Month: February 2018

Saturday, 17th February 2018

After quite a sleepless night for me, I was up quite early and continue writing in my journal till Gerry woke up. Today we were breaking up camp at the Trial Bay Campsite and making our way up northwards to Yamba. Some people we had met told us that Yamba is a pretty fishing village at the mouth of the Clarence River.

Our drive was some 240km however it took somewhat longer as we kept trying to get off the M1 – Pacific Highway to find alternative routes. Well all alternative routes seemed to get back to the M1 so finally we gave up trying and drove further to Yamba. The country side changed to luscious green fields of cane sugar waving gracefully in the wind. The M1 was no longer a 4 lane highway as there was a lot of construction going on which did not hinder our progress.

At the local Macdonalds, we were able to get WIFI while we enjoyed the Maccaffe – also a new experience for Gerry – but then you have to make concessions if you do want to keep in touch with the outside world and family. A helpful staff member gave us all the ins and outs of the fishing village but recommended that we go to Iluka as that would be more authentic. She even gave us her phone number should we need any assistance – I really do hope we did not give her the impression that we are some helpless senior citizens………….

Anyway with a few campsite addresses keyed into the GPS we first went to get some groceries from the local Coles supermarket and then we were on our way. We didn’t get far when we noticed a camp site just a couple of kilometres down the road. We made a quick decision and decided to stop over here and see what the campsite had to offer us for a one night stay. Well it was pretty and well kept and we had a pitch close to the beach – or actually the mouth of the River Clarence  – so we stayed. I was rather tired through all the emotions I was going through – it’s ever so difficult not to be with the family at a time when you lose a sibling – so many thoughts running through my head are just draining me.

Well we pitched up for the night and went for a walk along the sea shore – young kids were fishing off the jetty  and to the right we could see the fishing trawlers berthed for the night. As we had a late lunch we were not that hungry that evening and just had some snacks and were early to bed.

It’s been a day where I hardly took any pictures – hopefully tomorrow a better day – my daughter Nicole, will be travelling back to Malta to represent the Dutch family at my brother’s funeral which will take place on Monday. We will be travelling to Bryon Bay.

Friday, 16^th February 2018

While I am writing up today’s journal, I am very saddened at the news I received this evening from my sister Liz, from back home in Malta. Our oldest brother, Hubert, had passed away exactly on his 73^rd birthday. I was actually waiting till it was nearly 9 a.m. local time in Malta to give him a call to wish him a happy birthday. These last few years he wasn’t well and he was in and out of hospitals and especially after his wife Mary had passed away last April, he was devastated. But he got through somehow until now. May he rest in peace.

My son Martijn, sent me some beautiful words which I would like to repeat here:

“ we are all made of stars – our elements were created in the furnaces of the first stars, and when they exploded, those elements found their way to us, to briefly make up our human bodies.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only change shape and form. This means that the warmth that flowed through him (Hubert) , throughout his life is still here among us and a part of us.

Every photon of light that bounced off him is still travelling through the universe, hundreds of trillions of particles, their path forever changed by him.

According to the law of conservation, not a bit of him is gone. Just less orderly.”

Strange that Martijn should have sent me this quote as yesterday evening both Gerry and I were sitting outdoors and appreciating the clear night sky – the milk way was very clear and many other stars twinkling against the velvety dark background – we were in awe of all that is mightier than us poor mortals! 

Although our day ended with sad news and tears in my eyes, we had spent a lovely day – I guess that’s why my life’s motto is: Live every day to its fullest. 

We started the day by going down to the beach – we were up quite early as actually round about 4.30 am I needed to go to the loo and as it was still dark, Gerry came along too. And that was good too as outside there was a whole family of kangaroos – some grazing others just standing up and looking at us and others just lying down relaxing. And they were blocking the entrance to restroom facilities – so you can imagine I was ever so glad that Gerry came along with me!! 

Anyway down at the beach it was still high tide so we had to walk quite a distance to get down but then it was really fantastic, sitting under some shady trees and watching the waves. After some time, we did actually get into the water – it was not so warm as the day before but it was still lovely and refreshing. We spent quite some time on the beach and even went for a beach walk till we could not walk any further as the tide was still high.

 

Then it was lunch back at our campsite – as the people in front of us had left, we took over the picnic table and enjoyed our salad and the view at the same time.

Our plan was that we would visit the Gaol House, which was the starting point of our campsite. Actually we were leaving our sightseeing till the wrong time of the day – the hottest part of the day!! Anyway hats on and we walked up the hill.

