a favourite in the past. But boy! Did we ever pick the wrong weekend to drive into Byron! It was school holidays and also a public holiday long weekend. It took us an hour to find a parking spot about three km’s from the markets on the other side of town. We were supposed to be there by 10 am but we also forgot about the daylight savings change over and so we arrived at the market just after noon. I could not get over the traffic and the amount of people there. We met Lib’s parents outside the market but as we had gotten there later than we had originally planned, they had already had time to traverse the entire market by themselves. Ah for the best laid plans…

Maclean Showground Campsite

I think that this venture into Byron has confirmed for both Lib and I that the Byron we once knew is gone. As the roads get better and the world gets smaller, it has become ever more popular with the crowds trying to escape the Gold Coast. So we will still go north for the region but we will now give that town a wide berth. We walked round with Judith for a short while, whilst Barry went and got the car and then after saying goodbye Lib and I still had a couple of hours until the market closed for the day. Lib bought some odds and ends and then we battled the traffic to get out of town again and drove out to Mullumbimby where we spent the next three nights. Mullum has always been a favourite for us located in the hills of the Rainbow Region. It was very nice to stop there for a few days as we were camped at the Rugby Leagues Club and our site backed on to the Brunswick River.

Manning Point Campsite

Manning Point @ Secret Garden

After leaving Mullum we spent one night at the Maclean showgrounds and one night at a CP just south of the township of Nambucca. Trav (my brother) drives refrigerated B-Doubles overnight to QLD and return. He was on his way north and he just happens to have his half hour break at Nambucca and so I organised to meet him and catch up whilst we were both there. It was great to see him again but with the huge beard he has now he could be the third guitarist for ZZ Top. Such a hill billy.

Manning Point @ Secret Garden

We left there yesterday and pulled off the highway at Taree to travel out to the coast where we are spending two nights at a CP at Manning Point. It is a massive park with plenty of space. It is very quiet here with not many people but it is right at the end of school holidays. Its location is awesome because you can walk 50m from our van one way and be right on the beach or walk about 200m the other way and be right beside the river.

Nambucca Wildlife

Lib and I both keep saying to each other that we have come too far south. We are still in singlets and shorts/skirts during the day but in the evenings and mornings we are now wearing jumpers. When the water was warm enough to swim we were in Stinger/Croc country and now we are further south and the ocean is bloody freezing. Oh well, that’s the way it goes I guess.

Nambucca Campsite Waterfront Views