Up the coast and back again

We drove from The Entrance to Safety Beach, just north of Coff’s Harbour. That took us six hours, yet according to the map, we’d only moved a fraction of a distance when compared to the whole coast. The distances involved here are enormous and it takes a while to get your head around it. And unlike in Europe with its very developed road network, there is usually only one way to go, plus a few country diversions, unless of course, you fly. But then you don’t see anything and don’t notice the changes.

That didn’t top us getting pulled by the police for a random breath test just after leaving Bulahdelah. Gordon was driving but as none of us had been drinking, it was a very quick affair and we were soon on our way. The copper was OK too, telling us about his recent holiday in the UK.

It was noticeably cooler as we drove north too - which was a bit odd, given that north down here is warmer than south. It was a result of a 10º drop in the unseasonably hot weather and warm winds down south in the past few days - 35-37º c down to 25º; much more comfortable.

Coff’s is a fairly big town and is in banana country. I know this because apart from seeing banana palms everywhere, the giant banana at the side of the road with the town name on it, said so.

And we had to try some of their banana cake and banana crepe.

We stayed with Grant, a friend of Nadine’s, who lives just off the ocean. The stuff we’d shipped from London had arrived at his place earlier in the week and was safely stashed in his garage. It was mostly riding and camping gear that would have been too bulky and tiresome to lug through the States, but it was relief to get it as the shipping company had mucked us about a bit. And even better, a few roos turned up on his front lawn to see what was going on. 

The morning walk to breakfast was great - right alongside the ocean.

 Bright sun and lots of surf with about three people in sight - plus two horrible dead puffer fish. Seeing those things ( the fish, not the people) makes you question why anybody would want to get in the water, knowing that those things are lurking under the waves. Never mind sharks, these things might not attack but they look really creepy, like those ink drawings of fish from the early 1800s. Real monsters.

We repacked our stuff today too, decanting a shipping crate each into one bag, then stuffed it all in the car for the drive down to Nadine’s parents, two hours or so south, near Kempsey. Its a lovely place - in the country but within reach of Kempsey, surrounded by gum trees, a few young cows and no noise. 

Gordon got a tick in the back of his head, a burrowing insect that digs into skin, gorges on blood, injects toxins then clears off, leaving the donor itching and a bit sore if lucky, or sometimes with creeping paralysis if they’re not. Eric got this one out by spraying it with meths then pulling it out with tweezers but you have to ensure that you get the whole thing out and not leave then head as that will then infect and cause problems. This one was about the size of a small pea. 

The following morning, we were up earlyish for a walk with her parents dogs. The sun had been up for a while and I had been woken by a right old racket going on outside - heaps of different birds all yelling and shouting at each other, trying to be top bird for the day I guess.  I’m not sure if its because the noise they make is different or if they really are more noisy than European birds, but they do make a din. I don’t remember the birds being that vocal in the States, so maybe it is just here.

A few roos were hopping about too and they stopped to have a look at us as we walked by. A mother with a joey in the pouch, a few lone hoppers and a couple of wallabies all making the most of the beautiful early morning light and doing their thing before the sun came up and super heated their day.

After breakfast, Silke (Nadine’s mum) drove us into Kempsey to buy a few things - a fishing rod (Nadine) and a machete (Gordon) I already have an axe an a billy can so I didn't need anything. Then we  came back, picked up Eric (Nadine’s dad) and went to the pub in Bellbrook, a few kms away.

The verges en route had been burnt last week in a small bushfire which had thankfully not spread. It was probably due to somebody flicking a lighted cigarette butt out of the window. Is amazing how in a country where such devastation can be caused so easily and affect so many people, that such carelessness happens. But its just a variation of thoughtlessness that happens elsewhere. Maybe it only a close personal call will change the behaviour of such people.

So on Sunday morning, we were up early and off at 0900 for the 6 hour drive back to Sydney to stay with Nadine's aunt and uncle before another long drive to pick up the bikes for the next part of our adventure. Cant wait to see the little steeds.

We stopped en route for  a Fredo pie, an absolute must. Gordon had crocodile, Nadine Emu and I, being a vegetarian of some 35 years,  had a taste of both (pies). Well, it would have been rude not to have sampled local offerings. Didn't think much of the crocodile a bit like chicken, but Emu was quite nice.....a bit beefy.

But this business of place being named after familiar places in Britain really muddles your head..... Cardiff and Newcastle are near each other, whilst Kew and Wallsend are not to far apart either. Very confusing.

Aunt and Uncle were very nice and made us very welcome. A really pleasant evening with them and Oma (Grandma).

**Note on the bush fires....although most have died down because the weather has cooled, 3.5 thousand hectares was on fire near Kempsey last night and the air was thick with smoke. Silke also told us that she had gone to Catherine Hill Bay the day after us and seen a digger digging out cola from just under the surface  and that it was alight in the digger scoop. Now that is scary.