Trial Bay Gaol is an imposing building built between 1877 and 1886 to house convicts brought to this prison to work on the construction of a breakwater just off the headland where this Gaol House was situated. However although so much time and money was spent, Nature decided otherwise and the initial structure was washed away. The prison then fell into disuse when the breakwater project was stopped, however it was then used again as an internment camp for German and Austrian detainees during the Great War of 1914-18. The only occupants right now are kangaroos!

 

 

Once we got back to the campsite, we thought we’d take a stroll to a kiosk/restaurant situated out of the nature reserve grounds. We were lucky that it was going to open at 17.30 but that was too early to have dinner and we just wanted to have a drink first. But that seemed impossible so we headed back to our campervan via the beach and as we had enough food to get a meal going later on, we decided to spend the evening at our campsite and watch the sun go down into the ocean.

 

That’s when I received a call from my sister, Liz , sharing her sad news about our older brother, Hubert departing from this world exactly on the day that he entered it 73 years ago.

 

May he rest in peace!

 

MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED ONCE I HAVE A BETTER WIFI CONNECTION – APOLOGIES! 

 

 

 

Sunday, 11^th February 2018

 

It was a very peaceful night at Beechworth Cabins – we could only hear birds during the night and by the time our alarm went off at 7 am, we had a full choir of chirping birds. While Gerry showered I prepared breakfast and also sandwiches for on the way so that we would not waste much time getting off the highway. By 9.30 we were on the road again – ready to drive the last 600 km to Sydney.

Gerry took the first 200km approximately as we stopped at Tarcutta to fill up the car. Besides a petrol station, a snack bar and a little church, there was not much to see here – although it is actually a remarkable place as just as the Café was called Halfway Café, it was exactly half way from Melbourne to Sydney – 436 km south west to Melbourne and 436 km north east to Sydney.

The countryside was somewhat monotonous – golden rolling hills and plains and as I needed something interesting to do (otherwise I would fall asleep), it was best for me to drive a few kilometers. Although we had programmed our GPS to get to Wentworth Avenue I Sydney, there were quite a few listed and the information I had from Expedia about Song Hotel was that address without any reference to the area it was. At the last petrol station we had asked if they had WIFI and the lady told me that we could get free WIFI at any MacDonald’s.

So now to look for a Macdonald’s on the way so that I could get the exact location of our hotel from Expedia through Google Maps. We didn’t want to experience the same mistake when trying to get to Novotel on the Esplanade in Melbourne – I had picked up the first Esplanade from the GPS which took us to a residential area in Caroline Springs – 33 km further away from the Esplanade in St.Kilda!!

Finally we saw a Macdonald’s and we drove there and parked our car and went in to have a……….. milkshake! It was Gerry’s first ever going to Macdonald’s – let alone having a vanilla milkshake – which he thoroughly enjoyed!! Through WIFI got the exact location of the hotel and even after phoning the Song Hotel, we had the confirmation that they were located in the city.

Allowing for a few mistakes between Gerry the driver, and myself the navigator, we got to the hotel by 14.30 – a good time to check in. It was warm and sunny! We expected Sydney to be just that!

As the name of the hotel already indicated to us,  it was an Asian Hotel, and our assumption was correct –  everything was neat and tidy and we even had a balcony so that Gerry didn’t need to go 5 floors down to have a smoke. While I got the registration at the hotel sorted out, Gerry drove the car to the parking garage recommended by the hotel. In the meantime I redesigned the hotel room, as it was a twin bedded room having the beds against two different walls. ………By the time Gerry came upstairs the room looked good with the twin beds next to each other!

We just freshened up a bit and left the hotel to explore Sydney city! It was one straight road from the hotel through Hyde Park ( was somewhat confused, this park is nothing like the Hyde park in London!!) Along the road we came along the St.Mary Catholic Cathedral – beautifully designed in Gothic-Revival style was begun in 1868 and finished in 1928.

Further down Macquarie street, we came across splendid colonial buildings and of course the Botanic Gardens. The oldest building is Parliament House and the Mint dating back to 1816 and the former is still used as a Parliament House for the state of New South Wales and is actually the world’s oldest consecutively operating parliament house!

 

Finally we made it to the harbour side and especially the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I was just delighted with these views – normally it’s something I see in travel books or travel programs and now I was actually here!! And it was really busy with heaps of tourists ( loads of Asians!!). Anyway after taking some pictures with the Opera House and the Harbour bridge as backdrop, we strolled around the harbour – many eateries here and the one we chose was The Oyster Cove right along the quayside. Of course the reason, we chose this place was because they had oysters – my favourite seafood!

So we were lucky to get a table to have samples of oysters together with a couple of glasses of bubble wine. Oh it was just great – in the meantime evening was rolling on and the atmosphere was fantastic – everyone seemed to be having a good time – and so were we. Well after our oysters and bubbles we were quite pekish and as we were seeing such fantastic and appetizing meals going along to other tables, we decided to stay on for dinner – Gerry rump steak with salad and I had linguini with shrimps. While we were having dinner, Gerry noticed two cruise liners leaving the harbour just under the Sydney Harbour bridge – and one of the cruise liners was a Holland America Line – meaning that I still had another chance of visiting Sydney but then on a cruise!!!

After dinner another stroll along the quayside to where the ferries left off to other parts of Sydney harbour. From here we made our way back to our hotel and all in all, according to my steps app, we walked some 7 km that day!!

Back in the hotel, we sorted out everything so that we would have an early rising tomorrow morning – an exciting moment as this would inaugurate our last phase of our trip in Australia – picking up the camper van and delivering our rental car back at Sydney airport. Alarm should go off at 7 a.m.

 

Thursday, 15^th February 2018

I am writing today’s diary while sitting outside the van watching the sunset over the South West Rock’s beach and Arakoon Nature Reserve Park, at the Macleay Valley Coast, where we are staying for two nights. It is magical and at the same time so peaceful – and we have the kangaroos hopping around us and keeping the grass short!. Anyway let me start with the beginning of the day……..

This morning we were up quite early – without an alarm clock – well our first campsite we’ve tried out at Lemon Tree Entrance (to Nelson Bay) was a success. We had a good pitch with all amenities – water and electricity and a very good shower unit. We didn’t have to use our facilities in our van except for cooking!

 Breakfast was quite meager this morning as we only had yoghurt some cherries and mixed seeds and nuts and I made a protein turmeric drink for us – this meant after showering, we were off by 8.30 a.m. and our plan was to drive some 250 km to South West Rocks – not far above Port Macquarie. Gerry drove the van this morning – I am wondering whether I will try driving this truck – it’s far too big for me – anyway Gerry is making a very good job of it after our nervous drive last Monday!! Anyway as yesterday we had made some sort of a planning to driving up north and where we would be stopping over, I programmed our GPS as far as Byron Bay – some 600 km further north.

 The first thing we wanted to do is stop at a Macdonald’s as we wanted to get some WIFI – Our camp did not offer a good WIFI service so we’ve been out of touch with the outside world for a couple of days and I am writing up my diary in a Word document to transcribe later on to my blog! So even Gerry is nowadays happy to see a Macdonald’s and their coffee is of an acceptable level!!

We got off the Pacific Highway a couple of times to experience other sceneries than the fast motorway – strange that I am considering the speed limit of 110km fast when in Holland we drive so much faster (even above the 130km limit!!!) Well sometimes we had to reverse our route as some roads just ended on the beach after going through forestland. At one point – Diamond Beach – we could see the forest just ending on the beach for a really long curve – so what we thought to drive slowly along the coast did not actually happen all the way.

After a few stops, we finally made it to South West Rocks just before 16.00 and then, although we had already viewed which campsite we wanted to stay over – right in the middle of the village of South West Rocks and running down to the beach, we were disappointed as there was no vacancy for us. Go through Lonely Planet I found 2 more campsites and one being on the mouth of the river and the other in the Nature Reserve. We opted to go straight to the one at the Nature Reserve as this was situated right on the beach – and although there is no power, we have all other amenities.

 Lucky for us, there was a pitch free on the second row facing the ocean and as soon as we parked our van, we were ready to go down for a swim – It was heavenly – the Pacific Ocean was warm and calm to swim. Both Gerry and I really enjoyed this and most of all as it was not too busy and we had the beach to ourselves. The sun was still warm and after drying up we were back at our van and after taking a drink, I started cooking – of course it’s campsite food and we still had pasta and enough vegetables to make a sauce and to top it all a fried egg! It was really tasty!

 

As I had cooked, Gerry did the washing up and I took my laptop outside and wrote up the day as the sun was setting.

Tomorrow will be a leisure day but also we will have time to explore the old gaol house situated up on top of the cliff!

 

 

Wednesday 14^th February, 2018

This morning, we both woke up rested and the campsite was lovely early morning – there was a flock of ibis birds roaming around here just pecking away in the grass. Both Gerry and I knew it was St. Valentine’s Day but just being together was more than enough to celebrate this day!

It was another scorching day and by the time we had breakfast and done the laundry (we actually hung the washing outdoors and it was dry in no time!), it was close to midday. We had already seen the Koala Reserve walk which was supposed to be 5.4 km return and we thought of going on a sighting expedition and see if we could spot some koalas!

Although we had our hats on and we had water with us, it was quite some expedition and by the time we reached the little hamlet with its harbour, we were quite worn out through the heat. Well one of the snack bars was on the sea front and we took a break there and had some cold ginger beer and water and for me a cold chicken and salad sandwich.

Up to now we had not seen a single koala so on the way back I concentrated on just getting back to the campsite and having a shower. But then Gerry called me and yes he had spotted a koala bear, up a tree just hugging it with its limbs and at the same time seemed to be having a nap! He was ever so cute and of course as of that moment I was walking with my head up trying to spot another koala – but no such luck!! Anyway, we were lucky to have seen one!!

 

We made our way along the beach to cool ourselves down. By the time we were back at the campsite I was really deadbeat and just had enough energy for a cold shower. We had walked some 8km during the hottest time of the day – not very clever of us!

That evening, we tried out our microwave in the camper van – and yes it does work – and we heated some left over pasta and made some fresh salad to go with it.

It was again an early night!! Tomorrow we break up camp and will be driving some 275 km toSouth West Rocks

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, 13^th February 2018

We were up very early this morning – luckily we had slept the rest of the night, however by 6 am we were already drinking our tea. By 7.30 we were on our way and as we drove out of the rest area, we came across a notice board saying “ Beware of low flying military planes” and on the left side of us was ………. The runway!! We had spent the night camping next to a military airfield and the pilots were having fun taking their million dollar toys into action!!

And as we drove we noticed a sign for a campsite close by! The Big 4 Koala Nature Park. When we arrived there, the reception was not yet open – that’s at 9 am however the manager was kind enough to help us out and luckily he did have a good pitch for us which we took for 2 nights.

Finally the camper van could be powered up on the electricity and only then it started to feel like fun for me!! Showers and laundry facilities were close by and after having showered we got ourselves organized. The luggage was stowed away and we unpacked our groceries. We noticed that we had no folding table as was specified but Gerry soon found any ingenious way of getting a table put together outside!

After a walk around the campsite, which was situated on the beach and part of the Koala Nature Reserve Park, we had some lunch. Yes now I started enjoying the whole thing about camping. After lunch I had to have a nap – I guess all the emotions of the past day had taken their toll and I really needed to have a nap. However I hadn’t slept long when Gerry woke me up – the Oyster man was going around the park selling fresh oysters and whether I would like to have some – of course my answer was a definite yes!  

So as a pre-dinner snack, we had oysters with lemon juice and a balsamic onion sauce. At the back of our pitch, there was a tree trunk in the shade and we thought this would function as a table for us to have a drink and oysters. As we were getting our things ready and we were both away from our plate of oysters, the birds decided to have their first bite into our oysters. It was incredible – this one bird got away with one oysters while the rest sat up in the tree waiting for their turn – but this time we were more aware of their intentions and we could enjoy the rest of the oysters ourselves.

That evening, I prepared a pasta dish with loads of vegetables in a tomato sauce and tasted just great with a glass of red wine. As I did the cooking, Gerry volunteered to do the washing up. After that, it was early to bed! And this time we had all the power we needed in our camper van and our airco had cooled down our sleeping area for the night – tomorrow will be a day to do some exploration around the nature park.

 

 

 

Monday 12^th February 2018

 

What a hectic day! After having had our breakfast we walked out of the hotel to the garage where the car was parked overnight – unfortunately, we turned a few extra blocks before we found the garage and then once we were on the road we also missed a few turnings! I was a bit uptight due to the fact that we had to pick up the camper van and then return the rental car ( before midday). However once we did get to the Campervan Rental offices, there was complete chaos and it took us half a day before we had everything settled and were on our way again – Gerry driving this massive camper van and I the rental Toyota Camry – well my fuss was for nothing!! We arrived at the airport drop off and soon we were on our way in our Apollo van – mind you I was terrified in the beginning – to me it was so massive and all I wanted to do was to get out of Sydney. Our initial idea to stay at a city camping site was soon thrown overboard – we both wanted to get out of the city and start driving northwards up the M1.

It was very busy on the M1 and it seemed that even heavy lorries were speeding past us! Frightening – I had thought it would be more pleasant in a camper van………

Anyway by the time we started looking for a campsite, it was quite dark and we just could not find anywhere to spend the night so finally we came to a rest area with toilet units close by – so there we were – our first night in the camper van on a rest area. We prepared some sandwiches and were ready to call it a day and turn in. Bed was made up and luckily it was not too hot. And when we w

ere nearly asleep we were woken up with some thunderous noise of jet fighters flying low over us – it was as though we were in a war zone!!! And this continued till about 10 pm – yes we had gone to bed early……… I was ready to pack in this whole camping idea but finally I fell asleep just out of exhaustion…

And looking at the positive side of things – and Gerry’s reassurance – we were bound to find something much better then this stop tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

It was an early morning today and practically watching sunrise from our hotel bedroom window. It was going to be a good day for a 300km drive from Melbourne to Beechworth, our overnight stop before heading to Sydney to pick up our camper van.

After breakfast, we left straightaway and it was still 9.30 am – as soon as we left Melbourne we were out in the golden countryside, rather flat at times and with sprinkling of rolling hills in some places. It was rather a monotonous drive so after the first 150km that Gerry was driving, I took over as then I could keep myself awake!

We arrived in Beechworth round 14.30 – well in time after stopping to have coffee at a little township called Avenel. Apparently this township was also home to the Ned Kelly’s family when they moved to Australia from Ireland.

Our overnight stay was at the Beechworth Cabins on the High Street in Beechworth, a small township which was a gold mining/panning place in the early 1800’s. After checking in, we went out for a walk to the main centre – a complete 1850’s shops and malls scenery! If you could imagine the parked cars away from the kerbs, then you surely would be back in time! We bought some groceries and also some local wine as there are vineyards in the vicinity and then had lunch at the bakery!

Once we had our groceries, we walked back to our cabin – just in time before the rains came – but then I badly needed an afternoon nap so no worries about the rain – Gerry just enjoyed it all having his smoke and coffee on the porch! And watching the screeching wild parrots and kookaburras.

 

After my nap, we took a walk following the little stream behind our cabins. Apparently this stream was exactly where gold was panned back in the 1850’s. In a couple of years there was enough gold panned that at today’s value would be worth a few billions of dollars! We also then visited the main historical sites especially the court house and gaol where Ned Kelly was tried  and given a death sentence.

Once back again at our cabin, we enjoyed a glass of wine before having an early night – tomorrow was going to be a long drive – 600km – to Sydney!

Thursday, 8th February 2018

Recovered from last night’s fatigue and woke up at 8am because my alarm went off – Gerry was already up and had gone to get the car which was parked outside the premises.  So after showering, packing our stuff, and enjoyed breakfast we were ready to leave on our drive to Melbourne. The plan was that we would drive on the A1 – which we did last night in the dark – to just a little bit further than Colac and turn down right to Lorne and  continue our drive along the Great Ocean Road to finally arrive in Melbourne – St Kilda’s Novotel.

Our plan was a good one but Serena from our TomTom GPS had other plans for us  – as we hadn’t given her any instructions to drive to Melbourne through Colac and Great ocean Road, she sent us on the most direct route to Melbourne. Instead of going down to the coast, we were sent inland!!! We realised this when it was too late to return so kept going along narrow country roads up to Lisemore where we arrived onto B140 road which would also go straight to Melbourne. We drove further to Inverleigh and after first having coffee at one of the oldest hotels in the area, we then drove down again on a narrow country road with a few road works going on and finally arrived at  Winchelsea and from there drove through the Otway National Park forest to Lorne. A trip which was supposed to have taken some 1.5 hours was extended by the same time before we arrived in Lorne.  

Once in Lorne, we picked up the coast road again and this time we had the rugged cliffs on our left hand side with beautiful stretches of beaches on the right and of course curves along the way. We stopped at a pretty stop in Anglesea – dark  orange cliffs hanging into the ocean – and had lunch .

 

Finally we were on the motorway to Melbourne – St. Kilda – and once again we made the error of not looking up all the street names – 16, The Esplanade – and we ended up in Caroline Springs which was some 33 km away from our Hotel!! back in the traffic jams we finally made it to the Novotel on the Esplanade in St.Kilda – and what a beautiful area this is in Melbourne. Victorian type of houses mixed with new style, a Luna park and beach just in from of the hotel and a tram line nr 96 which took us downtown! 

Although we had driven some 350 km and taken some 6 hours to arrive at our hotel (with various stops of course), we had enough energy to explore the town in the evening and also enjoyed one of the best meals along the Yarra River next to the extraordinary Casino on the the Southbank Promenade. Tomorrow promises to be an exciting day to explore Melbourne!